Current Issues in Molecular Biology 

About: Current Issues in Molecular Biology is an academic journal published by Caister Academic Press. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Medicine & Biology. It has an ISSN identifier of 1467-3037. It is also open access. Over the lifetime, 1306 publications have been published receiving 18020 citations.

Recent developments in bacterial cold-shock response.

Abstract: In response to temperature downshift, a number of changes occur in cellular physiology such as, (i) decrease in membrane fluidity, (ii) stabilization of secondary structures of nucleic acids leading to reduced efficiency of mRNA translation and transcription, (iii) inefficient folding of some proteins, and (iv) hampered ribosome function Cold-shock response and adaptation has been quite extensively studied in Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis A number of cold shock proteins are induced to counteract these harmful effects of temperature downshift General principles of cold-shock response along with recent findings on desaturase system, RNA chaperone and transcription antitermination function of CspA homologues, cold shock induction of chaperones and synthesis of trehalose, CspA homologues from hyperthermophilic bacteria and possible multiple roles of cold shock proteins in other stress responses of bacteria are discussed

The Role of Cathelicidins in the Innate Host Defenses of Mammals

Abstract: The cathelicidin peptides comprise one of several families of antimicrobial peptides that are found in neutrophils and epithelia as components of the early host defenses of mammals against infection. All cathelicidin family members are synthesized and stored in cells as two-domain proteins. These are split on demand to produce a cathelin protein and an antimicrobial peptide. Accumulating evidence indicates that both the cathelin portion and the C-terminal peptide exert biological activities connected with host protection. This review presents an overview of the structure and biology of cathelicidins and discusses recent progress in cathelicidin research with emphasis on the functional properties and role in host defense of the human cathelicidin hCAP18/LL-37. Although investigators initially concentrated their attention on antibiotic activity, it is becoming clear now that LL-37 is a multifunctional molecule that may mediate various host responses, and thus represents an essential component of the innate immune system in humans.

Immunomodulatory effects of probiotics in the intestinal tract.

Abstract: The intestinal microbiota is the largest source of microbial stimulation that exerts both harmful and beneficial effects on human health. The interaction between probiotic and enterocytes is the initiating event in immunomodulation and merits particular attention. The effects of probiotic is strain dependent and for each new probiotic strain, profiles of cytokines secreted by lymphocytes, enterocytes or dendritic cells that come in contact with the strain should be systematically established. To evaluate the effects of probiotics on the immune system, models that mimic the mucosa, and thus the physiological reality, should be preferred whenever it is possible. Then, the in vitro observed effects should be backed up by properly conducted randomized double bind clinical studies. More detailed studies are needed to determine the precise action mode of probiotics on both mucosal and systemic immunity.

Molecular biology of microbial hydrogenases.

Abstract: Hydrogenases (H2ases) are metalloproteins. The great majority of them contain iron-sulfur clusters and two metal atoms at their active center, either a Ni and an Fe atom, the [NiFe]-H2ases, or two Fe atoms, the [FeFe]-H2ases. Enzymes of these two classes catalyze the reversible oxidation of hydrogen gas (H2 2 H+ + 2 e-) and play a central role in microbial energy metabolism; in addition to their role in fermentation and H2 respiration, H2ases may interact with membrane-bound electron transport systems in order to maintain redox poise, particularly in some photosynthetic microorganisms such as cyanobacteria. Recent work has revealed that some H2ases, by acting as H2-sensors, participate in the regulation of gene expression and that H2-evolving H2ases, thought to be involved in purely fermentative processes, play a role in membrane-linked energy conservation through the generation of a protonmotive force. The Hmd hydrogenases of some methanogenic archaea constitute a third class of H2ases, characterized by the absence of Fe-S cluster and the presence of an iron-containing cofactor with catalytic properties different from those of [NiFe]- and [FeFe]-H2ases. In this review, we emphasise recent advances that have greatly increased our knowledge of microbial H2ases, their diversity, the structure of their active site, how the metallocenters are synthesized and assembled, how they function, how the synthesis of these enzymes is controlled by external signals, and their potential use in biological H2 production.

Filamentous bacteriophage: biology, phage display and nanotechnology applications.

Abstract: Filamentous bacteriophage, long and thin filaments that are secreted from the host cells without killing them, have been an antithesis to the standard view of head-and-tail bacterial killing machines. Episomally replicating filamentous phage Ff of Escherichia coli provide the majority of information about the principles and mechanisms of filamentous phage infection, episomal replication and assembly. Chromosomally- integrated "temperate" filamentous phage have complex replication and integration, which are currently under active investigation. The latter are directly or indirectly implicated in diseases caused by bacterial pathogens Vibrio cholerae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Neisseria meningitidis. In the first half of the review, both the Ff and temperate phage are described and compared. A large section of the review is devoted to an overview of phage display technology and its applications in nanotechnology.