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Topic Review
Fast Prototyping Microfluidics
Microfluidic (MF) advancements have been leveraged toward the development of state-of-the-art platforms for molecular diagnostics, where isothermal amplification schemes allow for further simplification of DNA detection and quantification protocols. The MF integration with loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is today the focus of a new generation of chip-based devices for molecular detection, aiming at fast and automated nucleic acid analysis. Here, we combined MF with droplet digital LAMP (ddLAMP) on an all-in-one device that allows for droplet generation, target amplification, and absolute quantification. This multilayer 3D chip was developed in less than 30 minutes by using a low-cost and extremely adaptable production process that exploits direct laser writing technology in “Shrinky-dinks” polystyrene sheets. ddLAMP and target quantification were performed directly on-chip, showing a high correlation between target concentration and positive droplet score. We validated this integrated chip via the amplification of targets ranging from five to 500,000 copies/reaction. Furthermore, on-chip amplification was performed in a 10 µL volume, attaining a limit of detection of five copies/µL under 60 min. This technology was applied to quantify a cancer biomarker, c-MYC, but it can be further extended to any other disease biomarker.
  • 738
  • 25 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Characteristics of Skin Microbiome in Selected Dermatological Conditions
The skin is the largest and outermost organ of the human body. The microbial diversity of the skin can be influenced by several variable factors such as physiological state, lifestyle, and geographical locations. There are increased interest in research aiming at an improved understanding of the relationship between the human microbiota and several diseases. Albeit understudied, interesting correlations between the skin microbiota and several dermatological conditions have been observed. Studies have shown that a decrease or increase in the abundance of certain microbial communities can be implicated in several dermatological pathologies.
  • 733
  • 29 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Nanoparticle Formulation and pH-Responsive Release Mechanism
Dental caries is a common and costly multifactorial biofilm disease caused by cariogenic bacteria that ferment carbohydrates to lactic acid, demineralizing the inorganic component of teeth. Therefore, low pH (pH 4.5) is a characteristic signal of the localised carious environment, compared to a healthy oral pH range (6.8 to 7.4). The development of pH-responsive delivery systems that release antibacterial agents in response to low pH has gained attention as a targeted therapy for dental caries. Release is triggered by high levels of acidogenic species and their reduction may select for the establishment of health-associated biofilm communities. 
  • 728
  • 17 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Therapeutic Vaccines for Human Papillomavirus-Associated Malignancies
Prophylactic vaccines against human papillomavirus (HPV) have proven efficacy in those who have not been infected by the virus. As for therapeutic vaccines, they require the differentiated modulation of the immune system as both chronic infections and cancers are associated with specific immunosuppression and impairment of the immune surveillance system.
  • 727
  • 23 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Modified Bacteriophage for Tumor Detection and Targeted Therapy
Tumor-targeted therapy is an effective method for treating tumors, and is also a focus of current tumor treatment. Due to the maturity of phage modification technology, it is now convenient, safe, and efficient to modify novel molecules on phages for targeting tumor cells or tissues. This technology has been widely used in finding new tumor-targeting molecules and in the delivery of drugs through a targeted strategy. Since the size of the phages is only nanometers long, they can cross biological barriers such as the low vascular fibrosis barrier. Due to the high surface area to volume ratio, phages can effectively carry drugs for tumor treatment compared with large molecule chemotherapeutic agents. The modified phages, as drug carriers, allow for specific targeting tumor cells while sparing normal cells. By targeting tumor cells through phage display technology, the piggybacked drug enters the cells through endocytosis and it kills or inhibits the tumor cells. It also facilitates precise treatment with less side effects, avoiding high doses of drugs and reduces tumor recurrence. Using modified phages for tumor treatment is a cost-effective and less time-consuming method. 
  • 726
  • 15 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Bacterial Volatile Organic Compounds in Root-Knot Nematodes Control
Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) constitute the most damaging group of plant pathogens. Plant infections by root-knot nematodes (RKNs) alone could cause approximately 5% of global crop loss. Nematodes in soil are exposed to a diversity of microorganisms, of which nematophagous bacteria and fungi represent the most promising candidates to control RKNs. Bacterial species of a range of genera, such as Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Pasteuria, were observed to exhibit antagonistic activity against RKNs, while the fungi that were detrimental to RKNs were commonly isolated from the phylum Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Zygomycota, and Chytridiomycota. With regard to microbial metabolites, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have attracted research attention in recent years due to their efficacy in killing RKNs. Additionally, the application of VOCs in agricultural practice could be both economically affordable and less toxic to humans than conventional nematicides.
