Search Results (242)

This comprehensive review explores the extraction and utilization of marine collagen, a sustainable alternative to traditional mammalian sources. The review covers conventional extraction methods like acid and pepsin solubilization, highlighting their limitations and contributing to the search for improved efficiency and sustainability. It also delves into innovative extraction technologies, such as ultrasound-assisted extraction, deep eutectic solvents, and supercritical carbon dioxide, showing their potential to revolutionize the field. The significance of collagen hydrolysis in generating bioactive peptides with diverse functionalities is also discussed, emphasizing their potential applications in various sectors. By providing an analysis of marine collagen extraction and its implications, this review presents a perspective for leveraging this valuable bioresource, promoting a circular economy, and satisfying the increasing demand for high-quality collagen in diverse industries. Full article

Natural compounds with significant bioactive properties can be found in abundance within biomasses. Especially prominent for their anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, antibacterial, and antioxidant activities are cinnamic acid derivatives (CAs). Ferulic acid (FA), a widely studied phenylpropanoid, exhibits a broad range of therapeutic and nutraceutical applications, demonstrating antidiabetic, anticancer, antimicrobial, and hepato- and neuroprotective activities. This research investigates the green enzymatic synthesis of innovative and potentially bifunctional prodrug derivatives of FA, designed to enhance solubility and stability profiles. Selective esterification was employed to conjugate FA with xylitol, a biobased polyol recognized for its bioactive antioxidant properties and safety profile. Furthermore, by exploiting t-amyl alcohol as a green solvent, the enzymatic synthesis of the derivative was optimized for reaction parameters including temperature, reaction time, enzyme concentration, and molar ratio. The synthesized derivative, xylitol monoferulate (XMF), represents a novel contribution to the literature. The comprehensive characterization of this compound was achieved using advanced spectroscopic methods, including ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, COSY, HSQC, and HMBC. This study represents a significant advancement in the enzymatic synthesis of high-value biobased derivatives, demonstrating increased biological activities and setting the stage for future applications in green chemistry and the sustainable production of bioactive compounds. Full article

The production of microbial metabolites such as (exo)polysaccharides, lipids, or mannitol through the cultivation of microorganisms on sustainable, low-cost carbon sources is of high interest within the framework of a circular economy. In the current study, two non-extensively studied, non-conventional yeast strains, namely, Cutaneotrichosporon curvatus NRRL YB-775 and Papiliotrema laurentii NRRL Y-3594, were evaluated for their capability to grow on semi-defined lactose-, glycerol-, or glucose-based substrates and produce value-added metabolites. Three different nitrogen-to-carbon ratios (i.e., 20, 80, 160 mol/mol) were tested in shake-flask batch experiments. Pretreated secondary cheese whey (SCW) was used for fed-batch bioreactor cultivation of P. laurentii NRRL Y-3594, under nitrogen limitation. Based on the screening results, both strains can grow on low-cost substrates, yielding high concentrations of microbial biomass (>20 g/L) under nitrogen-excess conditions, with polysaccharides comprising the predominant component (>40%, w/w, of dry biomass). Glucose- and glycerol-based cultures of C. curvatus promote the secretion of mannitol (13.0 g/L in the case of glucose, under nitrogen-limited conditions). The lipids (maximum 2.2 g/L) produced by both strains were rich in oleic acid (≥40%, w/w) and could potentially be utilized to produce second-generation biodiesel. SCW was nutritionally sufficient to grow P. laurentii strain, resulting in exopolysaccharides secretion (25.6 g/L), along with dry biomass (37.9 g/L) and lipid (4.6 g/L) production. Full article

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is the leading cause of mortality worldwide, underscoring the urgent need for innovative therapeutic strategies. The cardiac extracellular matrix (ECM) undergoes extreme transformations during IHD, adversely influencing the heart’s structure, mechanics, and cellular signaling. Researchers investigating the regenerative capacity of the diseased heart have turned their attention to exploring the modulation of ECM to improve therapeutic outcomes. In this review, we thoroughly examine the current state of knowledge regarding the cardiac ECM and its therapeutic potential in the ischemic myocardium. We begin by providing an overview of the fundamentals of cardiac ECM, focusing on the structural, functional, and regulatory mechanisms that drive its modulation. Subsequently, we examine the ECM’s interactions within both chronically ischemic and acutely infarcted myocardium, emphasizing key ECM components and their roles in modulating angiogenesis. Finally, we discuss recent ECM-based approaches in biomedical engineering, focusing on different types of scaffolds as delivery tools and their compositions, and conclude with future directions for therapeutic research. By harnessing the potential of these emerging ECM-based therapies, we aim to contribute to the development of novel therapeutic modalities for IHD. Full article

