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Topic Review
Phages in Food Industry Biocontrol
Bacteriophages are ubiquitous in nature and their use is a current promising alternative in biological control. Multidrug resistant (MDR) bacterial strains are present in the livestock industry and phages are attractive candidates to eliminate them and their biofilms. 
  • 1.0K
  • 20 Jul 2021
Topic Review
P. ginseng in Reactive Oxygen Species-Mediated Diseases
Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-the byproduct of regular cell activity formed by various cellular components—play a significant role in pathological and physiological conditions. Alternatively, antioxidants are compounds that reduce or scavenge reactive species in cells. An asymmetry between the antioxidant defense system and ROS from intracellular and extracellular sources cause chronic diseases such as cancer, inflammation, tumorigenesis, cardiovascular and neurogenerative diseases. P. ginseng and its derivatives are some of the antioxidant-rich sources involved in the regulation of many oxidative-stress-related pathways.
  • 1.0K
  • 13 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Antimicrobial Mechanisms of Citral
Citral is a monoterpene constituted by two isomers known as neral and geranial. It is present in different plant sources and recognized as safe (GRAS) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Investigations have demonstrated that this compound exhibited several biological activities, such as antibacterial, antifungal, antibiofilm, antiparasitic, antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, by in vitro and in vivo assays. Additionally, when incorporated into different food matrices, citral can reduce the microbial load of pathogenic microorganisms and extend the shelf life. 
  • 1.0K
  • 22 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Plant-Derived Recombinant Vaccines against Zoonotic Viruses
Emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases cause serious illness with billions of cases, and millions of deaths. The most effective way to restrict the spread of zoonotic viruses among humans and animals and prevent disease is vaccination. Recombinant proteins produced in plants offer an alternative approach for the development of safe, effective, inexpensive candidate vaccines. Current strategies are focused on the production of highly immunogenic structural proteins, which mimic the organizations of the native virion but lack the viral genetic material. These include chimeric viral peptides, subunit virus proteins, and virus-like particles (VLPs). The latter, with their ability to self-assemble and thus resemble the form of virus particles, are gaining traction among plant-based candidate vaccines against many infectious diseases. 
  • 1.0K
  • 24 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Standardization of Whole Yeast Cell Vaccines
In the context of vaccine development, improving antigenic presentation is critical for the activation of specific immune responses and the success of immunization, in addition to selecting an appropriate target. In this sense, different strategies have been developed and improved. Among them is the use of yeast cells as vehicles for the delivery of recombinant antigens. These vaccines, named whole yeast vaccines (WYVs), can induce humoral and cellular immune responses, with the additional advantage of dispensing with the use of adjuvants due to the immunostimulatory properties of their cell wall components.
  • 1.0K
  • 23 Dec 2022
Topic Review
CRISPR-Cas9 in Brief
CRISPR-Cas9, a revolutionary gene-editing technology, is at the forefront of modern genetic research and biotechnology. This acronym stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats and CRISPR-associated protein 9, which together constitute a powerful system for precisely modifying DNA. CRISPR-Cas9's core mechanism involves a guide RNA (gRNA) that targets a specific DNA sequence, directing the Cas9 enzyme to make a precise cut at that location. This break initiates the cell's natural DNA repair processes, allowing for gene disruptions, repairs, or replacements. The simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and versatility of CRISPR-Cas9 have led to its rapid adoption across various fields, including basic research, agriculture, medicine, and conservation. In basic research, scientists employ CRISPR-Cas9 to investigate gene functions and study diseases, significantly advancing our understanding of genetics. In medicine, the technology holds immense therapeutic potential, offering hope for treating genetic disorders and personalized medicine. Ethical considerations surrounding its use, such as off-target effects and germline editing, remain pivotal to its responsible application. Nevertheless, CRISPR-Cas9 stands as a transformative tool with boundless potential to reshape our understanding of genetics and improve the human condition.
