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Topic Review
Biofilm Formation
Biofilm is a complicated bacterial structure that was first recognized by the Dutch microscopist Anton Van Leeuwenhoek in dental plaque during the 1670s. Until around 50 years ago, very few studies had been performed on biofilm properties. Following the invention of the electron microscopy, it was revealed that biofilm is a microbial community composed of bacteria that is protected by the barrier of an exopolysaccharide matrix. Within this unique structure, microorganisms possess multicellular behavior that is distinct from that of simple planktonic cells, and they are typically at least 500 times more resistant to antibacterial agents. The enclosed environment is beneficial to bacterial survival for extended periods and is thus considered a self-defense measure to safeguard against unfavorable conditions. This drives chronic infection by opportunistic pathogens in which the bacterial community is resistant to antibacterial agents and to host immunity. For instance, the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in clinical specimens is closely associated with a potent ability to produce biofilm. 
  • 1.6K
  • 06 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Thyme
A perennial wild shrub from the Lamiaceae family and native to the Mediterranean region, thyme is considered an important wild edible plant studied for centuries for its unique importance in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industry. Thyme is loaded with phytonutrients, minerals and vitamins. It is pungent in taste, yet rich in moisture, proteins, crude fiber, minerals and vitamins. Its chemical composition may vary with geographical location but is mainly composed of flavonoids and antioxidants.
  • 1.6K
  • 07 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Fungal Proteases
Proteases are obtained from plants, animals, and microorganisms. Plants and animals’ proteases are more complex as compared to microorganisms. Fungal proteases are used as detergents for the removal of stains by hydrolyzing the peptide bond among the protein molecules.
  • 1.6K
  • 14 Mar 2022
Biography
Georg Ohm
Georg Simon Ohm (16 March 1789 – 6 July 1854) was a Germany physicist and mathematician. As a school teacher, Ohm began his research with the new electrochemical cell, invented by Italian scientist Alessandro Volta. Using equipment of his own creation, Ohm found that there is a direct proportionality between the potential difference (voltage) applied across a conductor and the resultant electr
  • 1.6K
  • 28 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Bambara Groundnut for Food Security
Bambara groundnut is one such imperative and neglected legume crop that contributes positively to improving global food and nutrient safety. As a “complete food”, this crop has recently been treated as a new millennium crop, and furthermore, it is more adjusted to poor soil and climatic conditions than other dominant crops. Bambara groundnut is a repository of vital nutrients that provides carbohydrates, crucial amino acids, proteins, and energy as well as minerals and vitamins to developed and low-income countries where animal proteins are not readily available. 
  • 1.6K
  • 28 May 2021
Topic Review
Enterococcus
Enterococci derived from an ancestor that was a commensal of aquatic life forms, when animals first became terrestrial. To cope with the stresses of the new terrestrial habitat, enterococci evolved to be tough bugs, resistant to a wide range of environmental and host factors. That made them extremely successful not only in adapting to the new way of life of their hosts, but also in colonizing other non-animal, and even inanimate, environments - such as feeds and foods. The plasticity of the enterococcal genome, together with their notable ability to trade virulence and antibiotic resistance, have enabled them to also become notable opportunistic, multi-resistant pathogens and act as reservoirs of pathogenicity and resistance determinants.
  • 1.6K
  • 31 Aug 2020
Topic Review
Evolution of the Domesticated Cat
The domestic cat originated from Near-Eastern and Egyptian populations of the African wildcat, Felis sylvestris lybica. The family Felidae, to which all living feline species belong, arose about ten to eleven million years ago. This family is divided into eight major phylogenetic lineages. The domestic cat is a member of the Felis lineage. A number of investigations have shown that all domestic varieties of cats come from a single species of the Felis lineage, Felis catus. Variations of this lineage are found all over the world and up until recently scientists have had a hard time pinning down exactly which region gave rise to modern domestic cat breeds. Scientists believed that it was not just one incident that led to the domesticated cat but multiple, independent incidents at different places that led to these breeds. More complications arose from the fact that the wildcat population as a whole is very widespread and very similar to one another. These variations of wild cat can and will interbreed freely with one another when in close contact, further blurring the lines between taxa. Recent DNA studies, advancement in genetic technologies, and a better understanding of DNA and genetics as a whole has helped make discoveries in the evolutionary history of the domestic cat.
  • 1.6K
  • 25 Nov 2022
Topic Review
3′UTR Length Dynamics: Releasing mRNAs from Stability Control
The 3′Untranslated regions (3′UTRs) of mRNAs, are non-coding regulatory platforms that control stability, fate and the correct spatiotemporal translation of mRNAs. Although initially considered as stabilizing features of the ORF, further work identified a number of new 3’UTR functions that controlled where, when and how mRNAs were translated. Furthermore, recent research has enriched the view of 3’UTRs from static regulators of mRNA translation to highly dynamic and modular regulatory platforms that respond to different stimuli by changing their structure. By using alternative polyadenylation and cleavage sites, alternative exons or by including exonized Alu cassettes, 3’UTRs modify their length, change their sequence and consequently their inventory of associated regulatory sites to establish different co-regulatory events.
  • 1.6K
  • 13 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Roof Plate in Neural Development
The roof plate is the most dorsal region of the neural tube. The Roof plate serves as an organizing center that controls proliferation and differentiation of dorsal interneurons. In addition, this region is involved in development of neural crest cells, which are the source of migratory neural crest cells. During early development of the spinal cord, roof plate cells secrete signaling molecules, such as Wnt and BMP family proteins, which regulate development of neural crest cells and dorsal spinal cord. After the dorso-ventral pattern is established, spinal cord dynamically changes its morphology. With this morphological transformation, the lumen of the spinal cord gradually shrinks to form the central canal. Accompanied by formation of the central canal, roof plate cells dramatically stretch along the dorso-ventral axis. During this stretching process, the tips of roof plate cells maintain contact with cells surrounding the shrinking lumen of the spinal cord, eventually exposed to the inner surface of the central canal. In this late stage of the spinal cord development, Wnt secreted by stretched roof plate cells regulates transformation of roof plate cells themselves and promotes proliferation of ependymal cells surrounding the central canal, including neural progenitor cells, in the spinal cord.
  • 1.6K
  • 05 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Microbe-Associated Molecular Patterns
Plants depend on both preformed and inducible defence responses to defend themselves against biotic stresses stemming from pathogen attacks. In this regard, plants perceive pathogenic threats from the environment through pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that recognise microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs), and so induce plant defence responses against invading pathogens. Close to thirty PRR proteins have been identified in plants, however, the molecular mechanisms underlying MAMP perception by these receptors/receptor complexes are not fully understood. As such, knockout (KO) of genes that code for PRRs and co-receptors / defence-associated proteins is a valuable tool to study plant immunity. The loss of gene activity often causes changes in the phenotype of the model plant, allowing in vivo studies of gene function and associated biological mechanisms. Here, we review the functions of selected PRRs, brassinosteroid insensitive 1 (BRI1) associated receptor kinase 1 (BAK1) and other associated defence proteins that have been identified in plants, and also outline KO lines generated by T-DNA insertional mutagenesis as well as the effect on MAMP perception - and triggered immunity (MTI). In addition, we further review the role of membrane raft domains in flg22-induced MTI in Arabidopsis, due to the vital role in the activation of several proteins that are part of the membrane raft domain theory in this regard.
  • 1.6K
  • 29 Oct 2020
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