Genetic Engineering Research Articles (Page 1)

Long-term (>7-year) neurodevelopmental safety assessment of genetically modified (Cry1Ab/Cry2Aj and EPSPS) maize in cynomolgus monkeys: A multimodal MRI study across two generations.

The market for bio-based pigments is growing rapidly, fuelled by the demand for safe, biodegradable colourants in food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and textiles. Bacterial pigments offer vibrant colours as well as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties that increase product safety and shelf life. Despite their benefits, the production of bacterial pigments is associated with challenges such as low yields, high costs and complex processing. Recent eco-innovations such as metabolic engineering, the use of agro-industrial waste as cheap substrates and environmentally friendly extraction methods are helping to solve these problems while promoting the principles of the circular economy. In addition, extremophilic bacteria from harsh environments provide novel pigments with unique industrial potential. This review highlights key advances in eco-innovations for bacterial biopigment production, focusing on genetic engineering, sustainable substrate use, co-production strategies, process optimisation. The role of artificial intelligence and machine learning in improving the biosynthetic efficiency of biopigments will also be analysed. Finally, current challenges and future research opportunities will be discussed to advance microbial biopigments as scalable, cost-effective and environmentally conscious alternatives to synthetic colourants in various industries.

Baculoviruses represent the largest family of insect viruses and serve as important tools in integrated pest management due to their unique characteristics including host specificity, environmental safety and compatibility with other control agents. Despite their advantages as biopesticides, wild-type baculoviruses have several limitations, including restricted host range and vulnerability to UV light. Genetic engineering has emerged as a promising approach to overcome these obstacles through the development of recombinant baculoviruses. Recent advances include the development of BACMID systems (bacterial artificial chromosomes) that facilitate genetic manipulation through site-specific recombination and transposition. Future research directions include co-expression of multiple neurotoxins to achieve synergistic effects and broaden the host range, whereby genetically modified baculoviruses may prove quite valuable for sustainable pest management.

Selfish genetic elements (SGEs) are DNA sequences that enhance their own transmission, often at the expense of the host genome’s overall fitness. They include transposable elements, meiotic drivers, supernumerary B chromosomes, post-segregation killers, and sex-distorting heritable microbes or organelles. These elements generate genetic conflict among different parts of the genome—such as between nuclear, cytoplasmic, and mobile elements—due to their differing transmission strategies. Genomic research has revealed that microbial genomes are abundant in mobile genetic elements (MGEs) that spread through DNA transfer mechanisms and play major roles in genome organization, regulation, and evolution. SGEs contribute to genetic diversity, drive innovation, and influence key biological processes such as gene regulation, development, and speciation. The review highlights the diversity of SGE transmission mechanisms, the domestication of SGEs leading to novel genes and regulatory systems, and their dual role in promoting adaptability while imposing metabolic and genetic costs on the host. Moreover, understanding SGE-driven conflicts provides valuable insights for biotechnology, including the development of gene-editing tools, genetic engineering strategies, and potential therapeutic applications such as targeting cancer.

The predominant agro-industrial soybean production in Brazil has led to a significant socio-ecological crisis. Alternative agriculture has been increasingly marketed as a viable solution to the multifaceted challenges engendered by this intensive production system in the Atlantic Forest biome of Brazil and its related global value chains. Accurate evaluation of their true transformative impact on sustainable food system transitions is needed. We conducted a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of five different soybean production systems in the States of Minas Gerais and Paraná: conventional GM (genetically modified seeds), and four alternatives [(1) conventional GM inputs-reduced, (2) conventional non-GM, (3) conventional non-GM soybean–coffee intercropped, and (4) organic]. We collected life cycle inventory data through interviews and observations over a 2-year period and assessed environmental impacts on climate change, biodiversity loss, soil quality, acidification, eutrophication, ecotoxicity, human toxicity, particulate matter formation, and energy use. Results obtained showed significant variability in footprints of the studied systems, with alternatives scoring similar or higher impacts in climate change, acidification, eutrophication, and non-renewable energy use compared to conventional production systems. Organic and soybean–coffee intercropped productions had the lowest biodiversity loss, ecotoxicity, and soil quality impacts. Our sensitivity analysis indicated that a 10% reduction in fertilizers and diesel could decrease emissions by 0 to 14.4% across production systems, with most impact categories exhibiting impact reductions below 10%. Alternative productions faced challenges such as weed control, bioinput production, and efficiency, as well as contamination from conventional neighboring farms. Addressing these led to an increased use of diesel and biopesticides. From an LCA perspective, organic and non-GM production did not outperform conventional GM production. However, organic production, followed by soybean–coffee intercropping, achieved significantly higher on-farm agrobiodiversity scores. A diversification of soybean cropping systems and improved management of crop residues would effectively reduce inputs, favor closing nutrient loops locally, and avoid replicating the environmental impacts of intensive monocultures. However, the initial decrease in soybean production volumes might lead to additional land use elsewhere.

