Zuhra Bibi , Dilara Abbas Bukhari , Muhammad Qadeer Sarwar , Arifullah , Samina Younas , Tayyab Manzoor , Abdul Rehman
{"title":"Gut health improvement by locally isolated probiotics and histomorphometric analysis in Wistar rats","authors":"Zuhra Bibi , Dilara Abbas Bukhari , Muhammad Qadeer Sarwar , Arifullah , Samina Younas , Tayyab Manzoor , Abdul Rehman","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2024.100271","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2024.100271","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the present investigation, lab-isolated probiotics <em>Weisella confusa</em> MZ735961.1, <em>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</em> MZ707748.1<em>, L. plantarum</em> MZ710117.1<em>,</em> and <em>L. plantarum</em> MZ735961 were used separately and in combinations to evaluate their effect on gut morphology of Wistar rats. Synergistic groups were formed by 1:1 and labeled as G1 (<em>L. plantarum</em> MZ707748.1 and <em>L. plantarum</em> MZ729681.1), G2 (<em>W. confusa</em> MZ735961.1 and <em>L. plantarum</em> MZ727611.1), G3 (<em>L. plantarum</em> MZ729681.1, <em>W. confusa</em> MZ735961.1, and <em>Lactobacillus acidophilus</em> La-14), G4 (all above mentioned probiotics). Rats were gavage-fed with probiotics according to their colony-forming unit (CFU). The experiment was carried out for 35 days. The bacteria were re-isolated from the gut and identified by biochemical tests which confirmed the administration and re-isolation of different <em>Lactobacillus</em> strains from the gut. Molecular characterization was done through 16S rRNA by using universal primers. After sequencing eight <em>Lactobacillus</em> strains were identified. Histopathology of rats’ intestines was done, and different parameters were examined. Villus height, crypt height, crypt width, mucosa, and sub-mucosa of jejunum were significantly (p = 0.00) increased in the G3 synergetic probiotic group compared to 0-day and negative control. However, the villus width showed non-significant (p > 0.05) variations in both genders. Mucosa tunic, muscle tunic, total wall, and crypt depth were significantly increased (p = 0.00) in the G4 group of medial colon. The study concluded that gut morphology improves as probiotics adhere better to the intestinal epithelium, excluding pathogens, reducing inflammation, enhancing nutrient absorption, and stimulating mucosal growth. This results in improved villus structure and gut wall integrity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100271"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143136459","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rifat Zubair Ahmed , Ashraful Islam , Tiantian Tian , Zhe Tian , Yu Zhang , Min Yang
{"title":"Validation of microbial source tracking markers through PCR-based molecular analysis and microbial genome database","authors":"Rifat Zubair Ahmed , Ashraful Islam , Tiantian Tian , Zhe Tian , Yu Zhang , Min Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2025.100304","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2025.100304","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microbial Source Tracking (MST) uses molecular markers targeting host-associated gut microorganisms to identify fecal pollution. However, MST faces significant challenges in fecal source identification, particularly due to the markers’ poor specificity and shared genomic areas among microorganisms from different host sources. This study addresses these challenges by using host-specific <em>Escherichia coli</em> genetic markers, originally developed through a novel, library-independent approach, to detect sources of fecal pollution. A total of 563 <em>E.coli</em> isolates from chicken, cow, and pig feces were isolated and assessed by nine reported host-associated <em>E. coli</em> genetic markers (Chicken: CH7, CH9, CH12, CH13; Cow: CO2, CO3; Pig: P1, P3, P4) through PCR. Marker possession patterns, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were calculated. The NCBI Microbial Genome database was searched for sequences homologous to genome regions of studied genetic markers and evaluated by finding the percentage of host sources and sequence location in the genome. Homology evaluation with binary PCR results was used to predict the best-performing marker. PCR results exhibited that the most effective markers were chicken CH7 (67% sensitivity, 77.9% specificity, 74.4% accuracy) and CH9 (55% sensitivity, 99.4% specificity, 84.7% accuracy). However, a homology search in the database narrowed the selection of the top-performing marker to CH7, which showed homology with <em>E.coli</em> from chicken hosts, while other markers exhibited higher homology with <em>E.coli</em> from Humans. Furthermore, sequences from the database homologous to the CH9 and CO2 markers were found on a plasmid, while those for CH12, CO3, P1, and P4 were on the chromosome, and CH7, CH13, and P3 were on both. This study highlights the critical need for integrated approaches to assess molecular markers in MST assays, emphasizing their significance in advancing research within the field.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"10 ","pages":"Article 100304"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144212018","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Husnain Ahmad Khan , Shahid Sher , Dilara Abbas Bukhari , Abdul Rehman
