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Genetic cardiomyopathies are disorders of the cardiac muscle, most often explained by pathogenic mutations in genes encoding sarcomere, cytoskeleton, or ion channel proteins. Clinical phenotypes such as heart failure and arrhythmia are classically treated with generic drugs, but aetiology‐specific and targeted treatments are lacking. As a result, cardiomyopathies still present a major burden to society, and affect many young and older patients. The Translational Committee of the Heart Failure Association (HFA) and the Working Group of Myocardial Function of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) organized a workshop to discuss recent advances in molecular and physiological studies of various forms of cardiomyopathies. The study of cardiomyopathies has intensified after several new study setups became available, such as induced pluripotent stem cells, three‐dimensional printing of cells, use of scaffolds and engineered heart tissue, with convincing human validation studies. Furthermore, our knowledge on the consequences of mutated proteins has deepened, with relevance for cellular homeostasis, protein quality control and toxicity, often specific to particular cardiomyopathies, with precise effects explaining the aberrations. This has opened up new avenues to treat cardiomyopathies, using contemporary techniques from the molecular toolbox, such as gene editing and repair using CRISPR‐Cas9 techniques, antisense therapies, novel designer drugs, and RNA therapies. In this article, we discuss the connection between biology and diverse clinical presentation, as well as promising new medications and therapeutic avenues, which may be instrumental to come to precision medicine of genetic cardiomyopathies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By using the thin‐film transistor (TFT) technology, the oligo nucleotides array has been proved to be achieved in‐situ on a throughput matrix backplane of 16*16, with oligonucleotide lengths reaching 150mers, and the yield of each oligo has surpassed tens of fmol per pixel. This TFT‐based methods effectively balance the synthesis throughput with the loading capacity and offer a significantly lower cost for higher quality DNA for various applications in molecular biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) rises to epidemic proportions, major steps in patient management and therapeutic development are badly needed. With the current position paper we seek to update our view on HFpEF as a highly complex systemic syndrome, from risk factors and mechanisms to long-term clinical manifestations. We will revise recent advances in animal model development, experimental set-ups and basic and translational science approaches to HFpEF research, highlighting their drawbacks and advantages. Directions are provided for proper model selection as well as for integrative functional evaluation from the in vivo setting to in vitro cell function testing. Additionally, we address new research challenges that require integration of higher-order inter-organ and inter-cell communication to achieve a full systems biology perspective of HFpEF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Encouraging undergraduate students to access, read, and analyze current primary literature can positively impact learning, especially in advanced courses. The incorporation of literature into coursework typically involves reading and responding to full research reports. Such exercises have clear value as students make connections between experiments and are able to probe and critique scientific logic. The exclusive use of full papers, though, may reinforce certain students' tendencies to rely on textual clues rather than a critical analysis of the actual data presented. I propose that structured activities requiring students to focus on individual parts of research papers, even on a single figure, are beneficial in a literature-centered advanced undergraduate course, because they promote the deep reading that is critical to scientific discourse. In addition, I describe how one such focused assignment boosted learning and was well received by students in a second-semester biochemistry course. © 2013 by The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 42(1):1-5, 2014 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the well‐accepted ways of introducing undergraduates to the method of scientific inquiry is to introduce them to primary literature. A matter of concern is that undergraduate students of Indian universities are generally not trained to read primary literature. We combined traditional teaching and student‐centered approach in a 3‐day module for introducing first‐year students to critical reading of primary literature. This article describes the design of the module, the method of assessment of student performance, the learning outcomes, and student feedback. We received positive feedback from students and observed significant improvement in their understanding of the rationale and results of the research paper under consideration. The module may be viewed as an example of a simple introductory activity to enthuse and initiate college students to scientific thinking and research paper reading. © 2019 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 47(5):581–588, 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bibliometric analysis of the Brazilian periodical Journal of Biochemistry Education (JBE) covered the 117 articles published in 15 volumes in the period 2001–2017. Our results showed a positive trend in JBE publications with a significant increase in the number of articles since 2014, which can be related to the increase in research groups working in this area. The Southeast region of Brazil was the most productive one mainly due to the contribution of papers from institutions located in the State of São Paulo. Only four articles aimed the undergraduate courses (87.0%) showing methodological approaches to teach biochemistry (51.3%) and laboratory exercises (18.8%) among others. Most of the 332 authors contributed to a single article (87.7%) and just 3% of them published more than twice in JBE. The majority of the JBE articles had at least one citation in Google Scholar. There is also a great variety in the references used by the authors. Our analysis showed that JBE is an important peer reviewed publication aimed to improve teaching and learning of Biochemistry in Brazil. © 2019 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 47(3):249–256, 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays Molecular Cell Biology (MCB) must be taught as science is practiced. Even though there are several approaches based on scientific practices, a key aspect is to define the purpose of each of these teaching strategies and, most importantly, their implementation. Our goal was to train students to acquire, understand, and communicate new scientific knowledge in the field. The main feature of our new teaching methodology was progressive training in scientific practices associated with a back‐and‐forward interplay between activities and assessments. The methodology was implemented over 4 years, in students attending the MCB course of the undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences. In the first two modules, the students were prepared to comprehend MCB concepts and techniques and to experience activities based on scientific practices. In the third module, the students analyzed a primary paper in‐depth. They were assessed by midterm exams based on a primary paper, written laboratory reports, and the oral presentation of a scientific paper. Our teaching proposal was evaluated through the students' academic performance and by their opinion on the teaching methodology. Most students were satisfied since they improved their acquisition of concepts, their interpretation and integration of scientific knowledge, and developed skills to communicate scientific knowledge in writing and orally. The novelty of transversal interconnections and progressive training in scientific practices provides students with skills in acquiring and understanding new scientific information, even beyond the MCB course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to an article on a report from the Working Group of the Molecular Biology Society of Japan that was published in one of the previous issues.