Throughout human history, contagious infectious diseases have significantly impacted societies, shaping the fate of great dynasties and challenging economic and political systems, social relations, and the overall well-being of the human species. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges, emerging in the context of extreme globalization and rapid technological development. The speed of viral spread, the highest absolute mortality rate caused by a viral agent in the last 100 years, and the severe economic and social consequences imposed an urgent need for vaccine development on a previously unimaginable timescale. The proven safety and efficacy of inactivated vaccines enabled the development and large-scale application of the first immunizer against SARS-CoV-2 in less than a year after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the pandemic. In this review, we discuss the importance of inactivated antiviral vaccines and their historical impact in containing highly harmful diseases affecting humanity. We also explore the cellular mechanisms by which inactivated vaccines may induce immunogenic responses against viral pathogens. In addition, we bring to light a discussion about a fast, cost-effective, potentially efficient technology for large-scale immunizer production: High hydrostatic pressure (HHP), a method long supported by decades of preclinical studies and which is especially effective in the context of enveloped viruses. Finally, we discuss the role of inactivated antiviral vaccines in the face of advances in biotechnology and, therefore, the emergence of vaccines that use genetic engineering in their production, such as RNA, DNA and viral vaccines, which have gained special prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies are gaining renewed attention as next-generation platforms for cancer immunotherapy. Compared with IgG, IgM exhibits distinct biological advantages, including higher avidity from multivalent binding, potent complement activation, and enhanced recognition of heterogeneous tumor antigens within immunosuppressive microenvironments. These attributes position IgM as a promising candidate for solid tumor therapy, despite the absence of currently approved IgM-based therapeutics. Recent advances in genetic engineering, antibody design, and protein manufacturing have enabled the generation of diverse IgM formats—ranging from monoclonal and bispecific constructs to engineered IgM derivatives—demonstrating substantial antitumor potential in preclinical and early translational studies. Nonetheless, clinical development faces persistent challenges, including short serum half-life, restricted tumor penetration, structural and biophysical complexity, and scalability of production. In this review, we discuss the structure and biology of IgM, highlight progress in developing novel IgM-based antibody formats for solid tumors, and critically examine the key translational barriers and future opportunities. Together, these insights underscore the therapeutic promise of IgM and chart a path toward its integration into the next generation of antibody-based cancer immunotherapies.

Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans is a chemolithoautotrophic acidophilic bacterium widely found in industrial biomining operations. The cells obtain energy through iron and/or sulfur oxidation, and the resulting ferric iron can solubilize copper and other critical materials. The genetic engineering of acidophiles including A. ferrooxidans remains challenging due to limited molecular tools. In this study, we explored the feasibility of retron-based genetic engineering tools in A. ferrooxidans ATCC23270, leveraging a pBAD promoter system for inducible gene expression. We successfully expressed retron elements in Escherichia coli using the broad host pJRD215 plasmid and demonstrated both RNA and DNA antisense interference. We then expressed retron elements in A. ferrooxidans and targeted RNA antisense interference of the PetA2 gene, which is a bc1 complex gene involved in the sulfur metabolism electron transport chain. Engineered strains exhibited reduced expression of sulfur oxidation genes and increased iron oxidation under high sulfur conditions, demonstrating retron-mediated regulation. While transcriptional interference was evident, genome editing in concert with the addition of a single-stranded annealing protein (SSAP), or recombineering, was not detected in A. ferrooxidans. These findings establish retrons as a viable new tool for genetic modulation in A. ferrooxidans, suggesting a new capability for metabolic engineering of acidophilic extremophiles.