{"title":"Bioremediation of heavy metals from electronic waste dumping sites with bacteria","authors":"Husnain Ahmad Khan , Shahid Sher , Dilara Abbas Bukhari , Abdul Rehman","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2025.100309","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2025.100309","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Samples were collected from two e-waste dumping sites (Mehmood Booti (31°36′28″N, 74°23′36″E) and Lakhodair (31°37′36.6″ N, 74°25′07.6″ E)) in Lahore, Pakistan. A portable multiparameter was used to determine physicochemical parameters such as temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, turbidity, total suspended particles, and total dissolved solids. Minimal salt broth was used for the determination of the minimal inhibitory concentration of the bacterium against all heavy metals. Bacterial morphology was observed under a scanning electron microscope with and without metal stress. The temperature range for all these samples was 28.7 to 35.7 °C, while the pH range was 6.7 to 7.89. The other parameters range, such as electrical conductivity µS/cm (698–8742), turbidity (14.2–103), total suspended particles (31–698), and total dissolved solids (564–23456). The lead concentration in the Mehmood Booti soil sample was 1800 mg/kg, while in the Lakhodair soil, it was 1567 mg/kg. <em>Microbacterium</em> sp. strain 1S1 was utilized for bioremediation assay at the lab and pilot scale. The resistance capacity of this bacterium against different metals was in the following order: As > Pb > Cd > Cu > Cr > Ni. The bioremediation potential of the bacterium against arsenic was 81.33 % and 96 % after 2 and 4 days. The least activity was observed against nickel, which was 17 and 28.33 % after 2 and 4 days. The metal removal capacity per CFU was the maximum for lead and arsenic compared to other metals, which were 1.99E-7 and 1.45E-07. The heat-inactivated bacterial cells removed arsenic in higher concentrations and lead in lower concentrations. The electron microscopy showed no significant alteration in bacterial morphology in control and metal-treated bacterial cells. The nanopore long-read sequencing analysis revealed that cadmium, nickel, copper, and arsenic resistance genes were found on the bacterial genome. No genes were found for lead and chromium but 849 hypothetical coding sequences having unknown functions were present on the bacterial genome. So, the <em>Microbacterium</em> sp. strain 1S1 is a potential candidate for the removal of heavy metals from e-waste dumping sites.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"10 ","pages":"Article 100309"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144366627","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Khouloud Zribi , Matteo Ciciani , Agata Sofia Assunção Carreira , Martina Paganin , Sara Pozzo , Lucio Cinà , Baris Binay , Francesco Secundo , Nicola Segata , Alessandro Provenzani
{"title":"Characterization of a novel thermostable NAD+-dependent formate dehydrogenase from Methylacidiphilum kamchatkense Kam1 (MkaFDH)","authors":"Khouloud Zribi , Matteo Ciciani , Agata Sofia Assunção Carreira , Martina Paganin , Sara Pozzo , Lucio Cinà , Baris Binay , Francesco Secundo , Nicola Segata , Alessandro Provenzani","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2025.100306","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2025.100306","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Metal-independent NAD<sup>+</sup>-dependent formate dehydrogenases (FDHs) are enzymes responsible for catalyzing the conversion of formate (HCOO<sup>–</sup>) to carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>), a biological reaction involved in microbial carbon processing and cofactor regeneration. These enzymes show large potential for environmental bioremediation and biotechnological uses. However, FDHs applications are hampered by the enzymes’ limited stability under extreme conditions, such as high temperatures or extreme pH. Therefore, we aimed to identify and characterize novel metal-independent FDHs with improved activity and thermostability compared to known FDHs. By using four different FDH protein sequences, <em>Ct</em>FDH (from <em>Chaetomium thermophilum)</em>, <em>Mt</em>FDH (from <em>Myceliophthora thermophile)</em>, <em>Op</em>FDH (from <em>Ogata parapolymorpha</em> DL-1) and <em>Pse</em>FDH (from <em>Pseudomonas</em> sp.