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Journal articleSun M, Gao AX, Ye B, et al., 2026,
Advances in engineering and applications of synthetic phase-separated membraneless organelles in biotechnology
, Synthetic and Systems Biotechnology, Vol: 13, Pages: 37-49, ISSN: 2405-805XMembraneless organelles (MLOs) formed through liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) constitute crucial dynamic microenvironments within cells, capable of selectively concentrating specific molecules and regulating biochemical reactions. Based on the working mechanisms of natural MLOs, researchers have designed and constructed various synthetic MLOs. These MLOs have been applied in regulating enzyme activity, optimizing metabolic pathways, regulating gene expression, producing recombinant proteins, and developing functional biomaterials. Here, we systematically summarized the design strategies, characterization techniques, and client protein recruitment methods for synthetic MLOs, and categorically reviewed their application progress in the biotechnology field. We also discussed current challenges faced in the practical applications of synthetic MLOs and future research directions. This review aims to provide theoretical guidance and practical reference for the design and application of LLPS-driven synthetic MLOs, thereby promoting their innovative development in synthetic biology and biotechnology.
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Journal articleChen SY, Patranabish S, Weiland K, et al., 2026,
Scalable structural supercapacitors with graphene-modified high-surface-area electrodes
, Composites Science and Technology, Vol: 279, ISSN: 0266-3538Electrification, including emerging technologies such as structural supercapacitors, is critical in realizing carbon-neutral transportation. A fundamental challenge is the trade-off between mechanical properties and energy storage capabilities. We report the fabrication of structural supercapacitors with a novel fibre-fibre interface to improve the interlaminar strength and encapsulation while considering the effect of structural resin on energy storage performance. The synthesized graphene nanoplatelets-modified electrodes attain a high specific surface area of ∼231 m<sup>2</sup> g<sup>−1</sup> - outperforming comparable carbon-based electrodes. We learned that the use of a gel-polymer electrolyte (GPE) separator containing 60 wt% Li-salt eliminates the requirement of electrolyte infusion and showed the highest values for conductivity for the cell produced using GPE. The implementation of glass fabrics (GFs) into the GPE improved the flexural modulus by ∼22%, while retaining the mechanical strength of the cells. The multifunctional performance of the produced SSCs were on par or even outperformed the performances of SSCs reported in literature. A proof-of-concept prototype demonstrates that gel-polymer electrolyte cells can retain charges for longer than those with a glass fibre separator. Cumulatively, these offer the possibility of conventional composite manufacturing techniques to scale-up and eliminate delamination issues arising from different thermal expansion coefficients which also addresses the balance between mechanical stability and electrochemical performance. Our findings support the advancement of durable, lightweight energy storage and delivery systems for sustainable transportation, with potential applications in robotics and wearable technologies.
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Journal articleJiang Q, Normand C, Beauchamp F, et al., 2026,
Structural composite battery: Reinforced carbon fibre electrodes within a porous polyethersulfone matrix
, Composites Science and Technology, Vol: 278, ISSN: 0266-3538A method to produce multifunctional structural battery composites comprising carbon fibre reinforced anodes and cathodes, and electrolyte filled bicontinuous polymer matrix is disclosed. Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and lithium titanate (LTO) were deposited onto carbon fibres by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) to produce multifunctional cathodes and anodes, respectively. EPD allowed for an even coating of individual carbon fibres depositing 30 wt% of active materials with respect to carbon fibre current collectors. Carbon fibre reinforced cathode (LFP@CF), separator and anode (LTO@CF) were stacked and impregnated using polyethersulfone (PES) in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) solution; the PES was subsequently precipitated by non-solvent induced phase separation forming a porous high-performance polymer matrix within the stack. The porous matrix binds the carbon fibres and separator while providing sufficient openness for the electrochemical interface. The LFP@CF | separator | LTO@CF/PES assembly had an average Young's modulus of 27 ± 10 GPa and tensile strength of 282 ± 65 MPa. Structural battery composites possessed an energy density of 63 Wh/kg<inf>LFP</inf> or 2 Wh/kg<inf>battery</inf> at charge rate of 0.1C and were able to be cyclically dis/charged for more than 400 h.
