Download or read book Extracellular Composite Matrices in Arthropods written by Ephraim Cohen and published by Springer. This book was released on 2016-09-12 with total page 715 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Emphasis is placed on the elaborate cuticular matrices in insects and crustaceans, spider and insect silks, sialomes of phytophagous and blood-feeding arthropods as well as on secretions of male and female accessory glands. Focus is placed largely on insects, due to the extensive body of published research that in part is the result of available whole genome sequences of several model species (in particular Drosophila melanogaster) and accessible ESTs for other species. Such advances have facilitated fundamental insights into genomic, proteomic and molecular biology-based physiology. This new volume contains comprehensive contributions on extracellular composite matrices in arthropods. The building blocks of such matrices are formed in and secreted by single layered epithelial cells into exterior domains where their final assembly takes place.Additionally, the unique mechanical properties of natural biocomposites like chitin/chitosan, the crustacean mineralized exoskeleton, the pliant protein resilin or insect and spider silks, have inspired basic and applied research that yield sophistical biomimetics and structural biocomposite hybrids important for future industrial and biomedical use. In summary, this book provides an invaluable vast source of basic and applied information for a plethora of scientists as well as textbook for graduate and advanced undergraduate students.

Download or read book Extracellular Sugar Based Biopolymers Matrices written by Ephraim Cohen and published by Springer. This book was released on 2019-07-02 with total page 820 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The extracellular matrix (ECM) is an acellular three-dimensional network composed of proteins, glycoproteins, proteoglycans and exopolysaccharides. It primarily serves as a structural component in the tissues and organs of plants and animals, or forms biofilms in which bacterial cells are embedded. ECMs are highly dynamic structures that undergo continuous remodeling, and disruptions are frequently the result of pathological processes associated with severe diseases such as arteriosclerosis, neurodegenerative illness or cancer. In turn, bacterial biofilms are a source of concern for human health, as they are associated with resistance to antibiotics. Although exopolysaccharides are crucial for ECM formation and function, they have received considerably little attention to date. The respective chapters of this book comprehensively address such issues, and provide reviews on the structural, biochemical, molecular and biophysical properties of exopolysaccharides. These components are abundantly produced by virtually all taxa including bacteria, algae, plants, fungi, invertebrates and vertebrates. They include long unbranched homopolymers (cellulose, chitin/chitosan), linear copolymers (alginate, agarose), peptoglycans such as murein, heteropolymers like a variety of glycosaminoglycans (hyaluronan, dermatan, keratin, heparin, Pel), and branched heteropolymers such as pectin and hemicellulose. A separate chapter is dedicated to modern industrial and biomedical applications of exopolysaccharides and polysaccharide-based biocomposites. Their unique chemical, physical and mechanical properties have attracted considerable interest, inspired basic and applied research, and have already been harnessed to form structural biocomposite hybrids for tailor-made applications in regenerative medicine, bioengineering and biosensor design. Given its scope, this book provides a substantial source of basic and applied information for a wide range of scientists, as well as valuable textbook for graduate and advanced undergraduate students.

Download or read book Targeting Chitin containing Organisms written by Qing Yang and published by Springer. This book was released on 2019-05-17 with total page 292 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book provides a comprehensive overview of chitin biology and chitin metabolism related enzymes. Chitin, the second most abundant biopolymer in nature after to cellulose, is a linear biopolymer composed of β-1,4-linked N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), and an essential component in the exoskeletons of insects, mites, ticks and crustaceans, the egg shells of parasitic nematodes, and fungal cell walls. Although some chitin-containing organisms are a threat to human health, food safety and agricultural production, non-chitin containing organisms like humans, mammals and plants have an innate immune response to these hazardous organisms. The book provides researchers and students with information on the recent research advances concerning the biology of chitin-containing organisms as well as cross-talks between chitin-containing and non-chitin-containing organisms. Highlighting chitin remodeling enzymes and inhibitors, it also offers drug developers essential insights into designing specific molecules for the control of hazardous chitin-containing organisms.

