Electronic Journal of Biotechnology最新文献

{"title":"ALYREF promotes malignant behaviors and inhibits ferroptosis in colon cancer cells by stabilizing PCSK9 mRNA","authors":"Lili Cao ,&nbsp;Ying Chen ,&nbsp;Jing Yu ,&nbsp;Dian Yin","doi":"10.1016/j.ejbt.2025.07.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejbt.2025.07.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Colon cancer is a prevalent malignancy causing significant global morbidity and mortality. The RNA methyltransferase Aly/REF export factor (ALYREF), which binds 5-methylcytosine (m5C)-modified messenger RNA, represents a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target in cancer. However, its specific role and mechanism in colon cancer progression remain unexplored.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>ALYREF expression was significantly elevated in colon cancer tissues and cell lines compared to normal controls. Depletion of ALYREF suppressed colon cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, while simultaneously promoting apoptosis and ferroptosis. Analysis revealed proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is highly expressed in colon cancer and positively regulated by ALYREF. Mechanistically, ALYREF directly bound to and stabilized PCSK9 messenger RNA in a manner dependent on m5C modification. Crucially, the anti-tumor effects resulting from ALYREF knockdown were reversed by overexpressing PCSK9. Consistent with cellular findings, silencing ALYREF significantly inhibited tumor growth <em>in vivo</em> using xenograft models.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This study demonstrates that ALYREF drives colon cancer malignancy by stabilizing PCSK9 messenger RNA via m5C methylation, thereby enhancing PCSK9 expression. These findings establish the ALYREF/PCSK9 axis as a critical mechanism in colon cancer progression, highlighting its potential as a novel therapeutic target for intervention.</div><div><strong>How to cite:</strong> Cao L, Chen Y, Yu J, et al. ALYREF promotes malignant behaviors and inhibits ferroptosis in colon cancer cells by stabilizing PCSK9 mRNA. Electron J Biotechnol 2025;78. <span><span>https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejbt.2025.07.003</span><svg><path></path></svg></span>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11529,"journal":{"name":"Electronic Journal of Biotechnology","volume":"78 ","pages":"Pages 53-63"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145217831","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Whole-genome analysis and biosynthetic gene cluster profiling of Stenotrophomonas sp. ASucR1 isolated from Sof Umer Cave, Ethiopia","authors":"Abu Feyisa Meka ,&nbsp;Gessesse Kebede Bekele ,&nbsp;Selfu Girma Gebre ,&nbsp;Musin Kelel Abas ,&nbsp;Mesfin Tafesse Gemeda","doi":"10.1016/j.ejbt.2025.07.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejbt.2025.07.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Sof Umer Cave is a unique habitat that hosts industrially significant microbes. In this study, <em>Stenotrophomonas</em> sp. ASucR1 was isolated from the cave rock and screened for antimicrobial activity. High-molecular-weight genomic DNA was extracted and subjected to whole-genome sequencing using the Illumina NovaSeq platform. Comprehensive genomic and biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) profiling was conducted.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div><em>In vitro</em> tests revealed that <em>Stenotrophomonas</em> sp. ASucR1 exhibited a broad spectrum of antagonistic activity. Functional genome annotation identified diverse biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) and metabolic pathways, including genes involved in the synthesis of secondary metabolites. A total of 19 BGCs were identified, several of which showed no matches in the minimum information about a biosynthetic gene cluster (MiBIG) database, indicating the presence of previously uncharacterized bioactive compounds. Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis showed that 91.5% of variants were identified within coding regions, with 85.84% being synonymous. Classification of SNPs and insertion-deletion mutations through clusters of orthologous groups (COG) analysis highlighted their association with key biological functions.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This study highlights the metabolic versatility and biosynthetic potential of <em>Stenotrophomonas</em> sp. ASucR1, a promising candidate for antimicrobial development and biotechnological applications. The identification of various biosynthetic gene clusters paves the way for exploring bioactive compounds with pharmaceutical significance.</div><div><strong>How to cite:</strong> Meka AF, Bekele GK, Gebre SG, et al. Whole genome analysis and biosynthetic gene cluster profiling of <em>Stenotrophomonas</em> sp. ASucR1 isolated from Sof Umer Cave, Ethiopia. Electron J Biotechnol 2025;78. <span><span>https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejbt.2025.07.004</span><svg><path></path></svg></span>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11529,"journal":{"name":"Electronic Journal of Biotechnology","volume":"78 ","pages":"Pages 46-52"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145217830","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Isolation, purification and physicochemical characterization of Cichorium intybus L. root polysaccharide and its protective effect against CCl4-induced liver injury","authors":"Yingze Ma,&nbsp;Zhiping Yang,&nbsp;Weili Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.ejbt.2025.06.