3 Biotech最新文献

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was achieved using leaf extract of Tridax procumbens, which served as a reducing, capping, and stabilising agent. The synthesized TP-AgNPs showed a reddish-brown color, with a surface plasmon resonance confirmed by UV-Vis spectroscopy at 420.32 nm. Morphological analysis by SEM revealed spherical nanoparticles, XRD patterns confirmed their crystalline nature. FT-IR spectroscopy identified the presence of various functional groups involved in stabilization, including phenolic, flavonoids, and proteins. DLS analysis showed a hydrodynamic diameter of 150.4 nm, with a zeta potential of -15.3 mV, indicating moderate colloidal stability. The antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of TP-AgNPs were evaluated against wound associated pathogens: Acinetobacter radioresistens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella aerogenes. Biofilm-forming capacity, assessed via tube method and Congo red assay, varied among isolates A. radioresistens exhibited strong biofilm formation, K. aerogenes showed moderate activity, P. aeruginosa showed weak activity, and E. coli non-biofilm forming. Quantitative biofilm inhibition assays using crystal violet demonstrated dose-dependent effect, with the highest inhibition (up to 10% inhibition at 43.2 µg/mL) observed against K. aerogenes (), while A. radioresistens and P. aeruginosa showed limited susceptibility among the tested strains. These findings highlight the selective antibiofilm potential of TP-AgNPs and support their further development as topical agents for managing biofilm associated infections.

The halophilic marine-derived fungus Aspergillus ruber CBS 135680 was systematically investigated for its secondary metabolite potential through genome mining. A total of 36 biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) were identified, including four non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) clusters, eight NRPS-like clusters, eight type I polyketide synthase (T1PKS) clusters, ten terpene clusters, four hybrid clusters, and two siderophore clusters. The largest NRPS cluster (AruBGC2, ~ 58 kb) encodes the siderophore synthase SidC, while AruBGC23 was linked to asperfuranone biosynthesis. Additional clusters were predicted to synthesize bioactive compounds such as cornexistin, TAN-1612, naphthopyrone, clavaric acid, squalestatin S1, asperlactone, and epipyriculol. These metabolites are associated with diverse biological activities, including anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal, nematocidal, and herbicidal properties. The discovery of canonical and noncanonical BGCs pinpoints the metabolic diversity of A. ruber and highlights potential as a promising source of natural products. This study provides the first comprehensive genome-wide assessment of secondary metabolism in A. ruber, offering valuable insights for future drug discovery and biotechnological applications.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-026-04701-6.

Ag-Ca@CuO nanocomposites are fabricated using chemical precipitation method and are used for removing Cr (VI) and Pb (II) from the Yamuna River water in Delhi. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the formation of rice grain-shaped CuO nanoparticles. Ag-Ca@CuO nanocomposites (CCA NCs) exhibited a surface area of 34.62 m²/g, notably superior to pristine CuO. At a concentration of 0.4 mg/mL of Ag-Ca@CuO nanocomposites, the highest removal rate of Lead (Pb) was observed to be 99.36%. For hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)), the maximum removal efficiency was 72% under the same treatment conditions. Meanwhile, 63% of Nickel (Ni) removal is observed at 0.4 mg/mL treatment concentration. The incorporation of Ag and Ca played a crucial role in enhancing pollutant adsorption, suppressing electron-hole pair recombination, and promoting reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation for the degradation of toxic metal ions. We also studied the cytotoxic effects of CC and CCA NCs against the human HCT-116 cell line in a dose-dependent manner. At the nanocomposite's maximum concentration, i.e., 100 µg/mL, the cell viability for CC 2, CC 4, CCA 2 and CCA 4 was observed to be 47.64%, 35.29%, 19.83% and 8.88% respectively. IC50 value was also observed to be least for CCA 4 (17.71 µg/mL) followed by CCA 2 (31.61 µg/mL), CC 4 (72.93 µg/mL) and CC 2 (94.33 µg/mL). Cytotoxicity studies on human embryonic kidney (HEK 293) cell lines demonstrated minimal toxicity of the synthesised nanocomposites. This material could be used in wastewater treatment and as Drug-free therapeutics in cancer treatment.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-025-04655-1.

While vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) is a key cytoskeletal regulatory protein linked to oral squamous cell carcinoma development, its role in other cancers remains unexplored. In this study, we employed the TCGA database, ESTIMATE algorithm, and TIMER to investigate the correlations of VASP with survival outcomes, clinical features, and immune cell infiltration. We also utilized GO, KEGG, and GSEA enrichment analyses to explore its potential functions and constructed a PPI network using STRING and Cytoscape. Our pan-cancer analysis revealed that VASP mRNA was upregulated in ten and downregulated in six tumor types compared to normal tissues. Of particular interest, aberrant VASP expression was significantly associated with the progression and poor prognosis of liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) and lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). The level of VASP mRNA showed notable upregulation in LIHC, and its expression was positively correlated with the levels of T-cell exhaustion markers. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that VASP could serve as an independent diagnostic biomarker for this cancer type. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that VASP participates in several tumor-related processes, such as extracellular matrix degradation and the chemokine signaling pathway. In addition, VASP protein levels were observed to be significantly elevated in LUAD tissues compared to normal controls. VASP knockdown markedly suppressed the migratory capacity of LUAD cells in vitro. In conclusion, the aberrant expression of VASP is associated with poor prognosis in LIHC and LUAD, and VASP could be used as a novel predictive biomarker for LIHC patients.