  • 1.0K
  • 08 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Biological Activity of Prodigiosin
Prodigiosin is characterized by having applications of great interest to the pharmacological industry. It has been shown in laboratory tests that prodigiosin has a good biological activity, such as antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral.
  • 1.0K
  • 24 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Spectral Quality of Light and In Vitro Proliferation
The spectral quality of light significantly influences the shoot biological response. Since plant photoreceptors responsible for plant development and photosynthesis are known to be primarily and most significantly stimulated by red (RL) and blue (BL) regions of the light spectrum, most of the studies evaluated the impact of monochromatic RL (660 nm), BL (460 nm) and combined BL (440–480 nm) with RL (630–665 nm) lights. Scarce is the information available on the effects of the far-red (FRL), green (GL) and yellow (YL) regions of the spectrum. For each light spectrum, the evaluated effects concern the proliferation rate and characters related to development, morphology and plantlet quality, i.e., shoot length, fresh and dry weight and photosynthetic pigment accumulation. In fact, the light treatments yielding higher chlorophyll and carotenoid contents (relevant components of the light-harvesting antenna of photosystems) are generally linked with improved fresh and dry matter accumulation and shoot growth.
  • 1.0K
  • 13 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Production of Fungal Xylanases
Lignocellulose is the most abundant and renewable plant resource and its utilisation for biotechnological applications has increased over the past few years. Xylan is the second most abundant carbohydrate in plant cell walls that is composed of β-1,4-d-xylopyranosyl units connected with glycosidic bonds. Fungal xylanases degrade this complex structure of xylan present in lignocellulosic substrates. Lignocellulosic biomass is the most economical substrate for the production of fungal xylanases. Fungal xylanases are produced in submerged and solid state fermentations using lignocellulosic biomass as substrates. Production of fungal xylanases is affected by physical and chemical parameters. The bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass to industrially important products, i.e., xylooligosaccharides and biofuels, is possible via the application of fungal xylanases. These enzymes also play a key role in enhancing the nutrition and the bio-bleaching of paper and kraft pulp.
  • 1.0K
  • 17 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Carbonic Anhydrase IX for Cancer Immunotherapy
Carbonic anhydrases are metalloenzymes that reversibly catalyze the hydration of carbon dioxide, generating bicarbonate ions and protons. Several tumors, such as clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), glioblastoma, triple-negative breast cancer, ovarian cancer, colorectal, and others overexpress carbonic anhydrase isoform IX (CAIX). The CAIX enzyme is constitutively overexpressed in the vast majority of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and can also be induced in hypoxic microenvironments, a major hallmark of most solid tumors. CAIX expression is restricted to a few sites in healthy tissues, positioning this molecule as a strategic target for cancer immunotherapy.
  • 1.0K
  • 29 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Edible Mushrooms as Myco-Therapeutics
Polysaccharides (essentially β-D-glucans), chitinous substances, heteroglycans, proteoglycans, peptidoglycans, alkaloids, lactones, lectins, alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, terpenes, phenols, nucleotides, glycoproteins, proteins, amino acids, antimicrobials, and minerals are the major bioactive compounds in these mushrooms. These bioactive compounds have chemo-preventive, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective properties. Consumption of edible mushrooms reduces plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and plasma glucose levels. Polysaccharides from edible mushrooms suppress mRNA expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, contributing to their anti-obesity properties. Therefore, edible mushrooms or their active ingredients may help prevent obesity and other chronic ailments.
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  • 28 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Two-Dimensional Theranostic Nanomaterials in Cancer
As the combination of therapies enhances the performance of biocompatible materials in cancer treatment, theranostic therapies are attracting increasing attention rather than individual approaches.
  • 1.0K
  • 18 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Types of Cellular Stress
With the start of the fermentation process, different stressful factors appear in the environment that directly affect the yeasts. Among them are osmotic, oxidative, and ethanol stresses, nitrogen starvation, low external pH, heat shock, prolonged anaerobiosis or the appearance of toxic molecules. As a shield against them, microorganisms have created defense responses specific to each type of stress, as well as a general environmental stress response (ESR).
