BMC Biotechnology最新文献

{"title":"Recapitulation of clinical and molecular hallmarks of lipid-induced hepatic insulin resistance in a zonated, vascularized human liver acinus microphysiological system during metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) progression.","authors":"Julio Aleman, Lawrence Vernetti, Mark E Schurdak, Richard DeBiasio, Greg LaRocca, Vijay K Yechoor, D Lansing Taylor, Andrew M Stern, Mark T Miedel","doi":"10.1186/s12896-026-01158-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12896-026-01158-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) impacts ca. 30% of the global population and is very heterogeneous, making it a challenge to develop therapeutics. The heterogeneity arises from genetics, co-morbidities, the microbiome, and lifestyle. To help address this challenge, we have refined the human vascularized liver acinus microphysiological system (vLAMPS), which provides an all-human platform for drug development, satisfying recently updated federal requirements for the use of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs). By introducing clinically relevant media perturbations and employing several diverse and reproducible in situ and systemic measurements, we show that the vLAMPS can recapitulate key structural and functional aspects of normal physiology, acinus zonation, and all stages of MASLD progression including stellate cell activation and fibrosis. Importantly, in this study we also demonstrate that several hallmarks of lipid-induced hepatic insulin resistance paralleled MASLD progression. These included reduction of insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS2) protein, compromised insulin receptor mediated insulin clearance, enhanced pericentral lipid accumulation, increased Very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) secretion, and enhanced hepatic glucose output mediated by increased periportal nuclear translocation of Forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1). These results suggest that the mechanisms underlying MASLD progression in vLAMPS are clinically relevant and support the tenable hypothesis that the hepatic insulin resistant state plays both a causal and consequential role in a vicious cycle driving disease progression.</p>","PeriodicalId":8905,"journal":{"name":"BMC Biotechnology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13217926/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147810467","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An assessment of curcumin, curcumin spanlastics nanoparticles, and curcumin nanocrystals as possible drug delivery systems with antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antitumor activities.","authors":"Jawza A Almutairi, Thanaa A El-Masry, Maisra M El-Bouseary, Enas I El Zahaby, Eman Wahsh, Noha A Mohamed, Heba M Hashem, Nancy M Abdel-Kareem, Naifa Alenazi, Maysa M F El-Nagar","doi":"10.1186/s12896-026-01153-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12896-026-01153-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>BACKGROUND: Curcumin is one such polyphenol that has low bioavailability as well as solubility. Therefore, the present study has analyzed, investigated, and estimated the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer properties of spanlastics nanoparticles/curcumin nanocrystals on the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. METHODS: Successful formulation of the nanocarrier has been authenticated through numerous techniques such as FTIR, TEM, SEM, particle size, zeta potential, physical stability, and dissolution study. DPPH and ABTS were used to demonstrate antioxidant activity. The antimicrobial action of the tested compounds was evaluated against different microbial strains using the disk diffusion method on agar. The anticancer activity of these compounds was estimated by assessing cell viability using the MTT assay and apoptotic induction via Caspase 3 activity measurement. The protein content for the markers MDA, NF-ҡB, Cyclin D1, VEGF, PI3K, AKT, mTOR, BAX, P53, and Bcl-2 was measured using the ELISA technique. RESULTS: The results demonstrate that curcumin spanlastics exert higher antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer activity than curcumin alone, curcumin nanocrystals, and spanlastics-free. Additionally, the content of MDA, NF-ҡB, Cyclin D1, VEGF, PI3K, AKT, mTOR, and Bcl-2 decreased, and BAX and P53 content increased with all the compounds tested, but especially with curcumin spanlastics. Also, curcumin spanlastics showed higher Caspase 3 activity. CONCLUSION: Curcumin spanlastics outperformed curcumin nanocrystals and curcumin alone in terms of antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. Furthermore, we demonstrated that highly soluble curcumin spanlastics showed increased activity in comparison to the weakly soluble form of curcumin alone.