Biotechnologia最新文献

{"title":"Nanotechnology in food systems: opportunities and risks for human health.","authors":"Sonam Yadav, Jaishiv, Rohit Kumar","doi":"10.5114/bta/209978","DOIUrl":"10.5114/bta/209978","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Nanotechnology has emerged as a promising field with the potential to revolutionize several industries, including the food industry. It offers innovative solutions to critical challenges in food, such as safety, nutrition, waste reduction, and sustainability. This study examines the possibilities offered by nanotechnology in the food sector, with a focus on risk assessment, safety evaluation, and regulatory approaches. While nanotechnology in food applications presents many advantages, it also raises concerns about potential health risks. Due to their distinct characteristics, nanoparticles may interact with living organisms in unpredictable ways, creating challenges for risk assessment and management. This review also explores the possible hazards of using nanomaterials in the food system, highlighting the need for comprehensive toxicity studies and effective regulatory frameworks. Addressing these issues requires a multidisciplinary approach involving collaboration among scientists, regulators, policy-makers, and stakeholders to balance the benefits and risks of nanotechnology in the food system. As the food sector seeks novel approaches to meet rising global demand, it is crucial to thoroughly assess both the advantages and risks of nanotechnology to ensure its responsible and sustainable application while protecting human health and the environment.</p>","PeriodicalId":94371,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnologia","volume":"106 4","pages":"441-460"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12848870/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146088783","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":"Investigation of materials for the development of new molecular and cellular antiviral and antimalignancy vaccines and immunization methods: a pilot study.","authors":"Iskra Sainova, Vera Kolyovska, Radka Hadjiolova, Andrey Petrov, Dimitrina Dimitrova-Dikanarova, Tzvetanka Markova","doi":"10.5114/bta/210359","DOIUrl":"10.5114/bta/210359","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Changes in biomolecules under the influence of chemical and physical factors on cells, tissues, and whole organisms are investigated.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong><i>In vitro</i>-incubated bovine embryonic cells were inoculated with low titers (high dilutions of viral suspensions) of vaccine avipoxviral strains. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts were co-cultivated with mouse malignant myeloma cells (P3-X63-Ag8) transfected by recombinant DNA plasmid or preincubated in culture fluid from prior incubation of the same cells. Sub-populations of virus-inoculated, co-cultivated, and preincubated cell cultures were frozen in the presence of the cryoprotectant dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), subsequently thawed, and re-incubated. Newly formed cell monolayers were inoculated with extracellular and intracellular forms of each viral strain, both before and after exposure to DMSO and drastic temperature changes. Extracellular forms were derived from the cultural fluids of inoculated cell cultures, while intracellular forms were obtained from suspensions of mechanically scraped virus-inoculated cells.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Exchange of nucleotide (DNA and/or RNA) fragments between cellular and viral genomes, as well as between genomes of separate cells, was suggested. These changes were explained by activated fusion induced by the organic detergent (DMSO) combined with drastic temperature changes. Such processes could provide vectors for gene-engineering manipulations and the development of molecular (DNA-based, RNA-based, and/or protein-based) antiviral and antimalignant vaccines. Production of immune molecules by nonimmune cell types under appropriate conditions, such as the presence of immunomodulators, was also proposed.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The results suggest the possibility of nucleotide (DNA and/or RNA) fragment exchange between separate cells, as well as between cells and virions. Nonimmune cells demonstrated the capacity to produce immune molecules under appropriate conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":94371,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnologia","volume":"106 4","pages":"379-386"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12848864/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146088778","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":"<i>In vitro</i> regeneration of <i>Portulaca grandiflora</i> Hook. and analysis of betalain content within <i>in vivo</i> plants.","authors":"Archana Srivastava, Aruna Joshi","doi":"10.5114/bta/209760","DOIUrl":"10.5114/bta/209760","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Synthetic colors are widely used in the food and cosmetic industries to make products more appealing to consumers. However, the health hazards associated with synthetic colors have prompted their replacement with natural colors. <i>Portulaca grandiflora</i> is a promising candidate for natural color extraction, as it is rich in betalains. This study presents a reliable, reproducible three-step regeneration protocol for this plant and analyzes its betalain content.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong><i>In vitro</i> shoot cultures were established on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different plant growth regulators. Anatomical studies were conducted to determine the stages of shoot primordium development. Betalains were extracted from <i>in vivo</i> plants using 60% methanol and subjected to spectrophotometric analysis. The effect of sodium ascorbate on betalain stability was also evaluated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Juvenile leaf explants regenerated shoots on MS medium supplemented with 10 μM 6-benzyladenine and 5 μM indole-3-acetic acid. Shoots were multiplied with 20 μM BA (6.25 ± 0.85 shoots/explant), and elongation was achieved with 5 μM gibberellic acid (GA₃) (8.2 ± 0.37 shoots/explant). Shoot primordia developed from well-organized meristemoid cells. The betalain content in the stem was 26.66 ± 0.19 mg/100 g, but this pigment degraded within 24 h (42.19% degradation). The addition of 50 mM sodium ascorbate prevented betalain degradation, even after 24 h.