{"title":"Speed breeding 3.0: mainstreaming light-driven plant breeding for sustainable genetic gains.","authors":"Pramod Gorakhanath Kabade, Sanjay Kumar, Ajay Kohli, Uma Maheshwar Singh, Pallavi Sinha, Vikas Kumar Singh","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.04.011","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.04.011","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Advances in photobiological tools are revolutionizing plant breeding by enabling precise control of light parameters, addressing yield stagnation, and mitigating climate challenges. Full-spectrum light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and optimized light protocols have significantly reduced breeding cycles. This review highlights light-driven strategies that are accessible and practical for plant breeders worldwide including the role of light spectrum, intensity, and photoperiod in acceleration of plant growth in both short- and long-day crops. Speed breeding 3.0, with tailored rapid generation advancement (RGA) protocols designed for diverse crop populations, has the potential to significantly sustain genetic gains in a more efficient and targeted manner. These innovative approaches hold the potential to transform global agriculture and secure food systems in the face of rising populations and environmental uncertainties.</p>","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":" ","pages":"2462-2478"},"PeriodicalIF":14.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144143628","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in biotechnologyPub Date : 2025-10-01Epub Date: 2025-07-03DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.06.006
Hosub Lim, Subin Yu, Hyo Jin Lee, Sang Mee Hwang, Dong Ha Kim, Jee Yoon Park, Luke P Lee
{"title":"Understanding the impact of antenatal corticosteroids via placenta and fetal lung microphysiological analysis platform (MAP) on a chip.","authors":"Hosub Lim, Subin Yu, Hyo Jin Lee, Sang Mee Hwang, Dong Ha Kim, Jee Yoon Park, Luke P Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.06.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.06.006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Antenatal corticosteroids are recommended for preterm births to enhance lung maturity; however, the guidelines are based on limited studies. Here, we present a placenta-fetal lung microphysiological analysis platform (MAP) to study how corticosteroids promote fetal lung maturation and determine their optimal concentration with minimal side effects. We create trophoblast-capillary-pneumocyte MAP on chips to analyze the transport of corticosteroids from mother to fetus through the placenta. We assessed surfactant production from the pneumocyte after exposure to different concentrations, types, and durations of corticosteroids in the trophoblast layer. We found the concentrations of corticosteroids over 5 mM reduced trophoblast viability and did not increase the surfactant production from pneumocytes. Our research on placenta-fetal lung MAP provides insight into how corticosteroids improve the production of surfactant from immature pneumocytes as they transition from the placenta and suggests that determining the appropriate dosage of corticosteroids to maximize effectiveness while preventing damage to trophoblasts is crucial.</p>","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":" ","pages":"2665-2679"},"PeriodicalIF":14.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144561292","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in biotechnologyPub Date : 2025-10-01Epub Date: 2025-04-25DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.03.020
Lianne M S Bouwman, Mark H J Sturme, Gijs A Kleter
{"title":"A green light for phytosensors?","authors":"Lianne M S Bouwman, Mark H J Sturme, Gijs A Kleter","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.03.020","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.03.020","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>As sentinels, transgenic phytosensor plants alert farmers rapidly to stressful conditions in crop fields. However, if improperly managed, accidental commingling of phytosensor plants with the bulk harvest could disrupt trade and raises safety concerns. With these crops nearing commercialization, proper risk management, including segregation and risk analysis, is imperative.</p>","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":" ","pages":"2383-2386"},"PeriodicalIF":14.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144064819","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in biotechnologyPub Date : 2025-10-01Epub Date: 2025-07-01DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.05.026
Miriam Filippi, Asia Badolato, Antonia Georgopoulou, Diana Mock, Jakob Schreiner, Mike Y Michelis, Esther Amstad, Robert K Katzschmann
