Parkinson's disease and stroke are among the deadliest progressive neurological disorders affecting movement. Researchers have attributed the increasing prevalence of Parkinson's disease to the aging global population, making it the fastest-growing neurodegenerative disease. Interdisciplinary research in computer science and bioengineering frequently finds alternative and improved techniques that can greatly assist in the diagnosis and management of Parkinson's disease. Studies to date still confirm that Parkinson's disease is challenging to diagnose, as there are no specific tests to confirm the disease, and many symptoms overlap with those of other neurodegenerative disorders, such as essential tremor, a condition that causes involuntary and rhythmic shaking similar to that observed in Parkinson's disease. Connectomes and artificial intelligence have recently been examined for computer-assisted disease diagnosis and therapy management. Connectomes map and analyze neural linkages within the human nervous system, providing a viable approach for diagnosing brain diseases requiring detailed assessment of vascular structures. This study proposes a hardware-accelerated brain connectomic framework for locating and isolating possible neurological disorders in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) datasets using the Delaunay triangulation algorithm. The framework was implemented using the Microsoft .NET environment, primarily in C# and Visual Basic (VB), and integrated with hardware acceleration for enhanced processing. The connectomic framework was evaluated using Magnetic Resonance (MR) brain images from the Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina, United States, which mostly contained healthy datasets and certain brain abnormalities. Notably, the framework was not only able to successfully depict the connectomes of the datasets but also achieved processing times of less than 17 s for datasets containing more than 300 images. Moreover, the connectomic framework is considered resourceful in revealing the vascular structures in MR brain images, irrespective of the captured neurological disorders, with all features optimized for web and browser compatibility.

Insect cell culture has become foundational for many areas of research and biotechnological innovation, yet major taxonomic gaps persist, particularly among orthopteran species. Here, we report the isolation and long-term maintenance of primary embryonic cells derived from the house cricket, Acheta domesticus. By isolating cells from late-stage embryos and culturing them at 29°C in Shields and Sang M3 insect cell media supplemented with 1mg/mL yeast extract, 2.5mg/mL Bacto Peptone, 100µg/mL primocin, and 20% heat inactivated FBS, we were able to establish robust primary cultures of small, rounded cells. Passaging via mechanical sloughing preserved cell viability and supported 37.7 cumulative doublings over 287days, thus, an average doubling time of 182.4h. The results highlight the importance of conditioned media for sustaining proliferation, while also identifying challenges related to metabolite accumulation and slow doubling times. These preliminary findings provide an avenue for expanding the diversity of insect cell lines, with promising implications for both cellular agriculture and fundamental biotechnology research.

Oleanolic acid prevents ferroptosis and enhances oocyte competence during in vitro maturation in a porcine model.

Artificial diets for silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) rearing have emerged as a significant technological advancement aimed at overcoming limitations associated with conventional mulberry leaf-based sericulture. Traditional rearing systems are constrained by seasonal leaf availability, labour intensity, geographical limitations, and increased risk of disease transmission through contaminated foliage. The development of artificial diets has enabled controlled, year-round rearing while providing standardized nutritional conditions that support both commercial silk production and experimental applications. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the historical development, nutritional requirements, formulation strategies, gut microbiome interactions, physiological responses, and commercial implications of artificial diet-based silkworm rearing. Protein quality and amino acid balance play a decisive role in larval growth and silk protein synthesis, while carbohydrates and lipids contribute to energy metabolism and physiological stability. Recent studies highlight the importance of gut microbiota in nutrient utilization and immune regulation, with probiotic and synbiotic approaches emerging as promising strategies to enhance performance under artificial feeding conditions (Xin et al., 2024). Although modern artificial diets can support complete silkworm development with performance approaching that of mulberry-fed systems, challenges remain in replicating the complex bioactive composition of natural leaves, maintaining microbial balance, and reducing production costs. Advances in metabolomics, microbiome research, precision nutrition, and sustainable ingredient sourcing provide new opportunities for optimizing artificial diet formulations. Future research should focus on improving nutritional efficiency, enhancing gut health, and integrating automated rearing technologies to ensure sustainable and economically viable sericulture systems. Artificial diet technology is therefore expected to play an increasingly important role in advancing modern sericulture and expanding silkworm applications in biotechnology and biomedical research.

