Diagnostic Molecular Biology, Second Edition describes the fundamentals of molecular biology in a clear, concise manner with each technique explained within its conceptual framework and current applications of clinical laboratory techniques comprehensively covered. This targeted approach covers the principles of molecular biology, including basic knowledge of nucleic acids, proteins and chromosomes; the basic techniques and instrumentations commonly used in the field of molecular biology, including detailed procedures and explanations; and the applications of the principles and techniques currently employed in the clinical laboratory. Topics such as whole exome sequencing, whole genome sequencing, RNA-seq, and ChIP-seq round out the discussion. Fully updated, this new edition adds recent advances in the detection of respiratory virus infections in humans, like influenza, RSV, hAdV, hRV but also corona. This book expands the discussion on NGS application and its role in future precision medicine.

Ever since the birth of molecular biology, the tantalizing possibility of treating disease at its genetic roots has become increasingly feasible. Gene therapy - though still in its infancy - remains one of the hottest areas of research in medicine. Its approach utilizes a gene transfer vehicle ('vector') to deliver therapeutic DNA or RNA to cells of the body in order to rectify the defect that is causing the disease. Successful therapies have been reported in humans in recent years such as cures in boys with severe immune deficiencies. Moreover, gene therapy strategies are being adapted in numerous biomedical laboratories to obtain novel treatments for a variety of diseases and to study basic biological aspects of disease. Correction of disease in animal studies, is steadily gaining ground, highlighting the immense potential of gene therapy in the medical profession.This book will cover topics that are at the forefront of biomedical research such as RNA interference, viral and non-viral gene transfer systems, treatment of hematological diseases and disorders of the central nervous system. Leading experts on the respective vector or disease will contribute the individual chapters and explain cutting-edge technologies. It also gives a broad overview of the most important gene transfer vectors and most extensively studied target diseases. This comprehensive guide is therefore a must-read for anyone in the biotechnology, biomedical or medical industries seeking to further their knowledge in the area of human gene therapy.

This second edition volume expands on the previous edition by discussing classic techniques, as well as new protocols that focus on the preparation of liposomes, lipid characterization, particle size and charge analysis, drug encapsulation, surface modification, stimuli response, and cellular interaction and biodistribution. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Comprehensive and practical, Liposomes: Methods and Protocols, Second Edition is a valuable resource for graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, and established investigators utilizing lipid-based systems in the fields of cell and molecular biology, drug delivery, and physical chemistry.

This book presents the theoretical foundations of Systems Biology, as well as its application in studies on human hosts, pathogens and associated diseases. This book presents several chapters written by renowned experts in the field. Some topics discussed in depth in this book include: computational modeling of multiresistant bacteria, systems biology of cancer, systems immunology, networks in systems biology.

This book contains some selected papers from the International Conference on Extreme Learning Machine 2015, which was held in Hangzhou, China, December 15-17, 2015. This conference brought together researchers and engineers to share and exchange R&D experience on both theoretical studies and practical applications of the Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) technique and brain learning. This book covers theories, algorithms ad applications of ELM. It gives readers a glance of the most recent advances of ELM.

Rapid progress has been made in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of cell growth and oncogenesis during the past decade. Special attention has been given to the presentation of the frequently neglected close correlation between changes in signal transduction and metabolic pathways during oncogenesis. This book advances the knowledge of mechanisms regulating metabolism and functioning of vitamin A and offers the most recent results of research on the clinical efficiency of retinoids in skin disorders and cancer. The book presents recent findings on the regulation of cell growth in normal and neoplastic tissues by growth factors including hormones, and by the activation and inactivation of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, respectively. It also offers a survey of the molecular and cell biochemistry of retinoids. Basic researchers in biochemistry, pharmacology and cell biology as well as clinicians will find this book very informative and up-to-date. This book advances the knowledge of mechanisms regulating metabolism and functioning of vitamin A and offers the most recent results of research on clinical efficiency of retinoids in skin disorders and cancer. Basic researchers in biochemistry, pharmacology, cell biology, and clinicians will find this book very informative and up-to-date. The chapters, organized in six sections, are contributed by leading scientists who have been working in the retinoid field for decades. Their experience and competence is aknowledged worldwide.

