Epigenetic regulation has the potential to revolutionize plant breeding and improve crop yields by regulating gene expression in plants. DNA methylation and histone modifications are key epigenetic modifications that can impact plant development, stress responses, productivity, and yields. Higher-yielding crops not only generate greater profits for farmers and seed producers, but also require less land, water, fuel, and fertilizer than traditional crops for equivalent yields. The use of heterosis in crops can influence productivity and food quality, but producing hybrids with superior agronomic traits to their parents remains challenging. However, epigenetic markers, such as histone methylation and acetylation, may help select parental and hybrid combinations with better performances than the parental plants. This review assesses the potential applications of epigenetics in crop breeding and improvement, rendering agriculture more efficient, sustainable, and adaptable to changing environmental conditions.

Dragon fruit peel is a by-product rich in bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols and betalains. In this study, ultrasound-assisted enzyme extraction (UAEE) was proposed to exploit this, combining the advantages of the enzymatic hydrolysis and ultrasound extraction. The effect of extraction time, temperature, and enzyme quantity were evaluated using a Box–Behnken design. Total betalains and polyphenol contents were determined spectrophotometrically. The results show that the extraction of total polyphenols was significantly affected (p ≤ 0.05) by the enzyme quantity, while temperature had a significant effect (p ≤ 0.05) on the extracted betalains. The optimal conditions for the extraction of total betalains and polyphenols were a temperature of 20 °C, an extraction time of 20 min, and an enzyme/substrate ratio of 400 mg/g. Under optimized conditions, the extraction efficiency reached 565.6 ± 12.9 µg/g for total betalains and 14.9 ± 2.4 mg/g for total polyphenols. In addition, UAEE showed the best extraction yields compared to other methodologies, such as microwave, ultrasound, and enzymatic hydrolysis extraction (p ≤ 0.05). This study helps us to understand how the temperature, time, and amount of enzymes affect the extraction of total polyphenols and betalains present in the peel of the dragon fruit using the UAEE technique.

In Mexico, medicinal plants have been integral to pre-Hispanic cultures since ancient times. Studies of the Lamiaceae, Asteraceae, and Malvaceae families have identified species with antibacterial properties, which represents a promising alternative for combating resistant bacteria that cause human disease and a source of new chemical compounds helpful in repairing the damage caused by these microorganisms. This review focuses on studies of the antibacterial activity of plants from the aforementioned families used in traditional Mexican medicine against gram-positive (+) and gram-negative (-) bacteria. It also provides a brief botanical description of some of these plants, including their uses, structural components, and types of extracts with bactericidal activity, inhibited bacterial strains, zone of inhibition, and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Finally, a description of the identified compounds with antibacterial potential and their possible mechanisms of action is provided.

Nosemosis, caused by microsporidians of the genus Vairimorpha, is one of the most significant diseases affecting the honey bee Apis mellifera L. (Apidae: Hymenoptera), with negative impacts on its health and productivity. This study aimed to assess the presence of Vairimorpha ceranae in apiaries from the state of Campeche, Mexico. Honey bee samples were collected from 79 colonies across 29 apiaries, and DNA was extracted for analysis. Detection of the microsporidian parasite was achieved through amplification of the 16S small subunit ribosomal RNA gene by PCR and PAGE, revealing a high prevalence of Vairimorpha ceranae. The results represent the first confirmed record of Vairimorpha ceranae in this region, with widespread infection detected among sampled colonies. This finding is crucial for identifying the frequency and geographic distribution of this parasite in Mexico and will support the development of targeted management and control strategies adapted to local conditions, ultimately contributing to the conservation and health of honey bee populations in Campeche.

This study investigated the use of Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) as a cost-effective analytical approach for screening the bioactivity of green algal extracts. Samples of five Caulerpa species—C. ashmeadii, C. paspaloides, C. cupressoides, C. verticillata, and C. prolifera—were collected from Dzilam, Yucatán, Mexico, across seven seasonal campaigns. Sequential extraction was performed using solvents of increasing polarity: hexane, dichloromethane, acetone, and methanol. After solvent evaporation, extracts were analyzed via ATR-FTIR, and Total Phenolic Content (TPC) and Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) were quantified. Statistical analysis (PERMANOVA) revealed that the type of solvent accounted for most of the variance (61.6%), while species and collection date contributed minimally. Infrared (IR) band assignments highlighted functional groups associated with lipids, such as terpenes, and carbohydrates. K-means clustering enabled the subdivision of less polar extracts, notably grouping numerous samples from C. verticillata. Classification models comparing full-spectrum and IR band datasets showed that Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) with full-spectrum data achieved the best performance. TPC showed a positive correlation with absorption at 1730.8 cm⁻¹, which is associated with ester-containing metabolites. Although ATR-FTIR effectively distinguished extraction solvents, it was less sensitive to subtle biological variation among Caulerpa. However, the method remains a practical tool for rapid screening, with spectral data supporting solvent-based classification. Reduction of salt content prior to extraction may minimize interference in both FTIR measurements and biological assays.

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), a challenging complication of arthroplasty, is usually treated/managed using antibiotic-loaded PMMA bone cement. However, this cement has many shortcomings, such as a low cumulative amount of the antibiotic released by the time the release is exhausted and ineffectiveness against some bacteria that are present in many PJI cases, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus ). As such, there are many ongoing research programs focus on developing alternative cement formulations without compromising their mechanical and curing properties. The present study evaluates the antimicrobial, mechanical, and curing performance of PMMA bone cement loaded with 0.5, 1.0, or 1.5 wt.% Cu nanoparticles (Cu NPs) against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and S. aureus (concentration: 2.0 × 10 ⁶ , 3.0 × 10 ⁶ , and 7.1 × 10 ⁶ CFU ml ⁻¹ ). Analysis of the nanoparticles using scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and dynamic light scattering found they were nanocrystalline and had a mean hydrodynamic diameter of 114 nm. Evaluations of the antimicrobial performance of the cement, using the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method, showed that, for a given combination of bacterial species and concentration, the diameter of the inhibition zone on cement specimens increased with an increase in Cu NPs loading of the cement. The compressive testing revealed that the incorporation of Cu NPs did not significantly affect the compressive strength or elastic modulus of the cement. In addition, a decrease in the maximum curing temperature was observed with an increase in Cu NPs loading, while the setting time remained without significant differences. These findings suggest that a PMMA bone cement loaded with either 1.0 or 1.5 wt.% Cu NPs may be suitable for the treatment and management of PJI. Future studies of this cement are warranted.