Trends in Biotechnology (TRENDS BIOTECHNOL)

Publications in this journal

• Article: Policy to support marine biotechnology-based solutions to global challenges

  Rachael Ritchie, Ken Guy, Jim Philp
  Trends in Biotechnology 01/2013; 31.
• Article: Purpose-driven biomaterials research in liver-tissue engineering

  A Ananthanarayanan, B C Narmada, X Mo, M McMillian, H Yu
  Trends in Biotechnology 03/2011; 29(3):110-118.
• Article: Gardossi L., Poulsen P.B., Ballesteros A., Hult K., Vytas K. Švedas V.K., Vasić-Rački D., Carrea G., Magnusson A, Schmid A., Wohlgemuth R., J. Halling P.J., “Guidelines for reporting of biocatalytic reactions”, Trends Biotechnol., 2010, 28, 171-180.

  Gardossi L, Poulsen P.B, Ballesteros A, Hult K, Vytas K. Švedas V.K, Vasić-Rački D, Carrea G, Magnusson A, Schmid A, Wohlgemuth R, J. Halling P.J
  Trends in Biotechnology 02/2010;
• Article: Polymeric heart valves: new materials, emerging hopes.

  Hossein Ghanbari, Helene Viatge, Asmeret G Kidane, Gaetano Burriesci, Mehdi Tavakoli, Alexander M Seifalian
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  ABSTRACT: Heart valve (HV) replacements are among the most widely used cardiovascular devices and are in rising demand. Currently, clinically available devices are restricted to slightly modified mechanical and bioprosthetic valves. Polymeric HVs could represent an attractive alternative to the existing prostheses, merging the superior durability of mechanical valves and the enhanced haemodynamic function of bioprosthetic valves. After early unsatisfactory clinical results, polymeric HVs did not reach commercialization, mainly owing to their limited durability. Recent advances in polymers, nanomaterials and surface modification techniques together with the emergence of novel biomaterials have resulted in improved biocompatibility and biostability. Advances in HV design and fabrication methods could also lead to polymeric HVs that are suitable for long-lasting implantation. Considering all these progresses, it is likely that the new generation of polymeric HVs will find successful long-term clinical applications in future.
  Trends in Biotechnology 07/2009; 27(6):359-67.
• Article: Synthetic gene networks: the next wave in biotechnology?

  Kaustubh D Bhalerao
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  ABSTRACT: Engineering novel, reusable gene networks to provide greater control over cellular processes is one of the goals of the emerging discipline of synthetic biology. This article reviews the landmark literature pertaining to the development of synthetic gene networks, the engineering framework used to design and characterize them and the technological developments on the horizon that could potentially advance the field in new directions. As gene network engineering enters its second decade, an attempt is also made to outline the challenges in advancing this nascent field, especially with regard to the practical limitations of component reusability and reliability and the opportunities that present themselves in the development of novel gene expression controllers and single-cell biosensors.
  Trends in Biotechnology 07/2009; 27(6):368-74.
• Article: Marine biominerals: perspectives and challenges for polymetallic nodules and crusts.

  Xiaohong Wang, Werner E G Müller
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  ABSTRACT: Deep sea minerals in polymetallic nodules, crusts and hydrothermal vents are not only formed by mineralization but also by biologically driven processes involving microorganisms (biomineralization). Within the nodules, free-living and biofilm-forming bacteria provide the matrix for manganese deposition, and in cobalt-rich crusts, coccolithophores represent the dominant organisms that act as bio-seeds for an initial manganese deposition. These (bio)minerals are economically important: manganese is an important alloying component and cobalt forms part of special steels in addition to being used, along with other rare metals, in plasma screens, hard-disk magnets and hybrid car motors. Recent progress in our understanding of the participation of the organic matrices in the enrichment of these metals might provide the basis for feasibility studies of biotechnological applications.
  Trends in Biotechnology 07/2009; 27(6):375-83.
• Source

  Available from: syr.edu

  Article: Interrogating single proteins through nanopores: challenges and opportunities.

