Biotechnology Intelligence Unit – serie

Crystalline Bacterial Cell Surface Proteins assembles information on the understanding of the occurrence, structure, chemistry, genetics, assembly, function, and application potential of S-layers. The chapters are designed to stand independent of each other and provide a complete survey of the different topics in S-layer research. This book is intended to stimulate further development in basic and applied S-layer research. Assembles present-day understanding of S-layers Provides a detailed survey of the entire field of basic and applied S-layer research Potential for broad application in biotechnology, vaccine development, diagnostics, molecular nanotechnology, and biomimetics

This book provides the most up-to-date review of the simian virus 40 (SV40) minichromosome as a model for the mammalian chromosome in studies of DNA replication. It focuses on disruption of DNA replication by anticancer drugs and DNA-damaging agents. There is a strong emphasis on the unique advantages of SV40 as an experimental system for the analysis of these classes of anticancer drug mechanisms. The new high-resolution gel electrophoresis methods for the analysis of SV40 DNA replication are covered in detail to aid readers in designing and interpreting similar experiments. Presents unique advantages of SV40 as an experimental system for the study of classes of anticancer drugs Details new high-resolution gel electrophoresis methods for the analysis of SV40 DNA replication Provides details to help the reader design and interpret similar experiments

The International Symposia on Plant Lipids, the 15th of which was held in Okazaki, Japan, in May 12-17, 2002, is held every two years and is the only international meeting in this field. The contributions from the symposium collected in this book represent the most up-to-date research results on plant lipids,including their structure, analysis, biosynthesis, regulation, physiological function, environmental aspects, and biotechnology, obtained world-wide during 2000-2002.

DNA delivery into cells is a rapidly developing area in gene therapy and biotechnology. Moreover, it is a powerful research tool to determine gene structure, regulation, and function. Viral methods of DNA delivery are well-characterized and efficient, but little is known about the toxicity and immunogenecity of viral vectors. As a result, non-viral, transfection methods of DNA delivery are of increasing interest. This comprehensive and current resource on DNA transfection discusses the use of histidine-rich peptides and polypeptides as DNA delivery systems and self-assembled delivery systems based on cationic lipids and polymers. Targeted delivery to organelles, tumour cells and dendritic cells comprise an important topic.

Biotechnological Applications of Photosynthetic Proteins: Biochips, Biosensors and Biodevices provides an overview of the recent photosystem II research and the systems available for the bioassay of pollutants using biosensors that are based on the photochemical activity. The data presented in this book serves as a basis for the development of a commercial biosensor for use in rapid pre-screening analyses of photosystem II pollutants, minimising costly and time-consuming laboratory analyses.

hirty-four years after the first description of the myofibroblast, the number of publications concerning this cell is very impressive and Tcontinuously expanding, and the work on the myofibroblast involves many laboratories throughout the world. The myofibroblast has been implicated in developmental and physiological phenomena, as well as in a variety of pathological situations, going from wound healing and fibrotic changes to asthma and cancer invasion. Many aspects of myofibroblast biology have been clarified, such as the role of TGF-P and ED-A cellular fibronectin in its differentiation and the role of a-smooth muscle actin in tension production by this cell; however several important problems concerning myofibroblast origin, ftmction and participation in pathological processes remain to be solved. The purpose of this book, as well of the Meeting "Tissue Repair, Contraction and the Myofibroblast" that took place in Nyon, near Geneva, Switzerland on November 18-20, 2004, is to put together the most recent advances in the understanding of myofibroblast biology and to present the main directions of research taking place worldwide to explore new aspects of myofibroblast physiological and pathological activities, such as: mechanisms of force generation by the myofibroblast; myofibroblast origin and diversity; interaction of the myofibroblast with other cells, normal and malignant epithelial cells in particular; and participation of the myofibroblast in the development of fibrosis in various organs. If we consider the animated and constructive discussions that took place during the Nyon Meeting, we are sure that this book will inspire new research in these fields.

The objective of this book is to provide up-to-date coverage of some of the emerging developments in the field of integrated DNA biochips. It will prove a useful source of information for researchers in the field and for those who are just entering the field of biochip research.

The objective of this book is to provide up-to-date coverage of some of the emerging developments in the field of integrated DNA biochips. It will prove a useful source of information for researchers in the field and for those who are just entering the field of biochip research.