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejbt.2025.06.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Liver injury is a major cause of hepatic diseases, often leading to impaired liver function. Current treatments face limitations due to potential hepatotoxicity, driving interest in alternative therapies like Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). <em>Cichorium intybus</em> L., a medicinal herb rich in bioactive polysaccharides, has shown promise in liver protection.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A water-soluble polysaccharide (CIP-N-1), with an average molecular weight of 2.3 kDa, was isolated and purified from the water extract of <em>Cichorium intybus</em> L. root using DEAE cellulose column chromatography and CL-6B agarose gel chromatography. CIP-N-1 consists of 98.16% neutral sugars and 1.69% proteins, with its primary components being mannose and glucose in a ratio of 4.9:95.1. In vivo studies demonstrated CIP-N-1′s hepatoprotective effects by enhancing antioxidant activity, inhibiting lipid peroxidation, and reducing inflammation in CCl₄-induced liver injury.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>CIP-N-1 shows potential as a dietary supplement for alleviating chemical liver damage. Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties support its use in liver health, offering a natural therapeutic option for hepatic injury prevention and treatment.</div><div><strong>How to cite:</strong> Ma Y, Yang Z, Huang W. Isolation, purification and physicochemical characterization of <em>Cichorium intybus</em> L. root polysaccharide and its protective effect against CCl4-induced liver injury. Electron J Biotechnol 2025;77. <span><span>https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejbt.2025.06.003</span><svg><path></path></svg></span>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11529,"journal":{"name":"Electronic Journal of Biotechnology","volume":"77 ","pages":"Pages 59-65"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144924951","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"NEDD4L/RHOF axis suppresses the malignant phenotypes and lipid metabolism of breast cancer and NEDD4L is affected by upstream ALKBH5","authors":"Tao Liu,&nbsp;Xiaoming Lin,&nbsp;Rong Liang","doi":"10.1016/j.ejbt.2025.07.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejbt.2025.07.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The protein posttranslational modifications, including ubiquitination and methylation, exhibit the essential function in breast cancer. Herein, we aimed to explore the molecular mechanism of neural precursor cell-expressed developmentally downregulated gene 4-like (NEDD4L) associated with Rho GTPase Rif (RHOF) and AlkB homolog 5 (ALKBH5). A series of experiments including expression detection, cell functions, xenograft tumor assay, and interaction analysis was designed.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>RHOF was up-regulated in breast cancer samples and cells. Silencing RHOF suppressed breast cancer cell growth, migration, invasion and lipid metabolism. Breast cancer tumorigenesis and lipid metabolism were repressed by RHOF knockdown <em>in vivo.</em> NEDD4L impaired RHOF stability by promoting its ubiquitination. NEDD4L overexpression restrained breast cancer cell progression and lipid metabolism via degrading RHOF. ALKBH5 inhibited NEDD4L expression through m6A modification.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>These results evidenced that NEDD4L facilitated the malignant progression of breast cancer via inducing the ubiquitination of RHOF, and NEDD4L was also affected by ALKBH5-mediated m6A demethylation.</div><div><strong>How to cite:</strong> Liu T, Lin X, Liang R. NEDD4L/RHOF axis suppresses the malignant phenotypes and lipid metabolism of breast cancer and NEDD4L is affected by upstream ALKBH5. Electron J Biotechnol 2025;77. <span><span>https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejbt.2025.07.001</span><svg><path></path></svg></span>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11529,"journal":{"name":"Electronic Journal of Biotechnology","volume":"77 ","pages":"Pages 66-79"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144931985","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling reveals key mechanisms of alkaline stress tolerance in rice","authors":"Jiangxu Wang ,&nbsp;Chuang Lang ,&nbsp;Yang Ren ,&nbsp;Junxiang Guo ,&nbsp;Wendong Ma ,&nbsp;Qing Liu ,&nbsp;Lei Lei ,&nbsp;Shichen Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.ejbt.2025.07.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejbt.2025.07.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Alkaline stress severely restricts rice growth and yield by disrupting ion balance, nutrient uptake, and oxidative metabolism. Clarifying the molecular mechanisms of tolerance is vital for breeding resilient varieties. This study explores transcriptional and metabolic adaptations in an alkali-tolerant (Qijing 10, LD) and sensitive (Tengxi 138, WL) rice variety under alkaline stress.