BIOE 402. Medical Technology Assessment. 2 or 3 hours. Bioentrepreneur course. Assessment of medical technology in the context of commercialization. Objectives, competition, market share, funding, pricing, manufacturing, growth, and intellectual property; many issues unique to biomedical products. Course Information: 2 undergraduate hours. 3 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): Junior standing or above and consent of the instructor.

“Bioinformatics” 특집을 내면서

I read this book the same weekend that the Packers took on the Rams, and the experience of the latter event, obviously, colored my judgment. Although I abhor anything that smacks of being a handbook (like, \"How to Earn a Merit Badge in Neurosurgery\") because too many volumes in biomedical science already evince a boyscout-like approach, I must confess that parts of this volume are fast, scholarly, and significant, with certain reservations. I like parts of this well-illustrated book because Dr. Sj6strand, without so stating, develops certain subjects on technique in relation to the acquisition of judgment and sophistication. And this is important! So, given that the author (like all of us) is somewhat deficient in some areas, and biased in others, the book is still valuable if the uninitiated reader swallows it in a general fashion, realizing full well that what will be required from the reader is a modulation to fit his vision, propreception, adaptation and response, and the kind of problem he is undertaking. A major deficiency of this book is revealed by comparison of its use of physics and of chemistry to provide understanding and background for the application of high resolution electron microscopy to problems in biology. Since the volume is keyed to high resolution electron microscopy, which is a sophisticated form of structural analysis, but really morphology in a modern guise, the physical and mechanical background of The instrument and its ancillary tools are simply and well presented. The potential use of chemical or cytochemical information as it relates to biological fine structure , however, is quite deficient. I wonder when even sophisticated morphol-ogists will consider fixation a reaction and not a technique; only then will the fundamentals become self-evident and predictable and this sine qua flon will become less mystical. Staining reactions (the most inadequate chapter) ought to be something more than a technique to selectively enhance contrast of morphological elements; it ought to give the structural addresses of some of the chemical residents of cell components. Is it pertinent that auto-radiography gets singled out for more complete coverage than other significant aspects of cytochemistry by a high resolution microscopist, when it has a built-in minimal error of 1,000 A in standard practice? I don't mean to blind-side (in strict football terminology) Dr. Sj6strand's efforts for what is \"routinely used in our laboratory\"; what is done is usually well done. It's just that …

Methods in Enzymology.

基礎講座 電気泳動(Electrophoresis)

Fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs) are members of a superfamily of lipid-binding proteins, and occur intracellularly in vertebrates and invertebrates. This review presents recent findings on the diversity of these FABPs and their proposed roles in fatty acid (FA) metabolism and other cellular processes. Special attention is paid to the structural features of the different mammalian FABP types and the physiological role of these proteins in FA transport, cell growth and differentiation, cellular signalling, gene transcription and cytoprotection. Additionally, data on FABP knockout mice and the implication of FABP in medicine are discussed.

New insights into the structure and function of fatty acid-binding proteins.

Background
Clonorchis sinensis is a carcinogenic human liver fluke that is widespread in Asian countries. Increasing infection rates of this neglected tropical disease are leading to negative economic and public health consequences in affected regions. Experimental and epidemiological studies have shown a strong association between the incidence of cholangiocarcinoma and the infection rate of C. sinensis. To aid research into this organism, we have sequenced its genome.

/pdf/the-draft-genome-of-the-carcinogenic-human-liver-fluke-54y8acatdh.pdf

The draft genome of the carcinogenic human liver fluke Clonorchis sinensis

Genetic diversity of liver flukes (Fasciola hepatica) from Eastern Europe.

A fatty acid-binding protein from the nematode Ascaridia galli was characterized. The gene was isolated and recombinantly expressed in Escherichia coli. According to the deduced amino acid sequence A. galli fatty acid-binding protein (AgFABP) belongs to the family of nematode polyprotein allergens, as shown by Western blotting and PCR analysis with genomic DNA and cDNA. Both native and recombinant proteins bind fatty acids and retinoids with high affinity. The fluorescent fatty acid analogue 11-[(5-dimethylaminonaphthalene-1-sulfonyl)amino] undecanoic acid (DAUDA) shows substantial changes in its emission spectrum when bound to AgFABP; this binding is reversed by fatty acids such as oleate. Moreover, changes of the intrinsic fluorescence of retinol and retinoic acid confirm retinoid binding activity of AgFABP. Fluorescence titration experiments with DAUDA indicate stoichiometric binding to a single binding site per monomer unit with affinities (Kd) of 1.6 and 1.8 x 10(-7) m for native and the recombinant protein, respectively. The apparent binding affinities of the nonfluorescent ligands were calculated in displacement experiments with DAUDA and values in the same range were obtained for myristic, palmitic, oleic, linoleic, arachidonic and retinoic acid. Additionally, the binding affinity of AgFABP for oleate and palmitate was determined by direct and indirect radiochemical analysis and the values obtained were similar to those from the fluorescent experiments. Both proteins show a preference for the binding of long-chain saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, but not for short chain (C3-C12) and branched fatty acids, cholesterol and tryptophan.

Ascaridia galli fatty acid-binding protein, a member of the nematode polyprotein allergens family.

A native 13-kDa fatty acid binding protein from the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica.

The highly abundant protein Ag-Ibp55 from Ascaridia galli represents a novel type of lipid-binding proteins

Background 
Trichinella spiralis is an unusual parasitic intracellular nematode causing dedifferentiation of the host myofiber. Trichinella proteomic analyses have identified proteins that act at the interface between the parasite and the host and are probably important for the infection and pathogenesis. Many parasitic proteins, including a number of metalloproteins are unique for the nematodes and trichinellids and therefore present good targets for future therapeutic developments. Furthermore, detailed information on such proteins and their function in the nematode organism would provide better understanding of the parasite - host interactions.
Methodology/Principal Findings 
In this study we report the identification, biochemical characterization and localization of a novel poly-cysteine and histidine-tailed metalloprotein (Ts-PCHTP). The native Ts-PCHTP was purified from T. spiralis muscle larvae that were isolated from infected rats as a model system. The sequence analysis showed no homology with other proteins. Two unique poly-cysteine domains were found in the amino acid sequence of Ts-PCHTP. This protein is also the first reported natural histidine tailed protein. It was suggested that Ts-PCHTP has metal binding properties. Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence (TXRF) assay revealed that it binds significant concentrations of iron, nickel and zinc at protein:metal ratio of about 1:2. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the Ts-PCHTP is localized in the cuticle and in all tissues of the larvae, but that it is not excreted outside the parasite.
Conclusions/Significance 
Our data suggest that Ts-PCHTP is the first described member of a novel nematode poly-cysteine protein family and its function could be metal storage and/or transport. Since this protein family is unique for parasites from Superfamily Trichinelloidea its potential applications in diagnostics and treatment could be exploited in future.

/pdf/a-novel-secretory-poly-cysteine-and-histidine-tailed-4bkb1zgm2g.pdf

Ilia Bankov

Papers

Genetic diversity of liver flukes (Fasciola hepatica) from Eastern Europe.

Ascaridia galli fatty acid-binding protein, a member of the nematode polyprotein allergens family.

A native 13-kDa fatty acid binding protein from the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica.

The highly abundant protein Ag-Ibp55 from Ascaridia galli represents a novel type of lipid-binding proteins

A Novel Secretory Poly-Cysteine and Histidine-Tailed Metalloprotein (Ts-PCHTP) from Trichinella spiralis (Nematoda)