Retinoids have received considerable attention in recent years and due cognizance has been given to their versatility as biological response modifiers, as evidenced by the virtually explosive growth of literature in this field in the past few years. This volume has been designed to give a current state-of-the-art picture of retinoids. The perceived potential of retinoids in the treatment of certain disease stated has initiated attempts at identifying and synthesizing new retinoid derivatives with definable and selective effects on aberrant biological phenomena. Appropriately, therefore, we begin with the chemistry of retinoids and their derivatives together with discussions of their biological activity. Major advances have been made in understanding the mechanisms by which retinoids modulate physiological and phenotypic traits of cells. The transduction of retinoid signaling by the mediation of nuclear receptors of the steroid/thyroid receptor superfamily has now been studied extensively and the cloning and defining the characteristics of these receptors has been a focus of discussion in this volume. Retinoids also markedly modulate the transduction of extracellular signals such as those imparted by growth factors and hormones, and thus actively influence and control cellular proliferative patterns. Retinoids can alter epidermal growth factor receptor expression (Kawaguchi et al., 1994), responsiveness to thyroid hormone (Esfandiari et al., 1994; Pallet et al., 1994), inhibit the proliferative responses of hematopoietic progenitor cells to granulocyte colony stimulating factor (Smeland et al., 1994), and modulate secretion on interleukins by leukaemic cells (Balitrand et al., 1994), among other things. This has obvious implications for pharmacological manipulation of deregulated growth (Dickens and Colletta, 1993; Mulshine et al., 1993). Apoptosis is another component in the regulation of growth control. Apoptotic cell death is influenced by several agents and retinoids may function by interfering with apoptotic pathways of regulation of growth control and quite legitimately, therefore, the importance of this aspect of retinoid function has been duly recognized here.

This up-to-date volume includes protocols that illustrate the broad use of chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and ChIP-related methods in a variety of biological research areas. The collection also includes protocols designed to improve the performance of ChIP for specific applications. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introduction to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, as well as tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Chromatin Immunoprecipitation: Methods and Protocols features techniques, including bioinformatic analysis of ChIP data, will be of interest to a very broad research community in the fields of biochemistry, molecular biology, microbiology, and biomedicine.

In this entertaining account of the origins of modern molecular biology, the lives of pioneering scientists in the field of nucleic acid research, and the discovery of DNA, Ulf Lagerkvist speaks not only to scientists but to all students and general readers with an interest in science. The author, whose career in the nucleic acid field began in the late 1940s, recreates historical episodes from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and introduces for a modern audience the scientists whose discoveries revolutionized the field of biology. Knowledge of these pioneers as professionals and as human beings, Lagerkvist believes, may help us see modern problems in a new light and appreciate the greatness of the researchers who contributed to the foundations of molecular biology and biochemistry. Among these scientific pioneers was nineteenth-century biochemist Friedrich Miescher, discoverer of nuclein, the material now known as DNA. The book also explores early research into general problems of the chemistry of biological materials. Lagerkvist vividly describes the research of such influential scientists as Albrecht Kossel, another early leading figure; Emil Fischer, who received the Nobel Prize in 1902 for his work on carbohydrates and purines and was regarded as the foremost chemist of his time; P. A. Levene, known for his discoveries concerning the structure of nucleotides and the way these nucleic acid building blocks are linked to one another; and Oswald T. Avery, often considered the grandfather of molecular genetics.

