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Topic Review
Trends in the Use of Bioluminescent ATP Determinations
Interest in the bioluminescent method for the determination of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) has not decreased, since ATP is the main carrier and universal source of energy for different biochemical processes occurring in all living cells. The bioluminescent ATP-chemosensing is used for research in the fields of sanitation, biomedicine, toxicology, in solving environmental problems, developing and using environmental technologies, antimicrobials and food products, chemical and biological protective agents and anticorrosive agents, new and effective biocatalysts and biotechnological processes, cell storage facilities, and differentiated cell analysis. The use of ATP-metry as a method of to express an adequate and integral assessment of the state of complex biocatalytic systems allows people not only to study, but also to select factors that most effectively regulate the properties of the objects under study, leading the processes to the desired characteristics.
  • 653
  • 29 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Metabolomics' Role in Crop Improvement and Abiotic Stresses
Plant metabolomics is a rapidly advancing field of plant sciences and systems biology. It involves comprehensive analyses of small molecules (metabolites) in plant tissues and cells. These metabolites include a wide range of compounds, such as sugars, amino acids, organic acids, secondary metabolites (e.g., alkaloids and flavonoids), lipids, and more. Metabolomics allows an understanding of the functional roles of specific metabolites in plants’ physiology, development, and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. It can lead to the identification of metabolites linked with specific traits or functions. Plant metabolic networks and pathways can be better understood with the help of metabolomics. Researchers can determine how plants react to environmental cues or genetic modifications by examining how metabolite profiles change under various crop stages. Metabolomics plays a major role in crop improvement and biotechnology. 
  • 643
  • 15 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Heterologous Expression and Production of Oxidoreductase Enzymes
Enzymes are biocatalysts with complex structures and specific catalytic mechanisms that determine their distinctive properties, such as high catalytic activity and selectivity of specific substrates. Oxidoreductase (OXR) enzymes are in high demand for biocatalytic applications in the food industry and cosmetics (glucose oxidase (GOx) and cellobiose dehydrogenase (CDH)), bioremediations (horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and laccase (LAC)), and medicine for biosensors and miniature biofuel cells (GOx, CDH, LAC, and HRP). Therefore, scientists are still trying to find optimal fermentation formulas and, most recently, also using protein engineering and directed evolution for an additional increase in the yield of recombinant enzyme production. 
  • 642
  • 18 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Newborn Screening for Mucopolysaccharidoses
This article summarizes the attributes and application of digital microfluidic fluorometry (DMF) to screen newborns for mucopolysaccharidosis type I (Hurler Syndrome) and other lysosomal storage disorders (LSD) in the United States (US). DMF was introduced as a novel platform and was adopted in the state of Missouri to screen newborns for four LSD in 2013 (Pompe Disease, Gaucher Disease, Hurler Syndrome and Fabry Disease).  Currently, there are seven state newborn screening programs that use DMF to screen for at least two LSD.  DMF competes with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to determine residual enzymatic activity in dried blood spots from newborns, which is employed by approximately fifteen state programs in the US to screen for LSD.  Principal advantages of DMF are (1) minimal capital outlay for the equipment and infrastructure to support it, (2) low maintenance operation with no service contracts, (3) a simple workflow accessible to entry-level technicians, (4) "spatial multiplexing" that enables each enzymatic assay to be performed under optimal conditions including pH and buffer within individual droplets, (5) fully automated assay protocol with minimal opportunity for human error, (6) fast turn-around to facilitate same-day reporting of results.  Results from the state programs thus far show that DMF is a convenient and suitable platform to screen newborns for lysosomal storage disorders. 
  • 637
  • 21 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Enzymes of Aspergillus ochraceus and Their Applications
Fungus continues to attract great attention as a promising pool of biometabolites. Aspergillus ochraceus Wilh (Aspergillaceae) has established its capacity to biosynthesize a myriad of metabolites belonging to different chemical classes, such as isocoumarins, pyrazines, sterols, indole alkaloids, diketopiperazines, polyketides, peptides, quinones, polyketides, and sesquiterpenoids, revealing various bioactivities.
  • 633
  • 16 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Recovering Bioactive Compounds from Plant Waste
Agro-industrial wastes are suitable as cost-effective sources of various health-promoting molecules at significant concentrations. lnvestigating new methods for converting them into high-value-added compounds is crucial for the sustainable development goals. 
  • 625
  • 07 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Current Detection Methods in Complex Samples
Several detection methods of microorganisms are routinely used in industry. The choice of method or combination of methods depends on the characteristics of the medium of interest. Indeed, its composition can physically hinder some methods. Similarly, culture medium and incubation times must be chosen accordingly to promote the growth of specific microorganisms (molds, yeasts, or bacteria). The most commonly used technique for detection of microorganisms in complex biological samples is microbiological growth, either on solid agar plate or in liquid medium, i.e., blood culture, which refers to automated methods based on the growth of microorganisms in liquid media. This historical model tends to be replaced by faster methods.
  • 620
  • 22 Jun 2022
Topic Review
DNA Detection Approaches for Liquid Biopsies
Cancer remains a leading cause of death worldwide, despite many advances in diagnosis and treatment. Precision medicine has been a key area of focus, with research providing insights and progress in helping to lower cancer mortality through better patient stratification for therapies and more precise diagnostic techniques.
