Although enzyme immobilization began over 100 years ago, it remains one of the most essential industrial technologies today. This is because immobilized enzymes are highly versatile and have a wide variety of potential applications. Also, the enzyme immobilization process has been slowly perfected over the years, making it much simpler, quicker, and efficient than ever before. This has served as...

Antibiotic resistant infections arise when bacteria and other microbes develop immunity against the drugs administered against them. Infections involving antibiotic-resistant strains grow stronger over time and become increasingly difficult to treat. According to CDC reports, over 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections occur in the US every year and have lead to a large number of fatalities. Bacteria naturally develop immunities over...

Cibacron Blue 3GA is a textile dye or ligand frequently used as a medium for affinity chromatography experiments, specifically for the purification of enzymes. The ligand appears as a blue powder under room temperature settings. Scientists and researchers commonly choose the compound for its affordability, ease of immobilization, high resistance against biological and chemical degradation, and high protein-binding capacity of...

There are two major categories of antibiotics: penicillin beta-lactam and non-penicillin beta-lactam products. Research authorities have identified five primary groups under the beta-lactam category of antibiotics, including penicillins, cephalosporins, penems, carbacephems, and monobactams. Avoiding cross-contamination between penicillin and non-penicillin products remains a top concern for drug manufacturers despite the modern day success of antibiotics. Penicillin is an umbrella term for...

Scientists and researchers turn to cloned DNA for various breakthrough studies as they provide multiple genetic copies and DNA segments suitable for wide-scale tests. In vitro mutagenesis is one useful application of cloned DNA, where researchers create a mutation in one segment of the target DNA. The cloned DNA is then transferred into a cell or organism and studied, which provides...

Whenever you pour yourself a glass of water, it may appear to be clean and you might expect the water quality to be safe. However, many sources of water contain dissolved minerals, organic compounds, or live pathogens at harmful levels. Other minerals in your water could also result in an unpleasant taste, odors, and could stain bathroom fixtures or your...

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique, used to amplify or “copy” small segments of DNA, is highly sensitive - and that’s a good thing. PCR is a widely used and inexpensive technique used in medical diagnostics, forensic analysis of DNA, and genomic research. Unfortunately, this sensitivity leaves PCR vulnerable to nucleic acid contamination: even trace amounts of DNA can be...

The growing increase of antibiotic resistance is now a global problem. According to the National Foundation for Infectious Disease, approximately 3 million people each year struggle with infections from antibiotic resistant bacteria. About 35,000 individuals will die as a result of these infections. Antibiotic resistance is a concern for several important reasons. Illnesses such as strep throat, tuberculosis, and certain...

Anti-fungal drugs play an important role in treating serious medical conditions. These drugs are used to treat primary fungal infections as well as secondary infections. Anti-fungal drugs can be administered through different channels and play a key role in keeping cancer patients and organ donors healthy. Let's examine how these drugs work and why continued research and development is so...

Sequencing batch reactors (SBRs), also known as sequential batch reactors, are activated sludge systems applied in wastewater treatment. SBR systems are upgrades of conventional activated sludge systems that minimize footprint by integrating separate functions in a single treatment system. Standard SBR setups usually include the reactor basin, water sludge draw-off mechanism, effluent decanter, and process control system. How Do Sequencing...