Phenol is a widespread environmental contaminant, commonly found in effluents from petroleum refineries, chemical manufacturing, pulp and paper industries, and textile plants. Its high toxicity, persistence, and water solubility make it a significant ecological and public health hazard. Traditional methods for phenol remediation are often energy-intensive, costly, and generate secondary pollutants. In recent years, fungi have emerged as promising biological agents for the degradation of phenol due to their ability to produce a wide array of oxidative enzymes and adapt to harsh environments. This review explores the sources and environmental implications of phenol pollution, the mechanisms by which fungi degrade phenol, and the diversity of fungal species capable of bioremediation. It further discusses the isolation of fungal strains from industrial areas, the application of bioreactor technologies, and recent advances in fungal genetics and metabolic engineering. Challenges and opportunities in this field are highlighted to guide future research toward sustainable and efficient phenol bioremediation strategies.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a cornerstone of global food security, serving as a primary dietary staple for billions worldwide. Significant advancements in rice science, encompassing traditional breeding, molecular genetics, and biotechnology, have revolutionized its cultivation and improvement. This review synthesizes recent progress in enhancing rice productivity, nutritional quality, and resilience to adverse conditions. It delves into the sophisticated application of molecular markers and cutting-edge genetic engineering techniques, such as CRISPR/Cas9, which have enabled precise trait manipulation. Despite these strides, rice cultivation faces multifaceted challenges, including the impacts of climate change, persistent biotic and abiotic stresses, and socio-economic hurdles. This paper critically examines these challenges and outlines future perspectives aimed at developing climate-resilient, high-yielding, and nutritionally superior rice varieties through integrated, sustainable approaches.

Brown spot of rice represents a globally important disease of rice, capable of inflicting severe yield losses under epidemic conditions. The historical relevance of this pathogen is exemplified by its major role in the Bengal Famine of 1943, highlighting its potential to cause large-scale crop failures which can be a threat to food security. Conventional disease management practices, including resistant varieties, use of disease-free seeds, hot water treatment, and chemical fungicides, remain the primary control measures. However, rising concerns over environmental impacts and the emergence of fungicide-resistant pathogen strains highlight the urgent need for sustainable alternatives. Endophytes, the beneficial microbes residing asymptomatically within plant tissues have emerged as promising bio control agents. They enhance plant health through nutrient acquisition, hormone modulation, and suppression of pathogens via multiple antagonistic mechanisms. They exhibit efficient root colonization, metabolic diversity, and competitive exclusion of pathogens, making them ideal for integrated disease management. Various studies have demonstrated the potential of endophytic strains in mitigating brown spot severity while promoting plant growth. Their eco-friendly nature and multifaceted interactions with the host make them effective tools for reducing chemical inputs in agriculture. This review explores the biology and epidemiology of brown spot disease, the current management strategies, and highlights the emerging role of endophytes in disease suppression and plant resilience. It also discusses future directions, including the application of multi-omics technology and genetic engineering to enhance the efficacy of endophytes. Overcoming regulatory hurdles and conducting large-scale field trials will be critical for transitioning from lab to field. Harnessing endophytes offers a sustainable, innovative pathway to combat brown spot of rice, reduce fungicide dependency, and build climate-resilient agricultural systems.

