University of Basel

About: University of Basel is a education organization based out in Basel, Basel-Stadt, Switzerland. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Gene. The organization has 25084 authors who have published 52975 publications receiving 2388002 citations. The organization is also known as: Universität Basel & Basel University.

Stimuli-responsive polymersomes as nanocarriers for drug and gene delivery.

Abstract: Polymeric formulations (micelles, vesicles etc.) have emerged as versatile drug carriers due to their increased stability, site specificity, blood circulation resistance and thus overall potential therapeutic effects compared to liposomes. Furthermore, stimuli-responsive systems have been developed whose properties change after applying certain external triggers. Polymersomes are mainly composed of amphiphilic block copolymers that are held together in water due to strong physical interactions between the insoluble hydrophobic blocks, thus forming a bilayer morphology or, in the case of triblock copolymers, a bilayer-like morphology. Formation and destabilization of these assemblies is a consequence of external stimuli (temperature, pH, oxidation/reduction conditions etc.). This review focuses on recent developments concerning stimuli- responsive polymersomes made of amphiphilic block copolymers and their potential applications within the biomedical field.

Randomisation to protect against selection bias in healthcare trials.

Abstract: Randomised trials use the play of chance to assign participants to comparison groups. The unpredictability of the process, if not subverted, should prevent systematic differences between comparison groups (selection bias). Differences due to chance will still occur and these are minimised by randomising a sufficiently large number of people.

Fluorescent fusion protein knockout mediated by anti-GFP nanobody

Abstract: The use of genetic mutations to study protein functions in vivo is a central paradigm of modern biology. Recent advances in reverse genetics such as RNA interference and morpholinos are widely used to further apply this paradigm. Nevertheless, such systems act upstream of the proteic level, and protein depletion depends on the turnover rate of the existing target proteins. Here we present deGradFP, a genetically encoded method for direct and fast depletion of target green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusions in any eukaryotic genetic system. This method is universal because it relies on an evolutionarily highly conserved eukaryotic function, the ubiquitin pathway. It is traceable, because the GFP tag can be used to monitor the protein knockout. In many cases, it is a ready-to-use solution, as GFP protein-trap stock collections are being generated in Drosophila melanogaster and in Danio rerio.

The role of ectomycorrhizal communities in forest ecosystem processes: new perspectives and emerging concepts.

Abstract: The fungal symbionts forming ectomycorrhizas, as well as their associated bacteria, benefit forest trees in a number of ways although the most important is enhancing soil nutrient mobilization and uptake This is reciprocated by the allocation of carbohydrates by the tree to the fungus through the root interface, making the relationship a mutualistic association Many field observations suggest that ectomycorrhizal fungi contribute to a number of key ecosystem functions such as carbon cycling, nutrient mobilization from soil organic matter, nutrient mobilization from soil minerals, and linking trees through common mycorrhizal networks Until now, it has been very difficult to study trees and their fungal associates in forest ecosystems and most of the work on ECM functioning has been done in laboratory or nursery conditions In this review with discuss the possibility of working at another scale, in forest settings Numerous new techniques are emerging that makes possible the in situ study of the functional diversity of ectomycorrhizal communities This approach should help to integrate developing research on the functional ecology of ectomycorrhizas and their associated bacteria with the potential implications of such research for managing the effects of climate change on forests (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved