from Wittwer CT and Farrar JS (2011) in PCR Troubleshooting and Optimization Terms such as "rapid" or "fast" are relative and vague. A 1 hour PCR is fast compared to 4 hours, but slow compared to 10 min. Furthermore, faster PCR is possible if you start with a higher template concentration or use fewer cycles. It is better to define the time required for each cycle and rapid-cycle PCR has been defined as 30 cycles in 10-30 min (See: Wittwer and Farrar, 2011 in PCR Troubleshooting and Optimization ) so that each cycle is 20-60 s each. The read more ...

from Wittwer CT and Farrar JS (2011) in PCR Troubleshooting and Optimization The first two commercial real-time PCR platforms were the ABI 7700 and the LightCycler. The LightCycler was initially developed through a small business NIH grant. The prototype, constructed at the University of Utah, integrated rapid temperature cycling with fluorescent monitoring adapted from a flow cytometer. Idaho Technology converted the prototype to a 24-sample instrument with a small footprint and simplified optics for commercial sale. In 1997, the system was read more ...

from Wittwer CT and Farrar JS (2011) in PCR Troubleshooting and Optimization Real-time PCR not only automates both amplification and detection, but integrates them so that they occur concurrently. Time, temperature and fluorescence are monitored during PCR in real-time instruments. The earliest report of continuous monitoring of PCR and acquiring fluorescence at each cycle utilizing ethidium bromide, a double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) specific dye. This allowed for a truly homogenous or "closed-tube" assay in which product amplification was read more ...

Recent Advances in Vaccine Adjuvants from Risini D. Weeratna and Michael J. McCluskie writing in Emerging Trends in Antibacterial Discovery: Answering the Call to Arms : Infectious disease remains one of the main causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Vaccination has had the greatest impact of any medical intervention technique in controlling infectious diseases. Most notably, eradication of smallpox was achieved through concerted and rigorous mass vaccination programs, and the incidence of diphtheria, pertussis, polio and other read more ...

Recent contributions of metagenomics to studies on quorum-sensing and plant-pathogen interactions from Denis Faure, Mélanie Tannières, Samuel Mondy and Yves Dessaux writing in Metagenomics: Current Innovations and Future Trends : Though metagenomics is a novel tool in the field of plant-microbe interaction, the technique has already led to remarkable advances. Among these, the identification of yet-uncultivable phytopathogens or the description of the plant and rhizosphere microflora, are two features that may lead to a better read more ...

Recent Developments in Natural Products: Potential Impact on Antibacterial Drug Discovery from Ronald J. Quinn and Jeffrey E. Janso writing in Emerging Trends in Antibacterial Discovery: Answering the Call to Arms : Natural products and derivatized natural products, produced mainly by actinomycetes, have been one of the most successful sources of drugs used to treat and cure infectious diseases. However, many bacteria have quickly become resistant to the majority of antibiotics in use today prompting an urgent need to discover new classes of read more ...

from Federico Aulenta, Mauro Majone, Marco Petrangeli Papini, Simona Rossetti and Valter Tandoi writing in Microbial Bioremediation of Non-metals: Current Research : In situ technologies are cost-effective, expanding technologies for the clean-up of soil and groundwater in contaminated sites. On the other hand, these technologies are knowledge-intensive and their application requires thoroughly understanding of the microbiology, ecology, hydrogeology, and geochemistry of contaminated soils and aquifers, under both natural and enhanced read more ...

The new book on Essentials of Veterinary Parasitology edited by Hany M. Elsheikha and Naveed Ahmed Khan has been delivered to our distributors and will very soon be available for read more ...

Renewing Investment in Antibacterial Research from L. Silvia Munoz-Price, and John P. Quinn writing in Emerging Trends in Antibacterial Discovery: Answering the Call to Arms : We summarize the epidemiology, clinical presentation, and current treatment options for the most clinically relevant multidrug resistant Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms. Additionally, we describe the challenges faced by pharmaceutical companies within the antimicrobial research and development field, especially the disproportion between the degree of read more ...

from Shinji Kawasaki writing in Lactic Acid Bacteria and Bifidobacteria: Current Progress in Advanced Research : Members of the genus Bifidobacterium are classified as anaerobes that are known to be beneficial to human health. This group is expected to prove highly valuable for use in milk products, health promotion, and treatment of intestinal disorders. However, their sensitivity to O 2 limits probiotic activity to solely anaerobic habitats. Recent research has reported that the Bifidobacterium strains exhibit various types of oxic growth. read more ...

