3 Biotech最新文献

Santalum album L. (Indian Sandalwood), a valued tree species known for its fragrant heartwood and essential oil is facing increasing threat due to severe anthropogenic pressures compounded by climate change which has resulted in depletion of its adaptive gene pool. The present study investigates the transcriptome-level responses of nine sandalwood genotypes sourced from diverse climatic zones to identify adaptive genes in the species. Comparative transcriptomics predicted 727, 1141 and 479 differentially expressed transcripts (DETs) across wet vs. dry; monsoon vs. dry and wet vs. monsoon conditions, respectively, and majority of DETs were up-regulated in samples sourced from high rainfall areas. Transcripts including heat shock proteins, Zinc finger binding protein, ribosomal proteins, transcription factors and protein kinase were identified as probable regulators of climate adaptation in S. album. The expression changes of eight selected transcripts were further validated by real-time quantitative PCR. Protein-protein interaction analysis revealed key hub transcripts involved in climate response, while alternative splicing events in transcripts such as SURP and G-patch domain-containing protein 1-like protein, G-type lectin S-receptor-like serine/threonine protein kinase B120, Tetraspanin-3 and ARM repeat superfamily protein indicated the probable role of alternate splicing in increasing the transcript diversity during adaptation. This study presents the first insight into the molecular mechanisms of climate adaptation in the species and can form the basis for specific interventions such as selective breeding, genetic manipulation, and habitat management for conservation and long-term survival of sandalwood.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-025-04218-4.

This study is aimed at evaluating the neurotoxic effects of chronic exposure of sodium fluoride (NaF) in developmental stages in rat using prenatal models. NaF (100 ppm, orally) dosing via drinking water was given to pregnant rats in disease group. In the treatment groups, Metformin & Dehydrozingerone (DHZ) (200 mg/kg) were administered orally along with NaF, and the dosing was continued throughout the gestation and lactation periods to the pups until the end of experiment. Behavioural studies like Novel Object Recognition Test (NORT), Open Field & Actophotometer test and biochemical estimations like Acetylcholinesterase (AchE), Glutathione (GSH), Malondialdehyde (MDA) were conducted on animals followed by histopathological image analysis. It was observed that NaF exposure significantly decreased learning, memory and locomotor ability (at p < 0.05, p ≤ 0.01) in rat pups and was also able to induce anxiety like behavior. Levels of AchE (p ≤ 0.001) and MDA (p ≤ 0.01, p ≤ 0.001) was found to be significantly elevated and GSH levels were significantly decreased (p ≤ 0.01, p ≤ 0.001) in hippocampus and frontal cortex in the disease group. Histopathological image analysis showed presence of degenerated neurons in hippocampus of disease group. From this study, it was observed that treatment with Metformin and DHZ, was able to significantly ameliorate the cognitive impairments, improve the condition of oxidative stress and decrease neuronal degeneration in NaF fed rat pups. These results established the protective role of Metformin and DHZ in NaF induced neurodevelopmental toxicity with particular emphasis on their antioxidant properties.

A protocol for micropropagation of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cv. Cooch Behar local retaining the fidelity of the in vitro regenerants was established for the first time. Initially, tuber sprouts were inoculated in Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with 0.5-1.5 mg/l 6-benzyladenine (BA), kinetin (Kin), meta-Topolin (mT), and zeatin (Zea). A maximum number of shoots was induced in 0.5 mg/l Zea followed by 0.5 mg/l mT. For subsequent rooting, the shoots were inoculated in MS medium supplemented with 1.0-3.0 mg/l indole-3-acetic acid and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), wherein 1.0 mg/l IBA-fortified medium recorded the maximum number of roots. The mono-phasic micropropagation, i.e., simultaneous multiple shoots and roots formation was achieved in MS medium with combinations of Zea (0.25-1.0 mg/l) with 1.0 mg/l IBA, wherein 0.5 mg/l Zea + 1.0 mg/l IBA exhibited the best results. The micropropagated plantlets were then acclimatized in cocopeat with 100% survival before field evaluation. To ensure the true-to-type nature of the micropropagated plants, the cytology, flow cytometry, inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR), and start codon targeted (SCoT) polymorphism primers based fidelity analyses were carried out. Cytology and flow cytometry confirmed that the micropropagated plants had the same ploidy levels. Likewise, the molecular marker-based genetic fidelity study via ISSR and SCoT primers showed monomorphic banding patterns. The present protocol has the potential for large-scale propagation, conservation, and commercialization of indigenous potatoes and can also be used to study the response of other potato cultivars to in vitro regeneration.

