This study investigates the enzymatic degradation of hydroquinone, a model phenolic pollutant, using free and immobilized Pleurotus ostreatus ARC280 laccase. Initial one-factor-at-a-time experiments identified optimal single parameters: pH 7.0, 0.153 U enzyme, 100 µg substrate, and 50 °C. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was subsequently employed for multivariate optimization, refining these values to pH 6.84, 0.184 U laccase, 150 µg hydroquinone, and 35 °C for maximum degradation efficiency. The immobilized laccase demonstrated superior operational stability and reusability, retaining significant activity across multiple catalytic cycles. These results underscore the efficacy of both free and immobilized laccase as robust, sustainable biocatalysts. The study concludes that immobilized Pl. ostreatus laccase is a highly promising candidate for developing innovative and eco-friendly bioremediation strategies for phenolic pollutants.
Bacterial ligninolytic enzymes demonstrate high stability and catalytic efficiency across a wide range of environmental conditions, with production strongly influenced by strain-specific and process parameters. Enzyme yields vary significantly depending on the fermentation strategy, with solid-state fermentation (SSF) consistently producing higher activities than submerged fermentation (SmF) due to enhanced substrate-microbe interactions and stronger induction by lignocellulosic materials. In contrast, SmF provides improved control over pH, temperature, and aeration, enabling greater process reproducibility and scalability despite comparatively lower enzyme yields. Comparative analysis further indicates that enzyme production is highly strain-dependent and influenced by environmental parameters, including pH, temperature, substrate type, and incubation time. Among bacterial genera, Bacillus, Streptomyces, Acinetobacter, and Micrococcus exhibit consistently high enzyme production, with certain strains showing significantly elevated manganese peroxidase (MnP) and lignin peroxidase (LiP) activities under optimized conditions. Xenobiotic compounds, including synthetic dyes, pesticides, and Maillard reaction products, act as both substrates and inducers, stimulating enzyme production through oxidative stress-mediated pathways. Reactive oxygen species generated during pollutant exposure enhance the expression of bacterial ligninolytic enzymes, while structural similarities between xenobiotics and lignin-derived compounds facilitate their degradation. Sequential enzyme activity is observed, with MnP initiating early-stage oxidation followed by laccase-mediated transformation, indicating synergistic degradation mechanisms. Bacterial ligninolytic enzymes achieve degradation efficiencies exceeding 90% for a wide range of pollutants, including dyes, pesticides, and plastic-associated compounds. Spectroscopic and chromatographic analyses (UV-Vis, FT-IR, GC-MS, and LC-MS) confirm the conversion of complex aromatic compounds into simpler, less toxic intermediates. The integration of advanced omics-based approaches, including metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and metaproteomics, is increasingly recognized as a powerful strategy for the discovery and functional characterization of novel ligninolytic bacteria and their enzymes. These findings demonstrate that bacterial ligninolytic enzymes are efficient and robust systems for pollutant degradation and lignin valorization, with strong potential for large-scale biotechnological applications. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-026-04859-z.
Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease driven by dysbiosis of the oral microbiome and is associated with both oral and systemic complications. Key pathogens from the red and orange complexes, along with Chlamydia pneumoniae, contribute significantly to disease progression and related systemic disorders. In this study, emerging biotechnological approaches, including immunoinformatics-driven vaccine design, were employed to develop a multi-epitope vaccine candidate (MEVC) targeting these polymicrobial infections. The MEVC was constructed using 13 B-cell epitopes, 15 cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes, and 14 helper T lymphocyte (HTL) epitopes identified through experimental evidence and computational prediction. Immunostimulatory linkers and cholera toxin subunit B were incorporated as an adjuvant to enhance immunogenicity. Molecular docking demonstrated strong binding affinities between T-cell epitopes and HLA alleles. Physicochemical analysis indicated that the MEVC is stable, soluble, and exhibits a favourable half-life across biological systems. The construct ws predicted to be antigenic, non-allergenic, and host-compatible. Population coverage analysis of the selected HLA alleles indicated broad global applicability. The tertiary structure of the MEVC was modelled, refined, and docked with TLR2. HADDOCK 2.4 server yielded a binding score of - 196.2 ± 0.0, while PRODIGY predicted a binding affinity of - 13.2 kcal/mol for the MEVC-TLR2 complex. Codon optimization and in silico cloning into the pET-28(+) vector confirmed suitability for expression in Escherichia coli. Molecular dynamics simulations indicated stability of the MEVC-TLR2 complex, while immune simulations predicted strong humoral and cellular responses with sustained IgG, IFN-γ, and IL-2 production upon injection of MEVC into the host. Overall, the MEVC represents a promising therapeutic candidate warranting further experimental validation. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-026-04958-x.
