Antimicrobial Potential of Aqueous Extract of Giant Sword Fern and Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry Analysis.

Vibriosis and parasitic leech infestations cause the death of various farmed fish, such as groupers, hybrid groupers, sea bass, etc., in Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries. In the absence of natural control agents, aquaculture operators rely on toxic chemicals to control Vibrio infections and parasitic leeches, which can have a negative impact on the environment and health. In the present study, we investigated the antivibrio and antiparasitic activities of the aqueous extract of giant sword fern (GSF) (Nephrolepis biserrata, Nephrolepidaceae, locally known as "Paku Pedang") against four Vibrio spp. and the parasitic leech Zeylanicobdella arugamensis, as well as its metabolic composition using the ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry system (UHPLC-HRMS). The data show that the aqueous extract of GSF at a concentration of 100 mg/mL exhibits potent bactericidal activity against V. parahaemolyticus with a zone of inhibition of 19.5 mm. In addition, the extract showed dose-dependent activity against leeches, resulting in the complete killing of the parasitic leeches within a short period of 11-43 min when tested at concentrations ranging from 100 to 25 mg/mL. The UHPLC-HRMS analysis detected 118 metabolites in the aqueous extract of GSF. Flavonoids were the primary metabolites, followed by phenolic, aromatic, fatty acyl, terpenoid, vitamin and steroidal compounds. Notably, several of these metabolites possess antibacterial and antiparasitic properties, including cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid, apigenin, quercetin, cynaroside, luteolin, naringenin, wogonin, 6-gingerol, nicotinamide, abscisic acid, daidzein, salvianolic acid B, etc. Overall, our study shows the significant antibacterial and antiparasitic potential of the GSF aqueous extract, which demonstrates the presence of valuable secondary metabolites. Consequently, the aqueous extract is a promising natural alternative for the effective control of Vibrio infections and the treatment of parasitic leeches in aquaculture systems.

Marine Bacterial Dextranases: Fundamentals and Applications.

Dextran, a renewable hydrophilic polysaccharide, is nontoxic, highly stable but intrinsically biodegradable. The α-1, 6 glycosidic bonds in dextran are attacked by dextranase (E.C. 3.2.1.11) which is an inducible enzyme. Dextranase finds many applications such as, in sugar industry, in the production of human plasma substitutes, and for the treatment and prevention of dental plaque. Currently, dextranases are obtained from terrestrial fungi which have longer duration for production but not very tolerant to environmental conditions and have safety concerns. Marine bacteria have been proposed as an alternative source of these enzymes and can provide prospects to overcome these issues. Indeed, marine bacterial dextranases are reportedly more effective and suitable for dental caries prevention and treatment. Here, we focused on properties of dextran, properties of dextran-hydrolyzing enzymes, particularly from marine sources and the biochemical features of these enzymes. Lastly the potential use of these marine bacterial dextranase to remove dental plaque has been discussed. The review covers dextranase-producing bacteria isolated from shrimp, fish, algae, sea slit, and sea water, as well as from macro- and micro fungi and other microorganisms. It is common knowledge that dextranase is used in the sugar industry; produced as a result of hydrolysis by dextranase and have prebiotic properties which influence the consistency and texture of food products. In medicine, dextranases are used to make blood substitutes. In addition, dextranase is used to produce low molecular weight dextran and cytotoxic dextran. Furthermore, dextranase is used to enhance antibiotic activity in endocarditis. It has been established that dextranase from marine bacteria is the most preferable for removing plaque, as it has a high enzymatic activity. This study lays the groundwork for the future design and development of different oral care products, based on enzymes derived from marine bacteria.

Correction: Babich et al. Modern Trends in the In Vitro Production and Use of Callus, Suspension Cells and Root Cultures of Medicinal Plants. Molecules 2020, 25, 5805.

In the original publication [...].

Alginate Lyases from Marine Bacteria: An Enzyme Ocean for Sustainable Future.

The cell wall of brown algae contains alginate as a major constituent. This anionic polymer is a composite of ß-d-mannuronate (M) and α-l-guluronate (G). Alginate can be degraded into oligosaccharides; both the polymer and its products exhibit antioxidative, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory activities and, hence, find many commercial applications. Alginate is attacked by various enzymes, collectively termed alginate lyases, that degrade glycosidic bonds through ß-elimination. Considering the abundance of brown algae in marine ecosystems, alginate is an important source of nutrients for marine organisms, and therefore, alginate lyases play a significant role in marine carbon recycling. Various marine microorganisms, particularly those that thrive in association with brown algae, have been reported as producers of alginate lyases. Conceivably, the marine-derived alginate lyases demonstrate salt tolerance, and many are activated in the presence of salts and, therefore, find applications in the food industry. Therefore, this review summarizes the structural and biochemical features of marine bacterial alginate lyases along with their applications. This comprehensive information can aid in the expansion of future prospects of alginate lyases.

