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ArticleFunctional genomics and the biosynthesis of artemisininArtemisinin, a sesquiterpene lactone endoperoxide derived from the glandular secretory trichomes (GSTs) of Artemisia annua, provides the basis for the most effective treatments of malaria. The biology and biochemistry of GSTs of the Asteraceae and their biosynthesis of isoprenoids is reviewed. Recent efforts to understand the biosynthesis of artemisinin in A. annua GSTs are discussed in detail. This includes the development in the authors’ laboratory of an expressed sequence tag (EST) approach to identifying the relevant biosynthetic genes using isolated GST as a source of mRNA. This has lead to the isolation of a cDNA encoding CYP71AV1, a multifunctional cytochrome P450 which catalyzes multiple oxidations of the sesquiterpene intermediate amorpha-4,11-diene to artemisinic acid. Further biochemical and molecular genetic work is required to elucidate the precise route from artemisinic alcohol to artemisinin and to engineer more efficient low cost production of artemisinin-based antimalarial drugs.By: rupaliThursday, May 27, 2021WATER, ENERGY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT+1
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ArticleNatural product substancesNatural product substances have historically served as the most significant source of new leads for pharmaceutical development. However, with the advent of robotics, bioinformatics, high throughput screening (HTS), molecular biology-biotechnology, combinatorial chemistry, in silico (molecular modeling), and other methodologies, the pharmaceutical industry has largely moved away from plant-derived natural products as a source for leads and prospective drug candidates. Can, or will, natural products ever recapture the preeminent position they once held as a foundation for drug discovery and development? The challenges associated with the development of natural products as pharmaceuticals are illustrated by the Taxol® story. Several misconceptions, which constrain the utilization of plant natural products, for the discovery and development of pharmaceuticals, are addressed to return natural products to the forefront. have historically served as the most significant source of new leads for pharmaceutical development. However, with the advent of robotics, bioinformatics, high throughput screening (HTS), molecular biology-biotechnology, combinatorial chemistry, in silico (molecular modeling), and other methodologies, the pharmaceutical industry has largely moved away from plant-derived natural products as a source for leads and prospective drug candidates. Can, or will, natural products ever recapture the preeminent position they once held as a foundation for drug discovery and development? The challenges associated with development of natural products as pharmaceuticals are illustrated by the Taxol® story. Several misconceptions, which constrain utilization of plant natural products, for discovery and development of pharmaceuticals, are addressed to return natural products to the forefront.By: Vijaya Super adminTuesday, May 25, 2021AGRI-FOOD SYSTEMS+1
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PostMesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are adult, immunomodulatory stem cells which reside in almost all postnatal tissues. Viral antigens and damage-associated molecular patterns released from injured and infected cells activate MSCs, which elicit strong antiviral immune response.By: rupaliMonday, May 24, 2021AGRI-FOOD SYSTEMS
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OpportunityNatural plant productsNatural plant products have been used throughout human history forvarious purposes. Having co-evolved with animal life, many of the plants fromwhich these natural products are derived are billions of years old. Tens ofthousands of these products are produced and discovered since. Dyes areone of them. Fabric dye has been one of the common things used in these moderndays. But using it has also disadvantages to the environment. Therun-offfrom fabric dye pollutes water ways, and the dyes themselves are not sohealthy for workers who are around them day in and day out, either.There areways to prevent these harmful effects of using dye to both the environmentand human beings, and that is by using organic substances instead ofcommercialized products which utilizes toxic ingredients.By: rupaliWednesday, Jun 9, 2021AGRI-FOOD SYSTEMS+1
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ArticleNatural Plant Products: A Less Focused Aspect for the COVID-19 Viral OutbreakThe sudden emergence of COVID-19 caused by a novel coronavirus (nCoV) led the entire world to search for relevant solutions to fight the pandemic. Although continuous trials are being conducted to develop precise vaccines and therapeutic antibodies, a potential remedy is yet to be developed. Plants have largely contributed to the treatment of several human diseases and different phytoconstituents have been previously described to impede the replication of numerous viruses. Despite the previous positive reports of plant-based medications, no successful clinical trials of phyto-anti-COVID drugs could be conducted to date. In this article, we discuss varying perspectives on why phyto-anti-viral drug clinical trials were not successful in the case of COVID-19. The issue has been discussed in light of the usage of plant-based therapeutics in previous coronavirus outbreaks. Through this article, we aim to identify the disadvantages in this research area and suggest some measures to ensure that phytoconstituents can efficiently contribute to future random viral outbreaks. It is emphasized that if used strategically phyto-inhibitors with pre-established clinical data for other diseases can save the time required for long clinical trials. The scientific community should competently tap into phytoconstituents and take their research up to the final stage of clinical trials so that potential phyto-anti-COVID drugs can be developed.By: rupaliTuesday, May 25, 2021AGRI-FOOD SYSTEMS+2
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OpportunityLorem Ipsum: Where does it come from?Contrary to popular belief, Lorem Ipsum is not simply random text. It has roots in a piece of classical Latin literature from 45 BC, making it over 2000 years old. Richard McClintock, a Latin professor at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, looked up one of the more obscure Latin words, consectetur, from a Lorem Ipsum passage, and going through the cites of the word in classical literature, discovered the undoubtable source. Lorem Ipsum comes from sections 1.10.32 and 1.10.33 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum" (The Extremes of Good and Evil) by Cicero, written in 45 BC. This book is a treatise on the theory of ethics, very popular during the Renaissance. The first line of Lorem Ipsum, "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet..", comes from a line in section 1.10.32. The standard chunk of Lorem Ipsum used since the 1500s is reproduced below for those interested. Sections 1.10.32 and 1.10.33 from "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum"By: Vijaya Super adminFriday, May 21, 2021EDUCATION
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OpportunityVenture capitalPrimer text from The College of William & MaryADHD is one of the most commonly diagnosed conditions of children (Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention, 2015). In a 2016 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study, scientists found that 6.1 million children aged 2-17 years living in the U.S. had been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which is similar to previous estimates. Ages 2-5: Approximately 388,000 children Ages 6-11: Approximately 2.4 million children Ages 12-17: Approximately 3.3 million children The diagnostic term attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) refers to individuals who display patterns of inattention, impulsivity, and overactive behavior that interfere with daily functioning (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) V (APA, 2013) criteria for diagnosing ADHD listthree types of ADHD and the accompanying characteristics. Predominantly inattentive type.The student may:o submit inaccurate or incomplete work,o have difficulty attending to conversations, activities, or tasks,o be easily distracted,o have difficulty following directions,o frequently lose materials, and/oro have difficulty organizing tasks and materials.By: Anne miller chinthanaWednesday, May 26, 2021CULTURE AND SOCIETY+1
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