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Topic Review
Methods Used for Activation of Silent Biosynthetic Genes
Antibiotic resistance is becoming a burning issue due to the frequent use of antibiotics for curing common bacterial infections, indicating that we are running out of effective antibiotics. Enhancement of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is strengthening the pathogenicity and virulence of infectious microbes. Endophytes have shown expression of various new many bioactive compounds with significant biological activities. Specifically, in endophytic fungi, bioactive metabolites with unique skeletons have been identified which could be helpful in the prevention of increasing antimicrobial resistance. The major classes of metabolites reported include anthraquinone, sesquiterpenoid, chromone, xanthone, phenols, quinones, quinolone, piperazine, coumarins and cyclic peptides. Various methods including epigenetic modifications, co-culture, and OSMAC to induce silent gene clusters for the production of noble bioactive compounds in endophytic fungi were discussed.
  • 1.5K
  • 10 Oct 2023
Topic Review
16S rRNA Sequencing vs. Metagenome Sequencing
Microbiome research has revolutionized our understanding of complex microbial communities, and two pivotal techniques at the forefront of this exploration are 16S rRNA sequencing and metagenome sequencing.
  • 1.5K
  • 31 Oct 2024
Topic Review
Jackfruit Waste Utilizd in Sustainable Energy and Biochemicals
Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus L.) trees are known to produce huge fruits from their stems and are unique in terms of food utilization as vegetables and fruits. Jackfruit trees are cultivated throughout the lowlands in south and southeast Asian countries. In addition, it is found in east Africa, as well as throughout Brazil and Caribbean nations such as Jamaica.
  • 1.5K
  • 18 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Evolution Road of Seaweed Aquaculture
Seaweeds (marine macroalgae) are autotrophic organisms capable of producing many compounds of interest. For a long time, seaweeds have been seen as a great nutritional resource, primarily in Asian countries to later gain importance in Europe and South America, as well as in North America and Australia. It has been reported that edible seaweeds have a nutritional value along with a low caloric input and with the presence of proteins, minerals (iron and calcium), vitamins, structural polysaccharides (fibers), omega-6 and omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids. Moreover, they have plenty of bioactive molecules that can be applied in nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic areas. There are historical registers of harvest and cultivation of seaweeds but with the increment of the studies of seaweeds and their valuable compounds, their aquaculture has increased. The methodology of cultivation varies from onshore to offshore. Seaweeds can also be part of integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA), which has great opportunities but is also very challenging to the farmers. This multidisciplinary field applied to the seaweed aquaculture is very promising to improve the methods and techniques; this area is developed under the denominated industry 4.0.  Aquaculture consists in the creation or culture of aquatic organisms (in this case, Marine Macroalgae or Seaweeds), through the application of techniques designed to increase the production of these same organisms, in addition to the natural capabilities of the environment
  • 1.5K
  • 06 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Microbiology of Syngas-to-Acetate Fermentation
Biotransformation of lignocellulose-derived synthetic gas (syngas) into acetic acid is a promising way of creating biochemicals from lignocellulosic waste materials. Acetic acid has a growing market with applications within food, plastics and for upgrading into a wide range of biofuels and bio-products. This text described mesophilic and thermophilic microorganisms in axenic and culture that have the capability of syngas-to-acetate conversion, including their metabolic pathway.
  • 1.5K
  • 19 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Functions of Microbial Pigments
Microbial pigments play multiple roles in the ecosystem construction, survival, and fitness of all kinds of organisms. Considerably, microbial (bacteria, fungi, yeast, and microalgae) pigments offer a wide array of food, drug, colorants, dyes, and imaging applications.
  • 1.5K
  • 10 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Bio-Dealcoholization of Wines
The link between viticulture and climate change has become more evident in recent years. The temperature rise has been a crucial factor in the early ripening of grapes, which has resulted in wines with imbalanced acidity, higher alcohol content, and higher pH values. Consumers are seeking high-quality and healthy products, and this trend has extended to wine consumption.
  • 1.5K
  • 09 May 2024
Topic Review
Bionanotechnology in Food Packaging
Bionanotechnology, as a tool for incorporation of biological molecules into nanoartifacts, is gaining more and more importance in the field of food packaging. It offers an advanced expectation of food packaging that can ensure longer shelf life of products and safer packaging with improved food quality and traceability. 
  • 1.5K
  • 19 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Bioproducts from the Microalgae-Bacteria Interaction
In nature, interactions between bacteria and microalgae play an indispensable role in maintaining the integrity of the aquatic ecosystem through networks of interactions such as competition and mutualism. In fact, in the wild, the growth of algae is consistently associated with the growth of other microorganisms, especially bacteria. Axenic culture systems and sterilization of culture media in large-scale production of microalga are not economically feasible. Therefore, the characterization of associated heterotrophs in algae culture systems is an important step since bacteria may use compounds excreted by algae, increasing the availability of trace elements and solubility of nutrients, making them more bioavailable for microalgae. In addition, they can help to reduce the saturation of dissolved O2. In microalgae cultivation, it is well known that dissolved O2 can attain inhibitory levels.
  • 1.5K
  • 25 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Commercial Applications of Chlorella sp. and Spirulina sp.
Microalgae are a large and polyphyletic group of O2-evolving photosynthetic microorganisms, mostly aquatic, comprising prokaryotic cyanobacteria and eukaryotic members. Estimates of the world microalgal production are around 50.000 t/year, Chlorella sp. and Spirulina sp. accounting for more than 90% of the total microalgal biomass production.  These microorganisms have been widely recognized for their nutritional and therapeutic properties; therefore, a significant growth of their market is expected, especially in the nutraceutical, food, and beverage segments.
  • 1.5K
  • 14 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Physical Methods for Biodegradable Polymers
Biodegradable polymers are materials that can decompose through the action of various environmental microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, to form water and carbon dioxide. The biodegradability characteristics have led to a growing demand for the accurate and precise determination of the degraded polymer composition. With the advancements in analytical product development, various analytical methods are available and touted as practical and preferable methods of bioanalytical techniques, which enable the understanding of the complex composition of biopolymers such as polyhydroxyalkanoates and poly(lactic acid).
  • 1.5K
  • 14 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Taraxerol
Taraxerol, an oleanane-type pentacyclic triterpene, is one of the natural compounds that have been investigated extensively for its potential utilization in drug development. It has received major attention for its potential use as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of various diseases. Plants containing taraxerol are Hypericum perforatum, Clitoria ternatea, Mangifera indica, and Strobilanthes crispus.
  • 1.5K
  • 11 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Mitochondrial Transplantation
Mitochondria are the major source of intercellular bioenergy in the form of ATP. They are necessary for cell survival and play many essential roles such as maintaining calcium homeostasis, body temperature, regulation of metabolism and apoptosis.
  • 1.5K
  • 26 May 2021
Topic Review
Antioxidants and Human Oocyte Mitochondrial
Mitochondria produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP) while also generating high amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) derived from oxygen metabolism. ROS are small but highly reactive molecules that can be detrimental if unregulated. While normally functioning mitochondria produce molecules that counteract ROS production, an imbalance between the amount of ROS produced in the mitochondria and the capacity of the cell to counteract them leads to oxidative stress and ultimately to mitochondrial dysfunction. This dysfunction impairs cellular functions through reduced ATP output and/or increased oxidative stress. Mitochondrial dysfunction may also lead to poor oocyte quality and embryo development, ultimately affecting pregnancy outcomes. Improving mitochondrial function through antioxidant supplementation may enhance reproductive performance. Recent studies suggest that antioxidants may treat infertility by restoring mitochondrial function and promoting mitochondrial biogenesis. Antioxidant properties of coenzyme-Q10, resveratrol, melatonin and several vitamins have been evaluated in the human oocyte, although their direct action on mitochondrial function has yet to be elucidated.
