Xinyu Lyu , Ziyin Ai , Wenli Huang , Weiwei Huang , Zhongfang Lei , Tian Yuan , Motoo Utsumi , Duu-Jong Lee
{"title":"A review on recent advancement in algal-bacterial aerobic granular sludge: From inoculation approaches to operation strategies","authors":"Xinyu Lyu , Ziyin Ai , Wenli Huang , Weiwei Huang , Zhongfang Lei , Tian Yuan , Motoo Utsumi , Duu-Jong Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108610","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108610","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In recent years, the environmental unsustainability of traditional wastewater treatment processes, alongside the growing emphasis on carbon neutrality and self-sufficiency in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), has drawn attention to algal-bacterial aerobic granular sludge (AGS) systems. This review synthesizes recent advances in algal-bacterial AGS, focusing on the latest research on its granulation mechanisms under both hydrostatic and hydrodynamic conditions and providing a comprehensive overview of cultivation strategies based on various sludges. We discuss the latest reports on the impacts of process operation strategies for algal-bacterial AGS and emphasize the operation performance and design of different bioreactor configurations. Challenges for commercialization and sustainable applications are highlighted; future application directions are also posted. In summary, algal-bacterial AGS exhibits significant potential in simultaneous efficient wastewater treatment and bioresource recovery, targeting circular bioeconomy and sustainable wastewater industry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8946,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology advances","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 108610"},"PeriodicalIF":12.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144123231","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}
Yuan Tian , Feng Yang , Meisam Zargar , Ying-Gao Liu , Mo-Xian Chen , Fu-Yuan Zhu
{"title":"Integration of structural study and machine learning to elucidate the RNA-SFs interaction atlas in eukaryotic cells","authors":"Yuan Tian , Feng Yang , Meisam Zargar , Ying-Gao Liu , Mo-Xian Chen , Fu-Yuan Zhu","doi":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108608","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108608","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Alternative splicing (AS) occupies a central position in plant growth and development, stress response, and animal growth and disease processes. Mutations in SF (splicing factor) trigger aberrant AS activities that disrupt these fine biological processes. Although cryo electron microscopy (cryoEM) technology has successfully revealed the fine structure of multiple spliceosomes, the dynamic and complex network of RNA-SFs remains to be fully resolved. This review summarizes the binding patterns of RNA and SFs through machine learning's powerful computational capabilities, the deep structural analysis using cryoEM, and experimental validation of RNA protein binding. Connect RNA protein interaction experiments, high-resolution imaging capabilities of cryoEM, and powerful analytical capabilities of machine learning to jointly construct a detailed RNA-SFs interaction map, forming a powerful toolkit. These knowledge help us better understand the complexity and working mechanisms of biological systems. This article not only has profound significance in revealing the molecular mechanisms of diseases and developing multi-target efficient drugs but also provides in-depth insights into molecular breeding and plant resistance enhancement.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8946,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology advances","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 108608"},"PeriodicalIF":12.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144118625","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}
Rui Ying , Nan Li , Yuyang Zhang , Hong Chen , Shutong Zhang , Rui Feng , Jiao Li , Sai Wang , Xiangzhao Mao
{"title":"Innovations in smart enzyme biosensors: Advancing the detection of antibiotic residues in aquaculture","authors":"Rui Ying , Nan Li , Yuyang Zhang , Hong Chen , Shutong Zhang , Rui Feng , Jiao Li , Sai Wang , Xiangzhao Mao","doi":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108607","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108607","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In aquaculture, the presence of antibiotic residues is an escalating concern that poses significant risks to human health. Establishing efficient and user-friendly detection methods for antibiotic residues has become crucial to mitigate these potential hazards. To address the limitations of traditional techniques, novel enzyme biosensors, offering high sensitivity and specificity and rapid response, has been introduced for monitoring a wide range of antibiotics in food safety applications. Herein, this paper reviews the innovations and advances of smart enzyme biosensors for the detection of up to 23 antibiotics in aquatic foods (fish, shrimp, crab, etc.) and related water samples in the last decade, focusing on biosensors' construction principles, detection performance, and potential applications. The colorimetric biosensors account for 62.5 %, and the limit of detection (LOD) reaches as low as fM levels. To our best knowledge, this is the first review to introduce the innovations and progress in smart enzyme biosensors for the detection of antibiotic residues in aquaculture, with the evolution from conventional natural enzyme-based biosensors to biosensors containing bio-recognition elements and mimic enzymes, and then the integrated mimic enzyme-based biosensors. These biosensors realized highly-sensitive and specific detection of antibiotics. Further development should focus on exploration of multifunctional and intelligent bio-sensing strategies, robust mimic enzyme-based biosensors, and biosensors based on integrated mechanism of recognition and transduction, so as to promote the techniques from lab studies into practical applications. This review serves as powerful enlightenment to inspire further enhancement of smart enzyme biosensors for monitoring antibiotics in aquaculture to ensure food safety.