<em>101)</em> we retrieved 18,850 FDHs sequences from the NCBI database and matched against the species present in the database of thermophilic bacteria, ThermoBase. Our phylogenetic analysis identified four distinct FDHs in thermophilic bacteria: <em>Methylocaldum szegediense</em> (<em>Msz</em>FDH), <em>Methylacidiphilum kamchatkense</em> (<em>Mka</em>FDH), <em>Mycobacterium arosiense</em> (<em>Mar</em>FDH) and <em>Mycobacterium genavense</em> (<em>Mge</em>FDH). We selected and characterized the <em>Mka</em>FDH as it was expressed in the thermophilic bacterium with the highest optimum growth (55 °C) among the four bacteria. The <em>MkaFDH</em> was cloned, and the recombinant protein was expressed in <em>E. coli</em> and purified. The conditions for the optimal catalytic activity for formate oxidations were screened and identified, revealing metal-independent, NAD<sup>+</sup>-restricted activity in phosphate buffer, pH 8. Importantly, the enzyme showed remarkable thermal stability and catalytic activity, showing a melting temperature (Tm) of 60.15 °C, as confirmed by far-UV circular dichroism (CD). Finally, the enzyme showed good thermostability for formate oxidation up to 57.5 °C, and its high catalytic efficiency (k<sub>cat</sub>/K<sub>m</sub> = 0.44 s<sup>−1</sup>mM<sup>−1</sup>) suggested its potential industrial application. Collectively, we describe here a novel FDH with relevant thermostability that can be exploited as a prototype for industrial applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"10 ","pages":"Article 100306"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144366626","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Aritro Banerjee, Rajnish Kaur Calay, Somil Thakur, Mohamad Y. Mustafa
{"title":"A study on the impact of electrode and membrane modification in stacked microbial fuel cells for wastewater treatment","authors":"Aritro Banerjee, Rajnish Kaur Calay, Somil Thakur, Mohamad Y. Mustafa","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2025.100278","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2025.100278","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the efficacy of treating wastewater using microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology to the safe limits for discharge in the environment. It has been demonstrated that MFC directly converts organic matter present in wastewater into energy. The present study uses a cell design based on simple plate geometry, carbon felt electrodes and Nafion117 as proton exchange membrane separating the anode and cathode chambers. The anode was then modified with heat and acid treatment and PEM was treated with PVDF to improve the performance of the cell. Synthetic dairy wastewater with initial COD of 2412 mg/l was used to test the operation of stack consisting of four cells which were hydraulically connected in series. The stack operated with continuous flow of wastewater. COD removal of the feed water was tested in successive cells to achieve the permissible limits for safe discharge of the effluent. COD decreased from 2412 mg/l to 126 mg/l after the fourth cell. For the power output each cell was treated individually. The power density of each cell was directly proportional to the COD of the influent. The power density of the first cell that has the highest COD was measured at 77.9 mW/m<sup>2</sup>, which is two times that for the cell with unmodified anode and membrane. For the first cell COD removal was the highest at 57 % and 2.6 times more than the cell with the unmodified anode and membrane. These results suggest that targeted modifications to the anode and membrane can significantly boost the MFC performance both in terms of COD removal and corresponding power output. Secondly, up to 93.66 % COD removal may be achieved by four cells hydraulically connected in series. The paper offers some insights for stacking options for implementing at scale up of the MFC technology for wastewater treatment plants.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100278"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143478906","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Corrigendum to “A review: Anti-obesity drug discovery from natural plant metabolites and endogenous peptides” [Curr. Res. Biotechnol. 