We developed a curriculum for an upper‐level molecular biology course‐based undergraduate research laboratory class funded by a National Science Foundation CAREER grant that focuses on identifying new small proteins in the bacterium, Escherichia coli. Our CURE class has been continually offered each semester for the last 10 years, with multiple instructors collaboratively developing and implementing their own pedagogical approach while maintaining the same overall scientific goal and experimental strategy. In this paper, we delineate the experimental strategy for our molecular biology CURE laboratory class, describe a range of pedagogical approaches implemented by multiple instructors, and provide recommendations for teaching the class. The purpose of our paper is to share our experiences both in developing and teaching a molecular biology CURE laboratory class based on small protein identification and in creating a curriculum and support system that allows traditional, non‐traditional, and under‐represented students to participate in authentic research projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our research activities would be better served if they were communicated in a manner that is openly accessible to the public and all researchers. The research we share is often limited to representative data included in research papers—science would be much more efficient if all reproducible research data were shared alongside detailed methods and protocols, in the paradigm called Open Science. On the other hand, one primary function of research journals is to select manuscripts of good quality, verify the authenticity of the data and its impact, and deliver to the appropriate audience for critical evaluation and verification. In the current paradigm, where publication in a subset of journals is intimately linked to research evaluation, a hypercompetitive "market" has emerged where authors compete to access a limited number of top‐tier journals, leading to high rejection rates. Competition among publishers and scientific journals for market dominance resulted in an increase in both the number of journals and the cost of publishing and accessing scientific papers. Here we summarize the current problems and potential solutions from the development of AI technology discussed in the seminar at the 46th Annual Meeting of the Molecular Biology Society of Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID‐19 pandemic is a huge challenge to education systems. Most governments around the world have temporarily closed schools, universities, and colleges. At the same time, teachers and students are encouraged to use the online and distance learning programs and platforms as an alternative. In the present study, we proposed a series of innovative solutions in Medical Molecular Biology education during the COVID‐19 pandemic in China, including a flipped classroom model, live streaming course, chat Apps, and scientific papers on COVID‐19 as additional learning material. Our results demonstrated that these innovations not only help teachers to maintain the teaching process as usual but also be useful for protecting students from psychological trauma. Our study indicates that online education with a well‐designed workflow for conducting provides an alternative approach for teachers to maintain quality education during the onset of the emerging crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One benefit of a computational Grid is the ability to run high-performance applications over distributed resources simply and securely. We demonstrated this benefit with an experiment in which we studied the protein-folding process with the CHARMM molecular simulation package over a Grid managed by Legion, a Grid operating system. High-performance applications can take advantage of Grid resources if the Grid operating system provides both low-level functionality as well as high-level services. We describe the nature of services provided by Legion for high-performance applications. Our experiences indicate that human factors continue to play a crucial role in the configuration of Grid resources, underlying resources can be problematic, Grid services must tolerate underlying problems or inform the user, and high-level services must continue to evolve to meet user requirements. Our experiment not only helped a scientist perform an important study, but also showed the viability of an integrated approach such as Legion's for managing a Grid. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presently, a variety of policies and measures has implemented to enhance the scientific research and innovation ability of medical students, but in the process of practice, there are many problems, such as they lack of independent topic selection ability, weak scientific research skills, lack of autonomous learning ability, the research results are simple and ineffective, limited teacher guidance time and so on. This paper attempted to build an effective model for the promotion of medical students' scientific research and innovation ability, in order to establish an efficacy evaluation model of the "Medical students' Innovative Scientific Research Program." Undergraduates, graduate assistants, and tutors were interviewed with the Behavioral Event Interview technique, and a questionnaire of efficacy evaluation characteristics concluded from the interviews was formed. The questionnaire was conducted on medical students in the Medical students' Innovative Scientific Research Program, and the constructed model was analyzed using reliability analysis, validity analysis, and variation analysis. At the same time, the experimental teaching models are summarized and combed, and compared with other methods such as independent sample test. The results show the model could effectively evaluate the efficacy of the Medical students' Innovative Scientific Research Program and its teaching model is effective in cultivating medical students' learning and scientific research ability. It can provide theoretical support and practical reference for the evaluation and reform of the teaching modes related to the cultivation of scientific and innovative ability of medical students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical immunosensors comprise the merging of two different disciplines: molecular biology and electrochemistry. This review explains in depth the main parts of electrochemical immunosensors and how the enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been integrated into sophisticated "lab‐on‐a‐chip" and "point‐of‐care" devices. It also reviews how nanotechnology has been a powerful tool for achieving lower detection limits, more signal amplification, and constructing label‐free devices. It finally explores the new perspectives on electrochemical immunosensors to integrate them in novel paper microfluidic devices called EμPADs. Colleagues introducing themselves to the topic for the first time will find in this review a comprehensive revision of how the basics of the technology have given rise to the emerging topic of EμPADs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lists research papers scheduled to be published in the"European Journal of Biochemistry," in 1989. Topics; Authors; Data presented.

There have been numerous calls for improved pedagogical practices in biological education, and there is a clear need for such improvements in ecology and related curricula. Most ecology‐related texts lack pedagogy and are designed to be content‐rich. National initiatives, such as Vision & Change, provide guidance on undergraduate biology education, including increasing use of evidence‐based active learning, and taking a more conceptual and science practice skills approach. Biology education research is rich with evidence‐based teaching practices, which reveal that active learning approaches implemented in thoughtful ways lead to strong learning gains relative to lecture‐based course delivery. CREATE (Consider, Read, Elucidate the hypothesis, Analyze and interpret data, Think of the next Experiment) integrates evidence‐based active pedagogical practices into one approach to STEM education that focuses heavily on the process of science and science practice skills rather than content delivery by replacing the textbook with selected journal articles. The approach focuses on deep reading and analysis of primary literature; immersing students in the literature is an advantage of the pedagogy. CREATE was developed and tested in other biological disciplines (genetics and molecular biology) that have long been at the forefront of pedagogical best practices in biology. We transformed two upper‐level undergraduate ecological courses (Conservation Biology, and Biodiversity and Ecology) into CREATE courses. We provide examples of assignments, student work, and assessments of the approach, illustrating the various ways CREATE can be successfully implemented. The approach can be adopted in part, to ease into it and test it out, or in whole. We recommend that ecology teachers consider making their courses more active, if they have not already done so; adopting pedagogical practices embedded within CREATE can be a way to achieve active learning. The CREATE approach and other evidence‐based pedagogical best practices lead to strong learning gains and more inclusive learning environments. National initiatives, such as Vision & Change, provide guidance on undergraduate biology education, including increasing use of evidence‐based active learning. CREATE (Consider, Read, Elucidate the hypothesis, Analyze and interpret data, Think of the next Experiment) integrates evidence‐based active pedagogical practices into one approach that focuses on the process of science, science practice skills, and deep reading of the primary literature. We transformed two upper‐level undergraduate ecological courses (Conservation Biology, and Biodiversity and Ecology) into CREATE courses and provided examples of assignments, student work, and assessments, illustrating the various ways in which CREATE can be successfully implemented. The CREATE approach and other evidence‐based pedagogical best practices lead to strong learning gains and more inclusive learning environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is a letter to the editor in response to a recent paper on the genetic analysis of ancient Patagonians. The authors respectfully disagree with the conclusions of the previous study, specifically regarding the genetic connections with other South American regions. They argue that the phylogenetic analysis does not support the claimed affiliations with Peruvian populations and propose an alternative explanation for the genetic patterns observed. The authors also express their preference for using median-joining networks in phylogenetic analysis. [Extracted from the article]

Objective: This narrative review illuminates on the application of single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq) and spatial transcriptomics (ST) in periodontitis and highlights the probability of relating cell population and gene signatures to the pathogenesis of the disease for a better diagnosis. Methods: An electronic search of the literature in the PubMed database for the keywords, "single cell sequencing" OR "spatial transcriptomics" and "periodontitis" OR "gingiva" OR "oral mucosa" yielded 486 research articles and reviews. After filtering duplicates and careful curation, 22 papers conducted in humans were retained. Results: The molecular mechanisms underlying periodontitis are complex and involve the interaction of multiple cells and various gene expressions. Most residing cells in periodontal tissues participate in maintaining homeostasis and health, while in addition to infiltrating immune cells contribute to the fight against the bacterial insult. Conclusion: scRNA‐seq and ST have provided new insights into the cellular and molecular changes associated with periodontitis for a better diagnosis and clinical outcome. New functions of cells and genes are revealed with these techniques; however, no cells or gene signatures are attributed to periodontitis so far. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An integrated and projected‐based laboratory course was described, integrating interconnected knowledge points and biochemistry and molecular biology techniques on a research project‐based system. The program, which served as an essential extension of theoretical courses to practice, was conducted with a sophomore of basic medical science who had completed the course in medical biochemistry and molecular biology. This course engaged students in learning "genetic manipulation" and "recombinant DNA technology" to understand the target gene's role in disease mechanics, thus altering evaluation and treatment for clinical disease. Students could master applied and advanced techniques, such as cell culture, transfection, inducing exogenous fusion protein expression, purifying protein and its concentration assay, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and western bot analysis. This laboratory exercise links laboratory practices with the methods of current basic research. Students need to complete the experimental design report and laboratory report, which could be advantageous for improving their ability to write lab summaries and scientific papers in the future. The reliability and validity analyses were conducted on the questionnaire, and we examined students' satisfaction with the course and their gains from the course. The student feedback was generally positive, indicating that the exercise helped consolidate theoretical knowledge, increase scientific research enthusiasm, and provide a powerful tool to be a better person and make informed decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A detailed analysis of MYCOLIT, a comprehensive bibliographic database of mycorrhizal research containing almost 12000 references, showed some interesting trends over the past 40yr. During the last four decades, the average number of papers published per year were 84, 110, 214 and 488, respectively. The current rate of publication is about 700 papers per year. Much research has focused on nutrient dynamics, inoculum production, mycorrhiza formation, and morphology and physiology of both vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizas (VAM) and ectomycorrhizas (EM). There has been a shift of attention from Em to VAM since 1970. Very little work has been done on the other kinds of mycorrhizas. Barriers to progress in some areas, such as our inability to grow the Glomales in axenic culture, have stimulated a large number of methodological papers over the past decade, while the genetics and molecular biology, especially of VAM, have been neglected. Ecological studies were more numerous than any other kind. However, there was a bias towards laboratory studies as opposed to field studies. Within field studies, researchers focused on agricultural ecosystems, while neglecting disturbed and especially natural systems. This analysis also suggests that we may know less than we think about mycorrhizas, since we have consistently base broad hypotheses and conclusions on studies of a small number of taxa. Future research should be directed towards correcting the various imbalances revealed by this analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses zone electrophoresis, one of the most frequently used tools in molecular biology, to explore two ideas derived from Hans-Jörg Rheinberger's reflections on experiments. First, the constraining role played by technical objects--instrumentation and material conditions--in the production of knowledge or epistemic things. Second, the production of interconnected experimental systems by such technical objects, which results in the unexpected entanglement of research fields and experimental cultures. By the beginning of the 1960s, the inception of zone electrophoresis in laboratories around the world transformed--some say, revolutionized--the study of proteins. Even today, electrophoresis continues to open research venues and questions in biomedicine, molecular biology, human genetics, and in the field of molecular evolution. In my essay, I seek to look at the interconnected lives of zone electrophoresis and address the broader social, and even global context, in which this apparently humble technique became a salient tool in the production of biological knowledge. In so doing, I aim to take the past and present of the history and historiography of experimental systems to the future, where experiments and technologies are interrogated as they are used in different geographies and contexts, including contexts of poverty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The promise of using immersive technologies in learning has increasingly been attracting researchers' and practitioners' attention. However, relevant empirical works are usually conducted in fully controlled Virtual Reality (VR) laboratories, as opposed to conventional settings. This quasi‐experimental study compares the effectiveness of video learning resources to that of stereoscopic 360° VR, as supplements to the traditional instructional approach. The potential of such methods was examined in high school settings, in the context of the 'Life and Evolution' module, with participants (n = 70) divided equally into control and experimental groups. As a point of reference (control condition), we considered the adoption of Video Learning Resources, as students are more acquainted with this instructional method. In the intervention approach (experimental condition), students adopted the use of low‐end mobile‐VR (VeeR Mini VR Goggles). The key findings indicate differences in the learning motivation, confidence and satisfaction, but no statistically significant difference was identified regarding the factual or conceptual knowledge gains. The study offers insights on the potential of the investigated technologies in the subject of secondary school Biology and further provides implications for theory and practice. Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topicResearchers' interest over the potential of Virtual Reality on different STEM disciplines is increasing consistently.An increasing number of efforts can be identified discussing the integration of multimedia learning resources in the secondary school context.Empirical studies on the subject of Biology are focusing on students' academic performance and achievement but not on learning motivation and satisfaction.What this paper addsThis quasi‐experimental study comparatively examines academic performance, with the focus being on learning motivation and satisfaction, across different modalities (stereoscopic 360° Virtual Reality applications‐VR, Video Learning Recourses‐VLR).The findings demonstrate that both instructional methods are sufficient in enhancing students' knowledge acquisition and academic performance.The adoption of stereoscopic 360° VR influences students' learning motivation and impacts long‐term memory retention.Implications for practice and policyEducators are advised to consider the systematic adoption of "immersive" multimedia tools to enhance the subject of Biology as they can greatly encourage scientific inquiry.Instructional designers are advised to adopt open educational resources aligned to the curriculum of the local context.Educational researchers are advised to integrate stereoscopic 360°‐VR solutions in the conventional classroom settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genomics is a core course for bioscience‐majored undergraduates in many universities. However, the teaching of genomics faces many challenges such as the need for rapid updating of related knowledge, content overlap between genomics and molecular biology, lack of motivation of students in the traditional passive classroom‐learning model, the difficulty of presenting omics data analysis processes through lectures, and the challenges of developing the research abilities of senior students. Here we report our updated genomics course design and the teaching practices we used to address these issues, including: use of the presentation‐assimilation‐discussion (PAD) pedagogy and opportunities for students to practice real data analysis and intensive reading of research papers. The resultant positive outcomes and problems are also discussed. © 2019 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 47(6):632–637, 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to understand (a) what factors make academic knowledge‐intensive organizations (KIOs) susceptible to knowledge corruption and (b) when and how academic KIOs should introduce external governance of interdisciplinary academic knowledge production to ensure outcome quality. This study investigates molecular mutation research as an example of a body of research in which KIOs worked together with commercially motivated organizations and where this altered “ownership” claims made academic scientists less likely to focus on the truth. The paper presents propositions and hypotheses and conducts a retrospective study. The results contribute to governance frameworks of KIOs by providing evidence that questions into the prevailing arrangements for the academic science. Governance principles to be applied include the need for an overarching