Medicine-Food Homology (MFH) substances are originated from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with the dual attributes as daily foodstuffs and therapeutic agents. Traditional processing for MFH substances usually includes slicing, stir-frying, steaming and boiling, and often results in low bioavailability due to poor solubility, instability in digestion, and inefficient absorption. Probiotic-mediated fermentation has emerged as a promising biotechnological approach to substantially overcome these bottlenecks and further unlock the functional potential of MFH substances. The present review aimed to introduce a background and theory basis of MFHs, provide an up-to-date summary of characteristic bioactive constituents including polysaccharides, polyphenols and flavonoids, and comprehensively elaborate the regulation strategies and underlying mechanisms of probiotic-fermented MFH systems. The new perspectives on regulating and developing probiotic-fermented MFH products were also proposed. The outputs hopefully present a reasonable full framework to elucidate the functions and mechanisms for their application in next-generation personalized nutritional MFH products by probiotic fermentation.
Optimizing crop production under shifting climate baselines requires transitioning from empirical fertilization to molecularly informed, precision nutrient management. While traditional agronomy evaluates fertilizer efficacy via macroscopic morpho-physiological traits, the underlying sub-cellular mechanisms remain poorly integrated into field practices. This review synthesizes the comparative crop proteomic landscapes shaped by synthetic versus organic fertilization regimes. We map how chemical inputs trigger localized nutrient "foraging" and metabolic surges, contrasting with organic amendments that function as complex phytoactivators stabilizing photosynthetic centers, priming antioxidant defences, and inducing systemic resistance through rhizosphere-microbiome cross-talk. Crucially, this review moves beyond descriptive summaries to critically expose systemic knowledge gaps within the literature: the historical omission of novel circular-economy substrates like insect frass, spatial sampling biases, and the quantitative discordance between mRNA transcripts and functional protein concentrations. Furthermore, we address the computational annotation bottleneck where up to 46% of highly significant, stress-responsive proteins remain uncharacterized in non-model crops. Finally, we explore the horizon of Agriculture 4.0, detailing how high-throughput proteomics can be coupled with parallel omics layers (transcriptomics, metabolomics, phenomics) and driven by advanced artificial intelligence frameworks such as AlphaFold, FUJISAN, and MIND-S to model post-translational cross-talk and predict functional networks. Ultimately, this molecular resolution provides a crucial toolkit for researchers and policymakers to curate high-efficiency, climate-ready crop cultivars, driving a sustainable, closed-loop agricultural revolution through collaborative cross-sector partnerships.
This is the first study to examine the combined inheritance of hypocotyl pigmentation and ray floret color in the newly developed sunflower mutant PYRS-1 and its implications for breeding efforts. Analysis of F1 and F2 s of the reciprocal crosses between two contrasting genotypes, viz., CMS-1001B (green hypocotyl with yellow ray florets) and PYRS-1 (purple hypocotyl with pale-yellow ray florets) indicated dominant inheritance of purple over green hypocotyl pigmentation and yellow over pale yellow ray florets. Backcrosses with green hypocotyl and pale-yellow ray floret parents consistently exhibited a 1:1 ratio, highlighting the recessive nature of the green hypocotyl and pale-yellow ray floret traits. The joint segregation analysis showed that hypocotyl and ray floret colors are not linked and segregate independently in a 9:3:3:1 ratio. Therefore, these traits could be used individually as morphological markers in genetic studies to determine the genetic purity of F₁ hybrid seeds and estimate the rate of outcrossing in sunflower. To identify molecular markers associated with ray floret color, two SSR primers viz., ORS 812 (LG 15) and ORS 785 (LG 4) out of 56 markers displaying parental polymorphism were able to differentiate the ray floret phenotypes in the F2 and BC1 individual samples. The markers ORS 812 and ORS 785 were found to be linked to flower color with PVE of 48.95 and 43.23%, respectively. A QTL (qPY15.1) region associated with pale yellow petal color was mapped between ORS 812 and ORS 8 with a LOD score of 7.01. The study underscores the importance of understanding the inheritance pattern of hypocotyl pigmentation and ray floret color in the sunflower crop, as these traits have implications for breeding goals. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-026-04942-5.
