Nanotechnology is the control and manipulation of variously sized particles ranging between 1 to 100 nanometers (Doll, Raman, Dey, & Burkhard, 2012). Virus and virus-like particles, due to their multiple capsid sites, allow for the addition of peptides and the manipulation of their genetic material and protein subunits (Strable & Finn, 2009). Scientists, as they learn more about the production and alteration of these particles, have discovered their true chemical flexibility and ability to assemble into useful nanotechnologies. As a result of these unique qualities, virus-like particles are key particles in nanotechnology, especially in areas such as vaccination, tumor targeting treatments, and other scientific fields (Strable & Finn, …show more content…
Nanotechnology, the manipulation of matter on the molecular scale, can be applied to numerous scientific fields, such as medicine, surface chemistry, micro fabrication, and organic chemistry (Destito, Schneemann & Manchester, 2009). In general, these small-sized particles are used to improve the functioning of commercial products and, in the subsection of nanomedicine, are used for therapeutics, tumor targeting, and vaccines (Crisci, Bárcena & Montoya, 2012). For example, the use of molecular nanotechnology improves vehicle fuel cells and catalytic converters, helps filter wastewater, and strengthens commercial products, such as bowling balls and glue. (Doll et. al., 2012). Harisinghani, through multiple experiments, also discovered that nanoparticles such as iron oxide can be used to image lymph nodes in patients with prostate cancer (Destito et. al., 2009). However, even with their vast range of applications, nanotechnology continues to raise issues on its toxicity and negative impact on the environment (Destito et. al., 2009).
Viruses In 1844, it was demonstrated by Adolph Mayer that infectious agents were still being transmitted to plants even when the infected sap was filtered through the Chamberland-Pasteur filter, a filter which isolated all bacteria from a liquid sample. As a result, new transmittable particles were discovered: viruses. Viruses are
Where it is still unclear the origins of viruses, one thing is clear, they are a very important part of the horizontal gene transfer, which drastically increases genetic diversity.
These findings are significant because super-resistant bugs are already rampant in hospitals, and are only one mutation away from exploding into an epidemic of untold scale. Consequently, the researchers view quantum dots as a figurative platform technology, upon which more advanced methods can be tested against a wide range of infections, with a possible expansion into therapeutics on the
In “Study Adds to Evidence that Viruses are Alive,” Professor Caetano-Anolles and his members argues that viruses are considered to be alive due to the founding of new evidences that support about it. They did a research and experiment to prove their claim. Others say that viruses are not “alive” because they lack many of the properties that scientists associate with living organisms. That they don’t have their own machinery for reproducing and they can only take over the machinery of cells, turning them into virus factories. Caetano-Anolles argues that viruses are alive, they used logos to support and give evidences to their claims. They argued that viruses are alive through their shapes and sizes, genetic structure and the means of their reproducing.
) Viruses are not cells, but rather carbon-based organic particles. Just like bacterial cells, they come in different shapes and sizes; varying between 10-300nm. The most common virus shapes are helical (rod shaped) and isometric (spherical shaped). Viruses contain the following structures: Nucleic acid – Composed of DNA and/or RNA. This contains all the genetic material that makes up the virus.
Did you know the name virus was coined from the word meaning slimy liquid or poison?In the document "study adds to evidence that viruses are alive" Diana Yates builds an argument to persuade the audience that viruses are living entities that share history with cells. Yates uses evidence, reasoning, stylistic and persuasive elements to, strengthen the logic and persuasiveness of her argument.
The virus lays latent for a week until it causes cancer, and the host dies within a few days, as the virus continues to inject its DNA. Because the virus mutates to look like the host cells, the virus looks and behaves differently in each person. Everything that makes someone unique is determined by the 1% of their 20,000 genes, and the virus takes advantage of that difference, making personalized medicine the only cure. Being able to tailor make an antibiotic, and nanoparticles to deliver the antibiotic so it would target just the virus, would save millions of
Viruses are microscopic particles that invade and take over both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. They consist of two structures, which are the nucleic acid and capsid. The nucleic acid contains all genetic material in the form of DNA or RNA, and is enclosed in the capsid, which is the protein coating that helps the virus attach to and penetrate the host cell. In some cases, certain viruses have a membrane surrounding the capsid, called an envelope. This structure allows viruses to become more stealthy and protected. There are two cycles in which a virus can go into: lytic and lysogenic. The lytic cycle consists of the virus attaching to a cell, injecting its DNA, and creating more viruses, which proceed to destroy the host. On the other hand, the lysogenic cycle includes the virus attaching to the cell, injecting its DNA, which combines with the cell’s DNA in order for it to become provirus. Then, the provirus DNA may eventually switch to the lytic cycle and destroy the host.
