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Topic Review
Synechocystis sp.: A Model Microorganism
Synechocystis sp. is a unicellular, spherical, non-nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium with 0.7–8 µm in diameter and no or fine and colorless mucilage layer . The cell envelop of Synechocystis sp. contains the outer membrane, a peptidoglycan layer, and cytoplasmic membrane. The thylakoid membranes, derived from the cytoplasmic membrane, cover the peripheral region of the cell . From cyanobacteria to higher plants, thylakoid membranes are the site of photosynthesis converged near the cytoplasmic membrane. Thylakoid centers, fibrous coated cylindrical structures, 40–50 nm in diameter and 50–1000 nm in length, establish and maintain thylakoid membrane organization
  • 2.4K
  • 15 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Anthocyanins and Vibrant Color Pigments
Anthocyanins are water-soluble vacuolar pigments that occur ubiquitously in the plant kingdom, and they are widely distributed in fruits and vegetables as glycosides, having different sugars, such as glucose, rhamnose, xylose or arabinose, attached to an aglycon nucleus. Till now have been shown to have antioxidant properties in vitro and in vivo.  This work aim to provide an up-to-date overview regarding anthocyanins as functional molecules and their chemopreventive effects on melanoma in vitro and in vivo as well as a comprehensive description of major sources of anthocyanins. Until today, numerous studies evaluated the topic of anthocyanins and various types of cancer, regarding the anthocyanins’ preventative and inhibitory effects, underlying molecular mechanisms, and such. However, there is no targeted review available regarding the anticarcinogenic effects of dietary anthocyanins on skin cancers. If diagnosed at the early stages, the survival rate of skin cancer is quite high. Nevertheless, the metastatic form has a short prognosis. In fact, the incidence of melanoma skin cancer, the type with high mortality, has increased exponentially over the last 30 years, causing the majority of skin cancer deaths. Malignant melanoma is considered a highly destructive type of skin cancer due to its particular capacity to grow and spread faster than any other type of cancers. Plants, in general, have been used in disease treatment for a long time, and medicinal plants are commonly a part of anticancer drugs on the market.
  • 2.3K
  • 23 Sep 2020
Topic Review
Non-Enzymatic Electrochemical Sensing
Simultaneous detection of analytes that together exist in biological organisms necessitates the development of effective and efficient non enzymatic electrodes in sensing. In this regard, development of sensing elements for detecting glucose and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is significant. The non-enzymatic sensing is more economical and has longer lifetime than enzymatic electrochemical sensing, but it has several drawbacks such as high working potential, slow electrode kinetics, poisoning from intermediate species and weak sensing parameters. Here is a comprehensive overview of the recent developments in non-enzymatic glucose and H2O2 (NEGH) sensing, by focusing mainly on sensing performance, electro catalytic mechanism, morphology and design of electrode materials. A comparison of glucose and H2O2 sensing parameters using same electrode materials is outlined to predict the efficient sensing performances of advanced nanomaterials with metal/metal oxides and hybrid metallic nanocomposites.
  • 2.3K
  • 24 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Palm Oil Mill Effluent
Palm oil mill effluent (POME) requires treatment prior to discharge to the environment. Biological processing technology is highly preferable due to its advantages of environmentally friendliness, cost effectiveness, and practicality. These methods utilized various designs and modifications of bioreactors fostering effective fermentation technology in the presence of fungi, bacteria, microalgae, and a consortium of microorganisms.
  • 2.3K
  • 14 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Serratiopeptidase
Microbial products have been used for the treatment of different diseases for many centuries. The serratiopeptidase enzyme provides a new hope for COVID-19-infected patients. Anti-inflammatory drugs are easy to obtain at minimal expenditure from microbial sources. Serratia sp. is identified as one of the most efficient bacteria produced from serratiopeptidase. Screening for new and efficient bacterial strains from different sources has been of interest. Serratiopeptidase remains the most well-known anti-inflammatory drug of choice. Serratiopeptidase is a cheaper and safer anti-inflammatory drug alternative to NSAIDs.
  • 2.2K
  • 01 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Filamentous Bacteriophage Delivery System
Bacteriophages are a powerful platform with outstanding potential in the biomedical and chemical engineering field that have been exploited for diverse applications including theranostics, batteries, drug delivery, and vaccine development. Filamentous bacteriophages are single-strand DNA virions belonging to the Inoviridae family, a sub-group of non-lytic, rod-like shaped Escherichia coli viruses with a repeated and ordered capsid structure, and that includes phages f1, fd, and M13. Fd filamentous bacteriophage is a bio nano-fiber with a modifiable surface that is a promising vehicle for antigen expression.
  • 2.2K
  • 30 Oct 2020
Topic Review
2-Phenylethanol
2-Phenylethanol (2-PE), also known as 2-phenethyl alcohol, is a higher aromatic alcohol characterized by one of the most popular and desired fragrances, which is the rosy scent.
  • 2.2K
  • 13 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Helichrysum arenarium
Helichrysum arenarium (L.) Moench, belonging to the Asteraceae family, is known in traditional medicine for its diuretic, choleretic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Helichrysum arenarium (sandy everlasting) is a source of active pharmacological compounds used in complementary medicine to prevent digestive and hepatobiliary illnesses. 
