• Title/Summary/Keyword: Interest of Biology

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Marine-Derived Pharmaceuticals - Challenges and Opportunities

  • Lindequist, Ulrike
    • Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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    • v.24 no.6
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    • pp.561-571
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    • 2016
  • Marine biosphere is the largest one of the earth and harbors an enormous number of different organisms. Living conditions differ fundamentally from those in terrestrial environment. The production of specific secondary metabolites is an important adaption mechanism of marine organisms to survive in the sea. These metabolites possess biological activities which make them interesting as possible drugs for human. The review presents sources, chemistry, production and pharmacology of FDA approved marine derived pharmaceuticals arranged according to their therapeutic indication. Four of the presently seven approved drugs are used for the treatment of cancer. Each another one is applicated for treatment of viral diseases, chronic pain and to lower triglyceride level in blood. Some other products are of interest in diagnostic and as experimental tools. Besides, this article describes challenges in drug development from marine sources, especially the supply problem.

Genomic Research as a Means to Understand Bacterial Phylogeny and Ecological Adaptation of the Genus Bifidobacterium (Bifidobacterium의 분자생물학적 연구 동향)

  • Kim, Geun-Bae
    • 한국유가공학회:학술대회논문집
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    • 2007.09a
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    • pp.21-29
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    • 2007
  • The field of microbiology has in recent years been transformed by huge increasing number of publicly available whole-genome sequences. This sequence information has significantly enhanced our understanding of the physiology, genetics, and evolutionary development of bacteria. Among the gastrointestinal microorganisms, bifidobacteria represent important human commensals because of their perceived contribution to maintaining a balanced gastrointestinal tract microbiota. In recent years bifidobacteria have drawn much scientific attention due to their use as live bacteria in numerous food products with various health-related claims. For this reason, these bacteria constitute a growing area of interest with respect to genomics, molecular biology, and genetics. Recent genome sequencing of a number of bifidobacterial species has allowed access to the complete genetic make-up of these bacteria. This review will focus how genomic data has allowed us to understand bifidobacterial evolution, while also revealing genetic functions that explains their presence in the particular ecological environment of the gastrointestinal tract.

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An Analytical Study on the Dissertions Concerning Science Education of of the Foreign Universities (외국 대학의 과학교육에 대한 박사 학위 논문 분석 연구)

  • Oh, Duck-Chul;Kim, Kyu-Yong
    • Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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    • v.10 no.1
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    • pp.119-125
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    • 1990
  • The results of the analyses of 431 doctoral disserations of science education (Dissertation Abstracts International. 1980-1984) are as follows : 1. It was recognized that many countries as well as USA(e.g. Canada, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, The Netherlands etc.) have deep interest in science education. 2. About 60% of dissertations had been focused on middle school (junior and senior)and college students as the subject of investigation. 3. Disciplines of science concerning the subject showed general science (35.6%), biology (18.3%), physics (11.4%), chemistry (11.4%), earth science (4.6%), and others (18.7%). 4. The number of dissertations belonging to experimental research was over 60 more than that of dissertations belonging to theoretical research. 5. In methodology of research, examination, test, questionaire were general method, and the field of research was focused mainly on the academic achievement.

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Immunomodulatory Response Induced by Ginseng

  • Kumar Ashok
    • Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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    • 2002.10a
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    • pp.366-375
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    • 2002
  • There has been continuing interest in the development of synthetic and natural compounds that modify the immune response particularly for the treatment of AIDS and cancer. During the past fifty years, numerous scientific studies have been published on ginseng (Foster and Chongxi, 1992). Modern human studies have investigated preventive effect of ginseng on several kinds of cancer (Yun et al, 1993,Yun, 1995,Yun and Choi, 1998), its long term immunological effect on HIV patients (Sankang, 1989, Cho et al, 1997), its effect on cell mediated immune functions in healthy volunteers (Scaglione et al, 1990). Similarly non clinical studies on animal model system have studied the chemopreventive action of ginseng on cancer (Kumar, 1993,98) and immunological properties of ginseng (Kim et al, 1990, Tomoda et al, 1993, Yun et al, 1993, Mizuno et al, 1994,Lee et al, 1997, Park et al, 2001,Yoshikawa et al, 2001, Wang et al, 2001). The precise mechanism of action of ginseng, however, not clearly understood. Considering its wide-ranging therapeutic effects, this study is being undertaken to elucidate the general mode of action of ginseng, especially to test our hypothesis that its biological action may be mediated by the immune system.

