Proposed Mechanism of Bacterial Hydroxyapatite Biosynthesis and Comparative Molecular Docking Analysis of Hydroxyapatite and Osteogenic Factors with Alkaline Phosphatase
Hydroxyapatite is a biocompatible calcium phosphate mineral with extensive applications in bone tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. This study investigated the probable molecular mechanism of bacterial hydroxyapatite biosynthesis and evaluated the predicted interaction of hydroxyapatite with an osteogenic marker protein using in silico approaches. Molecular docking was performed using Molegro Virtual Docker, and protein–protein interactions were analyzed using the STRING database. Tricalcium phosphate showed favorable interactions with the Bacillus membrane proteins YtaF and alkaline phosphatase (PhoD), with binding energies of −105.096 and −110.086 kcal/mol, respectively. STRING analysis suggested a functional association between YtaF and proteins involved in alkaline phosphatase regulation, supporting a putative biomineralization pathway. Docking analysis of osteogenic compounds revealed that hydroxyapatite exhibited the strongest predicted interaction with alkaline phosphatase (−147.45 kcal/mol), followed by dexamethasone, β-glycerophosphate, and ascorbic acid. These findings provide a hypothetical framework for bacterial hydroxyapatite formation and suggest potential molecular interactions between hydroxyapatite and osteogenic pathways. Experimental validation is required to confirm these predictions.
Antifungal Properties and Purification of Chitinase from Haloferax mediterranei Isolated from Lake Urmia in Iran
Background and Objective: Chitin and its hydrolyzing enzyme, chitinase, are produced by a variety of organisms and microorganisms. Production chitinase with Archaea are more concern today, for easy to extraction and contamination control. Therefor in this research the production of this enzyme is reported by Archaea.
Materials and Methods: 60 samples were collected from different saline areas of Iran and then enrichment and qualitative screening were performed to isolate chitinase-producing archaea. The selected strain was identified biochemically and molecularly and its optimal growth conditions were determined.
Results: Halophilic Archaea strains were isolated on chitin as the only sources of carbon for chitinase-producing archaeal strains. The result showed, a pink colony strain from Lake Urmia with chitinase activities of 5.1875 IU/ml was selected for maximum enzyme production and identified as Haloferax mediterranei by PCR reaction test. The enzyme was concentrated and partial extracted.
Conclusion: Enzyme production from archaea can be useful for industries. The hydrolysis of chitin, the second biopolymer after cellulose, which also leaves a lot of waste every year, is of great importance, therefore, with high chitinase activity from haloarchaea, it can be used in industry without bacterial contamination science this microorganism is stable only in high salt solution.
Dipeptide and Cyclic-peptide Secondary Metabolites Derived from Streptomyces: Molecular Structure and Therapeutic Applications
Purpose: In this review, we focus specifically on dipeptides and cyclic dipeptides derived from Streptomyces, exploring their structural diversity, biosynthesis pathways, and potential therapeutic applications.
Methods: This review is prepared with collection of many literatures about antimicrobial peptides from Streptomyces.
Results: Streptomyces are prolific producers of secondary metabolites and antibiotics, contributing significantly to pharmacology and industry fields. They are widely distributed in various environments. These gram-positive strains are generally non-pathogenic. While many antibiotics originate from Streptomyces, ongoing research continues to unveil novel metabolites with diverse biological activities, including anticancer, antibacterial properties, and others whose functions remain undiscovered. Some of these peptides like albonoursin and alahopsin are self-assembled dipeptides.
Conclusion: Application, design and engineering of dipeptides and cyclic dipeptides from Streptomyces could be a novel method in development of therapeutic purposes, especially for reduction of human toxicity.
PCR Identification of Subtilosin and Coagulin synthetase gene in Bacillus coagulans, Cultured in an Artificial Medium
Purpose and aim: Bacillus spp. is particularly important among probiotic microorganisms due to its resistance to extreme conditions. Bacillus coagulans, producing coagulin is a probiotic bacteria used in food products. This study aimed to genetically identify bacteriocins in B. coagulans IBRC-M 10807.
Method: The agar-well diffusion method was used to examine the antimicrobial property of the 24-hour crude supernatant. The heat and storage resistance of the crude supernatant was studied, and the HPLC technique was utilized to analyze its percentage of amino acids. Finally, the PCR method detected the presence of coagulin, subtilin, and subtilosin genes.
Results and conclusion: The results showed the antimicrobial properties of the CS against gram-positive/gram-negative bacteria. The best storage condition for the CS was -20 °C for 4 weeks, and it was resistant to <50 °C for 30 minutes. Furthermore, the artificial medium in this study with similar efficiency and a lower price, was valuable compared to the other two commercial media. PCR results showed the presence of a 3000-3500 bp band related to coagulin (observed only after plasmid extraction) and a 250-300 bp band related to subtilosin after sequencing. The sequence of the subtilosin band had 100% identity with the B. subtilis strain L4 subtilosin (albA) gene. These broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties, and their relative resistance to temperature and storage, make this strain a valuable candidate for use in probiotic products.