</p>","PeriodicalId":8905,"journal":{"name":"BMC Biotechnology","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13123162/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147760994","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of curcumin-mediated green-synthesised silver nanoparticles against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.","authors":"Raha Zare Shahraki, Leili Shokoohizadeh, Zahra Chegini, Esmaeel Sharifi, Mohammad Reza Arabestani","doi":"10.1186/s12896-026-01138-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12896-026-01138-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>BACKGROUND: The rise in nosocomial infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria and the ability of bacteria to form biofilms have necessitated the exploration of alternative antimicrobial strategies. In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesised using a green method in the presence of curcumin to suppress the biofilm-forming abilities of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. METHODS: Curcumin was utilized in a green synthesis approach to facilitate reduction and create stable AgNPs. The resulting curcumin-capped AgNPs (Cur-AgNPs) were tested for their antibacterial and antibiofilm properties using microbroth dilution and microtiter plate methods (MTP). The MTT assay was carried out to evaluate the potential toxicity of Cur-AgNPs. RESULTS: Cur-AgNPs exhibited a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 14.12 µg/mL against both P. aeruginosa and MRSA. Furthermore, Cur-AgNPs demonstrated antibiofilm activity by suppressing biofilm formation and disrupting existing biofilms, and were non-toxic to the murine fibroblast cell line (L929) at the MIC concentration, as determined by the MTT assay. CONCLUSION: Cur-AgNPs demonstrated significant antibacterial and antibiofilm activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. These results suggest that green-synthesised AgNPs represent a promising approach for biofilm management. Furthermore, this study highlights the potential of curcumin as a capping agent to substantially improve the antibacterial and antibiofilm properties of AgNPs.</p>","PeriodicalId":8905,"journal":{"name":"BMC Biotechnology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13245098/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147760989","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Propolis-functionalized acellular fish skin scaffolds as biotechnological platforms for antimicrobial activity and regenerative wound healing.","authors":"Sima Bakhtazad, Sepehr Mehdizadeh, Nosratollah Zarghami, Ali Akbar Shabani, Mehdi Dadashpour, Younes Pilehvar","doi":"10.1186/s12896-026-01155-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12896-026-01155-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>BACKGROUND: Biotechnological advances in tissue engineering increasingly exploit naturally derived scaffolds as bioactive delivery systems. Acellular fish skin (AFS) provides a collagen-rich extracellular matrix favorable for tissue regeneration but lacks intrinsic antimicrobial activity. Propolis, a polyphenol-rich natural resin, exhibits antimicrobial, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties, yet its direct application is limited by burst release and local cytotoxicity. In this study, we aimed to develop and characterize a propolis-functionalized AFS scaffold as a multifunctional biomaterial capable of combining sustained antimicrobial activity with regenerative support for wound-healing applications. RESULTS: Lipid-preserved Tilapia-derived AFS was biofunctionalized with ethanolic propolis extract (EPE) through a vacuum-assisted impregnation process to obtain an EPE-AFS hybrid scaffold. The biotechnological modification preserved the collagenous architecture and porosity of the matrix, enhanced surface hydrophilicity (contact angle reduced from 91° ± 2° to 67° ± 3°), and maintained mechanical integrity (~ 13 MPa). Spectroscopic and microscopic analyses (FTIR, FE-SEM) confirmed successful deposition of polyphenolic components. The release profile demonstrated sustained polyphenol diffusion over 96 h (> 90% cumulative release). Functionally, cellular assays confirmed enhanced fibroblast adhesion and migration on propolis-functionalized scaffolds. Gene expression analysis revealed transcriptional upregulation of extracellular matrix remodeling and angiogenesis-associated markers (COL1A1, COL3A1, VEGF, TGF-β1), alongside downregulation of inflammation-related transcripts (IL-6, MMP-9). Antibacterial evaluation based on turbidity measurements indicated effective growth inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates a biotechnological strategy for functionalizing natural collagen scaffolds with propolis-derived polyphenols, yielding a dual-action biomaterial that combines sustained antibacterial growth suppression with enhanced regenerative-associated signaling in vitro. The EPE–AFS construct represents a promising nature-derived platform for further preclinical investigation in wound-healing applications. While these findings reveal a pro-regenerative and anti-inflammatory transcriptional profile in fibroblasts, additional validation—including endothelial and immune cell functional assays and in vivo wound models—is required to confirm angiogenic, immunomodulatory, and therapeutic efficacy under physiologically relevant conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":8905,"journal":{"name":"BMC Biotechnology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13227839/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147761039","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sustained-release enteric formulations of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum based on granulation technology: preparation and therapeutic evaluation in acute colitis.","authors":"Xiwei Zhang, Jianfeng Wan, Xile Wang, Xiaocan Zhang, Miaomiao Jiang, Shuang Liang, Hongqing Zhang, Guangzhou Zhou","doi":"10.1186/s12896-026-01157-7","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12896-026-01157-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>BACKGROUND: The clinical effectiveness of orally administered probiotics is often limited by poor survival during gastrointestinal transit and insufficient delivery to the intestinal site of action. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, a probiotic with anti-inflammatory potential, is highly sensitive to gastric acid and bile salts, diminishing its therapeutic efficacy for intestinal diseases. The aim of this study was to develop an enteric sustained-release granule formulation of Lactobacillus plantarum to enhance probiotic stability, promote targeted intestinal delivery, and evaluate its therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of colitis. METHODS: Sustained-release enteric pellets containing Lactiplantibacillus plantarum were prepared using a low-temperature wet granulation and extrusion process, followed by coating with pH-responsive polymers (HPMCP or Eudragit L100). In vitro release behavior was evaluated in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids. Therapeutic efficacy was assessed in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute colitis mouse model using histopathology, macrophage polarization, and gut microbiota analysis. RESULTS: The sustained-release granules exhibited a narrow and uniform particle size distribution, with diameters ranging from 40 to 80 mesh (180–425 μm). More than 85% of the granules were distributed within the 40–60 mesh fraction (250–425 μm). The micropellets exhibited adequate mechanical strength for handling and processing. The enteric-coated micropellets showed pronounced acid resistance, retaining over 70% bacterial viability after 2 h in simulated gastric fluid, compared with <30% for free bacterial powder. In simulated intestinal fluid, the micropellets achieved sustained bacterial release for over 2 h. In DSS-induced colitis mice, treatment with the granule formulations resulted in a more pronounced trend toward histological recovery. Moreover, the sustained-release granules promoted M2 macrophage polarization and partially restored gut microbial diversity, as evidenced by normalization of the Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio. CONCLUSIONS: The sustained-release enteric pellet system effectively protects Lactiplantibacillus plantarum during gastrointestinal transit and achieves targeted intestinal release. Integrating mechanical shielding with pH-triggered dissolution significantly enhances probiotic gastrointestinal survival and therapeutic efficacy. This delivery platform represents a safe, scalable, and broadly applicable strategy for treating intestinal inflammatory diseases. Furthermore, the approach provides a versatile framework for delivering other probiotic strains or combinations.</p>","PeriodicalId":8905,"journal":{"name":"BMC Biotechnology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13231606/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147760976","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mechanistic insights into how cichoriin inhibits P2Y₁₄R to suppress MSU-induced gouty inflammation.","authors":"Xue Wu, Shanshan Liu, Li Leng, Zhengqi Liu","doi":"10.1186/s12896-026-01151-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12896-026-01151-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Gout is a prevalent, chronic inflammatory joint diseases, and its global prevalence and incidence are continue to rise. Currently, the adverse side effects of anti-gout drugs underscore the urgent need for safer and more effective anti-gout agents.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>Cichoriin is a kind of coumarin, which exhibits diversity of biological activities. The current investigation aimed to explore the mechanism of the inhibition of MSU-induced gouty inflammation by cichoriin.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The enzyme inhibitory assay of P2Y₁₄R, cell viability detection, ELISA, immunofluorescence staining, and flow cytometry were used to explore the molecular mechanism of cichoriin in the inhibition of MSU-induced gouty inflammation. The molecular level details of inhibitory effects of chchoriin against P2Y₁₄R were obtained by molecular dynamics simulation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The in vitro experiments revealed that cichoriin could inhibit the activity of P2Y₁₄R, up-regulate the expressions of NLRP3, Caspase-1, GSDMD and ASC, increase IL-1β and IL-18 levels, and decrease the percentage of Caspase-1/PI double-positive cells. The computational calculations revealed that cichoriin and P2Y₁₄R could form a stable and rigid complex. Free energy landscape exhibited that cichoriin stabilized the global conformations of P2Y₁₄R to the minimum global energy. MM-PBSA provided evidence for cichoriin's stability inside the binding pocket of P2Y₁₄R with a binding free energy of -35.13 kcal/mol. The decomposition of binding energy showed the pivotal amino acids residues responsible for the stability of cichoriin's interaction with P2Y₁₄R by forming hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This work highlighted the potential roles of cichoriin in attenuating MSU-induced gouty inflammation.