The main purpose of this study is to elucidate the effect of bacterial ratio of different plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) consortia on alfalfa growth. The impact of the used ratios on physiological responses of alfalfa to salt stress was further assessed. Accordingly, two endophytic bacteria (SmA and RpB) were selected based on their halotolerance and plant growth-promoting properties, such as phosphate solubilization, biofilm formation, and phytohormones and exopolysaccharides production in response to salt stress when applied singly or in combination. The results showed that both single and mixed inocula significantly increased plant growth compared to non-inoculated treatments. Efficiency of inoculation was influenced by the strain species and the bacterial consortium ratio. The collected data further revealed that inoculation protects alfalfa plants from salt stress by preserving membrane stability and integrity from peroxidation, improving water status, protecting the photosynthetic apparatus, reducing the absorption of Cl^- ions and preserving K⁺/Na⁺ ratio. In fact, in the most tolerant plants, catalase activity was the most stimulated, in contrast to the most salt-sensitive species. This study clearly indicated that the consortium combining SmA and RpB at a 2/1 ratio outperforms the 1/1 and 1/2 ratios in removing the deleterious effects of salt stress, highlighting for the first time the importance of the ratio in the formulation of bacterial consortia.To validate the effectiveness of this biofertilizer in the field, further work is required, taking into account the combined impact of environmental factors such as soil and climatic conditions on alfalfa growth and development.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-025-04654-2.

Oral drug delivery remains the most popular method due to its patient compliance, affordability, and ease of use. The effective administration of therapeutic medicines faces physiological challenges such as enzymatic degradation, low permeability, and inadequate bioavailability. Polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) provide targeted distribution, controlled release, and enhanced stability of medications in the gastrointestinal tract, making them a viable solution to overcome these obstacles. Recent advancements have focused on developing new polymers, surface modifications, and stimuli-responsive systems to enhance the performance of NPs. Despite significant advancements, challenges such as large-scale manufacturing, regulatory approval, and long-term safety remain significant obstacles. This review discusses recent advancements in polymeric NPs for oral drug delivery, highlighting challenges and potential future advancements for effective clinical translation. Polymeric NPs significantly enhance oral bioavailability by shielding unstable medications from gastrointestinal conditions and facilitating targeted release. The durability, permeability, and drug loading efficiency of NPs have been improved through innovative techniques, including the use of biodegradable polymers, mucoadhesive coatings, and stimuli-responsive systems. Furthermore, surface alterations targeting intestinal receptors enhance site-specific delivery and absorption, but challenges like scalability limitations, inconsistent performance, toxicity, and regulatory barriers persist. This review critically studies the use of polymeric NPs in oral medication administration, focusing on their physicochemical benefits, gastrointestinal tract interactions, formulation techniques, and clinical translation. Recent advancements, including mucoadhesive systems, targeted strategies, and bioresponsive technologies, are receiving significant attention. Future clinical success in oral drug delivery relies on the development of improved evaluation techniques, enhanced biocompatibility, and increased reproducibility. Research should focus on multifunctional NP systems, nanofabrication technologies, and interdisciplinary cooperation between materials scientists, pharmacologists, and regulatory bodies.

Hyaluronic acid (HA), a major glycosaminoglycan in the extracellular matrix, is synthesized by hyaluronan synthases (HAS1, HAS2, and HAS3). Dysregulated HA synthesis promotes tumor progression by influencing signaling pathways involving HA receptors such as CD44, HMMR, STAB2, LAYN, and TLR4. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Urtica dioica agglutinin (UDA) on the expression of HA-synthesizing and key HA receptor genes in PC3, BT-549, and HUVEC cell lines. Results showed that UDA significantly downregulated HAS2 (p ≤ 0.001) and HAS3 (p ≤ 0.001) expression in PC3 and BT-549 cell lines, along with HMMR (p ≤ 0.01), STAB2 (p ≤ 0.05), LAYN (p ≤ 0.05), and TLR4 (p ≤ 0.001), while CD44 expression was upregulated (p ≤ 0.001). In HUVEC cells, UDA showed no significant alteration in HAS2 or HAS3 expression (p > 0.05); however, it significantly reduced TLR4 expression (p ≤ 0.05). Molecular docking analysis revealed strong binding affinities between UDA and TLR4 (Docking-score: -342.79 kcal/mol, Ligand-RMSD: 30.56Å), HAS2 (Docking-score: -320.84 kcal/mol, Ligand-RMSD: 50.97Å), and HAS3 (Docking-score: -314.96 kcal/mol, Ligand-RMSD: 58.44Å), supporting its potential interaction with HA-associated proteins. Hence, in HUVEC cells, UDA's effect on TLR4 indicates a direct interaction rather than an indirect effect through HA-related pathways. These findings suggest that UDA may modulate HA-synthesis and HA-receptor genes expression in cancer cells. It provides insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying UDA's anti-cancer properties and its potential as a therapeutic agent targeting HA signaling in cancer. Further research is needed to elucidate these mechanisms and explore UDA's clinical applications.