8 (2024) 100259]","authors":"Xiaomu Zhu , Dongdong Wang , Atanas G. Atanasov","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2025.100289","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2025.100289","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100289"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143834803","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Targeting the UCP1-dependent thermogenesis pathway with CRISPR/Cas9: a new approach to obesity management","authors":"Esmail Karami , Fatemeh Rostamkhani , Maasoume Abdollahi , Mohamadreza Ahmadifard","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2025.100295","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2025.100295","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Obesity is a complex, multifactorial disease characterized by excessive body fat accumulation, which negatively impacts health. Its increasing prevalence has led to a global epidemic, emphasizing the urgent need for innovative and effective treatment strategies. This study aims to explore the potential of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing to enhance UCP1-dependent thermogenesis, offering a novel approach to obesity management. Uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), primarily located in the inner mitochondrial membrane of brown adipose tissue (BAT), plays a crucial role in thermogenesis and energy expenditure. By converting stored energy into heat, UCP1 activation enhances calorie burning, helping to regulate body temperature and mitigate obesity-related health risks. Recent advancements in genome editing technologies, particularly CRISPR/Cas9, provide a precise method to modify genes involved in UCP1 expression and activity. This approach holds significant promise for sustainable obesity management by enhancing metabolic efficiency and energy expenditure. This study examines the feasibility of using CRISPR/Cas9 to target the UCP1-dependent thermogenesis pathway for obesity treatment. It explores the mechanisms of CRISPR/Cas9, the role of UCP1 in energy regulation, and potential strategies to enhance thermogenic activity. Our findings highlight the promise of CRISPR-based interventions in metabolic regulation. However, further research is necessary to optimize safety, efficacy, and regulatory considerations before translating these findings into clinical applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100295"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143916719","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Samah S. Abuzahrah , Serag Eldin I. Elbehairi , Tahani Bakhsh , Ahmed Atwa , Nouf Juaid , Reham Hassan Mekky
{"title":"Marine-derived secondary metabolites in oncology: A comprehensive review","authors":"Samah S. Abuzahrah , Serag Eldin I. Elbehairi , Tahani Bakhsh , Ahmed Atwa , Nouf Juaid , Reham Hassan Mekky","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2025.100300","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2025.100300","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Marine-derived secondary metabolites are emerging as promising anticancer agents due to their structural diversity and potent bioactivity. Within the scope of this all-encompassing study, the most recent advancements in the identification, characterization, and therapeutic applications of marine-derived compounds in oncology are studied. In this review, we discuss various types of bioactive metabolites that are significant, such as macrolactins, polyketides, terpenes, and peptides that are derived from diverse marine organisms <em>viz</em>., bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, microalgae, macroalgae, mangroves, sponges, coral reefs, mollusks, and echinodermata Unique compounds from marine organisms exhibit diverse mechanisms that selectively target cancer cells. This minimizes harm to healthy tissues and reduces side effects.“These metabolites interfere with key cancer progression pathways such as immune modulation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, metastasis, and cell cycle regulation. Additionally, they enhance conventional treatments like chemotherapy and immune therapy by overcoming drug resistance, particularly multidrug resistance (MDR) and the persistence of cancer stem cells (CSCs), major contributors to therapy failure. CSCs, characterized by self-renewal and therapy resistance, play a central role in tumor recurrence and drug resistance. This review highlights the novelty of marine metabolites, providing a comprehensive inventory of their clinical and commercial applications while emphasizing their role in advancing green medicine through sustainable drug discovery practices. This review shows the promise of marine-derived secondary metabolites in building the future of cancer therapies by incorporating insights from current studies. It also inspires further exploration of the development of these metabolites as clinically practicable treatments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"10 ","pages":"Article 100300"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144169563","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}