Natural compounds are increasingly favored over synthetic ones for their lower environmental impact. However, extraction and characterization processes typically rely on harsh conditions and conventional solvents, which are unsustainable and cause pollution. This study aimed to develop an eco-friendly extraction method to isolate and evaluate the antimicrobial properties of bioactive compounds from Chlorella sorokiniana. Using dimethyl carbonate (DMC), methoxycyclopentane (CPME), and butan-2-one (MEK) as green solvents alongside chloroform as a non-green reference solvent, on both untreated and sodium hydroxide pre-treated microalgae biomass, extract yields of up to 182 ± 27 mg/g DW were obtained using MEK. Extracts from untreated microalgae biomass exhibited lower MIC values compared to those obtained with the same solvent from pre-treated biomass, when tested as antimicrobial agents against Escherichia coli, Bacillus megaterium, and Bacillus subtilis. The lowest MIC value (4.89 ± 0.05 µg/mL) was observed against E. coli using the extract from the untreated microalgae biomass with CPME, which was comparable to the vancomycin control (1.55 ± 0.03 µg/mL). Principal component analysis highlighted correlations between GC-MS-identified compounds and antimicrobial activity. ANOVA and post hoc tests (p < 0.05) confirmed solvent choice, and pre-treatment influenced yield and bioactivity. The results underscore green solvents as sustainable alternatives for extracting bioactive compounds from autotrophic microalgae. Full article

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen classified as a priority and a great public health concern; therefore, this research focuses on the genomic characterization of extremely resistant strains of P. aeruginosa isolated from patients in a clinic in Sincelejo, Colombia. Seven strains were analyzed by whole genome sequencing using the Illumina NovaSeq platform, with a focus on the identification of resistance genes and virulence factors through the CARD and VFDB databases. An ANI (Average Nucleotide Identity) analysis was carried out to determine the genetic relationship between the strains, complemented by a phylogenomic analysis to place the strains in different evolutionary clades. The results revealed that six of the strains are of Colombian origin, while one strain (547256) belongs to the high-risk clone ST773, previously unidentified in Colombia. Genome size ranged from 6 to 7.4 Mbp, indicating differences in genetic content among strains. Phylogenomic analysis confirmed that five strains belong to a multidrug-resistant (MDR) group, while one strain (572897) showed high alignment with a laboratory strain, and strain 547256 was not associated with any specific clade. Clinically, 100% of strains showed carbapenem resistance, resistance genes, and virulence factors that make them difficult to treat. This study provides key insights into the genetic diversity and resistance patterns of P. aeruginosa in this region, underscoring the need to monitor high-risk clones and optimize therapeutic strategies. Full article

Nano-luciferase binary technology (NanoBiT)-based pseudoviral sensors are innovative tools for monitoring viral infection dynamics. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infects host cells via its trimeric surface spike protein, which binds to the human angiotensin-converting enzyme II (hACE2) receptor. This interaction is crucial for viral entry and serves as a key target for therapeutic interventions against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Aptamers, short single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) or RNA molecules, are highly specific, high-affinity biorecognition elements for detecting infective pathogens. Despite their potential, optimizing viral infection assays using traditional protein–protein interaction (PPI) methods often face challenges in optimizing viral infection assays. In this study, we selected and evaluated aptamers for their ability to interact with viral proteins, enabling the dynamic visualization of infection progression. The NanoBiT-based pseudoviral sensor demonstrated a rapid increase in luminescence within 3 h, offering a real-time measure of viral infection. A comparison of detection technologies, including green fluorescent protein (GFP), luciferase, and NanoBiT technologies for detecting PPI between the pseudoviral spike protein and hACE2, highlighted NanoBiT’s superior sensitivity and performance, particularly in aptamer selection. This bioluminescent system provides a robust, sensitive, and early-stage quantitative approach to studying viral infection dynamics. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of understanding the interplay between the cardiovascular and immune systems during viral infections. SARS-CoV-2 enters human cells via the ACE-2 enzyme, initiating a cascade of immune responses. This study presents a coupled mathematical model that integrates the cardiovascular system (CVS) and immune system (IS), capturing their complex interactions during infection. The CVS model, based on ordinary differential equations, describes heart dynamics and pulmonary and systemic circulation, while the IS model simulates immune responses to SARS-CoV-2, including immune cell interactions and cytokine production. A coupling strategy transfers information from the IS to the CVS at specific intervals, enabling the exploration of immune-driven cardiovascular effects. Numerical simulations examined how these interactions influence infection severity and recovery. The coupled model accurately replicated the evolution of cardiac function in survivors and non-survivors of COVID-19. Survivors exhibited a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) reduction of up to $25\%$ while remaining within normal limits, whereas non-survivors showed a severe 4-fold decline, indicative of myocardial dysfunction. Similarly, the right ventricular ejection fraction (RV EF) decreased by approximately $50\%$ in survivors but underwent a drastic 5-fold reduction in non-survivors. These findings highlight the model’s capacity to distinguish differential cardiac dysfunction across clinical outcomes and its potential to enhance our understanding of COVID-19 pathophysiology. Full article

