Biotech - Articles
Introduction to Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction A highly delicate technique for the amplification and identification of deoxyribonucleic acid is polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In molecular biology, its conceptual simplification has made it the most utilized method and can, in theory, identify as little as a single segment of DNA. Therefore, for a huge variety of bacterial, fungal, viral, and parasite pathogens, it is popularly utilized as a medical method. Even so, rather than DNA, the genome of coronaviruses…
What Is RNA Splicing? RNA splicing is a post-transcriptional modification process that occurs in eukaryotic cells. When a gene is transcribed, the initial RNA product is called pre-mRNA, which contains both coding regions (exons) and non-coding regions (introns). RNA splicing removes the introns from the pre-mRNA molecule and joins together the exons to form a mature mRNA molecule that can be transl…
Bioorthogonal reactions are a series of chemical reactions that occur in biological environments with high yields, selectivity, efficiency, and no side reactions. These reactions include copper-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition (CuAAC), strain-promoted alkyne-azide cycloaddition, inverse electron demand Diels-Alder (IEDDA) reaction, and more. These bioorthogonal reactions find extensive applications in various fields, including radionuclide conjugate, metabolic engineering, drug target identification, medicinal chemistry, and more. With continuous advancements in radiochemistry, bioorthogonal reactions have played an increasing…
Nucleic acid drugs are mainly divided into two major categories: small nucleic acid drugs and mRNA. Small nucleic acid drugs, also known as oligonucleotide drugs, include antisense nucleotides (ASO), small interfering RNA (siRNA), microRNA, nucleic acid aptamers, and others. mRNA products can be further categorized into mRNA vaccines and mRNA drugs. Characteristics of Nucleic Acid Drugs Nucleic acid drugs offer distinct advantages. Traditional small molecule and antibody drugs primarily function by binding to target proteins, but their development is often constrained by the druggability of these target proteins. In contrast, nucleic acid drugs modulate genes associated with protein exp…
In the ever-evolving landscape of global healthcare, mRNA vaccines have emerged as an excellent tool in the fight against infectious diseases. This article explores the intricate and indispensable role that raw enzymes play in the manufacturing of mRNA vaccines, delving deep into their sig…
In today's ever-evolving food industry landscape, Native Aspergillus oryzae exo-Inulinase, a food-grade enzyme preparation, has emerged as a true game-changer. Its remarkable attributes and multifaceted applications have firmly established it as a key player in food processing. This article aims to delve deeper into the pivotal role that Native Asper…
Nano-vesicles, also known as liposomes, have emerged as promising drug delivery systems due to their unique structure and properties. These tiny spherical lipid bilayers can encapsulate various therapeutic agents, including protein drugs. In this article, we will explore the process of preparing nano-vesicles for encapsulating protein drugs, as well as the advantages of utilizing this innovative technology. How to Prepare Nano-vesicles for Protein Drug Encapsulation? The first step in preparing nano-vesicles is the selection of suitable lipids. Phospholipids such as phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylglycerol are commonly used for their biocompatibility…
In the fast-evolving landscape of clinical trials, the journey from fragmentation to collaboration is driven by the pivotal concept of interoperability. It's not just a term; it's the driving force that's propelling clinical research into a new era of efficiency, collaboration, and patient-centricity. Clinical trial professionals, armed with an understanding of this transformative approach, can harness its potential to streamline processes, enhance data quality, and ultimately expedite the development of life-changing therapies. Let's delve into the specifics of interoperability and its profound impact on the realm of clinical trials. Cracking the Code of Interoperability: Bridging th…
In the realm of modern medicine, the quest for new and effective drugs to combat various diseases is a continuous journey. Drug discovery, the process of identifying compounds that can potentially treat diseases, has seen a significant transformation in recent years, thanks to advancements in…
Molecular docking, a critical component of structure-based virtual screening, plays a pivotal role in the field of drug design by predicting the binding interactions between small molecules and proteins. This article explores the various approaches, software tools, and techniques employed in molecular docking and highlights their potential in accelerating drug discovery. The Importance of Molec…
In the dynamic realm of drug discovery, the pursuit of innovative and effective treatments for diverse diseases demands groundbreaking approaches that…
Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the world of clinical trials, offering unprecedented opportunities to streamline processes, improve accuracy, and accelerate the development of life-saving treatments. Synergy of AI and Clinical Trials Clinical trials are the backbone of clinical advancements, but they are often plagued by challenges such as slow recruitment, data management inefficiencies, and high costs. AI steps in as a powerful ally, addressing these challenges with finesse. 1. Faster Recruitment AI-powered algorithms can analyze vast datasets to id…
Why need viral vector characterization? Cell and gene therapies for various rare diseases are currently undergoing clinical trials worldwide. The rapid development in this field has led to an increase in regulatory scrutiny and product characterization requirements, as well as a bottleneck in viral vector supply. The manufacturing processes and analytical tools for gene therapy viral vectors need to be continuously improved to meet these demands. Viral vector characterization covers a wide range of vir…
Structure of CD20 The CD20 protein presents a unique arrangement, featuring four membrane-spanning domains. Notably, both the amino and carboxy termini of the protein are positioned within the cytoplasm. An intriguing aspect of this structure is the existence of a short extracellular segment comprising approximately 43 residues, found between the third and fourth transmembrane regions[1]. This distinctive configuration, deeply embedded in the cell membrane, serves to prevent t…
IL-1α and IL-1β: Key Players in Inflammation and Disease Pathogenesis IL-1α and IL-1β represent the prototypical and crucial members of the IL-1 family, which are synthesized by various cells, including monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells, and others. These interleukins assume a significant regulatory function in the inflammatory response, stimulating immune cells to generate additional inflammatory mediat…
What Are DEGs in Genetics? DEGs, or Differentially Expressed Genes, are genes whose expression levels show significant differences between two or more conditions or experimental groups. In genetics and genomics research, gene expression refers to the process by which information encoded in a gene's DNA sequence is converted into functional proteins or RNA molecules. When studying gene expression, researchers often compare gene expression profiles b…
What Are the Advantages of Single-Cell RNA Sequencing? One of the significant advantages of scRNA-seq in drug discovery is its impact on target identification. By allowing researchers to dissect complex tissues and diseases at the cellular level, scRNA-seq enables the identification of distinct cell subtypes and their gene expression profiles. This information can lead to a better und…
The term microbiome comes from the Greek word micro which means small and bios meaning life. It is defined as "a characteristic microbial community occupying a reasonable well-defined habitat which has distinct physiochemical properties". Many researchers in the past defined microbiome based on different contexts such as ecological and genetic aspects. However, scientists noted some gaps in these proposed definitions, and in a recently p…
Microorganisms, specifically bacteria, have been classified into several groups depending on different characteristics such as physical appearance, culture properties, energy and nutrient requirement, biosynthetic capacity, optimal growth t…