Current Research in Biotechnology最新文献

{"title":"Improved clone selection by combining a manufacturability index with semi-perfusion scale-down screening systems","authors":"Marie Dorn,&nbsp;Christine Ferng,&nbsp;Kerensa Klottrup-Rees,&nbsp;Kenneth Lee,&nbsp;Martina Micheletti","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100423","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100423","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Early stage cell clone screening is critical for identifying highly performing candidates in biopharmaceutical development. In this study, clone screening was carried out through miniaturisation of a semi-perfusion methodology from 24-well microwell plates (MWP) to 96-well deepwell plates (DWP). Traditional clone selection methods often rely on single-parameter metrics such as cell-specific productivity (q_P), which may not fully capture clone performance, particularly across different scales and culture formats. We evaluated a multi-parameter approach using the manufacturability index (MI_CL) to rank clones in the 96-well DWP format and compared the results with previously published data from the 24-well MWP system. The MI_CL integrates growth, viability, productivity, and metabolic parameters, providing a more comprehensive assessment than q_P alone. Our results demonstrate that MI_CL rankings offer improved robustness and greater consistency across scales compared to single-parameter q_P rankings. Notably, despite a reduced parameter set in the 96-well DWP due to volume constraints, MI_CL-based rankings aligned well with those from the more parameter-rich 24-well MWP system. These findings highlight the advantages of multi-parameter evaluation in early clone selection and underscore the limitations of relying solely on productivity metrics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100423"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149140604","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":"Green synthesis and characterization of ZnO/bentonite composites using Millettia ferruginea leaf extract, determination of antioxidant and antibacterial activity","authors":"Abrham Biresaw Gebrye,&nbsp;Tsegaye Biresaw Gebrie,&nbsp;Feleke Worku Alem,&nbsp;Melaku Metto","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100425","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100425","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Millettia ferruginea (Birbira) has long been valued in traditional medicine for its therapeutic properties. In recent years, the green synthesis of nanomaterials using medicinal plant extracts has attracted considerable interest because of its eco-friendly approach and potential biomedical applications. In this study, the phytochemical profile and antioxidant capacity of M. ferruginea leaf extract were determined, and the extract was used as a chelating, capping, and stabilizing medium for the hydrothermal preparation of a zinc oxide/bentonite (ZnO/bentonite) composite, whose antibacterial activity was then evaluated. X-ray diffraction showed wurtzite ZnO with a crystallite size of 14.6 nm estimated by the Scherrer equation together with montmorillonite reflections, while SEM showed micrometre-sized agglomerates. Phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, phenolics, terpenoids, coumarins, glycosides, and saponins. The extract scavenged 56.92% of the DPPH radical at a single concentration of 21.3 ppm. At the same applied amount (20 μg per well), the ZnO/bentonite composite produced larger inhibition zones (20–29 mm) than ZnO alone (12–17 mm) or bentonite (&lt;5 mm), with the highest activity against Gram-positive strains. These findings provide preliminary support for the traditional use of M. ferruginea and indicate the potential of its leaf extract as a source of antioxidant compounds and as a medium for preparing antibacterial ZnO/bentonite materials. Additional structural and surface characterization and dose–response studies are needed to further establish the composite structure and antioxidant potency.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100425"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149140716","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":"Genome-wide identification and validation of Na+/H+ antiporter (NHX) gene family in finger millet under salt stress","authors":"Kasinathan Rakkammal ,&nbsp;Pandiyan Muthuramalingam ,&nbsp;Theivanayagam Maharajan ,&nbsp;Collince Omondi Awere ,&nbsp;Radhakrishnan Umamaheswari ,&nbsp;Stanislaus Antony Ceasar ,&nbsp;Hyunsuk Shin ,&nbsp;Manikandan Ramesh","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100365","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100365","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Salt stress poses a serious challenge to agricultural productivity, so it is important to identify stress resilient genes in underutilized cereals like finger millet (<em>Eleusine coracana</em> (L.) Gaertn.). In this study, we identified and characterized five <em>EcNHX</em> genes that encode Na⁺/H⁺ antiporters and examining their physicochemical properties, structural features and regulatory elements. Subcellular localization analysis revealed that <em>EcNHX1</em>-<em>EcNHX4</em> are located in the vacuolar (Vac), while <em>EcNHX5</em> is located in the plasma membrane (PM). Phylogenetic tree classified them into vac and PM NHX groups, with no members present in the endosomal class. Structural analysis