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Topic Review
Genome-Scale Metabolic Modelling
Genome-scale metabolic models (GEMs) aim to systematically encode knowledge of the metabolism of an organism. GEMs are composed of different layers of information and are constructed with a combination of automated approaches and manual curation based on the available literature and experimental data. These models not only encode existing knowledge about an organism, but can also generate new knowledge through various analytical methods. The latter are mostly focused on the assessment of reaction fluxes through the metabolic network in different conditions.
  • 1.2K
  • 28 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Secretome Proteomic Approaches
Searching for new cancer-related biomarkers is a key priority for the early detection of solid tumors, such as colorectal cancer (CRC), in clinically relevant biological fluids. The cell line and/or tumor tissue secretome represents a valuable resource for discovering novel protein markers secreted by cancer cells. The advantage of a secretome analysis is the reduction of the large dynamic range characterizing human plasma/serum, and the simultaneous enrichment of low abundance cancer-secreted proteins, thereby overcoming the technical limitations underlying the direct search in blood samples.
  • 1.2K
  • 11 Sep 2020
Topic Review
Enzymatic Biocatalysts Applied for Pharmaceutical Pollutants Degradation
Both the growth of the world’s population and the associated active use of various pharmaceutical compounds (PCPs) (antibiotics, hormones, cardiovascular, analgesics, , anti-inflammatory and antiepileptic drugs, etc.) have led to the problem of their contamination of water and the environment. PCPs are found in various concentrations in the wastewater of urban wastewater treatment plants. The physical-chemical processes of PCPs removal using membrane filtration, chlorination, ozonation and photocatalytic oxidation, sorption and microbiological degradation ensure the elimination of these pollutants, but have certain limitations in the effectiveness of these processes.Biological treatment has a number of significant advantages, which consist in the use of natural biocatalysts (enzymes, microorganisms) for the destruction of micropollutants. Analysis of recently published studies on the use of soluble and immobilized enzymes as biocatalysts for the biodegradation of various PCPs has shown the effectiveness of these applications.  
  • 1.2K
  • 29 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Genome Editing Technologies
Genome editing is the technique of precise genome modifications that facilitate the targeted modifications within the genome through the deletions, insertions, or substitution of single base or specific sequences.
  • 1.2K
  • 08 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Fungal Melanin
Synthetic dyes are generally unsafe for human health or the environment, leading to the continuous search and growing demand for natural pigments that are considered safer, biodegrade more easily, and are environmentally beneficial. Among microorganisms, fungi represent an emerging source of pigments due to their many benefits; therefore, they are readily viable on an industrial scale. Among all the bioactive pigments produced by fungi, melanin is an enigmatic, multifunctional pigment that has been studied for more than 150 years. This dark pigment, which is produced via the oxidative polymerization of phenolic compounds, has been investigated for its potential to protect life from all kingdoms, including fungi, from biotic and abiotic stresses.
  • 1.2K
  • 08 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Antibiofilm Therapeutics Strategies to Overcome Antimicrobial Drug Resistance
Biofilms embrace the capability to resist and survive harsh environmental conditions and defeat the host immune system, so there is a desire for exploring new antibiofilm agents. Antibiofilm agents that can abet the process of dismantling the biofilm has provided research strategies for designing new biofilm dispersal inducers.
  • 1.2K
  • 10 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Anticancer Secondary Metabolites of Astragalus Species
Some of the most effective anticancer compounds are still derived from plants since the chemical synthesis of chiral molecules is not economically efficient. Rapid discovery of lead compounds with pronounced biological activity is essential for the successful development of novel drug candidates. The genus Astragalus L. is the largest in the family Fabaceae (syn. Leguminosae), with more than 3500 species. Astragalus, excluding Astracantha (formerly Astragalus subgenus Tragacantha), has a world total of ca. 2500 species, of which ca. 500 are in the Americas. Many of the species have conservation status “vulnerable” or “critically endangered”.
