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
SARS-CoV-2 and Other Respiratory Viruses in Olfactory Pathophysiology
Acute respiratory viruses (ARVs) are the leading cause of diseases in humans worldwide. High-risk individuals, including children and the elderly, could potentially develop severe illnesses that could result in hospitalization or death in the worst case. The most common ARVs are the Human respiratory syncytial virus, Human Metapneumovirus, Human Parainfluenza Virus, rhinovirus, coronaviruses (including SARS and MERS CoV), adenoviruses, Human Bocavirus, enterovirus (-D68 and 71), and influenza viruses. The olfactory deficits due to ARV infection are a common symptom among patients. 
  • 513
  • 18 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Management of Hepatitis C Infection in Children
Children represent only a small proportion of those infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) compared to adults. Nevertheless, a substantial number of children have chronic HCV infection and are at risk of complications including cirrhosis, portal hypertension, hepatic decompensation with hepatic encephalopathy, and hepatocellular carcinoma in adulthood. The overall prevalence of the HCV in children was estimated to be 0.87% worldwide. The HCV spreads through the blood. Children born to women with chronic hepatitis C should be evaluated and tested for HCV due to the known risk of infection. The course of treatment for hepatitis C depends on the type of HCV.
  • 510
  • 21 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Zinc Finger Antiviral Protein
The CCCH-type zinc finger antiviral protein (ZAP) in humans, specifically isoforms ZAP-L and ZAP-S, is a crucial component of the cell’s intrinsic immune response. ZAP acts as a post-transcriptional RNA restriction factor, exhibiting its activity during infections caused by retroviruses and alphaviruses.
  • 503
  • 21 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Prokaryotic Argonaute Proteins in Point-of-Care Viral Diagnostics
Point-of-care (POC) technologies, which offer immediate and accurate testing at or near the site of patient care, have become a cornerstone of modern medicine. Prokaryotic Argonaute proteins (pAgo), proficient in recognizing target RNA or DNA with complementary sequences, have emerged as potential game-changers. pAgo present several advantages over the currently popular CRISPR/Cas systems-based POC diagnostics, including the absence of a protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) sequence requirement, the use of shorter nucleic acid molecules as guides, and a smaller protein size. 
  • 475
  • 18 Dec 2023
Topic Review
SARS-CoV-2 in Biref
SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, is a single-stranded RNA virus from the coronavirus family. Its structure features an envelope studded with spike (S) proteins that facilitate entry into human cells, primarily respiratory epithelial cells. The virus spreads through respiratory droplets, making person-to-person transmission the predominant mode. Clinical manifestations of COVID-19 vary, ranging from mild flu-like symptoms to severe respiratory distress and organ failure, with some cases leading to death. Rapid diagnostic tests like RT-PCR and antigen tests help identify infections, crucial for containment efforts. The development of multiple vaccines, including mRNA-based ones like Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, has been a breakthrough in the fight against the virus, although global vaccine distribution remains a challenge. Variants, like Delta and Omicron, pose ongoing concerns, underscoring the importance of continued research and adaptation. The pandemic has highlighted the need for global cooperation in public health crises and emphasized the significance of preparedness and resilience in the face of emerging infectious diseases.
  • 463
  • 28 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Infectious Agents Involved in Cutaneous Lymphoma Etiopathogenesis
Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) belongs to the heterogeneous group of primary cutaneous lymphomas (CLs), the second most common extranodal non-Hodgkin hematological malignancy. CTCL accounts for approximately 75% of all CLs. Infectious agents are known to induce cancers by acting in either direct or indirect ways. Direct carcinogenesis is exerted, e.g., by the oncogenic viruses (papillomaviruses, polyomaviruses, retroviruses, and herpesviruses, among others), which initiate infections leading, through direct virus-driven mechanisms, to malignant cell transformations. Indirect carcinogenesis is typically associated with chronic infections and inflammation. In CTCL, the malignant T-cell population consists of various clones that share a common TCR-Vß epitope, in contrast to the malignant T-lymphocyte clonal expansion characteristic of other lymphomas. Since the ability to initiate polyclonal T-cell expansion in a Vß-restricted manner is characteristic of pathogen-produced immunostimulatory molecules known as superantigens, it was proposed that in CTCL carcinogenesis a bacterial and/or viral superantigen might serve as the trigger of chronic antigen stimulation and excessive T-cell proliferation.