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8946,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology advances","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 108607"},"PeriodicalIF":12.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144118624","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}
Aliaksei Ihnatsyeu-Kachan , Anastasiia Saichuk , Olga Sharko , Victoriya Zhogla , Viktar Abashkin , Wilfried Le Goff , Vadim Shmanai , Dzmitry Shcharbin , Isabelle Guillas , Sehoon Kim
{"title":"Biomimetic high-density lipoprotein nanoparticles for the delivery of nucleic acid-based therapeutics","authors":"Aliaksei Ihnatsyeu-Kachan , Anastasiia Saichuk , Olga Sharko , Victoriya Zhogla , Viktar Abashkin , Wilfried Le Goff , Vadim Shmanai , Dzmitry Shcharbin , Isabelle Guillas , Sehoon Kim","doi":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108606","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108606","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The field of delivering nucleic acids (NAs) via high-density lipoprotein-mimicking nanoparticles (HDL NPs) has shown promising advancements over the past two decades. HDL NPs are designed to efficiently bind NAs, safeguard them from degradation, and help navigate through various biological barriers to deliver them into the target cell's cytosol. Some HDL NPs allow direct cytosolic delivery of NAs by a selective mechanism with the involvement of HDL's natural receptor scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-B1). In contrast, others rely on endocytic uptake of the entire NA-loaded HDL NP. Owing to their highly biocompatible nature, ability to target clinically relevant receptors, and fine tunability, NA-loaded HDL NPs are applied to treat cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and brain malignancies. They are also emerging as potent vaccines against cancers and infectious diseases. This review focuses on various architectures of NA-loaded HDL NPs, their mechanisms for NA cellular uptake, and their therapeutic efficacy <em>in vivo</em>. It comprehensively covers the latest nanocarriers for NA delivery that contain HDL's apolipoproteins (ApoA-I, ApoE) or their mimetic peptides, which define the unique functional and targeting capabilities of HDL NPs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8946,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology advances","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 108606"},"PeriodicalIF":12.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144118583","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}
Hong-Juan Diao , Li-Ming Lin , Li-Yuan Xu , Jia-Hao Yao , Ren-Chao Zheng , Yu-Guo Zheng
{"title":"Engineering catalytically promiscuous enzymes to serve new functions","authors":"Hong-Juan Diao , Li-Ming Lin , Li-Yuan Xu , Jia-Hao Yao , Ren-Chao Zheng , Yu-Guo Zheng","doi":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108601","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108601","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Catalytic promiscuity in enzymes refers to their ability to catalyze multiple chemically distinct reactions in addition to their native activity. The increasing discovery of additional enzymes exhibiting catalytic promiscuity has underscored the significance of this trait in nature. The catalytic promiscuity of enzymes offers new avenues for functional redesign. Through protein engineering, existing enzymes can be modified to expand their natural catalytic boundaries. Furthermore, <em>de novo</em> designed artificial enzymes can achieve novel enzymatic reactions, broadening the scope of enzyme-catalyzed applications. Given that catalytic promiscuity plays a fundamental role in enzyme evolution, comprehensive research on its origins and influencing factors is essential. In this review, we comprehensively examine the factors influencing catalytic promiscuity, including variations in substrate binding modes in pre-reaction states, the instability of key high-energy intermediates, and the roles of critical residues in catalytic mechanisms. Moreover, altering the enzyme's catalytic environment can also induce novel types of catalytic reactions, such as light-induced promiscuous reactions catalyzed by cofactor-dependent oxidoreductase enzymes. Additionally, we summarize the current protein engineering technologies and strategies aimed at enhancing the activity and stereoselectivity of target enzymes to meet industrial requirements.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8946,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology advances","volume":"82 ","pages":"Article 108601"},"PeriodicalIF":12.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144075642","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}