This book describes the strategy used for sequencing, assembling and annotating the tomato genome and presents the main characteristics of this sequence with a special focus on repeated sequences and the ancestral polyploidy events. It also includes the chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a major crop plant as well as a model for fruit development, and the availability of the genome sequence has completely changed the paradigm of the species' genetics and genomics. The book describes the numerous genetic and genomic resources available, the identified genes and quantitative trait locus (QTL) identified, as well as the strong synteny across Solanaceae species. Lastly, it discusses the consequences of the availability of a high-quality genome sequence of the cultivated species for the research community. It is a valuable resource for students and researchers interested in the genetics and genomics of tomato and Solanaceae.

Section One Cytogenetics.- 1. Chromosome Evolution in Ornamental Taxa.- 2. Aneuploidy of Ornamental Species.- 3. Protoplast Fusion and Somatic Hybridization.- 4. Techniques for Chromosomal Transformation.- 5. Chromosome Variability in Callus Produced Plants.- Section Two Quantitative Genetics.- 6. Selection for Physiological Traits.- 7. Selection for Production Traits in Flower Crops.- 8. Multi-Trait Selection in Flower Crops.- 9. Breeding for Disease and Insect Resistance in Flower Crops.- 10. Dynamics of Host-Parasite Interactions.- 11. Genetics of Variegation and Maternal Inheritance in Ornamentals.- Section Three Molecular Genetics.- 12. Molecular Aspects of Flowering.- 13. Tagging Floral Structure Genes.- 14. Engineering of Novel Flower Colours.- 15. Modulation of Flower Color and its Intensivity via Directed Gene Manipulation.- 16. Gene Expression and Flower Senescence.- 17. Molecular Aspects of the Development of Reproductive Cells.- 18. Self-Incompatibility in Flowering Plants.- 19. Routes to the Development of Disease Resistant Ornamentals.

This textbook provides a concise introduction and useful overview of the field of human population genomics, making the highly technical and contemporary aspects more accessible to students and researchers from various fields. Over the past decade, there has been a deluge of genetic variation data from the entire genome of individuals from many populations. These data have allowed an unprecedented look at human history and how natural selection has impacted humans during this journey. Simultaneously, there have been increased efforts to determine how genetic variation affects complex traits in humans. Due to technological and methodological advances, progress has been made at determining the architecture of complex traits. Split in three parts, the book starts with the basics, followed by more advanced and current research. The first part provides an introduction to essential concepts in population genetics, which are relevant for any organism. The second part covers the genetics of complex traits in humans. The third part focuses on applying these techniques and concepts to genetic variation data to learn about demographic history and natural selection in humans. This new textbook aims to serve as a gateway to modern human population genetics research for those new to the field. It provides an indispensable resource for students, researchers and practitioners from disparate areas of expertise.

This volume provides protocol references covering recent developments in the aptamer field. Within the last decade, aptamers have become more and more popular, and their sophisticated biophysical properties together with their ability to be easily modified and, thus, adapted to various regimens makes them a very promising class of compounds. Divided into three sections, the book covers selection, a series of analytical methods to assess biophysical properties of aptamer-target interactions, as well as various applications of aptamers. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Practical and easy to follow, Nucleic Acid Aptamers: Selection, Characterization, and Application provides a state-of-the-art summary of recent developments in the aptamer field and will be a helpful resource for scientists in the life sciences working with aptamers as tools to elucidate biological systems.

This detailed volume collects protocols for experimentation into how neurons connect to produce the extraordinary functionalities of the nervous system. Contributed by experts and pioneers in their respective techniques, the book covers synapses in the brain and in culture, their constituents, their structures, their dynamics, and the assemblies they form, all in the structure of a laboratory guide. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include brief introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Synapse Development: Methods and Protocols serves as an ideal guide to minimizing the barrier to entry for the integration of new approaches with existing expertise, producing syntheses that will foster novel perspectives on the many ways in which synapses form, transform, and transmit.

