Research Articles (Biotechnology)

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Application of nanotechnology and proteomic tools in crop development towards sustainable agriculture
(Springer, 2024) Daniel, Augustine Innalegwu; Hüsselmann, Lizex; Shittu, Oluwatosin Kudirat; Gokul, Arun
The increase in global population which translates to increased demand for food called for urgent attention from key players and policy makers in agricultural sector. Also, the effects of climate change and its consequent biotic and abiotic stresses in plants has greatly affect the sustainability of agriculture and production of food. These challenges require novel and sustainable approaches to improve the quality and yield of crops. The vast application of nanoparticles in different fields of study is attributed to their distinct chemical and physical characteristics. However, in agriculture, their application is limited because of their safety concern. Currently, research is tailored to study the response of plants to various nanoparticle treatments; however, these studies are inconclusive due to limited knowledge on the mechanisms of plant–nanoparticle interactions. Recently, studies on nanobiotechnology have taken a new dimension from preliminary bioassay experiments to more complex, research-oriented studies using various omics tools. Changes in protein expression caused by plant–nanoparticle interaction at any developmental stages, or tissue types may be investigated using suitable proteomics techniques. This review discussed the various applications of nanotechnology and proteomic tools in plant growth and development. Plant–nanoparticle interactions and the application of nanoparticles and proteomic tools in genetic engineering of plants to attain agricultural sustainability and food safety are also discussed. Informative and thorough understanding of plant–nanoparticle interaction will serve as a blueprint that will enable plant scientist and genetic engineers to develop plant biomarkers and explore their potential application for crop improvement.
Salinity modulates morpho-physiology, biochemical and antioxidant defence system in Tetragonia decumbens Mill.: a neglected wild leafy vegetable in South Africa
(Springer, 2024) Barker, Adelé Mariska
Tetragonia decumbens is an edible halophyte that grows naturally in saline environment; however, its tolerance mechanisms are poorly understood for bio-saline agriculture. So, this research was designed to look into how salinity affects vegetative growth, leaf succulence, chlorophyll content, cation accumulation, oxidative stress indicators, and antioxidative defence mechanisms involved in the salt tolerance of T. decumbens. Saline conditions were prepared by dissolving sodium chlorine (NaCl) in the nutritive solution. The control was maintained and only watered with nutrient solution while the tested treatments contained graded NaCl doses (250, 200, 150, 100, and 50 mM). Results revealed a substantial enhancement in shoot length, number of branches, relative water content, as well as total fresh weight in plants irrigated with 50 and 100 mM NaCl in comparison to the control, while higher saline concentrations (150–250 mM NaCl) reduced plant growth and chlorophyll content. Similarly, these high salt concentrations induced more severe oxidative stress indicated by high amounts of superoxide, cell death viability and malondialdehyde, with the most pronounced effect at the highest NaCl concentration (250 mM). Nevertheless, T. decumbens modulated various defence mechanisms with increasing salinity stress, these include the upregulation of superoxide dismutase, catalase, polyphenols, flavonoids, proanthocyanidins and the build-up of sodium ions in the leaves. These results show that T. decumbens can withstand salinity by modifying its morpho-physiological traits, antioxidant defence systems, and managing ion toxicity and oxidative stress efficiently, since all plants withstand salinity without showing signs of toxicity.
