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
Structure, Sequence and Immunopathology of SARS-CoV-2
Since November 2019, SARS-CoV-2 has been a matter of global concern due to its rapid spread, the millions of deaths it caused, and repeated waves of infections. One after another, many variants of this novel virus have come into existence due to its constant mutability, specifically in the spike glycoprotein region. The tally for variants of concern (VOCs), which already include Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), Gamma (P.1) and Delta (B.1.617.2), has increased to five with the latest appearance of Omicron (B.1.1.529).
  • 1.1K
  • 10 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Applications of Antimicrobial Peptide
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), or host defence peptides, are short proteins in various life forms. AMPs may become a promising substitute or adjuvant in pharmaceutical, biomedical, and cosmeceutical uses. Their pharmacological potential has been investigated intensively, especially as antibacterial and antifungal drugs and as promising antiviral and anticancer agents. AMPs exhibit many properties, and some of these have attracted the attention of the cosmetic industry. AMPs are being developed as novel antibiotics to combat multidrug-resistant pathogens and as potential treatments for various diseases, including cancer, inflammatory disorders, and viral infections. In biomedicine, AMPs are being developed as wound-healing agents because they promote cell growth and tissue repair. The immunomodulatory effects of AMPs could be helpful in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. 
  • 1.1K
  • 24 May 2023
Topic Review
Alveolar Regeneration in COVID-19 Patients: Network Perspective
Lung alveolar regeneration to repair the damaged tissue and restoration of normal tissue function could be achieved by transplantation of progenitor or stem cells and exosome-mediated delivery of therapeutic agents, including miRNAs. Not only as a biomarker of COVID-19but also as therapeutic agents, miRNAs have proven to play a crucial role in lung damage and repair. miRNAs can either be regulated locally in the lungsor transported to the damaged site by extracellular vehicles (EVs) secreted by stem cells to induce tissue regeneration by decreasing inflammation and apoptosis, stimulating surfactant production, regulating gene expression of junction proteins to repair microvascular permeability, and reducing fibrosis.
  • 1.1K
  • 03 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Interactions between Entomopathogenic Fungi and Nematodes
Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) belonging to the genera Steinernema Travassos (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) and Heterorhabditis Poinar (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) are obligate and lethal parasites of insects. Their infective juveniles (IJs), non-feeding and usually soil dwelling, hold in their foregut symbiotic bacteria that play an important and essential role in killing susceptible insects. Entomopathogenic fungi, mainly Ascomycetes, are regularly found infecting insects in the environment, especially in the soil. The species of the genera Metarhizium Sorokin, and Beauveria Vuill. are the best known entomopathogenic fungi. These organisms usually attach to the external body of insects by conidia adhering to the host’s cuticle. Under the right temperature and humidity conditions, these spores germinate, grow as hyphae, and colonize the insect’s body. After a few days (4–7), the insect is usually killed, especially by fungal toxins, and new spores are formed in or on the insect (sporulation), ready to be spread in the environment.
  • 1.1K
  • 14 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Antimicrobial Peptides Eradicate Bacterial Biofilms of Multi-Drug Resistant
Bacterial resistance is an emergency public health problem worldwide, compounded by the ability of bacteria to form biofilms, mainly in seriously ill hospitalized patients. The World Health Organization has published a list of priority bacteria that should be studied and, in turn, has encouraged the development of new drugs.
  • 1.1K
  • 05 May 2022
Topic Review
Mechanism of Microalgal Symbiosis
Microalgae have been considered a promising and sustainable candidate for wastewater treatment and valuable bioproducts, such as feedstocks for food, nutrients, and energy. However, many challenging bottlenecks, such as low biomass productivity, expensive biomass harvesting techniques, and inefficient extraction of biofuels restrict its large-scale commercial production. Symbiotic relationships between microalgae and bacteria, also known as microalgal consortia, have proven to be effective solutions for mitigating technical and economic limitations. 
  • 1.1K
  • 16 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Antibodies of Varicella-Zoster Virus
Infection with the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) causes chickenpox and shingles, which lead to significant morbidity and mortality globally. The detection of serum VZV-specific antibodies is important for the clinical diagnosis and sero-epidemiological research of VZV infection, and for assessing the effect of VZV vaccine immunization.