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study reports a regeneration protocol from juvenile leaf explants and demonstrates that betalain stability in the stem can be maintained with 50 mM sodium ascorbate.</p>","PeriodicalId":94371,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnologia","volume":"106 3","pages":"291-308"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12550673/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145380577","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":"<i>In silico</i> prediction of cytotoxic T-cell epitopes from <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> virulence factors using an immunoinformatics approach.","authors":"Demy Valerie Chacon, Kiana Alika Co, Daphne Noreen Enriquez, Aubrey Love Labarda, Reanne Eden Manongsong, Edward Kevin Bragais","doi":"10.5114/bta/208778","DOIUrl":"10.5114/bta/208778","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong><i>Helicobacter pylori</i> infects approximately half of the global population, leading to gastric and duodenal ulcers. Despite the availability of antibiotics, challenges such as patient reluctance, high treatment costs, and antibiotic resistance limit their effectiveness, making vaccination a promising alternative. This study used immunoinformatics to identify candidate epitopes for a multiepitope vaccine construct against <i>H. pylori</i>.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>The protein variability server was utilized for conservation analysis. The epitopes were screened for antigenicity, allergenicity, toxicity, cross-reactivity, and population coverage. Selected epitopes were docked with their corresponding human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles, and thermodynamic quantities were determined. Five virulence factors - HopZ, SabA, HP-NAP, OipA, and urease - were selected for their critical roles in bacterial adhesion, immune modulation, and stress survival.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Conservation analysis revealed a highly conserved protein sequence (Shannon index ≤ 0.1). The predicted epitopes had an IC₅₀ value of ≤ 500 nM, indicating strong binding to the corresponding HLAs, with an estimated population coverage of more than 90% in the Southeast Asian region. The predicted epitopes were identified as probable nonallergens, nontoxic, and noncross-reactive (<i>E</i> value >1.0). Molecular docking analysis showed that the candidate epitopes could bind strongly and spontaneously with their corresponding HLA proteins, as evidenced by low negative Gibbs free energy (ΔG) values and dissociation constants (<i>K</i> _D < 100 nM).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The epitopes predicted from the five virulence factors present promising candidates for future <i>H. pylori</i> vaccine design. Further <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> experiments are recommended to validate these preliminary findings.</p>","PeriodicalId":94371,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnologia","volume":"106 3","pages":"241-258"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12550678/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145373580","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":"Molecular architecture of giant viruses infecting microbial eukaryotes (protists).","authors":"Anhelina Kyrychenko","doi":"10.5114/bta/208621","DOIUrl":"10.5114/bta/208621","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In this review, I describe recent findings on the molecular architecture and genomic characterization of giant viruses that infect microbial eukaryotes (protists) across diverse ecosystems and ecological niches. Giant viruses are distinguished by their large and complex genomes, which encode a wide range of functions, including protein translation, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, nitrogen cycling, light assimilation, and key metabolic pathways such as glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Additionally, these genomes feature unique genes, often acquired through horizontal gene transfer, that are not found in other viruses and contribute to the viruses' ability to manipulate host metabolism and evade host defenses. A core set of genes conserved across different families of giant viruses is highlighted, serving as essential components for key life-cycle processes and providing valuable phylogenetic markers. The review also discusses the role of ORFans and virophages in contributing to the genetic diversity and evolutionary adaptation of these viruses. These findings are crucial for understanding the diversity, evolutionary mechanisms, and complex virus-host interactions of giant viruses, as well as for developing more advanced classification systems. Furthermore, the potential biotechnological applications of unique viral genes and pathways are explored, underscoring the importance of ongoing research in this field.</p>","PeriodicalId":94371,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnologia","volume":"106 3","pages":"361-376"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12550674/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145380601","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":"Hepato-renal protection by ferulic acid in a type 2 diabetic rat model: <i>in vivo</i> and <i>in silico</i> insights into carbohydrate metabolism, REDOX balance, and inflammation modulation.","authors":"Jude Akinyelu, Akinwunmi Oluwaseun Adeoye, Chika Ifeanyi Chukwuma, Toluwase Hezekiah Fatoki, Olufunbi Kehinde Adewumi, Ikenna Maximillian Odoh, Gift Racheal Ekun, Abidemi Sherifdeen Adeleke","doi":"10.5114/bta/207911","DOIUrl":"10.5114/bta/207911","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a global health concern characterized by pancreatic β-cell dysfunction, which disrupts multiple biochemical pathways. Consequently, treatments that target various pathways are essential. This study evaluates the hepato-renal protective effects of ferulic acid (FA) in T2D, focusing on carbohydrate metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammation using <i>in vivo</i> and <i>in silico</i> approaches.