Download or read book Trends in Insect Molecular Biology and Biotechnology written by Dhiraj Kumar and published by Springer. This book was released on 2018-04-03 with total page 376 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book provides an overview on the basics in insect molecular biology and presents the most recent developments in several fields such as insect genomics and proteomics, insect pathology and applications of insect derived compounds in modern research. The book aims to provide a common platform for the molecular entomologist to stimulate further research in insect molecular biology and biotechnology. Insects are one of the most versatile groups of the animal kingdom. Due to their large population sizes and adaptability since long they attract researchers’ interest as efficient resource for agricultural and biotechnological purposes. Several economically important insects such as Silkworms, Honey Bee, Lac and Drosophila or Termites were established as invertebrate model organisms. Starting with the era of genetic engineering, a broad range of molecular and genetic tools have been developed to study the molecular biology of these insects in detail and thus opened up a new horizon for multidisciplinary research. Nowadays, insect derived products are widely used in biomedical and biotechnology industries. The book targets researchers from both academia and industry, professors and graduate students working in molecular biology, biotechnology and entomology.

Download or read book Insect cuticle Chitin Catecholamine and Chemistry of Complexation written by and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2022-06-24 with total page 392 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Advances in Insect Physiology, Volume 62, the latest release in this ongoing series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on a variety of timely topics. Each chapter is written by an international board of authors. - Provides the authority and expertise of leading contributors from an international board of authors - Presents the latest release in the Advances in Insect Physiology series

Download or read book Advances in Insect Physiology written by and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2020-11-01 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Advances in Insect Physiology, Volume 59, examines the molecular and developmental origins of insect extended phenotypes, their diverse physiological functions, their consequences for the ecology and evolution of insects, and their biotic partners. Chapters cover recent ideas about the significance and roles of extended phenotypes and provide overviews of the latest advances. Written for a broad audience of researchers and students, the book's chapters establish extended phenotypes as focal structures for understanding genotype-to-phenotype maps, the origins and consequences of complex traits among multiple interacting partners, and the roles they may play in providing resilience against climate change. Compiles and synthesizes the latest advances in understanding extended phenotypes Provides detailed information on molecular and cellular mechanisms underpinning formation and control of extended phenotypes Gives comprehensive implications of extended phenotypes for ecology, evolution and applied systems

Download or read book Emerging Technologies In Biophysical Sciences A World Scientific Reference In 3 Volumes written by and published by World Scientific. This book was released on 2022-10-14 with total page 1078 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Volume 1:Biofabrication aims to produce artificially manufactured tissues and organs, potentially revolutionizing conventional paradigm of clinical practice in treating diseases and extending the life span and quality of human beings. In this volume, we invite notable experts in the field of biofabrication and biomanufacturing to summarize recent rapid progress in this field from multifaceted aspects covering biofabrication techniques and building materials such as scaffold and living cells. Specifically, a focus is placed on a variety of techniques derived from 3D bioprinting and bioassembly strategies, such as acoustic assembly and electrofabrication. Moreover, principles and strategies for choosing hydrogels and polymers for biofabrication are also heavily discussed. Overall, this book creates a good opportunity for undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as bioengineers and medical researchers who wish to gain a fundamental understanding of current status and future trends in biofabrication and biomanufacturing.Volume 2:Infertility has become a significant psychosocial burden affecting the lives of couples who cannot reproduce naturally. Advanced reproductive technologies (ARTs) are being developed to treat infertility. This handbook explores significant development of ARTs for fertility testing, selection of sperm, oocyte and embryo, reproductive monitors, automation in embryology, and fertility preservation. This volume provides a comprehensive overview of the myriad of emerging technologies and systems that are being utilized or will be utilized in near future in reproductive clinics. Overall this book creates a good opportunity for undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as scientists and medical researchers who wish to gain fundamental understanding of current status and future trends in fertility and reproductive medicine.Volume 3:Healthcare industry has a notable paradigm transition from centralized care to the point-of-care (POC). During this metamorphosis, a number of new technologies and strategies have been adapted to the current practice, addressing the existing challenges in the fields of medicine and biology. All the efforts aim to improve the clinical management and the effectiveness and quality of care. In particular, diagnostics has pivotal roles in guiding clinical management for the most effective treatment to control and cure the disease. In contrast to the existing diagnostic strategies employing bulky-sized tools, expensive infrastructure, laborious protocols, and lengthy processing steps, the contribution of biosensors to current healthcare system, especially to diagnostics, is paramount. The unprecedented and admirable characteristics of biosensing strategies have expanded our knowledge on medicine and biology by harmonizing materials science, chemistry, physics, and engineering. We believe that biosensors applied to disease diagnostics will not only garner more attention in clinical research to decipher disease biology and mechanism, and also, stimulate innovative perspectives in artificial intelligence (AI) and internet of things (IoT) synergistically, thereby their more facile adaptation to daily-use. Overall this book creates a good opportunity for undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as scientists and medical researchers who wish to gain fundamental understanding of current status and future trends in diagnostic technologies.