governance framework in which a field‐specific open approach with a methodological underpinning help to reduce corruptive forces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: After the inaugural Pan‐American‐Evo‐Devo meeting (2015, Berkeley), I showed how major concerns about evo‐devo (Evolutionary Developmental Biology) research were demonstrated by a simple, non‐biased quantitative analysis of the titles/abstracts of that meeting's talks. Here, I apply the same methodology to the titles/abstracts of the recent Pan‐American‐Evo‐Devo meeting (2017, Calgary). The aim is to evaluate if the concerns raised by me in that paper and by other authors have been addressed and/or if there are other types of differences between the two meetings that may reflect trends within the field of evo‐devo. This analysis shows that the proportion of presentations referring to “morphology”, “organism”, “selection”, “adaptive”, “phylogeny”, and their derivatives was higher in the 2017 meeting, which therefore had a more “organismal” feel. However, there was a decrease in the use of “evolution”/its derivatives and of macroevolutionary terms related to the tempo and mode of evolution in the 2017 meeting. Moreover, the disproportionately high use of genetic/genomic terms clearly shows that evo‐devo continues to be mainly focused on devo, and particularly on “Geno”, that is, on molecular/genetic studies. Furthermore, the vast majority of animal evo‐devo studies are focused only on hard tissues, which are just a small fraction of the whole organism—for example, only 15% of the tissue mass of the human body. The lack of an integrative approach is also evidenced by the lack of studies addressing conceptual/long‐standing broader questions, including the links between ecology and particularly behavior and developmental/evolutionary variability and between evo‐devo and evolutionary medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microorganisms known as psychrophiles/psychrotrophs, which survive in cold climates, constitute majority of the biosphere on Earth. Their capability to produce cold‐active enzymes along with other distinguishing characteristics allows them to survive in the cold environments. Due to the relative ease of large‐scale production compared to enzymes from plants and animals, commercial uses of microbial enzyme are alluring. The ocean depths, polar, and alpine regions, which make up over 85% of the planet, are inhabited to cold ecosystems. Microbes living in these regions are important for their metabolic contribution to the ecosphere as well as for their enzymes, which may have potential industrial applications. Cold‐adapted microorganisms are a possible source of cold‐active enzymes that have high catalytic efficacy at low and moderate temperatures at which homologous mesophilic enzymes are not active. Cold‐active enzymes can be used in a variety of biotechnological processes, including food processing, additives in the detergent and food industries, textile industry, waste‐water treatment, biopulping, environmental bioremediation in cold climates, biotransformation, and molecular biology applications with great potential for energy savings. Genetically manipulated strains that are suitable for producing a particular cold‐active enzyme would be crucial in a variety of industrial and biotechnological applications. The potential advantage of cold‐adapted enzymes will probably lead to a greater annual market than for thermo‐stable enzymes in the near future. This review includes latest updates on various microbial source of cold‐active enzymes and their biotechnological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on "The Journal of Phytopathology." The journal publishes original scientific articles and short communications on all aspects of phytopathology on the population, organism, physiological, biochemical and molecular genetic level. Only papers containing new and significant information that advance knowledge in a relevant field of phytopathology and are written to a high standard according to the basic formal rules of scientific publishing will be considered for publication. The journal is eminently suitable for university teachers, researchers in universities, research institutes, and industry as well as for postgraduate and advanced students.

This document is a profile of David L. Des Marais, an Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at MIT. Des Marais discusses his interest in plant science, which was sparked by observing plants in Death Valley National Park. He also explains his decision to pursue a career in research and his motivation for mentoring students. Des Marais considers his father, a retired geochemist, to be a role model and discusses his favorite papers from the New Phytologist journal. He concludes by sharing his favorite plant, the Coastal Redwood. [Extracted from the article]

Incorporating scientific literacy into inquiry driven research is one of the most effective mechanisms for developing an undergraduate student's strength in writing. Additionally, discovery-based laboratories help develop students who approach science as critical thinkers. Thus, a three-week laboratory module for an introductory cell and molecular biology course that couples inquiry-based experimental design with extensive scientific writing was designed at Westminster College to expose first year students to these concepts early in their undergraduate career. In the module students used scientific literature to design and then implement an experiment on the effect of cellular stress on protein expression in HeLa cells. In parallel the students developed a research paper in the style of the undergraduate journal BIOS to report their results. HeLa cells were used to integrate the research experience with the Westminster College 'Next Chapter' first year program, in which the students explored the historical relevance of HeLa cells from a sociological perspective through reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. In this report I detail the design, delivery, student learning outcomes, and assessment of this module, and while this exercise was designed for an introductory course at a small primarily undergraduate institution, suggestions for modifications at larger universities or for upper division courses are included. Finally, based on student outcomes suggestions are provided for improving the module to enhance the link between teaching students skills in experimental design and execution with developing student skills in information literacy and writing. © 2015 by The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 43(2):110-120, 2015. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the call for research papers in the field of clinical allergy. Major advances in the understanding of cellular and mediator mechanisms of allergic disease and the molecular characterization of allergens; Growth of interest in molecular biology; Means of addressing important clinical issues in the practice of allergy and clinical immunology.