This study investigated the ameliorative effects of Yinchen lipid-lowering tea (YCLLT) on Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the specific mechanism involved was also studied. We modeled hepatocellular steatosis with HepG2 cells and intervened with different concentrations of YCLLT-containing serum. Lipid deposition was assessed by oil red O staining and AdipoR1 expression was analyzed by Western blot. The hepatocyte steatosis model was further treated with YCLLT-containing serum and/or silencing AdipoR1. Lipid deposition was observed by oil red O staining. Flow cytometry was used to detect apoptosis and mitochondrial membrane potential. The levels of TNF-α, IL-6, MDA, 8-OHdG, and ATP were analyzed by ELISA or the corresponding kits. The mitochondrial structure was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The expression of AdipoR1/AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathway factors was analyzed by Western blot, and co-localization of SIRT1 and immunofluorescence. The results revealed that YCLLT attenuated lipid deposition, inhibited the levels of inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-6, reduced the levels of MDA and 8-OHdG, up-regulated the ATP content and mitochondrial membrane potential, and promoted the expression of AdipoR1, p-LKB1, p-AMPKα, SIRT1, and PGC-1a in a cellular model of NAFLD. Further, silencing of AdipoR1 inhibited the ameliorative effect of YCLLT in the NAFLD cell model. Altogether, Yinchen lipid-lowering tea attenuates lipid deposition in a fatty liver model by improving mitochondrial function via activating AdipoR1/AMPK/ SIRT1 signaling.

Globally, industrial biotechnology addresses diverse challenges, fostering environmental conservation, sustainable development, economic growth, and innovation. Currently, there are approximately 20,922 biotech companies worldwide, including 6,653 in the US, reflecting significant growth. The global biotech market is valued at $727.1 billion and is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 7.4% by 2025. In India, industrial biotechnology holds promise, with about 3% of the global market share. The country has the highest number of FDA-approved manufacturing facilities outside the US, totaling 665 plants. This growth is driven by government support and a skilled workforce, with a focus on advancements in bioenergy, bio-based materials, and healthcare. Recent years have witnessed a surge in international demand for Indian vaccines and biopharmaceuticals, positioning the country as a leading hub for contract manufacturing and clinical trials. The country's bioeconomy, valued at $150 billion by 2023, is forecasted to double to $300 billion by 2030. This growth is supported by the government's BIRAC scheme, which has established 60 successful bio-incubation centers, further promoting innovation and entrepreneurship. India's bioeconomy basically consists of four segments: BioIndustrial ($72.6 billion, 48.09%), BioAgri ($12.44 billion, 8.24%), BioPharma ($53.8 billion, 35.65%), and BioServices ($12.1 billion, 8.02%), with biotech start-ups reaching 8,531 in 2023. This comprehensive review highlights the significant potential of industrial biotechnology in India by focusing on technological advancements, policy impacts, and market trends. It provides an overview of the current landscape, challenges, and future opportunities, and offers insights to guide strategic initiatives aimed at advancing the sector.

Elephantopus mollis Kunth H.B et Kunth is an herbal plant employed customarily for the treatment of numerous maladies, notably cancers. Here in this research, we studied the effects of E. mollis (EM) petroleum ether extract (EM-PE) on the highly aggressive breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. The result from phytochemical analysis demonstrated the presence of tannins and saponins in EM-PE, of which, saponins made up more than 50% of the extract's mass. Cytotoxicity results, which were obtained from MTT assay and microscopic observation, suggested the potential of EM-PE to inhibit the growth of MDA-MB-231 cells with low IC₅₀ value (approximately 30 μg/mL) and remarkably high selectivity index (> 4.78). Further evaluation indicated that EM-PE inhibited MDA-MB-231 cells growth in a dose-dependent manner. Interestingly, we found that EM-PE induced senescence in MDA-MB-231 cells via the activation of senescence-associated β-galactosidase and the transcriptional upregulation of p21 (3.7 times) and p27 (1.4 times). In consistent with this effect, pre-treated cancer cells showed no proliferative recovery after EM-PE removal. In addition, EM-PE could dramatically hinder breast cancer cells invasion (as much as 15.07-fold), which was shown in Transwell invasion assay, together with the decreased transcription of the important metastatic-involved SNAIL1 gene. Overall, our study, for the first time, exhibits the anti-proliferation and anti-invasion effects of EM extract on highly metastasis breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. Hence, these findings contributed to the knowledge of anti-cancer potential of this herbal plant.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-025-04214-8.

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading causes of death in the world, despite being a preventable and curable disease. Irrespective of tremendous advancements in early detection and treatment, this disease still has high mortality rates. This is due to the development of antibiotic resistance, which significantly reduced the efficacy of antibiotics, rendering them useless against this bacterial infection. This, in turn, causes immune system evasion, antibiotic treatment failures, and recurrence of disease in patients. Regarding this, photodynamic inactivation (PDI) may serve as a useful substitute for antibiotic therapy against drug-resistant mycobacteria. This century-old therapy is already being used in cancer treatment, dentistry, and skeletal and cardiovascular diseases, but it is not yet used in tuberculosis treatment. Researchers have previously used PDI to eradicate other members of the genus Mycobacteria in both in vitro and in vivo settings. This suggests PDI can be explored against M. tuberculosis too. The one limitation associated with PDI is the use of chemical photosensitizers, which are fatal to normal tissues and induce side effects. Recent studies suggest herbal photosensitizers are equally potent as chemically synthesized ones. Therefore, herbal photosensitizers could be used to solve the problem because of their less toxicity to healthy tissues and decreased frequency of side effects. This review emphasizes the importance of herbal photosensitizers and their role as anti-tuberculosis drugs in PDI therapy and also presents five potential herbal photosensitizers-curcumin, quercetin, resveratrol, aloe emodin, and phloretin that could be utilized in the clinical development of PDT-mediated tuberculosis therapies.

