Up to the present, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a dementia, is believed to be incurable; even its cause has not been documented. A few hypotheses have been postulated, however; among these are the destruction of acetylcholine by the enzyme acetylcholineesterase, the accumulation of amyloid beta plaque, and peroxidation of the brain cells. Since the disease was unknown in the olden days in Thailand...

In recent years the study of complex systems gained prominence. Since it is usually difficult to use classical mathematic models to understand these systems, scientists and engineers have to resort to simulations. Currently programming languages like CUDA C and OpenCL are available to run large scale simulations on a GPU architecture. Alternatively simulations can be executed on agent-based sim...

The Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA) is synthesized as a preproprotein. To corroborate the role of the different targeting peptides in the topogenesis of GNA and related proteins, different constructs were made whereby both the complete original GNA gene and different truncated sequences were coupled to the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). In addition, a GNA ortholog from rice that ...

Carbohydrate binding agents (CBAs), including natural lectins, are more and more considered as broad-spectrum antivirals. These molecules are able to directly inhibit many viruses such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), Dengue Virus, Ebola Virus or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus through binding to envelope protein N-glycans. In the case of HIV, it has...

Limited data are available on the genotypic and phenotypic resistance profile of the alpha-(1-2)mannose oligomer-specific prokaryotic lectin cyanovirin (CV-N). Therefore, a more systematic investigation was carried out to obtain a better view of the interaction between CV-N and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gp120. When HIV-1-infected CEM cell cultures were exposed to CV-N in a dos...

The carbohydrate binding specificity of the daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus; NPA) and amaryllis (Hippeastrum hybr.; HHA) lectins, isolated from extracts of their bulbs by affinity chromatography on immobilized mannose, was studied by quantitative precipitation, sugar hapten inhibition, and affinity chromatography on the immobilized lectins. These lectins gave strong precipitation reactions ...

All research journals like to make an impact in the news media, but preferably for publishing research that is reliable as well as newsworthy. When the Lancet recently blurred the distinction between the two, the press sensed a good story, even in advance. “The scientist who suggested that genetically modified foods could damage health — and was comprehensively rubbished by government ministers...

Many members of the monocot mannose-binding lectin family, characterized by specificity towards mannose have been characterized and cloned. A majority of these lectins molecules contain 1-4 polypeptides of about 110 residues each. From the previously solved crystal structures of a few such lectins, mostly from non-edible plants, these lectins are thought to possess a common β-prism II fold stru...

Expression of N-cadherin an adhesion molecule of the cadherin family, in tumor cells is associated with their increased invasive potential. Many studies suggested the role of N-linked oligosaccharides as important factors that contribute to metastasis by influencing tumor cell invasion and adhesion. N-cadherin is a heavily glycosylated protein. We have analysed the carbohydrate profile of this ...

Our regulators are ignoring the precautionary principle, manipulating and corrupting science, sidestepping the law, and helping to promote genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the face of massive public opposition and damning evidence piling up against the safety of genetically modified (GM) food and feed. GM nightmare unfolds Female rats whose diets were supplemented with genetically modif...