Sherin Panikulam , Hannah Morgan , Michael Gutknecht , Thomas K. Villiger , Nicolas Lebesgue , Anette C. Karle
{"title":"Host cell protein-mediated adjuvanticity and immunogenicity risks of biotherapeutics","authors":"Sherin Panikulam , Hannah Morgan , Michael Gutknecht , Thomas K. Villiger , Nicolas Lebesgue , Anette C. Karle","doi":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108575","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108575","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Host cell proteins (HCPs) are process-related impurities of biotherapeutic production that might affect product quality and/or patient safety. In a few cases, adverse events were attributed to HCPs present in the administered biotherapeutic. HCP-associated immune risks include adjuvanticity and immunogenicity with potential cross-reactivity. Based on the published data, some HCPs can act as adjuvants increasing the immunogenicity of the biotherapeutic as a bystander effect. HCPs may also induce immunogenicity against themselves, resulting in anti-HCP T cell responses and anti-HCP antibody formation. Depending on sequence similarities, these anti-HCP immune responses might theoretically be cross-reactive to the biotherapeutic or human endogenous proteins. In this review, we examine HCP-associated immune-related risks reported from non-clinical and clinical studies. We also discuss the potential and limitations of <em>in vitro</em> and <em>in silico</em> methods to evaluate the adjuvanticity and immunogenicity potential of HCPs. A risk-based assessment of the safety impact of HCPs may include the identity of the HCP and similarity to the biotherapeutic and human proteins, as well as product, treatment-, and patient-related factors.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8946,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology advances","volume":"81 ","pages":"Article 108575"},"PeriodicalIF":12.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143778888","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}
Fu Wang , Qian Zhao , Shuyao Li , Ruidong Sun , Zhenyuan Zang , Ai-sheng Xiong , El Hadji Moussa Seck , Yuxin Ye , Jian Zhang
{"title":"Genetic mechanisms, biological function, and biotechnological advance in sorghum tannins research","authors":"Fu Wang , Qian Zhao , Shuyao Li , Ruidong Sun , Zhenyuan Zang , Ai-sheng Xiong , El Hadji Moussa Seck , Yuxin Ye , Jian Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108573","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108573","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sorghum (<em>Sorghum bicolor</em>) holds a unique position in the human diet and serves as a stable food source in many developing countries especially in African and south Asian regions. Tannins, the primary secondary metabolites in sorghum, are pivotal in determining its characteristic bitter taste. Beyond their influence on flavor, tannins play a vital role in sorghum's resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses and serve as key indicators of grain quality. The concentration of tannins significantly affects the potential for diverse applications of sorghum. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of sorghum tannins, focusing on their genetic basis, biological activities, and biosynthesis mechanisms. It highlights the relationship between tannin levels and grain color and delves into the underlying biogenetic pathways. Furthermore, the potential of functional genomics and biotechnological approaches in precisely controlling tannin levels for sorghum breeding is discussed. This study aims to offer valuable insights and perspectives for advancing both the scientific understanding and practical applications of sorghum tannins.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8946,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology advances","volume":"81 ","pages":"Article 108573"},"PeriodicalIF":12.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143760555","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ricardo Lagoa , Logesh Rajan , Cristiana Violante , Smith B. Babiaka , Dorinda Marques-da-Silva , Bhupinder Kapoor , Flávio Reis , Atanas G. Atanasov
{"title":"Application of curcuminoids in inflammatory, neurodegenerative and aging conditions - Pharmacological potential and bioengineering approaches to improve efficiency","authors":"Ricardo Lagoa , Logesh Rajan , Cristiana Violante , Smith B. Babiaka , Dorinda Marques-da-Silva , Bhupinder Kapoor , Flávio Reis , Atanas G. Atanasov","doi":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108568","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108568","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Curcumin, a natural compound found in turmeric, has shown promise in treating brain-related diseases and conditions associated with aging. Curcumin has shown multiple anti-inflammatory and brain-protective effects, but its clinical use is limited by challenges like poor absorption, specificity and delivery to the right tissues.</div><div>A range of contemporary approaches at the intersection with bioengineering and systems biology are being explored to address these challenges. Data from preclinical and human studies highlight various neuroprotective actions of curcumin, including the inhibition of neuroinflammation, modulation of critical cellular signaling pathways, promotion of neurogenesis, and regulation of dopamine levels. However, curcumin's multifaceted effects - such as its impact on microRNAs and senescence markers - suggest novel therapeutic targets in neurodegeneration. Tetrahydrocurcumin, a primary metabolite of curcumin, also shows potential due to its presence in circulation and its anti-inflammatory properties, although further research is needed to elucidate its neuroprotective mechanisms.