Recent Patents on Biotechnology - Volume 19, Issue 4, 2025

This patent article offers a thorough analysis of the contemporary application of Achras sapota Linn, or sapodilla, in conventional medicine. Tropical fruit-bearing Achras sapota Linn has long been used in many traditional medical systems. The study examines Achras sapota Linn's phytochemical makeup and pharmacological characteristics with an emphasis on the plant's possible medical uses in the treatment of a range of illnesses. Moreover, it highlights the safety and efficacy characteristics of Achras sapota Linn and talks about new research and clinical trials that back up its traditional applications. This study also discusses obstacles and potential avenues for further research and application of Achras sapota Linn in contemporary medicine. All things considered, it emphasizes how important Achras sapota Linn is to traditional medicine as a therapeutic resource.

Industrialization and globalization have increased the demand for petroleum products that has increased a load on natural energy resources. The escalating fossil fuel utilization has resulted in surpassing the Earth's capacity to absorb greenhouse gases, necessitating the exploration of sustainable bioenergy alternatives to mitigate emissions. Biofuels, derived from algae, offer promising solutions to alleviate fossil fuel dependency. Algae, often regarded as third-generation biofuels, present numerous advantages owing to their high biomass production rates. While algae have been utilized for their bioactive compounds, their capability as biomass for the production of biofuel has gained traction among researchers. Various biofuels such as bio-hydrogen, bio-methane, bio-ethanol, bio-oil, and bio-butanol can be derived from algae through diverse processes like fermentation, photolysis, pyrolysis, and transesterification. Despite the enormous commercial potential of algae-derived biofuels, challenges such as high cultivation costs persist. However, leveraging the utilization of algae byproducts could improve economic viability of biofuel production. Moreover, algae derived biofuels offer environmental sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and waste reduction benefits, promising novel opportunities for a more sustainable energy future. Moreover, advancements in the field could lead to 
patents that drive innovation and commercialization in algae-based biofuel technologies.

Methane-oxidizing bacteria (MOB) or methanotrophs are a category of bacteria that rely on methane as their primary carbon and energy source. Methane is the second most abundant greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide and is comparatively far more potent in trapping heat in the atmosphere. MOBs are important microorganisms in the global carbon cycle where they play a crucial role in the oxidation of methane. The present review provides a comprehensive patent landscape on technology development using MOB. The first patent in this technology domain was recorded in 1971, with a notable surge in activity observed in 2020. A detailed patent analysis revealed that the early inventions were mainly focused on the production of various metabolites and bioremediation using MOB. In the later years, patents were filed in the area of identification of various species of MOB and their large-scale production. From 2010 onwards, consistent patent filing was observed in the genetic engineering of MOB to enhance their methane oxidizing capacity. The United States and China have emerged as the global leaders in terms of patent filing in this technology space. Precigen Inc. and Exxon Research Engineering Co., US were the top patent assignees followed by the University of Tsinghua and Calysta Inc. The Highest number of patent applications have claimed metabolite production by using MOB followed by their use in bioremediation. Methylosinus has emerged as the predominant microorganism of choice for methane oxidation applications.

Various natural phenomena (such as solar fluctuations, oceanic patterns, volcanic eruptions, and tectonic movements) alongside human activities (including deforestation, CO and CO2 emissions, and desertification) contribute to ongoing climate change and subsequent global warming. However, human actions significantly exacerbate global warming, amplifying its adverse impacts worldwide. With rising temperatures, water evaporation from water bodies and soils intensifies, leading to heightened water scarcity, particularly in drought-prone regions. This scarcity compounds rainfall deficits, posing significant challenges. Precipitation, essential for the biosphere's hydrological cycle, replenishes much of the world's freshwater. It occurs when condensed water vapor in the atmosphere falls back to Earth as rain, drizzle, sleet, graupel, hail, or snow due to gravity. Literature highlights the indispensable role of microbial populations in this process, termed bio-precipitation. This phenomenon begins with microbial colonization on plant surfaces, with colonies subsequently dispersed into the atmosphere by winds, triggering ice crystal formation. Through their ice nucleating property, these microbes facilitate the growth of larger ice crystals, which eventually melt and precipitate as rain or snow. This mechanism aids in nutrient transfer from clouds to soil or vegetation. Pseudomonas syringae stands out as the most notable microorganism exhibiting this ice-nucleation property, serving as the primary source of ice nucleators driving bio-precipitation. Despite limited literature on “rain and snow-causing microorganisms,” this review comprehensively explores the conceptual background of bio-precipitation, the involved bio-processes, and the critical role of bacteria like P. syringae, offering insights into future research directions and patent innovations.