Consumer awareness, utilization, and acceptance of orange-fleshed sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) value-added food products in Elgeyo Marakwet county, Kenya
(Enviro Research Publishers, 2024) Juliana Jepkemoi Cheboi; Marshall Keyster; George Abong
Sweet potatoe is a crucial crop for food security. promoted in Kenya due to its reported health benefits and resilience to drought. The benefits and application of the sweet potato with orange flesh (OFSP) in Elgeyo Marakwet County have, however, not been established. The current research sought to establish knowledge, method of utilization, and acceptability of specialty products made from OFSP. Information on sweet potato knowledge and use was gathered from 201 smallholder farmers in Endo ward, Elgeyo Marakwet County, using a multi-stage sampling technique. Promotion of recipes of OFSP value-added products was undertaken among 30 selected farmers through practical demonstration and a farmer participation approach. The evaluation was undertaken through semi-structured questionnaires and scoring sheets for the preferred products and reasons to support their preferences. The results indicated that 82.6% of farmers in Elgeyo Marakwet are aware Compared to other crops, sweet potatoes are easier to grow and more suited to difficult climates (80.1 %). They were also aware of the advantages OFSP has for health (61.7%) and as a household food security crop (79.1%). However, 89.1% of the farmers have inadequate knowledge and skills in value addition. The majority of the farmers (70%) boil the sweet potatoes while 30% make snacks out of the OFSP. Consumer knowledge, utilization, and acceptability are influenced by demographic factors such as gender, education levels, size of land, and occupation. Products made with OFSP puree are the most preferred over wheat justifying its uses to produce acceptable and nutritious chapati, mandazi, and yogurt as part of diversification from the current practice of simply eating the boiled roots. These results suggest that increased efforts are required to educate farmers about the nutritional advantages of cultivating and consuming OFSP. to boost agricultural value addition and boost the amount of vitamin A in households’ diet.
Comparative assessment of autoclave- and microwave-facilitated seawater pretreatments for the enhancement of sugar recovery from banana pseudostem
(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2024) Sewsynker-Sukai, Yeshona
This study evaluated the efficacy of optimized autoclave-assisted seawater (A-SW) and microwave-assisted seawater (M-SW) pretreatments in improving sugar production from banana pseudostem. Subsequently, the structural changes of banana pseudostem, along with inhibitory compound concentrations were assessed under the conditions optimized for A-SW and M-SW pretreatment models. High coefficient of determination (R2) value (> 0.82) was obtained for both A-SW and M-SW. In addition, comparable reducing sugar of 0.41 ± 0.01 g/g and glucose yield of 0.24 ± 0.001 g/g were obtained from the optimized A-SW pretreatment, compared with the reducing sugar yield of 0.23 ± 0.004 g/g and glucose yield of 0.14 ± 002 g/g from the optimized M-SW regime. Furthermore, the A-SW high pretreatment efficiency was confirmed by changes in the biomass structure and low concentration of inhibitory compounds. Therefore, the potential use of abundant and sustainable seawater-based in this study with different heating mechanisms for pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass provides a novel strategy to reduce the costs associated with the application of chemicals and scarce fresh water in lignocellulosic biorefineries.
Synthesis of chlorotoxin functionalized metallic nanoparticles and their in vitro evaluation of cytotoxic effects in nervous system cancer cell lines
(Institute of Physics Publishing, 2024) Boltman, Taahirah; Sibuyi, Nicole Remaliah Samantha; Ekpo, Okobi; Meyer, Mervin
The treatment of glioblastoma (GB) and neuroblastoma (NB)remains a challenge, as current chemotherapies are plagued with systemic toxicity, drug resistance, and inadequate blood–brain barrier(BBB) penetration. Therefore, novel therapeutic strategies with high specificity and the capacity to bypass the BBB are required. Chlorotoxin (CTX)selectively targets gliomas and neuroectodermal tumors, hence the use of CTX-targeted nanoparticles(NPs)represents a promising therapeutic approach for nervous system (NS) cancers. Bimetallic NPs composed of two metals such as gold-platinum NPs(AuPtNPs) exhibit enhanced anticancer properties compared to single-metal NPs, however their application in studying NS tumors has been relatively limited. CTX-functionalized monometallic gold NPs(CTX-AuNPs) and bimetallic gold-platinum NPs(CTX-AuPtNPs)were synthesized in this study. The NPs were characterized by Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy (UV–vis), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy (FTIR). Cytotoxicity of NPs was investigated in cancer(U87 and SH-SY5Y) and non-cancer(KMST-6) cells using the water-soluble tetrazolium (WST)-1 assay. The CTX-AuNPs and CTX-AuPtNPs had a core size of∼5 nm. The CTX-AuPtNPs showed significant anticancer activity in U87 cells possibly due to the synergistic effects of combined metals. Findings obtained from this study demonstrated that CTX can be used to target NS cancers and that bimetallic NPs could be effective in their treatment. More studies are required to investigate the mechanisms of NPs toxicity, and further explore the hyperthermia treatment of NS cancer using the CTX-AuPtNPs.
