Molecular Biotechnology最新文献

{"title":"Empowering Plant Biotechnology Research: Super-Pangenomes as a Novel Arsenal for Crop Breeding and Improvement.","authors":"Saikat Sena, Vijay Kumar","doi":"10.1007/s12033-026-01604-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12033-026-01604-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The continuous innovations in sequencing methods have revolutionized the plant genomics research by capturing species diversity. Pangenome incorporates data from multiple genomes to generate a comprehensive and reference bias genomic architecture within a population. In recent years, several studies have provided the unprecedented advances in the field of plant pangenomes and enables the detection of structural variations, candidate genes, shedding lights into crop breeding and improvement. Further, expanding the scope of using accessions from multiple species at genus-level, the concept of pangenome has gradually evolved into a super-pangenome. Representing both cultivated and wild relatives within a genus, plant super-pangenome offers a novel insight in plant genomic information, adaptation, domestication and molecular breeding. By bridging the gap between complex genomic variants and genus-level taxa, these unprecedented advancements are reshaping the genetic landscape of gene repertoire, driving improved crop breeding in a time of global food security risk. This article focuses on the recent advancements of super-pangenome in plant research over the past few years. We also emphasize the different strategies for building plant super-pangenome and their potential applications and future perspectives which can help to expand the scope of plant genomics research.</p>","PeriodicalId":18865,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Biotechnology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148795598","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":"A High-Fidelity RT-LAMP Molecular Diagnostic Assay for Rapid Detection of Sunflower Stem Necrosis Disease.","authors":"Siva Ramakrishnan Sivadoss, Kannan Rengasamy, Gopalakrishnan Chellapan, Preetha Gnandhas, Swarnakumari Narayanan, E Rajeswari, Shaik Javeedvali, Pavithra Sivakumar","doi":"10.1007/s12033-026-01607-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12033-026-01607-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sunflower necrosis disease (SND), caused by Tobacco streak virus (TSV), spreads rapidly through infected pollen, mechanical sap transmission, and thrips vectors, leading to severe yield losses in sunflower and other crops. Hence, early and accurate detection of TSV is essential for effective surveillance and timely disease management. In this study, a reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay was developed and validated for the detection of TSV. Total RNA was extracted and subsequently reverse transcribed into complementary DNA (cDNA), which served as the template for amplification. The assay used six primers targeting the coat protein (CP) gene and reaction conditions were optimized for magnesium sulfate, betaine, dNTPs, temperature, and incubation time. Amplification was visualized by hydroxynaphthol blue (HNB) dye and confirmed through agarose gel electrophoresis. The assay specifically detected TSV without cross-reactivity to other RNA viruses. The assay demonstrated a detection limit of 0.05 pg of cDNA, comparable to conventional RT-PCR and was able to successfully detect TSV in both symptomatic and asymptomatic plants. These results highlight the assay as a rapid, sensitive, and reliable tool for early virus detection and effective disease management.</p>","PeriodicalId":18865,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Biotechnology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148795378","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":"Sulfur Homeostasis in Rice as a Dynamic Regulatory Network: Functional Genomics, Metabolic Crosstalk, and miR395-Mediated Control.","authors":"Fawad Rauf, Hakim Zamir, Hussam Ahmad, Daud Ali Shah, Shahrukh Khan, Zameer Hussain Jamali, Sada Tanzil, Usman Zulfiqar, Mohammed S Alotaibi, Bakhrom Jobborov, Shakal Khan Korai","doi":"10.1007/s12033-026-01606-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12033-026-01606-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sulfur (S) homeostasis in rice (Oryza sativa L.) depends on coordinated sulfate acquisition, transport, assimilation, and allocation into cysteine, methionine, glutathione, and other sulfur-containing compounds. Although these processes influence growth, redox regulation, detoxification, grain quality, and immunity, the functional evidence supporting individual sulfur-related genes in rice remains uneven. This review critically evaluates sulfur metabolism through an evidence-graded functional genomics framework, distinguishing direct validation in rice from expression-based inference, heterologous assays, and mechanisms extrapolated from Arabidopsis. Particular emphasis is placed on sulfate transporter families, sulfur assimilation enzymes, the cysteine synthase complex, glutathione-dependent pathways, and micro-RNA-mediated regulation. The miR395-OsAPS1-OsSULTR2;1/2;2 modules are highlighted as a key regulatory system that coordinates sulfate activation and vascular redistribution. Its contribution to resistance against Xanthomonas oryzae demonstrates that sulfur-dependent immunity