ZÚÑIGA MIRANDA, JOHANA JANINA
Preferred name
ZÚÑIGA MIRANDA, JOHANA JANINA
Main Affiliation
CENBIO - Centro de Investigación Biomédica
Web Site
ORCID
0000-0001-9037-9306
Scopus Author ID
57822779800
22 results
Now showing 1 - 10 of 22
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Item type:Publication, Bioactivación del quimioterapéutico ciclofosfamida mediada por citocromos P450 con fines de uso en terapia génica de cáncerEsta revisión examina el papel de las enzimas del citocromo P450 en la bioactivación del agente quimioterapéutico ciclofosfamida (CPA) para uso en la terapia génica del cáncer. El estudio explora enzimas específicas del citocromo P450, como CYP2B6, CYP2C9 y CYP3A4, encargadas de metabolizar la CPA en su forma activa, destacando su potencial en la terapia del gen suicida o GDEPT. La revisión también analiza las modificaciones genéticas realizadas para mejorar la eficiencia catalítica de estas enzimas y aborda los desafíos y las direcciones futuras de la integración de GDEPT con otras terapias contra el cáncer para mejorar la especificidad y eficacia del tratamiento. - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Designing cytochrome P450 enzymes for use in cancer gene therapy(Frontiers Media SA, 2024-05-24); Cancer is a significant global socioeconomic burden, as millions of new cases and deaths occur annually. In 2020, almost 10 million cancer deaths were recorded worldwide. Advancements in cancer gene therapy have revolutionized the landscape of cancer treatment. An approach with promising potential for cancer gene therapy is introducing genes to cancer cells that encode for chemotherapy prodrug metabolizing enzymes, such as Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, which can contribute to the effective elimination of cancer cells. This can be achieved through gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT). CYP enzymes can be genetically engineered to improve anticancer prodrug conversion to its active metabolites and to minimize chemotherapy side effects by reducing the prodrug dosage. Rational design, directed evolution, and phylogenetic methods are some approaches to developing tailored CYP enzymes for cancer therapy. Here, we provide a compilation of genetic modifications performed on CYP enzymes aiming to build highly efficient therapeutic genes capable of bio-activating different chemotherapeutic prodrugs. Additionally, this review summarizes promising preclinical and clinical trials highlighting engineered CYP enzymes’ potential in GDEPT. Finally, the challenges, limitations, and future directions of using CYP enzymes for GDEPT in cancer gene therapy are discussed. - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, CRISPR-Cas-Based Antimicrobials: Design, Challenges, and Bacterial Mechanisms of Resistance(American Chemical Society (ACS), 2023-06-22); ; - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Relationship Between Bioactive Compounds and Biological Activities (Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Antihaemolytic) of ‘Colcas’ Fruits at Different Stages of Maturity(MDPI AG, 2025-09-10); - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Phytochemical Composition and Biological Properties of Macleania rupestris Fruit Extract: Insights into Its Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activity(MDPI AG, 2025-03-27); ; ; Jéssica Guamán-BautistaMacleania rupestris, a fruit-bearing species of the Ericaceae family, has traditionally been used for its potential medicinal properties. Background/Objectives: This study investigates the phytochemical composition and antimicrobial activity of M. rupestris fruit extract, focusing on its antibacterial, antibiofilm, and antifungal effects. Methods: M. rupestris (Kunth) A.C.Sm. berries (code: 4456, Herbario QUPS-Ecuador) were collected from the cloud forest Montano Alto, Cuenca-Ecuador, and the extract was obtained using an ethanolic-based extraction and chemically characterized. The antibacterial and antifungal activity of the fruit extract was assessed against seven multidrug-resistant bacteria strains and four fungal strains using the microdilution method. The biofilm inhibition potential was evaluated using a microplate assay with the crystal violet staining method. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH and ABTS assays. Results: The bioactive compounds showed 853.9 mg phenols/100 g DW, 573.2 mg organic acid/100 g DW, and 21.5 mg C-3-gl/100 g DW of anthocyanins. The antibacterial assays demonstrated significant inhibitory activity against Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus epidermidis, with MIC values ranging from 1.25 to 5 mg/mL. Additionally, the biofilm inhibition assays confirmed the potential of M. rupestris extract to disrupt bacterial biofilms, particularly in S. aureus and L. monocytogenes. Nevertheless, no significant antifungal activity was observed against Candida spp., suggesting selective antimicrobial properties. Finally, the antioxidant activity was strong (1.62 mmol TE/100 g DW by DPPH and 3.28 mmol TE/100 g DW by ABTS). Conclusions: These findings indicate that M. rupestris possesses promising antibacterial, antibiofilm, and antioxidant properties, which may be attributed to its phenolic and organic acid composition. Further fractionation and targeted bioassays are required to elucidate the specific bioactive compounds responsible for these effects and explore their potential applications in antimicrobial formulations. - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Phytosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Mansoa alliacea (Lam.) A.H. Gentry (Bignoniaceae) Leaf Extract: Characterization and Their Biological Activities(MDPI AG, 2024-09-25); ; ; Cristina Rodríguez-PólitBackground. Mansoa alliacea is a native plant renowned for its medicinal properties in traditional healing in the Amazon Region. This plant is rich in polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, phenolic acids, tannins, ketones, triterpenes, as well as other bioactive compounds. Objectives. This study aims to develop an innovative, eco-friendly method for synthesizing silver nanoparticles using an aqueous extract of M. alliacea (Ma-AgNPs), enhancing the biological activities of AgNPs by leveraging the therapeutic potential of the plant’s bioactive compounds. Methods. Silver nanoparticles were synthesized using the aqueous extract of M. alliacea. The biological activities of Ma-AgNPs were assessed, including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, and anti-biofilm effects, along with evaluating their hemolytic activity. Results. Quantitative analysis revealed that Ma-AgNPs exhibit potent antibacterial activity against multidrug and non-multidrug-resistant bacteria, with MIC values ranging from 1.3 to 10.0 µg/mL. The Ma-AgNPs significantly reduced NO production by 86.9% at 4 µg/mL, indicating strong anti-inflammatory effects. They demonstrated robust antioxidant activity with an IC50 of 5.54 ± 1.48 µg/mL and minimal hemolytic activity, with no hemolysis observed up to 20 µg/mL and only 4.5% at 40 µg/mL. Their antitumor properties were notable, with IC50 values between 2.9 and 5.4 µg/mL across various cell lines, and they achieved over 50% biofilm inhibition at concentrations of 30–40 µg/mL. Conclusions. These findings underscore the potential of Ma-AgNPs for biomedical applications, particularly in developing new antimicrobial agents and bioactive coatings with reduced toxicity. This research highlights a sustainable approach that not only preserves but also amplifies the inherent biological activities of plant extracts, paving the way for innovative therapeutic solutions. - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Bioactive Phenolic Compounds from Rambutan - Nephelium lappaceum L. - Shell: Encapsulation, Structural Stability, and Multifunctional Activities(MDPI AG, 2025-11-09); Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum) shell, an agro-industrial by-product, is a rich source of phenolic acids and minor anthocyanins, but its direct use is limited by instability and low bioavailability. We extracted phenolic-rich fractions and produced maltodextrin microcapsules by spray drying, then confirmed chemical entrapment and amorphization by FTIR, SEM, and XRD. The formulation showed high encapsulation efficiency and high antioxidant capacity (DPPH), selective bactericidal activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia cepacia, and strong inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes biofilms, while exhibiting negligible hemolysis (<2%) across tested concentrations. Antitumor effects were moderate with low selectivity in vitro, indicating that phenolic-acid-driven redox modulation may require fractionation or delivery optimization for oncology applications. Overall, spray-dried microcapsules provided structural stability and safety while concentrating multifunctional activities relevant to food and biomedical uses. By valorizing a tropical waste stream into a bioactive, hemocompatible ingredient, this work aligns with societal goals on health and sustainable production (SDG 3 and SDG 12) and offers a scalable route to deploy underutilized phenolic resources.</jats:p> - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Current Landscape of Methods to Evaluate Antimicrobial Activity of Natural Extracts(MDPI AG, 2023-01-20); ; Scopus© Citations 82 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Bioactive Properties of Microencapsulated Anthocyanins from Vaccinium floribundum and Rubus glaucus(MDPI AG, 2024-11-21); Scopus© Citations 9 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Experimental and computational studies of Schiff bases derived from 4-aminoantipyrine as potential antibacterial and anticancer agents(Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2025-01-31); ;
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