Detection and genome sequencing of lumpy skin disease viruses in wildlife game species in South Africa
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2024) van Schalkwyk, Antoinette; Kara, Pravesh; Last, Robert
Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) has recently undergone rapid spread, now being reported from more than 80 countries, affecting predominantly cattle and to a lesser extent, water buffalo. This poxvirus was previously considered to be highly host-range restricted. However, there is an increasing number of published reports on the detection of the virus from different game animal species. The virus has not only been shown to infect a wide range of game species under experimental conditions, but has also been naturally detected in oryx, giraffe, camels and gazelle. In addition, clinical lumpy skin disease has previously been described in springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis), an African antelope species, in South Africa. This report describes the characterization of lumpy skin disease virus belonging to cluster 1.2, from field samples from springbok, impala (Aepyceros melampus) and a giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) in South Africa using PCR, Sanger and whole genome sequencing. Most of these samples were submitted from wild animals in nature reserves or game parks, indicating that the disease is not restricted to captive-bred animals on game farms or zoological gardens. The potential role of wildlife species in the transmission and maintenance of LSDV is further discussed and requires continuing investigation, as the virus and disease may pose a serious threat to endangered species.
Antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity screening of acyldepsipeptide-1 analogues conjugated to silver/indium/sulphide quantum dots
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2024) Cobongela, Sinazo; Makatini, Maya; Sibuyi, Nicole
The continuous rise in bacterial infections and antibiotic resistance is the driving force behind the search for new antibacterial agents with novel modes of action. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have recently gained attention as promising antibiotic agents with the potential to treat drug-resistant infections. Several AMPs have shown a lower propensity towards developing resistance compared to conventional antibiotics. However, these peptides, especially acyldepsipeptides (ADEPs) present with unfavorable pharmacokinetic properties, such as high toxicity and low bioavailability. Different ways to improve these peptides to be drug-like molecules have been explored, and these include using biocompatible nano-carriers. ADEP1 analogues (SC005-8) conjugated to gelatin-capped Silver/Indium/Sulfide (AgInS2) quantum dots (QDs) improved the antibacterial activity against Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), and Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria. The ADEP1 analogues exhibited minimum inhibition concentrations (MIC) between 63 and 500 µM, and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) values between 125 and 750 µM. The AgInS2-ADEP1 analogue conjugates showed enhanced antibacterial activity as evident from the MIC and MBC values, i.e., 1.6–25 µM and 6.3–100 µM, respectively. The AgInS2-ADEP1 analogue conjugates were non-toxic against HEK-293 cells at concentrations that showed antibacterial activity. The findings reported herein could be helpful in the development of antibacterial treatment strategies.
Plant biomarkers as early detection tools in stress management in food crops: a review
(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2024) Aina, Omolola; Bakare, Olalekan O.; Fadaka, Adewale O.
Main conclusion: Plant biomarkers are objective indicators of a plant’s cellular state in response to abiotic and biotic stress factors. They can be explored in crop breeding and engineering to produce stress-tolerant crop species. Abstract: Global food production safely and sustainably remains a top priority to feed the ever-growing human population, expected to reach 10 billion by 2050. However, abiotic and biotic stress factors negatively impact food production systems, causing between 70 and 100% reduction in crop yield. Understanding the plant stress responses is critical for developing novel crops that can adapt better to various adverse environmental conditions. Using plant biomarkers as measurable indicators of a plant’s cellular response to external stimuli could serve as early warning signals to detect stresses before severe damage occurs. Plant biomarkers have received considerable attention in the last decade as pre-stress indicators for various economically important food crops. This review discusses some biomarkers associated with abiotic and biotic stress conditions and highlights their importance in developing stress-resilient crops. In addition, we highlighted some factors influencing the expression of biomarkers in crop plants under stress. The information presented in this review would educate plant researchers, breeders, and agronomists on the significance of plant biomarkers in stress biology research, which is essential for improving plant growth and yield toward sustainable food production.
Engineering saccharomyces cerevisiae for application in integrated bioprocessing biorefineries
(Elsevier Ltd, 2024) Minnaar, Letitia S; Kruger, Francois; Fortuin, Jordan
After decades of research and development, no organism — natural or engineered — has been described that can produce commodity products through direct microbial conversion to meet industry demands in terms of rates and yields. Variation in lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) feedstocks, the lack of a widely applicable pretreatment method, and the limited economic value of energy products further complicates second-generation biofuel production. Nevertheless, the emergence of advanced genomic editing tools and a more comprehensive understanding of yeast metabolic systems offer promising avenues for the creation of yeast strains tailored to LCB biorefineries. Here, we discuss recent advances toward developing yeast strains that could convert different LCB fractions into a series of economically viable commodity products in a biorefinery.
Evaluation of terpenes rich hura crepitans extract on glucose regulation and diabetic complications in stz-induced diabetic rats
(Elsevier Masson s.r.l., 2024-08-23) Lukman, Halimat Yusuf; Fadaka, Adewale Oluwaseun; Kuo, Yucheng
The continual increase in global diabetic statistics portends decreased productivity and life spans, thus making it a disease of concern requiring more effective and safe therapeutic options. While several reports on antidiabetic plants, including Hura crepitans, are available, there is still a dearth of information on the holistic antidiabetic properties of H. crepitans and its associated complications. This study evaluated the antidiabetic potential of methanolic extract of Hura crepitans using in vitro, in vivo, and in silico approaches. The extract revealed a dosedependent in vitro effect, with a 47.97 % and 65.34 % decrease in the fasting blood sugar levels of streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats at 150 and 300 mg/kg BW, respectively. Likewise, the extract increased serum and pancreatic insulin levels, and significantly ameliorated neuronal oxidative stress and inflammation by reducing the expression levels of cholinesterase, NF-κB, and COX-2 in the brain of hyperglycemic rats. Serum dyslipidemia, liver, and kidney biomarker indices, and hematological alterations in diabetic rats were also significantly attenuated by the extract. Several constituents, mainly terpenes, were identified in the extract. To further predict the drug-likeness, pharmacokinetics, and binding properties of the compounds, in silico analysis was conducted. Ergosta-2,24-dien-26-oicacid,18-(acetyloxy)-5,6-epoxy-4, 22-dihydroxy-1-oxo-,delta.-lactone-4.beta., displayed the highest docking scores for acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterases, alpha-amylase, and nuclear factor-kB with values of − 12.4, − 10.9, − 10.3, and − 9.4 kcal/mol, while ergost-25-ene-6,12-dione,3,5-dihydroxy-, (3. beta.,5.alpha.) topped for cyclooxygenase-2 (-9.0 kcal/mol). The top-ranked compounds also presented significant oral drug-likeness, pharmacokinetics, and safety properties. Altogether, our data provide preclinical evidence of the potential of Hura crepitans in ameliorating diabetes and its associated complications.
Farmers’ Knowledge, Perceptions and Attitudes on Crop-Dairy Goat Integration Farming System in Elgeyo Marakwet County
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2024) Keyster, Marshall; Cheboi, Juliana; Greathead, Henry
Several interventions have been promoted in dry areas to improve food and nutrition insecurity. However, studies on the key drivers influencing adoption and uptake are limited. Therefore, research was undertaken to investigate farmers’ knowledge, perceptions and attitudes on an integrated crop–dairy goat farming system in Elgeyo Marakwet. A cross-sectional study entailing a household survey of 201 respondents, six key informant interviews and eight focus group discussions was undertaken. This study utilized a multi-stage sampling procedure to sample the farmers and calculated the sample size using Krejcie and Morgan tables. Quantitative data were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS software version 22, while qualitative data were analysed using N-vivo software version 10 through the Framework Analysis method. The findings show that drought (84.6%), change in rainfall pattern (77.6%), farm size (57.2%), unavailability of quality seeds (52.2%), fodder acreage (58.7%), diseases (69.7%) and pest severity (68.7%) are the principal drivers for adoption of the integrated crop–dairy goat farming system. Dairy goats are associated with women in this community since they are regarded as small animals and have no monetary value, hence increasing the participation of women in the access, control and decision making of agricultural resources. To increase adoption, strategies focusing on improving water supply, quality seeds, agro-veterinary services and production are advocated.