Base editing stands at the forefront of genetic engineering, heralding precise genetic modifications with broad implications. While CRISPR-based DNA and RNA base editing systems capitalize on sgRNA-guided specificity and diverse deaminase functionalities, the pursuit of efficient C-to-U RNA editing has been hampered by the inherent constraints of cytidine deaminases. Here, we report an RNA base editing platform by refining cytidine deaminases, termed professional APOBECs (ProAPOBECs), through systematic enhancements and AI-driven protein engineering. ProAPOBECs demonstrate unprecedented catalytic versatility, particularly fused with RNA-recognizing Pumilio and FBF (PUF) proteins. We demonstrate that in vivo RNA base editing of Pcsk9 using ProAPOBECs effectively lowers cholesterol levels in mice. Additionally, AAV-mediated RNA base editing with ProAPOBECs in the brain of an autism mouse model not only corrects point mutations in Mef2c mRNAs but also significantly alleviates disease-associated phenotypes. This work introduces a pioneering collection of RNA base editing instruments, emphasizing their therapeutic potential in combatting genetic disorders.

Focus on replacing synthetic fertilizers, growth regulators and plant protection products with biological products helps reducing the environmental impact, preserving biological diversity and soil fertility, and slowing down the depletion of natural resources. Plant-friendly rhizosphere microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, and algae) are of particular interest for the creation of commercial biopreparations (biofertilizers, biostimulants, and biological control agents). The article provides a review of research publications devoted to the production and use of agricultural biopreparations (inoculants) based on plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPR), plant growth-promoting fungi (PGPF) and eukaryotic microalgae. According to available estimates, the biofertilizer market volume should reach $ 2.83 billion in 2025. Large companies operating in the biopreparation market focus on the development of innovative products that can increase the suppressive capacity and fertility of soils by improving microbial diversity, increasing the availability of nutrients, and suppressing dangerous phytopathogens. The leading trend of recent decades has been the orientation of producers toward the introduction of genetic engineering technologies that allow inoculants to be adapted to the specific needs of agricultural crops, to increase their efficiency and resistance to adverse factors, and to ensure successful integration with indigenous microbial communities. The main tasks in the field of biotechnology in modern science include confirmation of the quality of bioproducts, increase in their shelf life, guarantee of their efficiency, cost price reduction, and provision of environmental and sanitary safety. To ensure the proper quality of biopreparations and the guaranteed effect of their use, it is necessary to develop technologies for the production of large quantities of pure (free from other microorganisms) inoculants with a high infection potential.

Abstract Background Bioterrorism involves the deliberate use of biological agents as weapons to cause harm or death to humans, animals, or plants. These agents are naturally found in the environment but can be modified into weapons. Identifying unusual patterns in disease outbreak, timing, or geographic location is crucial to identify potential bioterrorism events. Prompt notification of public health authorities is essential for proper investigation. This literature review aims to evaluate the potential use of oncogenic agents in bioterrorism and assess risks, preparedness, and response strategies. Methods This literature review was conducted using Google Scholar, PubMed, and World Health Organization (WHO) reports, using terms such as “bioterrorism”, “bioterror”, “biological weapons”, “oncogenic viruses”, and “oncogenic agents”. Results Biological agents pose a threat through various mechanisms such as chronic inflammation, DNA mutations, and immune evasion, which promote carcinogenesis. Namely, chemical carcinogens and radiological agents have a delayed mechanism, but have a profound impact on carcinogenesis. Advances in genetic engineering, such as Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR), have also raised concerns regarding carcinogenesis due to targeted genetic manipulation of oncogenic viruses. Conclusions Early detection, immediate mitigation measures, and long-term cancer surveillance programs are critical response strategies to bioterrorism threats. Public communication is also essential to mitigate fear and misinformation. Legal measures include victim compensation and ethical considerations, particularly regarding experimental or genetic therapies. Historically documented incidents exemplify cases that expose significant challenges in diagnosis. The potential use of biological, radiological, and chemical agents in bioterrorism highlights the need for multisectoral cooperation to develop comprehensive response strategies.