  • 1.5K
  • 10 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Hibiscus, Rooibos, Yerba Mate in Glycoxidation and Neurodegeneration
The well-known food safety associated with the consumption of hibiscus, rooibos, or yerba mate, and the acceptance of these herbs linked to pleasant taste, have elicited great interest in defining their nutraceutical potential. These plants produce several bioactive metabolites, have a pleasant taste, and a long-lasting history as safe foods. These plants produce several bioactive metabolites, have a pleasant taste, and a long-lasting history as safe foods. The literature on hibiscus, rooibos, and yerba mate teas in the context of nutritional strategies for the attenuation of oxidative stress-related glycoxidation and neurodegeneration was reviewed, and, here, Alzheimer’s Disease is approached as an example. The focus is given to mechanisms of glycation inhibition, as well as neuroprotective in vitro effects, and, in animal studies, to frame interest in these plants as nutraceutical agents related to current health concerns.
  • 1.5K
  • 23 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Biotechnological Approaches for Production of Artemisinin
Medicinal plants have long been a component of human civilization. Plants are utilized to heal ailments and have saved people from countless pandemics, according to Ayurvedic writings and kindred scriptures. Medicinal plants are high in pharmacologically significant bioactive chemicals that define the plant’s medicinal properties. Artemisinin is one such medicinally important metabolite derived principally from the aerial parts of the medicinal herb Artemisia annua (L.). Artemisinin is a sesquiterpene lactone molecule with an endoperoxide structure that has anti-malarial properties. A. annua is a member of the Asteraceae family that grows in tropical and subtropical climates. The plant is native to China and it is known as qinghao, commonly called sweet annie and worm wood in English. The plant is recorded in ancient Chinese texts as being used to cure fevers
  • 1.5K
  • 30 May 2022
Topic Review
Fungal Cell Factories for Proteins
Filamentous fungi are a large and diverse taxonomically group of microorganisms found in all habitats worldwide. They grow as a network of cells called hyphae. Since filamentous fungi live in very diverse habitats, they produce different enzymes to degrade material for their living, for example hydrolytic enzymes to degrade various kinds of biomasses. Moreover, they produce defense proteins (antimicrobial peptides) and proteins for attaching surfaces (hydrophobins). Many of them are easy to cultivate in different known setups (submerged fermentation and solid-state fermentation) and their secretion of proteins and enzymes are often much larger than what is seen from yeast and bacteria. Therefore, filamentous fungi are in many industries the preferred production hosts of different proteins and enzymes. Edible fungi have traditionally been used as food, such as mushrooms or in fermented foods. New trends are to use edible fungi to produce myco-protein enriched foods. 
  • 1.5K
  • 12 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Spirochetes as Causative Agents of Alzheimer’s Disease
Spirochetes are bacteria that can also form biofilms, and there is increasing evidence regarding infections with specific species. Borrelia burgdorferi, and several species of treponemes are some of the most studied spirochetes regarding Alzheimer’s Disease. Spirochetes were visualized in the neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaques in the brains of individuals with AD, and peptidoglycan was also located near Aβ deposits.
  • 1.5K
  • 06 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Green Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles
Green synthesized cerium oxide nanoparticles (GS-CeO2 NPs) have a unique size, shape, and biofunctional properties and are decorated with potential biocompatible agents to perform various therapeutic actions, such as antimicrobial, anticancer, antidiabetic, and antioxidant effects and drug delivery, by acquiring various mechanistic approaches at the molecular level.
  • 1.5K
  • 02 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Two-Phase Fermentation Systems for Microbial Production of Terpenes
Microbial cell factories, renowned for their economic and environmental benefits, have emerged as a key trend in academic and industrial areas, particularly in the fermentation of natural compounds. Among these, plant-derived terpenes stand out as a significant class of bioactive natural products. The large-scale production of such terpenes, exemplified by artemisinic acid—a crucial precursor to artemisinin—is now feasible through microbial cell factories. In the fermentation of terpenes, two-phase fermentation technology has been widely applied due to its unique advantages. It facilitates in situ product extraction or adsorption, effectively mitigating the detrimental impact of product accumulation on microbial cells, thereby significantly bolstering the efficiency of microbial production of plant-derived terpenes. 
  • 1.5K
  • 02 Apr 2024
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