Ethical considerations for Forensic Genetic Frequency databases: First Report conception and development
(Elsivier, 2024) D’Amato, Maria E; Joly, Y; Lynch, V
The Forensic Databases Advisory Board (FDAB), an independent board that assists the International Society for Forensic Genetics (ISFG), has presented a First Report on ethical aspects of the following Forensic Genetic Frequency Databases (FGFD): EMPOP, STRidER and YHRD. The FDAB designed an ethical framework to evaluate the content of these FGFD, and the factors to be considered for retention and acceptance of submissions. The FDAB framework proposes to categorize submissions according to the risk of having contravened the universal ethical principles outlined by international organizations, and the guidelines adopted by the ISFG. The report has been open to discussion by the scientific community since 2023. Herein we present the conception and development of the First Report along with a summary of its content, with consideration of the feedback received.
Molecular modeling and simulation studies of selex-derived high-affinity dna aptamers to the ebola virus nucleoprotein
(Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2024) Martin, Darius Riziki; Madiehe, Abram; Meyer, Mervin
Ebola viral disease (EVD) is a highly infectious and potentially fatal illness with a case fatality rate ranging from 25% to 90%. To effectively control its spread, there is a need for rapid, reliable and lowcost point-of-care (P OC) diagnostic tests. While various EVD diagnostic tests exist, few are P OC tests, and many are not cost-effective. The use of antibodies in these tests has limitations, prompting the exploration of aptamers as potential alternatives. Various proteins from the Ebola virus (EBOV) proteome, including EBOV nucleoprotein (NP), are considered viable targets for diagnostic assays. A previous study identified three aptamers (Apt1. Apt2 and Apt3) with high affinity for EBOV NP using systemic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX). This study aimed to employ in silico methods, such as Phyre2, RNAfold, RNAComposer, HADDOCK and GROMACS, to model the structures of EBOV NP and the aptamers, and to investigate their binding. The in silico analysis revealed successful binding of all the three aptamers to EBOV NP, with a suggested ranking of Apt1 > Apt2 > Apt3 based on binding affinity. Microscale thermophoresis (MST) analysis confirmed the binding, providing dissociation constants of 25 ± 2.84, 56 ± 2.76 and 140 ±3.69 nM for Apt1, Apt2 and Apt3, respectively. The study shows that the findings of the in silico analysis was in agreement with the MST analysis. Inclusion of these in silico approaches in diagnostic assay development can expedite the selection of candidate aptamers, potentially overcoming challenges associated with aptamer application in diagnostics.
Heavy metal stress and mitogen activated kinase transcription factors in plants: Exploring heavy metal-ros influences on plant signalling pathways
(John Wiley and Sons Inc, 2024) Niekerk, Lee-Ann; Basson, Gerhard; Klein, Ashwil; Keyster, Marshall
Due to their stationary nature, plants are exposed to a diverse range of biotic and abiotic stresses, of which heavy metal (HM) stress poses one of the most detrimental abiotic stresses, targeting diverse plant processes. HMs instigate the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and to mitigate the adverse effects of ROS, plants induce multiple defence mechanisms. Besides the negative implications of overproduction of ROS, these molecules play a multitude of signalling roles in plants, acting as a central player in the complex signalling network of cells. One of the ROS-associated signalling mechanisms is the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade, a signalling pathway which transduces extracellular stimuli into intracellular responses. Plant MAPKs have been implicated in signalling involved in stress response, phytohormone regulation, and cell cycle cues. However, the influence of various HMs on MAPK activation has not been well documented. In this review, we address and summarise several aspects related to various HM-induced ROS signalling. Additionally, we touch on how these signals activate the MAPK cascade and the downstream transcription factors that influence plant responses to HMs. Moreover, we propose a workflow that could characterise genes associated with MAPKs and their roles during plant HM stress responses.

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