Iranian Journal of Biotechnology最新文献

{"title":"<i>In vivo</i> Reverse Transcription of A Heterologous RNA Virus by <i>Cauliflower Mosaic Virus</i> Reverse Transcriptase During Co-Infection.","authors":"Hakimeh Ighani Mayan, Nemat Sokhandan Bashir, Davoud Koolivand","doi":"10.30498/ijb.2025.563738.4317","DOIUrl":"10.30498/ijb.2025.563738.4317","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Reverse transcriptase (RT) is central to the replication of retroviruses and pararetroviruses. <i>Cauliflower mosaic virus</i> (CaMV), a plant pararetrovirus, replicates via RT using its own viral RNA. Simultaneous infection with two or more viruses in a plant is a common phenomenon that, in addition to affecting the severity of the symptoms, may affect the concentration of infecting viruses. Interactions between viruses in mixed infections can alter disease dynamics.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study investigated whether CaMV RT can transcribe complementary DNA (cDNA) from the genomic RNA of a co-infecting RNA virus, <i>Cucumber mosaic virus</i> (CMV), <i>in planta</i>, and explored the consequences of this interaction.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Cauliflower plants were singly infected with CaMV or CMV, or co-infected with both. Symptom development was monitored. Total DNA was extracted from co-infected plants and subjected to PCR using CMV-specific primers, without an <i>in vitro</i> reverse transcription step, to probe for CMV-derived cDNA. Control PCRs on DNA from singly CMV-infected plants and on viral RNA were performed. The identity of PCR products was confirmed by sequencing. The impact of CaMV on CMV accumulation was assessed through dsRNA extraction and quantification at 20 and 45 days post-infection (dpi).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>CMV-specific cDNA was successfully amplified directly from the total DNA of the co-infected plants, indicating <i>in vivo</i> reverse transcription of CMV RNA by CaMV RT. This direst PCR-amplification was not due to plant endogenous RTs or <i>Taq</i> polymerase activity because PCR assays on total DNA and CMV RNA from plants with single CMV-infection gave no amplification. Concurrently, in the co-infections, CMV-associated symptoms (vein clearing and banding) diminished after ~45 dpi, and a quantitative dsRNA analysis showed a ~55% reduction in CMV genome concentration by 45 dpi compared to that in single infections.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study provides the first direct evidence of CaMV RT transcribing a heterologous viral RNA (CMV) into cDNA within plant cells. This interviral activity not only elucidates a mechanism behind the suppression of an RNA virus in a mixed infection but also reveals a novel principle that reflects unexpected genetic interactions of the CaMV RT enzyme substrate due to its flexibility in cDNA synthesis from competitor's RNA, opens new avenues for understanding viral interactions in viral ecology.</p>","PeriodicalId":14492,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Biotechnology","volume":"24 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13380614/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148520484","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genomic Analysis of Hypervirulent <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> ST1-KL122.","authors":"Yu Yang, Zhien He, Yuanyuan Dai, Huaiwei Lu, Yujie Li, Yuchen Zhang, Baolin Sun, Shusheng Zhou","doi":"10.30498/ijb.2025.562396.4312","DOIUrl":"10.30498/ijb.2025.562396.4312","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Hypervirulent <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> (hvKp) is often characterized by hypervirulence and hypermucoviscosity, traits classically associated with the virulence regulators <i>rmpA</i> and <i>rmpA2</i>. However, some clinically virulent isolates lack these canonical regulators, suggesting the existence of non-canonical pathways driving hypervirulence.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to investigate the genetic basis of hypervirulence and hypermucoviscosity in clinical K. pneumoniae isolates that lack the <i>rmpA</i> and <i>rmpA2</i>.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A total of 20 clinical isolates were collected. Virulence was assessed using the <i>Galleria mellonella</i> infection model. The hypermucoviscous phenotype was determined using the string test and mucoviscosity assay. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and comparative genomic analysis were performed to identify genetic variations, with a particular focus on an ST1-KL122 isolate (1744) that exhibited hypervirulence and hypermucoviscosity despite the absence of <i>rmpA</i> and <i>rmpA2</i>.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>All 20 isolates induced at least 25% mortality in <i>G. mellonella</i>. Most isolates displayed a hypermucoviscous phenotype, except for isolates 2355, 2324, and 1951. WGS confirmed the absence of <i>rmpA</i> and <i>rmpA2</i> in isolates 2355, 2324, 1951, and the hypermucoviscous isolate 1744. In the hypervirulent and hypermucoviscous ST1-KL122 isolate 1744, comparative genomic analysis identified two nonsynonymous mutations in the <i>wzc</i> gene, which encodes a tyrosine kinase involved in capsular polysaccharide (CPS) export: c.1397A>C (p.Asn466Thr) and c.1721A>T (p.His574Leu).