Current Research on Biosciences and Biotechnology

ERCC2 rs13181 and ERCC1 rs11615 polymorphisms in non-small cell lung cancer patients in West Java: towards personalized medicine approaches

Nadiya Nurul Afifah — 2025-02-28

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) is a disease with a high incidence rate, low survival due to late diagnosis and treatment delays, and varying effectiveness of platinum-based chemotherapy. Individual responses to platinum-based chemotherapy are influenced by genetic polymorphisms in genes affecting pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic mechanisms. This study focuses on identifying polymorphisms in the ERCC2 and ERCC1 genes, which play a role in platinum pharmacodynamics, and their effects on chemotherapy response. The study involved 23 NSCLC patients conducted at Dr. H.A. Rotinsulu Lung Hospital in Bandung. Polymorphism data were obtained through genotype analysis using sequencing methods from prospective whole blood samples of patients, while chemotherapy effectiveness was assessed by evaluating chemotherapy response using the RECIST 1.1 method, and radiological response prediction and prognostic factors were determined through CYFRA 21-1 levels. The results showed an OR of 0.964 (95% CI: 0.160 - 5.795) for ERCC2 rs13181 CC + AC vs. AA against chemotherapy response evaluation by RECIST 1.1, and 0.722 (95% CI: 0.062 - 8.464) against CYFRA 21-1 values. Meanwhile, for ERCC1 rs11615, an OR of 0.268 (95% CI: 0.046 - 1.548) CT + TT vs. CC for RECIST 1.1 and 0.3 (95% CI: 0.026 - 3.427) for CYFRA 21-1 values were obtained. In clinical interpretation, it is known that variant alleles at rs13181 and rs11615 have potential for better chemotherapy response although not statistically significant (p>0.05), these results can be considered when assessing patient response to chemotherapy within six cycles. This study provides initial data and forms the basis for future comprehensive cohort observational research.

Investigating the types and mechanisms of Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistance: why Indonesia continues to experience high case rates compared to other nations

Melinda Siswanto — 2025-02-28

Tuberculosis (TB) cases in Indonesia have been a major issue in public health. Although antimicrobial therapies such as Isoniazid and Rifampicin are available, Indonesia still struggle to control its spread and yet to eradicate the infection. This is due to the resistance developed by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the main cause of TB, causing an increasing number of Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (XDR-TB). This problem exacerbates by the inadequacy of healthcare infrastructure to effectively detect and treat TB. Hence, this study is established to address the challenges and strategies for controlling TB and XDR-TB in Indonesia. The analysis involves epidemiological studies, genetic research, and public health policy reviews to identify the factors contributing to TB drug resistance and to propose targeted interventions. The findings reveal that high drug resistance and inadequate healthcare infrastructure are major barriers. Evidence-based interventions and enhanced diagnostic capacity are crucial for controlling TB in Indonesia. Socioeconomic factors like poverty and limited access to healthcare services also influence the spread of TB in Indonesia. Improving the healthcare system and addressing socioeconomic issues can help reduce TB and XDR-TB rates.

Caffeine as a modulator of redox balance and migration in MDA-MB-231 triple-negative breast cancer cells

Qanita Hana Amira — 2025-02-28

Caffeine, a widely consumed stimulant, has demonstrated significant effects on cancer cell behavior, particularly in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. This study investigates the impact of caffeine on MDA-MB-231 cells, focusing on cell morphology, viability, antioxidant gene expression, and cell migration. Caffeine at concentrations of 10 mM and above induced notable morphological changes, including cell rounding, detachment, and decreased cell density, indicative of cytotoxic effects and cellular stress responses such as apoptosis. Viability assays revealed a dose-dependent reduction in cell survival, with a substantial decline in total cell count at higher caffeine concentrations. The observed decrease in cell viability is associated with the downregulation of antioxidant genes SOD2 and GLO1, suggesting disrupted redox balance and impaired detoxification systems. A significant positive correlation was noted between SOD2 and GLO1 expression levels, indicating their interdependence in antioxidant defense mechanisms. Additionally, caffeine treatment impaired cell migration, as the wound healing assay shows, with higher concentrations significantly hindering wound closure. This effect on migration, relevant for metastasis, aligns with findings from previous studies on caffeine’s influence on cancer cell motility. The results suggest that 10 mM caffeine may serve as an optimal concentration for inducing cellular stress without immediate, widespread cell death, positioning it as a promising candidate for further therapeutic exploration.