  • 1.1K
  • 19 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Microbial Conjugation Studies of Licochalcones&Xanthohumol
Microbial conjugation studies of licochalcones (1–4) and xanthohumol (5) were performed by using the fungi Mucor hiemalis and Absidia coerulea. As a result, one new glucosylated metabolite was produced by M. hiemalis whereas four new and three known sulfated metabolites were obtained by transformation with A. coerulea. Chemical structures of all the metabolites were elucidated on the basis of 1D-, 2D-NMR and mass spectroscopic data analyses. These results could contribute to a better understanding of the metabolic fates of licochalcones and xanthohumol in mammalian systems. Although licochalcone A 4′-sulfate (7) showed less cytotoxic activity against human cancer cell lines compared to its substrate licochalcone A, its activity was fairly retained with the IC50 values in the range of 27.35–43.07 μM.
  • 1.1K
  • 12 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Fungi-Mediated Synthesis of Nanoparticles
Fungi are very promising biological objects for the green synthesis of nanoparticles. Biogenic synthesis of nanoparticles using different mycological cultures and substances obtained from them is a promising, easy and environmentally friendly method. By varying the synthesis conditions, the same culture can be used to produce nanoparticles with different sizes, shapes, stability in colloids and, therefore, different biological activity. Fungi are capable of producing a wide range of biologically active compounds and have a powerful enzymatic system that allows them to form nanoparticles of various chemical elements.
  • 1.1K
  • 12 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Strategies for Entomopathogenic Fungi in Mosquito Biocontrol
Fungal diseases are widespread among insects and play a crucial role in naturally regulating insect populations. Mosquitoes, known as vectors for numerous infectious diseases, pose a significant threat to human health. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) have emerged as highly promising alternative agents to chemical mosquitocides for controlling mosquitoes at all stages of their life cycle due to their unique infection pathway through direct contact with the insect’s cuticle.
  • 1.1K
  • 04 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Approaches for Dyes Remediation
Different types of dyes emanating from textile wastewater have adverse effects on the aquatic environment. Various methods including physical, chemical, and biological strategies are applied in order to reduce the amount of dye pollution in the environment. The development of economical, ecologically acceptable, and efficient strategies for treating dye-containing wastewater is necessary. It has been shown that microbial communities have significant potential for the remediation of hazardous dyes in an environmentally friendly manner.
  • 1.1K
  • 21 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluents and Microalgae Growth
Municipal wastewater (MWW) provides a promising platform for microalgae cultivation due to its rich content of essential nutrients. Research has showcased the multifaceted benefits of microalgae-based wastewater treatment, from the potent depollution capabilities of these organisms to their biomass potential for ecofriendly applications. A significant advantage lies in the ability of these systems to promote environmental sustainability without producing secondary pollutants, aligning with the circular economy model. 
  • 1.1K
  • 11 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Fish Vaccines
Vaccination studies in aquaculture systems are strategically associated with the economically and environmentally sustainable management of aquaculture production worldwide. Historically, most licensed fish vaccines have been developed as inactivated pathogens combined with adjuvants and provided via immersion or injection. In comparison, live vaccines can simulate a whole pathogenic illness and elicit a strong immune response, making them better suited for oral or immersion-based therapy methods to control diseases. Advanced approaches in vaccine development involve targeting specific pathogenic components, including the use of recombinant genes and proteins. Vaccines produced using these techniques, some of which are currently commercially available, appear to elicit and promote higher levels of immunity than conventional fish vaccines. These technological advancements are promising for developing sustainable production processes for commercially important aquatic species.
  • 1.1K
  • 25 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Lactic Acid Bacteria in Dairy Foods
Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are regarded as ‘Generally Recognized as Safe’ (GRAS) and are commonly used in the dairy industry and also form part of the microbiota of the human intestine. LAB play a significant role in biopreservation because they produce a variety of antimicrobial metabolites during the development and fermentation processes. The use of antimicrobial-producing LAB in the production of dairy products, which can be incorporated into fermented or nonfermented dairy products, implies a processing advantage to improve the safety and quality of dairy products, providing an additional barrier against foodborne diseases. Among the most common antimicrobials are bacteriocins, which are ribosomally produced antimicrobial peptides. They can kill or inhibit undesirable bacterial strains, whether closely related or not, without harming themselves. This ability is especially relevant in the food industry. Notably, many LAB bacteriocins, including those derived from such bacteria, have shown efficacy against Listeria monocytogenes, a significant concern in traditional cheeses made from raw milk.