confirmed that all the identified NHXs contain NHX protein domains. Furthermore, three-dimensional structural modeling suggested that all EcNHXs share structural features characteristic of Na⁺/H⁺ antiporters. Protein-Protein interaction networks suggest that EcNHXs interact with major ion transporters, which indicating coordinated roles in ion homeostasis. Gene expression analysis of identified <em>NHXs</em> under salt stress exhibits early upregulation of <em>EcNHX1-3</em> and late upregulation of <em>EcNHX4-5</em>. These results suggested that <em>NHX</em> genes were involved in both immediate and long-term stress responses. Overall, this study enhances our knowledge of the structural and functional variations within the <em>NHX</em> gene family in finger millet and highlights potential candidate genes for future functional validation aimed at enhancing salt tolerance through crop improvement programs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100365"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925294","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":"Unlocking the industrial potential of apocarotenoids: advances in biosynthesis and heterologous expression","authors":"Sierra-Ulín Diana,&nbsp;López-Gurgua Ana,&nbsp;López-Ochoa Luisa,&nbsp;Rivera-Madrid Renata","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100398","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100398","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Genetic transformation of heterologous plants offers a powerful and precise approach to optimizing production and enhancing yields of valuable apocarotenoid metabolites, including pigments, aromas, and flavors. This biotechnological strategy enables targeted manipulation of pathways, leading to significantly higher and more consistent accumulation of these commercially relevant compounds across industries such as food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture. Natural apocarotenoid extraction is costly due to low plant concentration and labor-intensive cultivation. Saffron exemplifies this, being one of the most expensive spices by weight. Similarly, the production of rose oil from <em>Rosa damascena</em> is limited by the very low essential oil content in its petals, making it exceptionally expensive. Metabolic engineering emerges as a promising solution, manipulating biosynthetic pathways in heterologous systems to enhance production. Successes include engineering crocins in <em>Escherichia coli</em> and <em>Solanum lycopersicum</em>. Similarly, strategies for the production of β-cyclocitral have advanced significantly, with an 18,000-fold increase reported in <em>Nicotiana tabacum</em> cell suspensions. Concurrently, research is exploring bixin production from lycopene using both tomato and bacterial platforms. The future outlook emphasizes optimizing yields, scaling up bioproduction in bioreactors, and expanding the diversity of engineered apocarotenoids. A deeper understanding of regulatory networks and addressing pigment stability challenges is crucial. Ultimately, apocarotenoid engineering represents a dynamic biotechnological frontier poised to sustainably reshape industrial crop production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100398"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148245576","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":"Differential modulation of hippocampal synaptic plasticity by proline-rich peptide-1 in Aβ 25–35 and Aβ 1–42 experimental models of Alzheimer's disease","authors":"Naira Hunanyan ,&nbsp;Hamzeh Ghorbani ,&nbsp;Margarita Danielyan ,&nbsp;Arsen Minasyan ,&nbsp;Arsen Hunanyan ,&nbsp;Mikhail Poghosyan ,&nbsp;Harutyun Stepanyan","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100399","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100399","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive deterioration, synaptic failure, and selective neuronal loss in conjunction with the pathological accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides. The present study investigates the neuroprotective potential of proline-rich peptide-1 (PRP-1), a hypothalamic immunomodulatory neuropeptide, in two rat models of AD established by intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of Aβ25–35 and Aβ1–42 fragments. These models correspond to early and advanced stages of Aβ-induced pathology, respectively, and are therefore complementary rather than equivalent to familial or sporadic AD in humans; the role of amyloid-beta in sporadic AD remains a subject of active investigation. Disruption of intracellular calcium (Ca²⁺) homeostasis, glutamatergic excitation–inhibition imbalance, and GABAergic dysregulation are recognized as central mechanisms in AD-associated synaptic impairment. Electrophysiological analyses encompassing single-neuron spike recordings and peri-event time histogram (PETH) averaging are applied to hippocampal (HP) neurons following high-frequency stimulation (HFS) of the entorhinal cortex (EC). A stage-dependent modulation of hippocampal neuronal spiking patterns by PRP-1 is demonstrated: neurons exhibiting excitatory response patterns are more completely restored in the Aβ25–35 model, consistent with an earlier pathological stage, whereas neurons exhibiting inhibitory response patterns are more prominently but incompletely modulated in the Aβ1–42 model, representative of advanced disease. This differential profile indicates that PRP-1 selectively rebalances excitatory and inhibitory neuronal spiking activity in a stage-dependent manner, supporting its candidacy as a potential therapeutic agent for the attenuation of AD progression.