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Topic Review
Novel Pathogenic Mucorales Identified by Silkworm
Mucormycosis, a rare but highly fatal infection, is caused by fungi of the order Mucorales. Due to their ubiquitous nature, reduced susceptibility to antifungals, acid tolerance, and ability to infect immunocompromised patients through rapid dissemination, these fungi have been frequently reported to infect the COVID-19 patients. In order to develop strategies to overcome mucormycosis, it is essential to understand and identify novel Mucorales present in the environment. 
  • 1.2K
  • 14 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Targeting Post-Translational Modifications in Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide. It consists of two different subtypes: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Despite novel therapeutic options such as immunotherapy, only 20% of lung cancer patients survive the disease after five years. This low survival rate is due to acquired drug resistance and severe off-target effects caused by currently used therapies. Identification and development of novel and targeted therapeutic approaches are urgently required to improve the standard of care for lung cancer patients.
  • 1.2K
  • 09 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Rice
Rice (Oryza sativa L) is a daily staple food crop for more than half of the global population and improving productivity is an important task to meet future demands of the expanding world population. Application of nitrogen (N) fertilization improved rice growth and productivity in the world, but excess use causes environmental and economic issues. One of the main goals of rice breeding is reducing N fertilization while maintaining productivity. Therefore, enhancing rice nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is essential for the development of sustainable agriculture and has become urgently needed. Many studies have been conducted on the main steps in the use of N including uptake and transport, reduction and assimilation, and translocation and remobilization, and on transcription factors regulating N metabolism. Understanding of these complex processes provides a base for the development of novel strategies to improve NUE for rice productivity under varying N conditions.
  • 1.2K
  • 30 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Antimicrobial Potential of Dithiocarbamates Complexes
Dithiocarbamates and their metal complexes have shown promising antimicrobial activities; the mechanisms responsible for the antimicrobial activity include their ability to act as enzyme inhibitors for (i) fungal, protozoan, and bacterial carbonic anhydrase and (ii) metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL) in antibiotic resistant bacteria, particularly Gram-negative bacteria.
  • 1.2K
  • 25 Jun 2021
Topic Review
IL7RA
Interleukin 7 (IL-7) is a critical cytokine that plays a fundamental role in B- and T-cell development and in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Its receptor (IL7R) is a transmembrane heterodimer formed by the IL7Rα and the IL2Rγ chain (γc). The IL7R signals through the JAK/STAT pathway. Loss-of-function mutations and some polymorphisms of the IL7Rα were associated to immunodeficiency and inflammatory diseases, respectively. Gain-of-function mutations were described in T-cell ALL and in high risk precursor B-cell ALL. Most confirmed loss-of-function mutations occur in the extracellular part of the IL7Rα while oncogenic mutations are exclusively found in the extracellular juxtamembrane (EJM) or transmembrane regions. Oncogenic mutations promote either IL7Rα/IL7Rα homodimerization and constitutive signaling, or increased affinity to γc or IL-7. This work presents a review on IL7Rα polymorphisms/mutations and attempts to present a classification based on their structural consequences and resulting biological activity.
  • 1.2K
  • 22 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Tau Pathology in Alzheimer’s Disease and Down Syndrome
Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) exhibit an almost complete penetrance of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology but are underrepresented in clinical trials for AD. The Tau protein is associated with microtubule function in the neuron and is crucial for normal axonal transport. In several different neurodegenerative disorders, Tau misfolding leads to hyper-phosphorylation of Tau (p-Tau), which may seed pathology to bystander cells and spread.
