Topic Review
Core Collections of Plant Genetic Resources
The core collection is a small subset that minimizes genetic redundancy while preserving the maximum genetic diversity of the entire population. Research on the core collection is crucial for the efficient management and utilization of germplasm resources.
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Topic Review
Engineered Vasculature
Engineered vasculature refers to the creation or fabrication of artificial blood vessel networks within biological systems or tissue constructs by combining organ-specific cells and vasculature cells, scaffolds, and biologically active molecules to form functional tissues. Engineered vasculature is inspired by the structure and function of the natural vascular system that facilitates nutrients and oxygen exchange between cells and blood vessels. It has been used to study vascular pathophysiology, vasculature–organ interaction, and drug and cell trans-endothelium trafficking. In particular, it has been applied in cancer research to study angiogenesis, vascular remodeling, and metastasis. Moreover, engineered vascular conduits that are usually large vessels (>1 cm3) have been used for regenerative purposes, replacing large dysfunctional arteria.
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  • 11 May 2023
Topic Review
Three-Dimensional Bioprinting Processes and Approaches
Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting describes the use of 3D additive manufacturing techniques aimed to integrate biological materials, such as cells, growth factors, and other biochemicals and biomaterials, into a multi-layer composite using high-precision printing technologies that can mimic the structures of target tissues.
  • 274
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Topic Review
Membrane Proteins in Diseases and Potential as Biomarkers
Many biological processes (physiological or pathological) are relevant to membrane proteins (MPs), which account for almost 30% of the total of human proteins. As such, MPs can serve as predictive molecular biomarkers for disease diagnosis and prognosis. 
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  • 11 May 2023
Topic Review
Teleost Piscidins
Fish, like all other animals, are exposed to constant contact with microbes, both on their skin and on the surfaces of their respiratory and digestive systems. Fish have a system of non-specific immune responses that provides them with initial protection against infection and allows them to survive under normal conditions despite the presence of these potential invaders.
  • 403
  • 11 May 2023
Topic Review
The Oncogenic Potential of SARS-CoV-2
Some viruses are known to be associated with the onset of specific cancers. Seven of these microorganisms, recognized as oncogenic viruses or oncoviruses, promote tumorigenesis in humans, converting normal cells into cancer cells through the modulation of central metabolic pathways or the impairment of genomic integrity mechanisms, consequently inhibiting the apoptotic machinery and/or enhancing cell proliferation. Actually, research indicates that SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 progression may predispose recovered patients to cancer onset and accelerate cancer development. This hypothesis is based on the growing evidence regarding the ability of SARS-CoV-2 to modulate oncogenic pathways, promoting chronic low-grade inflammation and causing tissue damage. As for SARS-CoV-2, its role as an oncogenic virus seems to occur through the inhibition of oncosuppressors or controlling the metabolic and autophagy pathways in the infected cells. On the other hand, looking at the SARS-CoV-2─cancer relationship from an opposite perspective, oncolytic effects and anti-tumor immune response were triggered by SARS-CoV-2 infection in some cases.
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  • 11 May 2023
Topic Review
Oxytocin from the Uterus to the Heart
The research program on oxytocin started in 1895, when Oliver and Schafer reported that a substance extracted from the pituitary gland elevates blood pressure when injected intravenously into dogs. Dale later reported that a neurohypophysial substance triggers uterine contraction, lactation, and antidiuresis. Purification of this pituitary gland extracts revealed that the vasopressor and antidiuretic activity could be attributed to vasopressin, while uterotonic and lactation activity could be attributed to oxytocin. In 1950, the amino-acid sequences of vasopressin and oxytocin were determined and chemically synthesized. Vasopressin (CYFQNCPRG-NH2) and oxytocin (CYIQNCPLG-NH2) differ by two amino acids and have a disulfide bridge between the cysteine residues at position one and six conserved in all vasopressin/oxytocin-type peptides. This characterization of oxytocin led to the Nobel Prize awarded in 1955 to Vincent du Vigneaud.
  • 315
  • 11 May 2023
Topic Review
β-Glucosidase in Bioconversion of Ginsenosides in Panax ginseng
Ginsenosides are a group of bioactive compounds isolated from Panax ginseng. Conventional major ginsenosides have a long history of use in traditional medicine for both illness prevention and therapy. Bioconversion processes have the potential to create new and valuable products in pharmaceutical and biological activities, making them both critical for research and highly economic to implement. This has led to an increase in the number of studies that use major ginsenosides as a precursor to generate minor ones using β-glucosidase. Minor ginsenosides may also have useful properties but are difficult to isolate from raw ginseng because of their scarcity. Bioconversion processes have the potential to create novel minor ginsenosides from the more abundant major ginsenoside precursors in a cost-effective manner. While numerous bioconversion techniques have been developed, an increasing number of studies have reported that β-glucosidase can effectively and specifically generate minor ginsenosides. 
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  • 11 May 2023
Topic Review
Impacts of Exotic Pests on Forest Ecosystems
Pests (e.g., insects, pathogens) affect forest communities through complex interactions with plants, other animals, and the environment. While the effects of exotic (non-native) pests on trees received broad attention and were extensively studied, fewer studies addressed the ecosystem-level consequences of these effects. Related studies so far mostly only targeted a very few dominant pests (e.g., hemlock woolly adelgid—HWA, beech bark disease—BBD, and spongy moth—SM) and were limited to aspects of the complex situation such as (1) pests’ direct physical disturbance to forest ecosystems, (2) altered geochemical elements of soils, water, and air (e.g., excretion), and (3) feedback effects from the alteration of ecosystems on plants, native insects, and present and future pest invasions. New studies also show that, in general, planted forests appear to be more prone to exotic pest invasions and thus suffer greater impacts than natural forests. Integrated studies are critically needed in the future to address (1) direct/indirect interactions of pests with ecosystem elements, (2) both short- and long-term effects, and (3) feedback effects. The implications of the new findings and corresponding management strategies are discussed.
  • 406
  • 11 May 2023
Topic Review
Advantages of the Use of Adjuvants against COVID-19
During the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination focused on mRNA-type and viral vector vaccines. Adjuvanted vaccines are capable of inducing potent responses, not only humoral but also cellular, in populations whose immune systems are weak or do not respond properly, such as the elderly. 
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