Cellulolytic and Xylanolytic Enzymes from Yeasts: Properties and Industrial Applications.

Lignocellulose, the main component of plant cell walls, comprises polyaromatic lignin and fermentable materials, cellulose and hemicellulose. It is a plentiful and renewable feedstock for chemicals and energy. It can serve as a raw material for the production of various value-added products, including cellulase and xylanase. Cellulase is essentially required in lignocellulose-based biorefineries and is applied in many commercial processes. Likewise, xylanases are industrially important enzymes applied in papermaking and in the manufacture of prebiotics and pharmaceuticals. Owing to the widespread application of these enzymes, many prokaryotes and eukaryotes have been exploited to produce cellulase and xylanases in good yields, yet yeasts have rarely been explored for their plant-cell-wall-degrading activities. This review is focused on summarizing reports about cellulolytic and xylanolytic yeasts, their properties, and their biotechnological applications.

Phytotherapeutic Approaches to the Prevention of Age-Related Changes and the Extension of Active Longevity.

Maintaining quality of life with an increase in life expectancy is considered one of the global problems of our time. This review explores the possibility of using natural plant compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-glycation, and anti-neurodegenerative properties to slow down the onset of age-related changes. Age-related changes such as a decrease in mental abilities, the development of inflammatory processes, and increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes have a significant impact on maintaining quality of life. Herbal preparations can play an essential role in preventing and treating neurodegenerative diseases that accompany age-related changes, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Medicinal plants have known sedative, muscle relaxant, neuroprotective, nootropic, and antiparkinsonian properties. The secondary metabolites, mainly polyphenolic compounds, are valuable substances for the development of new anti-inflammatory and hypoglycemic agents. Understanding how mixtures of plants and their biologically active substances work together to achieve a specific biological effect can help develop targeted drugs to prevent diseases associated with aging and age-related changes. Understanding the mechanisms of the biological activity of plant complexes and mixtures determines the prospects for using metabolomic and biochemical methods to prolong active longevity.

Study of the Physicochemical and Biological Properties of the Lipid Complex of Marine Microalgae Isolated from the Coastal Areas of the Eastern Water Area of the Baltic Sea.

The Baltic Sea algae species composition includes marine euryhaline, freshwater euryhaline, and true brackish water forms. This study aimed to isolate a lipid-pigment complex from microalgae of the Baltic Sea (Kaliningrad region) and investigate its antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Microalgae were sampled using a box-shaped bottom sampler. Sequencing was used for identification. Spectroscopy and chromatography with mass spectroscopy were used to study the properties of microalgae. Antibiotic activity was determined by the disc diffusion test. Lipids were extracted using the Folch method. Analysis of the results demonstrated the presence of antimicrobial activity of the lipid-pigment complex of microalgae against E. coli (the zone diameter was 17.0 ± 0.47 mm and 17.0 ± 0.21 mm in Chlorella vulgaris and Arthrospira platensis, respectively) and Bacillus pumilus (maximum inhibition diameter 16.0 ± 0.27 mm in C. vulgaris and 16.0 ± 0.22 mm in A. platensis). The cytotoxic and antioxidant activities of the lipid complexes of microalgae C. vulgaris and A. platensis were established and their physicochemical properties and fatty acid composition were studied. The results demonstrated that the lipid-pigment complex under experimental conditions was the most effective against P. pentosaceus among Gram-positive bacteria. Antimicrobial activity is directly related to the concentration of the lipid-pigment complex. The presence of antibacterial activity in microalgae lipid-pigment complexes opens the door to the development of alternative natural preparations for the prevention of microbial contamination of feed. Because of their biological activity, Baltic Sea microalgae can be used as an alternative to banned antibiotics in a variety of fields, including agriculture, medicine, cosmetology, and food preservation.

Cell engineering method using fluorogenic oligonucleotide signaling probes and flow cytometry.