Camille Locht and Michel Simonet (Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, University of Lille Nord de France, Institut Pasteur de Lille, France, respectively) present a new book on Bacterial Pathogenesis: Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms In this book, a group of distinguished scientists from eight different countries and three continents, under the expert guidance of the editors Camille Locht and Michel Simonet, overview the molecular and cellular mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis. The fifteen chapters are organized into five read more ...

Rinderpest and Peste des Petits Ruminants Viruses from Michael D. Baron writing in The Biology of Paramyxoviruses : In terms of their impact on livestock, and therefore on human well-being and development, rinderpest virus (RPV) and peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) are two of the most important members of the paramyxovirus family. RPV, the cause of the most feared of all cattle diseases, now appears to have been eradicated; however, over the past 20 years, PPRV has increased its global distribution through most of sub-Saharan and read more ...

from Yves Jouanneau, Florence Martin, Serge Krivobok and John C. Willison writing in Microbial Bioremediation of Non-metals: Current Research : The first step in the biodegradation of PAHs by aerobic bacteria is catalyzed by metalloenzymes known as ring-hydroxylating dioxygenases (RHDs). Because of the hydrophobic nature and chemical resistance of PAHs, their initial attack by RHDs is a difficult reaction, which is critical to the whole degradation process. This chapter gives an overview of the current knowledge on the genetics, structure, read more ...

Role of Within-Host Models in Target Identification, Compound Optimization and Dose Selection from Juilee Thakar and Eric T. Harvill writing in Emerging Trends in Antibacterial Discovery: Answering the Call to Arms : Integrated pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic models are commonly used to study the in vivo dynamics of antimicrobial agents and bacterial pathogens. These models are extremely useful for understanding the properties of antimicrobial agents such as absorption, transport, rate of binding, etc. However, they fail to consider read more ...

from Wittwer CT and Farrar JS (2011) in PCR Troubleshooting and Optimization PCR specificity under ideal conditions is extraordinary. However, the genomes are large and primers may bind not only to their intended target but also to other areas of the genome. Furthermore, the primers in PCR are at high concentrations, so even minor self or cross complementation may initiate primer dimers. These side reactions can create so-called "non-specific" products other than the desired product. A number of methods have been developed to prevent primer read more ...

Stable isotope probing: uses in metagenomics from Ondrej Uhlik, Lucie Musilova, Katerina Demnerova, Tomas Macek and Martina Mackova writing in Metagenomics: Current Innovations and Future Trends : Until recently, investigating functions of microbial populations was restricted to thorough studying of pure cultures. Molecular biology tools enabled scientists to take a much deeper insight into the phylogenetic as well as metabolic diversity but hardly allowed for linking the phylogenetic identity with the metabolic activity which the microbes read more ...

I am pleased to provide the following excerpt from a book review of Streptomyces : Molecular Biology and Biotechnology : "This book would be appropriate for scientists working with higher level bacteria and it will serve as a major reference for scientists in this field for years to come." from Rebecca T. Horvat (University of Kansas Medical Center, USA) writing in read more ...

Structure, Function, Regulation and Evolution of the Nitrite and Nitrous Oxide Reductases: Denitrification Enzymes With a Beta-Propeller Fold from Rob J.M. van Spanning writing in Nitrogen Cycling in Bacteria: Molecular Analysis : Specialized denitrifiers recruit 2 β-propeller enzymes in their anaerobic nitrate respiratory electron transfer network, one of which is an iron containing cd 1 -type nitrite reductase, termed NirS, and the other is a copper containing nitrous oxide reductase, NosZ. Together they complement a full read more ...