Download or read book Tick Host Pathogen Interactions written by Sarah Irène Bonnet and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on 2018-08-24 with total page 543 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Besides causing direct damage associated with blood feeding and in some cases through the excretion of toxins with their saliva, the main relevance of ticks lies in the wide variety of pathogens that they can transmit, including viruses, bacteria, protozoa and helminths. Owing to socioeconomic and environmental changes, tick distribution is changing with incursions of ticks and tick-borne diseases occurring in different regions of the world when the widespread deployment of chemical acaricides and repellents has led to the selection of resistance in multiple populations of ticks. New approaches that are environmentally sustainable and that provide broad protection against current and future tick-borne pathogen (TBP) are thus urgently needed. Such development, however, requires improved understanding of factors resulting in vector competence and tick-host-pathogen interactions. This Research Topic provides an overview of known molecular tick-host-pathogen interactions for a number of TBPs and highlights how this knowledge can contribute to novel control and prevention strategies for tick-borne diseases.

Download or read book Marine Organisms as Model Systems in Biology and Medicine written by Malgorzata Kloc and published by Springer. This book was released on 2018-08-06 with total page 627 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book highlights the potential advantages of using marine invertebrates like tunicates, echinoderms, sponges and cephalopods as models in both biological and medical research. Bioactive compounds found in marine organisms possess antibacterial, antifungal, anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory properties, and can affect the immune and nervous systems. Despite substantial research on the medicinal attributes of various marine invertebrates, they are still very much underrepresented in scientific literature: the majority of cell, developmental and evolutionary scientific journals only publish research conducted on a few well-known model systems like Drosophila melanogaster or Xenopus laevis. Addressing that gap, this book introduces readers to new model organisms like starfish or nemertera. By showing their benefits with regard to regeneration, stem cell research and Evo-Devo, the authors provide a cross-sectional view encompassing various disciplines of biological research. As such, this book will not only appeal to scientists currently working on marine organisms, but will also inspire future generations to pursue research of their own.

Download or read book Evolutionary Ecology of Plant Herbivore Interaction written by Juan Núñez-Farfán and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2020-07-30 with total page 378 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Plant-herbivore interactions are a central topic in evolutionary ecology. Historically, their study has been a cornerstone for coevolutionary theory. Starting from classic ecological studies at the phenotypic level, it has since expanded to molecular and genomic approaches. After a historical perspective, the book’s subsequent chapters cover a wide range of topics: from populations to ecosystems; plant- and herbivore-focused studies; in natural and in man-modified ecosystems; and both micro- and macro-evolutionary levels. All chapters include valuable background information and empirical evidence. Given its scope, the book will be of interest to both students and researchers, and will hopefully stimulate further research in this exciting field of evolutionary biology.