</div><div>Recent advancements in delivery systems, particularly brain-targeting nanocarriers like polymersomes, micelles, and liposomes, have shown promise in enhancing curcumin's bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy in animal models. Furthermore, the exploration of drug-laden scaffolds and dermal delivery may extend the pharmacological applications of curcumin. Studies reviewed here indicate that engineered dermal formulations and devices could serve as viable alternatives for neuroprotective treatments and to manage skin or musculoskeletal inflammation. This work highlights the need for carefully designed, long-term studies to better understand how curcumin and its bioactive metabolites work, their safety, and their effectiveness.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8946,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology advances","volume":"82 ","pages":"Article 108568"},"PeriodicalIF":12.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143742020","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}
E.I. Sutcliffe , A. Irvine , J. Rooney , D. Smith , H.M. Northcote , D. McKenzie , S. Bakshi , A.J. Nisbet , D. Price , R. Graham , R. Morphew , L. Atkinson , A. Mousley , C. Cantacessi
{"title":"Antimicrobial peptides in nematode secretions – Unveiling biotechnological opportunities for therapeutics and beyond","authors":"E.I. Sutcliffe , A. Irvine , J. Rooney , D. Smith , H.M. Northcote , D. McKenzie , S. Bakshi , A.J. Nisbet , D. Price , R. Graham , R. Morphew , L. Atkinson , A. Mousley , C. Cantacessi","doi":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108572","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108572","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Gastrointestinal (GI) parasitic nematodes threaten food security and affect human health and animal welfare globally. Current anthelmintics for use in humans and livestock are challenged by continuous re-infections and the emergence and spread of multidrug resistance, underscoring an urgent need to identify novel control targets for therapeutic exploitation. Recent evidence has highlighted the occurrence of complex interplay between GI parasitic nematodes of humans and livestock and the resident host gut microbiota. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) found within nematode biofluids have emerged as potential effectors of these interactions. This review delves into the occurrence, structure, and function of nematode AMPs, highlighting their potential as targets for drug discovery and development. We argue that an integrated approach combining advanced analytical techniques, scalable production methods, and innovative experimental models is needed to unlock the full potential of nematode AMPs and pave the way for the discovery and development of sustainable parasite control strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8946,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology advances","volume":"81 ","pages":"Article 108572"},"PeriodicalIF":12.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143742019","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Muhammad Jawad Akbar Awan , Muhammad Awais Farooq , Muhammad Ismail Buzdar , Asma Zia , Aiman Ehsan , Muhammad Abu Bakar Waqas , Goetz Hensel , Imran Amin , Shahid Mansoor
{"title":"Advances in gene editing-led route for hybrid breeding in crops","authors":"Muhammad Jawad Akbar Awan , Muhammad Awais Farooq , Muhammad Ismail Buzdar , Asma Zia , Aiman Ehsan , Muhammad Abu Bakar Waqas , Goetz Hensel , Imran Amin , Shahid Mansoor","doi":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108569","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108569","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With the global demand for sustainable agriculture on the rise, RNA-guided nuclease technology offers transformative applications in crop breeding. Traditional hybrid breeding methods, like three-line and two-line systems, are often labor-intensive, transgenic, and economically burdensome. While chemical mutagens facilitate these systems, they not only generate weak alleles but also produce strong alleles that induce permanent sterility through random mutagenesis. In contrast, RNA-guided nuclease system, such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)- associated protein (Cas) system, facilitates more efficient hybrid production by inducing male sterility through targeted genome modifications in male sterility genes, such as <em>MS8</em>, <em>MS10</em>, <em>MS26</em>, and <em>MS45</em> which allows precise manipulation of pollen development or pollen abortion in various crops. Moreover, this approach allows haploid induction for the rapid generation of recombinant and homozygous lines from hybrid parents by editing essential genes, like <em>CENH3</em>, <em>MTL</em>/<em>NLD</em>/<em>PLA</em>, and <em>DMP</em>, resulting in high-yield, transgene-free hybrids. Additionally, this system supports synthetic apomixis induction by employing the <em>MiMe</em> (<em>Mitosis instead of Meiosis</em>) strategy, coupled with parthenogenesis in hybrid plants, to create heterozygous lines and retain hybrid vigor in subsequent generations. RNA-guided nuclease-induced synthetic apomixis also enables genome stacking for autopolyploid progressive heterosis <em>via</em> clonal gamete production for trait maintenance to enhance crop adaptability without compromising yield. Additionally, CRISPR-Cas-mediated <em>de novo</em> domestication of wild relatives, along with recent advances to circumvent tissue culture- recalcitrance and -dependency through heterologous expression of morphogenic regulators, holds great promise for incorporating diversity-enriched germplasm into the breeding programs. These approaches aim to generate elite hybrids adapted to dynamic environments and address the anticipated challenges of food insecurity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8946,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology advances","volume":"81 ","pages":"Article 108569"},"PeriodicalIF":12.