Biotechnologia最新文献

Kidney disease is a significant global health issue. This review explores the causes of renal illness, the therapeutic properties of the angiosperm Moringa oleifera, and its potential effectiveness in kidney disease management. In chronic kidney disease, inflammatory processes and immune cell activation lead to excessive free radical production, resulting in oxidative stress due to diminished antioxidant capacity. M. oleifera possesses diverse health benefits, particularly its ability to enhance antioxidant defenses. Extracts from its stem, seed, and leaf powders have been shown to increase the activity of key antioxidant enzymes, including glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase. Additionally, M. oleifera modulates inflammation by reducing the activity of TNF-α, COX-2, and other pro-inflammatory cytokines. This review provides insights into the pharmacological and therapeutic potential of M. oleifera, highlighting its promise in the development of novel treatments for kidney-related disorders. Moreover, its bioactive compounds may contribute to renal tissue regeneration and protection against nephrotoxic agents.

Background: Sucrose phosphate phosphatase (SPP) and uridine diphosphate-glucose pyrophosphorylase (UGPase) genes were overexpressed in Nicotiana tabacum to enhance the efficiency of the photosynthesis-related sucrose synthesis pathway, the primary route for incorporating newly fixed carbon into plant metabolism.

Materials and methods: To target transgene expression specifically to the leaves, the Chrysanthemum x morifolium Rubisco small subunit promoter was used.

Results: Transgenic plants overexpressing HvSPP and HvUGPase exhibited high transgene expression in the leaves, exceeding those of the corresponding N. tabacum genes by more than tenfold. These plants grew faster and entered the generative phase earlier than control plants, without showing any other developmental abnormalities. By the end of the generative phase, transgenic plants had greater dry mass and contained a higher proportion of carbohydrates than the control group. In result, they accumulated 14.9-17.5% more energy in the aboveground parts compared to reference plants.

Conclusions: The high leaf specificity of the C. x morifolium Rubisco small subunit promoter was confirmed, indicating that transgene activity in leaves was effectively separated from its effects on metabolism in non-photosynthetic tissues. Overexpression of HvUGPase and HvSPP under this promoter accelerated plant growth and development, ultimately increasing biomass. These characteristics are particularly advantageous for energy crops grown as after-crops or in regions with short growing seasons.

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted another silent pandemic: lifestyle diseases. Conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases, anxiety, and type 2 diabetes (T2D), are increasingly becoming public health threats, affecting even younger populations worldwide. In recent years, extensive research has uncovered the pivotal role of the human gut microbiome in various aspects of human physiology, including metabolism, cellular homeostasis, immune defense, and disease development. The gut microbiome, often referred to as the "second brain," is now recognized as a key player in health and disease. Lifestyle factors such as diet, mental health, stress, exercise, and others significantly influence the composition of the gut microbiome. Imbalances in this composition, termed "dysbiosis," have been linked to a wide range of diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, T2D, asthma, and neurological disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. These findings underscore the profound influence of gut microbiome health on overall well-being. A working understanding of the gut microbiome's composition and its impact on disease processes is crucial for the advancement of personalized or precision medicine. This review article aims to explore recent advancements in the field, shedding light on how the gut microbiome contributes to the development and prognosis of lifestyle diseases.

Background: Backcrossing of gamma-irradiated IS21 with MR220 has generated progenies (ML 82-2 and ML 125-2) with improved traits. However, studies on these new mutant lines remain limited. This study aimed to determine and compare the biochemical characteristics and transcriptomic profiles of drought-tolerance-related genes in ML 82-2 and ML 125-2, as well as in the parent lines, IS21 and MR220.

Materials and methods: Seeds were germinated for 14 days under a controlled photoperiod (16 h light and 8 h darkness) at a constant temperature of 25 ± 2°C. Biochemical analyses, including total soluble protein content, specific peroxidase activity (SPA), chlorophyll content, and proline content, were conducted. Transcriptomic profiling was performed using STRING and gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis.

Results: ML 82-2 exhibited the highest SPA, which was significantly different from that of MR220 and IS21, as well as significantly different total soluble protein content. However, ML 82-2 did not significantly differ from MR220 in chlorophyll and proline content. Drought stress-responsive genes Os01g0124401, Os08g0473900, and Os08g0518800 were identified in ML 82-2. Conversely, ML 125-2 displayed total soluble protein content and SPA similar to IS21, while chlorophyll and proline content were not significantly different from those of MR220. Drought stress-responsive genes Os10g0471100, Os01g0197100, and Os11g0701400 were identified in ML 125-2.

Conclusions: ML 82-2 demonstrated improved SPA, whereas ML 125-2 exhibited enhanced total soluble protein content. The identified genes in both mutant lines are associated with drought resistance, with most sharing a similar genomic profile with MR220. These findings contribute to plant physiology studies and stress-responsive gene discovery in rice.

Background: Spinacia oleracea, a nutrient-dense vegetable composed of 91% water, 4% starch, and 3% protein, is a staple in the Indian diet. However, salinity stress can hinder its growth. This study examines the effects of salinity on the morpho-biochemical traits of spinach in a hydroponic system.

Materials and methods: Spinach seeds were sown on coco peat, and after 10 days, the seedlings were transferred to the hydroponic setup. The plants were treated with salt concentrations of ECe 0, 4.0, 6.0, 8.0, 10.0, and 12.0 ds/m, and various morpho-biochemical parameters were assessed at 10-day intervals.

