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:
Hottest Latest Alphabetical (A-Z) Alphabetical (Z-A)
Type:
All Topic Review Biography
Topic Review
Mitochondria and NLRP3 Inflammasome Interplay
Mitochondria are the power plants of the cell responsible not only for the generation of cellular energy required for myriad functions but also are important hubs for metabolism, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and Ca2+ homeostasis. Inflammasomes are a group of intracellular multicomplexes located in the cytosol which detect PAMPs and DAMPs and produce the activation, maturation, and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (including IL-1β and IL-18).
  • 1.2K
  • 23 May 2022
Topic Review
Adenosine in inflammation and neoplasia
Adenosine is a purine nucleoside, resulting from the degradation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Under adverse conditions, including hypoxia, ischemia, inflammation, or cancer, the extracellular levels of adenosine increase significantly. Once released, adenosine activates cellular signaling pathways through the engagement of the four known G-protein-coupled receptors, adenosine A1 receptor subtype (A1), A2A, A2B, and A3. These receptors, expressed virtually on all immune cells, mitigate all aspects of immune/inflammatory responses. These immunosuppressive effects contribute to blunt the exuberant inflammatory responses, shielding cells, and tissues from an excessive immune response and immune-mediated damage.
  • 1.2K
  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
the Major Facilitator Superfamily
Bacterial pathogens are serious causative agents of infectious disease. Such microorganisms are resistant to multiple antimicrobial agents, thereby compromising the therapeutic efficacy of treatment.  Multidrug-resistant pathogens harbor antimicrobial efflux pumps, many transporters of which are members of the extensive major facilitator superfamily of proteins. These bacterial multidrug efflux pumps are good molecular targets for modulation and possible inhibition.  This entry briefly discusses several current developments for drug efflux pump modulation. 
  • 1.2K
  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Cancer Stem Cells
Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) is a subset of cancer cells with the ability to self-renew and to differentiate into non-CSC cancer cells within the tumor mass. The CSC field was shaped by great research done on hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). HSCs are hierarchically arranged with HSCs being the founder cells that undergo asymmetric cell division giving rise to differentiated daughter cells and one quiescent stem cell with self-renewal abilities. CSCs are a subpopulation of cancer cells known to be resistant to therapy and cause metastasis. CSCs have been characterized in many cancers with data illustrating that CSCs display great abilities to self-renew, resist therapies due to enhanced epithelial to mesenchymal (EMT) properties, enhanced expression of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) membrane drug transporters, activation of several survival signaling pathways and increased immune evasion as well as DNA repair mechanisms. CSCs also display great heterogeneity with the consequential lack of specific CSC markers presenting a great challenge to their targeting.
  • 1.2K
  • 15 May 2023
Topic Review
Nephronectin
Nephronectin (NPNT) was originally identified as an ECM protein by two independent research groups in 2001. Brandenberger et al. reported NPNT to be involved in the embryonic development of the kidney, hence the name nephronectin (nephron: unit within the kidney; nectin: cellular adhesion proteins). Morimura and colleagues discovered the same protein to be associated with osteoblast differentiation, and named it preosteoblast epidermal growth factor-like repeat protein with meprin, A5 protein and receptor protein-tyrosine phosphatase µ domain (POEM).
  • 1.2K
  • 08 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Cytoplasmic Actin Mutations
Cytoplasmic actins are abundant molecules in non-muscle cells, including white blood cells. Two forms exist which are referred to as beta- or gamma-cytoplasmic actin encoded by ACTB and ACTG1, respectively. They form the building blocks of the dynamic actin polymers of the cytoskeleton that are involved in migration and motility processes of cells. Whereas mutations in cytoplasmic actins have been discovered in congenital diseases, their prevalence in cancer types has not been studied in detail. We show that within hematological cancer cytoplasmic actin mutations occur with higher frequency in two specific subtypes. Beta-actin mutations occur mainly in the subtype diffuse large B-cell lymphoma or DLBCL whereas gamma-actin mutations occur mainly in multiple myeloma. Mapping these mutations on the three dimensional structure reveals they map to regions of actin that are important in actin polymer formation and, for gamma-actin also for myosin interaction. Given their occurrence in these functionally important regions, their role as potential driver mutations or in disease progression merits further investigation.
  • 1.2K
  • 28 Oct 2020
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
Gross Pathology in COVID-19
The global infectious disease COVID-19 is caused by SARS-CoV-2, a new member of the Coronaviridae family. Though presented as a novel disease that primarily affects the respiratory system, multi-organ involvement has been well-noticed and documented since the beginning of the pandemic. When performed properly with adequate safety measures, autopsy provides the most valuable information to decipher the pathogenesis of this novel disease, therefore providing a basis for clinical management. In addition to reviewing the macroscopic changes in organs and tissues involved in COVID-19, the relevant microscopic alterations and possible pathogenesis are also discussed.
  • 1.2K
  • 31 Oct 2022
Topic Review
The Glyoxalase System
The glyoxalase system was discovered over a hundred years ago and since then it has been claimed to provide the role of an indispensable enzyme system in order to protect cells from a toxic byproduct of glycolysis.
  • 1.2K
  • 27 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Aeromonas
It is well known that correct identification of recovered Aeromonas strains at the genus and species level is a complex process.  Biochemical or phenotypic identification tests and specially those included in miniaturized and/or semi-automatic commercial identification systems (API, Vitek, BBLCrystal, MicroScan etc) produce confusion with the Vibrio genus and an erroneous overestimation of the species Aeromonas hydrophila. Correct identification requires the use of molecular techniques, like the detection of the gene that encode for the GCAT (glycerophospholopid-cholesterol acyltransferase) that can discriminate the genus or the analysis of the sequences of housekeeping genes (gyrB, rpoD, etc) to correctly identifying the species. The latter genes are necessary because the 16S rRNA gene does not show enough resolution to discriminate closely related species (i.e. A. salmonicida from A. bestiarum). In fact many new species were discovered thanks to the use of gyrB and rpoD genes for identification, and the construction of a multilocus phylogenetic analysis with the concatenated sequences of five housekeeping genes was used as a tool in their descriptions. The progress in the techniques used to obtain bacteria genomes had an spectacular impact on the genus Aeromonas  because the genome of the type strain of the different species are available at the GenBank. Tools developed for bacterial identification based on the comparison of genomes like the in silico DNA-DNA hybridization (isDDH) and the Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) provides objective criteria to define if two genomes belong or not to the same species. This review aims to guide microbiologists in the correct identification of the Aeromonas spp.
  • 1.2K
  • 23 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Antimicrobial Resistance in the Pseudomonas fluorescens Complex
Pseudomonas spp. are ubiquitous microorganisms that exhibit intrinsic and acquired resistance to many antimicrobial agents. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most studied species of this genus due to its clinical importance. In contrast, the Pseudomonas fluorescens complex consists of environmental and, in some cases, pathogenic opportunistic microorganisms. The P. fluorescens complex comprises eight groups occupying various ecological niches, namely P. fluorescens, P. gessardii, P. fragi, P. mandelii, P. koreensis, P. jessenii, P. corrugata, and P. chlororaphis.
  • 1.2K
  • 08 Aug 2022
  • Page
  • of
  • 1747
Featured Entry Collections
>>

Featured Books

>>
Encyclopedia of Social Sciences
Encyclopedia of COVID-19
Encyclopedia of Fungi
Encyclopedia of Digital Society, Industry 5.0 and Smart City
ScholarVision Creations
Feedback