A gradual and complex neurological disease, dementia significantly impairs cognitive abilities. Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation are the two common factors behind this. In this study, the neuroprotective effects of a hydro-ethanolic extract of Tecomella undulate (TUHEE) were investigated against streptozotocin (STZ)-induced dementia in adult zebrafish. Further, in this study, 60 adult zebrafish (470-530 mg) of approximately 3 months old were taken and divided into five groups (n = 12): Normal control-received normal saline, Negative control-received STZ (300 mg/kg), Positive control-received Donepezil (DPZ) (3 mg/kg), Test group 1-received TUHEE (200 mg/kg), Test group 2-received TUHEE (500 mg/kg). When adult zebrafish were exposed to STZ, their behaviour and biochemical parameters were significantly altered. When compared to the normal group, STZ-treated zebrafish showed a preference for the dark compartment in the light and dark test. Additionally, in the T-maze test, STZ-treated zebrafish spent more time in the unfavourable zone and had higher transfer latency (TL), and in the novel diving test, STZ-treated animals spent less time and made minimal entries to the top zone in the novel diving tank apparatus. Furthermore, TUHEE significantly decreased the cognitive dysfunction in the T-maze apparatus, light and dark test and novel diving test, rather than STZ treated group with a significant reduction in inflammatory, oxidative biomarkers & AChE activity. The in vitro study on SHSY-5Y cells, in which it decreased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), concentration of IL-6, and Nuclear Factor Kappa-B (NF-κB) translocation, further confirmed the potential. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-026-04915-8.
The complex and refractory structure of printed circuit boards (PCBs) limits the efficiency of conventional metal recovery processes. This led to the hypothesis that indigenous bacterial strains isolated from e-waste-contaminated sites may possess metabolic adaptations that facilitate metal mobilization. This study aims to isolate heavy-metal tolerant bacterial strains from e-waste contaminated soil, these isolates were evaluated for bioleaching efficiencies against PCBs at various pulp densities of 5 g/L, 10 g/L and 15 g/L, from which, Bacillus sp. SSNBT005 (Accession no: - PV453749), was found to be the most potent isolate. To ensure analytical rigor, experiments were performed in triplicate (n = 3) and were compared against abiotic controls to quantify the microbe mediated leaching. Statistical analysis (ANOVA, p < 0.05), confirmed that SSNBT005 significantly enhanced metal recovery, specifically, the strain achieved metal recovery efficiencies of about 94.24 ± 1.00, for silver (Ag) and upto 90.78 ± 0.37 for chromium (Cr), reaching raw recovery concentrations of 0.0186 g/L and 0.544 g/L respectively. FESEM analysis supports these quantitative findings, revealing some localized pitting and surface degradation of the PCB matrix as the result of microbial activity. FTIR analysis indicated changes in absorption bands associated with surface functional groups after bioleaching. These results support the hypothesis that SNBT005 actively facilitates metal recovery. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-026-04953-2.
Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that causes disturbances in the electrical activity, leading to neuronal excitability and damage, resulting in a global burden. In the present situation, the treatment of epilepsy focuses on the development of biomarkers and new antiepileptic drug candidates for enhanced diagnosis and treatment. This study aims to determine the potential therapeutic efficacy of salicylhydroxamic acid (SHA) as an antiepileptic candidate through in silico genomic profiling, molecular docking, pharmacokinetic analysis, and in vivo studies using a pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced zebrafish model. Genomic analysis of the GEO database helped to explore the differentially expressed genes and pathways interlinked to the epilepsy. Molegro Molecular Viewer, Avogadro, and AutoDock tools were used to perform the docking studies to predict the binding affinity between the target receptors and hydroxamic acid derivatives. The pharmacokinetic and toxicity profile of SHA was estimated using the SwissADME tool. In vivo analysis was performed using PTZ-induced adult zebrafish treated with low, medium, and high doses of SHA. Seizure behavior was recorded using a 3-stage scale. The histopathological examination of the hippocampal region was carried out to assess the neuroprotective action. The expression of c-FOS/HDAC-related genes was quantified using RT-PCR. Genomic analysis established the pathways linked to the neurotransmitter regulation, histone deacetylase (HDAC) pathways, and inflammatory pathways, corroborating therapeutic implications. Molecular docking studies highlighted that SHA yielded greater binding affinity to the associated targets, surmounting the standard phenytoin and other hydroxamic derivatives. Pharmacokinetic parameters were assessed using the SwissADME tool, which proved good drug-likeness, blood-brain barrier permeability, and minimal toxicity risks. The in vivo analysis resulted in SHA producing a dose-dependent response in seizure suppression, increasing latency, reducing convulsive duration, and improving recovery, with chronic (14-day) administration showing improved stabilization. The histopathological analysis of the hippocampal region revealed a reduction in neuronal degeneration, decreased gliosis, and preserved tissue architecture in SHA-treated groups relative to PTZ controls. RT-PCR analysis showed that SHA treatment significantly reduced the expression of c-FOS and HDAC-associated genes, which supports its molecular neuroprotective effects. This multidimensional approach signifies that SHA imposes anticonvulsant and neuroprotective activity, altering HDAC signaling, neuronal excitability, and seizure-associated gene expression, potentially making it a novel therapeutic candidate for treating epilepsy.
This study evaluated effects of titanium dioxide (TiO2), Fe-doped TiO2, Zn-doped TiO2, and Fe + Zn-co-doped TiO2 nanoparticles coated onto diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer on the growth and physiological responses of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Nanoparticles were synthesized using sol-gel method and characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering techniques. The coated DAP fertilizers were evaluated for phosphorus release behavior and their effects on wheat growth parameters, chlorophyll content, antioxidant enzyme activities, lipid peroxidation, and phosphorus accumulation under controlled pot conditions. Among the treatments Fe-TiO2 coated DAP showed the strongest positive physiological responses. Chlorophyll content increased by 56.6%, while superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activities increased by 55.5% and 32.8%, respectively, compared with the uncoated DAP treatment. In contrast, malondialdehyde content decreased by 61.5%, indicating reduced oxidative stress and improved membrane stability. Zn-TiO2 coated DAP showed comparatively weaker physiological improvement, whereas Fe-Zn-TiO2 coated DAP showed reductions in chlorophyll and growth-related parameters. No significant differences were observed in total phosphorus concentration among treatments; however, coated fertilizers influenced phosphorus release kinetics in water. The results demonstrate that Fe-TiO2 coated DAP can improve photosynthetic performance and antioxidant defense mechanisms in wheat mainly through improved physiological and biochemical responses rather than increased phosphorus accumulation alone. Further field-scale investigations are required to evaluate long-term agronomic performance, phosphorus-use efficiency, and nanoparticles fate under diverse soil environments.