Results: In the control group, seed germination was 59.6 ± 1.45%, while increasing salt concentrations (4 to 10 dS/m) progressively reduced germination (50 ± 1.2% to 14 ± 2%). Root and shoot lengths (root: 14.16 ± 0.19 cm; shoot: 4.23 ± 0.28 cm at 4 dS/m), relative water content (47.5 ± 0.43% to 32.1 ± 0.86%), and leaf surface area (25.03 ± 0.26 to 9 ± 0.12 cm²) all declined with increasing salinity. Conversely, proline content (0.055 ± 0 to 0.12 ± 0 μg/ml) and antioxidant enzyme activity (SOD: 1.83±0.04/g protein; APX: 0.53 ± 0.1/mg protein; CAT: 0.0054 ± 0/mg protein) increased compared to the control. However, chlorophyll content (3.73 ±0.02 to 1.95 ± 0.03 mg/g at 12 dS/m) and protein content (0.13 ± 0 at 4 dS/m to 0.054 ± 0 μg/ml at 12 dS/m) decreased with rising salinity.

Conclusions: Therefore, it is concluded that spinach grown hydroponically can tolerate salt stress up to ECe 6.0 dS/m after 30 days of treatments, and more increased (8.0 to 12 dS/m) salt concentration that adversely affects overall morpho-biochemical performance.

Background: Camellia seeds are rich in oil and contain fatty acids that offer significant health benefits.

Materials and methods: This study aimed to characterize Camellia oleifera seeds and their oil. Physical properties of the seeds, including 1000-seed weight, density, moisture content, specific gravity, and angle of repose, were determined. Camellia seed oil was extracted using the pressing method, and various physicochemical and biological properties of the oil-such as density, color, acid, peroxide, and saponification values, as well as antioxidant and antibacterial activities-were assessed.

Results: Pressing the oil at 140^oC yielded optimal results, achieving a recovery efficiency of 21.67%. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry identified seven fatty acid components in the oil, with oleic acid (71.03%) being the most abundant. The antioxidant capacity of the oil was evaluated using a DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay, yielding an IC50 value of 265.8 mg/mL. However, the oil exhibited no inhibitory effects against four bacterial strains (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, and Staphylococcus aureus).

Conclusions: These findings highlight the potential of Camellia seed oil in food technology, particularly as an alternative to commercial cooking oils.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a transformative force in the life sciences, pushing the boundaries of possibility. Imagine AI automating time-consuming tasks, uncovering hidden patterns in vast datasets, designing proteins in minutes instead of years, and even predicting disease outbreaks before they occur. This review explores the latest AI tools revolutionizing scientific fields, including research and data analysis, healthcare, and tools supporting scientific writing. Beyond data processing, AI is reshaping how scientists draft and share their findings, enhancing processes ranging from literature reviews to citation management. However, with great power comes great responsibility. Are we prepared for this leap? This review delves into the forefront of AI in the life sciences, where innovation meets responsibility.

Background: Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTb) is a highly infectious pathogen and a global health threat due to its resilient cell wall and immune evasion strategies. Despite the availability of the antituberculosis Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, its efficacy varies (0%-80%) and gradually decreases over time. This study aimed to identify cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) and helper T-lymphocyte (HTL) epitopes in MTb secretory proteins using immunoinformatics tools.

Materials and methods: The Protein Variability Server was used to identify highly conserved sequences, and epitope population coverage was estimated for the Southeast Asian (SEA) region. Selected epitopes were also docked to their major histocompatibility complex alleles.

Results: Five secretory proteins critical to MTb pathogenesis and virulence were identified as antigenic (antigenicity score > 0.4). Predicted epitopes had IC₅₀ values ≤ 500 nM, indicating strong binding affinity, with an estimated 94% population coverage in SEA. All candidate epitopes were highly conserved (Shannon index ≤ 0.1) and showed no significant sequence similarity to human proteins, allergens, or toxic peptides. Docking analysis confirmed favorable binding to their corresponding HLA alleles, as indicated by low Gibbs free energy change (ΔG) values and dissociation constants (K _D nM).

Conclusions: Overall, this study identified immunoactive CTL and HTL epitopes that could serve as promising candidates for future antiTB vaccine development. Further in vitro and in vivo studies are required to validate these preliminary findings.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most prevalent malignancies worldwide and a leading cause of mortality. Chemotherapy medications are often limited in use due to issues like drug resistance, P-glycoprotein efflux, and relapse of chemotherapy. In this study, we formulated a nanosuspension with curcumin and nimbin to address these limitations and assessed its anticancer potential using in silico molecular docking and in vitro MTT assay.

Methods: In silico docking and ADMET analyses targeted proteins implicated in colorectal cancer, with doxorubicin as the standard. The docking studies were conducted using AutoDock 4.2, while in vitro anticancer activity was assessed through the MTT assay in HCT 116 cell lines.

Results: In silico docking of curcumin and nimbin showed significant interactions with target proteins compared to the standard. ADMET analysis indicated favorable Caco-2 permeability and intestinal absorption of the selected phytoconstituents. The MTT assay demonstrated concentration-dependent cell viability inhibition in HCT 116 cell lines treated with the nanosuspension, with an IC₅₀ value of 30%.

Conclusion: The curcumin-nimbin loaded nanosuspension demonstrated promising anticancer activity against HCT 116 cell lines in both in silico and in vitro studies. Further studies are required to evaluate the anticancer effect of curcumin-nimbin loaded nanosupension through clinical and preclinical studies for the progress of potential formulation in the treatment of colorectal cancer.