</p>","PeriodicalId":8905,"journal":{"name":"BMC Biotechnology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13196109/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147687931","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A novel cell-penetrating peptide supports hair follicle growth through anti-inflammatory and growth factor-associated mechanisms in preclinical models.","authors":"Young In Lee, Wooram Kim, Hyojin Roh, Ahlim Min, Jinyoung Jung, Hosung Choi, Jewan Kaiser Hwang, Ngoc Ha Nguyen, Jae Hyun Park, Inhee Jung, Ju Hee Lee","doi":"10.1186/s12896-026-01130-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12896-026-01130-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Hair loss remains a prevalent condition for both men and women worldwide. Current therapies for this condition, including minoxidil and finasteride, are limited by inconsistent efficacy, side effects, and dependence on continuous use. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) have emerged as promising bioactive agents in dermatology due to their ability to traverse cell membranes and modulate multiple biological pathways relevant to hair regeneration.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to identify and evaluate a novel synthetic CPP, DualPep-ALO, for its potential to promote hair growth by restoring the follicular microenvironment and stimulating key regenerative pathways.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using the intra-dermal delivery technology platform (REMEDI), over 200 human protein-derived peptides were screened for cell-penetrating potential. The lead candidate, DualPep-ALO, was selected based on its proliferative effect on human follicle dermal papilla cells and upregulation of Wnt/β-catenin and ERK signaling. In vitro and ex vivo assays were conducted to assess antioxidant enzyme activity, inflammatory cytokine suppression, follicle elongation, anagen maintenance, and growth factor expression.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>DualPep-ALO significantly enhanced human follicle dermal papilla cell proliferation, restored antioxidant enzyme (SOD, CAT) activity, and suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, PGE-2). In ex vivo human scalp tissue, it promoted hair follicle elongation, maintained the anagen phase, and upregulated VEGF, HGF, and EGF expression, achieving outcomes comparable to minoxidil.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>DualPep-ALO demonstrates potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and pro-regenerative effects, restoring follicular vitality through multimodal biological pathways. These findings support its potential as a novel CPP-based topical agent for hair loss, warranting further clinical investigation to validate efficacy, safety, and long-term therapeutic potential.</p>","PeriodicalId":8905,"journal":{"name":"BMC Biotechnology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13159305/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147670143","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhanced production and biodeinking application of β-glucosidase from Aspergillus niger S1 via submerged fermentation using office paper waste through conventional and statistical approaches.","authors":"Doaa Ali, Mohamed S Hasanin, Mohamed Abdelraof, Abdelmageed M Othman, Ghada S A Abdel Karim, Alshaimaa M Elsayed","doi":"10.1186/s12896-026-01139-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12896-026-01139-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>BACKGROUND: β-glucosidases are highly versatile catalysts with significant potential in various industries, including wastepaper deinking, which is a sustainable alternative due to its high effectiveness and minimal environmental impact. RESULTS: In this study, the optimal conditions for using submerged fermentation (SmF) to produce β-glucosidase from a newly isolated soil fungal species (Aspergillus niger S1) were improved. The main variables that influence the formation of β-glucosidase were examined, including temperature, pH, incubation period, nitrogen source, emulsifier concentration, and carbon source concentration. The production of β-glucosidase by the recently isolated Aspergillus niger S1 using office paper waste (OPW) as feedstock is encouraging because it reached its maximum production after just 3 days of incubation at pH 6.5 and 30 °C with office paper waste (15 g/L) serving as a carbon source at 1.5% (w/v), Tween 80 at 1.5% (v/v), and yeast extract as a nitrogen source. Using the CCD-based optimization approach, an enzyme yield of 3.35 U/mL β-galactosidase was achieved after 3 days of incubation at pH 6.0, with 1.5% (w/v) office paper waste and 1 g/L yeast extract. It was confirmed by the results that the β-glucosidase activity eliminated the ink particles and that this action improved the ash content, whiteness, and tensile strength. CONCLUSION: The findings showed that the investigated enzyme was a suitable green substitute for office paper waste deinking in the direction of sustainable waste management.