Immuno-PCR: achievements and perspectives

The immuno-PCR (iPCR) method combines advantages of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and polymerase chain reaction, which is used in iPCR as a method of “visualization” of antigen–antibody interaction. The use of iPCR provides classical PCR sensitivity to objects traditionally detected by ELISA. This method could be very sensitive and allow for detection of quantities of femtograms/ml order. However, iPCR is still not widely used. The aim of this review is to highlight the special features of the iPCR method and to show the main aspects of its development and application in recent years.     

Immunosensors: sources of origin, achievements and perspectives

The analysis of the recent data in the literature and results of investigations in the field of the development and study of function efficiency of different types of immune sensors, that are performed at the Department of Biochemistry Sensory and Regulatory Systems of the A. V. Palladin Institute of Biochemistry of Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences are presented. Sources of origination and perspectives of the devlopment of biosensors are discussed as well. The paper also gives an overview of main research projects at the Department, mainly in the filed of biosensors. They include development of the scientific bases for the creation of a new generation of chemo- and biosensors for their application in medicine and ecology. Multi-immune, multi-enzyme and combined multi-parametrical sensors can provide express analyses in laboratory and field conditions with the purpose to perform immune chemical diagnostics of diabet, kidney diseases, immune defficiencies, autoimmune, allergic, pre-infarction and pre-tumor states as well as to control total toxicity of the environment and identification of main types of toxic elements in it. The investigations are based on the latest achivements in the field of physics, chemistry, information technology and electronics with the use of different types of planar electrodes, ion sensitive field effect transistors (ISFETs), semiconductor capacitive structures, termistors, optrodes, piezocrystalls and application of such methods and effects as laser correlation spectroscopy, chemiluminescence, fluorescence, surface plasmon resonance, photoluminescence of porous silicon, interferometry, evanescent wave technique, nonemmiting energy transfer and holography.     

Malaria control: achievements, problems and strategies

Even if history has not always been the Magistra vitae, Cicero expected it to be, it should provide, as Baas said, a mirror in which to observe and compare the past and present in order to draw therefrom well-grounded conclusions for the future. Based on this belief, this paper aims to provide an overview of the foundations and development of malaria control policies during the XX century. It presents an analysis of the conflicting tendencies which shaped the development of these policies and which appear to have oscillated between calls for frontal attack in an all-out campaign and calls for sustainable gains, even if slow. It discusses the various approaches to the control of malaria, their achievements and their limitations, not only to serve as a background to understand better the foundations of current policies, but also to prevent that simplistic generalisations may again lead to exaggerated expectations and disillusion. The first part of the paper is devoted to the development of malaria control during the first half of the century, characterised by the ups and downs in the reliance on mosquito control as the control measure applicable everywhere. The proliferation of "man-made-malaria", which accompanied the push for economic development in most of the endemic countries, spurred the need for control interventions and, while great successes were obtained in many specific projects, the general campaigns proposed by the enthusiasts of vector control faced increasing difficulties in their practical implementation in the field. Important events, which may be considered representative of this period are, on the campaign approach, the success of Gorgas in the Panama Canal, but also the failure of the Mian Mir project in India; while on the developmental approach, the Italian and Dutch schools of malariology, the Tennessee Valley and the development of malaria sanitation, included the so called species sanitation. The projection of these developments to a global scale was steered by the Malaria Commission of the League of Nations and greatly supported by the Rockefeller Foundation. Perhaps the most important contribution of this period was the development of malaria epidemiology, including the study of the genesis of epidemics and their possible forecasting and prevention. Although the great effectiveness of DDT was perhaps the main determinant for proposing the global eradication of the disease in the 1950s, it was the confidence in the epidemiological knowledge and the prestige of malariology, which gave credibility to the proposal at the political level. The second part deals with the global malaria eradication campaign of the 1950s and 1960s. It recognises the enormous impact of the eradication effort in the consolidation of the control successes of the first half of the century, as well as its influence in the development of planning of health programmes. Nevertheless, it also stresses the negative influence that the failure to achieve its utopian expectations had on the general disappointment and slow progress of malaria control, which characterised the last third of the century. The paper then analyses the evolution of malaria control funding, which often appears out of tune with political statements. The fourth part is devoted to the search for realistic approaches to malaria control, leading to the adoption of the global malaria control strategy in Amsterdam in 1992, and the challenge, at the end of the century, to rally forces commensurate with the magnitude of the problem, while aiming at realistic objectives. After discussing the conflicting views on the relations between malaria and socio-economic development and the desirable integration of malaria control into sustainable development, the paper ends with some considerations on the perspectives of malaria control, as seen by the author in early 1998, just before the launching of the current Roll Back Malaria initiative by WHO.     