Transient gene expression in intact plants is essential for rapidly addressing biological questions, and the current toolkit can be improved to achieve higher efficiency and a broader range of plant species. Here, we introduce VAST (Vacuum and Sonication-Assisted Transient transformation): a transient transformation method that substantially enhances gene expression efficiency and versatility across diverse monocot and eudicot seedlings. By systematically optimizing plant growth conditions and incorporating vacuum infiltration and sonication pretreatments prior to seedling coculture with Agrobacterium tumefaciens, we significantly improved transient gene expression efficiency while minimizing tissue damage compared to existing methods in Arabidopsis thaliana. We further demonstrated the broad applicability of VAST by successfully transforming key crop species, including tomato, Brassica rapa, Medicago sativa, Setaria italica (foxtail millet), switchgrass, maize, and wheat. We also presented a case study using VAST-mediated transient transformation, in which a cross-species analysis of nitrate-responsive gene expression highlighted both conserved and divergent biological responses between A. thaliana and S. italica. VAST's simplicity, versatility, and efficiency make it a powerful tool for functional genomics, synthetic biology, and biotechnology research, opening new avenues for rapid exploration of gene function, regulation, and editing across diverse plant systems.

Newcastle disease virus: global distribution, molecular insights and implications for biotechnology and translational Research

Time Series Data Mining for Linking the Shape of Bacterial Growth Curves to Biological Functions.

What is the frequency of ovulatory recovery (OvR) after different degrees of total weight loss (TWL) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and obesity, and can an excessive degree of TWL be identified that is harmful to the chance of OvR? Any degree of TWL was associated with a higher likelihood of OvR, and no upper threshold of TWL associated with reduced OvR was identified. Modest weight loss (5-10%) improves reproductive function in women with PCOS. However, the relationship between greater degrees of TWL and OvR remains uncertain. Secondary post hoc analysis of a multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial (BAMBINI) conducted in the UK between February 2020 and April 2023. Eighty women were randomised (1:1) to standard medical care or vertical sleeve gastrectomy. Seventy-five were included in this analysis and followed up for 52 weeks. Participants had PCOS, a BMI of 35 kg/m2 or higher, and oligomenorrhea/amenorrhoea. OvR was defined as two consecutive biochemically confirmed ovulatory events (serum progesterone 16.0 nmol/l or higher), occurring 3-5 weeks apart within the 52 week follow up period. Associations between TWL, reproductive hormones, and OvR were analysed using logistic regression. Analyses were exploratory and not prespecified. At 52 weeks, 50.8% (38/75) achieved OvR. OvR occurred in 19% of participants without weight loss and in >50% of those who lost weight. Each 1% reduction in body weight was associated with a 5.6% increase in the odds of OvR (OR 0.944, 95% CI 0.900-0.990). Higher baseline serum anti-Müllerian hormone (OR 0.963, 95% CI [0.938-0.988]; P = 0.004) and higher plasma total testosterone (OR 0.324, 95% CI [0.142-0.742]; P = 0.008) were associated with lower odds of OvR. Greater TWL following bariatric surgery was associated with increased sex hormone-binding globulin and reduced free androgen index. This was an exploratory post hoc analysis not designed to define optimal or upper TWL thresholds. The study was not powered to detect potential adverse reproductive effects at higher degrees of TWL. These findings suggest that OvR in women with PCOS and obesity improves progressively with increasing TWL, supporting weight loss strategies including bariatric surgery in appropriately selected women not seeking imminent pregnancy. The Jon Moulton Charity Trust funded the BAMBINI trial. This work was supported by grants from the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR), the NIHR/Wellcome Trust Imperial Clinical Research Facility, and the NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Centre. The Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine was funded by grants from the Medical Research Council (MRC), Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), and the NIHR, and was supported by the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre Funding Scheme. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the MRC, the NHS, the NIHR, or the Department of Health. S.N.S.S. was supported by an Imperial post-doctoral post-CCT Fellowship. A.A. was supported by an NIHR Clinician Scientist Award CS-2018-18-ST2-002. All authors acknowledge infrastructure support for this research from the NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Centre (BRC).A.D.M. has received research funding from the Medical Research Council (MRC), National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), Jon Moulton Charitable Foundation, PEACEPLUS programme (EU and UK government), Anabio, Fractyl, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Gila, Randox, and Novo Nordisk. A.D.M. has received honoraria for lectures and presentations from Novo Nordisk, AstraZeneca, Currax Pharmaceuticals, Boehringer Ingelheim, Screen Health, GI Dynamics, Algorithm, Eli Lilly, Ethicon, and Medtronic. A.D.M. is a shareholder in the Beyond BMI clinic, which provides clinical obesity care. H.R. is on the advisory board for Novo Nordisk and is the national lead for the REDEFINE 3 trial. N/A.