</p>","PeriodicalId":8905,"journal":{"name":"BMC Biotechnology","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13078100/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147670124","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Refactored genetic parts for modular assembly of the E. coli MccV type I secretion system used to screen class II microcin candidates from plant-associated bacteria.","authors":"Alexa K Morton, Krisha Chaudhari, Brian D Matibag, Vibhav B Iyengar, Katherine E Dullen, Anthony J VanDieren, Jennifer K Parker, Dennis M Mishler, Jeffrey E Barrick","doi":"10.1186/s12896-026-01148-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12896-026-01148-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>BACKGROUND: Microcins are small antibacterial proteins secreted by gram-negative bacteria. The activities of new microcins discovered using bioinformatic searches need to be validated and characterized to understand how they mediate competition in microbiomes and to evaluate their potential as new therapeutics for combating antibiotic resistance. Engineered plasmids containing the type I secretion system associated with Escherichia coli microcin V (MccV) can secrete heterologous proteins, including other class II microcins, and this system functions in other bacterial hosts. However, existing microcin secretion constructs are not designed for easily swapping components—such as origins of replication, resistance genes, promoters, and signal peptides—that may need to be changed for compatibility with other chassis. RESULTS: We refactored the E. coli MccV type I secretion system into genetic parts compatible with a modular Golden Gate assembly scheme and used these parts to construct two-plasmid microcin secretion systems. In our design, one plasmid encodes the type I secretion system proteins, and the other encodes a signal peptide fused to the cargo protein that will be secreted. We tested two versions of a system with inducible promoters separately controlling expression of the components on each plasmid. One used plasmids that replicate in E. coli and its close relatives. The other used broad-host-range plasmids. When induced to secrete MccV, both versions produced similar zones of inhibition against a susceptible strain of E. coli. Next, we bioinformatically identified putative class II microcins in genomes of bacteria from plant-associated genera (Pantoea, Erwinia, and Xanthomonas). We screened 23 of these candidates for E. coli self-inhibition. Twelve exhibited antibiotic activity in this assay, though inhibition was much weaker than with MccV and occurred later in growth. Most candidates that consistently yielded the strongest inhibition appear to be class IIa microcins that are hybrids combining domains that exhibit sequence similarity to either E. coli microcin H47 or PDI. CONCLUSIONS: The genetic parts we created can be assembled in various combinations into tailored systems for secreting small proteins from diverse bacterial chassis. These systems can be used to further characterize the targets of novel microcins and to secrete these or other small proteins for various applications. For example, beneficial bacteria used in crop protection could be engineered to secrete microcins that kill or inhibit plant pathogens to increase their efficacy.</p>","PeriodicalId":8905,"journal":{"name":"BMC Biotechnology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13174018/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147615699","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Toward an understanding of selenium accumulation in rice: a preliminary transcriptomic inquiry of selenium fertilizer forms.","authors":"Dan Lu, Yaxuan Feng, Lei Huang, ZengYu Zhang, Fengshuo Ya, Xiaosu Fan, Mengling Nong, Yongxian Liu, Yan Qin, Yanyan Wei","doi":"10.1186/s12896-026-01142-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12896-026-01142-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>BACKGROUND: Selenium (Se) biofortification in rice addresses dietary Se deficiencies. While Se fertilization is key, the efficiency and molecular mechanisms differ among Se forms (selenate, nano-Se (SeNPs)) and application methods (soil vs. foliar). This study aimed to compare the effects of selenate and biosynthesized SeNPs, applied via soil and foliar methods, on rice growth, Se accumulation, speciation, and the associated transcriptional responses. METHODS: Rice plants were treated with selenate or biosynthesized SeNPs via soil application or foliar spraying. Biomass, yield, grain Se concentration and speciation were analyzed. Transcriptomic profiling of roots (soil-applied Se) and leaves (foliar-applied Se) was performed, with validation by qPCR and WGCNA. RESULTS: Both application methods enhanced biomass and yield. Foliar spraying was more efficient for grain Se enrichment, increasing Se concentration by 28.13-fold (selenate) and 89.87-fold (SeNPs), versus 7.83–9.87-fold for soil application. Selenomethionine was the predominant Se species in grains. Transcriptomics revealed selenate upregulated sulfate transporter and xylem-related genes in roots, whereas SeNPs enhanced aquaporin and sulfur assimilation gene expression. Foliar SeNPs triggered stomatal and aquaporin-related gene expression. Both forms influenced sulfur/nitrogen metabolism, with SeNPs additionally modulating organic acid and amino acid pathways. WGCNA identified co-expression modules correlated with grain Se content and selenomethionine proportion, enriched in transcription factors (MYB, WRKY, bHLH) and ABC transporters. CONCLUSIONS: Foliar application, particularly of SeNPs, is highly effective for Se biofortification in rice, associated with distinct molecular uptake and assimilation pathways. These findings provide insights for optimizing Se fertilization strategies to enhance dietary Se supply.</p>","PeriodicalId":8905,"journal":{"name":"BMC Biotechnology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13169585/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147589772","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}