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100399"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148245577","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":"Identification and stress-responsive characterization of SNAT genes in foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.)","authors":"Laha Supriya ,&nbsp;Bala Sundar Muthukumar ,&nbsp;Deepika Dake ,&nbsp;Padmaja Gudipalli ,&nbsp;Namisha Sharma ,&nbsp;Mehanathan Muthamilarasan","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100400","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100400","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Melatonin plays a central role in plant growth regulation and abiotic stress tolerance, and serotonin <em>N</em>-acetyltransferase (SNAT) catalyzes a key step in its biosynthetic pathway. SNAT proteins belong to the GCN5-related <em>N</em>-acetyltransferase (GNAT) superfamily, members of which share conserved acetyltransferase domains but may differ in substrate specificity. Despite the exceptional stress resilience of foxtail millet (<em>Setaria italica</em>), a genome-wide analysis of <em>SNAT</em>-related <em>GNAT</em> genes in this species has not yet been reported. In this study, we performed a comprehensive identification and characterization of the SNAT-like GNAT acetyltransferase gene family in foxtail millet. A total of 29 <em>SiSNAT</em><em>/</em><em>GNAT</em> genes were identified and unevenly distributed across all nine chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed clustering with homologs from other monocots, indicating lineage-specific expansion. Gene structure and motif analyses showed substantial diversity, ranging from intronless genes to complex multi-exon members, while all proteins possessed conserved GNAT acetyltransferase domains. Promoter analysis revealed abundant stress- and hormone-responsive cis-elements, suggesting transcriptional regulation under multiple abiotic stresses. Expression profiling by qRT-PCR demonstrated that several <em>SiSNAT</em> genes were strongly induced under drought, salinity, heat, and cold treatments, indicating potential roles in stress adaptation. Protein interaction and functional enrichment analyses linked SiSNAT proteins to acetylation-related metabolic pathways, including tryptophan metabolism associated with melatonin biosynthesis. This study provides the first genome-wide overview of <em>SNAT</em>-like <em>GNAT</em> genes in foxtail millet and establishes a foundation for understanding their roles in melatonin-associated stress tolerance in cereals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100400"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148245578","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":"Stochastic optimization of Gradient Boosting Decision Trees for interpretable prediction of heavy metal adsorption onto biochar","authors":"Mahran Al-Zyoud ,&nbsp;Salama A. Mostafa ,&nbsp;Ibrahim Khersan ,&nbsp;J. Gowrishankar ,&nbsp;Prabhat Kumar Sahu ,&nbsp;Siya Singla ,&nbsp;Sardor Sabirov ,&nbsp;Islom. Khudayberganov ,&nbsp;Samim Sherzod","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100393","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100393","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Predicting the heavy metal adsorption capacity of biochar is a significant challenge due to complex physicochemical mechanisms and the limitations of traditional experimental approaches. This study aimed to develop and validate a robust, interpretable machine learning framework by optimizing Gradient Boosting Decision Trees (GBDT) for this predictive task. Using a comprehensive dataset of 359 experimental points, we compared four hyperparameter optimization heuristics and found that Gaussian Process Optimization (GPO) yielded a model with superior generalization performance. The final GBDT-GPO model achieved a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.9784 and a mean squared error (MSE) of 0.0035 on an unseen test set, in contrast to other methods like Evolution Strategies, which showed significant overfitting. Furthermore, Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) analysis identified initial metal concentration and solution pH as the dominant factors governing adsorption, outweighing physical properties like surface area. This research establishes a highly accurate and interpretable computational strategy that can guide the rational design of biochar and optimize its application in water treatment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100393"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148178131","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":"IgA/IgM chromatographic depletion enables efficient 20-nm virus nanofiltration of mini-pool caprylic-acid IgG: A proof-of-concept study","authors":"Liling Delila ,&nbsp;Daniel Strauss ,&nbsp;Thierry Burnouf","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100389","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100389","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Shortages of human plasma-derived immunoglobulin G (IgG) in low- and middle-income countries, driven by a lack of local plasma fractionation capacity, represent a serious obstacle to the treatment of primary and secondary