The genus Agaricus, classified under the family Agaricaceae and order Agaricales of the class Basidiomycota, comprises nearly 500 species with a cosmopolitan distribution. This genus includes both edible and non-edible species, several of which hold significant nutritional and pharmacological value. Many of these edible mushrooms are well explored for their medicinal properties. Agaricus flocculosipes, is a recent addition in this genus introduced as an edible mushroom, but remains less explored for its therapeutic ability and commercial cultivation. This study for the first time explores medicinal properties of this mushroom. In the present study, A. flocculosipes exhibited selective inhibitory activity against Gram-positive pathogens, with the chloroform extract recording both Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) values at 50 µg/mL against Streptococcus pyogenes. Biofilm inhibition assays further demonstrated over 85% reduction in S. pyogenes biofilm formation at a concentration of 46 µg/mL. The chloroform extract also displayed potent anticancer activity, characterized by nuclear condensation, activation of caspase-9 and caspase-7, cleavage of Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and upregulation of Bax, thereby inducing apoptosis in cancer cells. Metabolomic profiling of the chloroform fraction revealed a diverse array of bioactive compounds likely contributing to these observed biological effects. Collectively, these findings position A. flocculosipes as a promising medicinal mushroom with significant potential for future pharmacological and biotechnological research.

Access to recombinant proteins is vital in basic science and biotechnology research. Cell-free gene expression systems provide one approach to address this need, but widespread utilization remains limited by the cost, complexity, and inconsistency of current platforms. To address these limitations, we carry out a multi-dimensional definitive screening design to reduce the number of reagent components and remove costly secondary energy substrates. From 1,231 different reagent formulations, we discover a simple and reproducible system based on 12 components. The optimized reagent formulation can produce 2.4 ± 0.3 g/L of protein product at the 15-µL scale (~$60/gprotein) and 3.7 ± 0.2 g/L (~$39/gprotein) at the 4-mL scale with oxygen supplementation. This provides an average 95% reduction in cost over previous cell-free reagent formulations. We further show that the optimized reagent formulation can produce nucleoside triphosphates from nitrogenous bases and ribose and that it is robust to failure across batches of cell lysates, users/locations, and in the synthesis of more than 20 different proteins. For example, we demonstrate the production of fifteen therapeutically relevant products, including full-length aglycosylated monoclonal antibodies. We anticipate that our optimized reagent formulation will democratize the use of cell-free systems for protein manufacturing and synthetic biology applications.

Monitoring cell culture status is fundamental in biological and biotechnological research to ensure experimental reproducibility and reliability. However, existing subculturing methods, based on manual observation of cell morphology and media color, are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and prone to variability due to subjective interpretation. In this study, we developed and validated C-Bell, a non-invasive, low cost, Arduino-based automated monitoring system that measures and analyzes color changes in cell culture media in real time. This system uses an integrated RGB color sensor to quantitatively detect pH-dependent media color changes associated with cell metabolic activity, converting the data into a standardized index, the C-Bell Index. To evaluate the performance of the C-Bell device, we first used control and acidified media to verify the RGB sensor’s ability to detect and quantify color changes. Furthermore, we applied the system to lung cancer cell lines seeded at various densities, measuring and analyzing media acidification under actual cell culture conditions using the C-Bell Index. The C-Bell index-based real-time cell culture media analysis results were cross-validated using microscopic observations. The C-Bell device enables continuous automated monitoring of culture plates in a CO₂ incubator, eliminating the need for labor-intensive and subjective manual inspections. It reduces experimenter bias, lowers labor demands, and enhances experimental reproducibility. The modular and scalable design of C-Bell enables adaptation to diverse culture conditions and laboratory environments, providing a practical, reliable tool for automated cell culture monitoring in basic and translational research.

