Introduction/Objective: Medicinal plants constitute a major reservoir of biologically active compounds with applications in medicine, nutrition, and biotechnology. Among them, the family Asteraceae— comprising nearly 23,000 species worldwide—represents one of the most diverse botanical groups with significant ethnopharmacological value. Numerous species are traditionally used for therapeutic purposes and increasingly exploited in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. Patent systems play a central role in documenting technological progress and protecting intellectual property in this domain. The present study aims to analyze the evolution and technological dynamics of innovations related to medicinal plants of the Asteraceae family through a comprehensive patent landscape assessment spanning 2000–2025. Methods: A systematic patent landscape analysis was conducted on November 1, 2025, using The Lens database (https://www.lens.org). Targeted keyword strategies related to the Asteraceae family and selected medicinal species were used to retrieve patent records, with searches restricted to the title, abstract, and claims fields. Publication date and document type filters were applied to improve search precision and ensure reproducibility. The final dataset comprised 130,605 patent documents (103,676 simple patent families), including patent applications, granted patents, plant patents, amended applications, and patents of addition, published between January 1, 2000 and November 1, 2025. The dataset was analyzed by International Patent Classification (IPC) codes, geographical jurisdictions, leading applicants, application domains, and temporal trends in patent activity. Results: Patent activity demonstrated a steady growth from the early 2000s, reaching a maximum in 2016 with 11,499 documents, followed by a gradual decline after 2020. Therefore, the observed decrease during 2023-2025 is likely attributable, at least in part, to publication lag rather than to a true reduction in research and development or patenting efforts. Geographically, China dominated the innovation landscape, accounting for 61,494 patent documents, highlighting its strong investment in plant-based biotechnology. The most frequent IPC classifications were associated with genetic engineering, cosmetic formulations, and nutraceutical compositions. The analyzed patents reveal extensive technological diversity. Agricultural innovations include genetic improvement of sunflower cultivars for early flowering, development of disease- resistant lettuce varieties, and the development of high-performance ornamental cultivars, such as Zinnia elegans. Concurrently, phytopharmaceutical developments involve bioactive extracts from species, such as Cynara scolymus with hypoglycemic activity, Smallanthus sonchifolius for diabetes management, Stevia rebaudiana for noncaloric sweeteners, Tanacetum vulgare in anti-aging formulations, and Echinacea purpurea for immunostimulatory preparations. discussion: The analyzed patents showcase diverse innovations across horticulture and phytopharmacy. Agricultural developments range from the genetic improvement of sunflowers for early flowering to the creation of disease-resistant lettuce and high-performance Zinnia elegans varieties. Simultaneously, significant advances are evident in botanical extracts, including artichoke with hypoglycemic activity, Smallanthus sonchifolius for diabetes management, Stevia rebaudiana-based sweeteners, Tanacetum vulgare for anti-aging, and standardized Echinacea purpurea for immunostimulation. These results highlight the multifunctionality of Asteraceae species and their strategic role in biotechnology, cosmetics, and functional foods. Discussion: The patent landscape highlights the multifunctional potential of Asteraceae species across several industrial sectors. Innovations span agricultural biotechnology, functional foods, phytotherapy, and cosmetic formulations. The coexistence of traditional botanical knowledge with modern biotechnological approaches demonstrates a strong convergence between ethnopharmacology and industrial innovation. However, challenges remain regarding regulatory approval, sustainable resource management, and efficient technology transfer from research institutions to commercial applications. Conclusion: Patent analysis provides valuable insights into technological trajectories and innovation dynamics within plant-based industries. The results confirm the strategic importance of Asteraceae species as versatile bioresources for biotechnology, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceutical development. Despite strong global innovation momentum, further efforts are required to ensure sustainable exploitation, regulatory compliance, and effective valorization of plant biodiversity. Consequently, patent landscape studies represent a powerful analytical tool for guiding research priorities and promoting responsible innovation in medicinal plant research.
