Composites represent a class of materials with properties that are obtained by combining the functions of different components. Combining soft and stiff components without losing toughness is typically very difficult with current synthetic tools. There are many natural materials for which this problem has been solved. Examples such as wood and seashells have inspired many scientists to seek tougher, stronger and lighter materials. This review describes how genetic engineering can help in building new composites with better properties. Specifically, we emphasize that functional molecules can be engineered by following the design principles of natural composite materials. This field is emerging but has already shown promising results and much progress in the next few years is expected.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2012.01.001 | DOI Listing |
Front Biosci (Landmark Ed)
January 2025
Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Center of Mental Health, University of Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany.
Background: The inheritance of the short allele, encoding the serotonin transporter (SERT) in humans, increases susceptibility to neuropsychiatric and metabolic disorders, with aging and female sex further exacerbating these conditions. Both central and peripheral mechanisms of the compromised serotonin (5-HT) system play crucial roles in this context. Previous studies on SERT-deficient (Sert) mice, which model human SERT deficiency, have demonstrated emotional and metabolic disturbances, exacerbated by exposure to a high-fat Western diet (WD).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCancer Med
February 2025
Pulmonology and Thoracic Oncology Department, APHP Hôpital Tenon and Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.
Background: Real-world data regarding patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR exon 20 insertion (ex20ins) mutations receiving mobocertinib are limited. This study describes these patients' characteristics and outcomes.
Methods: A chart review was conducted across three countries (Canada, France, and Hong Kong), abstracting data from eligible patients (NCT05207423).
Mol Plant
January 2025
Inner Mongolia Potato Engineering and Technology Research Centre, Key Laboratory of Herbage and Endemic Crop Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China. Electronic address:
Hybrid potato breeding based on diploid inbred lines is transforming the way of genetic improvement of this staple food crop, which requires a deep understanding of potato domestication and differentiation. Here, we resequenced 314 diploid wild and landrace accessions to generate a variome map of 47,203,407 variants. Using the variome map, we discovered the reshaping of tuber transcriptome during potato domestication, characterized genome-wide differentiation between landrace groups Stenotomum and Phureja, and identified a jasmonic acid biosynthetic gene possibly affecting tuber dormancy period.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFViruses
January 2025
Clinical Center for Biotherapy, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
This study aimed to create a new recombinant virus by modifying the EV-A71 capsid protein, serving as a useful tool and model for studying human Enteroviruses. We developed a new screening method using EV-A71 pseudovirus particles to systematically identify suitable insertion sites and tag types in the VP1 capsid protein. The pseudovirus's infectivity and replication can be assessed by measuring postinfection luciferase signals.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFViruses
January 2025
Surgical Neurology Branch, NINDS, NIH 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a devastating, aggressive primary brain tumor with poor patient outcomes and a five-year survival of less than 10%. Significant limitations to effective GBM treatment include poor drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier, drug resistance, and complex genetic tumor alterations. Gene therapy uses a mechanism different from other GBM therapies to reduce tumor growth and enhance antitumor immunity.
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