Science Reviews - Biology
Science Reviews - Biology. Vol 1, issue 2, 2022
Deadline for submission of manuscripts in the January-March issue is March 31, 2023.
ISSN: 2816-9107, 2816-9115
OCLC Number: 1347230101
Science Reviews - Biology is an international, multi-disciplinary peer-reviewed open access journal that publishes reviews and research articles in the field of Biology. Science Reviews journal is published online as well as a Canadian print journal.
Open Access. Science Reviews employs the Open Access publication model, which is free for readers, and the article processing charges ($100) are paid by authors or their institutions.
Honorarium and free publications. Science Reviews is published every quarter. To encourage high-quality reviews, research, and publications, we publish free of charge in each issue and also pay a $300 honorarium to the author(s) of one outstanding article, selected by the editorial board.
Rapid Publication Decisions. Typically, manuscripts are reviewed and the first decision is provided to the authors approximately 3 weeks after the submission of the manuscript.
Rapid Online Publication. Articles accepted for publication immediately appear online in the form of a Rapid version. After the release of the quarterly issue, the Rapid version is replaced by a permanent, final version.
Printed journal. Authors of articles printed in the Science Reviews receive a free printed copy of the quarterly journal by regular mail.
Personal Pages. Authors of Science Reviews have the opportunity to order the design of their personal pages. These pages may include a CV, list of publications, photos, personal views and statements, links to social networks, etc. Design of their personal pages is free of charge. The author’s personal page can later be linked to their articles posted online in our journal, as well as articles in other online publications.
Aims. Science Reviews - Biology publishes reviews and research papers in the field of BIOLOGY. Our goal is to encourage scientists to publish high-quality papers highlighting advances in the various areas of biology in which they are experts. To encourage scientists to write quality reviews and research articles we are waiving the article processing charges and in addition, we also pay a $300 honorarium per issue to the author(s) of one outstanding article, selected by the editorial board.
Science Reviews Publication Ethics Statement. In addition to the rigorous peer review that ensures the high scientific standard of publications, we are intolerant of plagiarism and check each submitted paper for plagiarism using the best online tools available. Read the Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement.
Copyright / Open Access. Articles in Science Reviews are published as Open-Access and distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0). The copyright is retained by the author(s).
Editor in Chief - Olesa Gusachenko, PhD
Recent Issues
Science Reviews - Biology. Vol 1, issue 1, 2022
OCLC Number: 1347230101
Deadline for submission of manuscripts in the January-March issue is March 31, 2023.
Sahil Malhotra, PhD
Abstract. Cellular membrane engineered nanoparticles (NPs) have shown immense potential for anti-cancer drug delivery applications. In principle, cell membrane of any type of cells can be processed to obtain purified cellular membrane which can self-assemble to form stable and highly robust nanovesicles. These nanovesicles retain lipid-bilayer architecture of host’s cells and much of the surface biomarkers and proteins are conserved during top-down approach. Interestingly, nanovesicles have exhibited long plasma circulation and appreciable tumour specific binding, which is largely suggestive of their biomimetic properties. Many pioneer studies have demonstrated their ability to encapsulate different chemotherapeutic agents and photosensitizers of varied chemical complexities, and releasing them in a triggered fashion. Additionally, the novel NPs system has been developed for cancer immunotherapy. The review discusses some of the important research and applications of cellular membrane derived nanovesicles for different forms of cancer therapy and their potential to be developed as personalized nanomedicine. Read More.
Received: January 23, 2023. Accepted: February 16, 2023.
Cite as: Sahil Malhotra, (2023). Biomimetic Nanoparticles for Cancer Targeting and Drug Delivery. Science Reviews – Biology, 2(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.57098/SciRevs.Biology.2.1.1 (The DOI link will be activated on April 30, 2023.)
Re-evaluating the role of antibodies in tuberculosis 💰
Pia Steigler, PhD
Abstract. Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease found in every country on Earth. About a quarter of the global population is estimated to be infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of TB, with over 10 million new TB cases reported annually. Currently, TB ranks as the second leading infectious killer after COVID-19. Research to develop novel interventions against TB represents a global health priority. TB research over the last several years focused on cellular immune responses, while the humoral response was largely neglected. This mini-review discusses evidence supporting a protective role of antibodies in TB, and a potential role of antibodies in TB vaccines and diagnosis. Read More.