  • 1.2K
  • 09 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Dietary Polyphenols to Target Alzheimer’s Disease
Dietary polyphenols may provide various levels of protection for neuronal health.  This entry extensively examines this topic tabulating the in vivo and in vitro studies that have been performed, the methods used, the doses and duration of treatments, and most importantly the outcomes.  The entry can be particularly useful as a reference and for those embarking on studies to further exploit dietary polyphenols for protection against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease.
  • 1.2K
  • 21 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Co-Inoculation of three species
The adoption of multi-species starter cultures is highly considered in modern winemaking to enhance the complexity and wine attributes. However, the valuation of strains compatibility at the industrial-scale is essential to guarantee the quality and the safety during the process. This concept is particularly important when the starter is composed of non-Saccharomyces, Saccharomyces spp. and malolactic bacteria, three organisms with dissimilar biological properties and oenological implication.
  • 1.2K
  • 28 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Lignocellulolytic Enzymes Productions and Utilizations
The usage of lignocellulosic biomass in energy production for biofuels and other value-added products can extensively decrease the carbon footprint of current and future energy sectors. Therefore, productions and utilization of "Lignocellulolytic Enzymes" are instrumental to achieve this goal.
  • 1.2K
  • 15 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Synthesis, Characterization, and Applications of Bioactive Metallic Nanoparticles
Nanoparticles (NPs) are elements derived from a cluster of atoms with one or more dimensions in the nanometer scale in the range of 1–100 nm. The bio nanofabrication of metallic NPs is now an important dynamic area of research, with major significance in applied research. Biogenic synthesis of NPs is more desirable than physical and chemical synthesis due to its eco-friendliness, non-toxicity, lower energy consumption, and multifunctional nature. Plants outperform microorganisms as reducing agents as they contain large secondary biomolecules that accelerate the reduction and stability of the NPs. The produced NPs can then be studied spectroscopically (UV-Visible, XRD, Raman, IR, etc.) and microscopically (SEM, TEM, AFM, etc.). The biological reduction of a metallic ion or its oxide to a nanoparticle is quick, simple, and maybe scaled up at room temperature and pressure. The rise in multi-drug resistant (MDR) microbes due to the immoderate use of antibiotics in non-infected patients is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in humans. The contemporary development of a new class of antibiotics with different mechanisms of action to kill microbes is crucial. Metals and their oxides are extremely toxic to microbes at unprecedentedly low concentrations. In addition, prevailing infections in plants and animals are raising significant concerns across the globe. NPs’ wide range of bioactivity makes them ideal antimicrobial agents in agricultural and medical fields. The present research outlines the synthesis of metallic NPs from botanicals, which enables the metals to be in a stabilized form even after ionization. It also presents a valuable database on the biofunctionalization of synthesized NPs for further drug development.
  • 1.2K
  • 19 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Xylitol Biosynthesis in the Yeast Candida
Xylitol is an industrially important chemical due to its commercial applications. The use of xylitol as a sweetener as well as its utilization in biomedical applications has made it a high value specialty chemical.
  • 1.2K
  • 09 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Bioactivities and Pharmaceutical Applications of Algal Phycocolloids
Seaweeds are abundant sources of diverse bioactive compounds with various properties and mechanisms of action. These compounds offer protective effects, high nutritional value, and numerous health benefits. Seaweeds are versatile natural sources of metabolites applicable in the production of healthy food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and fertilizers. Their biological compounds make them promising sources for biotechnological applications. In nature, hydrocolloids are substances which form a gel in the presence of water. They are employed as gelling agents in food, coatings and dressings in pharmaceuticals, stabilizers in biotechnology, and ingredients in cosmetics. Seaweed hydrocolloids are identified in carrageenan, alginate, and agar. Carrageenan has gained significant attention in pharmaceutical formulations and exhibits diverse pharmaceutical properties. Incorporating carrageenan and natural polymers such as chitosan, starch, cellulose, chitin, and alginate. It holds promise for creating biodegradable materials with biomedical applications. Alginate, a natural polysaccharide, is highly valued for wound dressings due to its unique characteristics, including low toxicity, biodegradability, hydrogel formation, prevention of bacterial infections, and maintenance of a moist environment. Agar is widely used in the biomedical field. 
