Greetings to our Contributors and Readers,
We are happy to bring you this issue of ‘Advanced Biotech’ featuring four Full Length Articles and four Short Communications. These papers represent diverse range of frontier biotech areas of research, academic and industrial relevance.
One of the current research areas of intense activity is the nano sciences. Developments in technology combined with a synergy of hitherto discrete specialized areas of sciences have brought out the immense potential of nanotechnology for biological applications. The biological applications of nanotechnology are manifold including cancer research to prevention of undesired microbial growth. This issue features a short communication on the studies of such nanotubes formed by inserting amino acids into lipid layers. Apart from the bacteriocidal capabilities of such nanotubes, these sure have far reaching biotechnological applications.
Herbal medicine is an area of great importance with increasing evidences proving the beneficial roles of many active compounds isolated from plant sources in human health care. The beneficial effects of such phytochemicals are being progressively well documented and we present to you a short communications describing the antimicrobial activity of crude extracts from a common plant found in South Gujarat region. Also, we feature a short communication approaching the medicinally important plants from an entirely different angle. This study describes the comparative leaf epidermis structure and related features of two plant species for phylogenetic and evolutionary significance.
Cancer and Diabetes Mellitus are continuing to gain attention from across the globe due to their increasing incidences combined with several contributing factors thus far still not delineated towards their etiology. One approach for cancer research is bioinformatics tools for drug discovery. We present to you a comprehensive study describing the molecular docking of 2-aroylindole derivatives as potent tubulin inhibitors. The hall mark of cancerous cells being unchecked divisions, this study describing potential avenues for cell cycle arrest at the Mitotic phase is sure to contribute toward cancer research. One of our featured articles describes again very comprehensively, studies on important enzyme pathways that are triggered by Diabetes Mellitus from a drug discovery angle.
Enzyme technology is at the forefront of industrial biotechnology and several research and development activities are focused on efficient production, characterization, recovery and utilization of important enzymes. We feature an article that describes protease studies from marine Actinomycetes that includes novel culture medium composition. Also, a study on extra cellular Amylase from Mangrove associated fungi is featured as a short communication. This article describes molecular approaches for optimal amylase activity from an abundant source.
Exopolysaccharides have potential applications both at the industrial and research levels. In a study we feature in this issue, four isolates from biofilm forming bacteria, their biochemical characterization and the potential applications of polysaccharides produced.
A few changes were made in the web site ‘www.advancedbiotech.in’ with the ‘current issue – featured articles’ in immediate prominence along with the author details in the home page itself. While thanking all our Contributors and readers, we look forward for your continued valuable feedback and inputs.
Dr. M. Ravi Ph.D., MNASc
Editor