Received: December 16, 2022. Accepted: January 04, 2023.
Cite as: Pia Steigler, (2022). Re-evaluating the role of antibodies in tuberculosis. Science Reviews – Biology, 1(2), 20-30. https://doi.org/10.57098/SciRevs.Biology.1.2.3
💰 The article was awarded free publication and an honorarium of $300.00.
Therapies for sensory organ disorders
Rebecca L Bricker, PhD
Abstract. Sensory organ disorders, such as visual impairment, hearing loss, and olfactory dysfunction, affect a significant percentage of the population. There are no effective therapies to restore cell damage and tissue function to these sensory organs. Human pluripotent cells (hPSCs) have the potential to expand out to an unlimited number of cells and differentiate into any cell type of the body, and therefore have high potential to restore tissue function in transplantation cell therapies for sensory organ disorders. This review elaborates on the specific sensory cells for the vision, auditory, and olfactory tissues that were generated from hPSCs. It then describes the effectiveness of using hPSC-derived sensory progenitors in animal models of disease and what needs to be done next in order to progress. Read More.
Received: October 28, 2022. Accepted: December 09, 2022.
Cite as: Bricker R., (2022). Therapies for sensory organ disorders. Science Reviews – Biology, 1(2), 9-19. https://doi.org/10.57098/SciRevs.Biology.1.2.2
Recognition of exosomes and their role in new technologies
Olesya Gusachenko, PhD
Abstract. Exosomes or, more broadly, small extracellular vesicles are produced by all cells. They contain an array of biologically active molecules by which exosomes can influence the extracellular environment and affect the properties of other cells. Recognition of their biological role has come a long way from the mere function in the disposal of cellular waste to a concept of universal intercellular vehicle mediating near and long-distance communication in normal and pathological states. As a result, in recent years exosomes have gained much interest in their potential exploitation for therapeutic use. This short review is aimed at presenting a brief exploration of the history of exosome recognition coupled with a snapshot of newly developing exosome-based technologies, touching upon some recent achievements and examples of application. Read More.
Received: November 05, 2022. Accepted: November 27, 2022.
Cite as: Gusachenko O., (2022). Recognition of exosomes and their role in new technologies. Science Reviews – Biology, 1(2), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.57098/SciRevs.Biology.1.2.1
Recent insights into the use of invertebrates as indicators of habitat quality
by Rae Osborn, PhD
Abstract. Invertebrates are an important part of aquatic and terrestrial systems, and are, thus, useful as indicators of environmental changes. Habitat quality can be assessed by noting changes in species composition, and relative abundances, using various indices, and by alterations in physiology and morphology of what are known as indicator species. Research shows that invertebrates can be used to indicate if habitat conditions have changed, either worsened or improved. This is why identifying indicator species is crucial. This article covers some recent findings of how invertebrate organisms can be helpful in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems in indicating ecosystem and habitat deterioration. We also discuss what makes a good indicator species and the types of taxa that have been used in this way. Read More.
Received: September 07, 2022. Accepted: September 26, 2022.
Cite as: Osborn R., (2022). Recent insights into the use of invertebrates as indicators of habitat quality. Science Reviews – Biology, 1(1), 28-32. https://doi.org/10.57098/SciRevs.Biology.1.1.5
Recent developments in microbiology
by Claire Cummins, BSc
Abstract. Research in microbiology is a dynamic and exciting field, and this review article outlines some recent significant developments within microbiology including using shotgun metagenomics to uncover the connection between diet and lifestyle and superbug infections, the current state of Ebola virus diagnostic tests, and the potential of treating superbug infections via innovative phage virus therapy as an alternative to antibiotics. This review also explores two studies using the CRISPR gene editing technique, which has been a revolution within microbiology. The first study undergoes genetic engineering of potatoes to improve their nutritional and industrial applications, which has important implications in improving food stability as well as bolstering production. The second study utilizes CRISPR to engineer bacteria to kill themselves on command, which is important to prevent the excessive spread bacteria that are used for a variety of applications from eating plastic waste in the environment to treating the diseased human gut. Engineering these so-called ‘kill switch’ allows these bacteria to be utilized for their intended purpose without growing uncontrollably in the environment or in the gut. Read More.
