Textile Biotech

Cover illustration: Textile Biotech. Biotechnology now provides new tools such as metabolic engineering, genomics/proteomics/metabolomics and bioinformatics, which allow to improve textile quality, but also to protect the environment in reducing waste output. This special issue on Textile Biotech has been edited by Prof. Cavaco Paolo (University of Minho, Portugal) and is based on selected contributions from participants to the 4th International Conference on Textile Biotechnology (South Korea, June 2006). Hot air balloons © Sue Ashe – FOTOLIA     

Next issue: Methods and Advances in Biotech

The March 2008 issue of BTJ is again entirely devoted to Methods and Advances; featuring articles on: – BRET technology and application to screening assays – Using a commercial DNA extraction kit to obtain RNA for RT-PCR – Method of tracking nanogel particles in vivo and in vitro – RNA interference: An emerging generation of biologicals – Whole genome amplification using single primer PCR – Enzyme restriction and ligation-independent recombination expression vectors – Protoplast isolation and transient gene expression in switchgrass – Roust macroporous matrixes for cell immobilization – Hepatogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells using microfluidic chips – A transformation procedure for the recalcitrant tomato – Bioreactor scale-up and oxygen transfer rate in microbial processes: An overview – Recent research of the genus Aspergillus for food and biotech applications Many of these exciting articles are already available online under “Early View”! A sneak preview of other content can be found under “News”. http://www.biotechnology-journal.com     

Next issue: Mitochondria and ageing

The June 2008 issue of BTJ is devoted to Mitochondria and ageing. Featuring articles on: – Dietary restriction genes involved in energy metabolism – Structural implications of mitochondrial dynamics – Mitochondrial protein quality control: Implications in ageing – Age-related mitochondrial degenerative diseases in humans – The impact of mitochondrial DNA on human life span – Insulin-like growth factor induced signals activate mitochondrial respiration – Senescence factors in Podospora anserina independent of intrinsic senescence – Native-DIGE: A new look at the mitochondrial membrane proteome – Fusion and fission genes and the regulation of mitochondrial dynamics Many of these exciting articles are already available online under “Early View”! A sneak preview of other content can be found under “News”.     

Special highlight: Korean biotech

Government R&D investment in biotechnology Biotechnology in Korea – R&D policy and activities Molecular nutrition in Korea The BK21 project for Functional foods and Nutrigenomics at Yonsei University Korean Biotech facts and figures Institut Pasteur Korea Korean company profiles Korean biotech news     

Systems Biology for Biotech Applications

Cover illustration: Systems Biology for Biotech Applications is the topic of this BTJ special issue edited by Nathan D. Price and Sang Yup Lee. You will find the latest progress on genome-scale in silico models of metabolism, building the blueprint of life and applications for biofuels and bioprocessing. Cover image: degradation, PHA biosynthesis, central metabolic networks (back) and genome-scale metabolic networks (front) in Pseudomonas putida. Courtesy of Tae Yong Kim, KAIST, Korea.     

Next issue (June 2007): Molecular Recognition Technologies

Edited by Professor Alois Jungbauer, Vienna, Austria Highlight articles: – High-throughput protein purification under denaturating conditions – Efficient solubilization of inclusion bodies – Affinity precipitation an option for early capture in bioprocessing – IgG-Fc ligands derived from a soluble peptide library – Recombinant glycerol dehydratase from Klebsiella pneumoniae – In vivo glyco-engineered antibody with improved lytic potential – Plasmid adsorption to anion-exchange matrices – Biotransformation and chromatography ... and much more: Read the next issue of BTJ!     

Biotech networks and awards

Meeting preview: Costa Brava in October – Protein Design and Evolution for Biocatalysis James Briscoe awarded 2008 EMBO Gold Medal Chemical biology: Anti-Alzheimer's agent RTS Life Science wins 2008 North West “innovation in engineering” award Synthetic Biology: Funders move to address social and ethical challenges Novartis to accelerate TB drug development Project highlight: Metagenomic sequencing Biotech round the world: Focus on Uganda     

Biotech Methods and Advances

Cover illustration: Biotech Methods and Advances. This BTJ special issue highlights articles on high-throughput protein production, a phage display method for fully in vitro recombinant antibody screening and a bioreactor setup to optimize biocatalysis. Image: Representative florescent micrograph depicting a living microdroplet of primary heart muscle cells containing therapeutic payloads for delivery through living cells, © Suwan Jayasinghe, London, UK.     

Next issue (February 2008): Focus on Protein Production

Edited by Dr. Alois Jungbauer, Vienna, Austria – Special Articles on Protein Synthesis Pharmacological agents against protein aggregation Amaranth seed protein expression Direct infusion LC-MS for macrotetrolide biosynthesis Silk protein based matrix for the enzymatic conversion of tyrosine to L-DOPA Spectroscopy analysis of inclusion bodies – Regular Articles Antioxidant and free radical scavenging Procyanidins in apple juice – Methods and Advances in Biotech Dielectric measurement of short DNA Enhancement of immunity in mice Use of proteomics in biotechnology Many of these exciting articles are already available online under “Early View”! A sneak preview of other content can be found under “News”.     