Total synthesis of antibiotics: recent achievements, limitations, and perspectives

Several recently accomplished total syntheses of antibiotic natural products were summarized in this review in order to present current trends in this area of research. Compounds from different substance classes, including polyketide, depsipeptide, polyketide–polypeptide hybrid, and saccharide, were chosen to demonstrate the advancement in both chemical methodology and corresponding synthetic strategy.     

Farm animal embryo technologies: achievements and perspectives

Progress and changes in embryo technology in farm animals are briefly reviewed in terms of how well embryos can be made and used and what the subject has taught us about the maintenance of pregnancy and reproduction in general. Generalizations are made about the need to not accept dogma, how initially complex techniques always become simplified and thereby more applicable, and the need for the support of long-term and basic research. Personal views are offered on how best to prepare and motivate the next generation of scientists in the field, and the need for scientists to engage in the debate of how embryo technologies should be used responsibly in countering global inequalities.     

Glycobiology: Progress, problems, and perspectives

This review highlights different aspects of glycobiology with analysis of recent progress in the study of biosynthesis, degradation, and biological role of glycoconjugates and of hereditary diseases related to the metabolism of these compounds. In addition, the review presents some analysis of the papers of other authors who have contributed to this special issue.     

Enhancing vector refractoriness to trypanosome infection: achievements,challenges and perspectives

With the absence of effective prophylactic vaccines and drugs against African trypanosomosis, control of this group of zoonotic neglected tropical diseases depends the control of the tsetse fly vector. When applied in an area-wide insect pest management approach, the sterile insect technique (SIT) is effective in eliminating single tsetse species from isolated populations. The need to enhance the effectiveness of SIT led to the concept of investigating tsetse-trypanosome interactions by a consortium of researchers in a five-year (2013–2018) Coordinated Research Project (CRP) organized by the Joint Division of FAO/IAEA. The goal of this CRP was to elucidate tsetse-symbiome-pathogen molecular interactions to improve SIT and SIT-compatible interventions for trypanosomoses control by enhancing vector refractoriness. This would allow extension of SIT into areas with potential disease transmission. This paper highlights the CRP’s major achievements and discusses the science-based perspectives for successful mitigation or eradication of African trypanosomosis.     

Gravitational biology within the German Space Program: goals, achievements, and perspectives

Summary. Gravity plays an important role for the evolution, orientation and development of organisms. Most of us, however, tend to overlook its importance because – due to its constant presence from the beginning of evolution some 4 billion years ago – this environmental parameter is almost hardwired into our interpretation of reality. This negligence of gravity is the more surprising as we all have our strong fights with this factor, especially during the very early and again during the late phases of our lives. On the other hand, scientists have been fascinated to observe the effects of gravity especially on plants and microorganisms for more than a hundred years, since Darwin and Sachs demonstrated the role of the root cap for downward growing plants. Different experimental approaches are nowadays available in order to change the influence of gravity and to study the corresponding influences on the physiology of biological systems. With the advent of spaceflight, a long-term nearly nullification of gravity is possible. Utilisation of this so-called “microgravity” condition for research in life sciences thus became an important asset in the space programs of various space agencies around the world. The German Space Life Sciences Program is managed – like all other space programs and activities in Germany – by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in its role as space agency for Germany. Within the current space program, approved by the German government in May 2001, the overall goal for its life sciences part was defined as to gain scientific knowledge and to disclose new application potential by research under space conditions, especially by utilising the microgravity environment of the International Space Station. Three main scientific fields have been identified in collaboration with the scientific community: integrative human physiology, biotechnological applications of the microgravity environment, and fundamental biology of gravity and radiation responses (i.e., gravitational and radiation biology). In the present contribution, specific goals as well as achievements and perspectives of research in gravitational biology are given. In addition, some information is provided on spaceflight opportunities available. Correspondence and reprints: German Aerospace Center (DLR), Space Agency, P.O. Box 300364, 53183 Bonn, Federal Republic of Germany.     