may arise from direct pathogen sensitivity to accumulated inorganic sulfate rather than exclusively from glutathione-mediated redox buffering. Rice functional genomics studies also reveal important metabolic trade-offs: enhanced sulfur flux can improve detoxification or stress resistance but may impose costs on carbon and nitrogen use, growth, reproductive development, or grain composition. We therefore propose that sulfur metabolism should be viewed as a dynamic resource allocation network rather than a linear assimilation pathway. Future progress will require reciprocal gain- and loss-of-function analyses, target-specific rescue, multiplex genome editing, isotope-assisted flux measurements, spatially resolved multi-omics, and field validation across contrasting sulfur and nitrogen regimes. Integrating these approaches will help identify regulatory variants that improve sulfur-use efficiency, stress resilience, immunity, and grain quality without compromising yield stability.</p>","PeriodicalId":18865,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Biotechnology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148795625","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":"Progress in Hydroxyapatite Nanocarriers for Targeted and Enhanced Osteoporosis Treatment: A Comprehensive Review.","authors":"Jiang-Tao Shen, Ya-Ming Wang","doi":"10.1007/s12033-026-01602-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12033-026-01602-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Osteoporosis (OP) is a metabolic condition primarily affecting older and postmenopausal women. It is characterized by decreased bone mineral density (BMD), reduced strength, and deteriorated bone microarchitecture. This drastically increases the risk of debilitating fragility fractures and chronic discomfort, severely harming quality of life. Current anti-OP medications can slow bone resorption but often fail to target bone tissue directly, resulting in significant systemic toxicity. A promising solution is nanodrug delivery designed to specifically target bones. This approach minimizes adverse effects by precisely transporting therapeutics to the skeletal site. Hydroxyapatite (HAP) is an ideal material for this purpose due to its close resemblance to human bone mineral. HAP-based nanosystems advanced treatment strategy by enhancing bone targeting, improving drug loading capacity, and optimizing release kinetics and biocompatibility. Furthermore, HAP composite scaffolds hold great promise for bone regeneration. Incorporating bioactive molecules and drugs into these composites facilitates the repair of bone defects. This local delivery method provides the necessary biological activity to directly enhance the bone regeneration process. This review explores recent advancements in HAP-based nanosystems for OP, focusing on their therapeutic mechanisms, interactions with bone tissue, clinical applications, underscoring their superior efficacy, and promising future. However, key challenges remain in translating these systems to clinical practice, including large-scale manufacturing, long-term safety evaluation, and the need for well-designed clinical studies to validate their therapeutic potential.</p>","PeriodicalId":18865,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Biotechnology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148761636","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":"Adaptive Evolution in Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases Drives Antibiotic Tolerance and Resistance in Clinical Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolates.","authors":"Riyadh A Abd-Alazeez, Saif S Al-Janabi, Ahmed O Mashaan","doi":"10.1007/s12033-026-01603-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12033-026-01603-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Klebsiella pneumoniae is a major global health threat due to the rapid spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which severely limits treatment options. Although horizontal gene transfer of mobile genetic elements is a key driver of multidrug resistance, this study explores how adaptive evolution within the core genome may also contribute to the clinical success of resistant strains. Using whole-genome sequencing-based pangenome analysis of clinically relevant classical K. pneumoniae isolates, we identified 3159 variants distributed across 414 core genes, indicating that even highly conserved cellular functions accumulate mutations in clinical environments. Functional enrichment analysis revealed a significant concentration of mutations in the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (aaRS) pathway, a central component of protein synthesis and a known antibiotic target. Multiple missense variants were detected in eight aaRS genes, with the Asn366Asp mutation in metG present in all analyzed isolates. We hypothesize that this conserved, recurrent mutation may contribute to bacterial adaptation, potentially by modulating protein synthesis, although this proposed mechanism remains speculative and requires experimental validation. Recurrent mutations were also observed in ileS and leuS, both targets of existing antimicrobials, while a Ser480Pro mutation in pyrG (CTP synthase) was identified in several isolates. Overall, these findings highlight core genome variation as a potential contributor to antimicrobial resistance in K. pneumoniae and suggest that conserved mutations such as metG Asn366Asp may represent candidate genomic biomarkers warranting further investigation. Because this study is based solely on comparative genomics, the proposed functional and mechanistic interpretations should be regarded as hypotheses for future experimental testing.