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A Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) from Cordyceps militaris: cDNA cloning, expression and characterization

  • Park, Nam-Sook;Lee, Sang-Mong;Sohn, Hung-Dae;Jin, Byung-Rae
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Sericultural Science Conference
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    • 2003.10a
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    • pp.66-70
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    • 2003
  • The first line of antioxidant defense against reactive oxygen species includes the enzymatic activity of the superoxide dismutase (SOD) that catalyzes the disproportionation of superoxide to hydrogen peroxide and water. The SOD mainly removes highly toxic $O_2$$^{[-10]}$ and also prevents $O_2$$^{[-10]}$ mediated reduction of iron and subsequent OH$^{[-10]}$ generation. Along with an interest in SOD as a first line of defense against damage mediated by the superoxide anion, the SOD1 enzyme has been subjected to investigation in the molecular and cellular level. (omitted)

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Antibodies against Nitric Oxide Damaged Poly L-Tyrosine and 3-Nitrotyrosine Levels in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

  • Khan, Fozia;Ali, Rashid
    • BMB Reports
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    • v.39 no.2
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    • pp.189-196
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    • 2006
  • Alterations in the amino acid structure or sequence can generate neo-epitopes from self-proteins causing autoaggressive immune attack. Reactive nitrogen species are an important factor that induces post-translational modification of proteins by cellular reduction and oxidation mechanism; cysteinyl-nitrosylation or tyrosine nitration leading to potentially pathogenic pathways. It was thought of interest to investigate the immunogenicity of nitrated poly L-tyrosine vis-$\`{a}$-vis its possible role in the induction of antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Commercially available poly L-tyrosine was exposed to nitrating species and the damage was monitored by UV spectroscopy and alkaline gel electrophoresis. The results indicated the formation of 3-nitrotyrosine. Nitrated poly L-tyrosine induced higher titre antibodies as compared to the native form. Nitrated poly L-tyrosine was recognized by the autoantibodies present in the sera of patients suffering from SLE by enzyme immunoassays and band shift assay. The possible role of nitrated self-proteins has been discussed in the production of circulating anti-DNA antibodies in SLE.

Health Promoting Properties of Natural Flavor Substances

  • Jun, Mi-Ra;Jeon, Woo-Sik;Ho, Chi-Tang
    • Food Science and Biotechnology
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    • v.15 no.3
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    • pp.329-338
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    • 2006
  • The study of health promoting and disease preventing compounds in food or by themselves, so called nutraceuticals or functional foods, has become a major field of research in food science. Natural flavor compounds are usually present in food, essential oils, spices, and herbs. These compounds can produce aroma, not only by themselves, but also in combination with other compounds. Today, however, greater interest is being paid to the health promoting properties of natural flavor substances rather than their flavoring properties. In fact, a number of naturally occurring flavor compounds that possess health promoting and disease preventing properties have been extensively studied and identified. The beneficial properties of natural volatile flavor compounds as well as non-volatile substances in spices and herbs discussed in this review include antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, and immune enhancing activities.

The Single-Cell Revelation of Thermogenic Adipose Tissue

  • Qi, Yue;Hui, Xiaoyan Hannah
    • Molecules and Cells
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    • v.45 no.10
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    • pp.673-684
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    • 2022
  • The past two decades have witnessed an upsurge in the appreciation of adipose tissue (AT) as an immunometabolic hub harbouring heterogeneous cell populations that collectively fine-tune systemic metabolic homeostasis. Technological advancements, especially single-cell transcriptomics, have offered an unprecedented opportunity for dissecting the sophisticated cellular networks and compositional dynamics underpinning AT remodelling. The "re-discovery" of functional brown adipose tissue dissipating heat energy in human adults has aroused tremendous interest in exploiting the mechanisms underpinning the engagement of AT thermogenesis for combating human obesity. In this review, we aim to summarise and evaluate the use of single-cell transcriptomics that contribute to a better appreciation of the cellular plasticity and intercellular crosstalk in thermogenic AT.

Update on the Effects of Sound Wave on Plants

  • Chowdhury, Md. Emran Khan;Lim, Hyoun-Sub;Bae, Hanhong
    • Research in Plant Disease
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    • v.20 no.1
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    • pp.1-7
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    • 2014
  • Plant growth is considered the sum of cell proliferation and subsequent elongation of the cells. The continuous proliferation and elongation of plant cells are vital to the production of new organs, which have a significant impact on overall plant growth. Accordingly, the relationship between environmental stimuli, such as temperature, light, wind, and sound waves to plant growth is of great interest in studies of plant development. Sound waves can have negative or positive effects on plant growth. In this review paper we have summarized the relationship between sound waves and plant growth response. Sound waves with specific frequencies and intensities can have positive effects on various plant biological indices including seed germination, root elongation, plant height, callus growth, cell cycling, signaling transduction systems, enzymatic and hormonal activities, and gene expression.

New Insights Into Tissue Macrophages: From Their Origin to the Development of Memory

  • Italiani, Paola;Boraschi, Diana
    • IMMUNE NETWORK
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    • v.15 no.4
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    • pp.167-176
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    • 2015
  • Macrophages are the main effector cells of innate immunity and are involved in inflammatory and anti-infective processes. They also have an essential role in maintaining tissue homeostasis, supporting tissue development, and repairing tissue damage. Until few years ago, it was believed that tissue macrophages derived from circulating blood monocytes, which terminally differentiated in the tissue and unable to proliferate. Recent evidence in the biology of tissue macrophages has uncovered a series of immune and ontogenic features that had been neglected for long, despite old observations. These include origin, heterogeneity, proliferative potential (or self-renewal), polarization, and memory. In recent years, the number of publications on tissue resident macrophages has grown rapidly, highlighting the renewed interest of the immunologists for these key players of innate immunity. This minireview aims to summarizing the new current knowledge in macrophage immunobiology, in order to offer a clear and immediate overview of the field.