Abstract: Callus culture is a technique that is used in plant biotechnology. For the controlled production of important secondary metabolites with medicinal value, the callus culture technique is widely utilized. Callus is an unorganized cellular mass of totipotent plant cells with the ability of biosynthesizing bioactive secondary metabolites, such as alkaloids, phenolics, flavonoids, terpenoids, and steroids. This review emphasizes the historical developments in callus culture and recent advances in optimizing culture conditions, plant growth regulators, and elicitors to enhance metabolite accumulation. The callus induction by phytohormones, followed by stimulation of secondary metabolite production by biotic and abiotic elicitors are extensively discussed in this review. Further, the molecular mechanisms and insights underlying elicitor perception and signal transduction, including Ca²⁺ fluxes, ROS bursts, MAPK activation, and transcriptional regulation of genes involved in biosynthesis, are emphasized. This review also focuses on applications, limitations, and the possibilities for scaling up metabolite production using the callus culture technique. In conclusion, this review highlights that callus culture paves the way for a sustainable platform for the production of medicinally important secondary metabolites.
Background: The estimation of peptides binding to the Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) has significant implications for rational vaccine design and other immunotherapies. The present work employs an Inverse folding (IF) approach to estimate HLA-binding peptides and to establish a correlation between experimental binding affinity and the estimated interaction potential score of HLAA* 0201-peptide interactions. Methods: The interaction potential score of a peptide is computed as the total energy of interaction with the contact residues of the HLA and peptide using statistical pairwise contact potentials, namely Miyazawa-Jernigan (MJ), and Betancourt-Thirumalai (BT). Results: The results showed a negative correlation between computed MJ and BT interaction potential scores and experimental binding affinity of peptides to the HLA-A*0201 molecule. BT scores correlate better with the experimental binding affinities of peptides, as indicated by Pearson's correlation coefficient (-0.568, R² =0.322, p < 0.001), compared to MJ scores (-0.457, R2 =0.208, p < 0.001). Discussion: Since the HLA class I molecules have specificity for certain amino acid side chains in distinct binding pockets within the binding cleft, the structural templates of peptide-bound HLA molecules may provide a means to interrogate the interactions between HLA and peptide. IF indirectly explores the underlying fitness landscape by focusing exploration on regions where the protein's backbone fold is preserved. Given the involvement of multiple template structures for combinations of peptides and HLA alleles, the IF approach is expected to be more robust. Conclusion: The IF approach demonstrates potential for evaluating the intricate assembly of HLA molecules with any novel peptide, which holds significant relevance for vaccine development.
The advent of COVID-19 has significantly affected global healthcare systems, not only through the direct impact of SARS-CoV-2 but also by triggering an increase in opportunistic infections such as COVID-19-associated candidiasis (CAC). Critically ill patients, particularly those in Intensive Care Units (ICUs), are highly vulnerable due to prolonged hospitalization, mechanical ventilation, and the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, corticosteroids, and immunosuppressive therapies. Candida auris has emerged as a high-priority pathogen. This review summarizes the interplay between SARS-CoV-2 infection and Candida colonization or invasion, highlighting key clinical and microbiological risk factors. Global epidemiological data show marked regional variation and a rising prevalence of non-albicans Candida species in ICUs across India, Iran, Europe, and the Americas. Clinically, CAC may present as persistent fever unresponsive to antibiotics or progress to systemic candidemia with multi-organ involvement. Diagnosis remains challenging due to symptom overlap with severe COVID-19. However, blood cultures remain standard; their low sensitivity necessitates adjunctive tools such as β-D-glucan assays, PCR-based methods, and radiological evaluation. Management involves early initiation of antifungal therapy, preferably echinocandins, along with supportive measures, including glycemic control, judicious use of immunosuppressants, and strict infection-control practices. Key research priorities include rapid diagnostics, novel antifungal agents, strategies targeting biofilms, and strengthened surveillance of antifungal resistance. In conclusion, CAC represents a serious emerging complication in COVID-19 care. Effective prevention and management require multidisciplinary efforts encompassing timely diagnosis, optimized treatment, and robust public-health interventions.