</p>","PeriodicalId":18865,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Biotechnology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148765272","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":"Tectochrysin Attenuates the Chemoresistance of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells to Sorafenib by Inhibiting the PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway and ABCG2 Expression.","authors":"Hanqing Hu, Xin Zheng, Guodong Tian, Ling Lu, Rongchun Xing","doi":"10.1007/s12033-026-01588-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12033-026-01588-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A flavonoid compound known as tectochrysin (TEC), which is extracted from Alpinia Oxyphylla Miq, possesses anti-cancer properties across a range of cancer types. This study aims to investigate its role in reversing sorafenib (SR) resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the underlying mechanism. SR-resistant HCC cells (Huh7 SR and HCCLM3 SR) were generated through long-term induction of parental cells with escalating doses of SR. Cell viability was evaluated by CCK-8 assays. Cell proliferation was assessed by colony formation assays. Flow cytometry analysis was used to analyze cell apoptosis and cell cycle. Transwell and wound healing assays were applied to detect cell invasion and migration, respectively. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect ABCG2 expression and p-AKT nuclear translocation. Cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) and drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) assay were performed to validate the binding of TEC to PI3K and ABCG2 protein. HCC cell-derived xenograft models were used to confirm the anti-cancer effects of TEC in vivo. Western blot analysis was employed to detect the levels of proteins related to apoptosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and the PI3K/AKT/ABCG2 pathway in cells and tissues. TEC significantly augmented the sensitivity of SR-resistant HCC cell lines to SR, synergistically inhibiting cell proliferation and colony formation. Combination treatment with TEC and SR potently induced G1/S cell cycle arrest and promoted apoptosis, accompanied by regulation of Bcl-2, Bax, C-PARP, C-caspase-3. Furthermore, TEC combined with SR effectively suppressed cell migration, invasion, and EMT, upregulating E-cadherin while downregulating N-cadherin and Vimentin. Mechanistically, TEC combined with SR exerted inhibitory effects on the PI3K/AKT/ABCG2 signaling. Evidence for this includes reduced expression of ABCG2, p-AKT, and p-PI3K, compromised ABCG2 expression, and attenuated nuclear translocation of p-AKT. In vivo, TEC and SR synergistically inhibited the growth of xenograft tumors derived from SR-resistant cells and reduced the expression of Ki67, ABCG2, and PI3K/AKT pathway proteins. Our study illustrates that TEC alleviates SR-associated chemoresistance in HCC cells by restraining activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling and inhibiting ABCG2 expression. This finding identifies TEC as a potential candidate to tackle SR resistance in HCC.</p>","PeriodicalId":18865,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Biotechnology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148758702","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":"SpyTag-Embedded Protein Nanoparticles Enable pH-Dependent Protein Loading.","authors":"Nevin Jaison, Richard Duff, Kavita Yadav, Huaiyu Yang, Vikash Yadav","doi":"10.1007/s12033-026-01601-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12033-026-01601-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Functional protein particles are emerging as versatile biomaterials with applications spanning nano-designs, drug delivery and biocatalysis. Their inherent biocompatibility, structural stability, and genetic modularity, when combined with nanoscale engineering, allow for the design of customizable systems with diverse functionalities. However, the reliable assembly of such nanostructures remains challenging due to the complexity of intermolecular interactions and surface charge variability. In this study, we present a modular strategy to assemble bioactive protein nanoparticles (NPs) using spontaneously crystallizing scaffolds derived from Bacillus thuringiensis. We generated stable, bioactive protein particles by genetically fusing the Cry1Ac scaffold to either monomeric red fluorescent protein or SpyTag002. These NPs maintained their structural integrity and fluorescence over extended period, highlighting their potential for sustained release applications. Modular recruitment on the NPs was achieved via the SpyTag/SpyCatcher system, a highly specific and covalent protein conjugation strategy, enabling targeted loading of functional proteins to the particle surface. Interestingly, SpyTag-embedded NPs exhibited pH-dependent binding to SpyCatcher, confirming the platform's pH-responsive functionality. The pH sensitivity and stability of these NPs position them as promising candidates for therapeutic delivery in acidic microenvironments, such as tumor tissues.