The emergence of antibiotic resistance among pathogenic microorganisms is a major issue for global public health, as it results in acute or chronic infections, debilitating diseases, and mortality. Of particular concern is the rapid and common spread of carbapenem resistance in healthcare settings. Carbapenems are a class of critical antibiotics reserved for treatment against multidrug-resistant microorganisms, and resistance to this antibiotic may result in limited treatment against infections. In addition to in clinical facilities, carbapenem resistance has also been identified in aquatic niches, including marine environments. Various carbapenem-resistant genes (CRGs) have been detected in different marine settings, with the majority of the genes incorporated in mobile genetic elements, i.e., transposons or plasmids, which may contribute to efficient genetic transfer. This review highlights the potential of the marine environment as a reservoir for carbapenem resistance and provides a general overview of CRG transmission among marine microbes.

Plant latex is a rich source of proteolytic enzymes with potential biomedical applications, particularly in hemostasis. Among them, thrombin-like enzymes (TLEs) have garnered interest in their ability to mimic thrombin by catalyzing the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin, facilitating clot formation. While TLEs from snake venoms have been well-characterized and applied clinically, their plant-derived counterparts remain underexplored. This review critically examines the structural and functional characteristics of TLEs from plant latex, comparing them to animal-derived TLEs and evaluating their role in both procoagulant and fibrinolytic processes. Emphasis is placed on dual fibrinogenolytic and fibrinolytic activities exhibited by latex proteases, which often vary with concentration, incubation time, and protease type. In vitro coagulation assays and electrophoretic analyses are discussed as critical tools for characterizing their multifunctionality. By addressing the knowledge gaps and proposing future directions, this paper positions plant latex proteases as promising candidates for development in localized hemostatic and thrombolytic therapies.

Breadfruit is recognized as a plant with the potential to be cultivated as an alternative staple food due to its high starch content and envisioned as a solution to mitigate hunger. The plant bears abundant fruits throughout the year with its productivity is comparable to other staple crops and it thrives well in countries where the poor population is high. Breadfruit however, exudes copious amount of latex upon harvesting and the stained epicarp often perceived as low in quality. Standardized methods of harvesting in plantations include a stage of latex draining by inverting the fruit for several hours. The latex will be drained to the ground and considered as an agricultural waste with no current commercial application. Despite being considered as a nuisance, plant latexes is a rich source of proteases functioned as a defensive mechanism against pathogenic attacks. In the effort to identify its potential, the breadfruit latex protease was purified and its characteristics were determined. The stability of the protease was investigated and its kinetics of inactivation was estimated in this research. Based on the analyses, breadfruit latex was discovered to consist of a serine protease with highly stable properties, potentially developed as an alternative commercial protease.