This review assesses the antiviral capabilities of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) against SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses, focussing on their therapeutic potential. AMPs, derived from natural sources, exhibit promising antiviral properties by disrupting viral membranes, inhibiting viral entry, and modulating host immune responses. Preclinical studies demonstrate that peptides such as defensins, cathelicidins, and lactoferrin can effectively reduce SARS-CoV-2 replication and inhibit viral spread. In addition, AMPs have shown potential in enhancing the host's antiviral immunity. Despite these promising outcomes, several challenges require assessments before transforming into clinical translation. Several issues related to peptide stability, cytotoxicity, and efficient delivery systems pose significant limitations to their therapeutic application. Recent advancements in peptide engineering, nanotechnology-based delivery systems, and peptide conjugation strategies have improved AMPs stability and bioavailability; however, further optimization is essential. Moreover, whilst AMPs are safe, their effects on host cells and tissues need a thorough investigation to minimise potential adverse reactions. This review concludes that whilst AMPs present a promising route for antiviral therapies, particularly in targeting SARS-CoV-2, extensive clinical trials and additional studies are required to overcome current limitations. Future research should focus on developing more stable, less toxic AMPs formulations with enhanced delivery mechanisms, aiming to integrate AMPs into viable therapeutic options for respiratory viral diseases, including COVID-19 and other emerging infections.

Global cerebral ischemia (GCI) is associated with a multifaceted etiology, including increased oxidative stress, inflammation, and elevated acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, ultimately leading to cognitive and memory impairments. This study aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective, cognitive, and memory-enhancing effects of indole 3-carbinol (I3C), a phytochemical found in cruciferous vegetables. Additionally, network pharmacology analyses were conducted to identify potential molecular targets of I3C in GCI. Bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) surgery was performed to induce GCI. I3C was administered orally for 14 days, and cognitive and memory functions were assessed using the Y-maze and Morris water maze paradigms. Biomarkers of oxidative stress (MDA, Nrf2, SOD, and CAT), inflammatory markers (NF-κB, TNF-α, and IL-10), and AChE enzyme activity were evaluated. The results demonstrated that I3C treatment significantly inhibited AChE activity, improved spontaneous alternation (%) in the Y-maze test, increased the number of entries and time spent in the platform zone, and reduced escape latency in the Morris water maze test, indicating enhanced cognitive and memory functions. I3C treatment also increased brain levels of Nrf2, SOD, and CAT while reducing MDA levels. Furthermore, it decreased pro-inflammatory markers such as NF-κB and TNF-α and elevated the anti-inflammatory marker IL-10, suggesting neuroprotection through the mitigation of oxidative stress and inflammation. Histopathological analysis revealed improved integrity of CA1 neurons in BCCAO rats treated with I3C. Network pharmacology studies identified TP53, AKT1, TNF, STAT3, BCL2, SRC, ESR1, CCND1, CASP8, and CASP3 as the top ten molecular targets for I3C in the context of GCI. Our in vivo data, supported by network pharmacology studies, suggest that I3C's neuroprotective and cognitive-enhancing effects are driven by its ability to alleviate oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. Overall, this study suggests that I3C is a promising neuroprotective and memory-enhancing agent for global cerebral ischemia.

The hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) continues their functional integrity and return to quiescence quickly even after inflammatory and other proliferative stress. The mechanism which is responsible for this highly regulatory process is not understood clearly. Previous results have shown that CD53 is noticeably upregulated in HSCs in response to a variety of stimuli. Gene expression profile using RNASeq data of HSCs from the bone marrow and spleen of CD53 knock out and their wild-type littermate had been deposited by Greenberg and co-authors, in GEO database, "GSE219050". They reported that knockout of CD53 promotes continued cell cycle. To identify key genes and specific processes are affected in absence of CD53, we applied weighted gene co-expression analysis. The results show that cyan module is correlated and dark red and light cyan are anti-correlated with CD53 loss. CDK1 is identified as more connected gene or hub gene in cyan module and it is upregulated in the absence of CD53. Likewise, hub genes from dark-red module are EP300, EGF, MCL1, LPL and IGF1R. The gene enrichment analysis depicts, two biological processes, MAPK cascade and Delta Notch signalling were suppressed. Similarly, the biological processes involved in light-cyan module are chromatin organisation and hub genes are Ehmt2, Ezh2, Kdm1a, Rbbp4, Esr1 and Mysm1. It uncovers the roles of CD53 in chromatin organisation, and MAPK cascade and Delta Notch signalling are the major contributors in quiescence mechanism. These findings might provide a new avenue in quiescence research.