Search Results (3,497)

Amaranthin is a major red-violet betacyanin of Amaranthaceae and an increasingly relevant natural pigment for food, cosmetic, nutraceutical, and biotechnological applications. This review integrates knowledge from over 100 studies, addressing amaranthin as a chemically defined betalain, distinguishing it from other scientific uses of the term, and evaluates its natural sources, analytical methods, extraction strategies, in vitro production systems, biosynthetic regulation, and biological activity. Cultivated Amaranthus species are among the richest plant sources, with total betacyanins of 46.1–199 mg/100 g fresh weight and amaranthin constituting up to 80.9% of the pigment fraction. Reliable identification and quantification rely on high performance liquid chromatography coupled with a diode array detector (HPLC-DAD), liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectrophotometry, while microwave-, ultrasound-, and green solvent-assisted extraction markedly improve pigment recovery and stability. While plant in vitro cultures, including callus, suspension, and shoot systems, have clarified biosynthetic regulation and offer controlled production platforms, engineered Yarrowia lipolytica CcAmaSy1 currently provides the highest reported yield, reaching 2.97 ± 0.029 g L⁻¹ in fed-batch fermentation. Amaranthin-rich extracts and purified pigments demonstrate antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiviral potential; however, mechanistic, bioavailability, and in vivo evidence remain limited. Standardized analytical protocols, further investigation of stable high-yield sources, physicochemical stability assessment, and structure–activity studies are identified as priorities for advancing future application-oriented research on this multipotential pigment. Full article

Fungi of the genus Pleurotus are increasingly studied not only for their ecological versatility and saprotrophic capabilities but also for their potential in biotechnological applications such as nutrient bioaccumulation. As sustainable alternatives to animal protein sources, Pleurotus species combine high nutritional value with the ability to grow on agro-industrial residues. This review explores the bioaccumulation potential of Pleurotus species of essential compounds of biotechnological interest, particularly selenium and iron, focusing on applications in sustainable nutrition and functional ingredient development. Notably, the substrate composition can nearly double protein content, and selenium-enriched mushrooms can reach up to 858 µg/g without compromising biological efficiency, depending on the dose and chemical form. Similarly, iron biofortification achieved up to 4176 µg/g in P. pulmonarius with minimal productivity loss. Among the species analysed, P. ostreatus and P. eryngii stood out for their productivity and nutritional quality, while P. citrinopileatus recorded the highest protein content at 34.7% dry weight. Overall, mineral biofortification of Pleurotus spp. emerges as a promising strategy to support sustainable food systems, address global micronutrient deficiencies, and expand the biotechnological use of edible fungi. Full article

This narrative review synthesizes current knowledge on MADS-Box 27 (OsMADS27), a member of the AGL17 clade in rice that has emerged as a regulatory node linking nitrate signaling, root development, and abiotic stress tolerance. Because most functional and mechanistic studies on OsMADS27 to date have been conducted in rice, this review is centered on Oryza sativa, with cross-species comparisons used for evolutionary and comparative context. Specifically, we summarize the gene and protein structure, phylogenetic position, expression profile, upstream and downstream regulation, and emerging functional significance of OsMADS27. OsMADS27 is a typical MIKC-type MADS-box protein with root-preferential expression, and its activity is strongly influenced by nitrate availability and miR444-mediated regulation. Evidence from functional genomics, transcriptomics, ChIP-based studies, and transgenic analyses suggests that OsMADS27 contributes to the regulation of root architecture, nitrate uptake, hormonal crosstalk, and stress-responsive pathways. Notably, OsMADS27 enhances salt tolerance through nitrate-dependent activation of downstream targets such as OsHKT1;1 and OsSPL7, contributing to ion homeostasis and salinity tolerance. Recent findings also suggest roles in grain size regulation and yield improvement, expanding its significance beyond root biology. This review compares OsMADS27 with AGL17-clade genes and highlights its value for crop improvement aimed at salinity tolerance and nitrogen use efficiency. However, important research gaps remain, particularly the limited field-level validation, the absence of integrated multi-omics analyses, and the lack of functional studies of OsMADS27 orthologs in non-rice crops. Overall, OsMADS27 represents promising rice-centered target for future biotechnology applications, while its translational relevance to other cereals remains to be established through orthology analysis and field-level evaluation. Full article