Improvement in food processing can be achieved by applying a bioemulsifier produced from microorganisms isolated from overripe fruit The study aims to isolate, optimize, characterize, and determine the application of a bioemulsifier from Candida tropicalis MN450877.1, obtained from overripe bananas. Candida tropicalis MN450877.1 was identified using 16S rRNA sequencing and BLAST analysis. The autoclaving extraction procedure was optimized using a 5-level, 2-factor central composite design (CCD). Purification was conducted via Sephadex G-50 gel filtration chromatography. Comprehensive characterization was performed using HPLC, SEM-EDX, FTIR, 1 H and 13C NMR, and SDS-PAGE. The bioemulsifier was applied as a food additive in mayonnaise production at a concentration of 0.5% (w/v) and evaluated for its sensory and toxicological properties The bioemulsifier composition exhibited similarity to structural mannoprotein, with 11.32% protein and 88.68% carbohydrate. The optimized conditions, at 121 ºC for 120 min, yielded 0.232 g per 0.3 g dry cells, with an emulsification index of 55.5%, a protein content of 0.488 mg/mL, and a carbohydrate content of 5.4 mg/g. SDS-PAGE revealed a molecular mass of 38 kDa. FTIR confirmed the presence of glycoprotein, while HPLC revealed various molecular weight fractions, including monosaccharides, polysaccharides, and glycoproteins. SEM-EDX analysis confirmed porous, aggregated biopolymer structures with an elemental composition predominantly consisting of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus. ¹H NMR validated glycoprotein structures with characteristic functional groups. Toxicity evaluation indicated an LD50 above 5000 mg/kg. Sensory analysis demonstrated functional properties comparable to those of commercial emulsifiers. Physicochemical, structural, and functional analyses jointly support the classification of the purified compound as a glycoprotein-based bioemulsifier. The absence of toxicity at high doses supports its safety; however, long-term assessments and broader application across food matrices are recommended. The bioemulsifier from Candida tropicalis MN450877.1 demonstrates promising emulsification, physicochemical, toxicological, and sensory properties, supporting its potential use as a food additive.
Abstract: Anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria are a diverse group of microorganisms, including genera such as Chloroflexus, Rubrivivax, and Rhodopseudomonas. These photoautotrophs are defined by their ability to grow using light with distinctive metabolic properties that enable them to carry out Extracellular Electron Transfer (EET) without producing oxygen as a by-product. These microorganisms play a significant role in biogeochemical cycles such as the carbon and sulfur cycles in aquatic and sedimentary environments. Their specialized photosynthetic systems, which include bacteriochlorophyll- based light-harvesting complexes and electron transport chains, allow efficient utilization of light energy under anaerobic conditions. In recent years, the application of anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria in bioelectrochemical systems has gained increasing attention. Anoxygenic phototrophs are promising candidates for technologies like microbial fuel cells and biophotovoltaic systems due to their electrogenic potential. These systems rely on microbial metabolism to convert chemical or light energy into electrical energy, while also being useful in bioremediation and wastewater treatment. Understanding the molecular basis of EET and its incorporation with photosynthetic metabolism is critical for developing bioelectrochemical technologies and expanding their environmental applications. The mechanisms of EET and their ability to obtain electrons from organic molecules or reduced compounds and transfer them to external acceptors such as iron, sulfur, or other oxidized compounds will be explored in this review. The integration of photosynthetic processes with EET and their applications in bioelectrochemical systems are critically discussed.
Paper-Based Diagnostic Devices (PBDDs) represent a breakthrough in affordable, rapid, and point-of-care diagnostics, particularly in low-resource settings. These devices utilize simple materials such as paper combined with microfluidics and colorimetric or electrochemical detection methods to provide accessible and cost-effective diagnostic solutions for a wide range of diseases. This review explores the development, applications, and advancements of PBDDs in various disease categories, including cardiovascular diseases, infectious diseases, cancer, neurological and psychological disorders, and other chronic conditions. The paper highlights the challenges PBDDs face, including issues related to sensitivity, specificity, and scalability, while also examining their future prospects driven by advances in nanotechnology, digital integration, and manufacturing techniques. As technological innovations continue to improve the sensitivity, multiplexing capabilities, and digital connectivity of PBDDs, their potential to transform healthcare delivery, especially in underserved areas,becomes even more significant. This review also discusses the regulatory, environmental, and operational challenges PBDDs encounter and suggests potential solutions that could support their wider adoption. The future of PBDDs lies in overcoming current limitations and leveraging their advantages in low-resource environments, with the goal of expanding access to high-quality diagnostics globally.
The biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) is a rapidly developing field that integrates biological systems with nanotechnology to produce nanoparticles with unique properties. This study aimed to biosynthesize gold nanoparticles using Asparagus Racemosus root extract (popularly known as Shatavari root aqueous extract) (AR-AuNPs), to characterize the AuNPs spectrally, and to explore their potential applications. AuNPs were synthesized using Shatavari extract, leveraging its polyphenolic content for the reduction of gold ions. The formation of nanoparticles was confirmed using UV-Vis spectroscopy, with a surface plasmon resonance peak at 550 nm. Further characterization was performed using electron microscopy to assess size and morphology, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) to analyse the crystalline structure, Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) to identify functional groups, and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) to determine particle size and zeta potential. The bio-synthesized gold nanoparticles are spectrally characterized; the size of the gold nanoparticles is below 50 nm, and they reveal very good biomedical applications. The biosynthesized AR-AuNPs exhibited strong antioxidant activity, with the nitric oxide (NO) scavenging method proving superior to the DPPH and H2O2 assays. While the antimicrobial activity of ARAuNPs was limited against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, they showed effective DNA binding activity. The synthesized gold nanoparticles exhibited a characteristic UV-Vis absorption peak at 550 nm, confirming their successful formation. Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) analysis revealed an average particle size of 44.7 nm, and the zeta potential was measured at -14.3 mV, indicating moderate stability. The polyphenols present in the aqueous extract of Shatavari plant roots likely played a role in both the reduction and stabilization of the AuNPs. When tested on A549 cell lines, the AR-AuNPs demonstrated significant antiproliferative activity, with an IC50 value of 68.99 μM, compared to Cisplatin. However, they lacked anticancer activity against MCF-7 cell lines. The biosynthesized AR-AuNPs exhibited strong antioxidant activity, moderate antimicrobial activity, and effective DNA binding activity. Biosynthesizing AuNPs using Shatavari extract is a green, sustainable method that produces nanoparticles with desirable properties for various applications. The synthesized AuNPs exhibit promising capabilities in the fields of medicine and environmental science, positioning them as valuable tools for future research. Further studies are needed to explore their potential in real-world applications.
Biotechnology provides the biological data and molecular insights that drive Computer-Aided Drug Designing (CADD), which is an advanced computational technique used in drug discovery and development. It integrates biological, chemical, and computational tools to identify and optimize potential therapeutic compounds. Its connection with biotechnology is significant. The importance of the indole moiety in drug discovery emphasizes its privileged status in finding new drug molecules. Understanding the functions of indole alkaloids, as well as structure-activity relationships (SARs) of indole derivatives and receptor tyrosine kinases, such as the platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), is critical for developing targeted therapies for various diseases like breast cancer. Rational drug design is found to be important in the drug development process. The aim of the current investigation is to find, explore, and optimize indole alkaloids against receptor tyrosine kinases as a promising avenue in drug discovery and development, particularly in the context of breast cancer treatment employing a computational approach. ChemAxon Marvin Sketch 5.11.5 was used to create 2D structures of indole alkaloids. The physicochemical characteristics of indole alkaloids, as well as their toxicity, were predicted using Swiss ADME & pkCSM online web tools. Molecular docking technology was used to examine the ligand-receptor interactions of indole alkaloids with the target receptor (PDB: 5GRN) using various programs, including Autodock 1.1.2, MGL Tools 1.5.6, Discovery Studio Visualizer v20.1.0.19295, Procheck, Protparam tool, and PyMOL. All indole alkaloids and their derivatives were determined to be orally bioavailable, less toxic, and have acceptable pharmacokinetic properties according to in silico studies. In comparison to the traditional medication Sunitinib, all indole alkaloids displayed higher docking scores. The indole alkaloids increase their potential as a novel therapy alternative for breast cancer and could facilitate more comprehensive in vivo, in vitro, chemical-based and pharma studies by medicinal chemists. As of now, our work is limited to in-silico investigation of indole analogues, which will lay down a strong foundation for medicinal chemists to explore indole alkaloids. The increase in binding energy and the quantity of H-bonds created by indole alkaloids with interactions at distances below 3.40A provide a helpful starting point for isolating indole alkaloids that are most suitable for additional research. The application of indole alkaloids as a potential new cancer treatment candidate is supported by their pharmacokinetics and toxicological profile, which may aid medical chemists in conducting more in-depth in vitro and in vivo chemical and pharmacological studies.
Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis is still a great challenge in the public health domain to this day. Sputum collection from TB patients followed by an examination of acid-fast bacilli (AFB) is a common diagnostic tool routinely done; however, it could lead to false negative results when the patient excretes saliva instead of sputum. Meanwhile, bacterial culture, which is the gold standard, is time- and labor-consuming. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a type of RNA that is small (18-25 nucleotides) and controls the function of messenger RNA (mRNA). MicroRNA is the 6th and most recent cell communication pathway discovered, as the secreted miRNAs are encased in exosomes and can circulate throughout the body and can be found in any body fluids including sputum. MiRNAs in TB patients associated with TB infection can be expressed as increased or decreased according to the severity of the infection. MiRNA-155 and 21 are miRNAs with increased expression in active pulmonary TB and decrease in the healing process, so both miRNAs hold the potency to be used as biomarkers to monitor the level of disease activity and the healing process.
Phthalates (PAEs) are the major source of concern because they are commonly used plasticizers in various plastic products and can make their way into the environment. Mostly, phthalate metabolites are released in the urine. In many research studies, it has been observed that some metabolites of phthalates are more harmful than the parental compounds and can be used as biomarkers for the study of phthalate toxicity. Despite some inconsistencies, the present review describes the exposure of phthalates to children, older people, and aquatic life. The studies carried out on the toxic effects of different types of phthalates on various experimental models have been reviewed. The review also summarises the interaction between mechanisms of action involved in the toxicity induced by various PAEs. The literature search has been carried out using PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. The studies available on the toxicity of phthalates from 1982 to 2024 have been considered for the review.
FimH, a bacterial adhesin on Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), facilitates host cell attachment and initiates Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs). With rising antibiotic resistance, alternative therapeutics targeting bacterial adhesion are urgently needed. This study in-vestigates chalcone derivatives as potential anti-adhesive agents against FimH, aiming to inhibit bacterial colonization and reduce virulence through an in-silico approach. A total of 200 chalcone derivatives were subjected to in-silico toxicity screening using ProTox-II, followed by molecular docking using MVD 6.0 and AutoDock Vina against FimH (PDB IDs: 5AAP and 4XO8). The most promising compounds underwent structural pharmacophore mod-eling in LigandScout, pharmacokinetic profiling via SwissADME and PreADMET, and further validation through molecular dynamics simulations and MMPBSA free energy calculations. Chalcones 103, 122, and 137 showed strong binding affinities, with highly negative MolDock scores surpassing native ligands. Key residues such as Gln133, Asp47, and Phe1 were identified as essential for hydrogen bonding. Pharmacokinetic profiles revealed high gastrointesti-nal absorption, BBB permeability, and compliance with major drug-likeness filters. RMSF analysis indicated 4XO8’s structural rigidity, while MMPBSA confirmed strong binding energies, particu-larly for the 4XO8-137 complex. These findings suggest chalcone derivatives, especially Chalcone 137, demonstrate promising anti-adhesive properties, structural stability, and favourable pharmacokinetics, making them viable candidates for further drug development. Chalcones 103, 122, and 137, particularly the 4XO8-137 complex, exhibit strong ther-apeutic potential as non-antibiotic anti-adhesion agents against UTI-causing E. coli, warranting further experimental validation in-vitro and in-vivo.
