Journal: Synthetic and Systems Biotechnology

Article Title: Engineering Escherichia coli for robust Co-utilization of glucose and xylose enables high-titer succinate production from lignocellulosic hydrolysates

doi: 10.1016/j.synbio.2026.01.006

Figure Lengend Snippet: Investigation of xylose transport and PTS modification for succinate production. (A) Schematic representation of glucose and xylose transport routes in different E. coli strains, highlighting the key transporters and metabolic nodes influencing carbon flux; (B) Intracellular ATP levels in strains C600, MG1655, and BW25113 during aerobic growth on xylose; (C) Comparison of succinate and by-product accumulation between the parental strain C600 and engineered strain ESC2 under anaerobic conditions; (D) Fermentation performance of PTS-modified strain ESC3, showing sugar utilization, biomass generation, and succinate production; (E–F) Growth profiles of engineered ESC3 derivatives in defined medium with xylose (E) or glucose–xylose mixtures (F). All experimental data were performed in triplicate, and error bars represent the standard deviation. Statistical analysis was performed using a two-tailed Student's t -test (∗∗p < 0.01, ∗∗∗p < 0.001).

Article Snippet: In this study, we systematically engineered E. coli C600 (ATCC 23724) [ ], a strain with efficient and low-energy xylose transport, as the chassis for succinate production from lignocellulosic sugars.

Techniques: Modification, Comparison, Standard Deviation, Two Tailed Test

Journal: Synthetic and Systems Biotechnology

Article Title: Engineering Escherichia coli for robust Co-utilization of glucose and xylose enables high-titer succinate production from lignocellulosic hydrolysates

doi: 10.1016/j.synbio.2026.01.006

Figure Lengend Snippet: Construction of a succinate-producing strain from C600. (A) Metabolic map illustrating targeted knockouts ( ldhA , pflB , ptsG , adhE and pta-ackA ) and expression/integration of pck to redirect flux toward succinate; (B) Two-stage fermentation scheme comprising aerobic growth using shaking flasks and followed by anaerobic production in serum bottles; (C–D) Succinate fermentation of six engineered strains cultured on xylose (C) or glucose–xylose mixtures (D). All experimental data were performed in triplicate, and error bars represent the standard deviation.

Article Snippet: In this study, we systematically engineered E. coli C600 (ATCC 23724) [ ], a strain with efficient and low-energy xylose transport, as the chassis for succinate production from lignocellulosic sugars.

Techniques: Expressing, Cell Culture, Standard Deviation

Journal: Synthetic and Systems Biotechnology

Article Title: Engineering Escherichia coli for robust Co-utilization of glucose and xylose enables high-titer succinate production from lignocellulosic hydrolysates

doi: 10.1016/j.synbio.2026.01.006

Figure Lengend Snippet: Evaluation of exogenous xylose utilization pathways and library-based strain selection. (A) Schematic comparison of the endogenous XI pathway with the Dahms and Weimberg pathways; (B) Design of pathway plasmid libraries and RBS variants controlling expression of key genes for Dahms and Weimberg pathways. The Weimberg library plasmid carries XylA , XylX , and XylB from C. crescentus , while the Dahms library plasmid contains XylB from C. crescentus . The helper plasmid harbors xylC from C. crescentus and the endogenous yjhG from E. coli . RBS sequences were designed with 32 mutations, enabling gene expression levels ranging from 4 to 57,523 au; (C) Growth and succinate production of four representative ESC7 derivatives (ESC7-W1, ESC7-W2, ESC7-D1, ESC7-D2), which were randomly selected from the Weimberg (W1, W2) or Dahms (D1, D2) pathway libraries, compared with ESC6 (XI pathway); (D) Fermentation performance of the same four ESC7 clones carrying the helper plasmid (harboring XylC and yjhG ), compared with ESC6; (E) Validation of pathway combinations in the ESC6 background using the same four representative plasmids, integrating XI with Dahms/Weimberg routes and help plasmid; (F) Screening of library colonies identified six optimal variants, which were reconstructed in ESC6 and evaluated for succinate production from glucose–xylose mixtures. All experimental data were performed in triplicate, and error bars represent the standard deviation. Statistical analysis was performed using a two-tailed Student's t -test (∗∗∗ p < 0.001).