  • 723
  • 12 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Lab-on-a-Chip Electrochemical Biosensors for Foodborne Pathogen Detection
Foodborne pathogens are an important diagnostic target for the food, beverage, and health care industries due to their prevalence and the adverse effects they can cause to public health, food safety, and the economy. The standards that determine whether a given type of food is fit for consumption are set by governments and must be taken into account when designing a new diagnostic tool such as a biosensor platform. In order to meet these stringent detection limits, cost, and reliability standards, recent research has been focused on developing lab-on-a-chip-based approaches for detection devices that use microfluidic channels and platforms. The microfluidics-based devices are designed, developed, and used in different ways to achieve the established common standards for food pathogen testing that enable high throughput, rapid detection, low sample volume, and minimal pretreatment procedures. Combining microfluidic approaches with electrochemical biosensing could offer affordable, portable, and easy to use devices for food pathogen diagnostics.
  • 723
  • 13 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Multidirectional Action of Oligo in Plants
Oligo technology is a low-cost and easy-to-implement method for direct manipulation of gene activity. The major advantage of this method is that gene expression can be changed without requiring stable transformation. Oligo technology is mainly used for animal cells. However, the use of oligos in plants seems to be even easier. The oligo effect could be similar to that induced by endogenous miRNAs.
  • 721
  • 17 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Applications of Chitosan Derivatives
Chitosan has received much attention for its role in designing and developing novel derivatives as well as its applications across a broad spectrum of biological and physiological activities, owing to its desirable characteristics such as being biodegradable, being a biopolymer, and its overall eco-friendliness.
  • 721
  • 27 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Sustainable Postharvest Preservation of Berry Fruits
Berries are highly perishable and susceptible to spoilage, resulting in significant food and economic losses. The use of chemicals in traditional postharvest protection techniques can harm both human health and the environment. Consequently, there is an increasing interest in creating environmentally friendly solutions for postharvest protection.
  • 720
  • 30 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Heterologous Production of Type II Aromatic Polyketides
Polyketides are a diverse set of natural products with versatile applications as pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics, to name a few. Of several types of polyketides, aromatic polyketides comprising type II and III polyketides contain many chemicals important for human health such as antibiotics and anticancer agents. Most aromatic polyketides are produced from soil bacteria or plants, which are difficult to engineer and grow slowly in industrial settings. 
  • 719
  • 09 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Isolates and Products for Biocontrol of Multiple Targets
Biological control is an important process for sustainable plant production, and this trait is found in many plant-associated microbes. Bacteria with multiple biocontrol potential include genera classified as Gram-positive cells, such as the firmicutes Bacillus, Paenibacillus, and Brevibacillus; actinomycetes such as Streptomycete isolates; and Gram-negative isolates, including Pseudomonas, Photorhabdus, and Serratia. For commercial formulation, Gram-positive isolates that sporulate are advantageous because the spores have an extended longevity over vegetative cells. Common habitats for these genera are soils. Many are documented to colonize root tissues, to which they are attracted by chemotaxis towards the gradient of plant root exudates. Certain isolates display very specific habitats, such as the symbiosis of Photorhabdus luminescens with entomopathogenic nematodes. Biocontrol-active metabolites are diverse but can be classified based on their structural similarity; for example, peptide toxins are implicated in insect and nematode control. Indeed, the most commercially relevant are the toxins produced by Bacillus thuringiensis, collectively termed BT toxins, which function by generating holes in the membranes of the insect’s digestive tract. Fit proteins from the fit genes in the genomes of certain pseudomonads and the related Mcf toxins from Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus that induce membrane disorganization also contribute to insecticidal activity. The lipopeptide group impacts membrane structures through their surfactant activity. Phenolics such as the phenazine group may cause oxidative stress in the target leading to cell death, and some may act as iron chelators.