Synthetic biology using minimal-genome engineering has been proposed as the best way to optimize probiotic chassis. A minimal genome presents a significant advantage of enhanced production of heterologous proteins. This research article presents a comprehensive computational biology study for bacterial gene essentiality and genome reduction design within Lacticaseibacillus casei ATCC 393. This study used a computational biology approach to identify the essential genes of L.casei ATCC 393. Essential genes were identified using DELetion design by Essentiality Analy-sis Tool (DELEATv0.1), Gene Essentiality Prediction Tool for Complete-Genome Based on Orthology and Phylogeny (Geptop2), the Database of Essential Genes (DEG), and Alignable Tight Genomic Clusters-Clusters of Orthologous Genes (ATGC-COG). The criteria for identifica-tion of essential genes included phyletic retention (essential orthologs), codon usage, G + C con-tent, length, hydrophobicity score, and essential genomic elements, such as protein-coding genes and noncoding RNAs, among other factors. Using a consensus approach, 633 putative essential genes were identified. In addition, 145 genes associated with probiotic attributes, such as the production of bacteriocins, bile and ac-id resistance, immune modulation, and adherence to host gut epithelia, were identified. The directed evolution by serial passage was initiated by streaking L. casei ATCC 393 as part of the test phase of the Design-Build-Test-Learn (DBTL) cycle. The survival rate data were calculated from mean 0D600 nm readings. The data revealed a significant difference in sur-vival rates between E1 and E2 from day 1 to day 38 (V = 224, p = 0.00745), indicating that fac-tors, possibly inherent to the isolates themselves or subtle variations in the environment, may be influencing the results. Overall, the significant differences suggest that survival rates were affect-ed by specific NaCl concentrations. Lower survival rates were observed at 50 g/L and 71g/L compared to other concentrations. The in-silico analysis yielded valuable insights into the essential genes of L. casei ATCC 393. Further, it contributes to understanding the fundamental genetic makeup of L. casei ATCC 393 and its potential as a probiotic chassis for various applications, including the devel-opment of novel biotherapeutics.
Lamiaceae plants are a rich source of natural antioxidants, widely applied in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and functional foods due to their therapeutic potential against oxidative stress-related disorders. As natural product innovation accelerates, understanding patent trends can provide strategic insights into technological advances, key stakeholders, and emerging applications. A systematic patent landscape analysis was performed using the Espacenet database. The search strategy was based on the intersection of Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) codes related to therapeutic applications (e.g., A61P39/06 for oxidative stress, A61P17/18 for dermatological use), medicinal preparations (A61K36), and botanical classifications (A01H6/50 for Lamiaceae). All patent documents up to 2024 were included, with no language restrictions. Patent families, publication trends, jurisdictions, assignees, CPC classifications, and technological applications were analyzed to map the innovation landscape. Between 2001 and 2021, there was a steady rise in patent activity related to antioxidants from Lamiaceae species. China led in both the volume and diversity of innovations, followed by the United States and Europe. Technological applications are predominantly concerned with cosmetics, dermatological treatments, pharmaceuticals, and functional food products. Leading assignees included multinational and regional companies, indicating strong commercial interest in these bioactive compounds. The patent trends reveal increasing global interest in sustainable, plant-derived antioxidant solutions. The strong presence of industry players highlights the translational potential of Lamiaceae-derived compounds in high-value sectors such as anti-aging, anti-inflammatory therapeutics, and wellness. Jurisdictional variations reflect strategic patenting behavior and regional innovation capacities. This study highlights the growing strategic importance of Lamiaceae-derived antioxidants in innovation ecosystems. The patent landscape identifies key technologies, markets, and actors driving development in natural antioxidant applications. These findings support future interdisciplinary research and industry partnerships aimed at advancing sustainable, bioactive product innovation.
Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) are progressive disorders marked by neuronal loss, synaptic dysfunction, and cognitive or motor decline. Oxidative stress and chronic neuroinflammation are key drivers in their pathology. In AD, β-amyloid plaques and tau hyperphosphorylation cause mitochondrial damage and ROS overproduction, while PD involves dopaminergic neuronal loss due to oxidative damage. Elevated cytokines like TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 further worsen neuronal injury. Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis), a nutrient-rich cyanobacterium, is gaining attention as a neuroprotective nutraceutical. Its bioactive compounds-C-phycocyanin, β-carotene, tocopherols, and γ-linolenic acid-exhibit strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Preclinical studies show spirulina enhances antioxidant enzymes, lowers lipid peroxidation, and improves cognitive performance. This review analyzed preclinical and clinical studies from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science focusing on spirulina’s effects in AD and PD models. Spirulina reduced oxidative markers (MDA, NO), increased antioxidant enzymes (GPx, SOD), downregulated pro-apoptotic genes (caspase-3, Bax), and upregulated anti-apoptotic Bcl-2. It also inhibited NF-κB signalling and reduced inflammatory cytokines. A clinical trial in AD patients reported significant MMSE score improvements with spirulina supplementation. Advanced delivery systems like spirulina-loaded nanoparticles and niosomes enhanced its bioavailability and neuroprotective effects in animal models. Overall, spirulina shows promise in mitigating neurodegeneration by targeting oxidative stress and inflammation. Despite encouraging results, larger clinical trials are needed to confirm its therapeutic potential as a safe, effective nutraceutical for neurodegenerative diseases.
