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Topic Review
The Crayfish Plague Pathogen Aphanomyces astaci in Ireland
Crayfish plague is a devastating disease of European freshwater crayfish and is caused by the oomycete Aphanomyces astaci (A. astaci), believed to have been introduced to Europe around 1860. All European species of freshwater crayfish are susceptible to the disease, including the white-clawed crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes. A. astaci is primarily spread by North American crayfish species and can also disperse rapidly through contaminated wet gear moved between water bodies. This spread, coupled with competition from non-indigenous crayfish, has drastically reduced and fragmented native crayfish populations across Europe. Remarkably, the island of Ireland remained free from the crayfish plague pathogen for over 100 years, providing a refuge for A. pallipes. However, this changed in 1987 when a mass mortality event was linked to the pathogen, marking its introduction to the region. 
  • 251
  • 18 Feb 2024
Topic Review
The CPGs for Limbed Locomotion
The neuronal networks that generate locomotion are well understood in swimming animals such as the lamprey, zebrafish and tadpole. The networks controlling locomotion in tetrapods remain, however, still enigmatic with an intricate motor pattern required for the control of the entire limb during the support, lift off, and flexion phase, and most demandingly when the limb makes contact with ground again. It is clear that the inhibition that occurs between bursts in each step cycle is produced by V2b and V1 interneurons, and that a deletion of these interneurons leads to synchronous flexor–extensor bursting. The ability to generate rhythmic bursting is distributed over all segments comprising part of the central pattern generator network (CPG).
  • 511
  • 06 Jun 2021
Topic Review
The Coupling in Biological Membranes
Cell membrane structure is proposed as a lipid matrix with embedded proteins, and thus, their emerging mechanical and electrostatic properties are commanded by lipid behavior and their interconnection with the included and absorbed proteins, cytoskeleton, extracellular matrix and ionic media. Structures formed by lipids are soft, dynamic and viscoelastic, and their properties depend on the lipid composition and on the general conditions, such as temperature, pH, ionic strength and electrostatic potentials. The dielectric constant of the apolar region of the lipid bilayer contrasts with that of the polar region, which also differs from the aqueous milieu, and these changes happen in the nanometer scale. Besides, an important percentage of the lipids are anionic, and the rest are dipoles or higher multipoles, and the polar regions are highly hydrated, with these water molecules forming an active part of the membrane. Therefore, electric fields (both, internal and external) affects membrane thickness, density, tension and curvature, and conversely, mechanical deformations modify membrane electrostatics. As a consequence, interfacial electrostatics appears as a highly important parameter, affecting the membrane properties in general and mechanical features in particular.
  • 834
  • 12 Jul 2021
Topic Review
The Contemporary Patterns of Chronic Hepatitis D
The hepatitis D virus (HDV) is a small satellite virus, the smallest yet identified in the human population, that causes the most aggressive form of all viral hepatitis strains. There has been a negative trend towards an increase in the prevalence of chronic hepatitis D in Europe, especially among immigrant populations coming from regions endemic for the virus.
  • 285
  • 06 May 2023
Topic Review
The Conservation Physiology of Bryophytes
Conservation physiology is a rather new scientific discipline emerging over the last several decades with the aim of solving the conservation problems of different biological entities. This is an integrative approach applying physiological concepts and tools to gain new knowledge about the features of those targeted biological entities which are the subject of conservation.
  • 781
  • 16 May 2022
Topic Review
The Concept of Genus
The genus concept and its implication in classifying pathogenic relevant microorganisms:  The Brucella and Ochrobactrum
  • 587
  • 31 Mar 2022
Topic Review
The Concept of “Quantum-Like”
The birth and spread of the prefix “quantum-” to disciplines other than physics, and the introduction of the term “quantum-like”, reflect the increasing dissatisfaction with the perceived limits and pitfalls of classic Western thought. Of course, the latter remains valuable; what is wrong is its dogmatic use and the claim of its exclusive capacity to comprehend the world. The development of quantum physics has been paralleled by the introduction of paraconsistent logics, such as fuzzy logic and dialetheism, a clear sign of the need for smoothing the inflexibility of Aristotelian logic. There is also a fil rouge (viz. an epistemological symmetry) linking the paradigm of quantum physics to ancient pre-Socratic and Eastern philosophies, suggesting the need for reappraising them in the process of reexamination of the classical thought. The increasing use of the term “quantum-like” calls for the defining and sharing of its meaning in order to properly adopt it and avoid possible misuse. 
  • 931
  • 14 Mar 2022
Topic Review
The Composition and Structure of Silk Fibroin
Silk fibroin is the principal component of raw silk and represents an extensively studied and utilized biopolymer. Silk fibroin is composed by three chains, light, heavy, and P25 protein. Heavy chain is rigorously organized in redundant aminoacidic sequences rich in glycine and alanine, secondary structure is organized in anti-parallel β-sheets that in turn form β-crystallites stacked in nano-fibrils. Those peculiar fibroin’s structural and compositional elements are crucial to determine the excellent physical properties, such as strength and toughness. Besides these characteristics, the processability and biocompatibility have attracted significant attention for the fabrication of several biomaterials suitable in many fields of application.
  • 694
  • 20 Mar 2024
Topic Review
The Complex Interaction between P53 and miRNAs
P53 responds to stress in a variety of ways ranging from activating survival-promotion pathways to triggering programmed cell death to eliminate damaged cells. In physiological stress generated by any external or internal condition that challenges cell homeostasis, P53 exerts its function as a transcription factor for target genes or by regulating the expression and maturation of a class of small non-coding RNA molecules (miRNAs).
  • 630
  • 26 May 2022
Topic Review
The Complement System, Aging, and Aging-Related Diseases
The complement system is a part of the immune system and consists of multiple complement components with biological functions such as defense against pathogens and immunomodulation. The complement system has three activation pathways: the classical pathway, the lectin pathway, and the alternative pathway. Increasing evidence indicates that the complement system plays a role in aging. Complement plays a role in inflammatory processes, metabolism, apoptosis, mitochondrial function, and Wnt signaling pathways. In addition, the complement system plays a significant role in aging-related diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, age-related macular degeneration, and osteoarthritis. However, the effect of complement on aging and aging-related diseases is still unclear. Thus, a better understanding of the potential relationship between complement, aging, and aging-related diseases will provide molecular targets for treating aging, while focusing on the balance of complement in during treatment. Inhibition of a single component does not result in a good outcome. 
  • 557
  • 09 Aug 2022
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