Received: June 09, 2022. Accepted: August 03, 2022.
Cite as: Cummins, C., (2022). Recent Developments in Microbiology. Science Reviews – Biology, 1(1), 22-27. https://doi.org/10.57098/SciRevs.Biology.1.1.4
CRISPR/Cas9, a decade of genome editing tools to fix the DNA
by Lúcia Santos, PhD
Abstract. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing discovery. Since its discovery in 2012, the CRISPR/Cas9 system has become an indispensable tool in many research fields. This system has been extensively characterized and further optimized to broaden its editing capabilities. Depending on the DNA modification to make, there are now available several editing agents. In this review, we provide an overview of the CRISPR/Cas9 system and how it can be used to fix the DNA using the traditional repair mechanisms non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) and homology-directed repair (HDR), and the most recent gene editing approaches – base editing and prime editing.
Received: June 30, 2022. Accepted: July 14, 2022.
Cite as: Santos, L., (2022). CRISPR/Cas9, a decade of genome editing tools to fix the DNA. Science Reviews – Biology, 1(1), 15-21. https://doi.org/10.57098/SciRevs.Biology.1.1.3
New insight into phosphoproteome research improves the in-depth understanding of honey bee biology 💰
by Saboor Ahmad (PhD cand.) and Jianke Li, PhD
Abstract. Protein phosphorylation is essential in a variety of biological activities. Notably, phosphoproteomics has opened new possibilities for honey bee biological study at the molecular and biochemical levels, considering the advancements in LC-MS/MS apparatus and computational analysis. This review extensively evaluated recent advances in honey bee biology utilizing phosphoproteomics methodologies in terms of progressive physiology, age polytheism, and biological changes in some organs, tissues, and cells. Furthermore, a comprehensive phosphoproteomic is necessary for new insight into honey bee biology, a better understanding of the research subject, and determining prospective future research areas.
Received: June 19, 2022. Accepted: July 13, 2022.
Cite as: Ahmad, S.; Li J. (2022). New insight into phosphoproteome research improves the in-depth understanding of honey bee biology. Science Reviews – Biology, 1(1), 7-14. https://doi.org/10.57098/SciRevs.Biology.1.1.2
💰 The article was awarded free publication and an honorarium of $300.00.
Recent advances in human physiology
by Lindy Whitehouse, PhD
Abstract. The study of human physiology provides important insight into the complex nature of the human body, increasing our understanding of the various systems and processes that occur to keep us alive. Developments in this field provide the basis for the development of novel treatments and therapies that are crucial for the advancement of medicine and improving the health and well-being of people around the world. Recent research into the pathogenesis of SAR-CoV-2 and the discovery of novel treatments for its symptoms have bought this field of science to the forefront. Yet there have also been several other recent advances that have increased our understanding of the human body and provided opportunities for the development of new medicines and therapies. Here we discuss the latest advances in this field, highlighting recent progression in our understanding of cancer metastasis, the development of the brain, and the use of organoids in the study of the human body. Finally, we examine the work of two physiologists that received the Nobel Prize in 2021 for their work in understanding the mechanism behind how humans feel the heat, cold, and mechanical force. Read More.
Received: June 08, 2022. Accepted: July 06, 2022.
Cite as: Whitehouse, L., (2022). Recent Advances in Human Physiology. Science Reviews – Biology, 1(1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.57098/SciRevs.Biology.1.1.1
Recent Articles
Biomimetic nanoparticles for cancer targeting and drug deliverySahil Malhotra, PhD
Abstract. Cellular membrane engineered nanoparticles (NPs) have shown immense potential for anti-cancer drug delivery applications. In principle, cell membrane of any type of cells can be processed to obtain purified cellular membrane which can self-assemble to form stable and highly robust nanovesicles. These nanovesicles retain lipid-bilayer architecture of host’s cells and much of the surface biomarkers and proteins are conserved during top-down approach. Interestingly, nanovesicles have exhibited long plasma circulation and appreciable tumour specific binding, which is largely suggestive of their biomimetic properties. Many pioneer studies have demonstrated their ability to encapsulate different chemotherapeutic agents and photosensitizers of varied chemical complexities, and releasing them in a triggered fashion. Additionally, the novel NPs system has been developed for cancer immunotherapy. The review discusses some of the important research and applications of cellular membrane derived nanovesicles for different forms of cancer therapy and their potential to be developed as personalized nanomedicine. Read More.
| Download PDF | References |
Cite as: Sahil Malhotra, (2023). Biomimetic Nanoparticles for Cancer Targeting and Drug Delivery. Science Reviews – Biology, 2(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.57098/SciRevs.Biology.2.1.1 (The DOI link will be activated on April 30, 2023.)
