Packaging demand currently exceeds 144 Mt per year, of which >90% is conventional plastic, generating over 100 Mt of waste and 1.8 Gt CO₂-eq emissions annually. In this review, we systematically survey three classes of lignocellulosic feedstocks, agricultural residues, fruit and vegetable by-products, and forestry wastes, with respect to their physicochemical composition (cellulose crystallinity, hemicellulose ratio, and lignin content) and key processing pathways. We then examine fabrication routes (solvent casting, extrusion, and compression molding) and quantify how compositional variables translate into film performance: tensile strength, elongation at break (4–10%), water vapor transmission rate, thermal stability, and biodegradation kinetics. Highlighted case studies include the reinforcement of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) with 7 wt% oxidized nanocellulose, yielding a >90% increase in tensile strength and a 50% reduction in water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), as well as pilot-scale extrusion of rice straw/polylactic acid (PLA) blends. We also assess techno-economic metrics and life-cycle impacts. Finally, we identify four priority research directions: harmonizing pretreatment protocols to reduce batch variability, scaling up nanocellulose extraction and film casting, improving marine-environment biodegradation, and integrating circular economy supply chains through regional collaboration and policy frameworks.

Bacillus species produce different classes of antimicrobial and antioxidant substances: peptides or proteins with different structural compositions and molecular masses and a broad range of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), some of which may serve as biomarkers for microorganism identification. The aim of this study is the identification of biologically active compounds synthesized by five Bacillus species using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The current study profoundly enhances the knowledge of antibacterial and antioxidant metabolites ensuring the unambiguous identification of VOCs produced by some Bacillus species, which were isolated from vegetable samples of potato, carrot, and tomato. Phylogenetic and biochemical studies were used to identify the bacterial isolates after culturing. Phylogenetic analysis proved that five bacterial isolates BSS12, BSS13, BSS16, BSS21, and BSS25 showed 99% nucleotide sequence similarities with Bacillus safensis AS-08, Bacillus cereus WAB2133, Bacillus acidiproducens NiuFun, Bacillus toyonesis FORT 102, and Bacillus thuringiensis F3, respectively. The crude extract was prepared from bacterial isolates to assess the antibiotic resistance potency and the antimicrobial potential against various targeted multidrug-resistant strains, including yeast strains such as Candida albicans, Candida krusei, and bacterial strains of Enterococcus hirae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella aerogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus group B, Streptococcus mutans, Shigella sonnei, Salmonella enteritidis, Serratia marcescens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Proteus vulgaris. GC–MS analysis of bacterial strains found that VOCs from Bacillus species come in a variety of chemical forms, such as ketones, alcohols, terpenoids, alkenes, etc. Overall, 69 volatile organic compounds were identified from five Bacillus species, and all five were found to share different chemical classes of volatile organic components, which have a variety of pharmacological applications. However, eight antibacterial compounds with different concentrations were commonly found in all five species: acetoin, acetic acid, butanoic acid, 2-methyl-, oxime-, methoxy-phenyl, phenol, 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, bis(2-methylpropyl) ester, nonanoic acid, and hexadecanoic acid, methyl. The present study has demonstrated that bacterial isolates BSS25, BSS21, and BSS16 display potent inhibitory effects against Candida albicans, while BSS25, BSS21, and BSS13 exhibit the ability to restrain the growth and activity of Candida krusei. Notably, BSS25 and BSS21 are the only isolates that demonstrate substantial inhibitory activity against Klebsiella aerogenes. This disparity in inhibitory effects could be attributed to the higher concentrations of acetoin in BSS25 and BSS21, whereas BSS16 and BSS13 have relatively elevated levels of butanoic acid, 2-methyl-. Certainly, the presence of acetoin and butanoic acid, 2-methyl-, contributes to the enhanced antibacterial potential of these bacterial strains, in conjunction with other organic volatile compounds and peptides, among other factors. The biology and physiology of Bacillus can be better understood using these results, which can also be used to create novel biotechnological procedures and applications. Moreover, because of its exceptional ability to synthesize and produce a variety of different antibacterial compounds, Bacillus species can serve as natural and universal carriers for antibiotic compounds in the form of probiotic cultures and strains to fight different pathogens, including mycobacteria.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) represent a prevalent health concern among the female population, with anatomical and physiological determinants such as a shorter urethra and its proximity to the rectum augmenting vulnerability. The presence of Escherichia coli and various other pathogens plays a significant role in the etiology of these infections, which can be aggravated by sexual intercourse and disturbances to the vaginal microbiome. The physiological alterations associated with pregnancy further elevate the likelihood of UTIs, with untreated cases potentially leading to severe complications such as pyelonephritis, preterm labor, and stillbirth. Furthermore, postmenopausal women encounter an augmented risk of UTIs attributable to estrogen deficiency and vaginal atrophy, as well as conditions including pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and urinary incontinence (UI), which hinder optimal bladder functionality. The aforementioned factors, in conjunction with the rising prevalence of cesarean deliveries and catheterization, complicate the management of UTIs. While precise diagnosis is paramount, it remains a formidable challenge, notwithstanding advancements in molecular diagnostic techniques. Management strategies encompass antibiotic-sparing therapies; however, the increasing incidence of multidrug resistance represents an alarming trend. Diverse guidelines from various medical specialties endeavor to standardize treatment approaches, yet significant inconsistencies continue to exist. This study systematically appraises the extant guidelines, evaluating the quality of evidence while identifying areas of agreement and discord to supply practitioners with effective strategies for UTI management.

