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Latest Review Papers in Molecular Biology 2026

A special issue of Current Issues in Molecular Biology (ISSN 1467-3045). This special issue belongs to the section "Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 5481

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Madhav Bhatia

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
Interests: inflammation; acute pancreatitis; sepsis; burn injury; arthritis; hydrogen sulfide; substance P; chemokines; leukocytes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, entitled “Latest Review Papers in Molecular Biology 2026”, aims to collect comprehensive reviews in cutting-edge fields of molecular biology. We encourage researchers from related fields to contribute review papers that highlight the latest developments in molecular research, or to invite relevant experts and colleagues to do so. Full-length comprehensive reviews or new research advancements in molecular research are preferred.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following: molecular biology; biochemistry; molecular plant sciences; molecular microbiology; molecular immunology; molecular genetics and genomics; molecular informatics; molecular oncology; molecular neurobiology; molecular pharmacology; molecular biophysics; molecular cell biology; molecular marine biology; molecular paleobiology; molecular physiology; molecular radiation biology; molecular reproductive biology; molecular zoology; structural biology; systems biology; and molecular pathology.

You can read the publications of featured reviews in 2024-2025 here:

https://www.mdpi.com/journal/cimb/special_issues/0075I769X9

https://www.mdpi.com/journal/cimb/special_issues/5CV2UG4RK8

Prof. Dr. Madhav Bhatia
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Current Issues in Molecular Biology is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • molecular biology
  • molecular plant sciences
  • molecular cell biology
  • molecular medicine
  • molecular pathology

