Topic Review
Agricultural Bioinputs Obtained by Solid-State Fermentation
Agriculture plays a major role on society, especially in developing countries which rely on commodity exportation markets. To maintain high crop productivity, the use of agrochemicals was once employed as the main strategy, which in turn affected soil, water, and human health. In order to aid this issue, identifying some alternatives, such as the implementation of biofertilizers and inoculants as bioinputs in modern agriculture, are imperative to improve ecosystem quality. Among these bioinputs, a few bioproducts have shown good performances, such as phytohormones (e.g., auxins and giberellins), biosurfactants, and other enzymes; thus, it is extremely important to assure the quality and feasibility of their production in biorefinery scenarios. These bioproducts can be synthesized through fermentation processes through utilizing plant biomasses and agricultural byproducts as carbon sources. In this sense, to increase the tecno-economical availability of these processes, the implementation of solid-state fermentation (SSF) has shown great potential due to its ease of operation and cost-attractiveness.
  • 132
  • 01 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Beneficial Soil Microbiomes in Plant Growth
The soil microbiome plays an important role in maintaining soil health, plant productivity, and soil ecosystem services. Molecular-based studies have shed light on the fact that the soil microbiome has been quantitatively underestimated. In addition to metagenomic studies, metaproteomics and metatranscriptomic studies that target the functional part of the microbiome are becoming more common. These are important for a better understanding of the functional role of the microbiome and for deciphering plant-microbe interactions. Free-living beneficial bacteria that promote plant growth by colonizing plant roots are called plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs). They exert their beneficial effects in different ways, either by facilitating the uptake of nutrients and synthesizing particular compounds for plants or by preventing and protecting plants from diseases.
  • 130
  • 29 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Targeted Drug-Delivery Systems with Aptamers
The field of drug delivery has witnessed remarkable progress, driven by the quest for more effective and precise therapeutic interventions. Among the myriad strategies employed, the integration of aptamers as targeting moieties and stimuli-responsive systems has emerged as a promising avenue, particularly in the context of anticancer therapy. The conventional chemotherapy paradigm often suffers from systemic toxicity, as potent cytotoxic agents are indiscriminately delivered throughout the body, causing adverse effects on healthy tissues. To address this limitation, the integration of smart targeting mechanisms has gained prominence. Within this paradigm, aptamers, short nucleic acid sequences with a unique ability to bind specifically to target molecules, have emerged as valuable targeting ligands. Aptamers share similarities with antibodies as they exhibit a high affinity for specific targets, making them a focus of research in disease-targeted therapy owing to their remarkable selectivity. Regarded as promising therapeutic agents, aptamers possess attributes such as non-immunogenicity, high specificity, and stability.
  • 159
  • 24 Jan 2024
Topic Review
The Bioproduction of L-Cysteine
L-cysteine is a proteogenic amino acid with many applications in the pharmaceutical, food, animal feed, and cosmetic industries. Due to safety and environmental issues in extracting L-cysteine from animal hair and feathers, the fermentative production of L-cysteine offers an attractive alternative using renewable feedstocks. 
  • 82
  • 23 Jan 2024
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.
  • 102
  • 19 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Pichia pastoris Strains as Powerful Cell Factories
Pichia pastoris is the most widely used microorganism for the production of secreted industrial proteins and therapeutic proteins. This yeast has been repurposed as a cell factory for the production of chemicals and natural products. 
  • 72
  • 19 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Applications of Bacillus subtilis Spores
Bacillus subtilis spores offer several advantages that make them attractive for protein display. They can be used in a wide array of biotechnological and industrial applications such as vaccines, bioabsorbants to remove toxic chemicals, whole-cell catalysts, bioremediation, and biosensors. Lastly, spores are easily produced in large quantities, have a good safety record, and can be used as additives in foods and drugs.
  • 64
  • 18 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Seaweed Diversity and Bioactive Compounds
Seaweed, a miscellaneous group of marine algae, has long been recognized for its rich nutritional composition and bioactive compounds, being considered nutraceutical ingredient. Seaweeds are abundant sources of essential vitamins, minerals, polysaccharides, polyphenols, and unique secondary metabolites, which reveal a wide range of biological activities. These bioactive compounds possess potential therapeutic properties, making them intriguing candidates for drug leads in various medical applications and pharmaceutical drug development.
  • 198
  • 18 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Cyanobacteria as a Biocatalyst for Biofuel Production
Photosynthetic microorganisms such as algae and cyanobacteria exhibit significant potential as third-generation biofuel catalysts, devoid of the limitations associated with contemporary biofuels. Cyanobacteria, a type of photosynthetic prokaryotes, exhibit significant potential for the direct conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) into biofuels, chemicals, and various other valuable compounds. There has been a growing interest in the concept of utilising biological processes to convert carbon dioxide into fuels and chemicals.
  • 68
  • 18 Jan 2024
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.
  • 76
  • 17 Jan 2024
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