  • 1.2K
  • 07 Mar 2024
Topic Review
N-Palmitoyl Serinol
Ceramides, a class of sphingolipids containing a backbone of sphingoid base, are the most important and effective structural component for the formation of the epidermal permeability barrier. While ceramides comprise approximately 50% of the epidermal lipid content by mass, the content is substantially decreased in certain inflammatory skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis (AD), causing improper barrier function. It is widely accepted that the endocannabinoid system (ECS) can modulate a number of biological responses in the central nerve system, prior studies revealed that activation of endocannabinoid receptor CB1, a key component of ECS, triggers the generation of ceramides that mediate neuronal cell fate. N-palmitoyl Serinol is a kind of N-Acyl amide.  It has the amide bond of AEA(Anandamide) and two hydroxy group of 2-AG(2-Arachidonoyl Glycerol), which is very similar structure with PEA(N-Palmitoyl ethanolamine). 
  • 1.2K
  • 15 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Impact of Sex Differences on Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder with two-thirds of cases diagnosed in women. It is becoming clear that there is a complex interplay between the immune system, sex hormones and AD. Microglia are major players in the neuroinflammatory process occurring in AD and have been shown to be directly affected by sex hormones. 
  • 1.2K
  • 11 May 2023
Topic Review
Biomarker Studies in Stress Biology
Endpoints assessed at the population or community level are most often the result of the sum of effects on individuals, arising from the effects at the cellular and molecular levels. Within this framework, these lower biological level endpoints are more responsive at an early stage of exposure, making them potential toolboxes to be used as early-warning markers to address stress. Given this, by linking responses and understanding organisms’ metabolism and physiology, the possibilities for the use of biomarkers in stress biology are vast.
  • 1.2K
  • 10 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Resveratrol’s Bioavailability
Resveratrol is a naturally occurring polyphenol that has been shown to elicit a variety of beneficial effects in vitro.
  • 1.2K
  • 09 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Acinar-to-Ductal Metaplasia and Transcription Factors Involved
Pancreatic acinar-to-ductal metaplasia (ADM) is a cellular process in which the differentiated pancreatic acinar cells transform into duct-like cells. This process can occur as a result of cellular injury or inflammation in the pancreas. While ADM is a reversible process allowing pancreatic acinar regeneration, persistent inflammation or injury can lead to the development of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN), which is a common precancerous lesion that precedes pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).
  • 1.2K
  • 19 Jun 2023
Topic Review
JAK inhibitors and immune system
The Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathway is aberrantly activated in many malignancies. Inhibition of this pathway via JAK inhibitors (JAKinibs) is therefore an attractive therapeutic strategy underlined by Ruxolitinib (JAK1/2 inhibitor) being approved for the treatment of myeloproliferative neoplasms. As a consequence of the crucial role of the JAK-STAT pathway in the regulation of immune responses, inhibition of JAKs suppresses the immune system. This review article provides a thorough overview of the current knowledge on JAKinibs’ effects on immune cells in the context of hematological malignancies. We also discuss the potential use of JAKinibs for the treatment of diseases in which lymphocytes are the source of the malignancy.
  • 1.2K
  • 23 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Sulfated Polysaccharides from Marine Algae
Wound healing involves a complex cascade of cellular, molecular, and biochemical responses and signaling processes. It consists of successive interrelated phases, the duration of which depends on a multitude of factors. Wound treatment is a major healthcare issue that can be resolved by the development of effective and affordable wound dressings based on natural materials and biologically active substances. The proper use of modern wound dressings can significantly accelerate wound healing with minimum scar mark. Sulfated polysaccharides from seaweeds, with their unique structures and biological properties, as well as with a high potential to be used in various wound treatment methods, now undoubtedly play a major role in innovative biotechnologies of modern natural interactive dressings.
  • 1.2K
  • 25 Jun 2021
Topic Review
MiRNA Epitranscriptomic Modifications in Cancer
MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs, acting as post-transcriptional regula- tors of gene expression. In the last two decades, their role in cancer as oncogenes (oncomir), as well as tumor suppressors, has been extensively demonstrated. Recently, epitranscriptomics, namely the study of RNA modifications, has emerged as a new field of great interest, being an additional layer in the regulation of gene expression. Almost all classes of eukaryotic RNAs, including miRNAs, undergo epitranscriptomic modifications. Alterations of RNA modification pathways have been de- scribed for many diseases—in particular, in the context of malignancies. 
