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Topic Review
Brassica Bioactives May Ameliorate Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a chronic, inflammatory, hormone-dependent disease characterized by histological lesions produced by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. Despite the fact that an estimated 176 million women are affected worldwide by this gynecological disorder, risk factors that cause endometriosis have not been properly defined and current treatments are not efficient. Although the interaction between diet and human health has been the focus of many studies, little information about the correlation of foods and their bioactive derivates with endometriosis is available. In this framework, Brassica crops have emerged as potential candidates for ameliorating the chronic inflammatory condition of endometriosis, due to their abundant content of health-promoting compounds such as glucosinolates and their hydrolysis products, isothiocyanates.
  • 1.5K
  • 22 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Echocardiography
Diabetes mellitus is a major factor contributing to the development of cardiovascular disease. As morbidity and mortality rates rise dramatically, when target organ damage develops, presymptomatic assessment is critical for the management of diabetic patients. Echocardiography is a noninvasive and reproductible method that may aid in risk stratification and in evaluation of treatment effects. Aim of this review is to analyze the echocardiographic techniques that can detect early alteration in cardiac function in patients with diabetes.
  • 1.5K
  • 02 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Potential Seaweed-Derived Bioactive Compounds for Pharmaceutical Applications
Seaweeds have been consumed as whole food since ancient times and used to treat several diseases. Nowadays, seaweeds are widely involved in biotechnological applications. Due to the variety of bioactive compounds in their composition, species of phylum Ochrophyta, class Phaeophyceae, phylum Rhodophyta and Chlorophyta are valuable for the food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. Research has demonstrated that those unique compounds express beneficial properties for human health. Each compound has peculiar properties (e.g., antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral activities, etc.) that can be exploited to enhance human health. Seaweed’s extracted polysaccharides are already involved in the pharmaceutical industry, with the aim of replacing synthetic compounds with components of natural origin. 
  • 1.5K
  • 28 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Tumor Microenvironment and Oncolytic Virotherapy
The Tumor Microenvironment (TME) represents an important barrier that can hinder immune responses against tumors and also attenuate immunotherapeutic efficacy.
  • 1.5K
  • 04 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Immunological Mechanisms of Vaccine-Induced Protection against SARS-CoV-2 Infections
SARS-CoV-2 is attached to host cells via binding to the viral spike (S) proteins and its cellular receptors angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Consequently, the S protein is primed with serine proteases TMPRSS2 and TMPRSS4, which facilitate the fusion of viral and cellular membranes result in the entry of viral RNA into the host cell. The long-term protective immunity is provided by the vaccine antigen (or pathogen)-specific immune effectors and the activation of immune memory cells that can be efficiently and rapidly reactivated upon pathogen exposure.
  • 1.5K
  • 29 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Human primary B Lymphocytes Transfection
B lymphocytes (B cells) are a key component of the human immune system. They can be isolated from peripheral blood or tonsils and be expanded in culture after activation by mitogenic agents. Here, it is demonstrated that a well-defined 24-armed poly(2-dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate (PDMAEMA, 755 kDa) nano-star is able to reproducibly elicit high transgene expression (40%) at sufficient residual viability (69%) in primary human B cells derived from tonsillar tissue.
  • 1.5K
  • 24 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Virus-Like Particles-Based COVID-19 Vaccines
Virus-like particles (VLPs) are a versatile, safe, and highly immunogenic vaccine platform. The use of a very flexible vaccine platform in COVID-19 vaccine development is an important feature that cannot be ignored. Incorporating the spike protein and its variations into VLP vaccines is a desirable strategy as the morphology and size of VLPs allows for better presentation of several different antigens. 
  • 1.5K
  • 18 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Biotechnological Interventions in Tomato for Drought Stress Tolerance
Tomato production is severely affected by abiotic stresses (drought, flood, heat, and salt) and causes approximately 70% loss in yield depending on severity and duration of the stress. Drought is the most destructive abiotic stress and tomato is very sensitive to the drought stress, as cultivated tomato lack novel gene(s) for drought stress tolerance. Only 20% of agricultural land worldwide is irrigated, and only 14.51% of that is well-irrigated, while the rest is rain fed. This scenario makes drought very frequent, which restricts the genetically predetermined yield. Primarily, drought disturbs tomato plant physiology by altering plant–water relation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation.