  • 2.2K
  • 21 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Nanotechnology in Horticultural Crops
Nanotechnology shows high potential in the improvement of agricultural productivity thus aiding future food security. In horticulture, maintaining quality as well as limiting the spoilage of harvested fruit and vegetables is a very challenging task. Various kinds of nanomaterials have shown high potential for increasing productivity, enhancing shelf-life, reducing post-harvest damage and improving the quality of horticultural crops. Antimicrobial nanomaterials as nanofilm on harvested products and/or on packaging materials are suitable for the storage and transportation of vegetables and fruits. Nanomaterials also increase the vitality of the cut flower. Nanofertilizers are target-specific, slow releasing and highly efficient in increasing vegetative growth, pollination and fertility in flowers, resulting in increased yield and improved product quality for fruit trees and vegetables. Formulated nanopesticides are target-specific, eco-friendly and highly efficient. Nanosensors facilitate up-to-date monitoring of growth, plant disease, and pest attack in crop plants under field conditions. These novel sensors are used to precisely identify the soil moisture, humidity, population of crop pests, pesticide residues and figure out nutrient requirements.  
  • 2.2K
  • 08 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Secondary Metabolite Production by Cyanobacteria
Cyanobacteria are naturally capable of producing valuable secondary metabolites through photosynthesis. These photosynthetic bacteria can be further improved via engineering to produce more in terms of diversity and yield. Recent advances in systems and synthetic biology approaches are being adopted in the cyanobacterial engineering field to push the industrial capabilities even further.
  • 2.1K
  • 11 Dec 2020
Topic Review
L-Asparaginase
l-Asparaginase (ASNase, EC 3.5.1.1) is a tetrameric aminohydrolase enzyme that catalyses the hydrolysis of the amino acid L-Asparagine into ammonia and L-aspartic acid. ASNase is present in different organisms such as bacteria, fungi, plant tissues and algae. ASNase is used in the pharmaceutical field as an anticancer drug for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and other malignant diseases such as Hodgkin’s disease. In the food sector, ASNase is used to prevent the formation of acrylamide, a toxic compound formed when starch-rich foods are cooked at temperatures above 100 °C. ASNase can also be used as a biosensor for the detection of L-asparagine levels.
  • 2.1K
  • 21 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Bioferments
Bioferments are innovative ingredients extracted from natural raw materials by carrying out a fermentation process with appropriate strains of microorganisms. Mainly bioferments are made from plant-based raw materials. The spectrum of applications for bioferments is broad and includes properties such as skin whitening, antioxidant properties (blackberry, soybean, goji berry), anti-aging (red ginseng, black ginseng, Citrus unshiu peel), hydrating, and anti-allergic (aloe vera, skimmed milk).
  • 2.0K
  • 04 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Biodegradation of Polyethylene Terephthalate
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a widely used plastic that is polymerized by terephthalic acid (TPA) and ethylene glycol (EG).
  • 2.0K
  • 30 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Metschnikowia pulcherrima
Yeasts affiliated with the Metschnikowia pulcherrima clade (subclade) of the large ascomycetous genus Metschnikowia frequently turn out to produce the characteristic maroon-red pulcherrimin when tested for pigment production and prove to exert antagonistic effects on many types of microorganisms. The determination of the exact taxonomic position of the strains is hampered by the shortage of distinctive morphological and physiological properties of the species of the clade and the lack of rDNA barcode gaps. The rDNA repeats of the type strains of the species are not homogenized and are assumed to evolve by a birth-and-death mechanism combined with reticulation. The taxonomic division is further hampered by the incomplete biological (reproductive) isolation of the species: certain type strains can be hybridized and genome sequencing revealed chimeric genome structures in certain strains that might have evolved from interspecies hybrids (alloploid genome duplication). Various mechanisms have been proposed for the antimicrobial antagonism. One is related to pulcherrimin production. The diffusible precursor of pulcherrimin, the pulcherriminic acid is secreted by the cells into the environment where it forms the insoluble pulcherrimin with the ferric ions. The lack of free iron caused by the immobilization of ferric ions inhibits the growth of many microorganisms.
  • 2.0K
  • 15 Jul 2020
Topic Review
Bioremediation of Heavy Metals by Microorganisms
Heavy metal pollution is a major environmental problem because metal ions persist in the environment due to their non-degradable nature. The toxicity and bioaccumulation tendency of heavy metals in the environment is a serious threat to the health of living organisms. Unlike organic contaminants, chemical or biological processes cannot break down heavy metals. Hence, they can only be transformed into less toxic species.
  • 2.0K
  • 10 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Coffee and Yeasts
Coffee is one of the most consumed beverages in the world, and its popularity has prompted the necessity to constantly increase the variety and improve the characteristics of coffee as a general commodity. The popularity of coffee as a staple drink has also brought undesired side effects, coffee production, processing and consumption are all accompanied by impressive quantities of coffee-related wastes which can be a threat to the environment. In this review, we integrated the main studies on fermentative yeasts used in coffee-related industries with an emphasis on two different directions: (1) the role of yeast strains in the postharvest processing of coffee, the possibilities to use them as starting cultures for controlled fermentation and their impact on the sensorial quality of processed coffee, and (2) the potential to use yeasts to capitalize on coffee wastes - especially spent coffee grounds—in the form of eco-friendly biomass, biofuel or fine chemical production.