Recent advances in protein structural biology, coupled with new developments in human genetics, have opened the door to understanding the molecular basis of many metabolic, physiological, and developmental processes in human biology. Medical pathologies, and their chemical therapies, are increasingly being described at the molecular level. For single-gene diseases, and some multi-gene conditions, identification of highly correlated genes immediately leads to identification of covalent structures of the actual chemical agents of the disease, namely the protein gene products. Once the primary sequence of a protein is ascertained, structural biologists work to determine its three-dimensional, biologically active structure, or to predict its probable fold and/or function by comparison to the data base of known protein structures. Similarly, three-dimensional structures of proteins produced by microbiological pathogens are the subject of intense study, for example, the proteins necessary for maturation of the human HIV virus. Once the three-dimensional structure of a protein is known or predicted, its function, as well as potential binding sites for drugs that inhibit its function, become tractable questions. The medical ramifications of the burgeoning results of protein structural biology, from gene replacement therapy to "rational" drug design, are well recognized by researchers in biomedical areas, and by a significant proportion of the general population. The purpose of this book is to introduce biomedical scientists to important areas of protein structural biology, and to provide an insightful orientation to the primary literature that shapes the field in each subject.
The chapters in this volume cover aspects of protein structural biology which have led to the recognition of fundamental relationships between protein structure and function.

The papers assembled in this volume were originally presented at the joint meeting of the Phytochemical Society of North America and the Mid-Atlantic Plant Molecular Biology Society, in August 2000. The symposium from which these chapters were prepared was entitled ""Regulation of Phytochemicals by Molecular Techniques"" and was organised by James Saunders and Ben Matthews. This joint meeting was timely because of recent landmark advances in molecular biology and genomics as well as the renewed interest in phytochemistry as a rich source of nutraceuticals, drugs, and alternatives to synthetic agriculture pesticides. Progress in genome sequencing in plants such as Arabidopsis and rice has been remarkable, as have expressed sequence tag (EST) projects in other plants, including maize and soybean. Recently, private and public sector participants of the Human Genome Project announced that a rough draft of the human genome has been constructed. These advances directly influence phytochemical investigations by providing both insight and tools for exploring and manipulating genomes.
The chapters cover a wide range of applications from molecular biology to phytochemistry, and from basic studies on promoters and gene expression to pathway regulation and engineering with transformed plants. A number of noteworthy aspects emerge from this volume: applications of molecular biology to phytochemical practical problems are succeeding; newly emerging molecular tools promise to open new doors to discovery; and remarkable progress has already occurred in phytochemical pathway engineering.

The 2nd World Congress on Genetics, Geriatrics and Neurodegenerative Disease Research (GeNeDis 2016), will focus on recent advances in geriatrics and neurodegeneration, ranging from basic science to clinical and pharmaceutical developments and will provide an international focum for the latest scientific discoveries, medical practices, and care initiatives. Advances information technologies will be discussed along with their implications for various research, implementation, and policy concerns. In addition, the conference will address European and global issues in the funding of long-term care and medico-social policies regarding elderly people. GeNeDis 2016 takes place in Sparta, Greece, 20-23 October, 2016. This volume focuses on thesessions that address neurodegenerative diseases.

This volume is a compilation of laboratory protocols and methodology required for the study of molecular chaperones and the cellular stress response. Chapters detail stress response in Hsf1, Hsf2 and Hsf4 knockout mice, mapping HSP interaction networks, the LUminescence-based Mammalian IntERactome (LUMIER), Hsp70 biology, protein folding activity of Hsp90, cytotoxicity of HSP inhibitors, computational approaches for modeling allosteric Hsp90 interactions, HSPs in immunity and vaccine development , and biologies of Hsp70 and Hsp90. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Chaperones: Methods and Protocols aims to ensure successful results in the further study of this vital field.