immunodeficiencies, as well as other diseases for which IgG therapy is indicated. Ensuring virus safety is essential, and small-pore nanofiltration is widely used as an established virus-reduction step for IgG manufacturing. We examined whether removing immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) by anion-exchange chromatography improves the performance of 20-nm nanofiltration applied to small-pool caprylic acid-purified IgG. Cryo-poor plasma was treated with 5% caprylic acid at pH 5.5, concentrated by ultrafiltration, and processed on Fractogel TMAE to deplete IgA and IgM. The IgG flow-through was filtered sequentially through Planova 35N and 20N (or S20N) filters. Direct nanofiltration of caprylic acid–treated IgG with residual IgA and IgM led to rapid membrane clogging and low throughput. In contrast, depletion of IgA and IgM increased filtration capacity more than threefold and stabilized flux. Dynamic light scattering indicated a predominant monomeric IgG population and absence of aggregates after chromatography and nanofiltration. This proof-of-concept process integrates caprylic acid treatment and small-pore nanofiltration as orthogonal, literature-supported virus-reduction steps; however, process-specific virus validation was not performed in this study. Overall, selective IgA/IgM depletion enables robust 20-nm class nanofiltration of small-pool caprylic acid-purified IgG and supports development of scalable workflows using domestic plasma.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100389"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147797633","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":"Sustainable ultrasound-assisted extraction of Miliusa velutina stem bark: Optimization, in vitro-in silico anti-metabolic syndrome evaluation, and life cycle assessment","authors":"Chong Kim Thien Duc ,&nbsp;Tran Chi Linh","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100386","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100386","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with oxidative stress, lipid-glucose dysregulation, and chronic inflammation. <em>Miliusa velutina</em> (Annonaceae), a Southeast Asian plant, remains largely unexplored for its biological potential. This study developed a sustainable ultrasound-assisted extraction process to obtain a polyphenol- and flavonoid-rich extract from <em>M. velutina</em> stem bark and evaluated its MetS-related activities <em>in vitro</em> and <em>in silico</em>. The extraction process was optimal using response surface methodology. Optimal conditions (64 °C, 24 min, 68% ethanol, solvent-to-solid ratio of 1:21) yielded total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of 266.69 mg GAE/g and 207.75 mg QE/g. The extract exhibited strong antioxidant (IC₅₀ = 1.34 ± 0.03–73.80 ± 0.94 µg/mL), anti-inflammatory (IC₅₀ = 5.80 ± 0.04–9.55 ± 0.23 µg/mL), anti-cholesterol, enzyme inhibitory, and antibacterial activities. HPLC identified chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, rutin, hesperidin, and quercetin. Docking analysis showed that quercetin had the highest binding affinity toward MetS-related enzymes. A life cycle assessment confirmed low environmental impact. Overall, this eco-efficient process yields a bioactive extract with promising anti-MetS potential.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100386"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147797634","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":"Cryptic viral elements in probiotic genomes: Latent regulatory modules and emerging tools for microbiome biotechnology","authors":"Vijaya Kumari Gadi,&nbsp;Hema Masarapu,&nbsp;Viswanath Buddolla","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100405","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100405","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cryptic viral elements (CVEs) are virus-derived genomic sequences integrated into bacterial chromosomes that have lost the ability to form infectious particles but are retained through evolutionary processes. Emerging evidence indicates that some CVEs are functionally active rather than inert, contributing to stress adaptation, gene regulation, and genome stability in certain bacterial systems, including probiotic genera such as <em>Lactobacillus</em> and <em>Bifidobacterium</em>. For instance, defective prophage regions have been associated with oxidative stress tolerance and persistence under nutrient-limited conditions, although these roles remain context- and strain-dependent. This review critically examines the origin, diversity, and functional relevance of CVEs in probiotic genomes, distinguishing experimentally supported functions from inferred roles in metabolic flexibility and horizontal gene transfer. Current bioinformatic approaches for CVE detection are evaluated, with emphasis on their limitations, including sequence degeneration and annotation biases. While CVEs have been proposed as potential tools for strain improvement and microbiome modulation, direct experimental validation remains limited. Key challenges include incomplete functional characterization and unresolved biosafety concerns. Addressing these gaps will be essential to assess the feasibility of leveraging CVEs in applied microbiology and biotechnology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100405"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148452970","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}