Re-evaluating the role of antibodies in tuberculosis 💰
Pia Steigler, PhD
Abstract. Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease found in every country on Earth. About a quarter of the global population is estimated to be infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of TB, with over 10 million new TB cases reported annually. Currently, TB ranks as the second leading infectious killer after COVID-19. Research to develop novel interventions against TB represents a global health priority. TB research over the last several years focused on cellular immune responses, while the humoral response was largely neglected. This mini-review discusses evidence supporting a protective role of antibodies in TB, and a potential role of antibodies in TB vaccines and diagnosis. Read More.
| Download PDF | References |
Cite as: Pia Steigler, (2022). Re-evaluating the role of antibodies in tuberculosis. Science Reviews – Biology, 1(2), 20-30. https://doi.org/10.57098/SciRevs.Biology.1.2.3
💰 The article was awarded free publication and an honorarium of $300.00.
Therapies for sensory organ disorders
Rebecca L Bricker, PhD
Abstract. Sensory organ disorders, such as visual impairment, hearing loss, and olfactory dysfunction, affect a significant percentage of the population. There are no effective therapies to restore cell damage and tissue function to these sensory organs. Human pluripotent cells (hPSCs) have the potential to expand out to an unlimited number of cells and differentiate into any cell type of the body, and therefore have high potential to restore tissue function in transplantation cell therapies for sensory organ disorders. This review elaborates on the specific sensory cells for the vision, auditory, and olfactory tissues that were generated from hPSCs. It then describes the effectiveness of using hPSC-derived sensory progenitors in animal models of disease and what needs to be done next in order to progress. Read More.
| Download PDF | References |
Cite as: Bricker R., (2022). Therapies for sensory organ disorders. Science Reviews – Biology, 1(2), 9-19. https://doi.org/10.57098/SciRevs.Biology.1.2.2
Recognition of exosomes and their role in new technologies
Olesya Gusachenko, PhD
Abstract. Exosomes or, more broadly, small extracellular vesicles are produced by all cells. They contain an array of biologically active molecules by which exosomes can influence the extracellular environment and affect the properties of other cells. Recognition of their biological role has come a long way from the mere function in the disposal of cellular waste to a concept of universal intercellular vehicle mediating near and long-distance communication in normal and pathological states. As a result, in recent years exosomes have gained much interest in their potential exploitation for therapeutic use. This short review is aimed at presenting a brief exploration of the history of exosome recognition coupled with a snapshot of newly developing exosome-based technologies, touching upon some recent achievements and examples of application. Read More.
| Download PDF | References |
Cite as: Gusachenko O., (2022). Recognition of exosomes and their role in new technologies. Science Reviews – Biology, 1(2), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.57098/SciRevs.Biology.1.2.1
Recent insights into the use of invertebrates as indicators of habitat quality
by Rae Osborn, PhD
Abstract. Invertebrates are an important part of aquatic and terrestrial systems, and are, thus, useful as indicators of environmental changes. Habitat quality can be assessed by noting changes in species composition, and relative abundances, using various indices, and by alterations in physiology and morphology of what are known as indicator species. Research shows that invertebrates can be used to indicate if habitat conditions have changed, either worsened or improved. This is why identifying indicator species is crucial. This article covers some recent findings of how invertebrate organisms can be helpful in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems in indicating ecosystem and habitat deterioration. We also discuss what makes a good indicator species and the types of taxa that have been used in this way. Read More.