  • 1.5K
  • 10 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Nanomaterials for Wound Healing and Infection Control
Wound healing has been intensely studied in order to develop an "ideal" technique that achieves expeditious recovery and reduces scarring to the minimum, thus ensuring function preservation. The classic approach to wound management is represented by topical treatments, such as antibacterial or colloidal agents, in order to prevent infection and promote a proper wound-healing process. Nanotechnology studies submicroscopic particles (maximum diameter of 100 nm), as well as correlated phenomena. Metal nanoparticles (e.g., silver, gold, zinc) are increasingly being used in dermatology, due to their beneficial effect on accelerating wound healing, as well as treating and preventing bacterial infections. Other benefits include: ease of use, less frequent dressing changes and a constantly moist wound environment. This entry highlights recent findings regarding nanoparticle application in wound management.
  • 1.5K
  • 18 Jan 2022
Topic Review
TRIMbody-Away Technique
TRIMbody-Away technique is a novel technology that could be utilized to acute and rapid destruction of specific intracellular proteins. This technology is based on a new type of fusion protein, designated as TRIMbody, by fusing the truncated form of tripartite motif 21 (TRIM21) with the nanobody. The truncated TRIM21 retained only the N-terminal RBCC domain and deleted the C-terminal PRY-SPRY domain. Therefore, TRIMbody possesses the functions of TRIM21 and mAbs, but has much smaller size. TRIMbody-Away technique could expand the landscape of the applications of degrader technologies and provide an alternative approach for potential therapeutic benefit in future.
  • 1.5K
  • 25 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Advantages/Disadvantages/Limitations of Chemotaxis Assays for Campylobacter spp.
Chemotaxis directed motility of intestinal bacteria such as Campylobacter jejuni could enable the cells to move toward favourable conditions and away from hazardous ones. Reproducible qualitative and quantitative assessment of bacterial chemotactic motility, particularly in response to chemorepellent effectors, is experimentally challenging. Several established chemotaxis assays currently used to investigate Campylobacter jejuni chemotaxis are compared, with the aim of improving the correlation between different studies and establishing the best practices.
  • 1.5K
  • 11 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Metabolism of Acetic Acid Bacteria
Vinegar is one of the most appreciated fermented foods in European and Asian countries. In industry, its elaboration depends on numerous factors, including the nature of starter culture and raw material, as well as the production system and operational conditions. Furthermore, vinegar is obtained by the action of acetic acid bacteria (AAB) on an alcoholic medium in which ethanol is transformed into acetic acid. Besides the highlighted oxidative metabolism of AAB, their versatility and metabolic adaptability make them a taxonomic group with several biotechnological uses.
  • 1.5K
  • 25 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Pure Mycelial Materials
Modern efforts to influence materials science with principles of biology have allowed fungal mycelial materials to take a foothold and develop novel solutions for the circular bioeconomy of tomorrow. However, recent studies have shown that the value of tomorrow’s green materials is not determined simply by their environmental viability, but rather by their ability to make the polluting materials of today obsolete. With an inherently strong structure of chitin and β-glucan, the ever-adaptable mycelia of fungi can compete at the highest levels with a litany of materials from leather to polyurethane foam to paper to wood. There are significant efforts to optimize pure mycelial materials (PMMs) through the entire process of species and strain selection, mycelial growth, and fabrication.
  • 1.5K
  • 15 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Action of Cardiac Glycosides
Cardiac glycosides are natural sterols and constitute a group of secondary metabolites isolated from plants and animals.