{"title":"Bioprinting of piezoresistive organohydrogel networks for advanced real-time mechanosensing in engineered tissue models.","authors":"Miriam Filippi, Asia Badolato, Antonia Georgopoulou, Diana Mock, Jakob Schreiner, Mike Y Michelis, Esther Amstad, Robert K Katzschmann","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.05.026","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.05.026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Understanding biomechanics in 3D cell culture is key to advancing tissue engineering, yet integrating real-time sensing into soft tissues remains a challenge. We developed a stretchable, piezoresistive hydrogel by combining PEDOT:PSS with a polyvinyl alcohol-sodium alginate matrix, optimized for detecting mechanical stimuli. This conductive organohydrogel exhibited a linear strain response. It was co-printed with a muscle cell-laden bioink to fabricate complex tissue architectures, maintaining structural stability and supporting tissue maturation. The embedded conductive hydrogel functioned as a flexible strain sensor, capable of detecting both bulk and localized mechanical inputs, with high sensitivity (0.054 per unit strain) and a strain detection limit of approximately 3%. Sensor data enabled spatial mapping of mechanical forces, offering a new strategy for real-time mechanosensing in engineered tissues. This approach provides a novel solution for integrating soft, biocompatible sensors into living tissues for applications in biomechanics and regenerative medicine.</p>","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":" ","pages":"2509-2538"},"PeriodicalIF":14.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144555063","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Intelligent biomanufacturing of water-soluble vitamins.","authors":"Fuqiang Song, Heng Zhang, Zhijie Qin, Jingwen Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.04.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.04.007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Given the crucial role of water-soluble vitamins in the human body and the rising demand for natural sources, their biosynthesis has gained the attention of researchers. This review offers a comprehensive look at recent progress in water-soluble vitamin biosynthesis, emphasizing synthetic biotechnology for green biomanufacturing. Specifically, it encompasses the optimization of biological components, pathways, and systems, as well as energy metabolism regulation, stress-tolerance enhancement, high-throughput screening, and the upscaling of production processes. It also envisages intelligent biomanufacturing platforms, highlighting the role of systems biology and artificial intelligence (AI), and proposes future research directions, such as integrating AI-driven metabolic models, enzyme engineering, and cell-free systems, to address limitations in the efficiency, toxicity, and scalability of water-soluble vitamin production.</p>","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":" ","pages":"2440-2461"},"PeriodicalIF":14.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144046849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Engineering a novel adenine-sulfotransferase for efficient synthesis of PAPS and chondroitin sulfate in microbial cells.","authors":"Simin Gu, Fan Zhang, Ziyao Li, Hejia Qi, Lingxin Huang, Kaifang Liu, Wei Song, Wanqing Wei, Cong Gao, Guipeng Hu, Xiaomin Li, Liming Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.06.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.06.005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sulfonated compounds are widely utilized in feed additives, daily commodities, industrial manufacturing, and healthcare applications. Their production relies on the sulfonate donor 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS). This study identified a novel adenine-sulfotransferase with sulfotransferase activity toward adenosine monophosphate for adenosine phosphosulfate formation. The identified enzyme was rationally engineered, yielding the mutant BtaAPSST<sup>H8M/L117D</sup>, which exhibited a 0.93-fold increase in sulfotransfer efficiency. The mutant BtaAPSST<sup>H8M/L117D</sup> was subsequently combined with additional enzymes to reconstruct what we term the RPA pathway, enabling the synthesis of PAPS at titers of 7.6 g/l and 5.03 g/l in Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, respectively, using adenine and ribose as substrates. The RPA pathway was further integrated into the chondroitin producing strain E. coli GZ17, to construct E. coli CSA-02, which produced 1.89 g/l chondroitin sulfate A (CSA) with a sulfation rate of 76%. These results offer a promising way to enhance the biosynthesis of sulfonated compounds in microbial cell factories.</p>","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":" ","pages":"2609-2626"},"PeriodicalIF":14.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144561290","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in biotechnologyPub Date : 2025-10-01Epub Date: 2025-08-21DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.08.006
Michelle Muzzio
