MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small non-coding regulatory RNAs that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level, are master regulators of a wide array of cellular processes. Altered miRNA expression could be a determinant of disease development and/or progression and manipulation of miRNA expression represents a potential avenue of therapy. Exosomes are cell-derived extracellular vesicles ...

Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a heterodimeric protein, first recovered from EBV-transformed B cell lines. It is a multifunctional cytokine, the properties of which bridge innate and adaptive immunity, acting as a key regulator of cell-mediated immune responses through the induction of T helper 1 differentiation. By promoting IFN-gamma production, proliferation, and cytolytic activity of natural kil...

The ubiquitous herpesvirus Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is linked to the development of several malignancies, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) is considered the EBV oncogene as it is necessary for EBV-induced transformation of B lymphocytes and is able to transform Rat-1 fibroblasts. LMP1 can activate a wide array of signaling pathways, including phosphatidylinos...

Polyphenols are a wide family of compounds found in fruits and vegetables, wine, tea, cocoa, and extra-virgin olive oil, which exhibit strong antioxidant activity by scavenging different families of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). One of the most effective members of the polyphenol family in terms of free radical scavenging is hydroxytyrosol, 2-(3,4dihydroxyphenyl)ethanol (Fernández-Bolaños et a...

Mycophenolic acid (MA) inhibits the growth of some pathogenic fungi such as Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans and several species of Trichophyton at low concentrations in vitro. The antibiotic is more effectvie against fungi at slightly acidic pH than neutral pH. When administered to mice through the intraperitoneal, intramuscular and oral routes MA excreted toafewper cent in the urine....

The term 'elastic protein' applies to many structural proteins with diverse functions and mechanical properties so there is room for confusion about its meaning. Elastic implies the property of elasticity, or the ability to deform reversibly without loss of energy; so elastic proteins should have high resilience. Another meaning for elastic is 'stretchy', or the ability to be deformed to large ...

Plants gums are complex mixtures of different polysaccharides with a variety of biological activities and pharmaceutical applications. Few studies have focused on physicochemical and biological properties of gums obtained from different plants. This study was designed to determine potential pharmaceutical and pharmacological values of the gum exudates and its isolated biopolymers obtained from ...

The burden of life on the earth is the source of biological contamination in water. Nanotechnology has promising contributions in control of microbial contaminations and medicinal plants further increase these properties. Presently, copper acetate and nickel oxide nanoparticles were synthesized using 1mM solution of each with Ziziphus mauritiana leaves extract as reducing agent. Nanoparticles w...

Most natural (or biological) materials are complex composites whose mechanical properties are often outstanding, considering the weak constituents from which they are assembled. These complex structures, which have risen from hundreds of million years of evolution, are inspiring Materials Scientists in the design of novel materials. Their defining characteristics, hierarchy, multifunctionality,...

Competence for natural genetic transformation is widespread in the genus Streptococcus. The current view is that all streptococcal species possess this property. In addition to the proteins required for DNA uptake and recombination, competent streptococci secrete muralytic enzymes termed fratricins. Since the synthesis and secretion of these cell wall-degrading enzymes are always coupled to com...