Forensic biotechnology is a rapidly evolving interdisciplinary field integrating molecular biology, genomics, and data science to address complex investigative challenges. Its applications span diverse domains, including criminalistics, food authentication, environmental monitoring, and bioterrorism preparedness. Advanced technologies such as Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), CRISPR-Cas biosensors, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) play pivotal roles in modern diagnostics. NGS and eDNA revolutionize genetic profiling and ecological tracking, while microbiome analysis provides crucial insights into post-mortem intervals, cause of death, and geolocation. Simultaneously, CRISPR-based methods enable ultra-rapid pathogen detection, nanobiotechnology facilitates portable Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) DNA analysis, and AI-driven algorithms optimize the interpretation of complex genomic mixtures and epigenetic age estimation. Despite these breakthroughs, significant challenges persist, including the strict legal admissibility of novel methodologies, the “black-box” dilemma in AI, ethical concerns regarding genetic privacy, and the critical need for global standardization. This review critically examines current biotechnological progress and future prospects, emphasizing the necessity of interdisciplinary collaboration to ensure reliable, accurate, and ethically sound forensic practices. Full article

Phosphorus (P) is an essential macronutrient that plays a critical role in plant growth, development, and productivity. However, limited soil phosphorus availability can reduce crop performance in maize (Zea mays L.) and peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.). Native phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) convert insoluble P forms into plant-accessible forms. The aim of this study was to select efficient plant growth promotion native PSB to be used as a biological input in the development of sustainable biotechnological biofertilizers. For this, the effects of the inoculation of PSB isolates on maize and peanut’s phosphorus uptake, growth, and yield were evaluated. The assays were developed both under controlled greenhouse conditions and in field trials. Inoculation with native PSB strains significantly enhanced the plant growth and increased the phosphorus content of maize and peanut by 38–58% and 49.6%, respectively. These effects became evident earlier in the peanut than in maize. In field trials, inoculation with Serratia sp. S119 without chemical fertilizer application significantly increased maize yield. In conclusion, native PSB strains significantly promote plant growth, enhance phosphorus acquisition, and improve crop yield. The use of Serratia sp. S119 as a phosphate biofertilizer represents a promising strategy to reduce chemical fertilizer inputs and to promote more sustainable agricultural systems. Full article

The nucleic acid amplification reaction has extremely high requirements for the precision of temperature control. The conventional PID control algorithms exhibit limitations in nonlinear and time-varying PCR temperature control systems, including poor adaptive parameter adjustment, excessive overshoot, and insufficient steady-state precision, which directly restricts the efficiency and specificity of nucleic acid amplification. This paper focuses on the design and optimization of the fuzzy PID temperature control algorithm. By combining the nonlinear adaptive advantages of fuzzy control and the steady-state precision of PID control, a temperature control algorithm model suitable for the thermal convection nucleic acid amplification instrument was constructed. This device can adapt to the thermal convection temperature control mode, providing a stable reaction platform for the subsequent algorithm performance testing and nucleic acid amplification experiments. For this fuzzy PID temperature control algorithm, this study established a simulation model using MATLAB/Simulink R2020a by defining the fuzzy input and output variables and designing the membership functions and fuzzy rule base. A performance comparison of temperature control was then conducted between this algorithm and the conventional PID algorithm. The nucleic acid amplification experiment verified the effectiveness of this algorithm in practical applications. The simulation results demonstrate that the fuzzy PID algorithm significantly suppresses the system overshoot, effectively shortens the adjustment time, and achieves a steady-state control precision of ±0.05 °C. The temperature control system equipped with this algorithm achieves a heating rate of 7.5 ± 0.1 °C/s, a cooling rate of 13.5 ± 0.1 °C/s, a steady-state temperature deviation of only ±0.1 °C, and an amplification efficiency of 98.7%. All performance indicators are superior to those of the conventional PID temperature control system and existing commercial instruments. This fuzzy PID temperature control algorithm provides crucial technical support for enhancing the efficiency, specificity, and repeatability of nucleic acid amplification, and holds broad application value in the biotechnology field with high requirement on precision temperature control. Full article

