Regenerative Medicine
"Organ-on-a-chip” technology: the promising new face of preclinical testing and drug development"
By Dr. Shripriya Singh Biotechnology Kiosk, Volume 1, Issue 1, June (2019)

Stem cell derived organoids have been instrumental in studying the molecular mechanisms and pathophysiology of diseases and find widespread application in regenerative medicine. However, an isolated organoid is not capable of mimicking the complex physiology that exists within a human body and the absence of vasculature further restricts the profiling of drug metabolism. “Organ-on-a-chip” technology is the emerging trend in the field of clinical/medical research that has partially brought the long-standing financial feud to an end and has “Organ-on-a-chip” is simply the amalgamation of software designing, microfluidics, 3D organotypic system culture and tissue engineering.

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Molecular Diagnostics in Neurodegeneration
Neurodegenerative disorder detection based on Bodily Fluids
By Dr. Navneeta Kaul
Biotechnology Kiosk, Volume 1, Issue 2, July (2019)

Early diagnosis and detection could limit the progression of several neurodegenerative diseases. However, clinical diagnosis and management have been a daunting challenge, due to the complex nature and manifestations of these diseases. Current diagnostic tests involve using invasive and painful tests including lumbar puncture or genetic analysis. Intense research efforts are underway to seek biomarkers that could allow early and easy detection of the neuro-disorders [1]. In this article, we discuss several promising bodily fluid candidates including Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), Blood, Urine, Saliva and Tears for early diagnosis of several neurodegenerative disorders.

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Cancer Biotechnology
Liquid biopsy- a revolutionary tool in cancer therapy
By Dr. Progga Sen
Biotechnology Kiosk, Volume 1, Issue 2, July (2019)

Precision medicine is a gradually developing field that utilizes specific genetic information of patients to devise treatment methodology. Cancer is no exception, in a majority of the cases, there are genetic mutations involved in the incidence and maintenance of cancer in addition to external/environmental factors. Understanding the underlying genetic aberration(/s) in individual cancer patients can fine-tune their treatment strategies- can bring us one step closer to determining the right therapy for individual patients.

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Genetic Engineering
Exciting Avenues of Programmable bacteria for cancer therapy
By Dr. Navneeta Kaul
Biotechnology Kiosk, Volume 1, Issue 3, August (2019)

Genetic engineering of living cells is leading a new era of medicine. Using genetic engineering, scientists have programmed bacteria as a therapeutic delivery system to destroy tumors in mice (1). So far, designing a safe, efficacious, anti-tumor response without toxicity and within a solid tumor has remained a challenge. However, recent research has demonstrated that bacteria could be programmed as an effective cancer therapy. In this editorial, we will describe recent advances made in genetic engineering of bacteria for cancer therapy.

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Immunotherapy
Harnessing the potential to fight from within-Immunotherapy advances in cancer treatment
By Dr. Paromita Raha
Biotechnology Kiosk, Volume 1, Issue 3, August (2019)

The positive and negative regulators of both innate and adaptive immune cells work in concert through multiple interactions to recognize and eradicate tumor cells. Thus, immunotherapy offers hope in cancer treatment. To this end, biotechnologists together with immunologists are working on challenging medical problems to innovate new therapeutic pathways for cancer therapy. In this editorial, we will discuss recent advances in immunotherapy that are mostly based on countering the pro-tumor properties of the negative regulators of the immune system, to enhance their anti-tumor response.

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Bio Robotics
Micro-Robotics Can Be a Game Changer in Analyzing and Manipulating Single Cells for Next Generation Life Sciences
By Dr.Sathyanarayanan Sridhar
Biotechnology Kiosk, Volume 1, Issue 5, October (2019)

A robot is a pre-programmed device, which can elicit a specific response either upon manual stimulation or autonomously. The field of robotics offers a number of applications including remote controlled toys and humanoid robots, to name a few. Robotics based approaches are making tremendous impact in today’s medicine and biomedical technologies. In particular, surgical robots are becoming more common enabling high precision and minimally invasive surgeries.

