Evaluating functionalities of food components by a model simulating human intestinal microbiota constructed at Kobe University
Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2024 Mar 5;87:103103. doi: 10.1016/j.copbio.2024.103103. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTIn this era of pandemics, reducing the risk of lifestyle-related diseases (LRD) by functional foods is of paramount importance. The conventional process of functional food development almost invariably involves in vitro, animal, and human intervention trials, but differences in intestinal environments between humans and experimental animals make it difficult to develop functional foods that are truly effective in humans. Thus, it is necessary to construct a model that simulates the human intestinal environment to ev...
Source: Current Opinion in Biotechnology - March 6, 2024 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Ro Osawa Itsuko Fukuda Yasuhito Shirai Source Type: research
Advances in mass spectrometry-enabled at single-cell resolution
Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2024 Mar 2;87:103096. doi: 10.1016/j.copbio.2024.103096. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBiological organisms are multifaceted, intricate systems where slight perturbations can result in extensive changes in gene expression, protein abundance and/or activity, and metabolic flux. These changes occur at different timescales, spatially across cells of heterogeneous origins, and within single-cells. Hence, multimodal measurements at the smallest biological scales are necessary to capture dynamic changes in heterogeneous biological systems. Of the analytical techniques used to measure biomolecules, mass spec...
Source: Current Opinion in Biotechnology - March 3, 2024 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Rashmi Kumar Kevin J Zemaitis James M Fulcher Ljiljana Pa ša-Tolić Source Type: research
Advances in mass spectrometry-enabled at single-cell resolution
Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2024 Mar 2;87:103096. doi: 10.1016/j.copbio.2024.103096. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBiological organisms are multifaceted, intricate systems where slight perturbations can result in extensive changes in gene expression, protein abundance and/or activity, and metabolic flux. These changes occur at different timescales, spatially across cells of heterogeneous origins, and within single-cells. Hence, multimodal measurements at the smallest biological scales are necessary to capture dynamic changes in heterogeneous biological systems. Of the analytical techniques used to measure biomolecules, mass spec...
Source: Current Opinion in Biotechnology - March 3, 2024 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Rashmi Kumar Kevin J Zemaitis James M Fulcher Ljiljana Pa ša-Tolić Source Type: research
Engineering metalloproteinase inhibitors: tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases or antibodies, that is the question
Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2024 Mar 1;86:103094. doi: 10.1016/j.copbio.2024.103094. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTTargeting metalloproteinases (MPs) has been the center of attention for developing therapeutics due to their contribution to a wide range of diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular, neurodegenerative disease, and preterm labor. Protein-based MP inhibitors offer higher stability and selectivity, which is critical for developing efficient therapeutics with low off-target effects. Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), natural inhibitors of MPs, and antibodies provide excellent protein scaffolds for engine...
Source: Current Opinion in Biotechnology - March 2, 2024 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Masoud Kalantar Gregory A Hilpert Ethan R Mosca Maryam Raeeszadeh-Sarmazdeh Source Type: research
Droplet-based microfluidics and enzyme evolution
We describe how droplet-based microfluidics has been used to advance directed evolution.PMID:38430713 | DOI:10.1016/j.copbio.2024.103097 (Source: Current Opinion in Biotechnology)
Source: Current Opinion in Biotechnology - March 2, 2024 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Ankit Jain Stavros Stavrakis Andrew deMello Source Type: research
Innovations and trends in antibody repertoire analysis
Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2024 Feb 29;86:103082. doi: 10.1016/j.copbio.2024.103082. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTMonoclonal antibodies have revolutionized the treatment of human diseases, which has made them the fastest-growing class of therapeutics, with global sales expected to reach $346.6 billion USD by 2028. Advances in antibody engineering and development have led to the creation of increasingly sophisticated antibody-based therapeutics (e.g. bispecific antibodies and chimeric antigen receptor T cells). However, approaches for antibody discovery have remained comparatively grounded in conventional yet reliable in vitro ...
Source: Current Opinion in Biotechnology - March 1, 2024 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Douglas R Townsend Dalton M Towers Jason J Lavinder Gregory C Ippolito Source Type: research
Innovations and trends in antibody repertoire analysis
Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2024 Feb 29;86:103082. doi: 10.1016/j.copbio.2024.103082. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTMonoclonal antibodies have revolutionized the treatment of human diseases, which has made them the fastest-growing class of therapeutics, with global sales expected to reach $346.6 billion USD by 2028. Advances in antibody engineering and development have led to the creation of increasingly sophisticated antibody-based therapeutics (e.g. bispecific antibodies and chimeric antigen receptor T cells). However, approaches for antibody discovery have remained comparatively grounded in conventional yet reliable in vitro ...
Source: Current Opinion in Biotechnology - March 1, 2024 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Douglas R Townsend Dalton M Towers Jason J Lavinder Gregory C Ippolito Source Type: research
Biobased de novo synthesis, upcycling, and recycling - the heartbeat toward a green and sustainable polyethylene terephthalate industry
Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2024 Feb 28;86:103079. doi: 10.1016/j.copbio.2024.103079. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTPolyethylene terephthalate (PET) has revolutionized the industrial sector because of its versatility, with its predominant uses in the textiles and packaging materials industries. Despite the various advantages of this polymer, its synthesis is, unfavorably, tightly intertwined with nonrenewable fossil resources. Additionally, given its widespread use, accumulating PET waste poses a significant environmental challenge. As a result, current research in the areas of biological recycling, upcycling, and de novo synthe...