This study evaluates the development of Halomonas bluephagenesis TD01 as a novel, sustainable microbial platform for the production of hyaluronic acid (HA). Three distinct hyaluronan synthase genes (sezHasA and spHasA—Class I from the Streptococcal group—and pmHasA) were heterologously expressed and compared, with the Class II synthase from Pasteurella multocida (pmHasA) emerging as the superior variant in rich media 60-LBG, achieving significantly higher titers of 0.88 g/L and molecular weight (M_w) of 1.15 MDa (Mega Daltons). Using a combination of Plackett–Burman design and Response Surface Methodology (RSM), the fermentation process was optimized, identifying initial pH, nitrogen source, and NaCl concentration as critical factors. These optimizations led to a maximum HA yield from 0.88 to 2.38 g/L (265% improvement) and M_w from 1.15 to 9.67 MDa. Furthermore, the study demonstrates precise tuning of HA molecular weight, ranging from 2.04 MDa to 9.67 MDa in a modified medium (40LBG-Y), by modulating L-arabinose induction levels. The structural integrity of the purified HA was confirmed via ESI-MS and ¹H-NMR. These findings establish H. bluephagenesis TD01 as a robust Next-Generation Industrial Biotechnology (NGIB) chassis for the scalable and customizable production of HA with a minimal cost and high-molecular-weight HA for medical applications. Full article

Traditional fermented dairy products represent an important source of autochthonous microorganisms with potential applications in food biotechnology. This study aimed to isolate and characterize microorganisms from the traditional Kazakh fermented product kurt collected from different regions of the Abai area (Kazakhstan) and to evaluate their suitability for biotechnological applications in meat processing. Microbial isolation was performed using MRS medium under anaerobic conditions, followed by morphological and physiological characterization. Accurate identification was carried out using MALDI-TOF MS and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The results showed that microbial counts ranged from 10⁶ to 10⁸ CFU/g, confirming high microbial diversity of kurt. MALDI-TOF MS analysis revealed the presence of Pichia fermentans, Enterococcus faecalis, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, and Lactobacillus helveticus, indicating that MRS medium supports the growth of both lactic acid bacteria and accompanying microbiota. Subsequent molecular analysis confirmed Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Lactobacillus helveticus as the most promising strains. These isolates demonstrated tolerance to salt, acidic conditions, and mesophilic temperatures, which are essential for meat fermentation processes. In contrast, Enterococcus faecalis was excluded from further application due to potential safety concerns. Overall, the study demonstrates that kurt is a valuable source of technologically important microorganisms and that the identified strains (Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Lactobacillus helveticus) are promising candidates for the development of starter cultures for fermented goat meat processing. Full article

Analysis of protein binding affinity to nanoparticles is essential for understanding how nanoparticles behave in biological systems and for optimizing their applications in medicine and biotechnology. This study demonstrates the dependence of protein binding and fluorescence quenching constants (HEWL and BSA) in the presence of gold (AuNP) or iron oxide (IONP) nanoparticles on pH and temperature. The highest binding and quenching constants were observed for proteins with gold nanoparticles (~10⁹ M⁻¹). No clear effect of pH or temperature on either the binding or quenching constants of proteins with gold nanoparticles was detected. Conversely, different temperature trends were observed for the binding and quenching constants at different pH levels and for different proteins with iron oxide nanoparticles. It was shown that the nature of the nanoparticles has the strongest influence on their interactions with proteins, while the influence of environmental conditions can be considered secondary. Full article