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Review

26 pages, 1342 KB  
Review
Current and Developing Therapeutics for Dry Eye Disease: Targeting Ion Channels
by Rebecca Jung, Emily Kao, Victor H. Guaiquil, Ali R. Djalilian and Mark I. Rosenblatt
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2026, 48(3), 332; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb48030332 - 21 Mar 2026
Viewed by 735
Abstract
Dry eye disease (DED) is an ocular surface disorder characterized by tear film instability, inflammation, epithelial damage, and neurosensory abnormalities. Due to its multifactorial etiology and pathophysiology, conventional therapies that focus on lubrication and immunosuppression often fall short in addressing the neuropathic component [...] Read more.
Dry eye disease (DED) is an ocular surface disorder characterized by tear film instability, inflammation, epithelial damage, and neurosensory abnormalities. Due to its multifactorial etiology and pathophysiology, conventional therapies that focus on lubrication and immunosuppression often fall short in addressing the neuropathic component of ocular pain experienced by a growing subset of patients. Recent developments in sensory neuroscience have highlighted the pivotal role of ion channels in mediating ocular surface homeostasis, pain signaling, and inflammation. This review examines the role of the following major ion channel families in the pathophysiology of DED and neuropathic ocular pain: transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, voltage-gated sodium (Nav) channels, and purinergic P2X receptors. The review details their anatomical distribution, molecular function, and responses to environmental stimuli such as heat, cold, osmolarity, and injury. Current treatments, such as artificial tears, anti-inflammatory drops, and systemic neuromodulators, are also reviewed in relation to their effects on ion channel modulation. Additionally, emerging therapies that directly target sensory transduction pathways are introduced. This review highlights the therapeutic potential of ion channel modulation in personalizing treatment for patients with ocular surface pain, particularly those with neuropathic features unresponsive to standard care. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Latest Review Papers in Molecular Biology 2026)
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24 pages, 401 KB  
Review
Blood and Saliva Composition in Cancer: Similarities or Differences?
by Elena I. Dyachenko and Lyudmila V. Bel’skaya
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2026, 48(3), 308; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb48030308 - 12 Mar 2026
Viewed by 429
Abstract
Saliva is of great interest for diagnosing and monitoring various diseases, including cancer. Saliva contains a wide range of proteins, some of which are found in blood plasma, while others are unique. Despite the obvious advantages of using saliva for diagnostics and patient [...] Read more.
Saliva is of great interest for diagnosing and monitoring various diseases, including cancer. Saliva contains a wide range of proteins, some of which are found in blood plasma, while others are unique. Despite the obvious advantages of using saliva for diagnostics and patient monitoring, difficulties in interpreting salivary values remain. Furthermore, the extent to which salivary results correlate with blood test results remains unclear. In this review, we have collected and analyzed all currently available parallel studies of saliva and blood on the nature of changes in biochemical parameters, cytokines, growth factors, hormones, and tumor markers in cancer patients. The most contradictory and divergent changes in saliva and blood were observed when measuring biochemical parameters. Cytokines, growth factors, hormones, and tumor markers in both saliva and blood have a higher reproducibility between independent studies. It is important to consider that the causes and mechanisms behind a particular indicator in saliva may differ from those underlying the same indicators in the blood. Furthermore, these indicators may not always be directly related to cancer. We suggest that comparing identical parameters in blood and saliva is useful in the context of “pathological process routing.” The paper also provides interpretations and hypotheses regarding the causes and nature of changes in saliva and blood composition in cancer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Latest Review Papers in Molecular Biology 2026)
20 pages, 1680 KB  
Review
From Metabolism to Longevity: Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Metformin’s Anticancer and Anti-Aging Effects
by Slavica Vujovic, Svetlana Perovic, Milorad Vlaovic, Andjelka Scepanovic and Stasa Scepanovic
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2026, 48(3), 286; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb48030286 - 7 Mar 2026
Viewed by 1080
Abstract
Metformin has stood as the primary clinical tool for type 2 diabetes for decades, yet its potential reach into oncology and gerontology is only now being critically dissected. This review evaluates how metformin might actually pull the levers of cancer progression and biological [...] Read more.
Metformin has stood as the primary clinical tool for type 2 diabetes for decades, yet its potential reach into oncology and gerontology is only now being critically dissected. This review evaluates how metformin might actually pull the levers of cancer progression and biological aging. Evidence from across various models suggests that the drug works by recalibrating cellular energy homeostasis—specifically by triggering AMPK and dampening the mTOR pathway. This signaling shift ripples through downstream processes like autophagy and oxidative stress regulation, theoretically slowing tumor growth and pushing back against cellular senescence. However, our look at the literature from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science shows a messy reality where preclinical success often stalls during clinical translation. Even though observational data point toward lower cancer rates in diabetic cohorts, these “wins” are frequently skewed by clinical confounders and inconsistent data. This makes the leap from metabolic control to a broad-spectrum anti-aging or anticancer therapy a point of serious contention. We argue that only large-scale, randomized trials can truly verify if metformin is safe and effective for non-diabetic populations. In the end, untangling these molecular routes is the only way to see if metformin belongs in future oncological or healthy aging strategies. That being said, at least mechanistically, metformin definitely offers potential that warrants such large-scale research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Latest Review Papers in Molecular Biology 2026)
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27 pages, 1356 KB  
Review
Epigenetic, Genetic, and Functional Germline Alterations of PAX Genes in Human Pathology: A Comprehensive Update
by Valentina Lopez Gomez, Samantha Wegner, Stephanie Ocejo, Dezaray Perez, Diana Jabbour, Virginia Fernandez, Amr Abulaban, Marwan Bahmad, Tarec K. Elajami, Wassim Abou-Kheir and Hisham F. Bahmad
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2026, 48(2), 236; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb48020236 - 23 Feb 2026
Viewed by 657
Abstract
Paired box (PAX) genes encode a family of nine transcription factors that function as master regulators of embryogenesis, organogenesis, and lineage specification. Their tightly regulated spatial and temporal expression is essential for the development of multiple organ systems, including the central [...] Read more.
Paired box (PAX) genes encode a family of nine transcription factors that function as master regulators of embryogenesis, organogenesis, and lineage specification. Their tightly regulated spatial and temporal expression is essential for the development of multiple organ systems, including the central nervous system, eyes, kidneys, immune system, musculoskeletal system, and endocrine organs. Germline mutations of PAX genes result in a broad and often pleiotropic spectrum of human disease, reflecting the developmental programs governed by each family member. Pathogenic variants in PAX genes underlie diverse congenital disorders such as aniridia (PAX6), renal coloboma syndrome (PAX2), otofaciocervical syndrome with immunodeficiency (PAX1), Waardenburg syndrome (PAX3), maturity-onset diabetes of the young (PAX4), and tooth agenesis (PAX9). These conditions frequently demonstrate variable expressivity, incomplete penetrance, and overlapping phenotypes, which make it challenging to be clinically recognized. Beyond embryogenesis and embryologic development, emerging evidence indicates that several PAX proteins remain active in postnatal tissue maintenance, adult stem cell regulation, immune function, and regenerative responses (particularly PAX7 in skeletal muscle satellite cells and PAX5 in B-cell homeostasis), further expanding their clinical relevance. This review provides a synopsis of the major, clinically relevant, germline PAX gene mutations, emphasizing genotype–phenotype correlations, developmental mechanisms, and disease classification across the organ systems. By integrating molecular genetics with human pathology, we highlight the diagnostic implications of PAX genes as central determinants of congenital disease and provide a framework for understanding how alterations in the developmental transcriptional networks translate into human pathology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Latest Review Papers in Molecular Biology 2026)
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17 pages, 766 KB  
Review
Contact Unmodified Antisense DNA Biotechnology (CUADb)-Based Oligonucleotide Insecticides and RNA Biocontrols: Molecular Bases and Potential in Plant Protection
by Vol Oberemok, Kate Laikova, Jamin Ali, Ilyas Chachoua and Nikita Gal’chinsky
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2026, 48(2), 235; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb48020235 - 23 Feb 2026
Viewed by 524
Abstract
Recent advances in molecular genetics, nucleic acid synthesis, and bioinformatics have provided novel opportunities for plants’ protection against insect pests. Currently, both DNA and RNA serve as active insecticidal ingredients, transcending their traditional role as carriers of genetic information. This novel activity is [...] Read more.
Recent advances in molecular genetics, nucleic acid synthesis, and bioinformatics have provided novel opportunities for plants’ protection against insect pests. Currently, both DNA and RNA serve as active insecticidal ingredients, transcending their traditional role as carriers of genetic information. This novel activity is achieved through two fundamentally distinct mechanisms. The first one is DNA containment (DNAc), employing oligonucleotide insecticides based on contact unmodified antisense DNA biotechnology (CUADb), also known as ’genetic zipper’ technology. The second one is RNA interference (RNAi), employing RNA biocontrols based on double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) technology. The investigation of the molecular mechanism underlying the antisense activity of nucleic acids emerged in the early 1960s. While the antisense effects of RNA in gene silencing through interference (RNAi) was documented in the late 1990s as antiviral immune responses in nematodes, the CUADb antisense approach initially emerged as a powerful strategy for pest control against lepidopterans in 2008. The CUADb approach relies on disrupting rRNA biogenesis and ribosome production, while RNAi shows the best results in mRNA degradation and no efficient result is known for rRNA. The efficacy of these approaches appears to be species dependent. For example, CUADb demonstrates optimal activity against Sternorrhyncha (e.g., aphids, mealybugs, psyllids, and scale insects), thrips, and mites. In turn, the RNAi strategy shows a strong insecticidal potential against beetles from the Tenebrionidae and Chrysomelidae families. Here, we will review the differences between the two technologies, their mechanisms of action and the current challenges facing their adoption. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Latest Review Papers in Molecular Biology 2026)
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Graphical abstract