OBJECTIVE: Chromovert® Technology is presented as a new cell engineering technology to detect and purify living cells based on gene expression. METHODS: The technology utilizes fluorogenic oligonucleotide signaling probes and flow cytometry to detect and isolate individual living cells expressing one or more transfected or endogenously-expressed genes. RESULTS: Results for production of cell lines expressing a diversity of ion channel and membrane proteins are presented, including heteromultimeric epithelial sodium channel (αßγ-ENaC), sodium voltage-gated ion channel 1.7 (NaV1.7-αß1ß2), four unique γ-aminobutyric acid A (GABAA) receptor ion channel subunit combinations α1ß3γ2s, α2ß3γ2s, α3ß3γ2s and α5ß3γ2s, cystic fibrosis conductance regulator (CFTR), CFTR-Δ508 and two G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) without reliance on leader sequences and/or chaperones. In addition, three novel plasmid-encoded sequences used to introduce 3' untranslated RNA sequence tags in mRNA expression products and differentially-detectable fluorogenic probes directed to each are described. The tags and corresponding fluorogenic signaling probes streamline the process by enabling the multiplexed detection and isolation of cells expressing one or more genes without the need for gene-specific probes. CONCLUSIONS: Chromovert technology is provided as a research tool for use to enrich and isolate cells engineered to express one or more desired genes.

Influence of Carbohydrate Additives on the Growth Rate of Microalgae Biomass with an Increased Carbohydrate Content.

Our study focused on investigating the possibilities of controlling the accumulation of carbohydrates in certain microalgae species (Arthrospira platensis Gomont, Chlorella vulgaris Beijer, and Dunaliella salina Teod) to determine their potential in biofuel production (biohydrogen). It was found that after the introduction of carbohydrates (0.05 g⋅L-1) into the nutrient medium, the growth rate of the microalgae biomass increased, and the accumulation of carbohydrates reached 41.1%, 47.9%, and 31.7% for Arthrospira platensis, Chlorella vulgaris, and Dunaliella salina, respectively. Chlorella vulgaris had the highest total carbohydrate content (a mixture of glucose, fructose, sucrose, and maltose, 16.97%) among the studied microalgae, while for Arthrospira platensis and Dunaliella salina, the accumulation of total carbohydrates was 9.59% and 8.68%, respectively. Thus, the introduction of carbohydrates into the nutrient medium can stimulate their accumulation in the microalgae biomass, an application of biofuel production (biohydrogen).

Chondroprotection and Molecular Mechanism of Action of Phytonutraceuticals on Osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease and an important cause of incapacitation. There is a lack of drugs and effective treatments that stop or slow the OA progression. Modern pharmacological treatments, such as analgesics, have analgesic effects but do not affect the course of OA. Long-term use of these drugs can lead to serious side effects. Given the OA nature, it is likely that lifelong treatment will be required to stop or slow its progression. Therefore, there is an urgent need for disease-modifying OA treatments that are also safe for clinical use over long periods. Phytonutraceuticals are herbal products that provide a therapeutic effect, including disease prevention, which not only have favorable safety characteristics but may have an alleviating effect on the OA and its symptoms. An estimated 47% of OA patients use alternative drugs, including phytonutraceuticals. The review studies the efficacy and action mechanism of widely used phytonutraceuticals, analyzes the available experimental and clinical data on the effect of some phytonutraceuticals (phytoflavonoids, polyphenols, and bioflavonoids) on OA, and examines the known molecular effect and the possibility of their use for chondroprotection.

Production, Purification, and Study of the Amino Acid Composition of Microalgae Proteins.

Microalgae are known to be rich in protein. In this study, we aim to investigate methods of producing and purifying proteins of 98 microalgae including Chlorella vulgaris, Arthrospira platensis, Nostoc sp., Dunaliella salina, and Pleurochrysis carterae (Baltic Sea). Therefore, we studied their amino acid composition and developed a two-stage protein concentrate purification method from the microalgae biomass. After an additional stage of purification, the mass fraction of protein substances with a molecular weight greater than 50 kDa in the protein concentrate isolated from the biomass of the microalga Dunaliella salina increased by 2.58 times as compared with the mass fraction before filtration. In the protein concentrate isolated from the biomass of the microalga Pleurochrysis cartera, the relative content of the fraction with a molecular weight greater than 50.0 kDa reached 82.4%, which was 2.43 times higher than the relative content of the same fractions in the protein concentrate isolated from this culture before the two-stage purification. The possibilities of large-scale industrial production of microalgae biomass and an expanded range of uses determine the need to search for highly productive protein strains of microalgae and to optimize the conditions for isolating amino acids from them.