Assessment of potential cellular toxicity of methylglyoxal on primary human epidermal keratinocytes

Nurul Muhammad Prakoso — 2025-02-28

Skin is the outermost layer of the human body, which is important to prevent damage by infection, ultraviolet radiation, and toxic materials. The impermeable barrier of the skin has to be maintained via skin regeneration to preserve its essential function. However, skin regeneration declines due to decreased cell proliferation during skin aging. In this study, we investigated the role of methylglyoxal (MGO) as a precursor of advanced glycation end-products (AGE), which have been reported as an emerging threat of early aging in the skin. Previous studies reported a reduction in survival of the HaCaT cell line exposed to 500 µM MGO. However, studies on primary keratinocytes are still limited. We evaluated the viability and proliferation of primary human epidermal keratinocytes (HEKa) under the exposure of MGO. We also employed H₂DCFDA assay to quantify the generation of intracellular ROS due to MGO. Our study revealed a biphasic response in which lower doses of MGO (25 and 50 µM) increased viability, while the cellular toxicity began at higher concentrations of 100, 200, and 300 µM. The proliferation assay also suggests an overall reduction of primary epidermal keratinocytes exposed to 100 and 200 µM MGO after 24 and 48 hours of culture. Increasing ROS concentrations were also observed in cells treated with 100 and 200 µM MGO. Our data suggested that a lower concentration of MGO was required to induce cellular toxicity in primary human epidermal keratinocytes compared to the HaCaT cell line reported by another study, indicating different sensitivity to MGO.

Application of Trichoderma sp. for enhancing growth and defence mechanism of red chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivated under aluminum stress

Nabillah Hazimah — 2025-02-28

The extensive peatlands across Indonesia offer significant potential for cultivating food and horticultural crops, particularly red chili, a valuable commodity. However, these lands face significant challenges, including low pH levels and the presence of heavy metals, which can hinder plant growth. Heavy metals are harmful environmental pollutants that pose risks to agricultural land and plant health. Plant-microorganism interactions, like those with Trichoderma species, can boost plant growth and reduce aluminum (Al) toxicity. This study evaluated the effects of Trichoderma sp. on the growth and defense mechanisms of Tanjung variety chili plants under Al stress. The experiment used a Completely Randomized Design in factorial pattern with two factors: Trichoderma sp. at four levels (0 g, 10 g, 15 g, 30 g) and Al 0 ppm, 100 ppm, 200 ppm, 300 ppm). Observations included plant height, number of branches, plant dry weight, water content, total chlorophyll content, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase enzymes activity. The results indicated that 300 ppm Al reduced plant height to 14.22 ± cm, while adding 15 g Trichoderma sp. and 200 ppm Al increased plant height up to 20.2 ± 1.90 cm (control 15.14 ± 2.75 cm). 300 ppm Al reduced plant dry weight to 3.12 ± 0.12 g, but adding 15 g Trichoderma sp. increased plant dry weight to 8.29 ± 1.32 g compared to control (5.14 ± 0.46 g). The treatment of 30 g Trichoderma sp. without Al-induced increased total chlorophyll content (3.85 ± 0.9) (control 3.56 ± 0.90). Chili plants showed enhanced defence mechanism responses with higher CAT enzyme activity (27.95 ± 1.31 units/mg) when treated with 15 g of Trichoderma sp. and 300 ppm Al stress. Additionally, the application of 10 g of Trichoderma sp. under 300 ppm Al stress elevated APX enzyme activity to 0.111 ± 0.007 units/mg, and under 100 ppm Al stress. Thus, the treatment of 15 g and 30 g Trichoderma sp. effectively improved chilli plant growth and countered the adverse effects of Al stress.

Comparative study of ultrasonic and maceration extraction in enhancing antioxidant and SPF properties of green coffee beans serum

Stradivary Firdaus — 2025-02-28

This study investigates the efficiency of maceration and ultrasonic extraction methods for obtaining antioxidants from Arabica, Robusta, and Liberica green coffee beans. Ultrasonic extraction demonstrated higher yields and enhanced antioxidant activity, with Liberica exhibiting the most potent radical scavenging potential (lowest IC₅₀ values), followed by Robusta and Arabica in 45.3706 ppm, 46.6647 ppm, 49.4257 ppm. Formulated serums derived from these extracts were evaluated for compliance with SNI 16-4399-1996 standards. Both methods produced serums with acceptable texture, homogeneity, pH levels, and active ingredient retention. However, ultrasonic-derived serums displayed superior microbial safety profiles, with significantly lower total plate counts. Viscosity analysis revealed higher values for maceration-derived serums, while Sun Protection Factor (SPF) evaluation indicated that serum of Liberica extract provided the highest UV protection. These findings emphasize the potential of ultrasonic extraction and Liberica green coffee beans in developing high-value cosmetic and pharmaceutical products, paving the way for further research into optimized extraction techniques and broader applications.