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our findings provide evidence that mutations in the <i>wzc</i> suggest a potential non-canonical regulatory mechanism that may drive CPS-mediated hypermucoviscosity and hypervirulence in <i>rmpA</i>/<i>rmpA2</i>-negative hvKp. Further verification in more clinical strains is warranted.</p>","PeriodicalId":14492,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Biotechnology","volume":"24 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13380619/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148520595","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Screening of Biomarkers Related to Mitophagy in Severe Pancreatitis Based on Bioinformatics Methods.","authors":"Jiajia Li, Jinxin Cao, Zhipeng Wu, Wenjie Qi, Yingmin Ma","doi":"10.30498/ijb.2026.559698.4296","DOIUrl":"10.30498/ijb.2026.559698.4296","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to identify mitophagy-related biomarkers in severe acute pancreatitis through integrated bioinformatics and machine-learning approaches, and to elucidate their potential regulatory mechanisms and diagnostic value.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to SAP were screened based on the GSE194331 dataset (human whole blood samples), and candidate genes were obtained by taking the intersection with the mitophagy gene set. Key genes were screened by combining the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and Support Vector Machine-Recursive Feature Elimination (SVM-RFE) algorithms; the diagnostic efficacy was evaluated using the ROC curve, and a nomogram model was constructed. Furthermore, gene functions and regulatory mechanisms were revealed through Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), Gene Set Variation Analysis (GSVA), immune infiltration analysis, and ceRNA network, and potential targeted drugs were predicted using molecular docking.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 16 DEGs related to mitophagy were identified. Functional enrichment analysis showed that they were significantly associated with metabolic and immune regulation pathways. Machine learning and expression level validation jointly screened PGD and LMNB1 genes as two key genes. The key genes showed significant expression differences in the training set and external validation set (upregulated in the SAP group), and had excellent diagnostic efficacy (area under the curve (AUC) > 0.85). Immune infiltration analysis showed that the infiltration of 13 types of immune cells increased in the SAP group, and PGD was highly positively correlated with immune cells such as activated dendritic cells (r = 0.82). Molecular docking indicated that estradiol and progesterone might target and regulate PGD and LMNB1.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>PGD and LMNB1 are key genes related to mitophagy in SAP and have excellent diagnostic value. This study provides a theoretical basis for the analysis of the molecular mechanism of SAP and the development of precise diagnosis and treatment strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":14492,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Biotechnology","volume":"24 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13380613/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148520610","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Application Value of Multi-Gene Testing in the Evaluation of Benign and Malignant Thyroid Nodules.","authors":"Murui Zhang, Lei Xie, Fei Xu, Lunming Liu, Yihong Wang, Junchang Jiang, Weiqiang Fei, Zhinong Jiang, Xiaotong Hu","doi":"10.30498/ijb.2026.564985.4327","DOIUrl":"10.30498/ijb.2026.564985.4327","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Thyroid nodules are highly prevalent in clinical practice, and accurate preoperative distinction between benign and malignant lesions remains a major diagnostic challenge.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aims to explore the variation of multi-gene detection in benign and malignant thyroid nodules and the application value of combining the 2023 Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (BSRTC) in evaluating the benign and malignant nature of thyroid nodules.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A total of 593 patients with thyroid nodules (total 697 nodules) underwent ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy were collected from Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine. All of them were subjected to cytological examination and multi-gene testing, 247 had histopathological results. The next-generation sequencing platform was applied for multi-gene testing. A panel of well-recognized commonly mutated genes in thyroid cancer were analyzed, including BRAF, HRAS, KRAS, NRAS, TP53, TERT, RET, NTRK1, NTRK3, PAX8, THADA.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Gene mutations were identified in 226 nodules (226/247; 91.5%), with BRAF being the most prevalent driver gene alteration observed in this cohort (193/226; 85.4%), followed by RAS (26/226, 11.5%). The overall malignancy rate of gene mutations was 97.3% in our cohort, of which the lymph node metastasis rate was 43.8%. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of the combined application of multi-gene testing and cytology were 99.5%, 92.9%, 99.5%, 92.9%, and 93.1%, respectively. The sensitivity and negative predictive value of the combined application were higher than those of cytology, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Multi-gene testing could substantially enhance the detection rate of malignant thyroid nodules and protect patients with benign nodules from unnecessary surgeries. The combined application of multi-gene testing and cytology can achieve more precise diagnosis and risk stratification of thyroid nodules. It provides a valuable reference for individualized preoperative decision-making, which may serve as a crucial method for postoperative treatment and prognosis assessment.</p>","PeriodicalId":14492,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Biotechnology","volume":"24 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13380612/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148520588","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Impact of Induction of Insulin Secretion in MIN6 Cells on the Extent of Cytoophidia Formation and Their Structural Forms.","authors":"Maryam Karimi, Razieh Yazdanparast, Kolsoom Shahdadnejad","doi":"10.30498/ijb.2026.516891.4113","DOIUrl":"10.30498/ijb.2026.516891.4113","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Diabetes mellitus is marked by elevated blood glucose levels, resulting from either inadequate insulin secretion or reduced cellular sensitivity to insulin. Insulin secretion depends on guanosine triphosphate (GTP) synthesized by Inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH). Based on recent research, IMPDH forms octameric structures that assemble into different-shaped filaments, named cytoophidia, to regulate guanine nucleotide cellular content.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to investigate the correlation between cytoophidia structural shapes and the extent of insulin secretion in MIN6 cells under different conditions, including the presence of Mycophenolic acid (MPA) and Ribavirin (Riba), IMPDH inhibitors.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This study used a mouse insulin ELISA kit to investigate insulin secretion. MIN6 cells were treated with varying concentrations of glucose over different periods to determine the optimal conditions for maximum insulin secretion. The effects of IMPDH inhibitors on insulin secretion were also evaluated. Additionally, the changes in cytoophidia structures were investigated using the immunofluorescence method under control conditions, glucose treatment, and simultaneous treatment with glucose and the inhibitors. The expression levels of the IMPDH enzyme were analyzed using Western blot in different treatment conditions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our results showed that inhibition of the enzyme by either inhibitor was associated with a significant decrease in insulin secretion and conversion of the scattered dot-like cytoophidia structures in the absence, to rod-shaped forms in the presence of the enzyme inhibitors. The presence of glucose caused the structures to become thicker, and the expression level of the enzyme significantly increased after one hour of glucose treatment. However, inhibiting the enzyme by MPA or Riba during insulin secretion prompted the formation of longer and thicker structures which were dispersed upon the addition of GTP. These results indicate that cytoophidia structures are formed and structurally matured as regulatory tools under the stress condition of GTP deficiency to support GTP-dependent insulin secretion.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Overall, our findings could provide the ground for viewing the medical application of the cytoophidia-structural maturation for targeting diabetes pending extensive future investigation on the functional Relationship between dynamic cytoophidia structures and insulin secretion.</p>","PeriodicalId":14492,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Biotechnology","volume":"24 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13379700/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148497548","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identification of Genomic Differences Resulting from Selection in Iranian Kurdish and Turkmen Horse Breeds Using Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms.","authors":"Alireza Khanahmadi, Ghodrat Rahimi Mianji, Hossein Moradi Shahrebabak, Seyyed Hassan Hafezian, Mohammad Bagher Zandi","doi":"10.30498/ijb.2026.482549.4002","DOIUrl":"10.30498/ijb.2026.482549.4002","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;Breakthroughs in genomic technologies have enabled the formulation of methods to identify genomic variation in domestic animal species. Detection of the variation is necessary because it is associated with breed characteristics and economic importance in domestic animal genetics.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objectives: &lt;/strong&gt;This study aimed to identify the genomic regions in Turkmen and Kurdish horse breeds that have been the target of different selections over many years. It also sought to locate the genes and Quantitative trait loci (QTL) in these regions that contributed to the differentiation of these two breeds or the distinguishing traits within them breeds.