Fermented Fat and Oil: from Nutritional Function to Production and Regulatory Consideration
Background and Objective: Fermentation-derived fats and oils have emerged as sustainable alternatives to conventional animal and plant lipids. Oleaginous microorganisms, including yeasts, fungi, and algae, can accumulate triacylglycerols with structures similar to vegetable oils and animal fats. Advances in precision fermentation now enable tailoring of lipid profiles for nutritional and functional purposes. This review aims to examine recent progress in microbial fat production, highlight applications, and identify remaining barriers to mainstream adoption.
Search Strategy: This review synthesizes findings from recent peer-reviewed literature, focusing on strain engineering, bioprocess optimization, downstream lipid recovery, and post-fermentation modifications. Special emphasis is placed on technological innovations, regulatory considerations, and consumer perception to provide a holistic understanding of fermentation-derived fats.
Results and Conclusion: Fermentation-enabled fats demonstrate significant potential in applications such as cocoa butter equivalents, palm oil substitutes, and animal-fat analogs for plant-based meats and dairy products. These fats provide improved texture, oxidative stability, and nutritional benefits compared with traditional lipids, supported by advances in engineered yeasts, microbial oils with healthier fatty acid profiles, and pilot-scale demonstrations from industry. Nonetheless, challenges in cost reduction, scalability, regulatory approval, and consumer acceptance persist. Collectively, progress in metabolic engineering, process optimization, and post-fermentation strategies is paving the way for microbial fats to become viable, sustainable, and functional ingredients in mainstream food systems.
Mechanisms and Machines: On the Continued Relevance of Mathematical Modeling in Biological Sciences
Mathematical modeling has long provided mechanistic insight and predictive power across biological scales, from the structure and dynamics of biomolecules to neural activity and even up to population dynamics and epidemics. With the rise of machine learning and large-scale data, its continued relevance is sometimes questioned. We argue that mathematical models remain indispensable: they support interpretability, causal insight, and principled generalization beyond what is commonly attainable with purely data-driven methods. At the same time, modern machine learning increasingly embeds mathematical structure, through geometric and graph-based learning, topological data analysis, and physics-informed networks, showing that progress in data-driven approaches often relies on theoretical foundations rather than replacing them.
Enhancing Quality in Open Access Scholarly Publishing: From Proxies to Responsible Assessment
Background and Objective: Despite significant progress in Open Access (OA) and Open Science (OS) over the past three decades, longstanding challenges in scholarly publishing—including the reproducibility crisis, market concentration, rising costs, inequality, and flawed research assessment policies—persist alongside emerging threats such as paper mills, hyperproduction, and uncritical AI use. This paper argues that OA alone is insufficient; a broader transformation encompassing research integrity, transparent peer review, open infrastructure, and responsible assessment is required.
Results and Conclusion: Diamond Open Access (Diamond OA)—characterized by no author or reader fees and community ownership—offers a relevant framework for addressing these intersecting issues. The paper examines the European Diamond Capacity Hub (EDCH), established in 2025, and its central quality alignment tool, the Diamond Open Access Standard (DOAS). DOAS provides a multidimensional framework for assessing journal quality through governance, funding, editorial integrity, open science compliance, technical infrastructure, visibility, and equity, rather than relying on journal reputation or proxy indicators. The EDCH also supports visibility through the Diamond Discovery Hub, capacity building via training platforms and toolsuites, and community engagement through registries and forums. The paper concludes that Diamond OA, supported by shared standards and public infrastructure, demonstrates that openness, quality, and equity are mutually reinforcing goals. Aligning publishing practices with research assessment reform represents a necessary cultural shift for restoring trust in science.
Quantitative Comparative Analysis of Pathogenic Microorganism Inactivation Kinetics in Spontaneous versus Directed Fermentation of Raw Milk: Evidence for Differential Efficacy and Food Safety Implications
Background and Objective: Spontaneous fermentation of raw milk, ubiquitous in artisanal dairy production worldwide, frequently results in pathogen proliferation and fails to meet modern food safety standards (ISO 22000:2018). Quantitative comparative data on fermentation modalities and their kinetic behaviour remain critically limited.
Material and Methods: Raw bovine milk from Tissemsilt, Algeria (n=20 per group) underwent spontaneous fermentation (36 h) or directed fermentation (12 h) with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus (1010 CFU/mL). Escherichia coli, coliforms, Staphylococcus aureus, and total microbial flora were enumerated at predefined intervals using standard microbiological methods. Kinetic parameters were modelled via linear regression, whilst ecosystem alterations were assessed by Principal Component Analysis. Statistical power exceeded 99% with Cohen's d = 23.4.
Results and Conclusion: Natural fermentation displayed pathogen proliferation (+0.0566 Log CFU/mL.h for Escherichia coli), whilst directed fermentation achieved rapid inactivation (−0.2045 Log CFU/mL.h), creating a net 4.157 Log difference (R² > 0.94). Principal component analysis indicated complete separation between modalities (PC1 = 93.4% variance, p < 0.001). Only directed fermentation obtained pH < 4.5 and passed ISO 22000 norms within 12 h; spontaneous fermentation remained non-compliant after 36 h. Directed fermentation is categorically distinct, driving opposite kinetic trajectories and providing guaranteed pathogen control. This bioprotective approach should be implemented in dairy operations to ensure consumer safety whilst retaining traditional product value.
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