  • 1.1K
  • 16 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Next-Generation Sequencing: Bioinputs for Agriculture Innovation
Bioinputs, a sustainable and potent alternative to chemical products used in agriculture, find a position of radical change with the advent of next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques. These bioinputs, derived from microorganisms, assure the reduction of environmental impact and are able to increase food production. However, proper bioinput development will require the identification of these microorganisms at a level of detail, thereby ensuring a standardized approach. The assessment of potential risks to these microorganisms is thus critical for the safety and efficacy in use, while global collaboration can enable the establishment of standards to be adopted universally.
  • 1.1K
  • 03 Apr 2024
Topic Review
Molecularly Imprinted Nanoparticles Based Sensor
The development of a sensor based on molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles (nanoMIPs) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) for the detection of trace levels of cocaine is described in this paper. NanoMIPs for cocaine detection, synthesized using a solid phase, were applied as the sensing element. The nanoMIPs were first characterized by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Dynamic Light Scattering and found to be ~148.35 ± 24.69 nm in size, using TEM. The nanoMIPs were then covalently attached to gold screen-printed electrodes and a cocaine direct binding assay was developed and optimized, using EIS as the sensing principle. EIS was recorded at a potential of 0.12 V over the frequency range from 0.1 Hz to 50 kHz, with a modulation voltage of 10 mV. The nanoMIPs sensor was able to detect cocaine in a linear range between 100 pg mL-1 and 50 ng mL-1 (R2 = 0.984; p-value = 0.00001) and with a limit of detection of 0.24 ng mL-1 (0.70 nM). The sensor showed no cross-reactivity toward morphine and a negligible response toward levamisole after optimizing the sensor surface blocking and assay conditions. The developed sensor has the potential to offer a highly sensitive, portable and cost-effective method forcocaine detection.
  • 1.1K
  • 02 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Heat Shock Proteins Immunostimulatory Properties-based Cancer Immunotherapy
The development of multidrug resistance (MDR) against chemotherapeutic agents has become a major impediment in cancer therapy. Understanding the underlying mechanism behind MDR can guide future treatment for cancer with better therapeutic outcomes. Recent studies evidenced that crossroads interaction between the heat shock proteins (HSP) and inflammatory responses under the tumor microenvironment plays a pivotal role in modulating drug responsiveness and drug resistance through a complex cytological process.
  • 1.1K
  • 26 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Microcystins in Water
Eutrophication of surface waters caused by toxic cyanobacteria such as Microcystis aeruginosa leads to the release of secondary metabolites called Microcystins (MCs), which are heptapeptides with adverse effects on soil microbiota, plants, animals, and human health. Therefore, implementing ecotechnologies capable of handling this problem has become necessary.
  • 1.1K
  • 06 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Marine Macroalgae as Inhibitors of Fungal Phytopathogens
Fungal phytopathogens are a growing problem all over the world; their propagation causes significant crop losses, affecting the quality of fruits and vegetables, diminishing the availability of food, leading to the loss of billions of euros every year. To control fungal diseases, the use of synthetic chemical fungicides is widely applied; these substances are, however, environmentally damaging. Marine algae, one of the richest marine sources of compounds possessing a wide range of bioactivities, present an eco-friendly alternative in the search for diverse compounds with industrial applications.
  • 1.1K
  • 17 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Endophytes Acting on Secondary Metabolites in Plants
Endophytes, which are widely found in host plants and have no harmful effects, are a vital biological resource. Plant endophytes promote plant growth and enhance plants’ resistance to diseases, pests, and environmental stresses. In addition, they enhance the synthesis of important secondary metabolites in plants and improve the potential applicability of plants in agriculture, medicine, food, and horticulture. Secondary metabolites (SMs) are the products formed by interactions with the environment during plant growth and development. SMs mainly include alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, peptides, phenols, sterols, and additional minor molecular organic compounds. As essential substances used by plants for self-protection to cope with their environment, SMs have various physiological functions, such as regulating plant growth and biological defense, and they are also involved in the plant response abiotic stresses, such as drought, low temperature, salinity, and metals
  • 1.1K
  • 28 Feb 2023
  • Page
  • of
  • 38
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
Academic Video Service
Feedback

Quick Survey

Encyclopedia MDPI is conducting a targeted survey to identify the specific barriers hindering efficient research. We invite you to spend 3 minutes defining the priorities for our next generation of structured knowledge tools.
Take Survey