Biotech - Articles

Lactobacillus acidophilus is an important member of the Lactobacillus family, a Gram-positive non-spore-forming bacterium with a streptomorphic or globular form and an optimal growth temperature of 37-42°C and an optimal pH of 6.8. Lactobacillus acidophilus was first isolated from human feces by North Carolina State University in the 1970s.
Lactobacillus acidophilus is an important member of the Lactobacillus family, a Gram-positive non-spore-forming bacterium with a streptomorphic or globular form and an optimal growth temperature of 37-42°C and an optimal pH of 6.8. Lactobacillus acidophilus was first isolated from human feces by North Carolina State University in the 1970s. It is the only strain of Lactobacillus acidophilus that has been genetically sequenced and annotated. Lactobacillus…

The use of restriction enzymes to characterize DNA has been popular since the 1970s. Today, this technique remains one of the easiest and fastest ways to evaluate DNA sequences. As with most laboratory reagents, restriction endonuclease can be fickle. Whether you are simply digesting a plasmid, or performing a complex cloning or screening procedure, there are several key factors to consider.
The use of restriction enzymes to characterize DNA has been popular since the 1970s. Today, this technique remains one of the easiest and fastest ways to evaluate DNA sequences. As with most laboratory reagents, restriction endonuclease can be fickle. Whether you are simply digesting a plasmid, or performing a complex cloning or screening procedure, there are several key factors to consider.   Corr…

Thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) is similar in activity to glutathione reductase (GR), catalyzing the reduction of GSSG to GSH, and is one of the key enzymes of the glutathione redox cycle.
Thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) is similar in activity to glutathione reductase (GR), catalyzing the reduction of GSSG to GSH, and is one of the key enzymes of the glutathione redox cycle.   TrxR is a dimeric flavoproteinase, a member of the pyridine nucleotide disulfide reductase family, widely expressed in cells of all levels of organisms from prokaryotes to humans. The three isozymes are named thioredoxin R1 (TrxR1) (cytoplasmic type), TrxR2 (mitochondrial type) and an isozyme TrxR3 (TGR) expressed mainly in the testis due to their different distribution regions. Cytoplasmic TrxR1 was the first to be di…

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs containing 18-25 nucleotides encoded by endogenous genes and have the ability to regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level by repressing mRNA or promoting mRNA degradation. Typically, genes encoding miRNAs are more conserved in species that are very closely related, but they are sometimes homologous in species that are very distantly related.
What is microRNA? MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs containing 18-25 nucleotides encoded by endogenous genes and have the ability to regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level by repressing mRNA or promoting mRNA degradation. Typically, genes encoding miRNAs are more conserved in species that are very closely related, but they are sometimes homologous in species that are very…

Gene sequencing is a type of genomic testing technology. PCR, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and microarray technologies are mainly used to investigate the presence or absence of specific fragment sequences through known genes, which focuses on the detection of known mutations. Gene sequencing technology, on the other hand, involves measuring the nucleotides in the gene sequence one by one, focusing on obtaining the whole or target genome sequence. Gene sequencing currently has mainly one Sanger sequencing, next generation sequencing (NGS), long read sequencing (single-molecule real-time sequencing) and so on. The most widely used one is NGS.
What is gene sequencing? Gene sequencing is a type of genomic testing technology. PCR, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and microa…

For large- or small-scale fermentation, process optimization in some critical steps plays an important role in improving efficiency because it can directly affect the formation, concentration, and yield of a particular fermentation end product, thus affecting the overall economics.
However, the improvement of fermentation process is frequently associated with a lot of challenges: it's expensive, laborious, open-ended, and time-consuming. There are many aspects requiring attention from CDMOs to obtain better outcomes. The article below explores different well-known elements that are vital in the whole fermentation process.   Upstream Process Optimization Upstream process optimization is used for microbial fermentation to enhance the strains' manufacturing efficiency and capac…

