Intensifying agricultural production involves an active use of agrochemicals, which results in disrupted ecological balance and poor product quality. To address this issue, we need to introduce biologized science-intensive technologies. Bacteria belonging to the genera Azotobacter and Pseudomonas have complex growth-stimulating properties and therefore can be used as a bioproduct to increase plant productivity. We aimed to create a growth-stimulating consortium based on the strains of the genera Azotobacter and Pseudomonas, as well as to select optimal cultivation parameters that provide the best synergistic effect. We studied strains Azotobacter chroococcum B-4148, Azotobacter vinelandii B-932, and Pseudomonas chlororaphis subsp. aurantiaca B-548, which were obtained from the National Bioresource Center “All-Russian Collection of Industrial Microorganisms” of Kurchatov Institute. All the test strains solubilized phosphates and produced ACC deaminase. They synthesized 0.98–1.33 mg/mL of gibberellic acid and produced 37.95–49.55% of siderophores. Their nitrogen-fixing capacity ranged from 49.23 to 151.22 μg/mL. The strain had high antagonistic activity against phytopathogens. In particular, A. chroococcum B-4148 and A. vinelandii B-932 inhibited the growth of Fusarium graminearum, Bipolaris sorokiniana, and Erwinia rhapontici, while P. chlororaphis subsp. aurantiaca B-548 exhibited antagonism against F. graminearum and B. sorokiniana. Since all the test strains were biologically compatible, they were used to create several consortia. The greatest synergistic effect was achieved by Consortium No. 6 that contained the strains B-4148, B-932, and B-548 in a ratio of 1:3:1. The optimal nutrient medium for this consortium contained 25.0 g/L of Luria-Bertani medium, 8.0 g/L molasses, 0.1 g/L magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, and 0.01 g/L of aqueous manganese sulfate. The optimal cultivation temperature was 28°C. The microbial consortium created in our study has high potential for application in agricultural practice. Further research will focus on its effect on the growth and development of plants, in particular cereal crops, under in vitro conditions and in field experiments.

The gut microbiota is called the “main organ” of the host organism due to its important role in maintaining the normal functioning of the body. Dysbacteriosis is one of the risk factors for chronic diseases. It can cause metabolic and neural disorders, inflammatory and other reactions that reduce a healthy lifespan. This calls for developing bioactive supplements with a geroprotective effect to promote health. In this review, we aimed to study the relationship between the gut microbiota and the host organism. This systematic review covered scientific papers published from 2013–2024 and indexed by eLIBRARY.RU, the National Center for Biotechnology Information, and Scopus. Dysbacteriosis can lead to a number of diseases that have a cumulative negative effect on the gut microbiota. Regardless of the state of health, the following factors affect the gut microbiota in the decreasing order: diet > sleep > circadian rhythm > physical activity. There is a need for developing bioactive supplements with geroprotective potential to normalize the functioning of the microbiota. In particular, these supplements can contain probiotics, prebiotics, and plant metabolites. Lactococcus, Lactobacillus, and Bifidobacterium can be used as probiotics. Prebiotics include arabinogalactan, galactooligosaccharides, inulin, lactulose, oligofructose, xylo-oligosaccharide, fructooligosaccharide, or their mixtures. Among plant metabolites, especially important are polyphenols, including the ones from green tea, fruits and berries, as well as resveratrol, allicin, quercetin, curcumin, and others. However, not all of them are easily bioavailable and soluble. Encapsulation is often used to address the problem of bioavailability. The ketogenic diet and fasting-mimicking diets have the potential to increase a healthy life expectancy. The potential of dietary supplements to normalize the gut microbiota can be studied by in vitro experiments that use artificial gastrointestinal tracts. Our results can provide a foundation for further research into the role of the gut microbiota in maintaining the health of the host organism.

People are constantly exposed to adverse environmental factors that affect their health. If combined with hereditary predisposition, they may lead to gerontological changes that reduce healthy and working life expectancy. Some measures can prevent premature aging, e.g., a balanced diet or biologically active anti-aging substances also called geroprotectors. This article reviews biologically active geroprotectors with a view to select promising components for novel biologically active additives and functional foods. The review covered five years of Russian research articles and patents on biologically active anti-aging agents indexed in the National Center for Biotechnology Information, ScienceDirect, eLIBRARY.RU, and the database of the Federal Institute of Industrial Property. The domestic market demonstrates a growing demand for biologically active supplements: in 2023, it increased by 10% in value terms as consumers’ interest in a healthy and long life continues to grow. The review also included quality criteria for biologically active anti-ageing agents, e.g., such plant metabolites as vitamins, polyphenols, antioxidants, adaptogens, peptides, etc. Thymalin, epithalamin, dasatinib, and epithalon are available on the domestic market. The list of potential anti-aging agents includes ethylamine, carnosine, glutathione, ubiquinone, curcumin, rutin, quercetin, resveratrol, senolytics, and sirutins. These biologically active substances prevent oxidative stress, accumulation of lipofuscin, and senescent cells. The most effective anti-aging agents come from Vitis amurensis, Rhodiola rosea, Schisandra chinensis, Galega officinalis, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Withania somnifera, and Panax ginseng.