  • 2.0K
  • 07 Feb 2021
Topic Review
CAR-T Cells in Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer has the worst prognosis and lowest survival rate among all types of cancers and thus, there exists a strong need for novel therapeutic strategies. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T cells present a new potential option after successful FDA-approval in hematologic malignancies, however, current CAR T cell clinical trials in pancreatic cancer failed to improve survival and were unable to demonstrate any significant response. The physical and environmental barriers created by the distinct tumor microenvironment (TME) as a result of the desmoplastic reaction in pancreatic cancer present major hurdles for CAR T cells as a viable therapeutic option in this tumor entity. Cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts express extracellular matrix molecules, enzymes, and growth factors, which can attenuate CAR T cell infiltration and efficacy. Recent efforts demonstrate a niche shift where targeting the TME along CAR T cell therapy is believed or hoped to provide a substantial clinical added value to improve overall survival.
  • 1.9K
  • 16 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Cell Lines from Strawberry Fruits
Fleshy fruits are crucial in a healthy human diet but highly perishable due to their delicate texture at full ripe stage. Tomato and strawberry are leading crops which belongs to this fleshy fruit category, as well as models for ripening of climacteric and non-climateric fruits, respectively. In this regard, cell cultures derived from strawberry fruit at different developmental stages have been obtained to evaluate their potential use to study different aspects of strawberry ripening. Callus from leaf and cortical tissue of unripe-green, white, and mature-red strawberry fruits were induced in a medium supplemented with 11.3 M 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) under darkness. This 2,4-D chemical reagent is an herbicide which mimics the action of the natural plant hormone auxin, widely used in plant cell culture. The transfer of the established callus from darkness to light induced the production of anthocyanin. The replacement of 2,4-D by abscisic acid (ABA) noticeably increased anthocyanin accumulation in green-fruit callus. Cell walls were isolated from the different fruit cell lines and from fruit receptacles at equivalent developmental stages and sequentially fractionated to obtain fractions enriched in soluble pectins, ester bound pectins, xyloglucans (XG), and matrix glycans tightly associated with cellulose microfibrils. These fractions were analyzed by cell wall carbohydrate microarrays. In fruit receptacle samples, pectins were abundant in all fractions, including those enriched in matrix glycans. The amount of pectin increased from green to white stage, and later these carbohydrates were solubilized in red fruit. Apparently, XG content was similar in white and red fruit, but the proportion of galactosylated XG increased in red fruit. Cell wall fractions from callus cultures were enriched in extensin and displayed a minor amount of pectins. Stronger signals of extensin antibodies were detected in sodium carbonate fraction, suggesting that these proteins could be linked to pectins. Overall, the results obtained suggest that fruit cell lines could be used to analyze hormonal regulation of color development in strawberry but that the cell wall remodelling process associated with fruit softening might be masked by the high presence of extensin in callus cultures.
  • 1.9K
  • 24 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Marine Microalgae for lutein
Marine microalgae are a group of microscopic photosynthetic organisms with a much faster growth rate compared to land plants. They represent a significant reservoir of bioactive compounds, nutritional ingredients, and commercial commodities for the benefit of mankind. One such bioactive compound is the carotenoid lutein, which marine microalgae biosynthesises as their accessory light-harvesting pigment. Lutein is one of the dietary requirements for humans that provides several health benefits including aiding in the prevention of macular degenerative disease, reducing the risk of stroke, heart attack, and mitigation against other metabolic syndromes. Lutein is particularly known to help to maintain the normal visual function by absorbing and attenuating the blue lights that strike the retina in our eyes. Therefore, lutein is becoming a popular bioactive compound as a dietary supplement especially nowadays due to the excessive use of electronic devices and also due to insufficient dietary lutein consumption through our normal diet. Marigold flowers are currently the predominant natural source of lutein, while marine microalgae can be a competitive sustainable alternative. Moreover, microalgae have more free lutein than marigold flowers, which is preferable since it is easily absorbed compared to the esterified forms found in marigold. Although carotenoids astaxanthin and β-carotene are currently commercially produced from specific microalgae, marine microalgae are still waiting for their commercial exploration for the production of lutein.
  • 1.9K
  • 20 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Crop Domestication
In agriculture, domestication is the process of a selection of the best trait with increased adaptation or acclimatization of the plant. Driven by human activities, the domestication of plants has dramatically changed the development of the ecological condition. Domestication is the outcome of both phenotypic and genomics changes of a species conferred with classical plant breeding. Gradually, a wild plant changed to an elite high yielding cultivar. Domestication of orphan or underutilized crop plants using recently developed frontier technologies such as genome editing based on current and emerging knowledge generated by genomics and postgenomics approaches are thought to be one of the promising ways for the improvement of the smart crop for the future smart agriculture
  • 1.9K
  • 22 Dec 2020
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