Your browser does not fully support modern features. Please upgrade for a smoother experience.
Subject:
All Disciplines Arts & Humanities Biology & Life Sciences Business & Economics Chemistry & Materials Science Computer Science & Mathematics Engineering Environmental & Earth Sciences Medicine & Pharmacology Physical Sciences Public Health & Healthcare Social Sciences
Sort by:
Most Viewed Latest Alphabetical (A-Z) Alphabetical (Z-A)
Filter:
All Topic Review Biography Peer Reviewed Entry Video Entry
Topic Review
Bartonella henselae in a Biofilm
Bartonella henselae (B. henselae) is a gram-negative bacterium that causes cat scratch disease, bacteremia, and endocarditis, as well as other clinical presentations. B. henselae has been shown to form a biofilm in vitro that likely plays a role in the establishment and persistence of the bacterium in the host.
  • 1.6K
  • 28 Apr 2021
Topic Review
RBUD
RBUD, read-based metagenomics profiling for unestablished database, is a new functional potential analysis approach for whole microbial genome shotgun sequencing. Based on whole metagenome shotgun sequencing data, it can be used to analysis microbial species and functions, especially for the study without relevant reference database. RBUD method is optimized by omitting the steps of contigs assembly and ORF prediction which improves the utilization of sequencing data and shortens the time of data analysis. In addition, RBUD method includes the steps of establishing databases of microorganisms from different sources to expand its application, which is a great help for small-sample research and can avoid the lack of reference database. By compared RBUD with the existing methods in practical applications, RBUD has great advantages in both species and functional analysis.
  • 1.6K
  • 21 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Varidnaviria
Varidnaviria is a realm of viruses that includes all DNA viruses that encode major capsid proteins that contain a vertical jelly roll fold. The major capsid proteins (MCP) form into pseudohexameric subunits of the viral capsid, which stores the viral deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and are perpendicular, or vertical, to the surface of the capsid. Apart from this, viruses in the realm also share many other characteristics, such as minor capsid proteins (mCP) with the vertical jelly roll fold, an ATPase that packages viral DNA into the capsid, and a DNA polymerase that replicates the viral genome. Varidnaviria was established in 2019 based on the shared characteristics of the viruses in the realm. There are two groups of viruses in Varidnaviria: viruses that have a double vertical jelly roll (DJR) folds in the MCP, assigned to the kingdom Bamfordvirae, and viruses that have a single vertical jelly roll (SJR) fold in the MCP, assigned to the kingdom Helvetiavirae. The DJR-MCP lineage is thought to be descended from the SJR-MCP lineage via a gene fusion event, and the SJR-MCP shows a close relation to nucleoplasmins, pointing to a possible origin of the realm's jelly roll fold MCP. Most identified eukaryotic DNA viruses belong to Varidnaviria. Marine viruses in the realm are highly abundant worldwide and are important in marine ecology. Many animal viruses in the realm are associated with disease, including adenoviruses, poxviruses, and the African swine fever virus. Poxviruses have been prominent in the history of medicine, especially smallpox, caused by Variola virus, which was the target of the first vaccine and which later became the first disease eradicated. The realm also notably includes giant viruses that are physically larger and contain a much larger number of genes than typical viruses.
  • 1.6K
  • 20 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Gut Microbiome and Lipid Metabolism
Lipids are the major structural constituents of cell membranes.
  • 1.6K
  • 18 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Adipocytokines Produced by Adipose Tissue
The alterations of adipocyte-derived signal mediators strongly influence the regulation of inflammation, resulting in chronic low-grade inflammation.
  • 1.6K
  • 23 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Wood Antimicrobial Behavior Test Method
Some wood species have antimicrobial properties and a variety of methods are used to investigate them. For testing the effect of antimicrobial compounds, direct and indirect methods are used. Meanwhile, the survival of microbes is also tested on surfaces (or material in contact with microbes) to validate the safety of surfaces.
  • 1.6K
  • 29 Oct 2020
Topic Review
The Microbial Hypothesis of Alzheimer’s Disease
The potential contribution of pathogenic microbes to dementia-inducing disease is a subject of considerable importance. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurocognitive disease that slowly destroys brain function, leading to cognitive decline and behavioral and psychiatric disorders. The histopathology of AD is associated with neuronal loss and progressive synaptic dysfunction, accompanied by the deposition of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide in the form of parenchymal plaques and abnormal aggregated tau protein in the form of neurofibrillary tangles. The AD pathogen hypothesis states that pathogens and microbes act as triggers, interacting with genetic factors to initiate the accumulation of Aβ, hyperphosphorylated tau protein (p-tau), and inflammation in the brain. Evidence indicates that Borrelia sp., HSV-1, VZV (HHV-2), HHV-6/7, oral pathogens, Chlamydophila pneumoniae, and Candida albicans can infect the central nervous system (CNS), evade the immune system, and consequently prevail in the AD brain.