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Synthetic Biotechnology
Advances in Synthetic Biology to Manipulate Living Systems
By Peeyush Prasad
Biotechnology Kiosk, Volume 1, Issue 7, December (2019)

Imagine a future where you can create anything by manipulating living system and we will reach up to the idea of genetically modified organism. But how about creating new life forms for getting desired things such as life-saving cancer drugs, fuels, sensors, diagnostics, enzymes, storing data and electricity? Here, we are talking about synthetic life which started from few people’s bold attempt to understand what life is at its very basic level.

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Epidemiology & Therapeutics
Innovations in Therapeutics to Control COVID-19
By Shyamasri Biswas
Biotechnology Kiosk, Volume 2, Issue 4, April (2020)

The current COVID-19 pandemic has triggered innovations in therapeutic strategies that are thought to provide viable and faster pathways to cure infected people by the deadly virus, SARSCoV-2. In this review, we have described the known epidemiology along with the discovered genome structure and viral factors of SARS-CoV-2. Further, the latest innovations in therapeutics including significant breakthroughs in clinical trials on antiviral drugs, rendesivir and chloroquine including the combination drugs have been highlighted.

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Medical Diagnostics For COVID-19
The Need for Next Generation Diagnostic and Surveillance Technologies to Battle SARSCoV-2 Pandemic
By Megha Agrawal
Biotechnology Kiosk, Volume 2, Issue 4, April (2020)

The existing diagnostic practices are mainly based on real-time fluorescent PCR (RT-PCR), which is considered the clinical standard for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid detection. Here, we present an overview of the current state-of the-art of diagnostics of SARS-CoV-2 and the limitations of the existing technologies. We describe the emerging new promising diagnostic technologies that overcome the limitations by offering rapid, point-of-care diagnostic abilities for patients.

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Food & Health Science
The tussle between the developing adolescent brain and dietary choices: who’s the target who’s the trigger?
By Shripriya Singh
Biotechnology Kiosk, Volume 2, Issue 4, April (2020)

Teen brain health and dietary choices comprise an interesting read for all. The adolescent brain is not completely developed and these underdeveloped structures largely influence behavior, cognition and dietary controls. The current article describes the unique complimentary relation between teen brain development and dietary choices. The developing teen brain is characterized by underdeveloped decision-making capabilities, heightened reward system and limited restraint which compels them to eat poorly and in turn negatively impacts the normal functioning of the neurological processes.

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Alternative Medicine
A Proposed Herbal Formulation: Targeting to Strengthen Inner Immunity to Fight Infectious Diseases
By Balaram Mohapatra
Biotechnology Kiosk, Volume 2, Issue 4, April (2020)

Use of herbal medicine largely relies on bioactive formulations of medicinal herbs, which can provide a viable alternative for elevating person’s targeted immune response and reducing pathophysiology (Samy et al. 2008; Agrawal et al. 2010). Herbal medicines could be beneficial in improving the immune system and stimulating immunomodulatory response of human body to fight against infectious diseases (de Mejia et al. 2009; Lee et al. 2015). Especially, in these difficult times of COVID-19 pandemic, use of appropriate herbal formulations could be an advantageous pathway to boost the immune system to mitigate the disease. This could be an alternative form of therapeutics in the absence of any proven therapeutics or vaccines that are not yet available to break the infection chain of Coronavirus.

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Proteomics, Digestive Diseases & Metabolism

Can Intermittent Fasting Protect against Cancer, Metabolic Syndrome, Cognitive and Neuropsychiatric Diseases?

By Dr. Megha Agrawal

Biotechnology Kiosk, Volume 2, Issue 5, MAY (2020)
Lately, there has been a significant amount of research focus on circadian clock and its impact on human health. It has been shown that disruption of circadian rhythm could lead to cancer and metabolic syndrome. Researchers have identified in a number of murine studies the benefits of time-restricted feeding that can reset the disrupted clock rhythm, which can subsequently optimize the functioning of critical regulatory proteins of metabolism in mice. This has prompted a huge research interest in studying time-restricted feeding in humans for protective actions against cancer and metabolic syndrome and many other complex medical conditions. To this end, a hypothesis based on intermittent fasting for several consecutive days without calorie restriction in humans has been recently clinically tested that has shown an induced anti-carcinogenic proteome and the key regulatory proteins of glucose and lipid metabolism for a number of significant health benefits. Here, we present a brief overview on circadian rhythm and its disruption and also the effects of time-restricted feeding to reset the detrimental disruption. We describe recent clinical studies showing potential benefits of intermittent fasting as an adjunct therapy in a number complex medical conditions such as cancer, metabolic syndrome, and several cognitive and neuropsychiatric diseases. .
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Protein Engineering