  Liviu Movileanu
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  ABSTRACT: A single nanopore represents an amazingly versatile single-molecule probe that can be employed to reveal several important features of polypeptides, such as their folding state, backbone flexibility, mechanical stability, binding affinity to other interacting ligands and enzymatic activity. Moreover, groundwork in this area using engineered protein nanopores has demonstrated new opportunities for discovering the biophysical rules that govern the transport of proteins through transmembrane protein pores. In this review, I summarize the current knowledge in the field and discuss how nanopore probe techniques will provide a new generation of research tools in nanomedicine for quantitatively examining the details of complex recognition and, furthermore, will represent a crucial step in designing other pore-based nanostructures and high-throughput devices for molecular biomedical diagnosis.
  Trends in Biotechnology 05/2009; 27(6):333-41.
• Article: The complexity of cellular dedifferentiation: implications for regenerative medicine.

  Gideon Grafi
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  ABSTRACT: Cellular dedifferentiation underlies topical issues in biology, such as regeneration and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), and signifies the withdrawal of cells from a given differentiated state into a 'stem cell'-like state that confers pluripotency. Recently, there has been growing interest in exploiting the dedifferentiation process to obtain autologous stem cell lineages for use in regenerative medicine. This approach holds great promise, particularly in view of the ethical concerns invoked over the use of human embryonic stem cells in research and the problem of transplant rejection. However, new insights provided by the study of this process in plants and animals have highlighted the complexity and hazards of cellular dedifferentiation.
  Trends in Biotechnology 05/2009; 27(6):329-32.
• Article: Phenoxazinone synthase: what's in a name?

  Marilize Le Roes-Hill, Candice Goodwin, Stephanie Burton
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  ABSTRACT: The name phenoxazinone synthase (PHS, 2-aminophenol:oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.10.3.4) is used for the enzyme catalysing the oxidative coupling of substituted o-aminophenols to produce phenoxazinones. This review reveals that the traditional classification of PHS conflicts with recent sequence-based information that shows its relationship with two distinct copper protein groups. Different PHS roles, namely spore pigmentation in Streptomyces antibioticus (phsA) and biosynthesis of the antibiotic grixazone in Streptomyces griseus subsp. griseus (GriF), indicate an example of convergent evolution. Here, we review the classification, distribution and roles of PHSs, comparing them with copper oxidases at genetic and structural levels and exploring their potential application in the production of new antibiotics.
  Trends in Biotechnology 05/2009; 27(4):248-58.
• Source

  Available from: ask-force.org

  Article: Facts and fiction of genetically engineered food.

  Rita Batista, Maria Margarida Oliveira
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  ABSTRACT: The generation of genetically engineered (GE) foods has been raising several concerns and controversies that divide not only the general public but also the scientific community. The fear and importance of the new technology, as well as commercial interests, have supported many of the ongoing discussions. The recent increase in the number of GE foods approved for import into the European Union and the increasingly global commercial food trades justify revisiting the facts and fiction surrounding this technology with the aim of increasing public awareness for well-informed decisions. Techniques that have recently become available for assessing food quality and its impact on human health, as well as the wealth of scientific data previously generated, clearly support the safety of commercialized GE products.
  Trends in Biotechnology 04/2009; 27(5):277-86.
• Article: Lentiviral vectors with measles virus glycoproteins - dream team for gene transfer?

  Christian J Buchholz, Michael D Mühlebach, Klaus Cichutek
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  ABSTRACT: Lentiviral vectors are potent gene transfer vehicles frequently applied in research and lately also in clinical applications. Recent improvements have come from combining lentiviral vectors with engineered envelope proteins, which now allow targeting of cell entry to any cell population of interest, as well as the transduction of quiescent cells of the haematopoietic system. We propose that measles virus envelope glycoproteins are especially well suited for this purpose because they can mediate pH-independent cell entry at the cell surface membrane and can induce cytoskeleton rearrangements that facilitate the transport of lentiviral core particles to the cell nucleus. Lentiviral vectors pseudotyped with measles virus glycoproteins are expected to improve the safety and efficacy of gene transfer to human cells.
  Trends in Biotechnology 04/2009; 27(5):259-65.
• Source

  Available from: hua.edu.vn

  Article: Cartilage engineering: a crucial combination of cells, biomaterials and biofactors.