  • 1.6K
  • 06 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Arabidopsis RETICULON-LIKE4 (RTNLB4)
Agrobacterium tumefaciens genetically transforms plant cells by transferring the transfer-DNA (T-DNA) and virulence (Vir) proteins from bacteria via a VirB-encoded type IV secretion system into plants. The effectors manipulate plant proteins to assist in T-DNA transfer, integration, and expression in plant cells. The Arabidopsis reticulon-like (RTNLB) proteins are located in the endoplasmic reticulum and are involved in endomembrane trafficking in plant cells. We functionally characterized reticulon-like protein B4 (RTNLB4), which interacted with the A. tumefaciens VirB2 protein, a major component of A. tumefaciens T-pilus. Overexpression or knockdown of RTNLB4 affected the expression of A. tumefaciens elf18 peptide-induced plant defense-related genes and could affect Agrobacterium-mediated transformation rates. Pre-treatment with elf18 peptide decreased Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression efficiency more in wild-type seedlings than RTNLB4 O/E transgenic plants, which suggests that the induced defense responses in RTNLB4 O/E transgenic plants might be affected after bacterial elicitor treatments. We also showed that two VirB2 peptides induced the expression of defense-related genes and H2O2 production and inhibited seedling growth. These typical pathogen-associated molecular pattern-trigged immune responses were less induced in RTNLB4 overexpression transgenic plants. Our findings provide strong evidence that RTNLB4 has major roles in the A. tumefaciens elf18 and VirB2 peptide-derived plant defense responses. We believe this study advances our understanding of possible functions of the RTNLB4 protein in the A. tumefaciens infection process and plant immunity.
  • 1.6K
  • 01 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Microalgae Encapsulation
Microalgae are microorganisms with a singular biochemical composition, including several biologically active compounds with proven pharmacological activities, such as anticancer, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, among others. These properties make microalgae an interesting natural resource to be used as a functional ingredient, as well as in the prevention and treatment of diseases, or cosmetic formulations. Nevertheless, natural bioactives often possess inherent chemical instability and/or poor solubility, which are usually associated with low bioavailability. As such, their industrial potential as a health-promoting substance might be severely compromised. In this context, encapsulation systems are considered as a promising and emerging strategy to overcome these shortcomings due to the presence of a surrounding protective layer.
  • 1.6K
  • 23 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Fungal Endophytes Associated with Plants
Diverse microbial domains inhabiting the plant endosphere can be beneficial or pathogenic. The beneficial types are referred to as plant growth-promoting endophytic microbes. In agricultural sustainability, the exploration of the beneficial type is utmost of interest in ensuring sustainable plant health. Fungal interactions within the plant endosphere can be modulated by the synthesis of attachment organelle (hyphae) which enable them to create an interdependent ecological balance within the host plants. The impact of fungal endophytes in plant growth promotion can be linked to their potential in various plant physiological functions, directly or indirectly. Also, the production of invaluable bioactive metabolic compounds by fungal endophytes has contributed to their biocontrol efficacy against plant pathogens. Therefore, exploration of fungal endophytes can be promising in agriculture, and interest in endosphere biology will contribute to harnessing them as bioinoculants in developing eco-friendly agriculture.
  • 1.6K
  • 05 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Lactococcus lactis
Gram-positive cocci known as Lactococcus are found solely in pairs or in chains. They are catalase-negative, and facultatively anaerobic L-lactic acid is the main byproduct of the fermentation of glucose during the glycolytic pathway of L. lactis.
  • 1.6K
  • 05 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Cyclospora Cayetanensis
Cyclospora cayetanensis is a coccidian protozoan that causes cyclosporiasis, a severe gastroenteric disease, especially for immunocompromised patients, children, and the elderly. The parasite is considered as an emerging organism and a major contributor of gastroenteritis worldwide. Although the global prevalence of cyclosporiasis morbidity and mortality has not been assessed, global concern has arisen since diarrheal illness and gastroenteritis significantly affect both developing and industrialized countries. In the last two decades, an increasing number of foodborne outbreaks have been associated with the consumption of fresh produce that is difficult to clean thoroughly and is consumed without processing. Investigations of these outbreaks have revealed the necessity to increase the awareness in clinicians of this infection, since this protozoan is often ignored by surveillance systems, and to establish control measures to reduce contamination of fresh produce.
  • 1.6K
  • 01 Dec 2020
Topic Review
PP2A during Mitosis in Yeasts
Cell cycle regulation is largely based on protein phospho-dephosphorylation events, catalyzed by cyclin dependent kinases (Cdks) and phosphatases (PPases), respectively. During many years the Cdks were considered the main component of the cell cycle control system. Recently, the importance of the counteracting PPases has emerged. Research on yeast has provided many insights into such contribution. Here we present an overview of the protein phosphatase 2A family's roles during mitosis.