| Download PDF | References |
Cite as: Osborn R., (2022). Recent insights into the use of invertebrates as indicators of habitat quality. Science Reviews – Biology, 1(1), 28-32. https://doi.org/10.57098/SciRevs.Biology.1.1.5
Recent developments in microbiology
by Claire Cummins, BSc
Abstract. Research in microbiology is a dynamic and exciting field, and this review article outlines some recent significant developments within microbiology including using shotgun metagenomics to uncover the connection between diet and lifestyle and superbug infections, the current state of Ebola virus diagnostic tests, and the potential of treating superbug infections via innovative phage virus therapy as an alternative to antibiotics. This review also explores two studies using the CRISPR gene editing technique, which has been a revolution within microbiology. The first study undergoes genetic engineering of potatoes to improve their nutritional and industrial applications, which has important implications in improving food stability as well as bolstering production. The second study utilizes CRISPR to engineer bacteria to kill themselves on command, which is important to prevent the excessive spread bacteria that are used for a variety of applications from eating plastic waste in the environment to treating the diseased human gut. Engineering these so-called ‘kill switch’ allows these bacteria to be utilized for their intended purpose without growing uncontrollably in the environment or in the gut. Read More.
| Download PDF | References |
Cite as: Cummins, C., (2022). Recent Developments in Microbiology. Science Reviews – Biology, 1(1), 22-27. https://doi.org/10.57098/SciRevs.Biology.1.1.4
CRISPR/Cas9, a decade of genome editing tools to fix the DNA
by Lúcia Santos, PhD
Abstract. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing discovery. Since its discovery in 2012, the CRISPR/Cas9 system has become an indispensable tool in many research fields. This system has been extensively characterized and further optimized to broaden its editing capabilities. Depending on the DNA modification to make, there are now available several editing agents. In this review, we provide an overview of the CRISPR/Cas9 system and how it can be used to fix the DNA using the traditional repair mechanisms non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) and homology-directed repair (HDR), and the most recent gene editing approaches – base editing and prime editing.
| Download PDF | References |
Cite as: Santos, L., (2022). CRISPR/Cas9, a decade of genome editing tools to fix the DNA. Science Reviews – Biology, 1(1), 15-21. https://doi.org/10.57098/SciRevs.Biology.1.1.3
New insight into phosphoproteome research improves the in-depth understanding of honey bee biology 💰
by Saboor Ahmad (PhD cand.) and Jianke Li, PhD
Abstract. Protein phosphorylation is essential in a variety of biological activities. Notably, phosphoproteomics has opened new possibilities for honey bee biological study at the molecular and biochemical levels, considering the advancements in LC-MS/MS apparatus and computational analysis. This review extensively evaluated recent advances in honey bee biology utilizing phosphoproteomics methodologies in terms of progressive physiology, age polytheism, and biological changes in some organs, tissues, and cells. Furthermore, a comprehensive phosphoproteomic is necessary for new insight into honey bee biology, a better understanding of the research subject, and determining prospective future research areas.
| Download PDF | References |
Cite as: Ahmad, S.; Li J. (2022). New insight into phosphoproteome research improves the in-depth understanding of honey bee biology. Science Reviews – Biology, 1(1), 7-14. https://doi.org/10.57098/SciRevs.Biology.1.1.2
💰 The article was awarded free publication and an honorarium of $300.00.
Recent advances in human physiology
by Lindy Whitehouse, PhD
Abstract. The study of human physiology provides important insight into the complex nature of the human body, increasing our understanding of the various systems and processes that occur to keep us alive. Developments in this field provide the basis for the development of novel treatments and therapies that are crucial for the advancement of medicine and improving the health and well-being of people around the world. Recent research into the pathogenesis of SAR-CoV-2 and the discovery of novel treatments for its symptoms have bought this field of science to the forefront. Yet there have also been several other recent advances that have increased our understanding of the human body and provided opportunities for the development of new medicines and therapies. Here we discuss the latest advances in this field, highlighting recent progression in our understanding of cancer metastasis, the development of the brain, and the use of organoids in the study of the human body. Finally, we examine the work of two physiologists that received the Nobel Prize in 2021 for their work in understanding the mechanism behind how humans feel the heat, cold, and mechanical force. Read More.
| Download PDF | References |
Cite as: Whitehouse, L., (2022). Recent Advances in Human Physiology. Science Reviews – Biology, 1(1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.57098/SciRevs.Biology.1.1.1