Marine environments harbor diverse microbial communities that have evolved to thrive under extreme conditions. Among these, halophilic and halotolerant bacteria are of particular interest due to their ability to produce ectoine, a compatible solute with valuable bio-technological applications, especially in cosmetics, medicine, and stress-protective formulations. Marine water samples were collected and subjected to serial dilution and culturing techniques to isolate halophilic and halotolerant bacterial strains. A total of 20 distinct bacterial isolates were obtained. These isolates were screened for their tolerance to high salt concentrations (≥2M NaCl) and elevated temperatures (≥35°C). Morphological and biochemical characteristics were assessed, and selected isolates underwent 16S rRNA gene sequencing for taxonomic identi-fication. Out of the 20 isolates, 14 demonstrated the ability to grow at ≥2M NaCl and at tempera-tures of 35°C or higher. Morphological and biochemical analyses identified six dominant genera, including Marinococcus, Halomonas, and Staphylococcus. Molecular characterization confirmed that isolate KR-30 was Marinococcus halophilus, showing 99.73% sequence similarity to M. hal-ophilus JCM 2479. The high salt and temperature tolerance of the isolates, particularly M. halophilus, indicates their potential for industrial applications where such stress conditions are common. The dominance of halophilic genera suggests a promising source of robust microbial candidates for ectoine production and other biotechnological processes. This study highlights the potential of marine-derived halophilic and halotolerant bacteria, especially Marinococcus halophilus, for ectoine production under extreme conditions. These findings provide a solid foundation for future research and development of marine micro-bial resources for industrial biotechnology.
This study aimed to synthesize zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) using the marine endophytic fungus Cladosporium cladosporioides through an eco-friendly green synthesis method and to evaluate their antimicrobial activities. C. cladosporioides was cultured in Potato Dextrose Broth (PDB), and biomass was optimized for various ZnCl2 concentrations, pH, temperature, and incubation times. The synthesized ZnONPs were characterized using SEM, EDAX, FTIR, UV-Vis, and zeta potential analyses, and their antimicrobial activity was tested using the disk diffusion method. In this study, the pellet parts of a marine endophytic fungus, Cladosporium cladosporioides, were used for the synthesis of Zn nanoparticles (ZnONP). To achieve high yield, the production conditions of the microorganisms and then the reaction environment were optimized. The biomass, ZnCl2 concentration, incubation time, temperature, pH, and mixing conditions were determined, and the characterization of the synthesized ZnONPs was obtained through SEM, EDAX, FTIR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and Zeta potential analyses. The optimum conditions were determined as 1 g biomass, 10 mM ZnCl2, pH 7, 45°C, and 100 rpm. Spherical ZnONPs with a size of approximately 60-70 nm and a zeta potential of -20.7 mV were obtained. Inhibition was observed against all tested microorganisms except Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans. The findings support the antimicrobial potential and stability of ZnONPs. The green synthesis method offers a safer alternative to chemical synthesis in terms of environmental and health impacts. ZnONPs produced using C. cladosporioides have potential as broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents.
Microalgae are a renewable and versatile resource. They might transform food, medicines, nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, bioenergy, agriculture, and biotechnology. Their rapid growth rate, environmental tolerance, and ability to utilize CO2 and wastewater make them promising sustainable biotechnological resources. Research focuses on the unique biochemistry of microalgae, including lipids, proteins, polysaccharides, pigments, vitamins, and bioactive compounds. Many phyto-based pharmaceutical companies utilize microalgae-derived bioactive chemicals, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, and omega-3 fatty acids to prevent and treat cancer, cardiovascular, and neurological diseases. Studies focus on adding microalgae-derived nutraceuticals to health supplements. Microalgae compounds have anti-aging, protective, and moisturizing properties. Cosmetics that use them support the natural and eco-friendly trend. Industrial biotechnology, genetic engineering, and synthetic biology increase microalgae culture and product extraction. The research highlights microalgae's innovative and sustainable resource potential in various industries. This research describes the metabolic diversity of microalgae, advances in culture and harvesting techniques, and optimization of metabolite production.