Bioactive Carbohydrate Polymers-Between Myth and Reality.

Polysaccharides are complex macromolecules long regarded as energetic storage resources or as components of plant and fungal cell walls. They have also been described as plant mucilages or microbial exopolysaccharides. The development of glycosciences has led to a partial and difficult deciphering of their other biological functions in living organisms. The objectives of glycobiochemistry and glycobiology are currently to correlate some structural features of polysaccharides with some biological responses in the producing organisms or in another one. In this context, the literature focusing on bioactive polysaccharides has increased exponentially during the last two decades, being sometimes very optimistic for some new applications of bioactive polysaccharides, notably in the medical field. Therefore, this review aims to examine bioactive polysaccharide, taking a critical look of the different biological activities reported by authors and the reality of the market. It focuses also on the chemical, biochemical, enzymatic, and physical modifications of these biopolymers to optimize their potential as bioactive agents.

Modern Trends in the In Vitro Production and Use of Callus, Suspension Cells and Root Cultures of Medicinal Plants.

This paper studies modern methods of producing and using callus, suspension cells and root cultures of medicinal plants in vitro. A new solution for natural product production is the use of an alternative source of renewable, environmentally friendly raw materials: callus, suspension and root cultures of higher plants in vitro. The possibility of using hairy root cultures as producers of various biologically active substances is studied. It is proven that the application of the genetic engineering achievements that combine in vitro tissue culture and molecular biology methods was groundbreaking in terms of the intensification of the extraction process of compounds significant for the medical industry. It is established that of all the callus processing methods, suspension and root cultures in vitro, the Agrobacterium method is the most widely used in practice. The use of agrobacteria has advantages over the biolistic method since it increases the proportion of stable transformation events, can deliver large DNA segments and does not require special ballistic devices. As a result of the research, the most effective strains of agrobacteria are identified.

Spirocyclic Motifs in Natural Products.

Spirocyclic motifs are emerging privileged structures for drug discovery. They are also omnipresent in the natural products domain. However, until today, no attempt to analyze the structural diversity of various spirocyclic motifs occurring in natural products and their relative populations with unique compounds reported in the literature has been undertaken. This review aims to fill that void and analyze the diversity of structurally unique natural products containing spirocyclic moieties of various sizes.

Associations of polymorphisms in the cytokine genes IL1ß (rs16944), IL6 (rs1800795), IL12b (rs3212227) and growth factor VEGFA (rs2010963) with anthracosilicosis in coal miners in Russia and related genotoxic effects.

Anthracosilicosis (AS), a prevalent form of pneumoconiosis among coal miners, results from the accumulation of carbon and silica in the lungs from inhaled coal dust. This study investigated genotoxic effects and certain cytokine genes polymorphic variants in Russian coal miners with АS. Peripheral leukocytes were sampled from 129 patients with AS confirmed by X-ray and tissue biopsy and from 164 asymptomatic coal miners. Four single-nucleotide polymorphisms were genotyped in the extracted DNA samples: IL1ß T-511C (rs16944), IL6 C-174G (rs1800795), IL12b A1188C (rs3212227) and VEGFA C634G (rs2010963). Genotoxic effects were assessed by the analysis of chromosome aberrations in cultured peripheral lymphocytes. The mean frequency of chromatid-type aberrations and chromosome-type aberrations, namely, chromatid-type breaks and dicentric chromosomes, was found to be higher in AS patients [3.70 (95% confidence interval {CI}, 3.29-4.10) and 0.28 (95% CI, 0.17-0.38)] compared to the control group [2.41 (95% CI, 2.00-2.82) and 0.09 (95% CI, 0.03-0.15)], respectively. IL1ß gene T/T genotype (rs16944) was associated with AS [17.83% in AS patients against 4.35% in healthy donors, odds ratio = 4.77 (1.88-12.15), P < 0.01]. A significant increase in the level of certain chromosome interchanges among AS donors is of interest because such effects are typical for radiation damage and caused by acute oxidative stress. IL1ß T allele probably may be considered as an AS susceptibility factor among coal miners.

Fermentation of micro- and macroalgae as a way to produce value-added products.