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143735017","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Hydroxybenzoic acids: Microbial metabolism, pathway engineering and products","authors":"Ingrida Kutraite , Ernesta Augustiniene , Naglis Malys","doi":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108571","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108571","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hydroxybenzoic acids (HBAs) are plant secondary metabolites exhibiting antioxidant, antiviral, anticancer and antibacterial activities. A high and constantly increasing demand for these compounds underlines the need for novel and efficient production methods, as commonly applied plant extraction and chemical synthesis approaches are susceptible to low yields and are environmentally hazardous. Switching to biotechnology and replacing petroleum-based chemicals has potential to improve eco-efficiency in sustainable bioeconomy. With the increased focus on the production of materials using renewable resources and bio-based feedstocks, microbial fermentation and engineering drives the development and optimization of sustainable bioproduction. This systematic review summarizes current knowledge of microbial HBAs metabolism and biosynthesis. Here, the existing challenges are highlighted and the potential strategies for improved microbial production of HBAs are identified. Key aspects of HBAs metabolism and complexity of the factors related to bacterial strain selection, titer, and bioprocess strategy are examined. The opportunities of HBAs bioproduction using engineered microbial cell factories are discussed in detail and insights for synthesis improvement are presented.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8946,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology advances","volume":"81 ","pages":"Article 108571"},"PeriodicalIF":12.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143741830","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}
Ren Yang , Xiaohan Ma , Feng Peng , Jin Wen , Latifa W. Allahou , Gareth R. Williams , Jonathan C. Knowles , Alessandro Poma
{"title":"Advances in antimicrobial peptides: From mechanistic insights to chemical modifications","authors":"Ren Yang , Xiaohan Ma , Feng Peng , Jin Wen , Latifa W. Allahou , Gareth R. Williams , Jonathan C. Knowles , Alessandro Poma","doi":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108570","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108570","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This review provides a comprehensive analysis of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), exploring their diverse sources, secondary structures, and unique characteristics. The review explores into the mechanisms underlying the antibacterial, immunomodulatory effects, antiviral, antiparasitic and antitumour of AMPs. Furthermore, it discusses the three principal synthesis pathways for AMPs and assesses their current clinical applications and preclinical research status. The paper also addresses the limitations of AMPs, including issues related to stability, resistance, and toxicity, while offering insights into strategies for their enhancement. Recent advancements in AMP research, such as chemical modifications (including amino acid sequence optimisation, terminal and side-chain modifications, PEGylation, conjugation with small molecules, conjugation with photosensitisers, metal ligands, polymerisation, cyclisation and specifically targeted antimicrobial peptides) are highlighted. The goal is to provide a foundation for the future design and optimisation of AMPs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8946,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology advances","volume":"81 ","pages":"Article 108570"},"PeriodicalIF":12.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143725712","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yuanting Zheng , Neil D. Young , Tao Wang , Bill C.H. Chang , Jiangning Song , Robin B. Gasser
{"title":"Systems biology of Haemonchus contortus – Advancing biotechnology for parasitic nematode control","authors":"Yuanting Zheng , Neil D. Young , Tao Wang , Bill C.H. Chang , Jiangning Song , Robin B. Gasser","doi":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108567","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108567","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Parasitic nematodes represent a substantial global burden, impacting animal health, agriculture and economies worldwide. Of these worms, <em>Haemonchus contortus</em> – a blood-feeding nematode of ruminants – is a major pathogen and a model for molecular and applied parasitology research. This review synthesises some key advances in understanding the molecular biology, genetic diversity and host-parasite interactions of <em>H. contortus</em>, highlighting its value for comparative