Download or read book Pigments Pigment Cells and Pigment Patterns written by Hisashi Hashimoto and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2021-07-05 with total page 475 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book comprehensively summarizes the biological mechanisms of coloration and pattern formation of animals at molecular and cellular level, offering up-to-date knowledge derived from remarkable progress in the last 10 years. The brilliant coloration, conspicuous patterns and spectacular color changes displayed by some vertebrates and invertebrates are generally their strategies of the utmost importance for survival. Consists of mainly three parts, starts with introductory chapter, such as Pigments and Pigment Organelles, Developmental Genetics of Pigment Cell Formation, Adult Pigment Patterns, and Color Changes, this book introduces new pigment compounds in addition to classically known pigments and organelles, explains how the generation of multiple types of pigment cell is genetically controlled, describes the mechanisms underlying the zebrafish stripe formation as well as other animals and also summarizes the mechanism of physiological and morphological color changes of teleost, amphibian and cephalopod. Written by experts in the field, this book will be essential reading for graduate students and researchers in biological fields who are interested in pigmentation mechanisms of animals.

Download or read book Architectured Materials in Nature and Engineering written by Yuri Estrin and published by Springer. This book was released on 2019-03-27 with total page 452 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book deals with a group of architectured materials. These are hybrid materials in which the constituents (even strongly dissimilar ones) are combined in a given topology and geometry to provide otherwise conflicting properties. The hybridization presented in the book occurs at various levels - from the molecular to the macroscopic (say, sub-centimeter) ones. This monograph represents a collection of programmatic chapters, defining archimats and summarizing the results obtained by using the geometry-inspired materials design. The area of architectured or geometry-inspired materials has reached a certain level of maturity and visibility for a comprehensive presentation in book form. It is written by a group of authors who are active researchers working on various aspects of architectured materials. Through its 14 chapters, the book provides definitions and descriptions of the archetypes of architectured materials and addresses the various techniques in which they can be designed, optimized, and manufactured. It covers a broad realm of archimats, from the ones occurring in nature to those that have been engineered, and discusses a range of their possible applications. The book provides inspiring and scientifically profound, yet entertaining, reading for the materials science community and beyond.

Download or read book Chitin and Chitosan written by Shameem Hasan and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2022-08-27 with total page 429 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book reviews work that covers everything from basic chemistry to advanced applications. Chitin and chitosan are used in a plethora of applications from wastewater treatment to prosthetics. After introducing the subject of polysaccharides as a whole, the authors turn to the preparation of chitin and chitosan and the characterization of the latter. The book provides information on chitin chemistry, extraction of chitin, chitosan preparation processes, and the applications of their derivatives in various fields. Among the applications that are included in detail are the adsorption of heavy metals for pollution prevention and clean-up, biosensors, cosmetics, various medical applications from anti-tumor activity to bone tissue engineering, agriculture and food production, and proton exchange membranes for fuel cells. Chitin and Chitosan features: • information on molecular structure, synthesis, properties, and latest research related to chitin and chitosan; • coverage of a wide range of topics from the properties of chitosan to its derivatives and applications; • in-depth information on biomedical applications of chitin and chitosan; and • information that can be applied to other biopolymer processing engineering areas. This book will be of interest to practitioners working in a wide variety of industries for which chitin and chitosan are useful materials, researchers in biosensors and heavy-metal adsorption, and to academic researchers investigating the properties, preparation, and uses of these materials.