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Journal articleZhao Y, Gu H, Ledesma-Amaro R, et al., 2026,
Magnetically actuated β-glucosidase immobilized on oak chips for enhanced wine aroma release.
, Food Res Int, Vol: 231β-Glucosidase (BGL) plays a key role in wine aroma enhancement by hydrolyzing glycosidic precursors; however, its application is limited by instability under harsh winemaking conditions. To address this, we developed an integrated biocatalytic system by immobilizing an acid-tolerant BGL onto functionalized magnetic oak chips (NFOak) via oriented Ni2+-histidine coordination. Comprehensive characterization confirmed the fabrication of a porous, magnetic cellulose scaffold. The immobilized BGL exhibited significantly enhanced stability against winemaking stresses (low pH, high ethanol) compared to the free enzyme. Furthermore, magnetic actuation of the biocomposite improved its hydrolytic performance, likely attributed to enhanced mass transfer. When applied to Chardonnay and Marselan wines, the magnetically actuated system effectively hydrolyzed glycosidic precursors, markedly increasing the concentrations of key volatile compounds-such as linalool and ethyl benzoate associated with fruity and floral aroma profiles. The treatment also induced subtle modulations in wine color and phenolic composition. Safety assessments confirmed no nickel leaching and oenologically acceptable iron levels. This work provides a sustainable and efficient strategy for controllable aroma modulation, combining the oenological benefits of a natural oak carrier with the operational controllability of magnetic actuation.
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Journal articleWilliams TJ, Kermani NZ, Gonzales-Huerta LE, et al., 2026,
A Role for Non-Canonical Caspases in Fungal Allergic Airway Disease.
, Clin Exp Allergy, Vol: 56, Pages: 576-578Inhibition of the murine ortholog caspase‐11 reduces neutrophilia and inflammatory cytokine levels. Wedelolactone or its derivatives offer a potential therapeutic approach for mixed or steroid‐resistant inflammation in allergic fungal airway disease.
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Journal articleButler L, Awan AR, Ellis T, et al., 2026,
Engineering non-ribosomal peptide synthesis: tuning the antibiotics engine of the microbial world.
, Crit Rev Biotechnol, Vol: 46, Pages: 501-521Non-Ribosomal Peptide Synthetases produce chemically diverse peptides in nature, many of which have antimicrobial properties, providing an opportunity to use synthetic biology to fine tune them for pharmaceutical applications. Major challenges remain with total and semi-synthesis of these complex peptides with specific bioengineering methodologies being developed to increase low yields and enhance bioactivity. Here we review major advances in engineering non-ribosomal peptides with a focus on improvements made to achieve better yield and bioactivity. This can be achieved through: engineering precursor metabolites, altering metabolic flux, introducing strong promoters and regulators, and redirecting metabolism to biosynthetic gene clusters which can then be expressed natively or heterologously. We also review glycopeptide antibiotics as a promising opportunity for engineering through synthetic biology for the biosynthesis of novel non-ribosomal peptides.
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Journal articleIbrahim T, King FJ, Toghani A, et al., 2026,
A helper NLR channels organellar calcium to trigger plant immunity.
