New biotechnology最新文献

{"title":"Exploring protein secretion-modulating and structural features of pro-peptides from S8 class subtilisin-like serine proteases in Bacillus subtilis","authors":"Stefano Grasso ,&nbsp;Tobias Schilling ,&nbsp;Liselott Schilling ,&nbsp;Sven Hutjens ,&nbsp;Minia Antelo-Varela ,&nbsp;Andreas Otto ,&nbsp;Dörte Becher ,&nbsp;Tjeerd van Rij ,&nbsp;Jan Maarten van Dijl","doi":"10.1016/j.nbt.2025.11.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nbt.2025.11.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>One of the most common post-translational modifications occurring in bacteria is proteolytic cleavage. Particularly, in secretory proteins this cleavage is observed for specific protein segments, named pro-peptides, which are frequently located between the signal peptide and the mature protein. Pro-peptides are known to serve two main functions, namely a chaperone function in protein folding and an enzyme-inhibiting function. To date, the contribution of pro-peptides to protein secretion is not fully understood. Therefore, the present study was aimed at assessing possible roles of the N-terminal pro-peptides from the S8 class subtilisin-like serine proteases Bpr, Vpr and WprA of <em>Bacillus subtilis</em> in protein secretion. To this end, the signal peptides of these proteases were fused to the alkaline phosphatase PhoA of <em>Escherichia coli</em> with or without the cognate pro-peptides. Subsequently, secretion of the PhoA protein and its activity were assessed in the <em>B. subtilis</em> type strain 168 or the genome-reduced strain IIG-Bs27–39 and correlated to the respective pro-peptide structure as predicted by AlphaFold. Altogether, the obtained results suggest that the contributions of the investigated pro-peptides to protein secretion in <em>B. subtilis</em> are related to a combination of their functions in protein folding, their own folding state, and the applied strain.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19190,"journal":{"name":"New biotechnology","volume":"91 ","pages":"Pages 7-16"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145505612","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evidence for nanoparticle-enhanced ultrasound-based In-Planta transformation and transgenerational inheritance in wheat","authors":"Fariba Rafiei ,&nbsp;Nirman Nepal ,&nbsp;Trever Thurgood ,&nbsp;Roland Wilhelm ,&nbsp;Steve Scofield ,&nbsp;Mohsen Mohammadi","doi":"10.1016/j.nbt.2025.12.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nbt.2025.12.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Here, we describe a series of evidence that most parsimoniously explains DNA delivery and integration of transgene into wheat genome by using an ultrasound-mediated, nanoparticle-based method without the need for tissue culture. This approach offers a potentially high-throughput, amenable to automation, and a cost-effective strategy for transforming mature wheat seeds and stably transmitting transgenes across generations, with stable inheritance confirmed through the T₃ generation. The method successfully delivered transgenes, via the pCAMBIA1305.1 plasmid, to multiple wheat varieties, including ‘Apogee’, ‘Sonora-64’ and ‘Opata-85’, indicating its potential as a genotype-independent platform for plant genetic engineering. Ultrasound treatment transiently increases the permeability of seed cell walls and membranes, facilitating the uptake of mesoporous silica nanoparticles coated with polyethyleneimine that are loaded with plasmid DNA. Quantitative PCR, segregation analysis, and whole-genome sequencing confirmed variable copy number and stable integration of segments of plasmid DNA across multiple loci. Transgene expression was validated using GUS staining and PCR assays across successive generations, supporting robust transgenerational inheritance. By eliminating the need for callus induction or genotype-specific regeneration protocols, this seed-transformation method offers a scalable, cost-effective, and potentially game-changing approach for the genetic transformation of wheat and other recalcitrant crop species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19190,"journal":{"name":"New biotechnology","volume":"91 ","pages":"Pages 141-145"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145800530","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unlocking the potential of defined co-cultures for industrial biotechnology: Opportunities and challenges","authors":"Sagarika B. Govindaraju ,&nbsp;Tobias Fecker ,&nbsp;Michelle Rossouw,&nbsp;Jack T. Pronk,&nbsp;Rinke J. van Tatenhove-Pel","doi":"10.1016/j.nbt.2025.11.