Download or read book Advances in Chitin Chitosan Characterization and Applications written by Marguerite Rinaudo and published by MDPI. This book was released on 2019-04-23 with total page 414 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Functional advanced biopolymers have received far less attention than renewable biomass (cellulose, rubber, etc.) used for energy production. Among the most advanced biopolymers known is chitosan. The term chitosan refers to a family of polysaccharides obtained by partial de-N-acetylation from chitin, one of the most abundant renewable resources in the biosphere. Chitosan has been firmly established as having unique material properties as well as biological activities. Either in its native form or as a chemical derivative, chitosan is amenable to being processed—typically under mild conditions—into soft materials such as hydrogels, colloidal nanoparticles, or nanofibers. Given its multiple biological properties, including biodegradability, antimicrobial effects, gene transfectability, and metal adsorption—to name but a few—chitosan is regarded as a widely versatile building block in various sectors (e.g., agriculture, food, cosmetics, pharmacy) and for various applications (medical devices, metal adsorption, catalysis, etc.). This Special Issue presents an updated account addressing some of the major applications, including also chemical and enzymatic modifications of oligos and polymers. A better understanding of the properties that underpin the use of chitin and chitosan in different fields is key for boosting their more extensive industrial utilization, as well as to aid regulatory agencies in establishing specifications, guidelines, and standards for the different types of products and applications.

Download or read book Silk written by Sean Blamires and published by Xlibris Corporation. This book was released on 2022-06-07 with total page 204 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Silk is a protein-based, usually fibrous, material produced by many invertebrates. It can be used to catch or subdue prey, protect the animal and/or its eggs, or for defence. Each type of silk has its own unique set of properties, which makes certain silks useful for human uses. One type of silk in particular, that produced by the mulberry silkworm moth, has been used for millennia as a fibre for developing luxurious textiles and apparel. Silk and the animals that produce it are thus very curious. This book overviews the diversity of silk-producing animals, comparing the types of silks produced by each of them and their functions, properties, and secretory mechanisms. The properties of each type of silk are explained by examining the chemistry of the proteins. Having established the mechanism of silk performance, the book investigates the applications of different silks, both throughout history and into the future, with explanations on how silk production is proceeding in the age of genetic engineering. Of particular mention is spider dragline (or major ampullate) silk, as it the silk considered the toughest of the silks, and is of research interest to the author.

Download or read book Frontiers in Invertebrate Physiology A Collection of Reviews written by Saber Saleuddin and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2024-02-13 with total page 427 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This new 3-volume set provides informative reviews on the physiology of sponges, cnidarians, round and flat worms, annelids, echinoderms, and crustaceans, advancing our knowledge of the physiology of these major invertebrate groups (Phyla). Invertebrates exhibit the largest number of species and occupy virtually every conceivable ecological niche. They are economically important in food chains, they recycle organic waste, and they are crucial pollinators of plants and sources of food. They are also medically relevant as parasites that cause major diseases of both humans and livestock. Chapters on crustacean physiology are grouped in this volume and cover diverse physiological topics ranging from moulting, respiration, water balance, biomineralization, bioreceptors, and temperature regulation to the land adaptation of terrestrial crustaceans. The chapters are comprehensive and add new knowledge to crustacean biology. Volume 1 looks at non-bilaterians (sponges, cnidarians, placozoans) while echinoderms and annelids are covered in Volume 3.

Download or read book Silk Based Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering Regenerative and Precision Medicine written by Subhas C. Kundu and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2023-12-08 with total page 908 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Silk-based Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering, Regenerative and Precision Medicine, Second Edition is a must-have reference, providing comprehensive coverage of silk-based biomaterials and their importance in translational uses and biomedicine. This new edition considers the progress made in the past eight years, featuring many new chapters, including a discussion of cutting-edge fabrication methods and techniques, new and improved blends/composites, and an expanded range of applications in tissue engineering, regenerative and precision medicine. The book holistically reviews the types, structure and properties, processing methods, and specific biomedical applications for silk-based biomaterials. This will be a vital resource for materials and tissue engineering scientists, R&D departments in industry and academia, and academics interested in biomaterials, regenerative, and precision medicine. - Covers all key silk biomaterial types, including mulberry, Bombyx mori and nonmulberry/wild silk protein fibroins, sericins and spider silk, as well as their composite blends and various structures and scaffold platforms - Describes the cutting-edge processing techniques for each silk type, from traditional to nonconventional methods, such as using ionic liquids and engineering nanofibers and other biomedical matrices - Explores a range of applications in tissue engineering and regenerative and precision medicine, including bioprinting, bioelectronics and medical devices