  • 616
  • 22 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Overcoming Antibody Escaped Mutations Based SARS-CoV-2 Waves
 ACE2 coupling, and the S protein cleavage site, as targets for the development of nano-enabled solutions that, for example, prevent viral attachment and fusion with the host cell by either blocking viral RBD/spike proteins or cellular ACE2 receptors.
  • 615
  • 06 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Protein Extraction Methods from Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded Tissue
The relatively developments in mass spectrometry (MS) have provided novel opportunities for this technology to impact modern medicine. One of those opportunities is in biomarker discovery and diagnostics. Key developments in sample preparation have enabled a greater range of clinical samples to be characterized at a deeper level using MS. While most of these developments have focused on blood, tissues have also been an important resource. Fresh tissues, however, are difficult to obtain for research purposes and require significant resources for long-term storage. There are millions of archived formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues within pathology departments worldwide representing every possible tissue type including tumors that are rare or very small. Owing to the chemical technique used to preserve FFPE tissues, they were considered intractable to many newer proteomics techniques and primarily only useful for immunohistochemistry. In the past couple of decades, however, researchers have been able to develop methods to extract proteins from FFPE tissues in a form making them analyzable using state-of-the-art technologies such as MS and protein arrays. 
  • 607
  • 15 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Pharmaceuticals in Water
The presence of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment presents a challenge to modern science. The most significant impact this can induce is the emergence of antibiotic resistance, which can lead to a global health emergency. It is important to note that the impact of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment is not limited to antibiotic resistance. Pharmaceuticals can also affect the behaviour and reproductive systems of aquatic organisms, with cascading effects on entire ecosystems.
  • 607
  • 23 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Early Loaded Implant Overdenture
Implants were placed in the interforaminal region of the mandible according to a one-stage approach. Any brand of implants that provide OT-Equator OT attachments (Rhein83, Bologna, Italy) was placed according to the manufacturer suggestions, in order to achieve an insertion torque of at least 35 N cm. The implant lengths were dictated by the preoperative radiographs.
  • 606
  • 08 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Environmental Applications of Genetically Modified Viruses Reveals Challenges
The release of novel genetically modified (GM) virus applications into the environment for agricultural, veterinary, and nature-conservation purposes poses a number of significant challenges for risk assessors and regulatory authorities. Continuous efforts to scan the horizon for emerging applications are needed to gain an overview of new GM virus applications. In addition, appropriate approaches for risk assessment and management have to be developed and implemented. These approaches need to address pertinent challenges, in particular with regard to the environmental release of GM virus applications with a high probability for transmission and spreading, including transboundary movements and a high potential to result in adverse environmental effects. However, the current preparedness at the EU and international level to assess such GM virus application is limited.
  • 606
  • 08 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Honey Therapy in Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are considered a major problem for public health, leading to high rates of lower-limb amputations. Moreover, due to the high prevalence rate of predisposing factors, the incidence rate of DFU is still rising. Although DFUs are complex in nature, foot ulceration usually precedes diabetic foot amputations. These impaired chronic wounds usually promote a microbial biofilm, commonly characterized by the presence of multidrug-resistant microorganisms, hampering the efficacy of conventional antibiotic treatments. Honey has been shown to be an effective antibacterial component, including against multidrug-resistant bacteria. Honey’s physical–chemical characteristics, such as the presence of hydrogen peroxide, its low pH levels, and its high sugar and phenolic contents, promote anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activities, improving wound healing.
  • 602
  • 06 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Lactococcus lactis Transcriptome and Proteome
Lactococcus lactis is a food-grade, and generally recognized as safe, bacterium, which making it ideal for producing plasmid DNA (pDNA) or recombinant proteins for industrial or pharmaceutical applications. L. lactis harboring high copy numbers of plasmids for DNA vaccines production showed altered proteome profiles, when compared with a smaller copy number plasmid. For live mucosal vaccination applications, the cell-wall anchored antigens had shown more promising results, when compared with intracellular or secreted antigens. However, previous transcriptome and proteome studies demonstrated that engineering L. lactis to express membrane proteins, mainly with a eukaryotic background, increases the overall cellular burden. Genome engineering strategies could be used to knockout or overexpress the pinpointed genes, so as to increase the profitability of the process.
  • 601
  • 14 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Biomolecular Liquid–Liquid Phase Separation for Biotechnology
The liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) of biomolecules induces condensed assemblies called liquid droplets or membrane-less organelles. In contrast to organelles with lipid membrane barriers, the liquid droplets induced by LLPS do not have distinct barriers (lipid bilayer). Biomolecular LLPS in cells has attracted considerable attention in broad research fields from cellular biology to soft matter physics. The number of biomolecular droplets produced via LLPS is rapidly growing, and their biological functions have been identified.