Agriculture will face yet unheard-of challenges in ensuring food security while minimizing its adverse environmental effects. Traditional agricultural practices that mostly rely on fertilizers, insecticides, and growth stimulants have increased food production, but they have also had detrimental effects on the environment and public health. This study examine at innovative approaches to sustainable agriculture, nano seed-priming with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). Biogenic nano seed-priming has physiological effects on germination, impact of priming on stress tolerance, and has boosted agricultural productivity and reduced environmental effects. Its incorporation of nanoseed priming with AI algorithms for optimising coating properties via models (such as ANNS, ANN, and CANN), the prediction of physical mechanical surface properties and the leveraging of machine learning and artificial intelligence for seed nano-priming opens possibilities for agricultural innovation. Through its advanced monitoring, prediction, and automation capabilities, artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing modern agriculture. By enhancing precision farming and smart agriculture, the use of AI and machine learning (ML) promotes sustainability and efficiency. A comprehensive framework to address global food security, slow down climate change, and advance sustainable agriculture methods is created by combining nano seed priming with artificial intelligence and machine learning. This convergence has the potential to drastically alter farming systems, leading to increased yields, better-quality food, and a future in which agriculture is environmentally conscious.
Thymoma is a mediastinal tumor for which recurrence and therapeutic resistance remain clinical challenges, and cancer stem cell (CSC)-like properties may contribute to these features. This study investigated whether Matrine (Mat) affects stemness-associated features and apoptosis in EL-4-B5 cells and examined the potential involvement of YTHDF1 and Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Mat reduced cell viability and induced apoptosis, with the most evident effects observed at 100 µg/mL. Mat also reduced sphere-forming capacity and CD34 expression. Mat treatment decreased YTHDF1 expression and Wnt3a and β-catenin protein levels, whereas YTHDF1 overexpression or LiCl co-treatment partially attenuated these changes. Public-dataset analyses suggested potential clinical relevance of YTHDF1 in thymoma. Because direct m6A measurements, YTHDF1 target identification, in vivo validation, and clinical-sample validation were not performed, these findings support potential involvement of an m6A-related factor and Wnt/β-catenin signaling rather than establishing a definitive mechanism. Further validation is required before translational conclusions can be made. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-026-04956-z.
Probiotics, predominantly lactic acid bacteria (LAB), play an important role in modulating the human gastrointestinal microbiota, particularly the intestinal microbiome. These microorganisms produce a range of bioactive compounds with demonstrated pharmacological activities, including anticancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects, whose production and release may be influenced by encapsulation conditions. Owing to these health-promoting properties, LAB have been extensively applied as functional ingredients in food formulations and as therapeutic agents in pharmaceutical products. However, their inherent sensitivity and susceptibility to adverse conditions within the gastrointestinal tract pose a significant challenge to ensuring their survival and delivery in sufficient viable counts to confer health benefits. Encapsulation has emerged as a promising strategy to enhance probiotic stability, protect against harsh gastrointestinal environments, and enable controlled and site-specific release through physicochemical and biological triggers. This review covers literature published primarily between 2010 and 2024, focusing on experimentally validated studies related to probiotic encapsulation and gastrointestinal delivery. The scope includes both established encapsulation techniques (e.g., extrusion, emulsification, and spray drying) and emerging approaches such as electrospinning, layer-by-layer assembly, and nanostructured delivery systems. While numerous in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate improved probiotic stability and functionality through encapsulation, clinical evidence remains limited, highlighting the need for well-designed human trials to validate therapeutic efficacy.
The neuroprotective effectiveness of natural substances against neuroinflammatory pathways linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD) is still not well understood. In this study, we used both in vivo and in silico methods to assess the therapeutic potential of magnolol at dosages of 25 and 50 mg/kg body weight in a rat model of AD produced by aluminium chloride (AlCl₃). Significant cognitive impairments, elevated levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), and increased expression of important neuroinflammatory mediators, including nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), interleukin (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), were all brought on by exposure to AlCl₃. Magnolol treatment markedly reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and nitric oxide (NO), improved cognitive function, and strengthened antioxidant defence systems as shown by increased glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities. Histopathological examination further validated Magnolol's neuroprotective properties, showing decreased neuronal degeneration. Magnolol has substantial binding affinities for NF-κB, IL-6, and IL-1β, according to molecular docking and dynamic modelling studies, indicating that it can directly influence neuroinflammatory signalling pathways. Overall, these results show that magnolol has important neuroprotective effects by reducing oxidative stress and inhibiting important inflammatory mediators, underscoring its potential as an effective treatment option for AD.
Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived exosomes have emerged as potent pro-angiogenic therapeutics; however, their clinical translation is limited by rapid clearance, poor cellular uptake, and inadequate retention at target sites. Although hydrogel-based delivery systems have been explored to address these limitations, how viscoelastic hydrogel matrices influence exosome bioavailability and angiogenesis-related cellular responses remains insufficiently understood. In this study, a viscoelastic PEG-alginate hydrogel was developed as a sustained delivery platform for MSC-derived exosomes, and its pro-angiogenic effects were systematically investigated in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and human umbilical vein smooth muscle cells (HUVSMCs). The hydrogel demonstrated excellent cytocompatibility and enabled sustained exosome release, resulting in significantly enhanced cellular uptake compared with free exosomes. Exosome-loaded hydrogels markedly promoted cell proliferation and migration in both cell types, as evidenced by CCK-8 and scratch assays. In vitro tube formation assays further revealed that hydrogel-mediated exosome delivery induced more compact and mature vascular-like networks than exosomes administered alone. Mechanistically, RT-qPCR analysis showed significant upregulation of key angiogenesis-related genes, including VEGFR2, VEGFA, ANG1, ANG2, and eNOS, with the highest expression observed in the hydrogel-exosome group. Under H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress, exosome-loaded hydrogels substantially reduced endothelial apoptosis, as indicated by a decrease in TUNEL-positive cells. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that viscoelastic PEG-alginate hydrogels enhance the stability, cellular uptake, and pro-angiogenic efficacy of MSC-derived exosomes while providing cytoprotective effects, highlighting their potential as an effective delivery platform for angiogenesis-mediated regenerative therapies. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-026-04933-6.
This study evaluated the protective effect of Shenling Baizhu Powder (SLBZP) against diarrhea induced by fatigue combined with a high-fat diet and explored the potential associations with changes in gut microbiota, bile acid metabolism, intestinal barrier function, and inflammatory responses. A mouse model of diarrhea was established by continuous standing on a multiple-platform apparatus 4 h/day for 14 days, combined with twice-daily lard gavage during days 8-14, followed by gavage with SLBZP decoction at 0.637 g/mL for 7 days. SLBZP intervention alleviated fatigue and diarrhea in mice. Histopathological analysis showed that SLBZP alleviated small intestinal and hepatic injury. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results showed that SLBZP decreased the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 in the small intestine and liver. Immunohistochemical analysis indicated that SLBZP increased the expression of the tight junction proteins zonula occludens-1 and Claudin-1. Furthermore, 16S rRNA sequencing showed that SLBZP reshaped the gut microbiota, including increased relative abundances of Muribaculum and Dwaynesavagella and a decreased relative abundance of Proteobacteria. Targeted bile acid metabolomics showed that SLBZP altered the fecal bile acid profile, with increased levels of 7-ketolithocholic acid, norcholic acid, glycocholic acid, and ursodeoxycholic acid. Correlation analysis further suggested associations among specific microbial taxa, differential bile acids, and intestinal barrier markers. These findings indicate that SLBZP may alleviate diarrhea induced by fatigue combined with a high-fat diet by regulating the gut microbiota-bile acid-intestinal barrier axis and reducing inflammatory responses. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-026-04945-2.
Nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized via biological routes have gained significant attention due to their eco-friendly production and diverse biological applications. However, relatively few studies have explored the use of thermophilic bacteria for nanoparticle synthesis, despite their potential advantages in stability and enzyme robustness under extreme conditions. In particular, thermophilic microorganisms remain under explored for the extracellular biosynthesis of metal nanoparticles such as cerium (Ce) and zinc (Zn), and their comparative biological activities have not been sufficiently investigated. This study aimed to synthesize Ce and Zn nanoparticles using thermophilic bacterial strains and to evaluate their antimicrobial, antioxidant, DNA interaction, antibiofilm, microbial cytotoxic, and plant growth-promoting activities. Ce and Zn nanoparticles were synthesized extracellularly using Anoxybacillus flavithermus strain Gecek19 (T19-CeNPs and T19-ZnNPs) and Geobacillus stearothermophilus strain Gecek20 (T20-CeNPs and T20-ZnNPs). The biological activities of the nanoparticles were evaluated at different concentrations. Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH and metal chelating assays (12.5-200 mg/L). DNA cleavage, microbial cell viability (125-500 mg/L), biofilm inhibition (125-500 mg/L), antimicrobial activity, and seed germination assays (12.5-500 mg/L) were also performed. DPPH radical scavenging activities were 73.45%, 86.46%, 76.03%, and 82.60% for T19-CeNPs, T19-ZnNPs, T20-CeNPs, and T20-ZnNPs, respectively. Metal chelating activities were 67.12%, 64.56%, 72.40%, and 70.35%, respectively. The highest antimicrobial activity was observed for T19-ZnNPs with a Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of 64 mg/L against Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis. All nanoparticles exhibited single-stranded DNA cleavage activity and significantly reduced microbial cell viability. Biofilm inhibition reached up to 99.14% with T19-ZnNPs against S. aureus. Additionally, nanoparticle treatments showed positive effects on barley seed germination, particularly enhancing root and coleoptile development at appropriate concentrations. The study demonstrates that thermophilic bacteria are effective biofactories for Ce and Zn nanoparticle synthesis. The resulting nanoparticles exhibited strong multifunctional biological activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and plant growth-promoting effects, indicating their potential for biomedical and agricultural applications.
A set of 18 biofortified inbreds possessing mutant allele of floury2 (fl2), delta zein regulator1 (dzr1) and aspartate kinase2 (ask2) genes, developed using marker-assisted backcross breeding (MABB), and their two original inbreds (PMI-PV5 and PMI-PV6) were evaluated for germination, vigour and various physico-biochemical traits. The introgressed inbreds possessed an average of 94.5% recurrent parent genome (RPG). The fl2 (0.354%), dzr1 (0.342%) and ask2 (0.260%) gene-based biofortified inbreds accumulated higher kernel methionine than original inbreds (0.183%). Despite exhibiting similar germination percentage (introgressed inbreds: 97.43%, original inbreds: 97.50%), the biofortified inbreds across three genetic backgrounds showed higher seedling vigour [VI-I: introgressed inbreds (2291.48), original inbreds (1838.82), VI-II: introgressed inbreds (106.16), original inbreds (98.49)] characterized by higher vigour indices, increased number of seminal roots (introgressed inbreds: 2.22, original inbreds: 1.63) and higher total root length [TRL: introgressed inbreds (28.28 cm), original inbreds (20.88 cm)] compared to the original inbreds. Menthionine-rich inbreds individually carrying fl2, dzr1 or ask2 genes also showed lower electrical conductivity (EC) (introgressed inbreds: 7.01 µScm-1g-1, original inbreds: 7.77 µScm-1g-1) indicating better membrane stability and enhanced activities of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) (introgressed inbreds: 59.85 unit mg- 1 protein, original inbreds: 27.09 unit mg- 1 protein ) and peroxidase (POX) (introgressed inbreds: 1.90 µmol ml- 1 -1 g- 1 DW, original inbreds: 051 µmol ml- 1 -1 g- 1 DW ), suggesting higher oxidative stress tolerance during the early seedling growth stage. Methionine content showed low to moderate positive association with VI-I (r = 0.39), VI-II (r = 0.42), TRL (r = 0.38), SOD (r = 0.24) and POX (r = 0.32), and negative relationship with EC (r= -0.31). The study demonstrates synergistic effects of kernel methionine accumulation caused due to fl2, dzr1 and ask2 genes on seedling vigour traits and highlights the importance of developing high-methionine maize cultivars for better seedling establishment compared with traditional maize. Minor effect of background genome on seed vigour traits was also observed. This is the first report describing the association between kernel methionine on seed germination and vigour-related traits in maize. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-026-04957-y.