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Materials and methods: &lt;/strong&gt;In this research, the genomic differences between the Iranian Turkmen and Kurdish horses were identified using 70kb SNP markers. For this purpose, each breed's 68 Turkmen and 32 Kurdish horses were selected and genotyped. After data quality control and population structure investigation, 82 horses with 49,578 single nucleotide markers were used to search for the identification of genomic differences. Two statistical tests, fixation index (Fst) and cross-population extended haplotype homozygosity (XP-EHH), were used to identify genomic differences between populations.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;Using the Fst test, 4 genomic regions on chromosomes 5, 12, 29, and 30, whose theta is in the top 99.9% percentile of theta value of the experimental distribution of theta, were identified as population differentiation regions in both breeds. To identify differences caused by selection in these regions, the extended haplotype homozygosity test and the length of gene linkage disequilibrium were used. The analysis showed that chromosomes 5, 12, and 29 in Kurdish horses and chromosome 30 in Turkmen horses had differences caused by selection. The genes that played a role in the nervous system, cell metabolism, immune system, cell division, and gene regulation and expression were identified in these regions. The XP-EHH test identified 5 genomic regions on chromosomes 4, 5,9,10 and 11 as candidate regions for genomic differentiation in both populations. In each genomic region, several genes with different functions were identified. Several QTLs were identified on chromosome 4 in Turkmen horses, which are associated with reproductive traits in horses. A QTL with susceptibility to insect bites was identified on chromosome 11 of Kurdish horses. Using both mentioned statistical tests, regions on chromosome 5 were identified as candidate regions for selection in both breeds.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusion: &lt;/strong&gt;Selection signatures in horse genomes indicate that natural and artificial selection have significantly influenced their genetic diversity. This data can enhance the understanding of horses' evolutionary past and refine breeding initiatives focused on enhancing their economic, functional, and biological traits. Examining selection ","PeriodicalId":14492,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Biotechnology","volume":"24 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13379593/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148497595","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rapid Detection of Carbapenemase-Producing Acinetobacter Baumannii Using MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry: A Technological Advancement in Clinical Microbiology.","authors":"Sha Chen, Keya Cai, Wenya Wang","doi":"10.30498/ijb.2025.547704.4235","DOIUrl":"10.30498/ijb.2025.547704.4235","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The emergence of CRAB presents a critical challenge in healthcare settings, necessitating rapid and accurate detection methods. MALDI-TOF MS has emerged as a promising technology for antimicrobial resistance detection, offering advantages over conventional molecular assays.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study evaluates the diagnostic performance and clinical applicability of MALDI-TOF MS for the rapid identification of carbapenemase-producing A. baumannii isolates, aiming to enhance laboratory efficiency and antimicrobial stewardship.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A total of 200 clinical A. baumannii isolates were collected from a tertiary care hospital in China throughout 2023. Carbapenemase activity was assessed using MALDI-TOF MS, and results were compared against molecular identification of carbapenemase-encoding genes via multiplex PCR. Diagnostic performance metrics, including sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values, were analyzed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>MALDI-TOF MS demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy, correctly identifying carbapenemase activity in 95 of 100 CRAB isolates and classifying 98 of 100 carbapenem-susceptible strains. Molecular assays confirmed the presence of carbapenemase genes in 96 resistant isolates. Performance metrics showed MALDI-TOF MS achieved a sensitivity of 98.96%, specificity of 99.00%, and overall accuracy of 98.98%. The system effectively detected various carbapenemase types, including OXA-48-like enzymes (40%), New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (30%), Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (15%), Verona integron-encoded metallo-β-lactamase (10%), and active-on-imipenem (IMP) (1%), with a single missed detection of an IMP-producing isolate.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>MALDI-TOF MS offers a rapid, reliable, and cost-effective approach for carbapenemase detection in A. baumannii, significantly improving the speed of antimicrobial resistance screening in clinical laboratories. Its seamless integration into existing workflows enhances diagnostic efficiency and supports real-time antimicrobial resistance surveillance.