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The understanding of the structure, recognition, and function of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates remains crucial in diverse areas at the interface of biology, chemistry and biotechnology and is driving innovation in biomedical and material sciences. This new volume contains original work and critical reviews covering the current state-of-the-art and scientific advances in carbohydrate research and demonstrates cross-disciplinary areas within the field of glycosciences. Most of the chapters are contributions from speakers of the 14th International Meeting of the Portuguese Carbohydrate Group – GLUPOR 14, held in Caparica, Lisbon in January 2023. GLUPOR international meetings have a long history, with the first taking place in Lisbon in 1995 organized by Professor Amélia Pilar Rauter and resulting from the foundation of the Portuguese Carbohydrate Group of the Portuguese Chemical Society. Following the first meeting, GLUPOR has been held every two years providing a unique opportunity to strengthen collaborations and opening new directives for the carbohydrate community. The topics in Volume 46 cover current methods for stereoselective synthesis of carbohydrates, technologies for increasing the efficiency of glycosylation reactions, value-added carbohydrate-based materials towards more sustainable approaches, molecular recognition and structural-based approaches and bioinformatics to understand microbe–host interactions and to develop new applications in biotechnology and tools in the glycosciences. This set of reports will certainly benefit any researcher who wishes to learn about the latest developments in the carbohydrate field from basic to applied research.

In recent years, there has been a lot of interest in using nanotechnology in medicine to diagnose and cure various infectious diseases. Although the precise mechanism of action is frequently challenged, many nanosized materials have been extensively explored for this purpose, using their innately unique features. Their functionality has also been enhanced by the addition of various coatings, such as those that increase chemical stability and stealth properties or contain targeting agents that lessen off-target effects while producing effective'smart'nanoplatforms for the early detection, treatment, and possibly resolution of diseases. This book aims to compile research and review articles that concentrate on the synthesis, characterization, and applications of nanomaterials, such as nanoparticles, with a focus on investigating novel ways to improve their properties and create new efficient diagnostic, therapeutic, or theranostic approaches with a clear understanding of how they work.

Looking to prevent future outbreaks of deadly pathogens by early detection? Infectious diseases continue to be a challenge that necessitates increased precision in detection and integration to achieve accurate diagnosis at the point of care (PoC). Field-effect transistors (FETs) have been investigated widely as biosensors for pathogen detection, with advantages such as label-free and real-time detection capabilities. These biosensors have: a high level of sensitivity, a remarkable capacity for miniaturization, a molecular minimum limit of detection (LoD), and seamless integration with semiconductor technologyIn this title, we have invited expert scientific researchers to share their experience in this field. This book focuses on the application and possibility of FETs as biosensors, for rapid and real time detection of pathogens that affect human life. The lack of commercially available efficient devices that can be deployed for this task resulted in the recent global spread of the SARS-CoV-19 virus. The book is an attempt to keep interested parties up to date. Aimed at scientists and engineers (researchers, academics, and postgraduate students) who are interested in developing and using BioFET based sensors, the information in this book is crucial to help prevent future outbreaks of pathogens which bring with them significant impacts on human health and wellbeing.

Circadian rhythms have been shown to be ubiquitous and critically important in the experimental laboratory, accounting for the difference between life and death in response to identical stimulus. The partly endogenous nature of circadian rhythms has been well documented and methods for their characterisation have been developed enabling the cellular and molecular mechanisms to be understood. Chronobiology and Chronomedicine aims to provide a review of these mechanisms underlying circadian rhythms and illustrate the role of the brain's suprachiasmatic nuclei in the ‘pace-making'process and the effects caused by ‘clock genes'present in almost all cells. Beyond the mechanisms involved, the book discusses the relationship between body systems, disease, and proper circadian function; in particular, how disruption of the circadian rhythm is associated with ill health and disease status from observations made at the organismic level. The book is organised to be an ideal introduction for the postgraduate in various fields, reviewing developments and outlining methods to show the depth and breadth of chronobiology and chronomedicine, as well as an invaluable companion to researchers and healthcare professionals working in the field with an interest in developing novel therapeutic approaches.