This review summarizes current evidence on the biological, diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic significance of microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) in prostate cancer (PCa). Dysregulated miRNA networks contribute to PCa initiation, progression, metastasis, and therapy resistance by regulating androgen receptor signaling, proliferation, apoptosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, hypoxia signaling, bone tropism, and castration-resistant evolution. Oncogenic miRNAs, including miR-21, miR-93, miR-9, miR-181a, and miR-182, promote malignant phenotypes through survival, TGF-β, PI3K/AKT, MAPK, HIF-1α, and EMT-associated pathways, whereas tumor-suppressor miRNAs, including the miR-34 family, miR-145, miR-122, and miR-382, restrict proliferation, stem-like traits, invasion, metastasis, and treatment resistance. Circulating, urinary, and exosomal miRNAs have potential as minimally invasive biomarkers for PCa detection, risk stratification, recurrence monitoring, metastatic risk prediction, and assessment of castration-resistant disease. Multi-miRNA panels, such as miR-375-3p/miR-182-5p, miR-34b-3p/miR-361-5p/miR-200c-3p, and miR-200c/miR-605/miR-135a/miR-433/miR-106a, may outperform individual markers by capturing multiple biological pathways and reducing single-marker variability; however, most remain at the discovery or validation stage rather than routine clinical implementation. Translation requires standardized sample handling, hemolysis control, reproducible RNA extraction, validated normalization strategies, assay harmonization, locked thresholds, and multicentre prospective validation against PSA, imaging, histopathology, and established risk models. High-throughput platforms, including qRT-PCR, microarray, next-generation sequencing, and nCounter digital counting, support miRNA discovery and validation but differ in sensitivity, specificity, cost, throughput, bioinformatic complexity, and clinical deployability. Therapeutically, anti-miRs, miRNA mimics, sponges, masks, CRISPR-based approaches, and nanocarrier-assisted delivery systems provide experimental strategies for inhibiting oncogenic miRNAs or restoring tumor-suppressor miRNAs. Preclinical evidence supports miR-21 inhibition and replacement of miR-34a, miR-145, miR-15a/miR-16-1, miR-124, and miR-205. Still, clinical translation is limited by off-target effects, immune activation, delivery efficiency, endosomal escape, tumor heterogeneity, pharmacokinetics, toxicity, scalability, and manufacturing reproducibility. Overall, miRNAs provide mechanistic insight into PCa heterogeneity and offer promising opportunities for precision diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy, with the most realistic near-term application being integration of validated miRNA panels with PSA, multiparametric MRI, pathology, and multi-omic or AI-assisted risk models.
Thyroid cancer, a prevalent endocrine malignancy, has shown a significant global rise in incidence over the past 15 years and currently ranks as the sixth most common cancer worldwide, with higher prevalence among women. Dysregulation of the TIMP-1-induced FAK/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway plays a pivotal role in disease progression, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target. This study investigated the anticancer effects of zeylenone in thyroid carcinogenesis, based on its reported inhibition of TIMP-1-mediated FAK/PI3K/AKT signaling in tumor cells. The ability of zeylenone to suppress proliferation of TPC-1 thyroid cancer cells and the underlying molecular mechanisms were evaluated through analyses of cell viability, oxidative stress, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), apoptosis, and cell proliferation, with an emphasis on the TIMP-1/FAK/PI3K/AKT pathway. Zeylenone significantly suppressed cell proliferation, induced apoptosis, increased ROS and TBARS levels, reduced MMP, decreased antioxidant status, and inhibited TIMP-1-induced FAK/PI3K/AKT signaling. In silico docking analyses demonstrated interactions between zeylenone and key apoptotic and cell-cycle regulators, including Bax, Cyclin E1, and CDK2, while molecular dynamics simulations using Schrödinger's Desmond module confirmed the stability of the zeylenone-CDK2 complex. However, limitations include the use of a single cell line (TPC-1) and a lack of in vivo validation. Future perspectives involve testing in additional thyroid cancer models, animal studies, and clinical translation to assess efficacy and safety. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that zeylenone suppresses proliferation and promotes apoptosis in TPC-1 cells primarily through suppression of the TIMP-1-mediated FAK/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic candidate for thyroid carcinoma.