  • 594
  • 19 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Innovative Phospholipid Carriers versus Antimicrobial Resistance
The overuse and misuse of antibiotics have led to the emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR), extensively drug-resistant (XDR), and pan-drug-resistant (PDR) bacteria strains, usually associated with poorer patient outcomes and higher costs. In order to preserve the usefulness of these life-saving drugs, it is crucial to use them appropriately, as also recommended by the WHO. Moreover, innovative, safe, and more effective approaches are being investigated, aiming to revise drug treatments to improve their pharmacokinetics and distribution and to reduce the onset of drug resistance. Globally, to reduce the burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), guidelines and indications have been developed over time, aimed at narrowing the use and diminishing the environmental spread of these life-saving molecules by optimizing prescriptions, dosage, and times of use, as well as investing resources into obtaining innovative formulations with better pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and therapeutic results. This has led to the development of new nano-formulations as drug delivery vehicles, characterized by unique structural properties, biocompatible natures, and targeted activities such as state-of-the-art phospholipid particles generally grouped as liposomes, virosomes, and functionalized exosomes, which represent an attractive and innovative delivery approach.
  • 594
  • 13 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Engineering of Natural α/β Hydrolases
The family of α/β hydrolases is one of the largest known protein families, including a wide range of members such as epoxide hydrolases, dehalogenases, hydroxynitrile lyases, fungal lipases, amidases, dienelactone hydrolases, haloperoxidases, acetylcholine esterases, serine carboxypeptidases, serine carboxypeptidase-like acyltransferases and other enzymes with distinct functions. Although many natural enzymes have been screened as biocatalysts with excellent performance, most of them are still unable to meet the needs of industrial applications. Low catalytic activity, thermostability, and enantioselectivity under complex and harsh industrial process conditions are still the main limitations for the large-scale application of natural enzymes. With the development of protein engineering technology, functional improvements have been achieved for existing α/β hydrolases, specifically in key enzyme characteristics such as their enantioselectivity and stability, in order to tailor these enzymes for specific industrial applications.
  • 591
  • 06 May 2023
Topic Review
Abundance and Significance of L-Ara as a Bioresource
The exploration of natural substrates for microbial conversion to synthesize industrial platform and fuel chemicals seems to be inevitable within a circular bioeconomy context. Hemicellulose is a natural carbohydrate polymer consisting of a variety of pentose (C5) sugar monomers such as arabinose, mannose, erythrose, and xylose. Among the C5 sugars, L-arabinose (L-Ara) is the second-most-abundant pentose sugar in the lignocellulosic biomass after xylose. L-Ara has been used as an industrial carbon source to produce several value-added chemicals such as putrescine, which is used to synthesize polymers in the textile industry; sugar alcohols that are used as sweeteners in diet foods; and amino acids such as L-lysine, L-glutamate, L-arginine, and L-ornithine, which are used in nutritional supplements, fertilizers, and other products in the food and beverage industries. L-Ara, a natural non-caloric sweetener, is used as a substitute in the food and beverage industry, when the risk of blood sugar and lipid levels could be reduced. Major use of L-Ara is also found in the medical and pharmaceutical sectors to treat several conditions, including mineral absorption disorder, constipation, and diabetes, among others.
  • 591
  • 07 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Artificial Intelligence for Academic Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products
Advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs), encompassing cell and gene therapies, hold immense promise in revolutionizing treatment options for numerous diseases. However, the translation of these innovative therapies from research to clinical practice faces formidable challenges, necessitating the establishment of specialized manufacturing facilities within hospital settings. Hospital-based Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facilities offer a unique advantage by enabling rapid bench-to-bedside development and direct patient access, yet their implementation necessitates significant adaptation within healthcare infrastructures, constrained by spatial limitations, regulatory requirements, and resource allocation. Key considerations and solutions for overcoming these challenges are paramount for realizing the full potential of ATMPs. Proximity afforded by on-site manufacturing facilitates direct delivery to patients, mitigating risks associated with transportation and ensuring timely access to cutting-edge therapies. Moreover, aligning production schedules with clinical demands enhances flexibility and responsiveness to patient needs. However, the integration of pharmaceutical manufacturing within hospital environments necessitates addressing critical gaps in staff training, documentation practices, and oversight, which are inherent to the highly regulated pharmaceutical industry. Significant investments in infrastructure, specialized equipment, personnel training, and multi-departmental coordination are indispensable for establishing and maintaining robust hospital ATMP facilities. Embracing technological advancements, such as process analytical technology (PAT), continuous manufacturing, and artificial intelligence (AI), holds immense potential in bolstering the efficiency, quality, and safety of ATMP production processes. AI, in particular, offers the capability to analyze vast datasets generated during manufacturing, facilitating real-time prediction of product quality attributes and enabling automated adjustments through feedback control mechanisms. Despite these technological advancements, challenges persist in integrating AI into pharmaceutical manufacturing due to concerns regarding data security, regulatory compliance, and the requisite multidisciplinary collaboration. Successful adoption of AI technologies necessitates simultaneous investment in human capital to ensure effective implementation and governance. Ultimately, the convergence of innovative manufacturing technologies and synergistic partnerships across disciplines is paramount for realizing the transformative potential of ATMPs, ensuring their responsible translation from research to clinical impact while maximizing therapeutic safety and efficacy.
  • 590
  • 23 Feb 2024
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