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nbt.2025.11.009","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Large-scale microbial-biotechnology processes for production of chemicals almost exclusively rely on pure cultures of microbial strains. Especially for extensively engineered pure cultures, process performance can be negatively affected, which can be caused by issues such as pathway imbalance, deterioration of productivity caused by genetic instability and enzyme promiscuity. An increasing number of studies demonstrate that, under ‘academic’ laboratory conditions, the use of defined co-cultures (i.e. deliberate mixtures of known microbial strains) offers unique possibilities for mitigating such drawbacks. These advantages differ for dissimilatory products, whose synthesis from one or more carbon substrates provides cells with free energy, and assimilatory products, whose synthesis requires a net input of free energy. Based on advances in experimental and theoretical research, this paper highlights how defined co-cultures can address several limitations of mono-cultures for production of low-molecular-weight compounds. From this largely academic perspective, we outline the key challenges for scaling these systems to industry, which underscore the need for innovative solutions and continued research in this area.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19190,"journal":{"name":"New biotechnology","volume":"91 ","pages":"Pages 89-99"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145636625","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhanced glutathione production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae via transporter activation and catabolic pathway engineering","authors":"Sang-Hun Do ,&nbsp;Yong Jun Sim ,&nbsp;Chan-Hong Ahn ,&nbsp;Jong Myoung Park ,&nbsp;Sun-Ki Kim","doi":"10.1016/j.nbt.2026.01.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nbt.2026.01.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Industrial interest in glutathione, a tripeptide with key roles in cellular redox homeostasis, has increased, particularly in the food and pharmaceutical sectors. This study aimed to engineer <em>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</em> to enhance glutathione production through a dual strategy: overexpression of glutathione exporters (GXA1 and GEX2) and targeted knockout of genes involved in glutathione degradation. Overexpression of either <em>GXA1</em> or <em>GEX2</em> resulted in simultaneous increases in both intracellular and extracellular glutathione levels. To further enhance the intracellular glutathione content of the GXA1-overexpressing strain (G1/2-GXA1), seven candidate genes associated with glutathione catabolism were individually knocked out and the subsequent effects evaluated. Among the observed outcomes, the knockout of <em>DUG2</em>, which encodes a γ-glutamyl transpeptidase-like protein involved in glutathione degradation, and <em>URE2</em>, which encodes a glutathione S-transferase-like protein that also functions as a negative regulator of nitrogen catabolite repression, significantly improved glutathione accumulation under batch fermentation. Specifically, the glutathione contents in the G1/2-GXA1 <em>ΔDUG2</em> and G1/2-GXA1 <em>ΔURE2</em> strains increased by 27 % and 46 %, respectively, compared to the parental G1/2-GXA1 strain. Under high-cell-density fed-batch fermentation with glucose-limited feeding, the G1/2-GXA1 <em>ΔDUG2</em> strain achieved a maximum dry cell weight of 97 g/L and a glutathione titer of 2.8 g/L. These values were 11 % and 14 % higher, respectively, than those of the G1/2-GXA1 <em>ΔURE2</em> strain. Notably, the 2.8 g/L glutathione titer achieved by the G1/2-GXA1 <em>ΔDUG</em>2 strain represents the highest concentration reported to date in <em>S. cerevisiae</em> without the supplementation of pure precursor amino acids.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19190,"journal":{"name":"New biotechnology","volume":"91 ","pages":"Pages 185-191"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145934428","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Beyond similarity: Unveiling the distinctive transcriptional regulatory roles of ARA1 in plant biomass utilization by Myceliophthora thermophila and related fungi","authors":"Tiziano Benocci ,&nbsp;Nancy Coconi Linares ,&nbsp;Evy Battaglia ,&nbsp;Mao Peng ,&nbsp;Ronald P. de Vries","doi":"10.1016/j.nbt.2025.11.