The GH43 family of glycosidases represents an important class of industrial enzymes that are widely utilized across the food, pharmaceutical, and various other sectors. In this study, we identified a GH43 family glycoside hydrolytic enzyme, Xyaf313, derived from the plant endophytic fungus Chaetomium globosum DX-THS3, which is capable of transforming several common ginsenosides. The enzyme function analysis reveals that Xyaf313 exhibits dual functionality, displaying both α-L-arabinofuranosidase and β-D-xylosidase activity. When acting as an α-L-arabinofuranosidase, Xyaf313 achieves optimal enzyme activity of 23.96 U/mg at a temperature of 50 °C and a pH of 7. In contrast, its β-D-xylosidase activity results in a slight reduction in enzyme activity to 23.24 U/mg, with similar optimal temperature and pH conditions to those observed for the α-L-arabinofuranosidase activity. Furthermore, Xyaf313 demonstrates considerable resistance to most metal ions and common chemical reagents. Notably, while the maximum enzyme activity of Xyaf313 occurs at 50 °C, it maintains high activity at room temperature (30 °C), with relative enzyme activity exceeding 90%. Measurements of ginsenoside transformation show that Xyaf313 can convert common ginsenosides Rc, Rb₁, Rb₂, and Rb₃ into Rd, underscoring its potential for pharmaceutical applications. Overall, our findings contribute to the identification of a new class of bifunctional GH43 glycoside hydrolases, highlight the significance of plant endophytic fungi as a promising resource for the screening of carbohydrate-decomposing enzymes, and present new candidate enzymes for the biotransformation of ginsenosides. Full article

The present study aimed to chemically profile the hydroalcoholic extracts from the microalgae (MEs) Nannochloropsis oculata, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Tetradesmus obliquus, and Tetraselmis tetrathele and evaluate their effects on the development of Colletotrichum lindemuthianum and anthracnose symptoms, as well as on the initial growth of bean plants. For this, MEs were analyzed using UPLC coupled with a mass spectrometer, allowing the identification of peaks and annotation of potential metabolites. Fungal mycelial growth was assessed seven days after inoculation, and conidial germination was measured 72 h after incubation, using ME concentrations of 0, 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 mg·mL⁻¹. Bean seeds of the IPR Uirapuru cultivar were sown and treated with 3 mL of extracts at four time points: at sowing and 72 h after each previous treatment. After 11 days of cultivation in a growth chamber, the plants were divided into two groups: one for anthracnose control assessment and the other for evaluating growth promotion by MEs. Plant length as well as fresh and dry weights of shoots and roots were determined, leaf pigments were quantified, and anthracnose severity was assessed using a diagrammatic scale. The UPLC analysis identified 32 compounds in the extracts of the four microalgae, belonging to different chemical and functional groups, with lipids being the most significant fraction. The extracts exhibited variability and diversity in chemical composition depending on the microalgal species. MEs did not affect mycelial growth yet increased the germination of C. lindemuthianum conidia, regardless of the dose or species used. Anthracnose severity was not affected by the microalgae extracts. Regarding growth promotion, the extracts showed varying effects but generally increased shoot and root length, fresh biomass, and leaf pigment content. Full article

We describe a method tailored to the in-cell selection of protease inhibitors. In this method, a target protease is co-expressed with a selective substrate, the product of which kills host cells. Therefore, the method can be applied to identify potential inhibitors based on cell host survival when inhibition of the target protease occurs. The TEV protease was chosen for this proof-of-concept experiment. The genetically encoded selective substrate is a single polypeptide chain composed of three parts: (1) a ccdB protein, which can cause host cell death when it accumulates inside the cell; (2) a protease cleavage sequence that can be changed according to the target protease, in this case the TEV substrate ENLYFQ↓G (↓-predicted cleavage site); and (3) the ssrA sequence (AANDENYALAA), which drives the polypeptide to degradation by the ClpX/ClpP complex inside host E. coli cells. In our experiment, co-expression of the active TEV protease and this selective substrate (ccdB-ENLYFQG-ssrA) caused the death of a significant host cell population, while control assays with an inactive mutant TEV Asp81Asn did not. Details of the methodology used are given, providing the basis for the application of similar systems for other proteases of interest. Full article

