Review
Oncology
Beste Turanli, Ozlem Altay, Jan Boren, Hasan Turkez, Jens Nielsen, Mathias Uhlen, Kazim Yalcin Arga, Adil Mardinoglu
Summary: Drug repositioning is a powerful method that repurposes existing drugs for treatment of diseases. Advances in high-throughput screenings and computational biology have paved the way for rational drug repositioning methods. This approach offers new treatment options for cancer patients.
SEMINARS IN CANCER BIOLOGY
(2021)
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Felicia Kuperwaser, Itai Yanai
Summary: A comprehensive cell atlas of gene expression and regulation in human embryos has provided a unique opportunity for innovative investigation of development through multi-organ and multi-modal analysis.
Editorial Material
Environmental Sciences
Evgenios Agathokleous, Costas J. Saitanis, Chao Fang, Zhen Yu
Summary: Artificial intelligence (AI) large language models (LLMs) have become important technologies. The release of ChatGPT and similar AI technologies has generated significant interest due to their ability to simplify daily tasks for people from diverse backgrounds. This article explores how ChatGPT can impact biology and environmental science, providing examples from interactive sessions. While ChatGPT offers numerous benefits in education, research, publishing, outreach, and translation, there are risks and potential harms that need to be addressed. Overcoming limitations associated with these technologies could push biology and environmental science to new heights.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Philip Ball
Summary: Some researchers argue that lab-grown structures capable of developing into fetuses should be classified and regulated as embryos.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Aaron Pantoja Angles, Alexander U. Valle-Perez, Charlotte Hauser, Magdy M. Mahfouz
Summary: Many applications of synthetic biology rely on engineered microbes, but to prevent harm to the target system, microbial biocontainment systems (MBSs) are needed to inhibit the proliferation of these engineered microbes. In the past decade, various strategies have been developed to tightly control the growth of engineered microbes, enabling medical, industrial, and agricultural applications.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Brigitte Wear, Nessa E. O'Connor, Matthias J. Schmid, Michelle C. Jackson
Summary: As primary producers and ecosystem engineers, kelp play a crucial ecological role and their decline could have significant consequences. They provide habitats for fish and invertebrates, contribute to climate change adaptation through coastal defenses, carbon sequestration, and food provision. However, kelp are threatened by multiple stressors such as climate change, over-harvesting, and pollution. More research is needed to understand how these stressors interact and to address key questions, including the impact of previous exposure on kelp responses and the effects of kelp on food webs and ecosystem functioning. This research is essential for effective kelp conservation and potential restoration in a rapidly changing world.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Manrui Xue, Tim Li
Summary: The role of ENSO in modulating the mean SST in the tropical eastern Pacific was investigated. Analytical framework was constructed to quantify the contributions of ODH and surface heat fluxes to rectify mean SST. The results showed that both linear and nonlinear ODH, as well as surface heat fluxes, contribute to the slight mean SST difference between ENSO and non-ENSO periods.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Haosheng Shen, Nikhil Aggarwal, Kwok Soon Wun, Yung Seng Lee, In Young Hwang, Matthew Wook Chang
Summary: This review highlights the use of engineered bacteria or bacteria-derived particles for targeted delivery of therapeutic agents. Complex genetic modifications in live bacteria and bacteria-derived particles simulate lipid-based vectors and enable the delivery of therapeutic molecules. The potential translation of these drug delivery systems into clinical therapies is discussed.
ADVANCED DRUG DELIVERY REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Biology
Joaquim Aguirre-Plans, Janet Pinero, Terezinha Souza, Giulia Callegaro, Steven J. Kunnen, Ferran Sanz, Narcis Fernandez-Fuentes, Laura I. Furlong, Emre Guney, Baldo Oliva
Summary: This study developed an ensemble learning approach using various features to predict drugs that may cause DILI. Results showed that using different features individually had limitations, but combining them improved the robustness of the model. Overall, drug-target associations as a feature yielded the best accuracy in predicting DILI.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Iguaracy Pinheiro-de-Sousa, Miriam Helena Fonseca-Alaniz, Girolamo Giudice, Iuri Cordeiro Valadao, Silvestre Massimo Modestia, Sarah Viana Mattioli, Ricardo Rosa Junior, Lykourgos-Panagiotis Zalmas, Yun Fang, Evangelia Petsalaki, Jose Eduardo Krieger
Summary: This study used a systems biology approach to identify potential therapeutic targets for endothelial dysfunction (ED). Through integrating multi omics data, siRNA screening, high content imaging, and network analysis, 26 genes exacerbating ED phenotypes and 31 genes ameliorating ED phenotypes were identified, suggesting potential targets for treating ED. Furthermore, drug screening provided additional support for specific candidate targets.
MOLECULAR SYSTEMS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Amelia Palermo
Summary: Metabolomics enables the analysis of metabolites and lipids in biological systems, and can guide the discovery of lead compounds from natural sources. In combination with other omics, metabolomics can elucidate compound toxicity and mode of action. This article discusses the workflows, limitations, and future opportunities of metabolomics and big data in streamlining pharmaceutical discovery and development.
DRUG DISCOVERY TODAY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Nouf N. Mahmoud, Haneen Qabooq, Shrouq Alsotari, Ola A. Tarawneh, Nour H. Aboalhaija, Sawsan Shraim, Alaaldin M. Alkilany, Enam A. Khalil, Rana Abu-Dahab
Summary: In this study, a polymeric nanofiber scaffold loaded with Quercetin-gold nanorods (GNR) was successfully developed, demonstrating enhanced physical and mechanical properties, as well as a slow release pattern of Quercetin. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis confirmed the uniformity and homogeneity of the nanofibers, while a cellular toxicity study showed a 76% cellular viability of human dermal fibroblasts when exposed to the nanofibers.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shan-Ju Yeh, Ming-Hsun Chung, Bor-Sen Chen
Summary: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by progressive cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disorder, with unclear molecular mechanisms. Research on candidate genetic and epigenetic networks (GEN) aims to identify potential biomarkers for drug targets in AD treatment.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Cristina Correia, Taylor M. Weiskittel, Choong Yong Ung, Jose C. Villasboas Bisneto, Daniel D. Billadeau, Scott H. Kaufmann, Hu Li
Summary: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play crucial roles in disease propagation and therapy resistance, relying on multiple molecular cues and cellular niche interactions. Understanding CSC biology is essential for developing more effective anticancer treatments.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Toxicology
Amy L. Schofield, Joseph P. Brown, Jack Brown, Ania Wilczynska, Catherine Bell, Warren E. Glaab, Matthias Hackl, Lawrence Howell, Stephen Lee, James W. Dear, Mika Remes, Paul Reeves, Eunice Zhang, Jens Allmer, Alan Norris, Francesco Falciani, Louise Y. Takeshita, Shiva Seyed Forootan, Robert Sutton, B. Kevin Park, Chris Goldring
Summary: miRNAs are short non-coding RNA molecules that have been shown to be dysregulated and released in different organ systems. Circulating miRs are proposed as useful biomarkers for various disease states, potentially replacing existing traditional biomarkers. However, pre-analytical and analytical challenges need to be addressed before their clinical use can be realized.
ARCHIVES OF TOXICOLOGY
(2021)