It is an efficient way to regulate molecular function by applying specific chemical modifications on biological molecules. This article highlights the current heated pseudoUridine modification in RNA, which suggests new possibilities for novel drug or vaccine discovery.
An Introduction to PseudoUridines PseudoUridine (Ψ) is a post-transcriptional RNA modification that alters RNA-RNA and RNA-protein interactions and affects gene expression. PseudoUridine modification is also named "fifth base" since it is the earliest and most abundant RNA modification among the 170+ types of known RNA modifications.   Messenger RNA pseudouridylation was recently discovered as a widespread and conserved phenomenon, but the mechanisms responsible for selective and regulated…

Many research institutes and pharmaceutical companies are now actively engaged in COVID-19 research and treatment development, which makes some supportive reagents, services, and consultations in high demand around the world.
This article briefly summarizes several relatively important solutions that can greatly facilitate COVID-19 research.   COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Development Support The global outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020 caused a large amount of investment and research attention to developing preventive vaccines. Among the massive achievements made by using published genomes, mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 stand out because of their better performance in efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Currently, mRNA vaccine is publicly deemed as a very useful strategy in anti-…

Phytochemicals are natural compounds that have only been discovered so far and are natural food pigments. The human body is unable to produce them and must obtain them from food. Soy isoflavones in soybeans, lycopene in tomatoes, catechins in green tea, carotenoids in carrots, zeaxanthin, polyphenols, etc., are all phytochemicals.
What Are Phytochemicals? Phytochemicals are natural compounds that have only been discovered so far and are natural food pigments. The human body is unable to produce them and must obtain them from food. Soy isoflavones in soybeans, lycopene in tomatoes, catechins in green tea, carotenoids in carrots, zeaxanthin, polyphenols, etc., are all phytochemicals.   Classification and Functions of Common Phytochemicals Flavonoids Species: Quercetin, brassin, catechin…

The functioning of biological systems is inextricably linked to protein-protein interactions, and important biological processes such as DNA synthesis, gene transcriptional activation, protein translation, modification and localization, and information transfer all involve the role of protein complexes.
Introduction to protein interactions The functioning of biological systems is inextricably linked to protein-protein interactions, and important biological processes such as DNA synthesis, gene transcriptional activation, protein translation, modification and localization, and information transfer all involve the role of protein complexes. Therefore, it is particularly important to discover and verify protein-nucleic acid and protein-protein interactions in living organisms. Various techniqu…

Ceramides are composed of sphingosine analogs and long-chain fatty acids bound by amide bonds, and are the most important of the sphingolipid compounds. Ceramide is synthesized and secreted by lamellar vesicles, which together with cholesterol (25%) and free fatty acids (15%) constitute the intercellular lipids (ceramide 50%) involved in maintaining the skin barrier function. It also has various physiological and pharmacological functions, such as regulation of cellular immunity, delaying aging, and antitumor.
Ceramides are composed of sphingosine analogs and long-chain fatty acids bound by amide bonds, and are the most important of the sphingolipid compounds. Ceramide is synthesized and secreted by lamellar vesicles, which together with cholesterol (25%) and free fatty acids (15%) constitu…

Medicines are becoming ever more complex in response to growth in personalised treatments and the development of a wide range of therapeutics to address less common conditions or rare diseases
by Kelly Doering, Sr Director, Industry Marketing, Pharma, AspenTech Medicines are becoming ever more complex in response to growth in personalised treatments and the development of a wide range of therapeutics to address less common conditions or rare diseases. Examples of the latter include small molecules linked to large, perhaps conjugated to a chemotoxic agent for targeted cancer treatment; peptides linked to peptides; oligos linked to molecules that allow for better cell permeability; and lipid-encapsulated molecules that prevent degradation. But it is the market for more personalised medication…

The pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries have been seeing a trend towards single-use technologies. However, this new approach and the introduction and advance of personalized therapies are currently leading to massive supply-chain delays in terms of single-use consumables. Therefore, new solutions have to be found and companies have to think strategically and change up processes as soon as possible.
As there is an upward trend to single-use technologies, strategic thinking and the courage to change up processes are called for in the pharma industry. The pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries are seeing a major shift to disposable technologies. However, this shift and the introduction and advance of personalized and allogeneic therapies are currently leading to massive su…

