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.

Recent advances in nanotechnology have offered new hope for cancer detection, prevention, and treatment. While the enhanced permeability and retention effect has served as a key rationale for using nanoparticles to treat solid tumors, it does not enable uniform delivery of these particles to all regions of tumors in sufficient quantities. This heterogeneous distribution of therapeutics is a result of physiological barriers presented by the abnormal tumor vasculature and interstitial matrix. These barriers are likely to be responsible for the modest survival benefit offered by many FDA-approved nanotherapeutics and must be overcome for the promise of nanomedicine in patients to be realized. Here, we review these barriers to the delivery of cancer therapeutics and summarize strategies that have been developed to overcome these barriers. Finally, we discuss design considerations for optimizing the delivery of nanoparticles to tumors.

https://faculty.washington.edu/mzhang/mse599/NP-drug-Delivering%20nanomedicine%20to%20solid%20tumors-.2010..pdf

Delivering nanomedicine to solid tumors

The results of the meetings of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses, held in Madrid, September 1975, are briefly reported: rules of viral nomenclature, composition of the new Executive Committee, and a list of the names so far officially agreed. Introduction The International Committee on the Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV), which is a committee of the Section on Virology of the International Association of Microbiological Societies (IAMS), completed a round of meetings during the Third International Congress for Virology that was held in Madrid from September 10--17, 1975. Since ICTV only meets during these conferences, which are held every four years, the meetings are important occasions for reviewing the classification and nomenclature of viruses. Decisions on new names, which encapsulate the recognition of natural "groups" of viruses, evolve slowly. Official approval for new names depends upon a series of sequential steps ; recommendations by one or more of the subcommittees of the Executive Committee of ICTV (subcommittees on Bacterial, Invertebrate, Plant and Vertebrate Viruses respectively, and for some of the larger viral groups which span several kinds of hos t s the Coordination Subcommittee), which are considered by the Executive Committee of ICTV and may finally be submitted for approval by ICTV itself. Only after this final approval does a name become "official". The results of the last five years of work by ICTV and its committees will be published early this year as a separate volume of "Intervirology", the official journal of the Section on Virology of IAMS, and additional copies will be produced for sale as separates. This "Second P~eport" will include, besides "approved" and common names of virus groups, a brief description of the properties of each

Classification and Nomenclature of Viruses

Five structural features in mRNAs have been found to contribute to the fidelity and efficiency of initiation by eukaryotic ribosomes. Scrutiny of vertebrate cDNA sequences in light of these criteria reveals a set of transcripts--encoding oncoproteins, growth factors, transcription factors, and other regulatory proteins--that seem designed to be translated poorly. Thus, throttling at the level of translation may be a critical component of gene regulation in vertebrates. An alternative interpretation is that some (perhaps many) cDNAs with encumbered 5' noncoding sequences represent mRNA precursors, which would imply extensive regulation at a posttranscriptional step that precedes translation.

https://rupress.org/jcb/article-pdf/115/4/887/1062268/887.pdf

An analysis of vertebrate mRNA sequences: intimations of translational control.

Chemistries that Facilitate Nanotechnology Kim E. Sapsford,† W. Russ Algar, Lorenzo Berti, Kelly Boeneman Gemmill,‡ Brendan J. Casey,† Eunkeu Oh, Michael H. Stewart, and Igor L. Medintz*,‡ †Division of Biology, Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland 20993, United States ‡Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering Code 6900 and Division of Optical Sciences Code 5611, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. 20375, United States College of Science, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, Virginia 22030, United States Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, California 95817, United States Sotera Defense Solutions, Crofton, Maryland 21114, United States

Functionalizing nanoparticles with biological molecules: developing chemistries that facilitate nanotechnology.