  • 1.0K
  • 25 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Immunomodulatory Properties of Probiotics
The immune system plays a crucial role in orchestrating cellular and molecular key mediators, thus establishing a powerful defense barrier against infectious pathogens. Gut microbiota represent a complex community of numerous microorganisms that live in the mammalian gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which regulate the innate and adaptive immune responses contributing to the maintenance of gut homeostasis. The impairment in the crosstalk between intestinal immunity and gut microbiota may result in detrimental health issues. In this context, probiotics and their bioactive compounds, display distinct immunomodulatory properties through which they suppress inflammation and enhance the restoration of microbial diversity in disease. 
  • 1.0K
  • 26 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Magnetic Nanoparticles for Detection of miRNA
Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been widely used in many fields due to their advantageous properties, such as biocompatibility, easy modifiability, and high chemical stability. One of these areas is the detection of cancer. It is essential to use existing biomarkers, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), for the early diagnosis of this disease. miRNAs are challenging to distinguish and detect in biological samples because they are small, circulating molecules.
  • 1.0K
  • 09 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Curcumin on Microbiota
Curcumin is one of the most frequently researched herbal substances; however, it has been reported to have a poor bioavailability and fast metabolism, which has led to doubts about its effectiveness. Curcumin has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, and has demonstrated favorable health effects. 
  • 1.0K
  • 18 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Marine Bioactive Peptides
Bioactive peptides from marine organisms can benefit human health and nutrition, while being produced sustainably. This entry describes properties and features of over 250 peptides isolated from marine organisms, focusing on food sources  also including algae, mollusks and vertebrates.
  • 1.0K
  • 03 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Mucosal Healing in Intestinal Inflammation
Mucosal healing in intestinal inflammation and particularly in IBD, as it is defined by the International Organization of IBD (IOIBD), is the absence of all friability and visible ulcers and erosions in all examined segments of the gut mucosa. Mucosal healing, documented via endoscopic scores, combined with clinical remission, has been characterized as deep remission. The term complete remission, which includes histological remission, in addition to mucosal healing and clinical remission, has been suggested as a treatment target in IBD.
  • 1.0K
  • 02 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Microfluidics and Plasmodium
Malaria is caused by a protozoan parasite called Plasmodium. Four different species of Plasmodium cause human infections: P. falciparum, P. malariae, P. ovale and P. vivax. Worldwide, the most prevalent species is P. falciparum (around 96%), which is the most lethal species (300,000 deaths worldwide in 2017), and P. vivax, which has the most extensive geographical distribution.
  • 1.0K
  • 26 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Epigenetic Modifications in Plant Development and Reproduction
Plants are exposed to highly fluctuating effects of light, temperature, weather conditions, and many other environmental factors throughout their life. As sessile organisms, unlike animals, they are unable to escape, hide, or even change their position. Therefore, the growth and development of plants are largely determined by interaction with the external environment. The success of this interaction depends on the ability of the phenotype plasticity, which is largely determined by epigenetic regulation. In addition to how environmental factors can change the patterns of genes expression, epigenetic regulation determines how genetic expression changes during the differentiation of one cell type into another and how patterns of gene expression are passed from one cell to its descendants. Thus, one genome can generate many ‘epigenomes’. Epigenetic modifications acquire special significance during the formation of gametes and plant reproduction when epigenetic marks are eliminated during meiosis and early embryogenesis and later reappear. However, during asexual plant reproduction, when meiosis is absent or suspended, epigenetic modifications that have arisen in the parental sporophyte can be transmitted to the next clonal generation practically unchanged. In plants that reproduce sexually and asexually, epigenetic variability has different adaptive significance.
  • 1.0K
  • 22 Dec 2021
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