Antibiotic resistance is a global health concern. Strains of pathogenic microorganisms that have developed resistance to multiple antibiotics, such as MRSA, are extremely difficult to treat, and alternative methods for tackling pathogenic microorganisms are in demand. One potential target for new therapeutics is inhibition of quorum sensing: how microorganisms communicate and form biofilms in a density-dependent manner. Inhibiting this system via ‘quorum quenching'(QQ) is a promising route to new pharmaceuticals and for controlling biofilm formation and growth. Quorum sensing also provides interesting possibilities in synthetic biology for producing novel products, biosensors, bioactive molecules, and so on. This book covers the biology of quorum sensing and quenching, and potential sources of QQ enzymes and other inhibitors, as well as an overview of their mechanism and potential biotech applications. The book also covers the potential for new drug development from QQ, covering a range of related topics including protein engineering, imaging and computational studies, and integrated systems. This book is an ideal companion to researchers in chemical biology and medicinal chemistry, particularly those interested in biofilm formation, quorum sensing, novel antimicrobial development, synthetic biology and enzymology.

Focusing on the complexity of the food digestion process from oral cavity to intestine, this book looks at the anatomical intricacies of the digestive system, techniques currently used to study food digestibility, the glycemic index and bioavailability of food components. It also provides a detailed understanding of various modification techniques critical to any food product development, such as modification of food structure, its composition, and size. Being the first of its kind to provide an in-depth idea of various stages of food digestion, whilst linking it with approaches in modifying foods so as to cater to specific food or functional requirements, the book provides an integrated approach. Existing methods to understand the process of food digestion and advances in artificial systems that have been used for such studies are presented, substantiated with findings from scientific publications. Apart from readers from the field of medicine, this book is highly inter-disciplinary and will attract readers from food science, nutrition and food physics.

Modern research in biology increasingly relies on multiple techniques for describing structures and mechanisms. This book provides an overview of the contemporary integrated biology approaches for solving structures and understanding mechanisms of complex biological systems. It includes several methodology chapters discussing the current developments in the areas of cryo-electron microscopy (EM) and cryo-electron tomography (ET), computational biophysics, solution NMR spectroscopy, solid-state NMR spectroscopy and dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), (photo-)chemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization (CIDNP), X-ray crystallography and small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering (SAXS/SANS). Several subsequent chapters demonstrate how these methods are used in synergy to address problems at the forefront of structural biology, with particular emphasis on examples where individual techniques are insufficient. Examples of biological systems include membrane proteins, viral protein assemblies, cytoskeleton protein assemblies, photosynthetic reaction centers, large enzyme complexes and whole cells. The book is targeted to both the current practitioners of structural biology and scientists who are interested in entering the fields of structural biology or biophysical chemistry.

In the human body, there are millions of living microorganisms involved in protecting the body from invaders, helping digestion and regulating moods, but there are also harmful pathogens that cause infectious diseases. For instance, the coronavirus (COVID-19) has caused considerable loss of life since its outbreak. Comprehensive analysis and characterization of microbes is of significant importance to understand the function and role of microorganisms, and rapid detection and identification of unknown pathogens are essential in early diagnosis, treatment monitoring and personalized medicine. Mass spectrometry is a technique to ionize molecules and detect the mass-to-charge ratio of the generated ions. The technique is widely used in hospitals for pathogenic bacteria identification, as well as in environmental science and food science for biosafety control. This book summarizes the most recent development of mass spectrometry techniques in microbial analysis, including mass spectrometry-based microbial identification, bacterial antimicrobial resistance study, data mining algorithm development, omics for microbial research, applications in clinical diagnosis, environmental science and food science, and more. It will guide researchers in the field, and those who are about to enter the field, in the most appropriate methods to characterize microbes and enable their detection.