, Science, Vol: 392, Pages: 499-505Upon activation, plant nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) immune receptors are known to assemble into oligomeric resistosomes that insert into the plasma membrane, forming calcium (Ca2+)-permeable channels and triggering immunity. Here, we found that the RPW8-like coiled-coil NLR (CCR-NLR) N requirement gene 1 (NRG1) primarily targets organelles instead of the plasma membrane. Unlike canonical CC-NLRs, activated NRG1 accumulated at the chloroplast envelope and channeled stromal Ca2+ into the cytosol. AlphaFold modeling of the NRG1 resistosome revealed an unusually long amino-terminal membrane-insertion structure that could span the double membrane of the chloroplast. Nanobody-mediated relocalization showed functional membrane specificity: Chloroplast trapping abolished activity of the canonical helper CC-NLR NRC4 but not NRG1. NRG1 orthologs, from nonflowering lineages to angiosperms, targeted chloroplasts, suggesting that organelle-centered defense dates back at least ~360 million years. We propose that CC-NLR diversification has enabled compartment-specific immune signaling to capture diverse Ca2+ stores.
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Journal articleBarkoulas M, Grover M, Ippolito D, 2026,
Worming out defence strategies: mechanisms of immunity through the lens of genetic screens in C. elegans
, Heredity, ISSN: 0018-067X -
Journal articleBidartondo MI, van der Linde S, Andrew C, et al., 2026,
Impacts of ectomycorrhizal forest change on nutrient cycling, forest resilience, and ecosystem services.
, ISME JAt a time when we count on northern hemisphere forests to mitigate global atmospheric change, European forests are showing deteriorating aboveground nutritional trends without a mechanistic, causal explanation. The increasingly recognised roles of ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi in global carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) cycling mean there is a need to understand dynamics in changing EM forests, particularly at large scales over time. Achieving this requires integrating soil microbial biology with long-term forest monitoring, and a fundamental distributional, temporal and mechanistic understanding of key soil organisms and the plasticity of their traits across gradients. We postulate that changing abundances of ectomycorrhizas with different capabilities for delivering mineral nutrients from soil to trees, and for storing or releasing soil C, can explain what is happening with forest nutrition, and thus should be included in future models of forest nutrient cycling, above and belowground. Here we discuss the state-of-the-art regarding data needs, focussing on environmental change, large-scale spatial and temporal dynamics, experimentation, modelling and monitoring. Linking understanding of tree nutritional status with the potential of forests to cope with environmental change, for instance, anthropogenic carbon and N fertilisation of the biosphere leading to P limitation, holds significant potential to inform management and policy of forests and soils for promoting resilient ecosystems.
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Journal articleShah A, 2026,
Impact of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis overlap in chronic pulmonary aspergillosis
, ERJ Open Research, ISSN: 2312-0541Background: Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is a destructive fungal infection caused by Aspergillus fumigatus, leading to significant morbidity in individuals with structural lung disease. Clinical and immunological overlap with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) has been recognised, but its extent and prognostic relevance remain uncertain. This study assessed ABPA features in CPA and their relationship with immunological markers and long-term outcome.Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study including individuals with confirmed CPA at the Royal Brompton Hospital until December 2023. Diagnoses followed ERS/ESCMID and 2024 ISHAM criteria. Demographic, clinical, microbiological, and immunological data were analysed, and group comparisons performed using logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models.Results: Among 166 individuals with CPA, 45 (27%) met ABPA diagnostic criteria. CPA–ABPA overlap was independently associated with asthma (OR-10.16) and pan-azole resistance (OR-19.37), and inversely with sarcoidosis (OR-0.22). Overall 5-year survival was 82% (84.6% in CPA alone vs 76.6% in overlap; p=0.44). Older age, lower BMI and albumin, elevated A. fumigatus-specific IgE and IgG were associated with higher mortality, while longitudinal increase in A. fumigatus-specific IgE was also linked to worse outcome. Low serum albumin independently predicted mortality (HR 0.72; p=0.001).Discussion: CPA–ABPA overlap represents a distinct clinical phenotype linked to airway disease, antifungal resistance, and Th2-driven inflammation. Nutritional status and immunological activity, particularly rising A. fumigatus-specific IgE, emerged as key prognostic markers, linking type 2 inflammation to disease progression. These findings highlight the need for phenotype-based risk stratification and exploration of targeted immunomodulatory strategies in CPA.
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