Gene therapy is used to deliver functional genes or therapeutic DNA into target cells and tissues of patients suffering from genetic disorders so that the defective genes in their body can be corrected, repaired or replaced with the normal genes. Though they may provide the only clue for treating some genetic diseases; gene therapy is […]
RISKS, PROBLEMS AND ETHICAL ISSUES OF GENE THERAPY Read More »
Gene Therapy Notes
Molecular diseases (genetic disorders) are non-infectious inheritable diseases which are usually caused by mutations that alter the normal function of a particular gene. They are different from infectious diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis which are mainly caused by pathogenic microorganisms in that genetic disorders can be passed on from affected parents to their offspring’s
APPLICATIONS OF GENE THERAPY IN TREATING MOLECULAR DISEASES Read More »
Gene Therapy Notes
 Below are some of the major ways through which bacteria pass on their antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) to other susceptible non–resistant bacteria in their environment: TRANSDUCTION Transduction is simply defined as the transfer of genetic material (i.e. exogenous or foreign DNA molecule) between bacteria by bacteriophages (bacterial viruses). It is the transfer of DNA
MECHANISMS OF TRANSFER OF RESISTANCE GENES IN BACTERIA Read More »
Antibiotic Resistance / Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), Antimicrobial Agents & Antibiotics, Pharmaceutical Microbiology
Genetic resistance of microbes to antibiotics is due to a chromosomal mutation in the bacterial DNA or acquisition of antibiotic resistance genes on plasmids or transposons from other bacteria. Bacteria are extremely ingenious in becoming resistant to antibiotics directed towards them because they are able to regulate their drug resistance genes over time. This is
GENETIC BASIS OF ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE Read More »
Antibiotic Resistance / Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), Antimicrobial Agents & Antibiotics, Pharmaceutical Microbiology
There are different types of steps involved in the transformation of a bacterial cell in gene cloning techniques. Bacterial cells are transformed when they are infused with exogenous DNA from another organism, and this makes them competent enough to express the gene product (or protein) of the gene they are carrying. Usually, the exogenous DNA
STEPS INVOLVED IN TRANSFORMING BACTERIAL CELLS Read More »
Biotechnology, Molecular Microbiology
Cloning is a molecular biology technique which is used to make millions of copies of a particular gene of interest or a piece of DNA molecule. It generally involves taking a piece of DNA molecule (containing specific gene sequence of interest) from a donor organism where it naturally exists and putting same into a cloning
Western blotting technique or protein immunoblot is used to identify specific proteins separated according to their sizes in an electrophoresis experiment. Protein immunoblot unlike other blotting techniques (e.g. southern and northern blotting) utilizes specific antibodies to identify the protein of interest. It is the transfer of proteins from gel to a matrix or nitrocellulose membrane.
WESTERN BLOTTING TECHNIQUE Read More »
Biotechnology, Molecular Microbiology
Giardiasis is a water-borne protozoal diarrheal-disease that is cause by parasites in the genus Giardia. The disease is a common intestinal infection which is usually spread in human population through feacal-contaminated water, food or hand. Giardiasis was first described by Anthony van Leeuwenhoek in the 1680’s when he examined his stool samples, and discovered tiny
Leishmaniasis is the parasitic disease caused by the protozoal organism, Leishmania. The disease affects the skin, spleen and the liver, and it is usually characterized by extensive lesions on the skin (in the mouth, throat and nose region) that sometimes leads to deformity of the affected body part. Leishmaniasis can be old world or new
Metallo-beta-lactamases (MBLs) are beta-lactamase enzymes produced by pathogenic bacteria, and which hydrolyzes the carbapenems (e.g. imipenem, meropenem, and ertapenem) and render the antibiotics ineffective for treatment. They are encoded by genes that have been procured by pathogenic bacteria either by mutation or by horizontal gene transfer from other resistant microbes. MBLs efficiently hydrolyze all beta-lactam
METALLO-β-LACTAMASE (MBL) – detection methods Read More »
Antibiotic Resistance / Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST) & Antibiogram, Microbe Lab, Pharmaceutical Microbiology