Cytochrome P450s (P450ome) constitute an extended superfamily group of heme-thiolate enzymes identified in all biological domains. P450omes play a critical role in the oxidation of steroids and fatty acids, xenobiotic degradation of hydrophobic compounds, biosynthesis of hormones, and primary and secondary metabolism in organisms. Aspergillus species are among the most economically important fungal organisms in human medicine, industry, and agriculture worldwide. Exploring insight on the genome-wide annotations of cytochrome P450s in Aspergillus species is necessary for their biosynthetic applications. In this present study, we report the identification of 306 cytochrome P450s and their robust profiling in eight notable Aspergillus species (A. carbonarius, A. clavatus, A. flavus, A. fumigatus, A. nidulans, A. niger, A. oryzae, and A. terreus). Based on the evolutionary relationship, the Aspergillus P450s families clustered into 15 clades, with clades V, I, and XIII recording higher percentages (17.3%, 15.00%, and 14.71%, respectively) of Cyp families. Cyps were classified into 120 families 64 clans, and their putative functions were also elucidated. P450s were predicted to be located in 13 subcellular components, but the endoplasm reticulum was the dominant location across the eight Aspergillus species. Cyps genes of Aspergillus species were associated with seven secondary metabolism-related gene clusters. Elucidating the genome-wide annotations of P450s enzymes in Aspergillus species will form vital potential biotechnological tools that could be harnessed for industrial, pharmaceutical, and agricultural use.

Cytochrome P450s are a group of monooxygenase enzymes involved in primary, secondary and xenobiotic metabolisms. They have a wide application in the agriculture sector where they could serve as a target for herbicides or fungicides, while they could function in the pharmaceutical industry as drugs or drugs structures or for bioconversions. Alternaria species are among the most commonly encountered fungal genera, with most of them living as saprophytes in different habitats, while others are parasites of plants and animals. This study was conducted to elucidate the diversity and abundance, evolutionary relationships and cellular localization of 372 cytochrome P450 in 13 Alternaria species. The 372 CYP proteins were phylogenetically clustered into ten clades. Forty (40) clans and seventy-one (71) cyp families were identified, of which eleven (11) families were found to appear in one species each. The majority of the CYP proteins were located in the endomembrane system. Polyketide synthase (PKS) gene cluster was the predominant secondary metabolic-related gene cluster in all the Alternaria species studied, except in A. porriof, where non-ribosomal peptide synthetase genes were dominant. This study reveals the expansion of cyps in these fungal genera, evident in the family and clan expansions, which is usually associated with the evolution of fungal characteristics, especially their lifestyle either as parasites or saprophytes, with the ability to metabolize a wide spectrum of substrates. This study can be used to understand the biology, physiology and toxigenic potentials of P450 in these fungal genera.

Bioscience encompasses studies on living organisms, their components, and their interactions, with the main aim of translating research into useful applications for medical, clinical, industrial, and environmental uses. The broad field of bioscience has witnessed tremendous growth in research output. This study was designed to evaluate the current trends in bioscience research using bibliometric approaches and develop future policy pointers following the innovative systems framework. Research articles focusing on bioscience published between 1883 and 2024 were sourced from the Scopus database. From the retrieved dataset, relevant articles were systematically screened and included for the analysis. Bibliometrix package, VOSviewer, and Microsoft Excel were used to analyze and visualize the parameters. 8,678 documents involving 30,380 authors from diverse institutions across the globe were published in 3,549 sources, with an annual rise of 4.41%. Exponential growth in bioscience research output was observed after 2007 and remained steady till 2024. The United States and China were leading nations for bioscience research. The most relevant affiliation was the University of California, United States, while the most relevant source was the Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research , in terms of the number of publications. Among the authors, Wang Y had the highest number of documents, while the most impactful author was Zhang J. The most frequent keywords in bioscience research included biological research , genetics , procedures , metabolism , biology , DNA , gene expression , proteins , genomics , and fluorescence . Furthermore, themes such as bioinformatics , microRNA , synthetic biology, CRISPR/Cas9 , deep learning , multi-omics , and big data represented the recent research interests. The bioscience research landscape is defined by the dominance of high-income countries and a shift toward omics-driven and data-intensive approaches. Yet global participation remains uneven, with limited representation from low- and middle-income regions. This study highlights the need for inclusive, globally coordinated strategies that foster equitable access, capacity building, and cross-regional collaboration.

Environmental and health concerns associated with synthetic pesticides have triggered global interest in botanical alternatives as eco-friendly pest control solutions. This study analyses the global evolution, knowledge structure, and research gaps in botanical pesticide research spanning seven decades. Through systematic bibliometric analysis of 2,977 peer-reviewed articles (1950–2024) retrieved from Scopus, research trends, thematic shifts, and collaboration networks were examined using PRISMA guidelines, Bibliometrix in R, and VOSviewer. Scientific output has grown steadily at 7.76% annually, with India, Brazil, and China emerging as leading contributors. Notable contributors such as Pavela R., Benelli G., and Isman M.B. emerged as leading authors based on productivity and citations. Industrial Crops and Products, Crop Protection, and Pest Management Science were identified as the most relevant sources publishing botanical pesticide research. Research themes evolved from basic insecticidal properties to formulation optimization, toxicity validation (LC₅₀, LD₅₀), and essential oil chemistry. Collaboration remains predominantly national, though intercontinental partnerships are expanding. Despite rising academic interest, commercialization, field validation, and socio-economic adoption remain limited. This review not only maps the evolution of botanical pesticide research but also shows structural limitations hindering mainstream adoption, urging global stakeholders to integrate policy reforms and interdisciplinary innovations. It proposes a forward-looking strategy focused on interdisciplinary innovation, policy reform, and farmer-centered approaches to improve the global adoption of botanical pesticides in sustainable agriculture.

Plasmodium falciparum is the major cause of malaria in Africa, responsible for high morbidity and mortality across the continent. This study presents a systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis of P. falciparum research conducted in Africa between 2000 and 2024 as shown in Figure 1. Using the PRISMA framework, 10,903 peer-reviewed articles were retrieved from the Scopus database. Bibliometric analysis was performed using Bibliometrix in R and VOSviewer to assess publication trends, authorship networks, keyword evolution, and thematic concentration. Results reveal contributions from 18,345 authors across 4,903 journals, with an average of 31.83 citations per article. Research output has grown steadily over the two-decade period, with significant input from African scholars and international collaborators. The most active research themes include epidemiology, antimalarial drug resistance, vaccine development, vector biology, and socio-economic factors in malaria control. Despite this progress, the review highlights persistent gaps in genomic surveillance, localised insecticide resistance monitoring, and integration of social determinants into malaria intervention strategies. Regional disparities in research output remain, with some high-burden areas underrepresented. Collaboration among African institutions is limited compared to international partnerships. These observations indicate the urgent need for targeted funding, strengthened intra-African collaboration, and policies that contextualise malaria research within local health systems. Addressing these gaps is essential for speeding the continent’s malaria elimination agenda. Abstract Figure: Graphical representation and summary of trends in Plasmodium falciparum in Africa.