  • 1.6K
  • 23 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Computational Modeling of Human Microbiome
The human microbiome has been identified as a potentially significant contributor to human health, but the composition and role that the microbiome plays varies across body sites.  Technological improvements have enabled large-scale studies of the human microbiome and this review focuses on the data and health impacts that have been analyzed to date associated with the skin, oral, gut, and vaginal microbiomes.  One major challenge in this area that remains is to gain a better mechanistic understanding of the microbial consortium function and dynamics and how it impacts the human host.  Computational approaches can help analyze some of the interactions and complexity of the microbiome-host interactions and thus, discussion on relevant computational studies associated with the human microbiome are also presented.
  • 1.6K
  • 01 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Latent Tuberculosis
Latent tuberculosis (LTB), also called latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is when a person is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, but does not have active tuberculosis. Active tuberculosis can be contagious while latent tuberculosis is not, and it is therefore not possible to get TB from someone with latent tuberculosis. The main risk is that approximately 10% of these people (5% in the first two years after infection and 0.1% per year thereafter) will go on to develop active tuberculosis. This is particularly true, and there is added risk, in particular situations such as medication that suppresses the immune system or advancing age. The identification and treatment of people with latent TB is an important part of controlling this disease. Various treatment regimens are in use for latent tuberculosis. They generally need to be taken for several months.
  • 1.6K
  • 02 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Brain–Gut–Microbiome Axis
Beginning with the concept of the brain–gut axis, the importance of the interaction between the brain and the gastrointestinal tract has been extended to the microbiome with increasing clinical applications. With the recent development of various techniques for microbiome analysis, the number of relevant preclinical and clinical studies on animals and human subjects has rapidly increased. Various psychotic symptoms a ect the intestinal microbiome through the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal gland axis. Conversely, the intestinal microbiome regulates the gastrointestinal tract environment and affects psychological factors by means of the microorganisms or their metabolites, either acting directly on the brain or through the synthesis of various neurotransmitters.
  • 1.6K
  • 26 Oct 2020
Topic Review
HEV infectivity in water samples
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a non-enveloped single-stranded positive-sense RNA virus, belonging to the Hepeviridae family, resistant to environmental conditions, and transmitted by the consumption of contaminated water. This virus is responsible for both sporadic and epidemic outbreaks, leading to thousands of infections per year in several countries, and is thus considered an emerging disease in Europe and Asia. This study refers to a survey in Portugal during 2019, targeting the detection and eventual quantification of enteric viruses in surface and drinking water sources. Samples positive for HEV RNA were recurrently found by reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), in both matrices. The infectivity of these samples was evaluated in cultured Vero E6 cells and RNA from putative viruses produced in cell cultures was subjected to RT-qPCR targeting HEV genomic RNA. Our results evidenced the existence of samples positive either for HEV RNA (77.8% in surface water and 66.7% in drinking water) or for infectious HEV (23.0% in surface water and 27.7% in drinking water). These results highlight the need of effective virological control of water for human consumption and activities.
  • 1.6K
  • 26 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Cryptococcosis
Cryptococcosis is an important opportunistic infection and a leading cause of meningitis in patients with HIV infection. The current antifungal pharmacological treatment is limited; in addition, the high toxicity, increased resistance rate, and difficulty of the currently available antifungal molecules to cross the blood-brain barrier hamper the treatment. Thus, the search for new alternatives for the treatment of cryptococcosis is extremely necessary. Here we describe the therapeutic strategies currently available and discuss new molecules with antifungal potential in different phases of clinical trials and in the advanced pre-clinical phase.
  • 1.6K
  • 29 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Source and Structure of Exopolysaccharides
Marine microorganisms, as important members of marine organisms, can produce numerous specific active substances in an extreme environment in low temperature, high salt, high pressure, and oligotrophic conditions. They have gained scientific interest due to their potential applications in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries, for environmental remediation, and astrobiology. The monosaccharide composition, high molecular weight, hydrophobicity and polycharged characteristics of marine Exopolysaccharides (EPS) are involved in their cryoprotective effect, water-holding capacity, and good thermostability. The source and structure  of exopolysaccharides are summarized. 
  • 1.6K
  • 23 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Motility of Helicobacter spp.
Helicobacter spp., including the well-known human gastric pathogen H. pylori, can cause gastric diseases in humans and other mammals. They are Gram-negative bacteria that colonize the gastric epithelium and use their multiple flagella to move across the protective gastric mucus layer. Different Helicobacter spp. differ in the number and arrangement of flagella, as well as in the size and shape of their cell body. The most well-studied of these is H. pylori, which is unipolar and lophotrichous (multiple flagella at one pole). Some of these bacteria are bipolar, e.g., the lophotrichous H. suis, and the monotrichous H. cetorum. The motility of H. pylori, H. suis, and H. cetorum was described in the review in Microorganisms 2023 linked above. 
  • 1.6K
  • 20 Mar 2023
  • Page
  • of
  • 53
Featured Entry Collections
>>

Featured Reprints

>>
Encyclopedia of Digital Society, Industry 5.0 and Smart City
Encyclopedia of Engineering
Encyclopedia of Social Sciences
Encyclopedia of Medieval Royal Iconography
Write an Entry
Feedback