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Transcriptomic analysis revealed 1297 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the sensitive variety under alkaline stress (TWL), primarily enriched in pathways related to antioxidant enzyme synthesis (e.g., peroxidase genes), transmembrane ion transport, and membrane lipid stabilization pathways. In contrast, the tolerant variety (TLD) exhibited only 38 DEGs, suggesting transcriptional homeostasis achieved via suppression of stress-related gene overactivation. Metabolomic profiling demonstrated stable levels of key lipids (phosphatidic acid, galactolipids) and osmolytes (proline, betaine) in the tolerant variety under stress, whereas the sensitive variety accumulated lipid peroxidation products (malondialdehyde, MDA) and displayed dysregulated carbohydrate metabolic dysregulation. Integrated multi-omics analysis indicated that the tolerant variety coordinated lipid metabolism gene modulation with antioxidant metabolite accumulation, establishing dual barriers for ROS scavenging and membrane protection. Conversely, transcriptional dysregulation in the sensitive variety led to metabolic collapse.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Alkaline tolerance in rice hinges on the synergistic modulation of stress-responsive genes and metabolic networks to preserve redox equilibrium and membrane function. The tolerant variety’s capacity to stabilize transcriptional activity and metabolic flux underlies its resilience. These results elucidate key molecular and metabolic determinants of alkaline tolerance, offering strategic targets for breeding rice cultivars adapted to alkaline environments.</div><div><strong>How to cite:</strong> Wang J, Lang C, Ren Y, et al. Transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling reveals key mechanisms of alkaline stress tolerance in rice. Electron J Biotechnol 2025;78. <span><span>https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejbt.2025.07.002</span><svg><path></path></svg></span>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11529,"journal":{"name":"Electronic Journal of Biotechnology","volume":"78 ","pages":"Pages 35-45"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145155614","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tianma granules: Bridging traditional medicine and modern science to combat colorectal cancer via ferroptosis","authors":"Ning Ding ,&nbsp;Xiaojuan Tang ,&nbsp;Yijing Zhang ,&nbsp;Hongbiao Luo ,&nbsp;Yanbo Tang ,&nbsp;Chaoqun Zeng ,&nbsp;Yongheng He ,&nbsp;Liang Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.ejbt.2025.06.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejbt.2025.06.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>This study aims to investigate the ferroptosis-inducing effects of Tianma Granules (TMGs) in colorectal cancer and elucidate its molecular mechanisms. Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death, represents a novel therapeutic target for cancer. We combined network pharmacology with experimental validation to explore TMG’s anti-cancer potential through ferroptosis modulation.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Network pharmacology identified 382 ferroptosis-related genes overlapping with 12,944 CRC-associated targets (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05), with SLC7A11, GPX4, SAT1, PTGS2, and GLS2 prioritized as core targets. <em>In vitro</em>, TMG dose-dependently suppressed CRC cell proliferation (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05), elevated reactive oxygen species (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05) and ferrous ion levels (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.01), effects reversed by ferroptosis inhibitor, Ferrostatin-1. c-Casp3 levels were unchanged (<em>p</em> &gt; 0.05), excluding apoptosis. Transmission electron microscopy revealed mitochondrial cristae fragmentation and vacuolation, hallmark features of ferroptosis. Molecular analyses demonstrated TMG-mediated downregulation of SLC7A11 and GPX4, alongside upregulation of SAT1, PTGS2, and GLS2 (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05). In xenograft models, high-dose TMG (23.2 g/kg) reduced tumor volume, attenuated cachexia, and elevated intratumoral ROS and Fe²⁺ levels (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.01), corroborating ferroptosis induction <em>in vivo</em>.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>TMG suppresses CRC progression by inducing ferroptosis via dual inhibition of SLC7A11/GPX4 and activation of SAT1/PTGS2/GLS2. This study bridges traditional medicine and ferroptosis biology, positioning TMG as a novel therapeutic candidate for CRC.</div><div><strong>How to cite:</strong> Ding N, Tang X, Zhang Y, et al. Tianma granules: Bridging traditional medicine and modern science to combat colorectal cancer via ferroptosis. Electron J Biotechnol 2025;78. <span><span>https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejbt.2025.06.004</span><svg><path></path></svg></span>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11529,"journal":{"name":"Electronic Journal of Biotechnology","volume":"78 ","pages":"Pages 14-25"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145047213","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Chufeng Yisun Decoction treats dry eye syndrome by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt pathway","authors":"Yue Du ,&nbsp;Xue Jiang ,&nbsp;Yanyan Zhang ,&nbsp;Quanyong Yi","doi":"10.1016/j.ejbt.2025.05.