Numerous natural habitats, such as soil, air, fermented foods, and human stomachs, are home to different Bacillus strains. Some Bacillus strains have a distinctive predominance and are widely recognized among other microbial communities, as a result of their varied habitation and physiologically active metabolites. The present study collected vegetable products (potato, carrot, and tomato) from local markets in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The bacterial isolates were identified using biochemical and phylogenetic analyses after culturing. Our phylogenetic analysis revealed three Gram-positive bacterial isolates BSS11, BSS17, and BSS19 showing 99% nucleotide sequence similarities with Bacillus subtilis O-3, Bacillus subtilis Md1-42, and Bacillus subtilis Khozestan2. The crude extract was prepared from bacterial isolates to assess the antibiotic resistance potency and the antimicrobial potential against various targeted multidrug-resistant strains, including Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus group B, Streptococcus mutans, Candida albicans, Candida krusei, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella sonnei, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella enteritidis, Klebsiella aerogenes, Enterococcus hirae, Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens, and Proteus vulgaris. This study found that the species that were identified have the ability to produce antibiotic chemicals. Additionally, the GC–MS analysis of three bacterial extracts revealed the presence of many antibiotic substances including phenol, benzoic acid, 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid and bis(2-methylpropyl), methoxyphenyl-oxime, and benzaldehyde. This work sheds light on the potential of Bacillus to be employed as an antimicrobial agent to target different multidrug-resistant bacterial strains. The results indicate that market vegetables may be a useful source of strains displaying a range of advantageous characteristics that can be used in the creation of biological antibiotics.

Global concern over food waste and plastic pollution highlights the urgent need for sustainable, high-performance materials that can replace petroleum-based plastics. Bacterial cellulose (BC), a biopolymer synthesized through microbial fermentation by Komagataeibacter and related genera, shows exceptional purity, mechanical strength, biodegradability, and structural tunability. Following PRISMA principles, this review analyzed studies from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science covering the period 1960–November 2025. Search terms included “bacterial cellulose”, “Komagataeibacter”, “Gluconacetobacter”, “static culture”, “agitated culture”, “in situ modification”, “ex situ modification”, “fermentation”, and “food packaging”. Inclusion and exclusion criteria ensured that only relevant and high-quality publications were considered. The article summarizes major developments in BC biosynthesis, structural organization, and modification approaches that enhance mechanical, barrier, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties for food packaging. Recent advances in in situ and ex situ functionalization are discussed together with progress achieved through synthetic biology, green chemistry, and material engineering. Evidence shows that BC-based composites can reduce oxygen and moisture permeability, strengthen films, and prolong food shelf life while maintaining biodegradability. Remaining challenges such as high cost, lengthy fermentation, and regulatory uncertainty require coordinated strategies focused on metabolic optimization, circular bioeconomy integration, and standardized safety frameworks to unlock BC’s full industrial potential.

Agricultural and agro-industrial waste, produced in vast quantities worldwide, presents both environmental and economic challenges. Microbial valorization offers a sustainable solution, with bacterial cellulose (BC) emerging as a high-value product due to its purity, strength, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. This review highlights recent advances in producing BC from agricultural and agro-industrial residues via optimized fermentation processes, including static and agitated cultivation, co-cultivation, stepwise nutrient feeding, and genetic engineering. Diverse wastes such as fruit peels, sugarcane bagasse, cereal straws, and corn stover serve as cost-effective carbon sources, reducing production costs and aligning with circular bioeconomy principles. Advances in strain engineering, synthetic biology, and omics-guided optimization have significantly improved BC yield and functionalization, enabling applications in food packaging, biomedicine, cosmetics, and advanced biocomposites. Process innovations, including tailored pretreatments, adaptive evolution, and specialized bioreactor designs, further enhance scalability and product quality. The integration of BC production into circular bioeconomy models not only diverts biomass from landfills but also replaces petroleum-based materials, contributing to environmental protection and resource efficiency. This review underscores BC’s potential as a sustainable biomaterial and identifies research directions for overcoming current bottlenecks in industrial-scale implementation.