</p>","PeriodicalId":18865,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Biotechnology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148697834","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":"RETRACTED ARTICLE: Biotreatment of Industrial Wastewater using Microalgae: A Tool for a Sustainable Bioeconomy.","authors":"Balaji Elangovan, Swaminathan Detchanamurthy, P Senthil Kumar, Ravikumar Rajarathinam, Vijaykumar Sudarshana Deepa","doi":"10.1007/s12033-023-00971-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12033-023-00971-0","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18865,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Biotechnology","volume":" ","pages":"3382"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138299624","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":"A Short Review on Current Status and Obstacles in the Sustainable Production of Biohydrogen from Microalgal Species.","authors":"B Senthil Rathi, P Senthil Kumar, Gayathri Rangasamy","doi":"10.1007/s12033-023-00840-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12033-023-00840-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Biohydrogen is an economical fuel which has enormous promise as an alternative energy source. The synthesis of biohydrogen can be done more affordably and sustainably using microalgae. For the generation of biohydrogen and the treatment of wastewater, microalgae derived from effluent have been showing very impressive outcomes. In comparison to traditional fuel sources, microalgae have benefits. Microalgae are capable of fixing ambient Carbon dioxide and converting it to carbohydrates, which are subsequently processed biochemically to provide fuel. When compared to terrestrial crops, they require less water and minerals for production. But besides these benefits, there are certain technological restrictions on the scale-up implementations of microalgae bioenergy. In this work, we explored the production of biohydrogen from several types of microalgae. The process of producing biohydrogen is affected by a number of variables, including pH, substrate concentration, the kinds of microalgal species, and others. The most recent studies and difficulties related to each stage of the biohydrogen manufacturing process are outlined. The synthesis of microalgal biohydrogen is improved using promising approaches that are discussed. Also, the specific future direction are covered. The possibility for microalgae-based production of biohydrogen to serve as an environmentally friendly and carbon-free biofuel solution that might handle the impending fuel scarcity was demonstrated. However, additional study is required on both the upstream and downstream processes of the synthesis of biohydrogen.</p>","PeriodicalId":18865,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Biotechnology","volume":" ","pages":"3372-3380"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9977795","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":"Deciphering Microalgal Diversity of Peculiar Lentic Ecosystem in Chennai, South India: A Way Towards Sustainability.","authors":"Keerthivarman G Subramanian, Manikandavelu Dhanushkodi, Aruna Satyapriyan, Muralidharan Nagarajan, Govarthanan Muthusamy","doi":"10.1007/s12033-023-00825-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12033-023-00825-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Microalgae are quickly gaining attention among the researchers in various aspects such as biofuel applications, biogas, biomass production, waste water treatment, carbon fixation, animal feed ingredients, pigment production, and pharmaceutical products. One of the approaches to choose microalgae for biotechnological applications is to investigate their diversity and abundance in all possible wet environments. Samples were collected from three sampling sites for the period of 1 year (October 2021-September 2022) in Vadapalani temple tank at Chennai. Physicochemical parameters in current investigation were estimated according to APHA, 2017. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of phytoplankton were done throughout the study period. One-way ANOVA (Analyses of Variance) and Karl Pearson's correlation coefficient were estimated using SPSS (V.26.0). A total of 11 diversity indices were estimated using PAST (V 4.0). A total of 52 algal species were identified, prevailed over by Chlorophyceae (15 species), followed by Zygnematophyceae, Bacillariophyceae, Cyanophyceae, and Trebouxiophyceae. Chlorophyceae quantitatively structured the major category. The maximum and minimum values of density were observed during the season of summer (287 Cells/L) and monsoon (80 Cells/L), respectively. Chlorophyceae showed dominance with a density of 168 cells/L. The maximum and minimum densities of Chlorophyceae were recorded in the summer season (55 cells/L) and monsoon season (24 cells/L), respectively. Shannon's index (H') attained its zenith in February and April month of 2022 (3.60). This study further ignites the researchers to phycoprospect various temple water to address the nature of microalgae occurrence and for biotechnological purposes.</p>","PeriodicalId":18865,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Biotechnology","volume":" ","pages":"3409-3420"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9886121","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}