Amino Acids, Peptides and Proteins is a broad ranging title comprising a selection of comprehensive and critical reviews of significant developments at the biology and chemistry interface. Compiled by leading researchers in their subject, this volume incorporates current trends and emerging areas reflecting the state-of-the-art research in this field. Appealing broadly to researchers in academia and industry, it will be of great benefit to any researcher wanting a succinct reference in this field and looking at the future.

This book delves into the world of natural sources from medicinal plants, microbes, and fungi, to lichen, algae, and clay minerals that have been used for centuries in traditional medicine. These sources are rich in bioactive secondary metabolites that have a wide range of applications in various industries, including cosmetics and personal care products. This book provides a comprehensive guide to secondary metabolites for cosmeceutical purposes, regulatory perspectives for cosmeceuticals in different countries, and allergic responses from these secondary metabolites. Additionally, this book discusses the impact of nanotechnology on cosmetic products such as skin and hair care. Bioprospecting of Natural Sources for Cosmeceuticals is a valuable resource for researchers and graduate students in chemistry, botany, biotechnology, microbiology, cosmetic science, and the pharmaceutical sciences. It is also useful for those researching traditional medicine systems and those in the microbiology, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and nanoscience industries.

There is an increasing awareness that materials and chemicals produced from fossil fuels are not sustainable, both in terms of the pollution caused by the extraction and production processes, and the fact that there is only a finite supply of these fossil fuels. Therefore, there is a strong incentive to find sources for chemicals and materials from source materials that we know we can continue to generate. Plants are a source of a wide variety of chemicals, many with interesting properties, and these chemical feedstocks are considered renewable rather than finite. Green Chemistry and Green Materials from Plant Oils and Natural Acids covers the application of these natural materials in producing polymers, lubricants and plasticisers.

Describing the importance of surfactants in electrochemical investigations related to biologically and environmentally vital chemicals, this book charts the progression of highly responsive electrochemical sensors using surfactants as a modifying agent in the sensor field. It provides contributed chapters from respected researchers on information concerning the activity of target molecules and electron transfer kinetics arising at the surface of the fabricated sensor materials. Surfactant-based electrochemical sensors are of great interest in the quest to find low-cost, fast and highly responsive sensing devices and one aim of this book is to help improve the competence and knowledge in this newly emerging interdisciplinary research area. Attracting an audience of students, academics, industrialists and engineers, it will interest researchers seeking to use non-toxic sensors in their detection challenges.

In recent years, the use of renewable raw materials and natural biopolymers has increased significantly to overcome the issues associated with environmental pollution and dwindling fossil fuel resources. Lipids and proteins are inexpensive, renewable raw materials, which are considered ideal feedstock for the development of a variety of functional materials. This book provides an international viewpoint on recent developments in the utilisation of lipids and proteins together, for the development of functional materials in food engineering, environmental and industry applications. This book presents the cutting-edge research in the utilization of lipids and proteins in food, cosmetics, therapeutics, food packaging, water remediation, biofuels, lubricants, biomaterials, and composite preparations. Researchers, scientists, engineers and students working on lipids and proteins derived materials will benefit from this book, which is highly application oriented. Focusing on the latest developments in the field, this will be the first book to describe lipids and proteins together, allowing it to act as a single reference for researchers working in this area.

Proteins are an important nutrient and ingredient in food as well as in nutritional supplements. The application and take up of food proteins, especially plant proteins, has been limited due to their undesirable sensory properties, e.g. taste, odour, and chalky mouth feel. This will need to change if the availability of meat protein becomes scarcer. Documenting the latest research, this book is the first overview of the recent advances in flavour research of food proteins, with an emphasis on the major plant proteins, e.g. soy and pulse proteins. The topics to be covered include sensory and instrumental characterization of flavour compounds in food proteins, how flavour profiles in food proteins can be formed or altered, research advances of individual food proteins, the use of food protein products as flavouring ingredients, and future trends of flavouring food proteins. There is a growing interest in using plant proteins in food formulation and industrial applications, but no book has yet covered this systematically until now. Summarizing research advances in consumer studies and flavour chemistry that focus on food proteins, the book will discuss the flavour properties and problems in each major and novel food protein source for the academic and industry market.