Designer Proteins for New Vaccines and Therapeutics

By Dr. Shyamasri Biswas

Custom-designed or tailoring of proteins for specific applications is a highly active and growing area of research. A major part of this research is focused on protein engineering especially protein interfaces and interactions by employing biomolecular engineering tools. This research focus is partly due to the significance of protein interactions that are known to communicate critical information from the environment into cells to mobilize functional responses relevant to health and disease. Protein engineering can lead to custom-designed protein structures and biomaterials with the desired affinity, specificity, mechanism, or other properties that are of practical biomedical interests. Here, we describe a brief overview of protein engineering and some of the recent breakthroughs in biomedical applications of designer proteins. We discuss recent applications in new vaccine designs and advanced therapeutics for battling the challenges of complex diseases. .
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Aging

Worries make you look older: unraveling the science that connects stress with graying in human beings

By Dr Shripriya Singh

Once considered a taboo, mental health is a trending health topic now days and is considered one of the crucial aspects of good health. Neuroscience and medical advances can be credited for busting the longstanding myths and dogmas associated with brain health. Stress is one of the most common factors that affect the mental well being and has been long associated with graying in human beings, however without any significant medical or scientific proof. Here, we describe this concept of premature aging that has intrigued researchers for a long time.

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Myocardial complications and COVID-19 infections

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular patients

By Dr. Sangeeta Chakraborty

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has affected people's health in more than one way with catastrophic impacts on primary healthcare systems across the globe. However, the rapid expansion of knowledge over the last few months, supported by rigorous scientific research, has enabled our understanding of the mechanism(s) of COVID-19 and potential therapeutics. Initial infection of the upper respiratory tract by SARS-CoV-2 is mediated by binding of the virus to host expressed angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor (ACE2). While viral pneumonia is one of the predominant manifestations of COVID-19, current evidence shows that the virus also affects multiple organs, especially the cardiovascular system.

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COVID-19 and Brain Health

Global pandemic takes a toll on our brain health: how unexpected uncertainty makes you vulnerable to paranoia

By Dr. Shripriya Singh

Human beings are susceptible to their changing social environments and these changes take a toll on our brain health. In a state of crisis such as the global pandemic Covid-19 we have experienced random unexpected uncertainty which can lead to induced paranoia in healthy individuals. Paranoia is a key symptom of serious mental illness, characterized by the belief that other people have malicious intentions and that harm will occur due to the deliberate actions of others. This study is an attempt to unravel the underlying mechanism of paranoia and give possible cues towards the development of new treatments. .
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COVID-19 and Antibodies

Neutralizing antibodies: Viable treatment modality for COVID-19

By Dr. Sangeeta Chakraborty

SARS-CoV-2, the highly transmissible and infectious novel coronavirus, is responsible for the current COVID-19 pandemic. Therapeutic efforts toward the development of a vaccine and other treatment modalities are a priority. High-affinity neutralizing antibodies play a critical role in protection against viruses so a rapid development to identify such neutralizers against SARSCoV-2 that also cross-protect against other coronaviruses is warranted. Here, we review current research on the isolation of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing monoclonal antibodies from B cells of convalescent patients and their effectiveness in a small animal model to limit the viral disease. The antibodies that were able to successfully treat COVID-19 in the animals were highly specific against the ACE2 binding site of the viral spike protein and thus efficiently blocked infection.
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COVID-19 and Brain Health

Global pandemic takes a toll on our brain health: how unexpected uncertainty makes you vulnerable to paranoia

By Dr. Shripriya Singh

Human beings are susceptible to their changing social environments and these changes take a toll on our brain health. In a state of crisis such as the global pandemic Covid-19 we have experienced random unexpected uncertainty which can lead to induced paranoia in healthy individuals. Paranoia is a key symptom of serious mental illness, characterized by the belief that other people have malicious intentions and that harm will occur due to the deliberate actions of others. This study is an attempt to unravel the underlying mechanism of paranoia and give possible cues towards the development of new treatments. .
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