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejbt.2025.05.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Dry eye disease seriously affects people’s work and life. Chufeng Yisun Decoction is a traditional Chinese medicine decoction used in treating dry eye disease. This study aims to explore the core active ingredients, targets, and mechanisms of CFYSD in dry eye disease, providing new insights for the dry eye disease treatment.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 196 target genes were screened from Chufeng Yisun Decoction, and 170 genes were related to dry eye disease. Gene Ontology and KEGG enrichment analyses showed that Chufeng Yisun Decoction influenced dry eye disease through “Lipid and atherosclerosis”, “Fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis”, and “PI3K-Akt”. The core targets of Chufeng Yisun Decoction in treating dry eye disease were Akt1 and IL-1β. The core active ingredients were kaempferol, wogonin, and quercetin. Molecular docking results showed that the binding energies of kaempferol and Akt1, wogonin and Akt1, quercetin and Akt1, and quercetin and IL-1β were −6.1, −6.1, −6.1, and −7.9 kcal/mol, respectively. Chufeng Yisun Decoction significantly alleviated cell damage and reduced PI3K/Akt pathway-related protein expression. PI3K activation partially reversed the therapeutic effect of Chufeng Yisun Decoction on dry eye disease.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Chufeng Yisun Decoction treats dry eye disease by inactivating the PI3K/Akt pathway through multi-ingredients and multi-targets.</div><div><strong>How to cite:</strong> Du Y, Jiang X, Zhang Y, et al. Chufeng Yisun Decoction treat dry eye syndrome by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt pathway. Electron J Biotechnol 2025;78. <span><span>https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejbt.2025.05.006</span><svg><path></path></svg></span>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11529,"journal":{"name":"Electronic Journal of Biotechnology","volume":"78 ","pages":"Pages 26-34"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145047214","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Circulating exosomal miRNA signatures as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in biliary colic","authors":"Xiangjie Han,&nbsp;Anshi Wu,&nbsp;Mengmeng Bao","doi":"10.1016/j.ejbt.2025.05.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejbt.2025.05.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Biliary colic (BC), characterized by intermittent pain due to gallstone-related bile duct obstruction, remains poorly understood at the molecular level. Circulating exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as potential biomarkers for various diseases. This study aimed to identify exosomal miRNA profiles in BC patients and explore their therapeutic implications.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Analysis of plasma exosomal miRNAs from 10 BC patients during acute attacks and 10 healthy controls (HCs) revealed distinct expression patterns separating BC from HC groups. Integration of differential expression analysis, WGCNA, and LASSO regression identified 7 key miRNAs (hsa-miR-142-3p, hsa-miR-32-5p, hsa-miR-374a-3p, hsa-miR-155-5p, hsa-miR-425-3p, hsa-miR-584-5p, hsa-miR-185-5p) strongly associated with BC. Support vector machine models using these miRNAs achieved excellent diagnostic performance (AUC = 1.0, where AUC represents Area Under the Curve). miRNA-targeting drugs including Remlarsen and Cobomarsen showed potential for therapeutic intervention.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This study identified specific exosomal miRNA signatures that distinguish BC patients from HC and revealed potential miRNA-targeting therapeutics. These findings advance our understanding of BC pathophysiology and provide direction for developing novel diagnostics and treatments.</div><div><strong>How to cite:</strong> Han X, Wu A, Bao M. Circulating exosomal miRNA signatures as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in biliary colic. Electron J Biotechnol 2025;77. <span><span>https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejbt.2025.05.007</span><svg><path></path></svg></span>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11529,"journal":{"name":"Electronic Journal of Biotechnology","volume":"78 ","pages":"Pages 1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145005381","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unveiling microbial secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters from alkaline soda Lake Chitu, in the Ethiopian Rift Valley","authors":"Gessesse Kebede Bekele ,&nbsp;Ermias Sissay Balcha ,&nbsp;Abu Feyisa Meka ,&nbsp;Eskedar Getachew Assefa ,&nbsp;Ebrahim M. Abda ,&nbsp;Fassil Assefa Tuji ,&nbsp;Mesfin Tafesse Gemeda","doi":"10.1016/j.ejbt.2025.06.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejbt.2025.06.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Microorganisms inhabiting alkalihalo-soda lakes are known for producing diverse secondary metabolites with potential biotechnological and pharmaceutical applications. This study explored the biosynthetic capabilities of microbial communities from Ethiopia’s Chitu Lake through shotgun metagenomic sequencing and metagenome-assembled genome (MAG) analyses using various bioinformatics tools.