</p>","PeriodicalId":14492,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Biotechnology","volume":"24 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13179436/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147963733","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Modulation of Neuronal Mitochondrial Injury by Gualou Guizhi Decoction in a Mouse Ischemia-Reperfusion Model.","authors":"Ri Xu, Lixu Wu, Hongmei Wang, Linye Zhao, Dongxu Yin, Mengyuan Dai, Kunqiang Yu, Minya Zhou","doi":"10.30498/ijb.2025.547258.4231","DOIUrl":"10.30498/ijb.2025.547258.4231","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong></p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To investigate the effect and mechanism of Guilou Guizhi decoction (GLGZD) on CI/R injury.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) mouse model was used to mimic ischemic stroke. GLGZD was administered by gavage, and the PI3K pathway inhibitor LY294002 was injected intraperitoneally. Neurological deficits, infarct volume, brain edema, and neuronal survival were assessed using mNSS scoring, TTC, HE, Nissl, and TUNEL staining. Mitochondrial function was evaluated by measuring membrane potential, ATP, and ROS levels. Western blot detected Cytc release, apoptosis markers, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway activation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>After GLGZD intervention, mNSS score, infarct area, and cerebral tissue water content were dramatically lowered in MCAO/R mice, histopathological damage and neuronal apoptosis in the cerebral cortex and CA1 region were significantly improved. Additionally, the mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP content were elevated, the level of ROS was lowered, the release of Cytc into the cytoplasm was reduced, and the level of neuronal apoptosis-related proteins. Furthermore, GLGZD therapy dramatically increased the phosphorylation status of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway molecules, and the pathway inhibitor LY294002 effectively reduced GLGZD's ameliorative effect on a variety of lesions in MCAO/R mice brain tissues.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>GLGZD restores mitochondrial function via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway to alleviate neuronal apoptosis in MCAO/R mice, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic agent for ischemic stroke.</p>","PeriodicalId":14492,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Biotechnology","volume":"24 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13179435/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147963705","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Viral infections: The Biothermodynamics Point of View.","authors":"Fleming Martínez, William E Acree","doi":"10.30498/ijb.2026.577636.4385","DOIUrl":"10.30498/ijb.2026.577636.4385","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":14492,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Biotechnology","volume":"24 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13179434/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147963703","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bioethanol from Lignocellulosic Feedstock: with Different Co-Cultivation Strategies.","authors":"Zahra Fathi","doi":"10.30498/ijb.2025.534725.4194","DOIUrl":"10.30498/ijb.2025.534725.4194","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The continuous rise in crude oil prices, coupled with environmental concerns surrounding greenhouse gas emissions, has spurred growing interest in bioethanol as a renewable fuel alternative. Lignocellulosic biomass-such as straw, softwood, sugarcane bagasse, corncob, fruit waste, and algal sources-has emerged as a promising feedstock due to its abundance, low cost, and rich carbohydrate composition. Efficient and economical production of bioethanol from such materials requires optimized pretreatment methods, minimized process costs, and the application of high-yield or genetically engineered microbial strains. Pretreatment techniques range from enzymatic and chemical (acidic or alkaline) to physical methods like autoclaving and ultrasonication, with microbial enzymes from fungi and bacteria offering eco-friendly alternatives. Co-culturing fermentative yeasts such as <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i> with cellulase- and xylanase-producing fungi like <i>Aspergillus</i>, <i>Trichoderma</i>, and <i>Pichia</i> can enhance sugar release and ethanol yield through synergistic enzymatic activity. Effective co-cultivation depends on microbial compatibility and precise control of fermentation conditions. This review explores the impact of various co-culture strategies-particularly involving <i>S. cerevisiae</i> and cellulolytic or xylose-fermenting microorganisms-on bioethanol production from diverse lignocellulosic substrates.</p>","PeriodicalId":14492,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Biotechnology","volume":"24 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13179438/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147963685","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}