With the prevalence of epidemics, disposable face masks have been used in large quantities and has caused global environmental pollution concern. The gut microbiome of Zophobas atratus larvae showed great potential for plastic degradation. In a preliminary study, the larval gut microbiome could degrade masks, which has not been previously reported. This study validated the ability of the gut microbiome to degrade masks. Functional microbiomes and metabolic pathways associated with the degradation of masks were also analyzed. Our findings confirmed that the larvae have high masks-degrading ability with a consumption of 60 ± 0.04 mg/d (dry mass by per 50 larvae), which is gut microbiome-dependent. At the genus level, Hafnia and Corynebaterium were highly abundant and contributed to masks degradation. The degrading metabolites were then identified, of which 46 were significantly upregulated. Steroid hormone biosynthesis and the cytochrome P450 pathway may be linked to DFM (PP) oxidation and degradation. Finally, Stenotrophomonas sp. strain M212 with a masks-degrading ability was screened from these functional microorganisms, further establishing the role of the gut microbiome.

Nannochloropsis is an industrially relevant marine microalga with exceptional potential as a chassis for sunlight-driven CO₂ valorization. However, its broad application in synthetic biology has been constrained by the lack of a standardized and modular genetic toolbox. Here, we report the development of a comprehensive Modular Cloning (MoClo) toolkit for Nannochloropsis, based on Golden Gate assembly and a standard syntax. The toolkit comprises 91 domesticated genetic parts spanning promoters, signal peptides, selectable markers, reporter genes, tags and terminators. A large subset of these parts, including several not previously evaluated in Nannochloropsis, was functionally validated, enabling convenient and reliable transformant selection, immunodetection, and subcellular localization. To demonstrate the utility of the toolkit for multi-gene pathway engineering, modularly assembled keto-carotenoid biosynthetic pathways were introduced into Nannochloropsis, leading to substantial accumulation of canthaxanthin (4.5 mg g⁻¹) or astaxanthin (2.8 mg g⁻¹). Collectively, this flexible and expandable MoClo toolkit establishes a standardized foundation for synthetic biology in Nannochloropsis, enables rapid design-build-test cycles for multi-gene constructs, and advances the use of industrial microalga for sustainable, CO₂-based production of value-added biochemicals.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), encompassing Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. Autophagy, an essential intracellular homeostatic process, plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis and progression of IBD. This review systematically examines recent advances in understanding the involvement of autophagy in IBD, with a particular focus on the regulatory mechanisms governing its sequential phases—initiation, elongation, and termination—and their respective contributions to intestinal inflammation. We highlight how dysregulation of core autophagy components, including the ULK1 complex, Beclin 1 complex, and ATG16L1, influences inflammatory responses. Furthermore, this article delves into the context-dependent roles of selective autophagy pathways such as mitophagy, ER-phagy, and xenophagy in IBD, as well as the emerging significance of non-autophagic functions exerted by autophagy-related genes. By integrating these multifaceted aspects, this review aims to provide a theoretical foundation and identify potential targets for future precision therapeutics targeting autophagy in IBD.

Modern agriculture currently demands higher standards for the simultaneous improvement of crop yield, quality and stress resistance. However, traditional crop breeding methods can no longer meet the needs of modern agricultural development. Improving a single trait is no longer sufficient to meet the multifaceted demands of modern agricultural production and consumer expectations. Multiple traits breeding has increasingly become a key objective in current crop breeding. Over the past decade, CRISPR/Cas9-based multiplex genome editing (MGE) has enabled efficient pyramiding and precise regulation of multiple traits via targeted editing of multiple gene loci, revolutionizing crop breeding. In this review, we briefly describe the core CRISPR/Cas-based MGE strategies and technical workflows, and thoroughly discuss the practical outcomes of MGE applications in various fields, such as enhancing crop stress resistance, increasing yield and improving quality. This review aims to provide a summary and theoretical reference for crop breeding, as well as open up new ideas for achieving different breeding goals.