Anticipating mesenchymal stem cell quantification: CD63-Expressing small extracellular vesicles in cord blood serum: A proof of concept study.

Introduction. Plants of the genus Taxus are representatives of relict gymnosperms, which are characterized by longevity, slow growth rate and lim-ited range of growth. Some specimens of yew plants are up to 3,000 years old. The valuable wood of Taxus plants is capable of accumulating unique secondary metabolites that are successfully used in the treatment of oncological diseases. The most promising source for obtaining these substanc-es, in particular, taxol, are the vegetative parts of plants (bark). As for the reproductive organs represented by the seed surrounded by arillus, studies on the cytotoxic effect of the extractive substances of arillus are not numerous. In addition, the cytotoxic activity of extractive substances obtained from the vegetative organs of various yew species (berry, pointed and Canadian) growing in Russia, including in the Moscow region, has not been stud-ied. The aim of the study was to study the cytotoxic potential of introduced and successfully grown yew plants belonging to various species in the Mos-cow region. To evaluate the cytotoxic effect of extractive substances from vegetative and generative organs of yew on cancer (HepG, 2A-172, HeLa) and human embryonic mesenchymal stem cells. (FetMSC). Material and methods. The object of the research was ethanol extracts of shoots (needles, stem) collected from two different male plants Taxus baccata L. introduced in the Moscow region, as well as from the dioecious plant Taxus canadensis Marsh.. and from male plants growing in the Far Eastern region (Vladivostok) Taxus cuspidata Siebold et Zucc. In addition, the cytotoxic effect of extracts from mature, red-colored Canadian yew aryl-lus (Taxus canadensis Marsh.) was separately evaluated. The cytotoxic properties of plant extracts were studied using an MTT test. Results. Extracts obtained from the vegetative parts of yew showed high cytotoxicity in relation to human cancer cells: A-172 (human glioblastoma), HeLa (human cervical adenocarcinoma, clone M), HepG2 (human hepatocellular carcinoma). Among the yew species studied, the Canadian yew is characterized by the highest cytotoxicity, where extractive substances from its shoots have shown the best results. However, extracts from Canadian yew arillus did not have pronounced cytotoxic activity. Conclusion. The studied extracts are low-toxic for human embryonic mesenchymal stem cells (FetMSC). At the same time, the studied species and parts of plants are objects for further biotechnological research.

This bibliometric review aimed to map recent scientific production (2020–2026) on autochthonous bacterial strains applied to the food industry, focusing on experimental studies retrieved from the Scopus® database. Boolean operators and truncation were applied to refine searches and exclude yeast-related terms, and keyword co-occurrence analysis was performed using VOSviewer (v1.6.20). A total of 44,095 experimental articles were analyzed. Results revealed a stable annual output exceeding 8000 papers between 2021 and 2024, indicating sustained scientific interest in the topic. China and the United States accounted for over 55% of total publications, with Chinese institutions and funding agencies showing predominant activity. Research was mainly distributed across Biochemistry, Genetics, Molecular Biology, Medicine, and Microbiology, reflecting applied and mechanistic approaches. Two major thematic clusters were identified: one focused on gastrointestinal health and microbiota modulation and another centered on microbial metabolism, probiotic functionality, and biochemical characterization. The findings confirm the growing scientific and technological relevance of autochthonous strains in improving food quality, safety, and functionality, especially in fermented products, and provide valuable insights for guiding future research and innovation in food microbiology and biotechnology.

The increasing demand for sustainable agricultural practices has led to a growing interest in biofertilizers and biopesticides as eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic agrochemicals. Biofertilizers enhance soil fertility and plant growth by facilitating nutrient availability through biological processes, while biopesticides provide effective pest and disease management using natural agents such as microorganisms, plant extracts, and biochemical compounds. Recent advances in biotechnology, formulation techniques, and microbial research have significantly improved the efficiency, stability, and applicability of these biological inputs. This review explores the types, mechanisms, and applications of biofertilizers and biopesticides in modern agriculture, along with recent technological developments. It also highlights key challenges, limitations, and future research directions necessary for large-scale adoption. The integration of biofertilizers and biopesticides into agricultural systems offers a promising pathway toward sustainable, environmentally friendly, and climate-resilient crop production.