  • 709
  • 09 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Immunomodulation, Bioavailability and Safety of Bacteriocins
Bacteriocins can help in the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases. Moreover, bacteriocins can be obtained in prokaryotic organisms, and contribute s to their widespread use. While the use of bacteriocins is currently limited to the food industry (for example, nisin is used as a preservative, E234), a large number of studies on their microbicidal properties suggest that their use in medicine may increase in the foreseeable future. However, for the successful use of bacteriocins in medicine, it is necessary to understand their effect on the immune system, especially in cases where immunity is weakened due to infectious processes, oncological, allergic, or autoimmune diseases. Studies on the immuno-modulatory activity of bacteriocins in animal models and human cells have revealed their ability to induce both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors involved in the implementation of innate immunity. The influence of bacteriocins on acquired immunity is revealed by an increase in the number of T-lymphocytes with a simultaneous decrease in B-lymphocyte levels, which makes them attractive substances for reducing inflammation. The widespread use of bacteriocins in the food industry, their low toxicity, and their broad and narrow specificity are reasons for researchers to pay attention to their immunomodulatory properties and explore their medical applications. Inflammation regulation by bacteriocins can be used in the treatment of various pathologies.
  • 704
  • 24 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2-Based Biosensing Modalities
Rapid and cost-effective diagnostic tests for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are a critical and valuable weapon for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic response. SARS-CoV-2 invasion is primarily mediated by human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2). Recent developments in ACE2-based SARS-CoV-2 detection modalities accentuate the potential of this natural host-virus interaction for developing point-of-care (POC) COVID-19 diagnostic systems.
  • 700
  • 24 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Cyanobacteria and Microalgae-Based Biostimulants
Significant progress has been achieved in the use of biostimulants in sustainable agricultural practices. These new products can improve plant growth, nutrient uptake, crop yield and quality, stress adaptation and soil fertility, while reducing agriculture’s environmental footprint. Although it is an emerging market, the biostimulant sector is very promising, hence the increasing attention of the scientific community and agro-industry stakeholders in finding new sources of plant biostimulants. Pro- and eucaryotic microalgae have gained prominence and can be exploited as biostimulants due to their ability to produce high-value-added metabolites. Several works revealed the potential of microalgae- and cyanobacteria-based biostimulants (MCBs) as plant growth promoters and stress alleviators, as well as encouraging results pointing out that their use can address current and future agricultural challenges.
  • 698
  • 10 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Discovery and Optimization of Streptomyces Secondary Metabolite Production
Actinobacteria from the genus Streptomyces feature complex primary and secondary metabolism, developmental cycle, and ability to produce a variety of natural products. These soil bacteria are major producers of antibiotics and other bioactive compounds and have been extensively investigated due to the medical and industrial relevance of Streptomyces-derived secondary metabolites.
  • 696
  • 24 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Microbial Secondary Metabolism and Biotechnology
Microbial secondary metabolites, now named as specialized metabolites, often have unusual structures and many have demonstrated major effects on the health, nutrition and economics of our society.
  • 693
  • 10 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Importance of Lignocellulose in High-Value Product Production
Lignocellulose consists of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin and is a sustainable feedstock for a biorefinery to generate marketable biomaterials like biofuels and platform chemicals. Enormous tons of lignocellulose are obtained from agricultural waste, but a few tons are utilized due to a lack of awareness of the biotechnological importance of lignocellulose. Underutilizing lignocellulose could also be linked to the incomplete use of cellulose and hemicellulose in biotransformation into new products. Utilizing lignocellulose in producing value-added products alleviates agricultural waste disposal management challenges. It also reduces the emission of toxic substances into the environment, which promotes a sustainable development goal and contributes to circular economy development and economic growth.
  • 693
  • 19 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Lung Microbiome in Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a multisystemic disease caused by a defect in the production, folding, or function of the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein.
  • 691
  • 18 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Loops around Heme Pocket influence Bacillus subtilis's BsDyP
Bacillus subtilis BsDyP belongs to class I of the enzyme's dye-decolorizing peroxidase (DyP) family. It is an interesting biocatalyst due to its high redox potential, broad substrate spectrum, and thermostability. The engineering of the enzyme towards improved activity for phenolics revealed that loops close to the heme pocket could be modulated for tuning catalytic and stability DyP properties.
  • 688
  • 27 Feb 2023
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