Drosophila A Toolbox For The Study Of Neurodegenerative Disease

Drosophila gives an overview of the ways in which Drosophila is currently being used as a model organism to further our understanding of a spectrum of human neurological diseases. Each chapter is written by respected researchers and gives an excellent account of the subject that is suitable for postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers.

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE), known as prion diseases, have been recognized for nearly 300 years in animals and almost 100 years in humans. Modern studies, including the protein-misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA), have greatly advanced our understanding of the pathogenesis of prion diseases and facilitated the identification of new prion diseases in animals and humans. In the second edition of Prions and Diseases, more than 60 leading researchers and clinicians worldwide provide an up-to-date discussion of these unique infectious pathogens and their associated diseases. The book provides up-to-date knowledge about the etiology, pathogenesis, classification, histopathological, and clinical aspects of the full range of animal and human prion diseases. As a result, the book contains by far the most authoritative views about the past, present, and future of prions and prion diseases. The new second edition covers such important emerging topics such as inherited human prion disease, stem-cell models in prion research, human prion disease surveillance, and gene therapy strategies.

Redox Metabolism and Longevity Relationships in Animals and Plants focuses on the recent issues that have emerged in ageing research in both the animal and plant kingdoms. This volume reviews current concepts concerning cellular redox homeostatis and ageing in animals and plants, relationships to programmed cell death, the production of oxidants and dicarbonyls, the ways that different organisms perceive and respond to oxidative, nitration and glycation challenges, and how this might be intricately connected to ageing and lifespan.

Insect Taste offers an accessible overview to some of the many advances in insect taste research. The book covers how insects solve the basic problem of taste gustatory processing, from detection and transduction, through coding to the generation of behavior and the evolutionary biology underpinning gustaory learning.

Practical Systems Biology provides a detailed overview of the different approaches used in this relatively new discipline, integrating bioinformatics, genomics, proteomics and metabolomics. Various areas of research are also discussed, including the use of computational models of biological processes, and post-genomic research.

Ayurvedic Herbal Preparations in Neurological Disorders provides a comprehensive and mechanistic understanding of the therapeutic potential of many ayurvedic herbal preparations in disease management. Examining research data for evidence-based ayurvedic approaches, this volume begins with a focused introduction to major ayurvedic plants, discussing various mechanisms underlying their neuromodulatory potential in preclinical and clinical settings. Major subsets of ayurvedic plants are discussed, including Bacopa monnieri, Centella asiatica, Withania somnifera, and others. This volume outlines the importance of integrative approaches along with existing treatments in the intervention/management of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, depressive mood disorders, epilepsy, schizophrenia, and more. More than a mere compilation of studies, this volume identifies relevant gaps for future research avenues and encourages interdisciplinary collaboration and sharing of knowledge to together identify the most efficacious ayurvedic approaches. Highlighting recent developments (e.g., Ayurgenomics, Ayurahar) and other pertinent research for neuroprotection, this book is crucial for anyone researching or working in the field of neurological disorder treatment and prevention. Provides a focused introduction to major Ayurvedic plants and their therapeutic potential in the management of neurodegenerative diseases Discusses various mechanisms underlying the neuromodulatory potential of several ayurvedic herbal preparations in preclinical and clinical settings Examines major subsets of ayurvedic plants (e.g., Bacopa monnieri, Centella asiatica, Withaniasomnifera, and others) and potential of several other plants in various neurological disorders Outlines the importance of integrative approaches along with existing treatments in the intervention/management of depressive mood disorders, epilepsy, schizophrenia, and more Highlights recent developments (e.g., Ayurgenomics, Ayurahar) and other pertinent research for neuroprotection

This book contains 12 chapters divided into two sections. Section 1 is "Drosophila - Model for Genetics." It covers introduction, chromosomal polymorphism, polytene chromosomes, chromosomal inversion, chromosomal evolution, cell cycle regulators in meiosis and nongenetic transgenerational inheritance in Drosophila. It also includes ecological genetics, wild-type strains, morphometric analysis, cytostatics, frequencies of early and late embryonic lethals (EEL and LEL) and mosaic imaginal discs of Drosophila for genetic analysis in biomedical research. Section 2 is "Drosophila - Model for Therapeutics." It explains Drosophila as model for human diseases, neurodegeneration, heart-kidney metabolic disorders, cancer, pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease, dopamine, neuroprotective therapeutics, mitochondrial dysfunction and translational research. It also covers Drosophila role in ubiquitin-carboxyl-terminal hydrolase-L1 (UCH-L1) protein, eye development, anti-dUCH antibody, neuropathy target esterase (NTE), organophosphorous compound-induced delayed neuropathy (OPIDN) and hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP). It also includes substrate specificities, kinetic parameters of recombinant glutathione S-transferases E6 and E7 (DmGSTE6 and DmGSTE7), detoxification and insecticidal resistance and antiviral immunity in Drosophila.