Omics technologies give consumers access to personalized disease prevention. Today, commercial genetic testing is very popular. For instance, nutrigenetic testing requires no medical consultation or prescription. Personalized nutrition is an informed diet choice based on genetic, phenotypic, climatic, geographical, and environmental data. It is a more effective preventive measure than standard dietary recommendations. This article describes the state and prospects of consumer genomics with an emphasis on nutrigenetic testing as a basis for personalized dietary choice. The review covered scientific publications registered in PubMed, ScienceDirect, and eLIBRARY.RU in 2012/2020–2025, as well as popular science literature and marketing reports. The development of human genomics had passed through several stages before it gave start to personalized nutrition as part of consumer genomics. Its popularization on the Russian nutrition market has its own peculiarities. The topic field includes such aspects as nutrigenetics, nutrigenomics, genome-wide association studies, polygenic risk index, epigenetics, and metabolomics of microbiome. The bioinformatics and machine learning help to process and interpret personalized data. Genetic risks awareness increases the motivation for healthier lifestyle choices. While the field of genetic research and personalized nutrition is run by some foreign and Russian direct-to-consumer companies, legal regulation remains a vague issue in this sphere. Personalized nutrition requires a competent use of interdisciplinary achievements combined with ethical standards and regulatory norms. However, serious preclinical and clinical studies are needed to introduce personalized nutrition into the state healthcare system.

Trans-cinnamic acid (TKR-k) is a natural organic compound that is used in the synthesis of various chemical and pharmaceutical preparations, biologically active additives (dietary supplements). It has high biological activity, including antioxidant and antibacterial abilities. The aim of the work was to study the biopotential and biosafety of trans-cinnamic acid isolated from the cellular biomass of the Baikal skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis) using model rodent objects for its further application in the development of dietary supplements with geroprotective activity. The object of the study was TKR-k, isolated in previously conducted studies by the authors from the biomass of the Baikal skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis). For in vivo studies, rodents were used as model objects: female rats (Rattus sp.) Sprague Dawley, male rats Rattus sp., male rats Wistar, male mice Mus musculus, female mice (Mus musculus) stock CD-1. As a result, it was established that TKR-k did not have mutagenic properties, and when administered a dose of 50.0 mg/kg, it exhibited antimutagenic potential; did not exhibit cytotoxicity in the concentration range of 2.1–33.3 μg/ml. TKR-k did not have hypocholesterolemic activity and hepatotoxicity. However, TKR-k exhibited a pro-inflammatory effect in acute inflammation (caused by λ-carrageenan) – it statistically signifi-cantly reduced the mass of granulation tissue by 20 %, but had no effect on the exudative reaction in proliferative inflammation caused by implantation of cotton swabs under the skin. I chew on rats. It has been established that TKR-k in vivo on rodents is a bio-safe substance exhibiting antimutagenic potential that does not stimulate the development of hypocholesterolemic activity and hepatotoxicity, therefore, a promising component of dietary supplements with geroprotective potential.

Starter cultures of lactic acid bacteria define the sensory profile of cheese, as well as its microbiological safety and shelf life. Under the current import restrictions, Russia needs efficient domestic starter strains with probiotic properties. Research in this sphere opens up prospects for new functional cheeses that combine conventional sensory properties with health benefits. The authors tested Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. plantarum, and Weissella thailandensis for starter culture potential. The highest antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli belonged to L. plantarum (B-11264) and W. thailandensis (B-10412). E. faecium (B-4054) and L. acidophilus (B-2585) demonstrated strong acid-forming effects, which contributed to a decrease in pH. Their resistance to high NaCl concentrations was strain-specific: while 2–4% NaCl inhibited some cultures, 6.5% NaCl was able to inhibit them all. The biocompatibility test revealed no antagonism between the strains, which confirmed good consortia prospects. Strains B-4054, B-2585, and B-11264 demonstrated a reliable enzymatic potential and steady growth under the experimental conditions. In the future, they may provide a strategic alternative to imported probiotic starters. Research prospects involve optimization of cheese production technology by using these strains in microbial consortia.