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nbt.2025.11.008","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Saprobic fungi have important biotechnological applications, particularly in biorefinery processes in which their hydrolytic enzymes (CAZymes) convert the biomass into valuable products such as biofuels and biochemicals. <em>Myceliophthora thermophila</em> is a thermophilic fungus, which makes it an attractive source of enzymes for biorefinery. However, the regulatory system that controls the production of CAZymes in this species is only partially understood. This study focuses on understanding the role of ARA1 in <em>M. thermophila</em>, investigating its function beyond conventional <span>L</span>-arabinose/<span>D</span>-galactose utilization, by using deletion and overexpression strains for detailed transcriptomic and phenotypic analyses. The comparison with other fungi provides insights into ARA1's diverse functions within Sordariomycete fungi. Our results indicate that ARA1 is a key regulator in <em>M. thermophila</em>, as it controls the utilization of <span>L</span>-arabinose, <span>D</span>-galactose, xylan, cellulose and pectin, exhibiting a broader role compared to its orthologs in other Sordariomycetes. Moreover, co-regulation between XYR1 and ARA1, with significant overlap in target genes, was observed for the first time in <em>M. thermophila</em>. Constitutive overexpression of <em>ara1</em> is identified as a promising approach for enhancing hydrolytic performance during <em>M. thermophila</em> growth on complex and recalcitrant substrates but is strongly dependent on the right promoter. In conclusion, our study identifies <em>M. thermophila</em> ARA1 as a key regulator in plant biomass utilization, although additional regulators, e.g., CLR1 and CLR2, remain to be investigated to fully elucidate the regulatory network governing this process. The observed diversity in the role of ARA1 among Sordariomycetes highlights the flexibility of transcriptional networks involved in biomass degradation and offers leads for improving biotechnological processes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19190,"journal":{"name":"New biotechnology","volume":"91 ","pages":"Pages 74-88"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145615771","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Catalytic versatility of lipoxygenase from Microcystis aeruginosa","authors":"Ruth Chrisnasari ,&nbsp;Shuyue Chen ,&nbsp;Roelant Hilgers ,&nbsp;Daan van Vliet ,&nbsp;Willem J.H. van Berkel ,&nbsp;Jean-Paul Vincken ,&nbsp;Tom A. Ewing ,&nbsp;Marie Hennebelle","doi":"10.1016/j.nbt.2025.11.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nbt.2025.11.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lipoxygenases (LOXs) catalyze the regio- and enantioselective addition of molecular oxygen to polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), yielding fatty acid hydroperoxides (FAHPs) with significant industrial relevance. Bacterial LOXs are of particular interest due to their broad substrate range and distinct regio- and enantioselectivity profiles. In the current study, we characterized the biochemical properties and product scope of a newly identified LOX from the cyanobacterium <em>Microcystis aeruginosa</em> (Ma-LOX). Our results demonstrate that Ma-LOX exhibits a strong preference for linoleic acid (LA) and α-linolenic acid (ALA), catalyzing regioselective dioxygen insertion predominantly at the ω-5 position for these substrates. Notably, this regioselectivity diminishes with longer-chain PUFAs. Ma-LOX shows opposite enantioselectivity with respect to eukaryotic LOXs, producing 13(<em>R</em>)<em>-</em>hydroperoxy-9<em>Z,11E-</em>octadecadienoic acid (13<em>R</em>-HPODE) from LA with an enantiomeric excess (<em>ee</em>) of 79.3 ± 8.8 % (n = 3). Structural prediction and molecular docking simulations suggest that the observed regioselectivities of Ma-LOX are influenced by oxygen insertion via two distinct pathways: a putative oxygen access channel and the entrance of a relatively shallow substrate-binding pocket, distinguishing Ma-LOX from other LOXs. Additionally, we identified that this shallow binding pocket facilitates Ma-LOX’s double dioxygenation activity toward ALA, resulting in the formation of dihydroperoxides. Beyond FAHPs and dihydroperoxides, Ma-LOX catalyzes the synthesis of epoxy alcohols and ketones, suggesting the enzyme possesses an unusual but highly relevant hydroperoxide isomerase (HPI) activity. These results offer important insights into the catalytic mechanism and functional versatility of Ma-LOX, underscoring its potential for a broad range of biotechnological applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19190,"journal":{"name":"New biotechnology","volume":"91 ","pages":"Pages 36-51"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145534475","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mechanical properties and water absorption of shiitake mushroom-based films with natural rubber latex","authors":"Jeroen G. van den Brandhof,&nbsp;Antonio d’Errico,&nbsp;Marco F. Cagnoni,&nbsp;Han A.B. Wösten","doi":"10.1016/j.nbt.2025.11.