Young Sung Jung , Nho-Eul Song , Seo Yeong Oh , Young Kyoung Park , Ye-Jin Kim , Hyunbin Seong , Sang-Mook You , Dong-Hyun Jung , Donghyun Shin , Mi-Gi Lee , Min-Cheol Lim , Nam Soo Han
{"title":"Advances in in vitro cultivation techniques for comprehensive analysis of human gut microbiome","authors":"Young Sung Jung , Nho-Eul Song , Seo Yeong Oh , Young Kyoung Park , Ye-Jin Kim , Hyunbin Seong , Sang-Mook You , Dong-Hyun Jung , Donghyun Shin , Mi-Gi Lee , Min-Cheol Lim , Nam Soo Han","doi":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108595","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108595","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The role of gut microbiota in human health and disease is becoming increasingly recognized. Historically, the impact of human gut microbiota on health has been studied using clinical trials and animal models. However, clinical studies often struggle with controlling variables and pinpointing disease-causing factors, while animal models fall short of accurately replicating the human gut environment. Additionally, continuous sample collection for gut microbiota analysis <em>in vivo</em> presents significant ethical and technical challenges. To address these limitations, <em>in vitro</em> fermentation models have emerged as promising alternatives. These models aim to simulate the structural and functional characteristics of the human gut in a controlled setting, offering valuable insights into microbial behavior. This review highlights current knowledge and technological advances in <em>in vitro</em> cultivation systems for human gut microbiota, focusing on key elements such as three-dimensional scaffolds, culture media, fermentation systems, and analytical techniques. By examining these components, the review establishes a framework for improving methods to cultivate and study human gut microbiota, enhancing research methodologies for better understanding microbial interactions, behavior, and adaptation in diverse environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8946,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology advances","volume":"82 ","pages":"Article 108595"},"PeriodicalIF":12.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144075638","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}
Yongmin Zheng , Chen Qi , Yangyi Qiao , Kang Liu , Yanxia Wang , Wankui Jiang , Yujia Jiang , Fengxue Xin , Feng Guo , Wenming Zhang , Min Jiang
{"title":"From formate oxidation to CO₂ reduction: The role of formate dehydrogenase in sustainable carbon utilization","authors":"Yongmin Zheng , Chen Qi , Yangyi Qiao , Kang Liu , Yanxia Wang , Wankui Jiang , Yujia Jiang , Fengxue Xin , Feng Guo , Wenming Zhang , Min Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108600","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108600","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The escalation of global climate change and environmental degradation has made it imperative to develop innovative strategies to mitigate carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions and enhance its utilization. Formate dehydrogenase (FDH) is a key enzyme capable of catalyzing the reversible conversion between CO₂ and formate. Due to its critical role in sustainable carbon recycling processes, FDH has garnered significant attention in recent times. This review offers a thorough analysis of FDH, emphasizing its dual function of converting one carbon (C1) substrates and providing reducing power. Recent advancements in utilizing FDH for CO₂ reduction, both <em>in vitro</em> and <em>in vivo</em>, underscoring its potential to facilitate carbon capture and conversion under mild conditions. Additionally, this review discusses the limitations of FDH in C1 metabolism and proposes targeted strategies to address these challenges. Future research should focus on achieving a balance between energy production and carbon assimilation, mediated by FDH activity. Ultimately, this work aims to offer both theoretical insights and practical guidance, advancing microbial engineering for CO₂ reduction and resource recycling, and contributing to the development of sustainable carbon utilization technologies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8946,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology advances","volume":"82 ","pages":"Article 108600"},"PeriodicalIF":12.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143947132","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}
Samantha G. Martinusen , Sage E. Nelson , Ethan W. Slaton , Lawton F. Long , Raymond Pho , Seyednima Ajayebi , Carl A. Denard
{"title":"Protease engineering: Approaches, tools, and emerging trends","authors":"Samantha G. Martinusen , Sage E. Nelson , Ethan W. Slaton , Lawton F. Long , Raymond Pho , Seyednima Ajayebi , Carl A. Denard","doi":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108602","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108602","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Engineered proteases with bespoke substrate specificities and activities can empower broad and innovative applications in biomedicine, mass spectrometry-based proteomics, and chemical and synthetic biology. This review provides an authoritative, topical, and detailed description and discussion of the directed evolution and high-throughput strategies designed to engineer the substrate specificity of proteases in <em>E. coli</em>, yeast, phage, and cell-free systems. Second, we discuss emerging protease engineering strategies that complement directed evolution, including antibody-protease fusions that enable proximity catalysis, and protease substrate specificity switching driven by exogenous protein-protein interactions. Lastly, we discuss principles for engineering split and autoinhibited proteases, which are key signal-processing modules in protein circuits. Overall, readers will gain a valuable understanding of the latest advances in protease engineering, focusing on methodologies and strategies that enable precise control of protease activity and specificity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8946,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology advances","volume":"82 ","pages":"Article 108602"},"PeriodicalIF":12.