Polymer and Textile Biotech

Cover illustration: Polymer and Textile Biotech. Polymer biotechnology has led to highly functional materials with wideranging applications from textiles to medicine. This includes protective clothing, which could for example be used for future space trips, as well as for tissue engineering. This special issue of BTJ, edited by Georg Guebitz, Graz University of Technology, Austria (co-edited by Giuliano Freddi and Artur Cavaco-Paulo) provides a broad overview of novel biotechnological approaches for processing of materials and textiles. Cover image: Astronaut © Lasse Kristensen – Fotolia.com     

Metabolic Modeling and Simulation

Cover illustration Special issue: Metabolic Modeling and Simulation. Modeling of cellular metabolism has been a major area of research for bioengineers and biomedical researchers alike. This Special Issue collects a series of articles on methods of metabolic modeling, modeling of human metabolism, modeling of microbial metabolism and modeling of bioprocesses. This cover is a visual representation of the essence of metabolic engineering. Image: © rolffimages – Fotolia.com.     

Upcoming articles in BTJ

Next issue: RNA-assisted Protein Folding The July 2008 issue of BTJ is devoted to RNA-assisted Protein Folding, edited by Professor Marc Blondel (Brest, France). BTJ will be featuring articles on: – Role of ribosomes in protein folding – Tools for the study of Ribosome-borne Protein Folding Activity (RPFA) – RNA-driven cyclin-dependent kinase regulation – The presence of rRNA sequences in polyadenylated RNAs and its potential functions – Non-coding RNAs in neurodegeneration and stress response – Folding at the rhythm of the rare codon beat Many of these exciting articles are already available online under “Early View”! A sneak preview of other content can be found under “News”. http://www.biotechnology-journal.com     

Biotech Reviews

Cover illustration: Biotech Reviews. This special issue, edited by Sophia Hober (Stockholm, Sweden) covers review articles on key areas of biotechnology, synthetic biology, metabolic engineering as well as protein and biofuel engineering, nanobiotechnology, siRNA therapeutics and food biotechnology. Cover image: SPDM/localization microscopy of nanostructures in human cell nuclei, H2A proteins (red) and Snf2H proteins (green) in a human osteosarcoma cell nucleus (U2OS cells), provided by Manuel Gunkel, Heidelberg, Germany, taken from the Review on superresolution imaging by Cremer et al. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/biot.201100031 .     

Biotech in Korea

Cover illustration: Biotech in Korea. This special issue of BTJ is edited by our new co-Editor-in-Chief Sang Yup Lee from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology in Daejon. Featured are all aspects of bioeconomy, bioindustry and biotech research in Korea. Images: © http://mbel.kaist.ac.kr (background image), © 2001–2004 by IMGCLUB (Korean fan dance), © http://blog.naver.com/rapkyo4u (the eaves).     

Next issue (April 2007): Milk Processing

Edited by Prof. Knut Heller, Karlsruhe, Germany. Highlight articles: – Bacteriophages in dairy products: Pros and cons – Liberation of bioactive peptides from milk proteins – Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus for yoghurt with mild taste – Prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharides production using Lactobacillus reuteri – Lactobacillus kefiri biotransformation of pentoxifylline – Modification of milk proteins by microbial transglutaminase ... and much more: Read the next issue of BTJ!     

Next issue (August 2007): Role of Kinases in Neuronal Function

Edited by Professor Marc Blondel, Brest, France Highlight articles: Role and regulation of Cdk5 in – neurofibrillary degeneration and neuronal death: the missing link to cell cycle reactivation – neuronal signaling, plasticity, and drug abuse – dendrite and synapse development – Cerebral ischemia, cell cycle elements ... and much more: Read the next issue of BTJ!     

Biotech in the financial crisis

Cover illustration: Biotech in the financial crisis. This special issue of Biotechnology Journal covers how the current financial turmoil creates problems but also chances for biotech. Forum articles and biotech highlights ask whether biotech can rescue economy and environment (green growth). Image © PhotoDisc, Inc.     

Next issue (April 2008): Novel Approaches to Drug Discovery in Signal Transduction

Edited by Lodewijk Dekker, Nottingham, UK – Computational chemistry approaches – Cell-based assays for G-Protein-coupled Receptors – Cell-based label-free technologies Methods and Advances in Biotech – Application of proteomics in biotechnology – Mining marine biological wastes for bioactive molecules – PCR-based strategy to express endogenous protein levels in yeast – Method for tracking nanogel particles – Gene expression studies on bio-electrosprayed primary cardiac myocytes Many of these exciting articles are already available online under “Early View”! A sneak preview of other content can be found under “News”. http://www.biotechnology-journal.com     

Next issue (September 2007): Talking Biotech with the Public – including a special FREE podcast!

Edited by Dr. Kristina Sinemus, Darmstadt, Germany Highlight articles: – Public perceptions of biotechnology – Future societal issues in industrial biotechnology – The co-existence debate in Europe – The Co-Extra website – Bioethics, GM crops and intellectual property – Patent scenarios for the future – Experiences in implementation of biosafety systems – Transparent communication strategy on GMOs – Options for a rational dialogue on the acceptance of biotechnology – Attitudes that predict acceptance of genetic engineering in Australia – Biotechnology: the language of multiple views in Maori communities – Science – or not? The scientific status of biotechnology ... and much more: Read the next issue of BTJ!     

Biotech Crossroads: Singapore

Cover illustration: Singapore Biotech Crossroads, a BTJ special issue edited by Dr. Michael Entzeroth, Pharma Resources Asia Pte Ltd, Singapore. Highlights include articles about Singapore's biomedical sciences landscape, UK-Singapore relationships in life sciences, oncology and drug discovery, bioprocessing technology and much more. Image©Photodisc Inc.