Source: Current Opinion in Biotechnology - February 29, 2024 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Fabia Weiland Michael Kohlstedt Christoph Wittmann Source Type: research
Biobased de novo synthesis, upcycling, and recycling - the heartbeat toward a green and sustainable polyethylene terephthalate industry
Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2024 Feb 28;86:103079. doi: 10.1016/j.copbio.2024.103079. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTPolyethylene terephthalate (PET) has revolutionized the industrial sector because of its versatility, with its predominant uses in the textiles and packaging materials industries. Despite the various advantages of this polymer, its synthesis is, unfavorably, tightly intertwined with nonrenewable fossil resources. Additionally, given its widespread use, accumulating PET waste poses a significant environmental challenge. As a result, current research in the areas of biological recycling, upcycling, and de novo synthe...
Source: Current Opinion in Biotechnology - February 29, 2024 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Fabia Weiland Michael Kohlstedt Christoph Wittmann Source Type: research
Harnessing biocatalysis to achieve selective functional group interconversion of monomers
Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2024 Feb 27;86:103093. doi: 10.1016/j.copbio.2024.103093. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTPolymeric materials are ubiquitous to modern life. However, reliance of petroleum for polymeric building blocks is not sustainable. The synthesis of macromolecules from recalcitrant polymer waste feedstocks, such as plastic waste and lignocellulosic biomass, presents an opportunity to bypass the use of petroleum-based feedstocks. However, the deconstruction and transformation of these alternative feedstocks remained limited until recently. Herein, we highlight examples of monomers liberated from the deconstruction ...
Source: Current Opinion in Biotechnology - February 28, 2024 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Madan R Gopal Aditya M Kunjapur Source Type: research
Harnessing biocatalysis to achieve selective functional group interconversion of monomers
Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2024 Feb 27;86:103093. doi: 10.1016/j.copbio.2024.103093. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTPolymeric materials are ubiquitous to modern life. However, reliance of petroleum for polymeric building blocks is not sustainable. The synthesis of macromolecules from recalcitrant polymer waste feedstocks, such as plastic waste and lignocellulosic biomass, presents an opportunity to bypass the use of petroleum-based feedstocks. However, the deconstruction and transformation of these alternative feedstocks remained limited until recently. Herein, we highlight examples of monomers liberated from the deconstruction ...
Source: Current Opinion in Biotechnology - February 28, 2024 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Madan R Gopal Aditya M Kunjapur Source Type: research
Mineralized collagen scaffolds for regenerative engineering applications
Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2024 Feb 24;86:103080. doi: 10.1016/j.copbio.2024.103080. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTCollagen is a primary constituent of the tissue extracellular matrix. As a result, collagen has been a common component of tissue engineering biomaterials, including those to promote bone regeneration or to investigate cell-material interactions in the context of bone homeostasis or disease. This review summarizes key considerations regarding current state-of-the-art design and use of collagen biomaterials for these applications. We also describe strategic opportunities for collagen biomaterials to address a new er...
Source: Current Opinion in Biotechnology - February 25, 2024 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Vasiliki Kolliopoulos Brendan Ac Harley Source Type: research
Mineralized collagen scaffolds for regenerative engineering applications
Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2024 Feb 24;86:103080. doi: 10.1016/j.copbio.2024.103080. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTCollagen is a primary constituent of the tissue extracellular matrix. As a result, collagen has been a common component of tissue engineering biomaterials, including those to promote bone regeneration or to investigate cell-material interactions in the context of bone homeostasis or disease. This review summarizes key considerations regarding current state-of-the-art design and use of collagen biomaterials for these applications. We also describe strategic opportunities for collagen biomaterials to address a new er...
Source: Current Opinion in Biotechnology - February 25, 2024 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Vasiliki Kolliopoulos Brendan Ac Harley Source Type: research
Mineralized collagen scaffolds for regenerative engineering applications
Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2024 Feb 24;86:103080. doi: 10.1016/j.copbio.2024.103080. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTCollagen is a primary constituent of the tissue extracellular matrix. As a result, collagen has been a common component of tissue engineering biomaterials, including those to promote bone regeneration or to investigate cell-material interactions in the context of bone homeostasis or disease. This review summarizes key considerations regarding current state-of-the-art design and use of collagen biomaterials for these applications. We also describe strategic opportunities for collagen biomaterials to address a new er...
Source: Current Opinion in Biotechnology - February 25, 2024 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Vasiliki Kolliopoulos Brendan Ac Harley Source Type: research
Precision fermentation for improving the quality, flavor, safety, and sustainability of foods
Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2024 Feb 22;86:103084. doi: 10.1016/j.copbio.2024.103084. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTPrecision fermentation involves the rewiring of metabolic pathways in generally recognized as safe microorganisms, fermentation scale-up, and downstream processing to produce food ingredients from abundant and inexpensive substrates. Using precise genome editing of food-fermenting microorganisms, precision fermentation can also produce fermented foods with more desirable properties. These genetic tools allow for the manipulation of flavors and nutritional content in fermented foods, the economic production of funct...
Source: Current Opinion in Biotechnology - February 23, 2024 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Karson Hilgendorf Yirong Wang Michael J Miller Yong-Su Jin Source Type: research