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>T2D was induced in male Wistar rats using fructose and streptozotocin. After 28 days of FA treatment, biochemical analyses were performed to measure glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, insulin, liver enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP), renal markers (creatinine, uric acid, BUN), and antioxidant status (SOD, CAT, GSH, MDA) in the liver and kidney. Pro-inflammatory markers (NF-κB-p65, IL-1β, IL-6) were evaluated in the liver and kidney. Molecular docking studies were also conducted to assess FA's interaction with key T2D-related proteins.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>FA treatment improved pancreatic β-cell function, increased insulin levels, and reduced serum glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin. Liver function, renal markers, and hepatic glycogen content improved significantly, and diabetes-induced weight loss was reversed. FA inhibited pancreatic α-amylase, intestinal α-glucosidase, fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, and glucose-6-phosphatase, while enhancing hexokinase activity. Notably, FA improved antioxidant status and reduced inflammatory mediators in diabetic rats. Molecular docking revealed that FA exhibits stronger binding affinity and greater inhibitory potential against key diabetes-related proteins compared to metformin.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>FA offers hepato-renal protection in T2D by modulating carbohydrate metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammation, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic agent against T2D.</p>","PeriodicalId":94371,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnologia","volume":"106 3","pages":"309-326"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12550677/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145380605","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":"Isolation and screening of biosurfactants producing lactic acid bacteria strain from Bhatabharu, an Indian traditional fermented food.","authors":"Tamanna Kaundal, Anjali Sharma, Navneet Batra","doi":"10.5114/bta/207713","DOIUrl":"10.5114/bta/207713","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Biosurfactants derived from lactic acid bacteria (LAB) produce eco-friendly biosurfactants with antimicrobial, antiadhesive, and antibiofilm properties.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>LAB strains isolated from Bhatabaru were screened for biosurfactant production using multiple assays, including drop collapse, hemolytic activity, oil displacement, surface activity, and emulsifying activity. The selected strain was morphologically characterized by Gram staining and microscopy and identified through biochemical assays and 16S rRNA sequencing using Gene Tool software.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The strain Bht-2 was determined to be Gram-positive, coccus-shaped, and nonendospore-forming. Biochemical and molecular analyses confirmed its identity as <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i>, which exhibited significant biosurfactant production.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong><i>Enterococcus faecalis</i> Bht-2 exhibits strong potential as a biosurfactant-producing LAB strain. Its desirable physicochemical and biofunctional traits underscore its applicability in biotechnological, pharmaceutical, and industrial domains as a safe and eco-friendly alternative to synthetic surfactants.</p>","PeriodicalId":94371,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnologia","volume":"106 3","pages":"279-290"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12550672/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145380612","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":"Bioinformatics study of biotin carboxylase B-subdomain isolated from <i>Lactococcus lactis</i> subsp. <i>lactis</i> (Lac3).","authors":"Rafika Dwi Cahyani, Apon Zaenal Mustopa, Rifqiyah Nur Umami, Arwansyah Arwansyah, Setyanto Tri Wahyudi","doi":"10.5114/bta/207712","DOIUrl":"10.5114/bta/207712","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The increasing threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a significant global health concern, with millions of people worldwide infected with these resistant strains each year. This study aims to conduct a bioinformatics analysis to investigate the biotin carboxylase (BC) B-subdomain from <i>Lactococcus lactis</i> subsp. <i>lactis</i> (Lac3) (accession number NZ_JAGRPZ010000035.1) as a potential target for the identification and development of novel antibiotics. Lac3 was isolated from one of the Indonesian traditional probiotics called dadih, and its whole-genome sequence analysis was revealed in a previous study.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Whole-genome sequencing data of Lac3, generated using the Illumina MiSeq sequencer (Novogene Co., Ltd.), were used to analyze gene clusters with AntiSMASH. Molecular docking (PyRx Virtual Screening Tool; AutoDock Vina) and molecular dynamics simulations (CPPTRAJ software) were performed to elucidate the potential binding sites of the BC B-subdomain and compare them with the BC domain from a <i>L. lactis</i> reference strain (accession number KLK97304). The 3D structure of the BC B-subdomain was predicted using AlphaFold2. Visualization of the simulated protein-ligand complex conformations was conducted using PyMOL v2.3 software.