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nbt.2025.11.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mechanical properties and water absorption were determined of films produced from powdered <em>Lentinula edodes</em> (shiitake) mushrooms with and without the addition of natural rubber latex using 80:20, 60:40, and 40:60 (w/w) mushroom-latex ratios. Pure mushroom material showed a maximum tensile strength of 7.3 ± 0.5 MPa, an elongation at break of 8.2 ± 0.4 %, and a tear strength of 0.65 ± 0.32 N mm⁻¹, while the 40:60 mushroom-latex blend showed values of 2.7 ± 0.1 MPa, 189.3 ± 4.4 % and 4.46 ± 0.98 N mm⁻¹, respectively. Pure latex showed the lowest water uptake after 24 h (6.8 ±4.0 %), which increased with higher mushroom powder content with a maximum of 127.1 ± 9.7 % in the case of the 80:20 mushroom powder-latex blend. Notably, the pure mushroom films demonstrated poor integrity during water absorption tests by gradually falling apart. Together, latex can be used to enhance the integrity, ductility and tear strength of shiitake mushroom-based films, while it reduces the water sorption and maximum tensile strength.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19190,"journal":{"name":"New biotechnology","volume":"91 ","pages":"Pages 1-6"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145479195","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxypropionate) with regulated monomeric ratios from crude glycerol by recombinant Cupriavidus necator H16","authors":"Marisín Tenorio ,&nbsp;Alejandro Salinas ,&nbsp;Callum McGregor ,&nbsp;Katalin Kovács ,&nbsp;Milko A. Jorquera ,&nbsp;Mara Cea","doi":"10.1016/j.nbt.2025.12.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nbt.2025.12.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-<em>co</em>-3-hydroxypropionate), also known as P(3HB-<em>co</em>-3HP), is a microbially produced biopolymer proposed as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics. However, most biosynthetic pathways for its production rely on costly precursor or cofactor supplementation, limiting their industrial applicability. In this study, <em>Cupriavidus necator</em> H16 was engineered to produce P(3HB-<em>co</em>-3HP) directly from central metabolism by introducing a heterologous β-alanine pathway for 3HP biosynthesis. Two strategies were employed to modulate copolymer composition: (i) a constitutive pathway modulated by nitrogen availability, and (ii) an arabinose-inducible system regulating the synthesis of the pathway intermediate β-alanine. Both approaches enabled the production of copolymers with adjustable 3HP content without the need for external precursors or cofactors. The N-based strategy achieved a maximum 3HP content of 66.5 mol% with a PHA titer of 1.1 g/L, while the inducible system allowed finer monomer control and reached up to 51.7 mol% 3HP with a PHA titer of 2.5 g/L. Additionally, copolymer production was demonstrated using crude glycerol as the sole carbon source, where the 3HP incorporation was tunable from 6.9 to 37.7 mol%, depending on the arabinose concentration, and the PHA titer ranged from 1.6 to 2.0 g/L. This study highlights the potential of the β-alanine pathway for sustainable 3HP-containing copolymers biosynthesis and demonstrates the feasibility of using crude glycerol, to support cost-effective bioplastic production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19190,"journal":{"name":"New biotechnology","volume":"91 ","pages":"Pages 146-155"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145804846","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Posidonia oceanica egagropili and Magnolia grandiflora leaves as lignocellulosic substrates to enhance eumelanin production by Streptomyces nashvillensis","authors":"Talayeh Kordjazi ,&nbsp;Martina Aulitto ,&nbsp;Paola Manini ,&nbsp;Teresa Gervasi ,&nbsp;Panagiotis Papagiannis ,&nbsp;Fabiana Lanzillo ,&nbsp;Francesca Raganati ,&nbsp;Patrizia Contursi ,&nbsp;Antonio Marzochella ,&nbsp;Loredana Mariniello ,&nbsp;Odile Francesca Restaino","doi":"10.1016/j.nbt.2025.12.