  • 450
  • 29 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Neurotrophic Virus and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Development
Neurotrophic viruses are pathogens that can cause alterations in the function of the central nervous system (CNS). These viruses can enter the CNS through the previously mentioned pathways. Additionally, it has been observed that viruses whose genome corresponds to RNA can be introduced into the CNS through nerves, such as the sciatic nerve. Some can even transport immune cells, allowing them to arrive at the CNS. On the other hand, double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) viruses can enter the CNS by penetrating the blood–brain barrier, utilizing brain microvascular endothelial cells, and even using sensory nerve endings and olfactory receptor neurons to enter the CNS. When the infection occurs, the main mechanism that the CNS possesses to defend itself is the activation of microglia, which induce the activation of the innate immune response and a subsequent adaptive immune response. Even the microglia can act with astrocytes to induce the chemotaxis of immune cells, like neutrophils, to combat infection generated in the CNS.
  • 443
  • 12 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Immune Response in SARS-CoV-2 Pathogenesis
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) caused a global pandemic threat with more than 11.8 million confirmed cases and more than 0.5 million deaths as of 3 July 2020. Lung alveolar epithelial cells are considered as primary entry targets cells for the SARS-COV-2 through the angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) receptor, though it is expressed by numerous tissues. Both SARS-COV-2 and SARS-CoV utilize the ACE2 receptor to begin infection despite amino acid variation at a specific residue in the ACE2 receptor, suggesting that these variations might have been selected or could have increased the virulence and transmissibility of SARS-COV-2 compared to SARS-CoV.
  • 408
  • 12 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques in SARS-CoV-2 Detection
The urgent need for accurate COVID-19 diagnostics has led to the development of various SARS-CoV-2 detection technologies. Real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) remains a reliable viral gene detection technique, while other molecular methods, including nucleic acid amplification techniques (NAATs) and isothermal amplification techniques, provide diverse and effective approaches. Serological assays, detecting antibodies in response to viral infection, are crucial for disease surveillance. Saliva-based immunoassays show promise for surveillance purposes. The efficiency of SARS-CoV-2 antibody detection varies, with IgM indicating recent exposure and IgG offering prolonged detectability. Various rapid tests, including lateral-flow immunoassays, present opportunities for quick diagnosis, but their clinical significance requires validation through further studies.
  • 395
  • 12 Mar 2024
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
Role of Phages in Past Molecular Biology and Potentially in Future Biomedicine
Viruses that infect bacteria (bacteriophages or phages) have a history of use in both biomedicine and basic molecular biology. Here, I briefly outline the pre-1940 use of phages in biomedicine and then more comprehensively outline the subsequent use of phages in determining the basics of molecular biology. Finally, I outline work that appears to form the foundation for a future, phage-enhanced biomedicine that generally extends medicine in the areas of anti-bacterial therapy (including vaccinology), anti-tumor therapy, and understanding the basic process of amyloid-associated neurodegenerative diseases. The following are general conclusions. (1) In the future, the discipline of phage-based biomedicine will be enhanced by more extensive merging with the discipline of basic phage biology (including molecular biology) and evolution. These two disciplines have been separated post-1940. (2) Biomedicine, in general, will be assisted if the focus is on key problems and key observations, thereby leaving details to later work. (3) Simplicity of strategy is a virtue that can be implemented and should be pursued with phages. (4) Capacity for directed evolution provides phages with generative (artificial intelligence-like) means for increasing biomedical effectiveness without using human design. Two related quotes set the stage (references at the end of the text). “But see that the imagination of nature is far, far greater than the imagination of man” (physicist Richard Feynman). “Nature, in all its variations and seeming paradoxes, speaks to those who pay attention and gives hints and clues to basic facts” (a thought attributed to Felix d’Herelle, a self-trained biologist who developed biological phage isolation and characterization). The integration of natural phenomenon-focused basic science and medical practice is an underlying theme.
  • 299
  • 20 May 2025
Topic Review
Phylogeny of SARS-CoV-2 and Novel Distance Function
The aim of the study titled Phylogenicity of B.1.1.7 Surface Glycoprotein, Novel Distance Function, and First Report of V90T Missense Mutation in SARS-CoV-2 Surface Glycoprotein was to address several key aspects of the evolutionary characteristics and genetic makeup of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant, particularly its spike glycoprotein (S-protein).
  • 247
  • 17 Feb 2025
  • Page
  • of
  • 26
Featured Entry Collections
>>

Featured Books

>>
Encyclopedia of Digital Society, Industry 5.0 and Smart City
Encyclopedia of Engineering
Encyclopedia of Social Sciences
Encyclopedia of COVID-19
Academic Video Service
Feedback