This review aims to provide an update on the current scientific understanding of various aspects of White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) formation, diagnostic procedures, transmission, ecological effects, pathophysiology and management strategies. In terms of production and financial benefits, the WSSV has been the most virulent in shrimp and several other crustacean sectors around the globe. It spreads vertically from diseased broodstock to post‐larvae and horizontally by cannibalism, invertebrate vectors, freshwater and sediments. In the transfer of white spot disease (WSD) in newly stocked ponds, the survivability of WSSV in sediment is the most important variable. In typical cultural conditions, it is a highly infectious pathogen capable of inflicting total death within 3–10 days after an outbreak. Some of the current biosecurity strategies used to keep diseases out of shrimp ponds such as pond water disinfection, quarantine of new stocks before stocking and broader usage of specific pathogen‐free shrimp. The sequencing and characterisation of various WSSV strains have provided details about pathogen biology, pathogenicity and disease. To develop successful control methods, knowledge of these characteristics is essential. In several shrimp‐producing countries in Asia and the Americas, the infections produced by the WSSV have had disastrous socio‐economic consequences. As a result of international trade or migration of diseased species, the World Animal Health Organization recognised several illnesses as posing a substantial hazard to farmed shrimp. WSD is receiving much scientific research due to the potential economic effects of the virus. Research is now being done to understand better the molecular biology and pathophysiology of WSSV, as well as how to treat and prevent the virus. However, further study should be conducted in countries with more resilient host species to understand their role in mitigating disease impacts since these revelations may aid in developing a WSD treatment. The goal of this paper is to focus the molecular techniques reported till now to detect WSSV on shrimp more conveniently. Moreover, the implication of biosecurity measures to control and prevent WSSV on shrimp also mentioned along with the latest prevention application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe an advanced, inquiry driven undergraduate course in Cancer Biology that combines faculty lectures typical of undergraduate courses with literature‐driven discussions typical of graduate courses. As a capstone course, one goal of this course is to integrate knowledge from previous coursework in physiology, cell and molecular biology, genetics, and chemistry, so that students acquire a state‐of‐the‐art understanding of cancer and cancer treatment. A related goal is for students to learn, from the primary literature, how science is performed and how new scientific knowledge is used to improve cancer treatment. We report on the development of this course and the methods used to accomplish the course goals. We present the results of a 5‐year survey that provides a detailed picture of the demographics of the class and demonstrates that the course results in improved understanding of both cancer biology and how science is performed. Student responses to our survey strongly support the use of original literature as a teaching tool. We suggest that incorporation of primary literature into advanced undergraduate science courses is an effective approach for improving scientific literacy. © 2019 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 47(4):408–416, 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laboratory reports written in the style of a standard scientific article are commonly used to assess student learning in biochemistry laboratory courses. While most students can complete the Materials and Methods or Results sections successfully, many have difficulty with the Introduction and Discussion. They fail to place their data in a larger experimental context or to compare their results to those previously published. To address this issue in a laboratory course focusing on l‐lactate dehydrogenase, a new exercise was introduced that was designed 1) to provide more background information about l‐lactate dehydrogenase; 2) to give students additional experience in using PubMed and Web of Science to locate specific papers about l‐lactate dehydrogenase; 3) to introduce the major bioinformatics databases at the National Center for Biological Information, ExPASy (Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics), BRENDA (Braunschweig Enzyme Database), and the Protein Data Bank; 4) to allow students to recover detailed information about l‐lactate dehydrogenases; and 5) to provide practice in reading a research article that is similar to what they do in the lab. The students completed a data sheet summarizing these activities and then prepared three laboratory reports. The lab reports improved over the course of the semester and were qualitatively better than in past years. The materials developed for this laboratory course can be adapted to similar projects that use another protein as a model system. They could also be modified for use in Course‐based Undergraduate Research Experiences or research projects for undergraduate or graduate students. © 2018 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 46(6):619–622, 2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thomas Cavalier‐Smith, born in London, U.K., on October 21, 1942, was a Professor of Evolutionary Biology in the Department of Zoology at the University of Oxford at the time of his death on March 19, 2021. Credited with at least 235 research works and over 20,000 citations, Cavalier‐Smith was a well‐known and widely respected scientist who took a bold and detailed approach to understanding major transitions in evolution, including the role of endosymbiosis. He was noted for his willingness to question theories and constantly accumulate and evaluate data, motivated by science for the sake of science. This paper reviews Thomas Cavalier‐Smith's major accomplishments, examines his theoretical approaches, and provides highlights from the "Tree of Life Symposium" sponsored by the International Society of Protistologists (ISOP) and the International Society of Evolutionary Protistology (ISEP) on June 21, 2021, to celebrate Tom's life and work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The special issue of Insect Molecular Biology focuses on the role of epigenetics in insects in changing environments. Epigenetic information helps translate environmental signals into changes in gene expression, allowing insects to develop phenotypes suited to their surroundings. The issue includes nine papers that investigate a variety of insect species and cover topics such as epigenetic regulation during development, under environmental stress, and across generations. The studies explore the importance of DNA methylation and histone modifications in insect genomes, and highlight the potential for epigenetic changes to influence insect life history, reproductive function, and responses to temperature stress. The issue concludes with a commentary on the importance of epigenetic information in agriculturally important insect pests. Overall, the special issue provides new insights into the field of insect epigenetics, but further research is needed to fully understand the function and nature of epigenetic information in insects. [Extracted from the article]