This study evaluated the anticancer potential of Satureja sahendica essential oil (SSEO) against MDA-MB-231 (breast cancer) and A549 (lung cancer) cell lines. The chemical composition of SSEO, determined by GC-MS, revealed thymol (57.11%) and γ-terpinene (25.27%) as the major constituents. The MTT assay demonstrated that SSEO induced concentration- and time-dependent cytotoxicity, with IC₅₀ values of 0.69 mg/mL (24 h) and 0.28 mg/mL (72 h) for MDA-MB-231 cells, and 0.59 mg/mL (24 h) and 0.37 mg/mL (72 h) for A549 cells. Apoptosis was identified as the primary mode of cell death, confirmed by acridine orange/ethidium bromide dual staining and Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide flow cytometry. Flow cytometric analysis quantified early apoptosis, showing 41.2% of treated MDA-MB-231 cells and 35.5% of treated A549 cells in the Annexin V⁺/PI^- quadrant. To elucidate the molecular basis of these effects, a comprehensive in silico analysis, incorporating target prediction, protein-protein interaction network, and gene ontology enrichment, was performed. This approach identified key cancer-related proteins, including MAPK14, PIM1, CTSD, TOP2A, PDK1, KIFC1, and NF-κB, as potential targets of the major SSEO constituents. Additionally, the cytotoxic effect of SSEO was evaluated on the normal L929 cell line, where IC₅₀ values of 1.082 mg/mL (24 h) and 0.89 mg/mL (72 h) were observed, indicating notably lower toxicity toward normal cells compared to cancer cells. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that SSEO exerts cytotoxic effects primarily through the induction of apoptosis in both breast and lung cancer cells, highlighting its potential as a complementary anticancer agent.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-025-04656-0.

The UV-B photoreceptor UVR8 plays a central role in plant responses to ultraviolet light, but its function in extremophilic algae remains poorly understood. In this study, we isolated and characterized a UVR8 homolog (CiUVR8) from the Antarctic ice alga Chlamydomonas sp. ICE-L. The full-length CiUVR8 gene encodes a 406-amino-acid protein highly conserved with Arabidopsis thaliana UVR8, including the key tryptophan residues essential for UV-B perception. Bioinformatics and phylogenetic analyses confirmed its structural conservation and distinct evolutionary placement among polar algae. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed that CiUVR8 expression is dynamically regulated in response to temperature (-20 °C to 15 °C), salinity (16‰ to 128‰), and varying intensities of UV-B radiation. Notably, CiUVR8 expression generally decreased with increasing UV-B intensity, suggesting a potential photoprotective mechanism. The recombinant CiUVR8 protein was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli and purified, providing a foundation for subsequent functional validation. These results highlight CiUVR8 as a functional UV-B receptor involved in stress adaptation, offering insight into algal survival strategies in extreme polar environments.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-025-04627-5.

Heavy metal contamination of soil poses a significant hazard to the environment. However, numerous eukaryotic microbes can sustain themselves and thrive in such polluted soils, playing a pivotal role in transforming heavy metal contaminants into more stable and less toxic forms. This study employed an amplicon-based metatranscriptomic approach to investigate the active micro-eukaryotic community structure in heavy metal-contaminated soils across two locations in India, KJ (Jajmau) and UZ (Zawar Mines), during two different seasons (spring and autumn). The diversity assessment targeted the V4 hypervariable region of the 18S rRNA gene, amplified from reverse-transcribed RNA. The supergroup Opisthokonta was found to be dominant across all soil samples, constituting a significant proportion of the eukaryotic community. The microbial communities exhibited clear seasonal variation. In UZ, the genera Aplanochytrium and Colpoda dominated in spring, whereas Hypocreales prevailed in autumn. In KJ, Chlorella, Acari, and Colpoda dominated in spring, while Acari remained dominant in autumn. Regardless of seasonal or spatial fluctuations, 44 genera were found to be common across all samples. Alpha and beta diversity measures, along with hierarchical clustering, network analysis, heatmap visualization, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA), provided strong support for the variations in biodiversity and community organization across the datasets. The ecological significance of these findings lies in demonstrating how micro-eukaryotic communities reorganize spatially and seasonally to maintain resilience in contaminated soils. Such adaptive associations highlight their potential role in natural attenuation and provide a foundation for developing targeted bioremediation strategies by leveraging stress-adapted micro-eukaryotes.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-025-04605-x.