studies with the free-living nematode <em>Caenorhabditis elegans</em>. Key themes include recent developments in genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic technologies and resources, which are illuminating critical molecular pathways, including the ubiquitination pathway, protease/protease inhibitor systems and the secretome of <em>H. contortus</em>. Some of these insights are providing a foundation for identifying essential genes and exploring their potential as targets for novel anthelmintics or vaccines, particularly in the face of widespread anthelmintic resistance. Advanced bioinformatic tools, such as machine learning (ML) algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven protein structure prediction, are enhancing annotation capabilities, facilitating and accelerating analyses of gene functions, and biological pathways and processes. This review also discusses the integration of these tools with cutting-edge single-cell sequencing and spatial transcriptomics to dissect host-parasite interactions at the cellular level. The discussion emphasises the importance of curated databases, improved culture systems and functional genomics platforms to translate molecular discoveries into practical outcomes, such as novel interventions. New research findings and resources not only advance research on <em>H. contortus</em> and related nematodes but may also pave the way for innovative solutions to the global challenges with anthelmintic resistance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8946,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology advances","volume":"81 ","pages":"Article 108567"},"PeriodicalIF":12.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143699247","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bo Xia , Honghao Chen , Juntao Wang , Yan Liu , Qi Wu , Xiaocheng Pan
{"title":"Enzymatic polymerization: Recent advances toward sustainable polymer synthesis","authors":"Bo Xia , Honghao Chen , Juntao Wang , Yan Liu , Qi Wu , Xiaocheng Pan","doi":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108566","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108566","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Enzymatic polymerization has emerged as a sustainable strategy for synthesizing biodegradable, biocompatible polymers, addressing critical environmental challenges posed by conventional petroleum-based materials. This review comprehensively explores advancements from the past five years, spotlighting six pivotal enzymes lipase, horseradish peroxidase, laccase, glucose oxidase, glucosyltransferase, and phosphorylase-alongside synergistic multi-enzymatic systems that enable complex polymerization cascades. Diverging from prior reviews focused on individual enzymes or specific polymer classes (e.g., polyesters, polyamides), our work provides a systematic classification of enzymatic polymerization mechanisms, emphasizing substrate specificity, reaction efficiency, and product diversity. Integrating advances in enzyme engineering, cascade catalysis, and green chemistry, this analysis outlines strategies to customize polymer architectures, identifies challenges in scaling enzymatic processes, and underscores opportunities for industrial applications. It advocates interdisciplinary innovation to advance sustainable polymer synthesis aligned with circular economy principles, emphasizing enzymatic methods' transformative potential for eco-friendly manufacturing paradigms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8946,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology advances","volume":"81 ","pages":"Article 108566"},"PeriodicalIF":12.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143673281","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Effect of nanomaterials on microbial metabolism and their applications in fermentative hydrogen production: A review","authors":"Yanjing Li, Minmin Wang, Qiushi Jiang, Sihu Zhang, Xueying Yang, Wen Cao, Wenwen Wei, Liejin Guo","doi":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108563","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108563","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Recent developments in nanomaterial-microbe hybrid systems have combined the unique physicochemical properties of nanomaterials with the biocatalytic capabilities of microorganisms. These hybrid systems have seen extensive use in energy production, particularly in enhancing hydrogen generation. Researchers have incorporated nanomaterials into microbial cultures, achieving significant improvements in the hydrogen production efficiency of microbes across various environments and bacterial strains. However, challenges such as the biological toxicity of nanomaterials pose obstacles to their broader application in microbial energy production. This review examines the effects of nanomaterials on microorganisms, focusing on both their positive and negative effects on microbial growth and metabolism. It also summarizes the applications of nanomaterials in microbial fermentation for hydrogen production. Additionally, it highlights the importance of understanding and balancing these effects when introducing nanomaterials, offering guidance for developing more efficient nanomaterial-microbial hybrid hydrogen production systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8946,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology advances","volume":"81 ","pages":"Article 108563"},"PeriodicalIF":12.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143673279","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}