Technology has advanced greatly in the last decade, everyday scientists are developing techniques to cure diseases. Millions of people die every year due to harmful diseases with no cure. The term virus holds a negative meaning to humans. However, scientists are now able to manipulate viruses in a beneficial way. The Talimogene Laherparepvec virus, which came from herpes, has been genetically modified in order to treat melanoma patients (Ledford, 2015).
Scientists are sharpening their swords once again preparing for battle. This vehemence was in sued by new evidence favoring the underdogs of the last campaign, which took place in “1946” (dis. Rice). That hatchet has been buried for 70 years, only to be excavated and used in a global game of hot-potato. The cause of this contention and angst is a microscopic composition of proteins and enzymes. Though it may not seem like a controversial subject, highly intelligent minds are on both sides of the debate. They argue over the question “Is a virus a living or non-living?”
The protective capsid helps the virus escape detection and destruction during the invasion of the host. When the virus reaches the target cell, biochemical reactions between the capsid and cell wall allow the virus to latch on and inject its genome into the cell’s interior. Once inside, the viral genetic material insinuates itself into the host’s DNA or RNA. In an efficient feat of natural bioengineering, the host cell’s genetic machinery now does the rest of the work for the virus. The cell, which had already been making copies of its own genome, now also replicates that of the virus. Coded within the viral material is the blueprint for making more copies of the viral genome. Further instructions command the production of capsids and directions for assembly of new viruses. After the host cell becomes engorged with viruses, it explodes, sending the new
It is difficult to find a solid conclusion in relation to whether or not viruses are alive. The structure of a virus can settle that a virus is not alive, due to its lack of internal membranes. However, a virus’s lack of internal membranes is then contradicted after infecting a cell host. The reliability of a virus being non-living is limited as the virus is now able to perform metabolic processes, including replication, which continues the virus’s life cycle. However, in this instance it is shown that a virus is unable to continue its duration of life without a cell. Independently, a virus is not
The article first addresses the issue of whether or not to consider viruses as living. Although viruses used to be thought of as being biological chemicals due to the fact that they consist of nucleic acids
The National Institutes of Health began the U.S. National Nanomedicine Initiative program in 2005 by developing a national network of Nanomedicine Development Centers. “The two major goals of NIH Nanomedicine Initiative are: 1) understand how the biological machinery inside living cells is built and operates at the nanoscale and, 2) use this information to re-engineer these structures, develop new technologies that could be applied to treating diseases, and/or leverage the new knowledge to focus work
Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, such as Fe3O4 classified as biocompatible (Kunzmann et al., 2011) and low toxic nanomaterials in the human body studied (Jeng and Swanson, 2006; Karlsson et al., 2009) which make them have attracted great interest in biomedicine. However, little studies report in the human and existence the criteria to define the toxicity of nanomaterials does not guarantee that iron oxide nanoparticles pose no potential risks in a challenge with environmental systems and are suitable for use in widespread applications. Hence, due to their final destination in the aquatic ecosystems, it seems like the benefits and risk assessments of Fe3O4-MNPs are necessary to be clearly defined in aqua-life systems. In this regards, we
Nanotechnology is the development of atoms in a certain object. Nanotechnology has become very popular in the past few years. It is a way to rebuild the systems of life. To make systems move faster than ever before. Nanometer is about 10 times the size of an atom. Each of these has a huge effect on a system. Still there are questions out there that keep people wondering how important nanotechnology is to us. Many wonder how will it affect them and if we should continue this research. I myself wondered about nanotechnology. After researching this topic I have learned new and interesting facts to help me understand the entire concept.