Biotechnological Applications of Photosynthetic Proteins: Biochips, Biosensors and Biodevices provides an overview of the recent photosystem II research and the systems available for the bioassay of pollutants using biosensors that are based on the photochemical activity.

hirty-four years after the first description of the myofibroblast, the number of publications concerning this cell is very impressive and Tcontinuously expanding, and the work on the myofibroblast involves many laboratories throughout the world. The myofibroblast has been implicated in developmental and physiological phenomena, as well as in a variety of pathological situations, going from wound healing and fibrotic changes to asthma and cancer invasion. Many aspects of myofibroblast biology have been clarified, such as the role of TGF-P and ED-A cellular fibronectin in its differentiation and the role of a-smooth muscle actin in tension production by this cell; however several important problems concerning myofibroblast origin, ftmction and participation in pathological processes remain to be solved. The purpose of this book, as well of the Meeting "Tissue Repair, Contraction and the Myofibroblast" that took place in Nyon, near Geneva, Switzerland on November 18-20, 2004, is to put together the most recent advances in the understanding of myofibroblast biology and to present the main directions of research taking place worldwide to explore new aspects of myofibroblast physiological and pathological activities, such as: mechanisms of force generation by the myofibroblast; myofibroblast origin and diversity; interaction of the myofibroblast with other cells, normal and malignant epithelial cells in particular; and participation of the myofibroblast in the development of fibrosis in various organs. If we consider the animated and constructive discussions that took place during the Nyon Meeting, we are sure that this book will inspire new research in these fields.

Recombinant proteins, produced in cells or micro-organisms, play an important role in basic research, medical science and the biotechnology industry. Many foreign gene expression systems using mammalian cells, E. coli, insect cells, yeast and other organisms as hosts have been developed. Current focus in the field is on schizocsaccharomyces pombe as a host, as it is expected to be profitable for expressing foreign genes. This work describes the use of schizocsaccharomyces pombe in basic research and industrial applications.

In the last 10 years a proliferation of information concerning the lantibiotics and related peptide antibiotics has come to the fore. This is the first book to summarize this information comprehensively and concisely. Unlike other reviews, which consider the lantibiotics in isolation, this book brings together for the first time the concepts and interrelationships between lantibiotics and other antibiotics, bacteriocins and antimicrobial peptides. This conceptualization should stimulate new ideas, discussion and research in many areas of antibiotic research.

This book provides a comprehensive, up-to-date review of the distribution, pharmacology and physiology of central 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)4 receptors. The 5-HT receptor subtypes exhibit a unique pharmacology, distribution and function, of which the 5-HT4 receptor has been one of the most intensively studied in recent years, both from a basic research standpoint and as a target for novel therapeutics.

This book presents the latest in mammary gland transgenesis, the exploitation of transgenic technology for the production of therapeutic proteins by routine or conventional methods. Following a section with an overview of all relevant methodologies, readers will find relevant information on the regulation of milk gene expression and bioreactor species such as cattle, rabbits and pigs.

Animal Cell Culture nimal cell culture began in 1912 when Alexis Carrel grew bits of chick heart A in vitro by placing them into a drop of horse plasma. When the plasma clotted, it formed a solid surface into which the heart cells explanted. Left unattended, these cells died within several days. By regularly feeding the grow­ ing cells with aqueous extracts of whole chick embryos and periodically sub­ dividing them, Carrel was able to maintain the cells for extended periods. From these initial experiments, cell culture has expanded into an important component of biological research and commercial production. Animal cell culture is an important tool for the study of complex biologi­ cal systems. In vivo it is often impossible to target a treatment to one specific cell type or to adequately control the environment. For example, it is impos­ sible to selectively depolarize endothelial cells in vivo to determine the role of transmembrane potential in the transduction of fluid mechanical forces generated by blood flow to a biochemical response. Depolarizing all of the cells within the vascular system by injecting potassium chloride into the animal's bloodstream clearly is not an option, as it will lead to cardiac arrest.

