scholarly journals Recent advances in Entamoeba biology: RNA interference, drug discovery, and gut microbiome

F1000Research ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 2578 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Morgado ◽  
Dipak Manna ◽  
Upinder Singh
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Drug Discovery ◽  
Rna Interference ◽  
Cell Biology ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Global Impact ◽  
Human Parasite ◽  
Recent Advances ◽  
Substantial Progress ◽  
Made In

In recent years, substantial progress has been made in understanding the molecular and cell biology of the human parasite Entamoeba histolytica, an important pathogen with significant global impact. This review outlines some recent advances in the Entamoeba field in the last five years, focusing on areas that have not recently been discussed in detail: (i) molecular mechanisms regulating parasite gene expression, (ii) new efforts at drug discovery using high-throughput drug screens, and (iii) the effect of gut microbiota on amoebiasis.

scholarly journals microRNAs as Novel Therapeutics in Cancer

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1526
Author(s):  
Giulia Romano ◽  
Mario Acunzo ◽  
Patrick Nana-Sinkam
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Migration And Invasion ◽  
Functional Roles ◽  
Therapeutic Delivery ◽  
Efficient Delivery ◽  
Tumor Tissues ◽  
Substantial Progress ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Made In

In the last 20 years, the functional roles for miRNAs in gene regulation have been well established. MiRNAs act as regulators in virtually all biological pathways and thus have been implicated in numerous diseases, including cancer. They are particularly relevant in regulating the basic hallmarks of cancer, including apoptosis, proliferation, migration, and invasion. Despite the substantial progress made in identifying the molecular mechanisms driving the deregulation of miRNAs in cancer, the clinical translation of these important molecules to therapy remains in its infancy. The paucity of vehicles available for the safe and efficient delivery of miRNAs and ongoing concerns for toxicity remain major obstacles to clinical application. Novel formulations and the development of new vectors have significantly improved the stability of oligonucleotides, increasing the effectiveness of therapy. Furthermore, the use of specific moieties for delivery in target tissues or cells has increased the specificity of treatment. The use of new technologies has allowed small but important steps toward more specific therapeutic delivery in tumor tissues and cells. Although a long road remains, the path ahead holds great potential. Currently, a few miRNA drugs are under investigation in human clinical trials with promising results ahead.

scholarly journals Insights into neural stem cell biology from flies

2007 ◽  
Vol 363 (1489) ◽  
pp. 39-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boris Egger ◽  
James M Chell ◽  
Andrea H Brand
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cell ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
Neural Stem Cell ◽  
Cell Biology ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Neurological Injury ◽  
Temporal Regulation ◽  
Stem Cell Maintenance ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Made In

Drosophila neuroblasts are similar to mammalian neural stem cells in their ability to self-renew and to produce many different types of neurons and glial cells. In the past two decades, great advances have been made in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying embryonic neuroblast formation, the establishment of cell polarity and the temporal regulation of cell fate. It is now a challenge to connect, at the molecular level, the different cell biological events underlying the transition from neural stem cell maintenance to differentiation. Progress has also been made in understanding the later stages of development, when neuroblasts become mitotically inactive, or quiescent, and are then reactivated postembryonically to generate the neurons that make up the adult nervous system. The ability to manipulate the steps leading from quiescence to proliferation and from proliferation to differentiation will have a major impact on the treatment of neurological injury and neurodegenerative disease.

scholarly journals RNAs on the Go: Extracellular Transfer in Insects with Promising Prospects for Pest Management

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 484
Author(s):  
Dulce Santos ◽  
Simon Remans ◽  
Stijn Van den Brande ◽  
Jozef Vanden Broeck
Keyword(s):  
Rna Interference ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Insect Pest ◽  
Cell Communication ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Agricultural Pests ◽  
Rna Molecules ◽  
Insect Pest Control ◽  
Made In

RNA-mediated pathways form an important regulatory layer of myriad biological processes. In the last decade, the potential of RNA molecules to contribute to the control of agricultural pests has not been disregarded, specifically via the RNA interference (RNAi) mechanism. In fact, several proofs-of-concept have been made in this scope. Furthermore, a novel research field regarding extracellular RNAs and RNA-based intercellular/interorganismal communication is booming. In this article, we review key discoveries concerning extracellular RNAs in insects, insect RNA-based cell-to-cell communication, and plant–insect transfer of RNA. In addition, we overview the molecular mechanisms implicated in this form of communication and discuss future biotechnological prospects, namely from the insect pest-control perspective.

The Primate Embryo Gene Expression Resource in embryology and stem cell biology

2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 807 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith E. Latham
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Cell Biology ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Cdna Libraries ◽  
Human Embryos ◽  
Preimplantation Stage ◽  
Study Gene Expression ◽  
On Line ◽  
Legal Constraints

The analysis of temporal patterns of gene expression in embryos is an essential component of any research program seeking to understand molecular mechanisms that control development. Little is known of early regulatory mechanisms that operate in primate oocytes and preimplantation-stage embryos. Such studies have been hindered by the cost of obtaining, and limited availability of, non-human primate oocytes and embryos, and by ethical and legal constraints on studies of human embryos. Over the past 4 years we have established the Primate Embryo Gene Expression Resource (PREGER) to circumvent these limitations. A set of over 200 samples of rhesus monkey oocytes and embryos has been converted to cDNA libraries, which are, in turn, used for a variety of molecular analyses. Both the libraries and cDNA dot blots can be distributed free of charge to anyone wishing to study gene expression at these stages. This includes providing an inexpensive and rapid method for confirming and extending results of gene discovery approaches such as microarray analysis. PREGER includes an on-line resource with a database and other useful tools for embryologists. The resource is being expanded to incorporate samples from other species and from embryonic stem cells.

scholarly journals Functional genomics to study stress responses in crop legumes: progress and prospects

2013 ◽  
Vol 40 (12) ◽  
pp. 1221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Himabindu Kudapa ◽  
Abirami Ramalingam ◽  
Swapna Nayakoti ◽  
Xiaoping Chen ◽  
Wei-Jian Zhuang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Functional Genomics ◽  
Stress Tolerance ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Crop Improvement ◽  
Biotic And Abiotic Stress ◽  
Biotic Stresses ◽  
Adverse Conditions ◽  
Recent Advances

Legumes are important food crops worldwide, contributing to more than 33% of human dietary protein. The production of crop legumes is frequently impacted by abiotic and biotic stresses. It is therefore important to identify genes conferring resistance to biotic stresses and tolerance to abiotic stresses that can be used to both understand molecular mechanisms of plant response to the environment and to accelerate crop improvement. Recent advances in genomics offer a range of approaches such as the sequencing of genomes and transcriptomes, gene expression microarray as well as RNA-seq based gene expression profiling, and map-based cloning for the identification and isolation of biotic and abiotic stress-responsive genes in several crop legumes. These candidate stress associated genes should provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of stress tolerance and ultimately help to develop legume varieties with improved stress tolerance and productivity under adverse conditions. This review provides an overview on recent advances in the functional genomics of crop legumes that includes the discovery as well as validation of candidate genes.

scholarly journals A Novel Taxon of RNA Viruses Endemic to Planarian Flatworms

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Burrows ◽  
Delphine Depierreux ◽  
Max L. Nibert ◽  
Bret J. Pearson
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cell ◽  
Rna Interference ◽  
Persistent Infection ◽  
Cell Biology ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Adult Stem Cell ◽  
Dsrna Virus ◽  
Rnai Pathway ◽  
Cell Type

AbstractThe phylum Platyhelminthes is composed of both parasitic and non-parasitic flatworms. While the parasitic species have drawn attention for their wide effects on human and livestock heath, free-living flatworms, such as freshwater planarians, have become molecular models of regeneration and stem cell biology in the laboratory. However, one aspect of planarian biology that remains understudied is the relationship between host and any endemic viruses. Here we used searches of multiple transcriptomes from Schmidtea mediterranea asexual strain CIW4 and detected a novel, double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) virus, named S. mediterranea tricladivirus (SmedTV), which represents a distinct taxon (proposed new genus) within a larger taxon of monosegmented dsRNA viruses of diverse hosts. Experimental evidence for SmedTV in S. mediterranea CIW4 was obtained through whole-mount in situ hybridization (WISH). SmedTV “expression” (detected by both sense and anti-sense probes) was discrete yet variable from worm to worm and cell type to cell type, suggesting a persistent infection. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) further supported that SmedTV expression was low in stem cells, but substantially higher in multiple, though not all, differentiated tissues, with notable neural enrichment.Interestingly, knockdown of SmedTV by RNA-interference resulted in a “cure” of SmedTV after 10 RNAi doses, and expression remained undetectable by WISH even after 90 days. Due to being able to evade host defenses and the endogenous RNAi pathway, we believe SmedTV represents a novel animal model to study host-virus evolution.Statement of significancePlanarians are freshwater flatworms and emerging models to study the molecular mechanisms of adult stem cell and regenerative biology. However, they also live in aquatic environments with high amounts of viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protist pathogens. How the planarian immune system copes with all of these is largely unknown and only 2 types of virus have been described. Here we find a novel dsRNA virus, endemic to multiple types of flatworms. We show that it is a persistent infection, and likely transmits from stem cell to differentiated cell in the planarian, while avoiding endogenous RNA-interference machinery and mechanisms used to suppress viruses. We present this as a new model to study host-virus defense and evolution.

scholarly journals Recent Advances in the Synthesis of Piperazines: Focus on C–H Functionalization

Organics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 337-347
Author(s):  
Carolina Durand ◽  
Michal Szostak
Keyword(s):  
Drug Discovery ◽  
Medicinal Chemistry ◽  
Structural Diversity ◽  
Synthetic Methods ◽  
Nitrogen Heterocycle ◽  
Piperazine Ring ◽  
The Third ◽  
Recent Advances ◽  
Made In

Piperazine ranks as the third most common nitrogen heterocycle in drug discovery, and it is the key component of several blockbuster drugs, such as Imatinib (also marketed as Gleevec) or Sildenafil, sold as Viagra. Despite its wide use in medicinal chemistry, the structural diversity of piperazines is limited, with about 80% of piperazine-containing drugs containing substituents only at the nitrogen positions. Recently, major advances have been made in the C–H functionalization of the carbon atoms of the piperazine ring. Herein, we present an overview of the recent synthetic methods to afford functionalized piperazines with a focus on C–H functionalization.

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