  Claire Vinatier, Dominique Mrugala, Christian Jorgensen, Jérome Guicheux, Danièle Noël
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  ABSTRACT: Injuries to articular cartilage are one of the most challenging issues of musculoskeletal medicine due to the poor intrinsic ability of this tissue for repair. The lack of efficient modalities of treatment has prompted research into tissue engineering combining chondrogenic cells, scaffold materials and environmental factors. The aim of this review is to focus on the recent advances made in exploiting the potential of biomaterial-assisted cell therapy for cartilage engineering. We discuss the requirements for identifying additional specific growth factors and evaluating the optimal combination of cells, growth factors and scaffolds that is able to respond to the functional demand placed upon cartilage tissue replacement in clinics. Finally, some of the major obstacles encountered in cartilage engineering are discussed, as well as future trends in clinical applications.
  Trends in Biotechnology 04/2009; 27(5):307-14.
• Article: Advances in fermentative biohydrogen production: the way forward?

  Patrick C Hallenbeck, Dipankar Ghosh
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  ABSTRACT: A significant effort is underway to develop biofuels as replacements for non-renewable fossil fuels. Among the various options, hydrogen is an attractive future energy carrier due to its potentially higher efficiency of conversion to usable power, low generation of pollutants and high energy density. There are a variety of technologies for biological hydrogen production; here, we concentrate on fermentative hydrogen production and highlight some recently applied approaches, such as response surface methodology, different reactor configurations and organisms that have been used to maximize hydrogen production rates and yields. However, there are significant remaining barriers to practical application, such as low yields and production rates, and we discuss several methods, including two stage processes and metabolic engineering, that are aimed at overcoming these barriers.
  Trends in Biotechnology 04/2009; 27(5):287-97.
• Article: Structure-based design of molecular cancer therapeutics.

  Rob L M van Montfort, Paul Workman
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  ABSTRACT: Structure-based approaches now impact across the whole continuum of drug discovery, from new target selection through the identification of hits to the optimization of lead compounds. Optimal application of structure-based design involves close integration with other discovery technologies, including fragment-based and virtual screening. Here, we illustrate the use of structural information and of structure-based drug design approaches in the discovery of small-molecule inhibitors for cancer drug targets and provide an outlook on the exploitation of structural information in future cancer drug discovery. Examples include high profile protein kinase targets and structurally related PI3 kinases, histone deacetylases, poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase and the molecular chaperone HSP90. Structure-based design approaches have also been successfully applied to the protein-protein interaction targets p53-MDM2 and the Bcl-2 family.
  Trends in Biotechnology 04/2009; 27(5):315-28.
• Article: Live-imaging fluorescent proteins in mouse embryos: multi-dimensional, multi-spectral perspectives.

  Sonja Nowotschin, Guy S Eakin, Anna-Katerina Hadjantonakis
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  ABSTRACT: Microscopy has always been an obligate tool in the field of developmental biology, a goal of which is to elucidate the essential cellular and molecular interactions that coordinate the specification of different cell types and the establishment of body plans. The 2008 Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded 'for the discovery and development of the green fluorescent protein, GFP' in recognition that the discovery of genetically encoded fluorescent proteins (FPs) has spearheaded a revolution in applications for imaging of live cells. With the development of more-sophisticated imaging technology and availability of FPs with different spectral characteristics, dynamic processes can now be live-imaged at high resolution in situ in embryos. Here, we review some recent advances in this rapidly evolving field as applied to live-imaging capabilities in the mouse, the most genetically tractable mammalian model organism for embryologists.
  Trends in Biotechnology 04/2009; 27(5):266-76.