Targeting Bacterial Secretion Systems for the Development of Novel Therapeutic Agents from Heather B. Felise, Toni Kline & Samuel I. Miller writing in Emerging Trends in Antibacterial Discovery: Answering the Call to Arms : Antibiotic resistance is threatening our ability to treat bacterial diseases. Scientific development to define new antibacterial targets, including those that inhibit microbial virulence rather than target essential cellular functions, is required to develop the therapeutics of the future. In this chapter we will discuss read more ...

from Michael Gale, Jr. writing in Hepatitis C: Antiviral Drug Discovery and Development : The ability of HCV to mediate persistent, life-long infection in its human host is linked to a poor response rate to the current interferon-based therapy for treatment of infection. Future antiviral therapy against HCV protein products will most certainly be met with challenges due to virus resistance. Molecular studies of HCV-host interactions have revealed how innate immune programs of the host can suppress HCV infection and support immune read more ...

from Stephanie J. DeWitte-Orr and Karen L. Mossman writing in Viruses and Interferon: Current Research : Viral double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), a replication by-product of almost all viruses, has been studied for over 55 years, first as a toxin, then as a type I IFN inducer, a viral mimetic and an immunomodulator for therapeutic purposes. Not only does dsRNA function as a pathogen associated molecular pattern (PAMP), sensed by host germline encoded pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) to stimulate innate immune responses, it also acts as a read more ...

Alexander Plyusnin and Richard M. Elliott (University of Helsinki, Finland and University of St Andrews, UK; respectively) present a new book on Bunyaviridae: Molecular and Cellular Biology Fuelled by the application of -omics and reverse genetics technologies, impressive progress has been achieved in the field of molecular and cellular biology of Bunyaviridae in recent years. In this book, a panel of international experts review the most important findings, providing a timely and coherent overview of the field. All five genera i.e. read more ...

The new book on Hepatitis C: Antiviral Drug Discovery and Development edited by Seng-Lai Tan and Yupeng He has been delivered to our distributors and is available for immediate read more ...

from Robert E. Lanford, Stanley M. Lemon and Christopher Walker writing in Hepatitis C: Antiviral Drug Discovery and Development : The chimpanzee model of HCV infection has been instrumental in many of the key advances in HCV research and therapy. The demonstration of an infectious agent for NonA,NonB hepatitis, the propensity for persistent infections, and the physical properties of the virus were all determined in the chimpanzee prior to the isolation of HCV. The cloning of HCV was dependent on high titer chimpanzee plasma, and the read more ...

from Quantum Microbiology by J. T. Trevors and L. Masson (2011) Quantum events are simply a level of organization below the molecular level. This includes the atomic and subatomic makeup of matter in microbial metabolism and structures, as well as the organic, genetic information codes of DNA and RNA. Quantum events at this time do not elucidate, for example, how specific genetic instructions were first encoded in an organic genetic code in microbial cells capable of growth and division, and its subsequent evolution over 3.6 to 4 billion read more ...

from Wittwer CT and Farrar JS (2011) in PCR Troubleshooting and Optimization The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has become a fundamental tool in molecular research and clinical testing. Early evolution of the PCR process included adaptation to RNA, thermostable polymerases, automation, improvements in specificity and rapid temperature cycling. Perhaps the most significant advance is real-time PCR, combining both amplification and detection into one instrument as a superior solution for nucleic acid quantification. Real-time PCR is enabled read more ...

The Epigenetic Basis of Cell-Fate Specification and Reprogramming from Hongchang Cui writing in Epigenetics: A Reference Manual : Cell-fate specification and stem-cell renewal are fundamental processes in the development of multicellular organisms. In both animals and plants, a key role for transcription factors in these processes has been established, but an accumulating body of evidence indicates that epigenetic regulation also plays a critical role. Once regarded as stable marks, all epigenetic modifications, including DNA and histone read more ...

The human microbiome: exploring and manipulating our microbial selves from Corinne F. Maurice and Peter J. Turnbaugh writing in Metagenomics: Current Innovations and Future Trends : The human body is home to roughly ten times more microbial cells than human cells, containing a vast array of genes and metabolic activities referred to in aggregate as the human microbiome. Metagenomics has recently enabled an initial map of the microbial diversity found in different body habitats, individuals, and populations. These developments include an read more ...

from Neil Foster and Hany M. Elsheikha writing in Essentials of Veterinary Parasitology : In addition to the host's behaviour and physiology, immunity is another important host factor that influences the host-parasite interactions. The immune system is one of the most complex and diverse body components. This system recognizes parasite antigens as 'non-self' (foreign) and an immune response to these parasites is then initiated. It is difficult to generalize about the mechanisms of anti-parasite immunity because there are many different read more ...