Fermentation of both microalgae and macroalgae is one of the most efficient methods of obtaining valuable value-added products due to the minimal environmental pollution and the availability of economic benefits, as algae do not require arable land and drift algae and algal bloom biomass are considered waste and must be recycled and their fermentation waste utilized. The compounds found in algae can be effectively used in the fuel, food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries, depending on the type of fermentation used. Products such as methane and hydrogen can be produced by anaerobic digestion and dark fermentation of algae, and lactic acid and its polymers can be produced by lactic acid fermentation of algae. Article aims to provide an overview of the different types potential of micro- and macroalgae fermentation, the advantages and disadvantages of each type considered, and the economic feasibility of algal fermentation for the production of various value-added products.

Synthesis of polysaccharides by microalgae Chlorella sp.

Microalgae are known to be the richest natural source of polysaccharides. The study aimed to evaluate the ability of microalgae from the Chlorella sp. genus to synthesize polysaccharides. Brody & Emerson max medium proved to be the most effective; the average cell content in the culture fluid at the beginning and at the end of cultivation for IPPAS Chlorella pyrenoidosa Chick was 1.23 ± 0.03 g/L and 1.71 ± 0.20 g/L, respectively. With a high average dry weight of IPPAS Chlorella pyrenoidosa Chick (4.45 ± 0.10 g/L), it produced the least amount of neutral sugars (0.75 ± 0.02 g/L) and uronic acids (0.14 ± 0.01 mg/L). The microalga IPPAS Chlorella vulgaris with the lowest average dry weight (1.18 ± 0.03 g/L) produced 0.80 ± 0.02 g/L of neutral sugars and 0.17 ± 0.01 mg/L of uronic acids. Microalgal polysaccharides have the potential to be used as a source for biologically active food additives, as they contain various types of polysaccharides that can be beneficial to human health.

RETRACTED: Anohova et al. The Dosidicus gigas Collagen for Scaffold Preparation and Cell Cultivation: Mechanical and Physicochemical Properties, Morphology, Composition and Cell Viability. Polymers 2023, 15, 1220.

The Polymers Editorial Office retracts the article, "The Dosidicus gigas Collagen for Scaffold Preparation and Cell Cultivation: Mechanical and Physicochemical Properties, Morphology, Composition and Cell Viability" [...].

Recombinant l-phenylalanine ammonia lyase from Rhodosporidium toruloides as a potential anticancer agent.

The recombinant producer strain expressing Rhodosporidium toruloides l-phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) has been obtained, and a purification procedure of PAL has been developed. The purified enzyme, PAL, has the following biochemical and catalytic characteristics: Km for l-Phe of 0.49 mM, pH optimum at 8.5, and temperature optimum at 50°C. PAL exhibited a significant cytotoxic effect toward the following cell lines: MCF7 (IC50 = 1.97 U/mL), DU145 (IC50 = 7.3 U/mL), which are comparable with E. coli l-asparaginase type-II cytotoxicity in vitro. Administration of PAL (200-400 U/kg) to L5178y-bearing mice for five times (a total dose of 1000-2000 U/kg) was well tolerated and showed the increase of life span (ILS) = 12-16%, P < 0.05. Data obtained suggest that PAL from R. toruloides has a potential for cancer treatment.

Study of marine microorganism metabolites: new resources for bioactive natural products.

The marine environment has remained a source of novel biological molecules with diversified applications. The ecological and biological diversity, along with a unique physical environment, have provided the evolutionary advantage to the plant, animals and microbial species thriving in the marine ecosystem. In light of the fact that marine microorganisms frequently interact symbiotically or mutualistically with higher species including corals, fish, sponges, and algae, this paper intends to examine the potential of marine microorganisms as a niche for marine bacteria. This review aims to analyze and summarize modern literature data on the biotechnological potential of marine fungi and bacteria as producers of a wide range of practically valuable products (surfactants, glyco-and lipopeptides, exopolysaccharides, enzymes, and metabolites with different biological activities: antimicrobial, antitumor, and cytotoxic). Hence, the study on bioactive secondary metabolites from marine microorganisms is the need of the hour. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the fact that for the first time, the data on new resources for obtaining biologically active natural products - metabolites of marine bacteria and fungi - were generalized. The review investigates the various kinds of natural products derived from marine microorganisms, specifically focusing on marine bacteria and fungi as a valuable source for new natural products. It provides a summary of the data regarding the antibacterial, antimalarial, anticarcinogenic, antibiofilm, and anti-inflammatory effects demonstrated by marine microorganisms. There is currently a great need for scientific and applied research on bioactive secondary metabolites of marine microorganisms from the standpoint of human and animal health.