Nicotiana benthamiana is the most widely used experimental host in plant virology, due mainly to the large number of diverse plant viruses that can successfully infect it. Additionally, N. benthamiana is susceptible to a wide variety of other plant-pathogenic agents (such as bacteria, oomycetes, fungi, and so on), making this species a cornerstone of host-pathogen research, particularly in the context of innate immunity and defense signaling. Moreover, because it can be genetically transformed and regenerated with good efficiency and is amenable to facile methods for virus-induced gene silencing or transient protein expression, N. benthamiana is rapidly gaining popularity in plant biology, particularly in studies requiring protein localization, interaction, or plant-based systems for protein expression and purification. Paradoxically, despite being an indispensable research model, little is known about the origins, genetic variation, or ecology of the N. benthamiana accessions currently used by the research community. In addition to addressing these latter topics, the purpose of this review is to provide information regarding sources for tools and reagents that can be used to support research in N. benthamiana. Finally, we propose that N. benthamiana is well situated to become a premier plant cell biology model, particularly for the virology community, who as a group were the first to recognize the potential of this unique Australian native.

https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/pdf/10.1094/MPMI-21-8-1015

Nicotiana benthamiana: its history and future as a model for plant-pathogen interactions.

▪ Abstract This article summarizes studies of viral coat (capsid) proteins (CPs) of RNA plant viruses. In addition, we discuss and seek to interpret the knowledge accumulated to date. CPs are named for their primary function; to encapsidate viral genomic nucleic acids. However, encapsidation is only one feature of an extremely diverse array of structural, functional, and ecological roles played during viral infection and spread. Herein, we consider the evolution of viral CPs and their multitude of interactions with factors encoded by the virus, host plant, or viral vector (biological transmission agent) that influence the infection and epidemiological facets of plant disease. In addition, applications of today's understanding of CPs in the protection of crops from viral infection and use in the manufacture of valuable compounds are considered.

The multifunctional capsid proteins of plant rna viruses

The red clover necrotic mosaic virus genome is composed of two single-stranded RNA components, RNA-1 and RNA-2. The viral capsid protein is translated from a subgenomic RNA (sgRNA) that is transcribed from genomic RNA-1. Here, a 34-nucleotide sequence in RNA-2 is shown to be required for transcription of sgRNA. Mutations that prevent base-pairing between the RNA-1 subgenomic promoter and the 34-nucleotide trans-activator prevent expression of a reporter gene. A model is proposed in which direct binding of RNA-2 to RNA-1 trans-activates sgRNA synthesis. This RNA-mediated regulation of transcription is unusual among RNA viruses, which typically rely on protein regulators.

http://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/281/5378/829.full.pdf

RNA-Mediated Trans-Activation of Transcription from a Viral RNA

Direct evidence is presented for cell-to-cell trafficking of macromolecules via plasmodesmata in higher plants. The fluorescently labeled 35-kD movement protein of red clover necrotic mosaic virus (RCNMV) trafficked rapidly from cell to cell when microinjected into cowpea leaf mesophyll cells. Furthermore, this protein potentiated rapid cell-to-cell trafficking of RCNMV RNA, but not DNA. Electron microscopic studies demonstrated that the 35-kD movement protein does not unfold the RCNMV RNA molecules. Thus, if unfolding of RNA is necessary for cell-to-cell trafficking, it may well involve participation of endogenous cellular factors. These findings support the hypothesis that trafficking of macromolecules is a normal plasmodesmal function, which has been usurped by plant viruses for their cell-to-cell spread.

/pdf/cell-to-cell-trafficking-of-macromolecules-through-4asu59hvn5.pdf

Steven A. Lommel

Papers

Nicotiana benthamiana: its history and future as a model for plant-pathogen interactions.

The multifunctional capsid proteins of plant rna viruses

RNA-Mediated Trans-Activation of Transcription from a Viral RNA

Cell-to-Cell Trafficking of Macromolecules through Plasmodesmata Potentiated by the Red Clover Necrotic Mosaic Virus Movement Protein.

Evaluation of indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of plant viruses.