ABSTRACT RNA interference (RNAi) technology offers promising alternatives to conventional chemical pesticides, particularly for fungal resistance. It can be applied in agriculture either through topical delivery, such as spray‐induced gene silencing (SIGS), or via genetic modification, as in host‐induced gene silencing (HIGS). While the European public has shown consistent aversion toward genetically modified (GM) technologies, the level of acceptance for topical RNAi applications remains largely unexplored. This study primarily investigates public acceptance for strawberries produced with Topical RNAi, GM RNAi, or Traditional breeding. A discrete choice experiment was conducted in Italy, France, Germany, and Spain including additional attributes for organic production, local origin, and price. Mixed logit and willingness‐to‐pay estimates were used to analyze preferences and identify socio‐demographic and attitudinal determinants. Results consistently reveal a marked consumer aversion to products developed using RNAi technologies relative to conventional breeding, with particularly strong skepticism in France and Germany. By contrast, organic and local attributes exert strong positive influence, confirming the enduring salience of “natural” and provenance‐related cues. Key factors that could facilitate a shift toward greater acceptance include improving understanding of biotechnology innovations, enhancing consumer confidence in safety assessments, and—most importantly—increasing awareness of the alignment between RNAi technologies and sustainability goals. Acceptance is higher among men, urban residents, and individuals with greater knowledge of biotechnology and trust in regulatory assessments. Conversely, older consumers, women, and those strongly committed to sustainability‐oriented behaviors display lower acceptance, perceiving RNAi as incompatible with their values. The findings underscore that the social readiness of RNAi technologies lags behind their scientific potential. Building consumer trust, improving understanding, and reframing RNAi within broader sustainability goals will be the themes on which to base future policy decisions.

Genetic Engineering of Escherichia Coli W for Linalool Production Using Beet Juice as the Sole Carbon Source.

Bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) are engineered immunoglobulins that can simultaneously recognize two distinct antigens or two distinct epitopes on the same antigen. They exhibit cooperative therapeutic effects surpassing those of natural monoclonal antibodies, such as bridging the immune cells and tumor cells to stimulate targeted immune response, or blocking codependent signaling pathways. These advantages make them attractive therapeutic reagents for various diseases such as cancers, immunodeficiency syndromes, and ophthalmic disorders. However, the unique structural characteristics of BsAbs pose various challenges to their preparation. In the past few decades, various types of BsAbs have been designed and prepared through genetic engineering or chemical conjugation strategies, many of which have been approved as drugs or entered clinical trials. This review provides a systematic summary of these strategies and their corresponding principles, and focuses on the application of modern genetic engineering and chemical conjugation methods in the generation of BsAbs.

ABSTRACT Hyperuricemia has become one of the most prevalent global epidemics, significantly impacting both the economy and the health of individuals. A promising strategy is the use of probiotics for hyperuricemia intervention. In this review, we systematically elucidate the role of probiotics in the treatment of hyperuricemia and the possible mechanism of probiotics to exert their activity. The main mechanisms by which probiotics modulate hyperuricemia are inhibiting xanthine oxidase activity to reduce uric acid synthesis, strengthening intestinal barrier integrity with the rebalance of the gut microbiota, scavenging dietary purines, and enhancing uric acid excretion via transporter modulation and enzymatic conversion. With the integration of artificial intelligence into microbial screening, robust data‐analytical support for high‐throughput screening has been provided, resulting in the successful isolation of probiotic strains with potent uric acid‐lowering capabilities. With subsequent genetic engineering, their uricolytic efficiency has been further enhanced. We summarize the applications and prospects of probiotic products in the field of food bioengineering. And look ahead to how probiotics can be better applied in the food sector in the future. Building on a systematic review of the current research progress, this review explores the existing limitations and clarifies the direction for future research. With the importance and need for the prevention and treatment of hyperuricemia and gout, as well as the rising popularity of probiotics research, the compilation of this review fills the current research progress in systematic summaries within this field. It provides new insights and reference for the prevention and treatment of hyperuricemia.

Genetic engineering of Saccharomyces boulardii: Tools, strategies and advances for enhanced probiotic and therapeutic applications.

Development of a portable paper-based biosensor for the identification of genetically modified corn (Zea mays) and soybean (Glycine max).