The synthesis of quantitative genetics and molecular genetics is transforming research in the behavioural sciences. The ability to measure inherited DNA differences directly has led to polygenic scores and to new methods to estimate heritability and genetic correlations. This issue provides examples of how these advances can be appllied to research on gene‐environment interplay in developmental psychopathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the moment, there are approx. 100 published papers investigating halohydrin dehalogenases from different aspects; enzymology, molecular biology and reactions they can catalyse. Unquestionably, these enzymes are of great importance and hold an immense potential due to the wide spectrum of different compounds that can be synthesized by their action. These compounds, such as chiral epoxides, β‐substituted alcohols, oxazolidinones etc. significantly enrich the chemist's toolbox and, moreover, open the possibility for the synthesis of even more complex compounds. Still, there are many unknowns, and it is the purpose of this work to demonstrate the possibilities and bottlenecks, in scientific sense, that could further help in broadening the applicative potential of these fascinating enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yoselin Benitez Alfonso, a professor in interdisciplinary plant sciences at the University of Leeds, shares her journey and passion for plant science. Growing up in Cuba, she developed a love for nature and later pursued a degree in chemistry in Spain. Despite not having a biology background, she taught herself plant biology and became interested in plasmodesmata research. She is motivated by her love for research, the success of her students, and the impact of her contributions to teaching and diversity. She considers her father and various mentors as role models and enjoys reading papers on plasmodesmata research and plant symbiosis. Her favorite plant is the olive tree due to its symbolism, climate resilience, and economic significance. Yoselin is also involved in the Black in Plant Science Network and has received recognition for her leadership and academic achievements. [Extracted from the article]

In this last issue of 2017, we're celebrating the 50th anniversary of The FEBS Journal. This Editorial considers how the journal has grown and changed from volume 1, issue 1 and outlines our exciting plans for the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper assesses the impact of the various topic‐based categories covered by the megajournal PLOS ONE. We analyse the articles published in PLOS ONE in 2016 and 2017 by classifying them according to the Web of Science Journal Citation Report categories. We have identified 101 substantial categories, 86 of which belong to the Science Citation Index Expanded and 15 to the Social Science Citation Index Expanded. 'Biochemistry & Molecular Biology' stands out as the most prolific category, accounting for 9% of the manuscripts. On calculating the impact factor of each topic‐based category as if it were an independent journal, we found that 28.7% of them would be placed in the first quartile of their corresponding field. Among the highest‐ranked journals, 'Palaeontology' and 'Nursing' stand out as they would be ranked in the first decile of their respective categories. About 69% of the categories would be in the second and third JCR quartiles, and only two would be in the fourth. This study indicates the need to assess the impact of papers published in megajournals by topic‐based category in order to accurately quantify the impact they have on their specific fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, traditional paper methods may not effectively be used in education due to lack of access, outdated content, and poor graphics. Education through mobile‐based applications is one of the alternative solutions. The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate LabSafety educational application and its effect on promoting the knowledge of pharmacy students. In this interventional study, the LabSafety application was first developed and evaluated for educating students about the safety measures in laboratories. Then, all pharmacy students from Kerman University of Medical Sciences (n = 316) were selected and randomly enrolled into one of three groups using simple random sampling: control (n = 106), traditional (n = 105), and application (n = 105) groups. To assess students' knowledge before and after the intervention, two valid and reliable (Cronbach's Alpha = 0.94 and 0.93, respectively) questionnaires were used. The results of the study showed no significant differences among the mean scores of the participants' knowledge before intervention (p = 0.82). After the intervention, the mean scores of the application group were 5.52 higher than the scores of the traditional group and 7.3 higher than the scores of the control group (p < 0.0001). Age had no significant effect on the posttest scores of the participants (p = 0.52). As a result, the use of this educational application can effectively increase the knowledge of all age groups of pharmacy students regarding safety measures in pharmaceutical laboratories. The mobile‐based applications with online and offline access, interactive features, and user‐friendly interfaces are more engaging and they can be used complementary to traditional training methods. © 2019 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 48(1):44–53, 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a new journal "European Molecular Biology Organization" yet unbranded by an impact factor (IF), the editor can address this important element of science without suffering either the anguish of those journals that languor in the lower divisions or the insouciance of those with double digit IFs. Then there is the gamesmanship associated with pushing up the IF of a journal. The attributed IF value is based on the frequency at which the average paper in each issue was cited during the previous two years. Nonetheless, the IF ranking provides a wonderful guide to what should be read. It stratifies the journals and in general, guides scientists to those where the best papers are most likely to appear.