Gut microbes are considered "virtual organs" that influence host health and are involved in disease research. The human gut microbiota has a large gene pool, encoding approximately 100-150 times more genes than the human genome, and contains a rich resource of enzymes with the ability to metabolize drugs. The diversity of gut bacteria also affects the mental health of the host. Microbiomes from depressed patients were transplanted into rats, which developed similar mental health problems.
Gut microbes are considered "virtual organs" that influence host health and are involved in disease research. The human gut microbiota has a large gene pool, encoding approximately 100-150 times more genes than the human genome, and contains a rich resource of enzymes with the ability to metabolize drugs.…

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are a kind of DNA polymorphisms caused by single-nucleotide variants in both coding and non-coding regions, which are the most common and smallest variants. There are more than 3 million SNPs in the human genome with an average of 1 in 500-1000 base pairs. SNP microarrays are capable of detecting a large number of subtle DNA alterations and/or abnormal alterations related to chromosome copy number (aneuploidy) or chromosome structural rearrangements. In human species, SNP microarrays can simultaneously analyze all 23 chromosome pairs and can also be used to identify mutations in individual genes. In addition, SNPs can be used for genotyping, i.e., determining the proportion of each allelic variant combination at each nucleotide position.
Single-nucleot…

The development of DNA sequencing technology has made it possible for human beings to explore the mysteries of themselves and other beings, while the advent of the genomics era has put higher demands on sequencing technologies. Scientific research has now entered the era of high throughput, moving from single, localized genes or fragments to the study of the entire genome, covering basic science, disease diagnosis and treatment, agriculture and the environment.
The development of DNA sequencing technology has made it possible for human beings to explore the mysteries of themselves and other beings, while the advent of the genomics era has put higher demands on sequencing technologies. Scientific research has now entered the era of high throughput, moving from single, localized genes or frag…

The epigenome is composed of chemical markers and proteins that can attach to DNA and direct the function of gene regulatory elements, controlling the production of proteins in specific cells, among other roles. Common epigenomic modifications include methylation of the nucleotide cytosine and histones or acetylation and phosphorylation of histones. All of these modifications do not change the genome sequence, but they do change the way the cell uses the same set of genetic codes, thus altering phenotypes and metabolic activities. The epigenome is also inheritable.
The epigenome is composed of chemical markers and proteins that can attach to DNA and direct the function of gene regulatory elements, controlling the production of proteins in specific cells, among other roles. Common epigenomic…

Amylase is a general term for enzymes that hydrolyze starch and glycogen with the specificity of enzyme preparation. Its main mechanism of action is to hydrolyze starch into maltose, glucose, dextrin, etc. To understand amylase, we must first understand starch, which is a storage polysaccharide stored in cells as starch granules during plant growth, and exists in seeds and tubers. Starch is not a simple molecule, but a mixture of two different types of starch, divided into two categories: amylose and amylopectin.
Amylase is a general term for enzymes that hydrolyze starch and glycogen with the specificity of enzyme preparation. Its main mechanism of action is to hydrolyze starch into maltose, glucose, dextrin, etc. To understand amylase, we must first understand starch, which is a storage p…

CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology has been widely used in many fields since its inception. Gene therapy developed using this technology has huge prospects in the medical and health fields. CRISPR/Cas9 technology enables gene-editing of the genome at specified sites, but a common worry about the technology is that gene-editing occurs where it shouldn't.
CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology has been widely used in many fields since its inception. Gene therapy developed using this technology has huge prospects in the medical and health fields. CRISPR/Cas9 technology enables gene-editing of the genome at specified sites, but a common worry about the technology is that gene-editing occurs where it shouldn't. In recent years, researchers at the University of Bath and Cardiff University in the UK…

Peroxidase, usually derived from horseradish, is a common enzyme used in clinical testing reagents. It is widely used not only in several biochemical assays but also in immunoassay (ELISA) kits. As a key component of the color development system of several kits, peroxidase has an important impact on the quality of the kits.
Peroxidase, usually derived from horseradish, is a common enzyme used in clinical testing reagents. It is widely used not only in several biochemical assays but also in immunoassay (ELISA) kits. As a key component of the color development system of several kits, peroxidase has an important impact on the quality of the kits.   Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) is the most commonly used enzyme because of its high activity, stability, small molecular weight and easy prepara…