  • 1.2K
  • 05 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Krüppel-like factor 4
Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) is a transcription factor very important in various developmental processes and disease states.
  • 1.2K
  • 30 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Proteomics Techniques for Biomarker Discovery in Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease, a devastating neurodegenerative disorder, poses a significant challenge for early diagnosis and treatment. In the quest to uncover biomarkers that could aid in early detection, proteomics techniques have emerged as powerful tools with immense potential.
  • 1.2K
  • 03 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Glycoside Hydrolases and Glycosyltransferases from Hyperthermophilic Archaea
Hyperthermophilic Archaea colonizing unnatural habitats of extremes conditions such as volcanoes and deep-sea hydrothermal vents represent an unmeasurable bioresource for enzymes used in various industrial applications. Their enzymes show distinct structural and functional properties and are resistant to extreme conditions of temperature and pressure where their mesophilic homologs fail. In this review, we will outline carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) from hyperthermophilic Archaea with specific focus on the two largest families, glycoside hydrolases (GHs) and glycosyltransferases (GTs). We will present the latest advances on these enzymes particularly in the light of novel accumulating data from genomics and metagenomics sequencing technologies. We will discuss the contribution of these enzymes from hyperthermophilic Archaea to industrial applications and put the emphasis on newly identifed enzymes. We will highlight their common biochemical and distinct features. Finally, we will overview the areas that remain to be explored to identify novel promising hyperthermozymes.
  • 1.2K
  • 29 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Value-Added Polyhydroxyalkanoates
The synthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), a bioplastic that can be used to replace traditional (petrol-based) plastics, is an important focus in today’s politically and environmentally conscious society. 
  • 1.2K
  • 19 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Bioactive Antimicrobial Peptides for Infected Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a devastating complication, affecting 15% of diabetic patients and representing the leading cause of non-traumatic amputations. Notably, the risk of mixed bacterial–fungal infection is elevated and highly associated with wound necrosis and poor clinical outcomes. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are endogenous peptides that are naturally abundant in several organisms, such as bacteria, amphibians and mammals. These molecules have shown broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and some of them even have wound-healing activity, establishing themselves as ideal candidates for treating multi-kingdom infected wounds.
  • 1.2K
  • 24 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Bluetongue Virus Vector Vaccines
In this work, we show a deep revision of the viral vector vaccines that have been developed to counteract bluetongue virus (BTV), an arthropod-borne disease that whips domestic and wild ruminants. We analyzed the main advantages and disadvantages of every of them, as well as the immunological features and efficacy that these candidates provided in both murine models and natural hosts.
  • 1.2K
  • 08 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Dopamine D3 Receptor Heteromerization
The dopamine (DA) D3 receptor (D3R) plays a pivotal role in the control of several functions, including motor activity, rewarding and motivating behavior and several aspects of cognitive functions. Recently, it has been reported that the D3R is also involved in the regulation of neuronal development, in promoting structural plasticity and in triggering key intracellular events with neuroprotective potential. A new role for D3R-dependent neurotransmission has thus been proposed both in preserving DA neuron homeostasis in physiological conditions and in preventing pathological alterations that may lead to neurodegeneration. Interestingly, there is evidence that nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) located on DA neurons also provide neurotrophic support to DA neurons, an effect requiring functional D3R and suggesting the existence of a positive cross-talk between these receptor systems. Increasing evidence suggests that, as with the majority of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR), the D3R directly interacts with other receptors to form new receptor heteromers with unique functional and pharmacological properties. Among them, we recently identified a receptor heteromer containing the nAChR and the D3R as the molecular effector of nicotine-mediated neurotrophic effects.
  • 1.2K
  • 19 Jul 2020
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