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Topic Review
Biography
Topic Review
TRPV4 and Calcium Oscillations in Tissue Repair
The transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) specifically functions as a mechanosensitive ion channel and is responsible for conveying changes in physical stimuli such as mechanical stress, osmotic pressure, and temperature. TRPV4 enables the entry of cation ions, particularly calcium ions, into the cell. Activation of TRPV4 channels initiates calcium oscillations, which trigger intracellular signaling pathways involved in a plethora of cellular processes, including tissue repair. Widely expressed throughout the body, TRPV4 can be activated by a wide array of physicochemical stimuli, thus contributing to sensory and physiological functions in multiple organs.
175
30 Jan 2024
Topic Review
SWI/SNF Complex in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells
Mature vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) exhibit a remarkable degree of plasticity, a characteristic that has intrigued cardiovascular researchers for decades. It has become increasingly evident that the chromatin remodeler SWItch/Sucrose Non-Fermentable (SWI/SNF) complex plays a pivotal role in orchestrating chromatin conformation, which is critical for gene regulation.
205
30 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Berries vs. Disease
Secondary metabolites and phytochemicals in plant-based diets are known to possess properties that inhibit the development of several diseases including a variety of cancers of the aerodigestive tract. Berries are currently of high interest to researchers due to their high dietary source of phytochemicals. Black raspberries (BRB), Rubus occidentalis, are of special interest due to their rich and diverse composition of phytochemicals.
230
30 Jan 2024
Topic Review
BK
Ca
Channel Function in Cellular Membranes
Alterations in the activity of BKCa channels, responsible for the generation of the overall magnitude of Ca2+-activated K+ current at the whole-cell level, occur through allosteric mechanisms. The collaborative interplay between membrane depolarization and heightened intracellular Ca2+ ion concentrations collectively contribute to the activation of BKCa channels.
198
30 Jan 2024
Topic Review
miRNA Therapeutics
The discovery of the link between microRNAs (miRNAs) and a myriad of human diseases, particularly various cancer types, has generated significant interest in exploring their potential as a novel class of drugs. This has led to substantial investments in interdisciplinary research fields such as biology, chemistry, and medical science for the development of miRNA-based therapies. Furthermore, the recent global success of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines against the COVID-19 pandemic has further revitalized interest in RNA-based immunotherapies, including miRNA-based approaches to cancer treatment. Consequently, RNA therapeutics have emerged as highly adaptable and modular options for cancer therapy.
251
30 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Peer Reviewed
Understanding Rumen Microbiology: An Overview
The rumen is the largest of the four chambers of the “stomach” in ruminant animals, which harbors an incredibly dense, diverse, and dynamic microbial community crucial for feedstuff degradation, animal health, and production. The primary objective of this article is to enhance knowledge and comprehension of rumen microbiology by providing an introductory-level overview of the field of rumen microbiology. Ruminants possess a distinctive digestive system optimized for the microbial breakdown of complex plant materials. The ruminant ”stomach” consists of four chambers (e.g., reticulum, rumen, omasum, and abomasum), which is home to a microbial population that degrades feedstuffs consumed by ruminant animals. Dr. Robert Hungate and Dr. Marvin Bryant’s groundbreaking research in the 1960s laid the foundation for understanding the function of the ruminal microbial ecosystem. Recent advancements (e.g., next-generation sequencing) have provided the field with deeper insight into populations, boosting our understanding of how the microbial population of the rumen functions in a variety of conditions. The ruminal microbial ecosystem is comprised of bacteria, along with archaea, protozoa, bacteriophage, and fungi, each contributing to the symbiotic relationship between the microbial ecosystem and the host animal that is essential for optimal animal health and efficient animal production. Traditional anaerobic growth techniques have facilitated the study of individual anaerobic bacteria but have been limited by dependence on growth in laboratory conditions. The development of 16S rRNA sequencing allows the identification of microbial populations that cannot be grown and allows an unbiased view of microbial diversity. Diet shapes the rumen microbial population composition, influencing animal production metrics such as feed efficiency, methane emissions, and immunological functions. Feed additives (e.g., essential oils, eubiotics) hold promise by manipulating and unraveling the microbial biochemical potential for improving animal health, feed efficiency, environmental impacts, and overall production sustainability. Future research impacts include the development of probiotics, prebiotics, and genetic strategies for optimizing the rumen microbiome’s multifaceted impacts.
250
30 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Noxious Alien Plant Species
Bidens pilosa
Bidens pilosa L., belonging to the Asteraceae family, is an annual (or biennial) herbaceous plant. The species grows 20–180 cm tall, and the stems are quadrangular with hairy straggling branches. It has alternate leaves with 3–5 pinnate leaflets, which are supported by a petiole (10–70 mm long). The leaflets are broadly ovate, serrate, and 30–70 mm long and 12–18 mm wide. Capitula occur at the end of the main stems and lateral branches and expand 5–12 mm in diameter. Capitula consist of 0–8 ray florets and 35–55 disk florets. The corollas of the ray florets are 7–15 mm long and white–yellow. The ray florets have poorly developed pistils and lack stamens. The disk florets have 3–5 mm long yellow corollas, five stamens, and well-developed 2–3 mm long pistils. Its fruits are black liner cypselae with 2–5 stiff awns of 2–4 mm long. The species often forms thick monospecific stands.
199
30 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Extracellular Vesicles in the Central Nervous System
Communication in the central nervous system (CNS) is fundamental for different biological functions including brain development, homeostasis preservation, and neural circuit formation. Indeed, the crosstalk between glia and neurons is critical in the CNS for a variety of biological functions, such as brain development, neural circuit maturation, and homeostasis maintenance. Glia cells are involved in different processes including inflammatory responses to infections or diseases, neurotrophic support, and synaptic remodelling and pruning. In addition to the traditional direct cell-to-cell contact, glial cell can also communicate with neurons through the paracrine action of secreted molecules, or by the release and reception of extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs, which are subdivided into three subtypes: microvesicles, exosomes, and apoptotic bodies, are a major constituent of the cell secretome. EVs have the ability to circulate in the extracellular body fluid and modulate several biological processes and their associated pathways. EVs cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB) bidirectionally from the bloodstream to the brain parenchyma and vice versa. They play an important role in brain–periphery communication in physiology and pathophysiology. According to the current literature, although EVs cross the BBB, it is unclear how, where, and when they can overcome this tightly controlled cellular barrier.
160
30 Jan 2024
Topic Review
CD123 in Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm
Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is a rare and aggressive hematologic cancer originating from the malignant transformation of plasmacytoid dendritic cell precursors. The exploration of combinations such as CD123-targeted immunotherapies with azacitidine and venetoclax is suggested to enhance antineoplastic responses and improve survival rates in BPDCN patients.
131
30 Jan 2024
Topic Review
β-glucosidases
β-glucosidases (EC. 3.2.1.21) are enzymes that hydrolyze glucosidic bonds of oligosaccharides, in special disaccharides, such as cellobiose, realizing glucose at the end of the process. They are highly used in second-generation biofuel production.
871
29 Jan 2024
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