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease that poses serious long-term patient burdens. (1) Background: SLE patient classification and care are often complicated by case heterogeneity (diverse variations in symptoms and severity). Large language models (LLMs) and generative artificial intelligence (genAI) may mitigate this challenge by profiling medical records to assess key medical criteria. (2) Methods: To demonstrate genAI-based profiling, ACR (American College of Rheumatology) 1997 SLE classification criteria were used to define medically relevant LLM prompts. Records from 78 previously studied patients (45 classified as having SLE; 33 indeterminate or negative) were computationally profiled, via five genAI replicate runs. (3) Results: GenAI determinations of the “Discoid Rash” and “Pleuritis or Pericarditis” classification criteria yielded perfect concurrence with clinical classification, while some factors such as “Immunologic Disorder” (56% accuracy) were statistically unreliable. Compared to clinical classification, our genAI approach achieved a 72% predictive success rate. (4) Conclusions: GenAI classifications may prove sufficiently predictive to aid medical professionals in evaluating SLE patients and structuring care strategies. For individual criteria, accuracy seems to correlate inversely with complexities in clinical determination, implying that improvements in AI patient profiling tools may emerge from continued advances in clinical classification efficacy. Full article

Field crops are expected to be increasingly threatened by climate change, which will negatively impact plant development, growth and yield. Phytohormones play a crucial role in regulating specific signalling pathways to induce rapid adaptive responses to environmental stresses. Exogenous phytohormone application alters hormonal balance, thereby enhancing plant adaptation to adverse conditions. While several studies have advanced our understanding of the use of phytohormones in field crops, yield responses and species-specific application strategies remain inconsistent and rarely assessed under field conditions. The application of cytokinins (CKs), abscisic acid (ABA), and gibberellic acid (GA) has been shown to maintain prolonged photosynthetic activity, stabilize plasma membrane, and reduce lipid peroxidation and ion accumulation under salinity stress in wheat. Additionally, inhibitors of ethylene synthesis and receptors can mitigate stress symptoms under drought and heat stress, which typically accelerates senescence and shortens the grain-filling period in cereal crops. In this way, exogenous application of CKs, GA, and ethylene inhibitors can delay senescence by sustaining leaf photosynthetic activity and postponing nutrient remobilization. However, these benefits may not consistently translate into improvements in grain yield and quality. This review explores the molecular mechanisms of phytohormones in abiotic stress tolerance, delineates their specific functions and evaluates experimental findings from field applications. It also summarizes the potential of phytohormone applications in field crops, emphasizing the need for species-specific investigations on application timing and dosages under open-field conditions to optimize their agronomic potential. Full article

The gut microbiome, a complex ecosystem of microorganisms, plays a pivotal role in human health and disease. The gut microbiome’s influence extends beyond the digestive system to various organs, and its imbalance is linked to a wide range of diseases, including cancer and neurodevelopmental, inflammatory, metabolic, cardiovascular, autoimmune, and psychiatric diseases. Despite its significance, the interactions between gut bacteria and human proteins remain understudied, with less than 20,000 experimentally validated protein interactions between the host and any bacteria species. This study addresses this knowledge gap by predicting a protein–protein interaction network between gut bacterial and human proteins. Using statistical associations between Pfam domains, a comprehensive dataset of over one million experimentally validated pan-bacterial–human protein interactions, as well as inter- and intra-species protein interactions from various organisms, were used for the development of a machine learning-based prediction method to uncover key regulatory molecules in this dynamic system. This study’s findings contribute to the understanding of the intricate gut microbiome–host relationship and pave the way for future experimental validation and therapeutic strategies targeting the gut microbiome interplay. Full article

The sprout market in Korea is expanding as consumers seek healthier food options and farmers strive to increase added value and competitiveness. This study examined the changes in the phytochemical composition of Sinpalkwang (SPK), a peanut variety developed in Korea, during germination. Four samples (SPK1, SPK2, SPK3, and SPK4) were collected at different growth stages and analyzed for total polyphenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activities using ABTS⁺ and DPPH assays. The levels of trans-resveratrol and soyasaponin Bb were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a photo-diode array (PDA). Among the samples, SPK2 exhibited the highest TFC (1.61 mg QE/g ext.) and trans-resveratrol content (0.054 mg/g ext.), while SPK4 showed the highest TPC (29.38 mg TAE/g ext.) and soyasaponin Bb content (6.543 mg/g ext.). In terms of radical scavenging activities, SPK2 and SPK3 performed best in the ABTS⁺ and DPPH assays, respectively. Germinated samples demonstrated strong results across all analyses, highlighting the benefits of germination in enhancing phytochemical properties. This study provides foundational information on the phytochemical composition of SPK and the effects of germination. Future research will focus on optimizing germination conditions to further enhance the functionality and value of this Korean-bred variety as a source of high-value bioactive ingredients. Full article