Are we prepared for animal cell technology in the 21st century?

Large scale animal cell culture for the production of complex therapeutic proteins has been a major success of the biotechnology industry. Today, approximately half of the $ 5 billion annual turnover of the biotechnology industry is based upon this technology, in many cases with reactors of more than 10 m³. As we look towards the 21 st century, however, we can see novel approaches to the production of therapeutic proteins, by means of gene and cellular therapies. These technologies present new engineering challenges to the animal cell technologist. Are we prepared to meet these challenges? The needs include: small-scale reactors for the preparation of autologous cell lines, methods for the production of viruses to be used as vectors in gene therapy, artificial organ and the processing of xenogenic cell lines and tissues for cellular implants in humans. More attention should be given to three-dimensional cell cultures. Mass transfer considerations need to be extended beyond just oxygen transfer, to include cellular communication in small systems; this is becoming increasingly important for the control and optimise growth and product formation. Apart from improvements of large-scale systems, substantial advantages could be gained by studying new methods for the production and delivery of therapeutic proteins, using small-scale cell culture systems. We should adapt teaching, regulatory, patent and clinical infrastructure to meet this challenge in a harmonious way.     

Are community health centers prepared for bioterrorism?

Community health centers (CHCs) are essential in the delivery of primary care services to underserved populations. Given the critical function of CHCs, surprisingly little is known about their role in preparing for or responding to acts of terrorism. This survey-based study examines the state of CHCs in terrorism preparedness and assesses their training needs. Of the administrators who responded to the survey, 87% indicated that their centers had an emergency response or disaster plan. Of those, 78% indicated they had updated their plans within the past year. Among those who had a written plan, 41% addressed bioterrorism preparedness, 38% had contingencies for a mass influx of patients, and 3% indicated that their plans addressed increasing operational capacity. Additionally, while 48% reported having assessed the education and training needs of their professional staff in the area of disease surveillance and reporting, only 24% had assessed these needs in relation to bioterrorism. Our findings suggest that CHCs have made great strides in preparing for some emergencies but that preparedness does not yet extend to specifically include terrorism events. Policy and practice recommendations are included to more fully develop CHCs as a resource.     

Are the H5N1 viruses prepared for inter-human transmission?

<正>Since 1997, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 viruses have caused serious outbreaks in poultry and markets. In human, overall mortality in HPAI H5N1 infection exceeds 60%, but human to human transmission is limited and has been only reported within family members[7,8].There is much concern as to whether H5N1 can enhance its transmission among humans through genetic variation. Further,there is an urgent need to discover the potential mutations in viral proteins that are responsible for inter-human transmission.     

Stem cell therapy for insulin-dependent diabetes: Are we still on the road?

In insulin-dependent diabetes, the islet β cells do not produce enough insulin and the patients must receive exogenous insulin to control blood sugar. However, there are still many deficiencies in exogenous insulin supplementation. Therefore, the replacement of destroyed functional β cells with insulin-secreting cells derived from functional stem cells is a good idea as a new therapeutic idea. This review introduces the development schedule of mouse and human embryonic islets. The differences between mouse and human pancreas embryo development were also listed. Accordingly to the different sources of stem cells, the important research achievements on the differentiation of insulin-secreting β cells of stem cells and the current research status of stem cell therapy for diabetes were reviewed. Stem cell replacement therapy is a promising treatment for diabetes, caused by defective insulin secretion, but there are still many problems to be solved, such as the biosafety and reliability of treatment, the emergence of tumors during treatment, untargeted differentiation and autoimmunity, etc. Therefore, further understanding of stem cell therapy for insulin is needed.     

Exploiting the apoptotic process for management of HIV: Are we there yet?

CD4⁺ T cells die in individuals infected with HIV, either as a result of direct HIV infection or as uninfected innocent bystanders. Possible mechanisms for bystander killing include generation of viral products such as Tat or gp120 and expression of death receptor ligands, such as FasL, that engage functional death receptors on uninfected cells. This review covers the sometimes conflicting in vitro and ex vivo studies that address these possible mechanisms of HIV-associated cell death. It is an intriguing possibility that manipulation of cell death processes, to decrease bystander death or increase death of infected cells, in patients infected with HIV might provide a useful adjunct to antiretroviral therapy.     

Point of Care Testing for the Diagnosis of Fungal Infections: Are We There Yet?

Diagnostic tools for invasive fungal infections have continuously improved within the last decades. Nowadays, cultural methods, antigen testing, and molecular tests, such as polymerase chain reaction, are widely used. These methods, however, are accompanied with different limitations as various availability, various turnaround time or high costs. A new generation of point-of-care test has shown promising results in various studies and may overcome some of these limitations. We therefore reviewed the literature for the most promising new point-of-care tests for invasive aspergillosis (Aspergillus-specific lateral-flow device test, Aspergillus proximity ligation antigen assay), cryptococcosis (cryptococcal lateral-flow assay), and for histoplasmosis (loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay).     

Artificial chromosomes: a blueprint for the future?

Recent developments in molecular genetics have led to the synthesis of an artificial human chromosome. Because the chromosome replicates and divides normally in human cells, this has exciting possibilities in terms of mankind's ability to influence evolutionary processes and to modify the human genome.     

Lung Cancer: Are we up to the Challenge?

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide among both men and women, with more than 1 million deaths annually. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for about 80% of all lung cancers.Although recent advances have been made in diagnosis and treatment strategies, the prognosis of NSCLC patients is poor and it is basically due to a lack of early diagnostic tools.However, in the last years genetic and biochemical studies have provided more information about the protein and gene's mutations involved in lung tumors. Additionally, recent proteomic and microRNA's approaches have been introduced to help biomarker discovery.Here we would like to discuss the most recent discoveries in lung cancer pathways, focusing on the genetic and epigenetic factors that play a crucial role in malignant cell proliferation, and how they could be helpful in diagnosis and targeted therapy.     

Are we stuck in the standards?

To avoid duplication of effort, slow adoption and inefficiency in development, those developing biological standards need to communicate more with each other, attract help from experts in the ontology/standards communities and keep focused on needs of users.     

Are we ready for back-to-nature crop breeding?

Download : Download video (12MB)     

Plectranthus: A plant for the future?

The genus Plectranthus (Lamiaceae) is a significant, prolific and extensively used genus in southern Africa. It plays a dominant role in both horticulture and traditional medicine. Some 12 species are documented for their use in treating ailments by various indigenous peoples of southern Africa. It is a firm favourite in gardens and Plectranthus has been bred to further utilise the remarkable diversity of indigenous South African wildflowers with amenity horticultural potential. Although previously subjected to both horticultural (Van Jaarsveld, 2006) and ethnobotanical (Lukhoba et al., 2006) review, Plectranthus is a genus with economic potential in various sectors, and this article aims to review this potential of southern African species.     

Cancer therapy at the crossroads: which direction for the future?

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy has revealed that cell death in tumors undergoing therapy may follow either from auto-oxidative cellular injury (ACI) or from programmed cell death (apoptosis), depending on the particular form of treatment employed and on its intensity. This short review argues not only in favor of ACI as the preferred mode of cell death, but also for a better understanding of the relationship between the nature of the changes stressed cells undergo and patterns of drug resistance accompanying survival if therapy is to become more successful.