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Bioinformatics analysis showed that the BC B-subdomain gene was located in the β-lactone gene cluster on contig 7.1 and consisted of 32.1% α-helix, 37.6% β-strand, and 24.8% random coil. Physicochemical analysis indicated that the BC B-subdomain protein exhibited a high degree of solubility. The BC B-subdomain shared similarities with the ATP-grasp domain of the BC domain from the reference strain, particularly in amino acid residues involved in ATP binding (His207, Gln231, Asn234, and Glu274). Molecular docking analysis demonstrated that the BC B-subdomain-ATP complex (-6.1 kcal/mol) was comparable to the BC domain-ATP complex (-8.8 kcal/mol). This was supported by molecular dynamics simulations, which indicated that the complex models remained stable throughout the simulations, based on several validation parameters, including RMSD, RMSF, Rg, and SASA. Furthermore, ionic interactions with the phosphate group's amino acid residues - critical for ATP binding and function within ATP-grasp enzymes - were observed in both the BC B-subdomain (His207 and Lys236) and the BC domain (Lys236 and Arg290).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings suggest that the BC B-subdomain could serve as a potential target for fragment-based drug discovery and may provide a reference for developing novel BC inhibitors with potent antibacterial activity by targeting ATP binding, possibly through its phosphate group binding sites. However, further analysis is needed to support the development of innovative antibacterial treatments in the future.</p>","PeriodicalId":94371,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnologia","volume":"106 3","pages":"259-278"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12550680/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145380600","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":"Delivery and adjuvant: liposomes for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.","authors":"Indira Putri Negari, Azka Narari Khoerunnisa, Tarwadi, Anissa Nofita Sari, Tsung-Hsien Chuang","doi":"10.5114/bta/207680","DOIUrl":"10.5114/bta/207680","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The global COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical role of vaccines in controlling infectious diseases, with liposome-based formulations emerging as a pivotal advancement in vaccine technology. Liposomes are spherical vesicles composed of lipid bilayers that serve as drug delivery systems and versatile adjuvants, enhancing vaccine efficacy through improved antigen stability, targeted delivery, and immunogenicity. This review explores the potential of liposomes as adjuvants in both mRNA and protein subunit SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, detailing their composition and dual impact on innate and adaptive immune responses. Notably, liposome-based mRNA vaccines, such as those developed by Pfizer and Moderna, have demonstrated high efficacy by utilizing lipid nanoparticles to encapsulate mRNA and stimulate antigen-presenting cells, thereby inducing robust immune responses. Despite their advantages, challenges remain, including the optimization of lipid compositions and the mitigation of adverse immune effects. This review also examines the broad applications of liposomes in nanomedicine - from cancer therapy to antifungal treatments - and their potential for future vaccine development. By bridging the gap between engineering and immunology, the study of liposomes underscores their transformative potential in addressing current and emerging global health challenges.</p>","PeriodicalId":94371,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnologia","volume":"106 3","pages":"339-360"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12550676/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145380621","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":"Search continues: Exploring immunoinformatics platforms for designing an effective multiepitope malaria vaccine candidate.","authors":"Charles Osuji, Godwin Etuk-Udo","doi":"10.5114/bta/204528","DOIUrl":"10.5114/bta/204528","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The prevailing public health threat posed by malaria, especially in developing countries, remains a serious concern despite the availability of preventive and control measures. While vaccination offers a powerful means of combating malaria, it has not been fully exploited due to previous unsuccessful attempts before the launch of the RTS,S vaccine. A major challenge in malaria vaccine development continues to be the identification of effective targets capable of eliciting robust immunity, given the complexity of the parasites' life cycle. Leveraging on the breakthrough of the newly approved malaria vaccine, efforts to develop more effective prophylactic solutions continue with renewed determination.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>In this study, a standard structural bioinformatics pipeline was employed to design a multiepitope subunit vaccine against <i>Plasmodium</i>, particularly <i>P. falciparum</i>. Thirty subunit epitopes were mined from selected variant surface antigens of <i>P. falciparum</i> proteins expressed at different stages of its life cycle, based on their vaccine-likeness. These epitopes were conjugated with suitable adjuvants and linkers into a vaccine construct, which was then subjected to stringent downstream analyses.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Out of an initial pool of 133 epitopes, 30 vaccine-fit epitopes were selected, resulting in a final vaccine construct comprising 570 amino acid residues. This included 12 linear B-cells, 11 cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, and 7 helper T-lymphocyte epitopes, all with favorable predicted structural, antigenic, and physicochemical properties. The construct also demonstrated strong global population coverage (95.04%), robust molecular binding, and simulated immune responses.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>With the evolving \"Omics\" technologies through reverse vaccinology, discovering and designing promising vaccine candidates becomes easier without many challenging experimental rigors. This study highlights the potential of immunoinformatics-aided approaches in accelerating effective malaria vaccine development.</p>","PeriodicalId":94371,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnologia","volume":"106 2","pages":"151-168"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12281499/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144700883","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}