SUMMARY: In a recent paper in Nature, Edith Heard from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) suggested that molecular biologists should 'reconnect with nature' by diversifying sampling locations. Although this approach has its own benefits, we suggest that advanced methods should rather be used to take hypothesis‐based experiments to nature, thereby supplying a much‐needed context for experimentation under controlled conditions. Following the CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) revolution, this approach has become accessible to many research groups. For the past several years we have developed the groundwork and initiated such experimentation. This included the assembly of a mobile laboratory on a four‐wheel drive truck and examining genome‐edited metabolic mutants in wild tree tobacco (Nicotiana glauca), grown in nature. Our findings included both targeted answers to focused questions, but also surprising results that could only be reached while working in natural settings. Significance Statement: With the fast development of accessible genome editing technologies and phenotyping platforms, scientists should use these cutting‐edge tools to carry out hypothesis‐based experiments in nature, thereby supplying a much needed context for experimentation under controlled conditions. Once embraced by the broad research community, this approach combining designed experimentation in natural settings and the ability to bring the lab to the trialing site is likely to expose scientists to different, yet unexplored spaces of biological knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human is the host of the Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) especially in childhood and adolescence. Most of them are asymptomatic infection and self‐limiting. However, for those patients who suffer from immune dysfunction, EBV infection will be life‐threatening. Epstein‐Barr virus‐associated hemophagocytic lymphohistocytosis (EBV‐HLH) is one of the severe effects. The diagnosis and differential diagnosis of EBV‐HLH and other EBV infectious diseases are mentioned in this paper. The molecular biology mechanism and complications of EBV‐HLH are equally briefly presented. It also provides a practical method for the genetic diagnosis of such diseases and the differential diagnosis with other human immunodeficiency diseases for medical scientists in routine clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several educational trials on handling viruses and or virology have been reported. However, given their small size, direct visualization of these viruses under a microscope has been rarely performed. The so‐called "giant viruses" are larger than other viruses with a particle size greater than 200–300 nm. This enables their direct visualization under a light microscope more easily than other viruses. In this study, we developed two new types of teaching material for learning about viruses and cellular organisms using mimivirus, one of the well‐known giant viruses. One teaching material involves using glass slides with enclosed mimivirus particles, and another is a paper‐based teaching material, named VIRAMOS (http://tlab-edusys.azurewebsites.net/content/viramos%5fen.pdf). Using these, students can investigate and learn about viruses and cellular organisms. © 2019 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 47(4):426–431, 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decades, psychoneuroendocrineimmunology research has made relevant contributions to the fields of neuroscience, psychobiology, epigenetics, molecular biology, and clinical research by studying the effect of stress on human health and highlighting the close interrelations between psyche, brain, and bodily systems. It is now well recognized that chronic stress can alter the physiological cross‐talk between brain and biological systems, leading to long‐lasting maladaptive effects (allostatic overload) on the nervous, immune, endocrine, and metabolic systems, which compromises stress resiliency and health. Stressful conditions in early life have been associated with profound alterations in cortical and subcortical brain regions involved in emotion regulation and the salience network, showing relevant overlap with different psychiatric conditions. This paper provides a summary of the available literature concerning the notable effects of stress on the brain and immune system. We highlight the role of epigenetics as a mechanistic pathway mediating the influences of the social and physical environment on brain structure and connectivity, the immune system, and psycho‐physical health in psychiatric diseases. We also summarize the evidence regarding the effects of stress management techniques (mainly psychotherapy and meditation practice) on clinical outcomes, brain neurocircuitry, and immune‐inflammatory network in major psychiatric diseases. In the last decades, Psychoneuroendocrineimmunology research has made relevant contributions to the fields of neuroscience, psychobiology, epigenetics, molecular biology and clinical research by studying the effect of stress on human health and highlighting the close interrelations between psyche, brain, and bodily systems. This paper provides a summary of the available literature concerning the notable effects of stress on the brain and immune system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the 20th century, there were two decades during which Drosophila melanogaster was the most significant model organism and each decade led to the establishment of new scientific disciplines. The first decade was roughly from 1910 and during this period a small group at Columbia University, headed by Thomas Hunt Morgan, established the rules of transmission genetics with which we are all familiar. In the second decade, roughly from 1970, many of the principles and techniques of the earlier period were used to determine the genetic control of basic aspects of the biology of organisms, notably their development and their behaviour. In this review I will show that it was not only the genius of the research workers (five were awarded Nobel Prizes and it has been argued, with justification, that at least one more should have been awarded) but also the special features of D. melanogaster that led to these advances. While Drosophila is still a significant model organism, the advent of molecular biology permits the investigation of organisms less amenable to genetic analysis, but the principles applied in these investigations were in the main principles laid down during the earlier work on Drosophila. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article talks about original documents on the beginnings of molecular biology, and tackles the issue of whether such documents should be part of cultural heritage and be made accessible to the public. These documents include laboratory notebooks, draft manuscripts and meeting notes. More information is given.

The article presents some instructions that are provided to authors who would submit articles for the September 1993 issue of the "Scandinavian Journal of Immunology." the journal publishes papers within the various fields of cellular and molecular immunology. The epithet 'Scandinavian' does not imply a journal restricted to Scandinavian research. We very much welcome international papers and hope that both Scandinavian and other investigators will find the journal suitable for their publications. Manuscripts must be typewritten, double-spaced throughout, on one side of the paper, with a 5 cm wide margin. Authors should submit the original manuscript with three additional copies.