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Analysis of MAGs using the Antibiotics and Secondary Metabolite Analysis Shell (antiSMASH) revealed 13 major types of biosynthetic gene clusters. The most abundant were terpene-precursors (32%) and terpene clusters (25%), followed by ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (9%) and nonribosomal peptide synthetases (7%). Other less common BGCs (5% each) included betalactone, ectoine, and Type I polyketide synthase, while rare types (2% each) comprised arylpolyene, hydrogen cyanide, phosphonate, ranthipeptide, and others. The Natural Product Domain Seeker (NaPDoS) detected ketosynthase domains linked to pharmaceutically important such as various fatty acid synthesis, modular and iterative domain classes, and condensation domain which is associated with L-amino acid coupling (LCL) domain class, such as those involved in syringomycin biosynthesis. In addition, bacteriocin analysis identified sactipeptides (56%) and lasso peptides (28%) as dominant types. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis uncovered several secondary metabolite pathways including those for penicillin, cephalosporins, alkaloids, and phenazines. Rapid Annotation using Subsystem Technology further highlighted secondary metabolism pathways vital for microbial survival in Chitu Lake’s extreme environment.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The discovery of diverse biosynthetic gene cluster positions Chitu Lake as a valuable source of secondary metabolites, highlighting the biotechnological, industrial, pharmaceutical, agricultural and environmental potential of its extremophilic microbes and supporting further bioprospecting efforts.</div><div><strong>How to cite:</strong> Bekele GK, Balcha ES, Meka AF, et al. Unveiling microbial secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters from alkaline soda Lake Chitu, in the Ethiopian Rift Valley. Electron J Biotechnol 2025;77. <span><span>https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejbt.2025.06.002</span><svg><path></path></svg></span>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11529,"journal":{"name":"Electronic Journal of Biotechnology","volume":"77 ","pages":"Pages 48-58"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144917765","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Onion peel-mediated biosynthesis of TiO2-ZnO bimetallic nanoparticles: Antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and anticancer activities","authors":"Ebrahim Saied ,&nbsp;Ahmed S. Doghish ,&nbsp;Mohamed K.Y. Soliman ,&nbsp;Walaa A. El-Dakroury ,&nbsp;Abeer S. Aloufi ,&nbsp;Bushra Hafeez Kiani ,&nbsp;Amr H. Hashem","doi":"10.1016/j.ejbt.2025.06.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejbt.2025.06.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The rising challenges of antibiotic resistance and cancer necessitate the development of sustainable, cost-effective, and multifunctional therapeutic agents. This study introduces a green synthesis approach for bimetallic nanoparticles (BNPs) using agro-waste materials.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>For the first time, bimetallic titanium dioxide–zinc oxide (TiO₂-ZnO) BNPs were synthesized using onion peel extract as a natural reducing and stabilizing agent. UV–Vis spectroscopy confirmed nanoparticle formation with a peak corresponding to a size of approximately 320 nm. DLS showed an average hydrodynamic diameter of 145.1 nm, and TEM revealed monodispersed nanoparticles, ranging from 80 to 150 nm. The BNPs exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity with MIC values of 500 μg/mL against <em>Bacillus subtilis</em>, <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em>, and <em>Candida albicans</em>; 1000 μg/mL against <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>; and 250 μg/mL against <em>Escherichia coli</em>. They also demonstrated significant antibiofilm activity against <em>B. subtilis</em>-MRSA with a 63.1% inhibition rate at 125 μg/mL. Additionally, TiO₂-ZnO BNPs showed potent cytotoxic effects on MCF-7 breast cancer cells, with an IC₅₀ of 5.97 ± 0.37 μg/mL, and anticancer activity was mediated by caspase-8 activation and VEGFR-2 downregulation.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This green-synthesized TiO₂-ZnO BNPs offer a promising dual-function nanoplatform for combating microbial infections and cancer, highlighting the potential of sustainable nanotechnology for biomedical applications.</div><div><strong>How to cite:</strong> Saied E, Doghish AS, Soliman MK, et al. Onion peel-mediated biosynthesis of TiO₂-ZnO bimetallic nanoparticles: Antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and anticancer activities. Electron J Biotechnol 2025;77. <span><span>https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejbt.2025.06.001</span><svg><path></path></svg></span>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11529,"journal":{"name":"Electronic Journal of Biotechnology","volume":"77 ","pages":"Pages 12-23"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144841321","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}