Lipid signaling plays a crucial role in the cellular survival, virulence, pathogenicity, and progression of leishmaniasis, which is a significant public health concern. The lack of effective therapeutics and high toxicity, and drug resistance of existing chemotherapy have delayed therapy progression and have proven to be overall insufficient for controlling disease load worldwide. This review explores the intricate mechanisms by which lipid signaling contributes to Leishmania biology and highlights its potential as a therapeutic target. A range of cellular processes in the Leishmania parasite, including membrane dynamics, energy metabolism, and immune evasion, depends on lipid signaling. Key components of the lipid signaling pathway, such as eicosanoids, sphingolipids & glycosyl-phosphoinositides, have been studied to make significant contributions in this area. Sphingolipids are implicated in the stress response and programmed cell death, whereas phosphoinositide signaling serves by acting as the anchor for the parasite to enter and survive within host macrophages. Eicosanoids, on the other hand, are a particularly intriguing target for therapeutic intervention due to their dual role in regulating both host immune responses and parasite survival. Since eukaryotic protein kinases control every critical process necessary for Leishmania viability and the completion of the parasitic life cycle, including cell-cycle progression, differentiation, and virulence, their inhibition is predicted to modify the disease. This review provides a thorough overview of lipid signaling molecules and their roles in Leishmania by delving into the recent developments in the field. It also explores the therapeutic possibilities of focusing on the eukaryotic protein kinases, emphasizing current therapies and repurposing of existing drugs. A better understanding of these pathways and strategies can potentially lead to improved patient outcomes and treatment in leishmaniasis.
The increasing emergence of zoonotic pathogens and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) highlights the need for rapid and accurate computational tools to assess the zoonotic potential of bacterial strains. In this study, we present Zoonomix, a bioinformatics pipeline designed to detect and rank genes associated with pathogenicity, virulence, and antibiotic resistance, thereby enabling risk assessment for zoonotic transmission. Zoonomix integrates a curated database of ~25,000 genes related to adherence, biofilm formation, efflux pumps, exotoxins, resistance, integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs), and secretion systems (T3SS, T4SS, and T6SS). It uses BLASTN and a scoring algorithm to assess pathogenicity and HGT risk, classifying bacterial strains into low, moderate, or high risk, with insights into antibiotic resistance migration. When analyzing 60 whole genome sequences of both zoonotic and non-zoonotic bacterial species using the Zoonomix pipeline, over 90% of the results were accurately classified in accordance with existing literature. Notably, the pipeline predicted a potential future zoonotic and pathogenic capability for bacterial species such as A. pleuropneumoniae and M. haemolytica. Zoonomix offers a comprehensive framework for assessing zoonotic potential and antibiotic resistance by integrating genomics, bioinformatics, and predictive analytics. Its ability to detect current gene status, identify mutation-prone genes, summarize mutation hotspots, and flag horizontal gene transfer events make it a valuable tool for disease surveillance and outbreak prevention. Zoonomix is a scalable, open-source tool for assessing zoonotic potential and AMR risk in bacterial genomes. By detecting key genes, predicting future mutations, and flagging ICE-mediated resistance transfer, it offers valuable insights for genomic epidemiology and public health surveillance. The open-source pipeline is available at https://github.com/Umeshkumarku1/ZoonomiX. Zoonomix is a scalable, open-source bioinformatics pipeline designed to assess the zoonotic potential and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) risk in bacterial whole genome sequences. By detecting key genes associated with zoonosis, identifying markers that predict the future pathogenic or zoonotic potential of bacteria, and flagging integrative conjugative element (ICEs)- mediated resistance gene transfer mechanisms, the tool provides comprehensive insights into bacterial threats. The pipeline's source code and documentation are freely available for the research community at the following GitHub repository: https://github.com/Umeshkumarku1/ZoonomiX.