This book covers structure, function, and important roles of the SH domains, structure-function relationships, the versatile nature of their action, mechanisms of aggregation, specificity of interactions, impact of mutations on protein functional dysregulation, and cell signaling. Their involvement in various cellular processes such as migration, invasiveness, actin reorganization, shaping spines, determination of the morphology assembly of fibrils, and mechanotransduction makes these molecules attractive drug targets. Substrates, inhibitors and activators of PTKs present a wide variety of therapeutic agents in the context of delivering treatments for numerous pathologies. The new emerging field of stem cell therapies and design of biomaterials for treatments relies on the directed regulation of stem cell growth, differentiation and morphology, as well as the production of biomimetic scaffolds that respond to programmed signals. Advances in deciphering the mechanisms of action of these important molecules will lead to the implementation and success of their vital applications.

This volume presents protocols for Brachypodium genomics in numerous areas ranging from marker development, trait evolution, functional genomics, metabolomics, transcriptomics, genomics, and tilling. This book also explores techniques to study the widening genetic base of Brachypodium that will help researchers better understand the model plant using NGS technologies. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Cutting-edge and comprehensive, Brachypodium Genomics: Methods and Protocols is a valuable resource for bench-oriented molecular biologists and computational biologists working towards further evolving this field.

Pattern Formation in the Vertebrate CNS: Hox Gene Function and the Development of the Head; M. Mark, et al. Genetic Mechanisms Responsible for Pattern Formation in the Vertebrate Hindbrain: Regulation of Hoxb1; M. Studer, et al. Pax Genes as Pleiotropic Regulators of Embryonic Development; P. Tremblay, et al. Introduction and the Generation of Regional and Cellular Diversity in the Developing Mammalian Brain; A.S. LaMantia. Genetic Determinants of Neural Cell Fate: Potential Role of Homeobox Genes in Neural Cell Differentiation; M. Gulisano, et al. Multiple Roles for Proneural Genes in Drosophila Neurogenesis; A.P. Jarman, Y.N. Jan. Genetic Analysis of Neuronal Migration in The Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans; G. Garriga. Induction and Differentiation of Motor Neurons; S.L. Pfaff, et al. Neural Cell Differentiation: Neuronal Development in the Rat Sympathoadrenal Lineage; S.J. Birren, et al. Specification of Cell Fate in the Vertebrate Retina; C.P. Austin. Neurotrophins and Trk Receptors in Hippocampal Development; D. Collazo, R. McKay. 8 additional articles. Index.

This book concerns the mathematical modeling and computer simulation of the human stomach. It follows the four modern P's (prevention, prediction, personalization, and precision in medicine) approach in addressing the highly heterogeneous nature of processes underlying gastric motility disorders manifested as gastroparesis, functional dyspepsia, myenteric enteropathy etc. The book comprehensively guides readers through the fundamental theoretical concepts to complex physiological models of the organ. This requires a deep and thorough understanding of driving pathophysiological mechanisms as well as the collaborative effort of specialists working in fundamental and biological science. Such a multidisciplinary partnership is vital because it upholds gnostic capabilities and provides the exchange of thoughts and ideas thus offering broad perspectives into the evolution and management of diseases. The book is a valuable resource for applied mathematicians, computational biologists, bioengineers, physicians, physiologists and researchers working in various fields of biomedicine.

"A Historical Perspective on Evidence-Based Immunology" focuses on the results of hypothesis-driven, controlled scientific experiments that have led to current understanding of immunological principles. This book helps beginning students in biomedical disciplines to understand the basis of immunologic knowledge and more advanced students to gain further insight. It also serves as a crucial reference for researchers studying the evolution of ideas and scientific methods.

Among the fundamental insights covered in the book are: Immunologic toleranceInteractions of lymphocytes with antigen - TCR and BCRGeneration of diversity and mechanism of tolerance of T cells and B cellsThe first cytokinesThe concept of autoimmunityIdentification of NK cells as a unique cell typeThe structure of antibody molecules and identification of Fab and Fc regionsDendritic cells
A complete review of the hypothesis-driven, controlled scientific experiments that have led to our current understanding of immunological principlesExplains the types of experiments that were performed and how the interpretation of the experiments altered the understanding of immunologyPresents concepts such as the division of lymphocytes into functionally different populations in their historical context"