  • 1.2K
  • 20 Jul 2021
Topic Review
RNA Modifications and RNA Metabolism in Neurological Disease
The intrinsic cellular heterogeneity and molecular complexity of the mammalian nervous system relies substantially on the dynamic nature and spatiotemporal patterning of gene expression. These features of gene expression are achieved in part through mechanisms involving various epigenetic processes such as DNA methylation, post-translational histone modifications, and non-coding RNA activity, amongst others. In concert, another regulatory layer by which RNA bases and sugar residues are chemically modified enhances neuronal transcriptome complexity. Similar RNA modifications in other systems collectively constitute the cellular epitranscriptome that integrates and impacts various physiological processes. The epitranscriptome is dynamic and is reshaped constantly to regulate vital processes such as development, differentiation and stress responses. Perturbations of the epitranscriptome can lead to various pathogenic conditions, including cancer, cardiovascular abnormalities and neurological diseases. These RNA modifications modulate the stability, transport and, most importantly, translation of RNA.
  • 1.2K
  • 22 Nov 2021
Topic Review
DNA Damage Response and Ferroptosis
Ferroptosis is a novel form of iron-dependent cell death characterized by lipid peroxidation. While the importance and disease relevance of ferroptosis are gaining recognition, much remains unknown about its interaction with other biological processes and pathways. Recently, several studies have identified intricate and complicated interplay between ferroptosis, ionizing radiation (IR), ATM (ataxia–telangiectasia mutated)/ATR (ATM and Rad3-related), and tumor suppressor p53, which signifies the participation of the DNA damage response (DDR) in iron-related cell death. DDR is an evolutionarily conserved response triggered by various DNA insults to attenuate proliferation, enable DNA repairs, and dispose of cells with damaged DNA to maintain genome integrity. Deficiency in proper DDR in many genetic disorders or tumors also highlights the importance of this pathway. 
  • 1.2K
  • 04 Aug 2021
Topic Review
ANNEXIN A1
ANXA1 is found in the plasma membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus, being described at low levels in the nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments of placental cells related to gestational diabetic diseases, and its translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus has been associated with a response to DNA damage. The human ANXA1 gene is located on chromosome 19q24, and encodes a 37-kDa protein. ANXA1 has a central domain (C-terminal), consisting of four repeats of 70 to 80 amino acids, which are highly conserved and responsible for calcium affinity and binding to phospholipids.
  • 1.2K
  • 20 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Alternative Splicing Landscape in Rice
Alternative splicing (AS) is a vital post-transcriptional modulator of gene expression that amplifies the proteome diversity and regulates many physiological processes essential for mounting responses to stresses in plants.
  • 1.2K
  • 24 May 2021
Topic Review
Curcumin in Retinal Diseases
The retina is subjected to oxidative stress due to its high vascularization, long time light exposition and a high density of mitochondria. Oxidative stress can lead to pathological processes, like cell apoptosis, angiogenesis and inflammation ending in retinal pathologies. Curcumin, a major bioactive component obtained from the spice turmeric (Curcuma longa) rhizome has been used for centuries in Asian countries for cooking and for curing all kinds of diseases like dysentery, chest congestion and pain in general, due to its antioxidant effects. Curcumin prevents the formation of reactive oxygen species and so it is a good protective agent. Curcumin has shown also anti-inflammatory, and antitumor properties. Curcumin is a natural product, which can be a therapeutic option in a variety of retinal diseases due to its pleiotropic properties. Some drawbacks are its poor solubility, bioavailability and lack of stability at physiological conditions; which have been shown in curcumin skeptical publications.
  • 1.2K
  • 22 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Metabolic Syndrome (MetS)
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of several disorders, such as hypertension, central obesity, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
  • 1.2K
  • 06 Jul 2021
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