14 pages, 451 KB  
Review
Comparative Analysis of Methodological Aspects of the Study of Extracellular Vesicles and Extracellular Mitochondria: From Isolation to Internalization
by Natalia Yunusova, Dmitry Svarovsky, Evgenya Kaigorodova, Alexey Dobrodeev, Virab Sisakian and Svetlana Tamkovich
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2026, 48(2), 217; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb48020217 - 16 Feb 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 648
Abstract
Mitochondrial transfer in mammals has been proven to occur both under physiological conditions and during pathological conditions. It has been shown that neighboring cells can exchange mitochondria via nanotunnel tubes. However, there is evidence that free mitochondria, as well as whole mitochondria and [...] Read more.
Mitochondrial transfer in mammals has been proven to occur both under physiological conditions and during pathological conditions. It has been shown that neighboring cells can exchange mitochondria via nanotunnel tubes. However, there is evidence that free mitochondria, as well as whole mitochondria and individual mitochondrial fragments, can be transported between cells within extracellular vesicles (EVs). This review discusses the methodological aspects of isolation and a minimal set of methods for characterizing mitochondria-rich EVs (mitoEVs), as well as methodological approaches for studying the nucleic acid, protein, and lipid composition. It has been shown that mitoEVs, as well as extracellular mitochondria, contain a characteristic set of nucleic acids of mitochondrial origin. First and foremost, the dominant fraction of mitochondrial nucleic acids is mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), a circular double-stranded molecule approximately 16.6 thousand base pairs in length. The mechanisms involved in EV internalization include clathrin-dependent endocytosis, caveolin-dependent endocytosis, raft-mediated endocytosis, and macropinocytosis. Mitochondrial-enriched autologous and xenogeneic EVs are thought to be internalized by similar mechanisms. The review also presents the main sources (stem cells, platelet concentrate, peripheral blood mononuclear cells) for obtaining mitochondria-rich EVs for therapeutic purposes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Latest Review Papers in Molecular Biology 2026)
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Graphical abstract

21 pages, 1381 KB  
Review
Diverse Bacterial Anti-Phage Strategies: From the Laboratory to the Clinic
by Yong Shao, Zhu Gao, Ying Zhang and Jianqiong Zhang
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2026, 48(2), 191; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb48020191 - 8 Feb 2026
Viewed by 693
Abstract
Refractory infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria have emerged as a substantial threat to public health, prompting renewed interest in phage therapy. Bacteria and phages are ubiquitous in diverse environments, engaging in continuous interaction and co-evolution. In response to phage infection, bacteria have developed [...] Read more.
Refractory infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria have emerged as a substantial threat to public health, prompting renewed interest in phage therapy. Bacteria and phages are ubiquitous in diverse environments, engaging in continuous interaction and co-evolution. In response to phage infection, bacteria have developed an array of defense mechanisms. Current studies on bacteria–phage interactions predominantly focus on laboratory settings using artificial media, whereas the final goal of phage therapy—to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria—lies in its clinical application. This review describes bacterial defense strategies against phage infection in the context of laboratory-based artificial media, animal experiments and clinical cases, aiming to deepen the understanding of bacteria–phage interactions and promote the advancement of effective phage therapy for clinical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Latest Review Papers in Molecular Biology 2026)
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