Recombinant proteins, produced in cells or microorganisms, play an important role in basic research, medical science and the biotechnology industry. Many foreign gene expression systems using mammalian cells, E. coli, insect cells, yeast and other organisms as hosts have been developed. However, only recently has the expression system of Schizosaccharomyces pombe as a host become a subject of focus, as it is expected to be profitable for expressing foreign genes. The reason for this is that S. pombe is evolutionarily more advanced than other types of yeast. This book describes the use of S. pombe in basic research and industrial applications.

This monograph reviews and summarizes the substantial body of work that has been published on the transcription by polymerase III over the past 5 years. Progress in this field has been very rapid since 1993, and this new edition incorporates all the recent developments and offers the reader a highly detailed analysis of the current state of research on this largest and most complex of the eukaryotic RNA polymerases.

This book provides a comprehensive, up-to-date review of the distribution, pharmacology and physiology of central 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)4 receptors. The 5-HT receptor subtypes exhibit a unique pharmacology, distribution and function, of which the 5-HT4 receptor has been one of the most intensively studied in recent years, both from a basic research standpoint and as a target for novel therapeutics.

Biomining is the use of microorganisms in the recovery of metals from ores. During bioleaching, metals such as copper, nickel or zinc are oxidized through microbial action from the water-insoluble sulfide to the soluble sulfate forms. Although gold is inert to microbial action, microbes can also be used in gold recovery from certain types of ores because as they oxidize the ore, they open up its structure, thereby allowing a gold-solubilizing agent such as cyanide to penetrate the ore. The book describes several industrial bioleaching and biooxidation processes as well as the underlying theory and biology of the microbes involved.

This book gives a very timely account of recent - partly unpublished - research on the development of gram-positive bacteria as vaccine delivery vehicles for mucosal immunization. The practical and theoretical considerations are discussed and the basic concepts behind the different approaches are compared by giving specific examples of the use of different non-pathogenic bacteria as vaccine vehicles. Thus, a common framework of concepts for a new generation of mucosal vaccines is provided.

Recent advances in the field of recombinant antibodies have permitted the manipulation of genes encoding specific antibodies, thus allowing their ectopic expression in a wide variety of non-lymphoid cells. This volume describes how the ectopic expression of antibodies, as secreted or as intracellularly retargeted molecules, can be exploited to block biological functions or to confer new phenotypic traits (e.g. resistance to a virus). This is the first book describing this emerging technology, which is receiving increasing attention for application in many different fields and biological systems - from human gene therapy to plant biotechnology.

In the last 10 years a proliferation of information concerning the lantibiotics and related peptide antibiotics has come to the fore. This is the first book to summarize this information comprehensively and concisely. Unlike other reviews, which consider the lantibiotics in isolation, this book brings together for the first time the concepts and interrelationships between lantibiotics and other antibiotics, bacteriocins and antimicrobial peptides. This conceptualization should stimulate new ideas, discussion and research in many areas of antibiotic research.

Sunscreens are universally recommended by dermatologists not only to prevent the immediate effects of overexposure to sunlight but also to prevent skin cancer. While the former goal is immediately evident, the latter remains an unproven hypothesis and is a topic of some controversy. Recent epidemiological studies suggesting a correlation between increased use of sunscreens over the past two decades and the rise in skin cancer have led to the question whether sunscreens applied to skin may be undergoing photoreactions, the effects of which are elaborated many years later. By addressing the key questions, this book advances the field of sunscreen photobiology and provides the reader with an unbiased perspective on this important field.

This book brings together environmental scientists and engineers to discuss the development of new approaches and methodologies which utilize microalgae for biological wastewater treatment. The researchers report their recent findings on microalgal removal of nutrients, heavy metals and other organic pollutants from sewage and industrial effluents. The technologies discussed here include biosorption and bioaccumulation of heavy metals, cell immobilization of algae, and mathematical modelling of metal uptake by cells. This book is unique in that it takes a practical approach to the subject matter and is a useful reference both in and outside of the laboratory.

This book provides an up-to-date evaluation of clinical aspects of newly available "long-circulating liposome" formulations. Based on results from numerous clinical studies, the book describes the fundamentals of this new technology, discusses how it may influence the pharmacology of existing well-known agents reformulated in this manner, and elaborates on future expectations. It provides the practicing clinician - in particular, oncologists and critical care infectious disease physicians - with the tools needed to use these new formulations towards the best outcome for the patient.