Current Biotechnology - Volume 11, Issue 3, 2022

Background: Laccases are among the oldest known multi-copper enzymes from a diverse array of species, including bacteria and fungi, and are of great importance in different industries like beverage, biosensors, textile, paper, and pulp. From the aspect of origin, interestingly, bacterial laccase is of two kinds, namely, 3-domain conventional laccase and 2-domain small laccase. This enzyme is capable of degrading synthetic textile azo dyes, xenobiotic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, biogenic amines etc. Over the last few years, research on laccase has steadily increased based on biosensors and the understanding of known unknowns. Objective: In this extensive review, we focus on classification, structural differences based on assorted origins, and applications that will help to know the unknown factors about this strenuous enzyme. Conclusion: To better understand the origin-function relationship, hypothetical proteins of selected bacterial laccase are reviewed.

Antibiotics come into the picture when the body’s natural defense system fails to fight against the pathogen. However, the overuse of antibiotics in the last few decades has led to the development of resistant strains that may be fatal to the human race as they are not easily treatable. The misuse and several inappropriate usages have caused genetic mutations in bacterial cells to adapt to the antibiotic environment. The organisms develop several mechanisms to thrive and resist conventional treatment processes. The review discusses the possible mechanisms of bacterial resistance to antibiotics and measures to overcome this problem worldwide.

Antibiotics are antimicrobial substances that are commonly used to treat humans, animals, and fish, as well as to research susceptibility patterns in a variety of bacteria. With the rising number of diseases and the emergence of new infections, many drugs for humans, animals, fish, and plants are being developed. However, with the development of pharmaceuticals came the advent of a phenomenon known as drug resistance, which has alarmed scientists and researchers all around the world. The building of resistance in genes that code for specific drugs, plasmids, or transposons, the action of multidrug efflux pumps, changes in chromosomal genes, or the Staphylococci cassette chromosome can all produce it. Staphylococcus aureus, the most common Gram-positive bacteria, has a multidrug-resistant phenotype that reveals its pathogenicity. Staphylococcus sp. possesses a variety of transmissible genes that cause them to be resistant to treatments such as antibiotics. The discovery of antibiotics by Alexander Fleming has long been a boon in the fight against bacterial illnesses. Drug-resistant bacteria have emerged as a result of antibiotic overuse and suboptimal usage, attracting the attention of scientists throughout the world. Therefore, as a first step in combating drug-resistant bacteria, it is obvious that widespread efforts to curb antibiotic abuse are required. This review focuses on and brings to society the prevalence of different multidrug resistant genes in Staphylococcus aureus and their transmission.

Energy generation from renewable sources and effective management are two critical challenges for sustainable development. Biofuel Cells (BFCs) provide an elegant solution by combining these two tasks. BFCs are defined by the catalyst used in the fuel cell and can directly generate electricity from biological substances. Various nontoxic chemical fuels, such as glucose, lactate, urate, alcohol, amines, starch, and fructose, can be used in BFCs and have specific components to oxide fuels. Widely available fuel sources and moderate operational conditions make them promise in renewable energy generation, remote device power sources, etc. Enzymatic biofuel cells (EBFCs) use enzymes as a catalyst to oxidize the fuel rather than precious metals. The shortcoming of the EBFCs system leads to integrated miniaturization issues, lower power density, poor operational stability, lower voltage output, lower energy density, inadequate durability, instability in the long-term application, and incomplete fuel oxidation. This necessitates the development of non-enzymatic biofuel cells (NEBFCs). The review paper extensively studies NEBFCs and its various synthetic strategies and catalytic characteristics. This paper reviews the use of nanocomposites as biocatalysts in biofuel cells and the principle of biofuel cells as well as their construction elements. This review briefly presents recent technologies developed to improve the biocatalytic properties, biocompatibility, biodegradability, implantability, and mechanical flexibility of BFCs.

Background: Food additives act as preventive measures and promote a healthy immune response against pathogenic diseases. There are several functional food additives with antiviral potential that are part of our daily food supplements, which can be exploited to improve the immunity of the human being during the pandemic of COVID-19. Scope and Approach: For this study, an extensive database search using the scientific databases and Google Scholar, as well as commercial search engines, such as Google and Google Patent, was conducted to explore commercial and patentable applications. Key Finding: Food additives, such as Phyllanthus emblica, Long pepper, Cinnamon, Turmeric, Cardamom, Ginger, Garlic, Holy Basil, and Liquorice, are used in traditional cultures as preventive treatments. The phytocompounds extracted from these food additives are immune modulators against various pathogenic inflammations. Enhancing the immune response and boosting health are the benefits of these food additives. Conclusion: The research literature and reputable sources online confirm that functional food additives in a regular diet may help cure COVID-19 disease. It is necessary to conduct scientific research to determine the effectiveness of food additives. Future Direction: The majority of diseases are caused by metabolic disorders. It is clear that diet plays a major role in controlling the inflammation associated with diseases and metabolic disorders. There is still a lack of phytochemical screening of compounds in food additives and their interaction with metabolism. This effort will help the science community to think outside of the box of medicine.