{"title":"A prescription for plastic waste.","authors":"Michelle Muzzio","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.08.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.08.006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In a recent study, Johnson et al. demonstrated a potentially generalizable strategy to bioremediate and upcycle plastic waste by interfacing a chemical reaction not typically found in nature with Escherichia coli. They further applied this approach to synthesize paracetamol (acetaminophen), one of the most widely used over-the-counter active pharmaceutical ingredients.</p>","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":" ","pages":"2387-2388"},"PeriodicalIF":14.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144970476","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in biotechnologyPub Date : 2025-10-01Epub Date: 2025-05-14DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.04.012
Shanshan Zhang, Dayong Xu, Feng Li, Jin Wang
{"title":"CRISPR-based non-nucleic acid detection.","authors":"Shanshan Zhang, Dayong Xu, Feng Li, Jin Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.04.012","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.04.012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Characterization of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-associated (Cas) trans-cleavage activities has initiated the era of next-generation CRISPR diagnostics. By using the trans-cleavage reaction for signal output, CRISPR systems have been engineered to detect non-nucleic acids (NNAs), including ions, inorganic small molecules, organic compounds, proteins, and bacteria. Diverse strategies are being used to specifically recognize NNAs and regulate Cas trans-cleavage activities, via generation or depletion of output signals. In this review, we introduce the principles and advantages of CRISPR-based NNA detection. We then classify CRISPR-based NNA detection strategies into three classes: the generation or depletion of free activators, synthesis of crRNAs, and reconstruction of active Cas effectors. Finally, we discuss the challenges and potential strategies to advance both clinical and nonclinical applications of CRISPR-based NNA detection.</p>","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":" ","pages":"2494-2508"},"PeriodicalIF":14.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144080652","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in biotechnologyPub Date : 2025-10-01Epub Date: 2025-03-27DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.03.002
Edem Gavor, Yeu Khai Choong, Aditya H Gada, J Sivaraman
{"title":"Challenges and design of nanobodies against arboviruses.","authors":"Edem Gavor, Yeu Khai Choong, Aditya H Gada, J Sivaraman","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.03.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.03.002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Nanobodies (Nbs) show promise in combating arboviruses. Their small size and stability enable blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration, cryptic epitope binding, and reduced antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE). This forum highlights Nb advantages, challenges, and innovative delivery methods, emphasizing their transformative potential in arbovirus therapeutics and diagnostics.</p>","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":" ","pages":"2395-2398"},"PeriodicalIF":14.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143744052","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in biotechnologyPub Date : 2025-10-01Epub Date: 2025-07-02DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.06.007
Alice Grob, Tom Copeman, Sifeng Chen, Jacopo Gabrielli, Yuval Elani, Elisa Franco, Francesca Ceroni
{"title":"Design of an intracellular aptamer-based fluorescent biosensor to track burden in Escherichia coli.","authors":"Alice Grob, Tom Copeman, Sifeng Chen, Jacopo Gabrielli, Yuval Elani, Elisa Franco, Francesca Ceroni","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.06.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.06.007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cell burden impacts the performance of engineered genetic constructs with great interest towards the development of tools to track it and improve biotechnology applications. Fluorogenic RNA aptamers are excellent candidates for live monitoring of burden because their production is expected to impose negligible load on the host. Here, we characterised a library of aptamers when expressed from different promoters in two Escherichia coli strains. We found that aptamer performance is dependent on the context of expression, and that, contrary to expectation, aptamer production impacts host fitness. We then built a library of burden-responsive biosensors testing their response to heterologous expression. The tRNA-Broc biosensor was selected for its fluorescence response, minimal impact on growth and ability to differentiate the burden imposed by different expression levels and constructs. The biosensor developed here adds to the collection of tools available to characterise burden and support applications where improved host performance is sought.</p>","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":" ","pages":"2566-2585"},"PeriodicalIF":14.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144561289","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}