  • 1.5K
  • 31 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Ethidium Bromide-Degrading Bacteria from Laboratory Gel Electrophoresis Waste
The bacterium Proteus terrae is a non-pathogenic and natural microflora of humans, but Morganella morganii is an opportunistic pathogen. These organisms belong to risk group II. Screening the sensitivity of these isolates to antibiotics revealed a sufficient number of antibiotics, which can be used to control them, if required. BR3 and BR4 exhibited resistance to individual antibiotics, ampicillin and vancomycin, whereas only BR3 was resistant to tetracycline. The current investigation, along with earlier reported work on these isolates, identifies BR3 as a useful isolate in the industrial application for the degradation of EtBr. Identical and related microorganisms, which are available in the culture collection repositories, can also be explored for such potential to formulate a microbial consortium for the bioremediation of ethidium bromide prior to its disposal. 
  • 1.5K
  • 03 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Diatom–Bacteria Interactions in the Marine Environment
Diatom–bacteria interactions evolved during more than 200 million years of coexistence in the same environment. In this time frame, they established complex and heterogeneous cohorts and consortia, creating networks of multiple cell-to-cell mutualistic or antagonistic interactions for nutrient exchanges, communication, and defence. The most diffused type of interaction between diatoms and bacteria is based on a win-win relationship in which bacteria benefit from the organic matter and nutrients released by diatoms, while these last rely on bacteria for the supply of nutrients they are not able to produce, such as vitamins and nitrogen. Despite the importance of diatom–bacteria interactions in the evolutionary history of diatoms, especially in structuring the marine food web and controlling algal blooms, the molecular mechanisms underlying them remain poorly studied.
  • 1.5K
  • 25 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Komagataella phaffii Biotechnology
The need for a more sustainable society has prompted the development of bio-based processes to produce fuels, chemicals, and materials in substitution for fossil-based ones. In this context, microorganisms have been employed to convert renewable carbon sources into various products. The methylotrophic yeast Komagataella phaffii has been extensively used in the production of heterologous proteins. The obligate aerobic yeast Komagataella phaffii is a non-pathogenic certified and generally recognized as a safe (GRAS) microorganism. It is classified in the Saccharomycetales order and Saccharomycetaceae family. 
  • 1.5K
  • 10 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Cellulolytic Enzymes for Hydrolysis of Lignocellulosic Feedstocks
Cellulolytic enzyme synergism is essential for deconstructing cellulose substrates in the biorefinery sector. Therefore, research on cellulolytic enzyme synergistic interactions has attracted extensive interest worldwide. Cellulases, consisting of endo-glucanases, exoglucanases and beta-glucosidases, were thought to be the main enzymes that degrade or modify cellulosic substrates. However, an accumulation of information on the modes of action and substrate hydrolysis mechanisms of expansins, swollenis (SWOs) and lytic polysaccharide mono-oxygenases (LPMOs) revealed that they significantly improve cellulolytic enzyme synergism. An up-to-date model of cellulose deconstruction, including these novel proteins, is required for effective cellulose degradation and advancement of cellulose-based biorefineries. 
  • 1.4K
  • 18 Oct 2022
Topic Review
SARS-CoV-2 Infection
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic represents the focus of the biomedical research worldwide. The identification of the molecular events related to the SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as the characterization of its clinical features, could put an end to this dramatic health emergency. In this scenario, the interpretation of histopathological data in light of the clinical imaging characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infection can provide the scientific rationale to develop diagnostic and therapeutic protocols that are capable of improving the management of infected patients. Specifically, morphological and molecular analysis of SARS-CoV-2 infected tissues could highlight new useful prognostic and predictive biomarkers for in vivo investigations.
  • 1.4K
  • 06 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Natural Carotenoids
Biotechnologically produced carotenoids occupy an important place in the scientific research. Owing to their role as natural pigments and their high antioxidant properties, microbial carotenoids have been proposed as alternatives to their synthetic counterparts. Natural carotenoids can be obtained either by extraction from plants or via microbial production. To this end, many studies are focusing on their efficient and sustainable production from renewable substrates. Besides the development of an efficient upstream process, their separation and purification as well as their analysis from the microbial biomass confers another important aspect to be adressed.
  • 1.4K
  • 15 May 2023
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