Author Archives: karen
DNA unwinding mechanism of helicases
Helicases are a class of proteins that are responsible for separating DNA duplex into single strands, which is a precursor to many types of DNA transactions in the cell. According to the structures, helicases fall broadly into
A benevolent anionic ZnII-MOF to purify water and make medicines
Metal-organic frameworks (MOF) are well-known crystalline porous materials comprising metal ions or metal clusters bridged by different types of organic linkers. MOFs have been in the spotlight globally owing to their tunable surface area, functionalizable pore surface,
Obligatory intracellular bacterium exploits evolutionarily conserved host signaling pathway to survive
In order to survive, obligately intracellular pathogens exploit host cellular signaling pathways and other cellular processes via molecular interactions between pathogen – secreted “effectors” and host target proteins to reprogram host cell functions. However, the molecular mechanisms
Resveratrol: A natural product that kills the parasite responsible for Chagas disease
Chagas disease is a neglected illness affecting approximately 10 million people in the Americas, caused by a parasitic microorganism called Trypanosoma cruzi. There are only two drugs used against Chagas disease, which are effective only in the
Lupus Nephritis: Are you taking your medicine?
Lupus Nephritis is a serious disease affecting primarily young women that can lead to kidney disease and dialysis. Despite knowing this fact, many patients don’t take medicines regularly. This may be due to several reasons, some known
Automatic identification of genes driving microevolution in evolution experiments
Scientists in the lab often perform so-called “evolution experiments”, in which they put a microbe in a condition it is not used to and wait until it adapts to the condition on a genetic level (evolution). Because
Can solar driven processes effectively control antibiotic resistance and cytotoxicity during drinking water treatment?
Antibiotics, antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistant genes have been detected in various aquatic environments because of the disposal of both treated and untreated wastewater. Their occurrence in water is a threat for human and animal health
Embryonic stem cells go against aging
The dream of regenerative medicine is now becoming true by the usage of versatile stem cells that are capable of differentiating into all types of cells in the body. This capability is called ‘pluripotency’ and there are
Indiscriminately ordering blood tests for rare heparin reaction can lead to patient harm and increased costs
Testing for rare heparin reaction is unnecessary for most cases and can be potentially harmful and lead to increased costs, according to an article published in JAMA Internal Medicine. Heparin is a common blood thinner used in
Movements networks in field biology
We live in a world that is more and more connected. Fundamentally, this reflects a world of increasing information, of big data, where we use technology to log our health, our journeys, even our calorie intake and
Microbes paralyze immune system
About every fourth child is suffering from atopic dermatitis (AD) (often called atopic eczema) and adults are also often affected by this disease. The skin of AD patients is strongly damaged (Fig. 1). It is dry, itchy,
Heart defects before birth: Why are most cases still being missed (and what can we do about it)
Heart defects occur in roughly 1 in 100 live births—far more than any other kind of birth defect. Over the past decade, it has become increasingly clear that babies with major forms of heart disease have must
Defining optimal therapy for patients with aggressive B-cell lymphoma and central nervous system involvement
Aggressive lymphomas constitute a heterogeneous group of malignancies characterized by a fast growth and dissemination that exhibit a high sensitivity to chemotherapy , radiotherapy and immunotherapy , and show high cure rates with modern therapies . A
Repetitive growth and fission of artificial cells with gene replication
Reconstruction of an artificial cell is one of the biggest challenges in elucidating the border between living and non-living things. Liposomes are compartments that have lipid bilayer membranes, like cells, and therefore are used as an artificial
White light emissive molecular siblings
Human eye is capable of detecting only a relatively tiny part of the electromagnetic spectrum. However limited our vision might be, it is filled with the experiences of numerous colors, colors that control our emotional responses. White-light
How cardiac troponins should be Interpreted by clinicians?
Troponins are indispensable proteins for muscle contraction. Cardiac troponins are found in heart cells, and they are released into plasma in case of heart injury; so, they are related to various heart disorders with their functional characteristics
Biodegradable Starch based films with application as alternative packaging
Currently, the largest part of materials used in packaging industries are produced from fossil fuels and are practically non-degradable. These persistent polymers are a significant source of environmental pollution and accumulation of waste, harming wildlife when they are
Are we being shortsighted about shortsightedness?
The number of people becoming myopic (short-sighted), has doubled over the last three decades across the world, reaching levels of 20-50% in Europe and America, and around 80% in East and South East Asia in certain age
Embryogenesis explained, organelle of differentiation
The greatest mystery of life is how a single fertilized egg, which is one cell, develops into a fully functioning, sometimes conscious being with many cells of many kinds. We offer a new theory of how embryos
Lithium ion intercalation for boosting photoelectrochemical water splitting performance of TiO2 photoelectrode
Energy shortage and environmental pollution inspire the exploration of clean, renewable, and non-fossil energy carriers. Hydrogen, as “the world’s cleanest energy” because of its raw materials and products are water, and high energy content per unit mass