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nbt.2025.12.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The melanin biotechnological production by Streptomycetes is a valid alternative to the manufacturing process by extraction from animal tissues or through chemical synthesis routes. To be economically reliable this approach might assure high yields, eventually by employing innovative, sustainable strategies. The use of lignocellulosic waste biomasses as substrates to boost the pigment production is an advanced, but low investigated approach. In this paper, <em>Streptomyces nashvillensis</em> DSM40314 melanin synthesis was prompted by adding different concentrations of <em>Posidonia oceanica</em> egagropili or <em>Magnolia grandiflora</em> leaf powders to a semidefined medium. Maximum pigment productions of 3.0 ± 0.2 and 4.1 ± 0.1 g/L were reached in 96 h, in shake flasks when 5.0 g/L of egagropili or 1.0 g/L of magnolia leaves were added, respectively. In these conditions the activities of the tyrosinase, the first enzyme involved in the melanin synthetic pathway, were also determined. The strain capacity to express enzymes to degrade the two substrates was evaluated by checking the genome as well as by testing its endoglucanase and lignin peroxidase activities. The produced pigments were then purified from the broth supernatants by acidic precipitation, characterized by UV–visible, FT-IR, mono and bi-dimensional NMR, and then tested for their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Stirred tank reactor fermentation allowed to reach a melanin production of 7.1 ± 0.1 and 7.9 ± 0.1 g/L, when 5.0 g/L <em>Posidonia oceanica</em> egagropili or 1.0 g/L of <em>Magnolia grandiflora</em> leaf were added, respectively, with an increase of about 2.4 and 1.9 folds compared to shake flasks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19190,"journal":{"name":"New biotechnology","volume":"91 ","pages":"Pages 170-184"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145846777","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tailoring structure-property relationships of fungal mycelium for material applications: A process engineering approach for pure mycelium-based biomaterials","authors":"Malvika Sharma ,&nbsp;Loong-Tak Lim ,&nbsp;Guneet Kaur","doi":"10.1016/j.nbt.2025.12.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nbt.2025.12.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pure mycelium materials (PMMs) offer sustainable alternatives to traditional animal and synthetic polymer-based leather and petroleum-based packaging materials, by using innocuous fungi and agri-food biomass residues. Fungi respond readily to growth conditions and produce mycelia with tunable material properties to yield a diverse array of products. Additionally, these properties can be further modified through various post-processing techniques. This critical review examines how process engineering approaches, such as manipulating the fungal microenvironment, via optimal growth conditions, substrate selection, and bioreactor design, as well as post-processing techniques, can be effectively employed to engineer the properties of PMMs. It specifically describes the structure-property relationships of mycelium as governed by substrate assimilation and fermentation process parameters, and their impact on the fungal phenotype. To this, a comprehensive discussion on the role of fermentation conditions to mediate changes in fungal hyphal structure, composition, orientation, and cell wall composition – all of which determine the final mycelium material properties – is provided. By examining these relationships, this review aims to provide process insights that could guide the design and implementation of PMM production systems with enhanced yield and productivity along with the provision of tuneable material properties. Finally, the review highlights other considerations such as life cycle assessment and regulatory requirements, and their relationships with process engineering, which are important for PMM development and their industry exploitation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19190,"journal":{"name":"New biotechnology","volume":"91 ","pages":"Pages 156-169"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145857372","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}