Abstract. Jafron, Sutarno, Pangastuti A, Solichatun, Sugiyarto, Sunarto, Setyawan AD. 2025. Application of ISSR markers reveals extensive genetic variability in the tropical lycophyte Selaginella ciliaris. Asian J Trop Biotechnol 22: 80-93. Genetic information on early-diverging vascular plants remains limited, despite their ecological importance and emerging relevance in biotechnology. This study assessed genetic variability in the tropical lycophyte Selaginella ciliaris uses Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) markers as a cost-effective molecular approach for non-model plants. A total of 27 samples were analyzed using selected ISSR primers, generating clear and reproducible banding patterns. A total of 49 loci were scored, all of which were polymorphic (100% polymorphism), indicating a very high level of genetic variability. Dice genetic similarity coefficients were consistently low, ranging from 0.0000 to 0.0816, with the majority of pairwise comparisons falling below 0.05. Dice genetic similarity values were consistently low, and the frequency distribution of similarity classes was strongly skewed toward very low similarity ranges, reflecting pronounced multilocus differentiation. UPGMA cluster analysis further revealed the absence of dominant genetic groups, with samples forming small clusters and numerous singletons. These results demonstrate substantial genetic heterogeneity within S. ciliaris at a regional scale. The study confirms the effectiveness of ISSR markers for detecting genetic variability in non-model tropical plants lacking genomic resources. From an applied perspective, the high genetic diversity observed highlights the potential of S. ciliaris as a valuable genetic resource for early-stage germplasm screening, conservation planning, and future biotechnological research. This work provides baseline molecular insights into an understudied lycophyte and underscores the utility of ISSR markers as an accessible tool bridging biodiversity assessment and tropical plant biotechnology.

Protein glycosylation in insects: types, functions, and variation.

Innate immune priming by n-dodecyl-β-D-maltoside in murine models of bacterial and viral infection.

Algae are some of the most important members of fresh water systems and are primary producers, ecological indicators, and biogeochemical cycle regulators. Their distribution and diversity reflect the health and productivity of aquatic habitats. The present study aims to examine species composition, abundance pattern and ecological importance of algae in selected ponds of Chitradurga district, Karnataka. Based on structured qualitative and quantitative sampling, it describes the distribution of the significant algal groups and investigates the way environmental conditions affect their distribution. Because algae are significant in oxygen production and nutrient recycling and energy transport in aquatic food webs, their diversity is crucial to ecosystem-level stability assessment. Also, owing to their production of bioactive compounds, algae have broad applications in biotechnology, environmental management, and pharmaceutical research. Due to increasing anthropogenic pressures on freshwater bodies of Chitradurga, the study of algal diversity stands specific value for both ecological monitoring and conservation purposes. It is anticipated that this study will inform the region on baseline assessment performance, and establish algae as bioindicators of water quality and ecosystem health. This study is also beneficial to biodiversity conservation and serves to inform decisions related to sustainable water resource use in Chitradurga district.

PGPR are considered a sustainable alternative to improve crop productivity, for its ability to biostimulate plant growth, induce systemic resistance, increasing tolerance to abiotic stress, among other benefits. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of plant growth-promoting rhizosphere bacteria (PGPR) on the germination and development of corn plants. Seven strains obtained from the Biotechnology Research Center (CEB) of the Santa Elena Peninsula State University, Ecuador, were reactivated, corn seeds were inoculated, and planted to evaluate germination and plant development in two stages (laboratory and nursery). The rhizobacteria significantly promoted germination by up to 17 %, emergence, and initial growth of corn, especially the species Stenotrophomonas pavanii and Pantoea dispersa. In addition, P. dispersa (b) species increased stomatal density on both leaf surfaces, which could be associated with better photosynthetic efficiency and water use. In conclusion, S. pavanii and P. dispersa strains promote germination and growth of Azor corn, the phylogenetic analysis indicates close groupings with reference isolates for their efficacy with significant potential such as (PGPR) with documented biotechnological capabilities for the genera Pantoea and Stenotrophomonas.