Affinity-based proteomic profiling: problems and achievements

Affinity chromatography becomes a more and more popular method used in proteomic studies for separation of various groups of proteins (subproteomes). The review highlights the role of affinity chromatography fractionation for proteomic profiling of the most of intensively studied groups of proteins including cyclic nucleotide-binding proteins, protein kinases (kinomes), phosphoproteins, glycoproteins, ubiquitinated proteins. Special attention is paid to the use of affinity chromatography for the characterization of small-molecule protein targets. The latter is especially important for the elucidation of direct protein targets of potential drug substances for evaluation of their possible side-effects or additional pharmacological application.     

Molecular plant breeding: achievements in green biotechnology and future perspectives

Since one decade ago, transgenic crop plants are globally grown; in 2004, it was estimated to cover a total of 81 Mio ha in 17 countries. At present, four plant species (soybean, maize, cotton and rapeseed) dominate with two traits (herbicide tolerance and insect resistance). The traits on which research concentrates and the constructs which might come next onto the market are outlined. The procedure on how to clone such genes of interest, e.g. via map-based cloning, and some other helpful approaches of green biotechnology, like high throughput techniques and functional markers, are summarised, and a rough calculation about the market value of transgenic crops in US dollars is quoted.     

Drugs based on natural compounds: recent achievements and future perspectives

Phytochemistry Reviews -     

Epigenetics of major psychosis: progress, problems and perspectives

Understanding the origins of normal and pathological behavior is one of the most exciting opportunities in contemporary biomedical research. There is increasing evidence that, in addition to DNA sequence and the environment, epigenetic modifications of DNA and histone proteins may contribute to complex phenotypes. Inherited and/or acquired epigenetic factors are partially stable and have regulatory roles in numerous genomic activities, thus making epigenetics a promising research path in etiological studies of psychiatric disease. In this article, we review recent epigenetic studies examining the brain and other tissues, including those from individuals with schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder (BPD). We also highlight heuristic aspects of the epigenetic theory of psychiatric disease and discuss the future directions of psychiatric epigenetics.     

Organ transplantation: contemporary Sunni Muslim legal and ethical perspectives

The problems that organ transplantation poses to the Muslim mind may be summarized as follows: firstly, a Muslim believes that whatever he owns or possesses has been given to him as an amanah (trust) from Allah. Would it not be a breach of trust to give consent for the removal of parts of one's body, while still alive, for transplantation to benefit one's child, sibling or parent? Secondly, the Shari'ah (Islamic Law) emphasizes the sacredness of the human body. Would it not then be an act of aggression against the human body, tantamount to its mutilation, if organs were to be removed after death for the purpose of transplantation? In this paper I attempt to illustrate how the Muslim jurists have tried to resolve the dilemma of Muslims by providing them with certain guidelines based on the original sources of Islam, namely, the Qur'an and the Prophetic tradition. In order to assist the followers of other religious traditions to grasp the gravity of the problem posed by organ transplantation to the Muslim mind, I begin by discussing the opinions of Muslim jurists on the issue of utilization of human parts. Thereafter, I touch upon the resolutions taken by the various Islamic Juridical Academies on the issue in question. Finally, I shed light upon the inclusion of organ donation in a Muslim Will and the enforceable nature of such a will.