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Topic Review
Biography
Topic Review
Endotoxin Activity Assay
Endotoxin, also referred to as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), is a potent stimulator of the inflammatory cascade which may progress to sepsis and septic shock. The term endotoxic septic shock has been used for patients who have a clinical phenotype that is characterized by high endotoxin activity in addition to a high burden of organ failure; especially a pattern of organ failure including hepatic dysfunction, acute kidney injury, and various forms of endothelial dysfunction. Endotoxic septic shock has been a target for drug therapy for decades with no success. A likely barrier to their success was the inability to quantify endotoxin in the bloodstream. The Endotoxin Activity Assay (EAA) is positioned to change this landscape. In addition, medical devices using adsorptive technology in an extra-corporeal circulation has been shown to remove large quantities of endotoxin from the bloodstream.
463
16 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, a Gram-positive bacterium, has emerged as a versatile microorganism with significant applications in various fields, including industry, medicine, and agriculture.
408
16 Nov 2023
Topic Review
circRNA-Targeted Therapy in Experimental Parkinson’s Disease
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are single-stranded RNA molecules often circularized by backsplicing. Growing evidence implicates circRNAs in the underlying mechanisms of various diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease (PD)—the first and second most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders. In this sense, circSNCA, circHIPK2, circHIPK3, and circSLC8A1 are circRNAs that have been related to the neurodegenerative process of PD. Gain-of-function and loss-of-function studies on circRNAs have shed light on their roles in the pathobiology of various diseases. Gain-of-function approaches typically employ viral or non-viral vectors that hyperexpress RNA sequences capable of circularizing to form the specific circRNA under investigation.
171
16 Nov 2023
Topic Review
CRISPR/Cas9 Landscape
CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)/Cas9 is a unique genome editing tool that can be easily used in a wide range of applications, including functional genomics, transcriptomics, epigenetics, biotechnology, plant engineering, livestock breeding, gene therapy, diagnostics, and so on.
308
16 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Cell Lysis
Cell lysis is the first step of sample preparation for nucleic acid (NA) detection. Its purpose is to release NAs from the cells by disrupting the structure of cell membranes, which are also known as phospholipid bilayer membranes or plasmalemma. As NA detection typically relies on amplification using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or isothermal alternatives, carry-over of inhibitory agents including the reagents used for lysis needs to be avoided or minimised. While washing steps are easily implemented in a laboratory setting, for Point of Need testing, the trend is towards substitution of strong inhibitory lytic reagents for more benign alternatives to minimise processing steps and reagent use. Additionally, sustainability of the reagents and their disposal are growing concerns. Here, an overview of lysis methods is provided from the perspective of their suitability for for point of need testing.
943
16 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Lactic Acid Bacteria in Dairy Foods
Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are regarded as ‘Generally Recognized as Safe’ (GRAS) and are commonly used in the dairy industry and also form part of the microbiota of the human intestine. LAB play a significant role in biopreservation because they produce a variety of antimicrobial metabolites during the development and fermentation processes. The use of antimicrobial-producing LAB in the production of dairy products, which can be incorporated into fermented or nonfermented dairy products, implies a processing advantage to improve the safety and quality of dairy products, providing an additional barrier against foodborne diseases. Among the most common antimicrobials are bacteriocins, which are ribosomally produced antimicrobial peptides. They can kill or inhibit undesirable bacterial strains, whether closely related or not, without harming themselves. This ability is especially relevant in the food industry. Notably, many LAB bacteriocins, including those derived from such bacteria, have shown efficacy against Listeria monocytogenes, a significant concern in traditional cheeses made from raw milk.
409
16 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Clinical Applications of Amnion-Derived Membranes
Biological tissues from various anatomical sources have been utilized for tissue transplantation and have developed into an important source of extracellular scaffolding material for regenerative medicine applications. Tissue scaffolds ideally integrate with host tissue and provide a homeostatic environment for cellular infiltration, growth, differentiation, and tissue resolution. The human amniotic membrane is considered an important source of scaffolding material due to its 3D structural architecture and function and as a source of growth factors and cytokines. This tissue source has been widely studied and used in various areas of tissue repair including intraoral reconstruction, corneal repair, tendon repair, microvascular reconstruction, nerve procedures, burns, and chronic wound treatment.
213
15 Nov 2023
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.
208
15 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Acid and Alkali Taste Sensation
Living organisms rely on pH levels for a multitude of crucial biological processes, such as the digestion of food and the facilitation of enzymatic reactions. Among these organisms, animals, including insects, possess specialized taste organs that enable them to discern between acidic and alkaline substances present in their food sources.
418
15 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Engineering of GH11 Xylanases for Optimal pH Shifting
Endo-1,4-β-xylanases belonging to the glycoside hydrolase (GH) 11 family hydrolyze the β-1,4-glycosidic linkages in the xylan backbone to convert polymeric xylan into xylooligosaccharides. GH11 xylanases play an essential role in sugar metabolism and are one of the most widely used enzymes in various industries, such as pulp and paper, food and feed, biorefinery, textile, and pharmaceutical industries. pH is a crucial factor influencing the biochemical properties of GH11 xylanase and its application in bioprocessing. For the optimal pH shifting of GH11 xylanase in industrial applications, various protein engineering studies using directed evolution, rational engineering, and in silico approaches have been adopted.
368
15 Nov 2023
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