Understanding biological communities is essential for elucidating ecosystem structure and function. Metabarcoding based on ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, particularly 16S and 23S, is widely used to characterise bacterial and microalgal communities. However, analysing high-throughput sequencing data generated by platforms such as the Illumina MiSeq remains challenging due to fragmented bioinformatics tools, complex parameterisation, and limited accessibility for non-specialist users. In this study, a comprehensive and user-friendly bioinformatics pipeline is proposed for the analysis of 16S and 23S paired-end metabarcoding data. The workflow integrates all critical processing steps, including read merging, primer and adapter trimming, quality filtering, dereplication, chimaera removal, and clustering into Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs). Taxonomic assignment is performed using curated reference databases, namely EZBioCloud for bacterial communities and µgreen for microalgae. The pipeline was developed in Python 3.11 and incorporates validated tools such as VSEARCH and Cutadapt, ensuring robustness and computational efficiency. Additionally, modules for alpha and beta diversity analysis are included to support comprehensive ecological interpretation. The main novelty of this work lies in providing a unified, GUI-based framework that enables the standardised processing of dual-marker (16S/23S) metabarcoding data within a single environment. In its current implementation, SOMBA supports the analysis of each marker through separate but harmonised workflows, ensuring consistency in parameterisation, processing steps, and output structure. This approach provides an accessible and standardised solution that bridges the gap between raw sequencing data and reliable biological insights, supporting applications in environmental microbiology and biotechnology. Full article

The modern food industry faces increasing pressure to reduce environmental impacts, while at the same time preserving product safety, quality, nutritional value, and industrial relevance. This review synthesizes three related pillars of sustainable food processing: green extraction technologies, natural fermentation, and analytical quality validation. Green extraction methods can reduce dependence on conventional organic solvents, shorten processing time, and support the extraction of bioactive compounds from plant materials and by-products of the food industry. Natural fermentation is a low-impact biotechnological approach to improve sensory quality, shelf life, nutritional value, and valorization of low-cost raw materials or residues. However, sustainability cannot be judged only through lower consumption of resources or general “green” claims. It also requires analytical confirmation of the content of bioactive compounds, oxidative stability, contaminants, authenticity, traceability, standardization, and product safety. In response to reviewers’ recommendations, the review includes a transparent literature selection protocol, a clearer distinction of challenges, research gaps, and future perspectives, as well as additional quantitative comparative tables covering extraction technologies, fermentation applications, and analytical methods. The review shows that the future of sustainable food processing depends on integrating extraction, fermentation, by-product valorization, foodomics approaches, life cycle thinking, real-time monitoring, and industrial-scale validation within the circular economy. Full article

Cysteine proteases (bromelain, ficin, and papain) are widely used in biotechnology and medicine, but their application is limited by rapid autolysis and oxidative inactivation. This study aimed to develop effective supports for these enzymes based on graft copolymers of sodium alginate and poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (SA-g-PVP) and to elucidate the structure–property relationships governing immobilization efficiency, catalytic activity, and storage stability. Copolymers were synthesized via radical solution polymerization under optimized conditions. Enzymes were immobilized by physical adsorption, and the resulting complexes were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, protein content assays, proteolytic and amidase activity measurements, and molecular docking. The graft copolymer with a smaller particle size in solution provided a larger accessible surface area, leading to higher bromelain and papain loading. Ficin showed the opposite trend due to its unique surface amino acid composition. Immobilization dramatically increased storage stability: half-life values for bromelain, ficin, and papain reached up to 20, 14, and 14 days, respectively, compared to 1–3 days for the free enzymes. Molecular docking revealed that the dense polymer shell stabilizes the enzyme tertiary structure by forming multiple contacts with internal cavities and tunnels, thereby preventing autolysis and conformational unfolding. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that SA-g-PVP copolymers are promising, non-toxic supports for cysteine proteases, with ficin showing up to 100% activity recovery, making them suitable for food, cosmetic, and biomedical applications. Full article