Article Snippet: In this study, we systematically engineered E. coli C600 (ATCC 23724) [ ], a strain with efficient and low-energy xylose transport, as the chassis for succinate production from lignocellulosic sugars.

Techniques: Selection, Comparison, Plasmid Preparation, Expressing, Gene Expression, Clone Assay, Biomarker Discovery, Standard Deviation, Two Tailed Test

Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: A near-infrared regulated programmable multi-mode periosteum scaffold for sequential healing of infected bone defects

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.03.046

Figure Lengend Snippet: Antimicrobial activity of multi-mode periosteum scaffolds with different NIR irradiation strategies. A. Representative images of MRSA and E. coli colonies with different treatments. Quantitative analysis of MRSA ( B ) and E. coli ( C ) colonies in (A), respectively (n = 3). Results are presented as means ± SD. Samples were subjected to one-way ANOVA with Tukey's post hoc test. Ns ( p > 0.05), ∗∗ p < 0.01. D. Representative SEM images of MRSA and E. coli colonies with different treatments. Scale bar: 1 μm. E. Live/dead staining of MRSA and E. coli colonies in different treatment groups. Scale bar: 100 μm. F. Confocal microscopy image of MRSA biofilm. Scale bar: 100 μm. Protein leakage statistics for MRSA ( G ) and E. coli ( H ), respectively (n = 3). Results are presented as means ± SD. Samples were subjected to one-way ANOVA with Tukey's post hoc test. ∗∗ Significant differences of group M + CI vs. NC, M, and M + II, p < 0.01.

Article Snippet: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA, ATCC 43300) and Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) were purchased from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC).

Techniques: Activity Assay, Irradiation, Staining, Confocal Microscopy

Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: Degradation-tunable coating with sustained silver release for spinal implants to prevent postoperative infections

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.02.035

Figure Lengend Snippet: Characterization of Ag, ZIF-8 and AgZ nanoparticles. (a) TEM images of Ag, ZIF-8, and AgZ nanoparticles. (b) TEM and element mapping images of AgZ. (c) Diameter distribution of nanoparticles. (d) Zeta potential measurements of nanoparticles suspended in PBS. (e) X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of nanoparticles, with black arrows indicating representative silver peaks in AgZ. (f) Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of nanoparticles. (g) Mass content of silver and zinc elements in AgZ, as measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). (h) Photograph of nanoparticle dispersions. Nanoparticles were dispersed in PBS (1 mg/mL) by ultrasound and allowed to stand for 10 min at room temperature. The yellow arrow highlights the precipitated Ag nanoparticles. (i) Minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) of nanoparticles against MRSA and E. coli . AgZ concentration is expressed in terms of silver equivalent to Ag. All data are presented as mean ± standard deviation from three independent samples or experiments.

Article Snippet: Two bacterial strains, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 43300 (MRSA) and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 ( E. coli ), were used in this study.

Techniques: Zeta Potential Analyzer, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Clinical Proteomics, Mass Spectrometry, Concentration Assay, Standard Deviation

Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: Degradation-tunable coating with sustained silver release for spinal implants to prevent postoperative infections

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.02.035

Figure Lengend Snippet: Transcriptomic analysis of gene expression changes in MRSA and E. coli . (a) Heatmap showing the top 20 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of between the AgZ-treated and PBS (control) groups, both upregulated and downregulated, from three biologically independent samples. (b) Volcano plot representing the distribution of DEGs, with a significance threshold of p-value <0.05 and |log 2 FC| > 1. (c) Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis highlighting the enriched pathways in the DEGs between AgZ-treated and PBS-treated bacteria. (d) Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) depicting enriched gene sets. (e) Gene ontology (GO) analysis of differentially expressed genes between AgZ-treated and PBS-treated bacteria.

Article Snippet: Two bacterial strains, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 43300 (MRSA) and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 ( E. coli ), were used in this study.

Techniques: Gene Expression, Control, Bacteria