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144070964","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}
Sebastián Bermúdez-Puga , Bruno Mendes , Jean Pierre Ramos-Galarza , Pamela Oliveira de Souza de Azevedo , Attilio Converti , Francesco Molinari , Simon J. Moore , José R. Almeida , Ricardo Pinheiro de Souza Oliveira
{"title":"Revolutionizing agroindustry: Towards the industrial application of antimicrobial peptides against pathogens and pests","authors":"Sebastián Bermúdez-Puga , Bruno Mendes , Jean Pierre Ramos-Galarza , Pamela Oliveira de Souza de Azevedo , Attilio Converti , Francesco Molinari , Simon J. Moore , José R. Almeida , Ricardo Pinheiro de Souza Oliveira","doi":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108605","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108605","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Antibiotics are essential chemicals for medicine and agritech. However, all antibiotics are small molecules that pathogens evolve antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Alternatively, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) offer potential to overcome or evade AMR. AMPs provide broad-spectrum activity, favourable biosafety profiles, and a rapid and efficient mechanism of action with low resistance incidence. These properties have driven innovative applications, positioning AMPs as promising contributors to advancements in various industrial sectors. This review evaluates the multifaceted nature of AMPs and their biotechnological applications in underexplored sectors. In the food industry, the application of AMPs helps to suppress the growth of microorganisms, thereby decreasing foodborne illnesses, minimizing food waste, and prolonging the shelf life of products. In animal husbandry and aquaculture, incorporating AMPs into the diet reduces the load of pathogenic microorganisms and enhances growth performance and survival rates. In agriculture, AMPs provide an alternative to decrease the use of chemical pesticides and antibiotics. We also review current methods for obtaining AMPs, including chemical synthesis, recombinant DNA technology, cell-free protein synthesis, and molecular farming, are also reviewed. Finally, we look to the peptide market to assess its status, progress, and transition from the discovery stage to benefits for society and high-quality products. Overall, our review exemplifies the other side of the coin of AMPs and how these molecules provide similar benefits to conventional antibiotics and pesticides in the agritech sector.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8946,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology advances","volume":"82 ","pages":"Article 108605"},"PeriodicalIF":12.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144067232","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}
Xi-Chen Cui , Yan Zheng , Ye Liu , Zhiguang Yuchi , Ying-Jin Yuan
{"title":"AI-driven de novo enzyme design: Strategies, applications, and future prospects","authors":"Xi-Chen Cui , Yan Zheng , Ye Liu , Zhiguang Yuchi , Ying-Jin Yuan","doi":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108603","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108603","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Enzymes are indispensable for biological processes and diverse applications across industries. While top-down modification strategies, such as directed evolution, have achieved remarkable success in optimizing existing enzymes, bottom-up <em>de novo</em> enzyme design has emerged as a transformative approach for engineering novel enzymes with customized catalytic functions, independent of natural templates. Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and computational power have significantly accelerated this field, enabling breakthroughs in enzyme engineering. These technologies facilitate the rapid generation of enzyme structures and amino acid sequences optimized for specific functions, thereby enhancing design efficiency. They also support functional validation and activity optimization, improving the catalytic performance, stability, and robustness of <em>de novo</em> designed enzymes. This review highlights recent advancements in AI-driven <em>de novo</em> enzyme design, discusses strategies for validation and optimization, and examines the challenges and future prospects of integrating these technologies into enzyme development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8946,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology advances","volume":"82 ","pages":"Article 108603"},"PeriodicalIF":12.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144067199","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}