Yellow passion fruit production is frequently limited by water scarcity, necessitating biotechnological strategies to ensure seedling quality. This study investigated the synergistic effects of Bacillus aryabhattai (Auras^®) and silicon (Si) as mitigators of water deficit in Passiflora edulis seedlings. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse in Catolé do Rocha, PB, Brazil, using 4 dm³ plastic bags. A randomized block design was used with a 4 × 3 + 2 factorial scheme, testing four available water contents (AWC: 50, 60, 70, and 80%) combined with three mitigation strategies (Auras, Si, and Auras + Si), plus two additional controls (50% and 100% AWC). Water deficit severely compromised growth and soil biological activity; however, mitigation treatments significantly improved physiological and biochemical responses. When applied separately, B. aryabhattai inoculation enhanced the accumulation of photoprotective pigments (carotenoids) and secondary metabolites (flavonoids and anthocyanins) under severe drought, while individual Si application provided homeostatic stability to plant biomass, maintaining dry matter production at levels comparable to moderate irrigation. The Auras + Si combination was the most effective, promoting the highest membrane stability, pigment maintenance, and vigorous growth even under 50% AWC. Furthermore, this interaction optimized soil microbial biomass and reduced the metabolic quotient by 56.7% compared to the stress control. These findings demonstrate that the combined application of B. aryabhattai and Si effectively mitigates the negative impacts of water scarcity on the initial development of passion fruit seedlings and soil microbial activity. Full article

The cellulose synthase gene superfamily encompasses two major groups, CesA and Csl, which are vital for synthesizing cellulose and hemicellulose in plant cell walls and fundamental to plant growth and developmental regulation. Madhuca pasquieri is a rare tree with high timber value. Currently, there is no relevant report on the identification and characterization of the CesA/Csl gene family in M. pasquieri. In this study, based on the high-quality genome of M. pasquieri, 47 members of the CesA/Csl superfamily were identified and classified into seven subfamilies, including CesA, CslA, CslB, CslC, CslD, CslE and CslG. Cis-acting elements were identified via analysis of the 2000 bp upstream sequences of MpCesA, suggesting extensive involvement in biotic and abiotic stress regulation. Based on the transcriptome data of five growth periods, the expression of the CesA/Csl family was analyzed. Combined with phylogenetic information, it is inferred that MpCesA4/7b/7a/8b may regulate the secondary wall, while MpCesA1/3b/6b may regulate the primary wall. Protein–protein interaction showed that MpCesA4/7b/8a were in the core site. Finally, we constructed the cellulose synthase complex (MpCesA4/7b/8b) model using AlphaFold3, which suggests that MpCesA4/7b/8b may form a complex on the plasma membrane to carry out cellulose synthesis. This study has a limitation in that the complex and its expression lack experimental validation, and only data analysis is provided as a reference, offering some directions for future research. In summary, the systematic characterization of the MpCesA/Csl gene family provides important insights into cell wall formation, genetic enhancement, and future biotechnological applications of this species. Full article

This review offers an in-depth look at the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of MNPs as superparamagnetic and high-surface-area-to-volume entities, considering their applications in MRI, magnetic hyperthermia, and targeted drug delivery. Based on an integrative approach, which includes systematic searches in 3 main bibliographic databases, 870 articles, semantic network analysis, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and gap classification (Miles’ taxonomy), our analysis identifies a constant gap between lab performances and in vivo applications, described through eight critical challenges. The development of MNP-based biotechnologies is largely hindered by open issues in terms of safety, standardization, and control of the nanobio interface, mainly incomplete physicochemical characterization and poor methodological harmonization, because the high sensitivity of MNPs to synthesis routes and scale is a major bottleneck for GMP-compatible translation. Moreover, the analysis of in vivo data suggests that, on average, less than 1% of the injected dose accumulates in solid tumors, whereas a substantial fraction is diverted to non-target organs, particularly those associated with the mononuclear phagocyte system, reinforcing concerns regarding off-target sequestration, incomplete clearance, and long-term safety. Other critical challenges include complex interactions with biofluids, lack of unifying conceptual frameworks, limited experimental validation, underexploited methodological integration, and geographical and biological biases. Consequently, successfully overcoming these challenges will require the early and deliberate integration of rigorous materials engineering, mechanistic biological insight, and application-oriented validation for robust, reproducible, and translatable magnetic nanoplatforms. Full article