Tuberculosis (TB) is a global public health issue requiring early and accurate diagnosis. The loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay is a promising alternative recommended by the WHO for the initial diagnosis of pulmonary TB, particularly in resource-limited settings. This study evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of a commercial LAMP assay for TB detection using 198 samples from different countries including Mexico. The LAMP assay results were compared to the results of standard tests: AFB smear microscopy, cell culture, and Xpert PCR. Across all samples, LAMP showed a sensitivity of 96.20% and a specificity of 84.61%. When compared specifically to “true positives” and “true negatives” (defined by the consistency across the standard tests), LAMP demonstrated 100% sensitivity and 92.30% specificity. For context, the sensitivity of AFB smear microscopy against the culture and Xpert tests was 79.04%. A significant finding was that the LAMP test detected a high percentage (92.5%) of samples found positive by the culture and Xpert tests but negative by the AFB smear, highlighting its ability to identify cases missed by traditional microscopy. This study concluded that the LAMP assay is a sensitive and specific tool for TB diagnosis with potential for rapid and accurate diagnosis, especially in resource-limited areas.

Chromatin remodeling enzymes are important "writers", "readers" and "erasers" of the epigenetic code. These proteins are responsible for the placement, recognition, and removal of molecular marks in histone tails that trigger structural and functional changes in chromatin. This is also the case for histone deacetylases (HDACs), i.e., enzymes that remove acetyl groups from histone tails, signaling heterochromatin formation. Chromatin remodeling is necessary for cell differentiation processes in eukaryotes, and fungal pathogenesis in plants includes many adaptations to cause disease. Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid. is a nonspecific, necrotrophic ascomycete phytopathogen that causes charcoal root disease. M. phaseolina is a frequent and highly destructive pathogen in crops such as common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), particularly under both water and high temperature stresses. Here, we evaluated the effects of the classical HDAC inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA) on M. phaseolinain vitro growth and virulence. During inhibition assays, the growth of M. phaseolina in solid media, as well as the size of the microsclerotia, were reduced (p<0.05), and the colony morphology was remarkably affected. Under greenhouse experiments, treatment with TSA reduced (p<0.05) fungal virulence in common bean cv. BAT 477. Tests of LIPK, MAC1 and PMK1 gene expression during the interaction of fungi with BAT 477 revealed noticeable deregulation. Our results provide additional evidence about the role of HATs and HDACs in important biological processes of M. phaseolina.

Members of Agave L. utilize CAM. To date, research on the physiological and morphological adaptations of Agave has analyzed only a few species. With the aim of understanding basic aspects of the physiological responses of polyploid (2n = 2x = 60 to 2n = 6x = 180) Agave accessions in association with CO₂ fixation, we carried out genetic and physiological studies of A. tequilana Weber, A. fourcroydes Lem., and A. angustifolia Haw., which are adapted to two ecoregions in the Yucatán of Mexico: the Regional Roger Orellana-CICY Botanical Garden (RO-CICY) in the city of Merida and the Germplasm Bank of the Scientific-Technological Park of Yucatán (GB-PCTY) located in the Sierra Papacal. Differences in genetic variability in Agave spp. were assessed using AFLP markers. Monitoring of stomatal openings during the night showed differences in polyploid species of Agave. The highest expression levels of PEPC and PEPCK genes were observed at the largest suprastomatol cavity areas. All of the evaluated accessions showed a four-fold increase in internal CO₂ during the transition from 23:00 h to 3:00 h, indicating a larger diurnal fixation of internal CO₂. The results of PCA, including photosynthetic parameters during night–day, indicated differential physiological responses that suggest the occurrence of five groups within the two ecoregions. The physiological data we report here indicate thar polyploid accessions of Agave exhibited differences associated with CO₂ exchange, suggesting that these polyploid taxa may be better adapted to climates with high CO₂ concentrations and they could be used in atmospheric CO₂ sequestration.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a severe threat to global health by limiting treatment options and increasing clinical and economic burdens. This review synthesizes evidence showing that resistance evolution is strongly shaped by antibiotic pressure, leading to the accumulation of adaptive mutations, activation of efflux systems, and widespread dissemination of resistance determinants across clinical, animal, and environmental settings. We highlight recent genomic, metagenomic, and structural findings that elucidate the molecular basis of AMR, with particular emphasis on horizontal gene transfer mediated by mobile genetic elements such as plasmids, integrons, and transposons. Analyses across One Health interfaces reveal extensive sharing of antimicrobial resistance genes among humans, livestock, and environmental reservoirs, identifying Enterobacteriaceae and ESKAPE pathogens as key hubs of resistance dissemination. Special focus is placed on Acinetobacter baumannii, where phylogenetic and three-dimensional structural analyses of class D β-lactamases OXA-23 and OXA-24/40 demonstrate a conserved catalytic framework coupled with substantial sequence and conformational variability. These structural differences likely influence carbapenem specificity and resistance levels. Collectively, the findings underscore how genetic diversity, mobile elements, and structural adaptation converge to drive AMR, reinforcing the need for integrated genomic and structural approaches to guide surveillance and antimicrobial development.

Microalgal molecular farming represents a promising platform for sustainable recombinant biopharmaceutical production. This review integrates advances in chloroplast engineering, synthetic biology, and artificial intelligence with experimental evidence and comparative bioinformatic analyses. Chloroplast genomes from eight representative microalgal species were examined to evaluate genomic organization, phylogenetic relationships, and synteny relevant to genetic engineering. Experimental studies involving recombinant therapeutic proteins, antibodies, and vaccine antigens were reviewed to assess the potential of different microalgal expression systems. Additionally, ten biomedically relevant proteins were comparatively analyzed to characterize structural complexity, receptor-binding interfaces, and evolutionary conservation. Detailed structural analyses of erythropoietin (EPO), interferon-α2b (IFN-α2b), and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) evaluated glycosylation-site accessibility, solvent-accessible surface area, intermolecular interactions, disulfide bonds, and structural conservation. The findings highlight protein-specific requirements for folding, post-translational modifications, and receptor recognition, emphasizing the importance of matching therapeutic protein characteristics with suitable microalgal expression strategies. Overall, this integrated approach provides a framework for rational host selection and the development of next-generation microalgal biofactories for recombinant biopharmaceutical production.