Neuroactive peptides are sequences of amino acids, usually longer than amino acid neurotransmitters yet shorter than hormones or proteins. Unlike the classic neurotransmitters which are formed by enzymes near the presynaptic terminals, neuroactive peptides are assembled by ribosomes attached to the endoplasmic reticulum.

A nucleic acid fragment, labelled by a radioisotope, biotin, etc., that is complementary to a sequence in another nucleic acid (fragment) and that will, by hydrogen binding to the latter, locate or identify it and be detected; a diagnostic technique based on the fact that every species of microbe possesses some unique nucleic acid sequences which differentiate it from all others, and thus can be used as identifying markers or 'fingerprints.'

Foliar feeding, using natural organic foliar fertilizer, is an effective method for correcting soil deficiencies and overcoming the soil's inability to transfer nutrients to the plant. Tests have shown that up to 90 percent of a foliar fed nutrient solution can be found in the smallest root of a plant within 60 minutes of application. A project using radio¬active tagged nutrients, proved that foliar feeding can be 8 to10 times more effective than soil feeding. The effectiveness of foliar applied nutrients is determined by (1) The condition of the leaf surface, in particular the waxy cuticle. The cuticle is only partially permeable to water and dissolved nutrients and, as a result, it can limit nutrient uptake. (2) The length of time the nutrient remains dissolved in the solution on the leaf's surface. (3) diffusion, the movement of elements from a high concentration to a low concentration. For diffusion to occur, the nutrient must dissolve. and (4) The type of formulation. Water-soluble formulations generally work better for foliar applications as they are more easily absorbed when compared to insoluble solutions.

The use of pheromones to achieve biological pest management is an ingenious alternative to using harsh chemicals and a great way to reduce pesticides. Insects of the same species can communicate with one another by releasing small quantities of chemical substances from their bodies into the air. These distinct 'scents', which are called pheromones, will attract others to the source of that attraction. The action of the pesticides, which contain a mixture of insect pheromones, is vastly different from that of previous-generation pesticides such as malathion and other organophosphates, which indiscriminately wipe out any bug in their path. In this case, the pheromones are normally produced by female moths. An artificially applied source of the pheromones diverts the attention of the males, resulting in less mating and smaller moth populations. It is now possible to communicate with certain insects by using these synthesized pheromones, enabling us to attract them, or disrupt them from their normal behaviour .

Bioflavonoids are plant compounds that give plants their colour and are found mostly in fruits, vegetables and certain tree barks. Previously known collectively as vitamin P, the bioflavonoids include a number of vitamin C-like components that work together - citrin, rutin, flavonols, catechin, proanthocyanidins, polyphenols and quercetin are a few of the more common ones. As a class, bioflavonoids are powerful antioxidants which help protect our bodies from harmful free radicals. They also have antiviral, anticancer and antiallergenic actions. The main use of the bioflavonoids would be to provide synergy in the utilisation of vitamin C - they therefore contribute to many vitamin C applications, for example, the treatment of colds and flu's.

Plant hormones are chemical messengers that affect a plant's ability to respond to its environment. Hormones are organic compounds that are effective at very low concentration; they are usually synthesized in one part of the plant and are transported to another location. They interact with specific target tissues to cause physiological responses, such as growth or fruit ripening. Each response is often the result of two or more hormones acting together. Because hormones stimulate or inhibit plant growth, many botanists also refer to them as plant growth regulators. Many hormones can be synthesized in the laboratory, increasing the quantity of hormones available for commercial applications. Botanists recognize five major groups of hormones: auxins, gibberellins, ethylene, cytokinins, and abscisic acid.

Antibiotic prophylaxis is a brief course of antibiotics initiated preoperatively in order to decrease the risk of postoperative wound infection. Prophylactic antibiotics are not a substitute for proper aseptic technique; rather, they are an additional measure used to decrease infection risk. Optimally, an antibiotic level exceeding the minimum inhibitory concentration of that antibiotic for the infecting organism should be maintained in the tissue from incision through wound closure. Use of prophylaxis implies an absence of established infection and gross contamination of the tissues.

Protective proteins in the body aid the immune system in determining which cells are harmful and which are normal and healthy. As the immune system patrols the body for biological troublemakers, it regularly strikes out at normal, healthy cells as well. Cells rely on special protective proteins to avoid being the victims of this friendly fire. Two of these tiny bodyguards--called MCP for membrane cofactor protein and DAF for decay accelerating factor--also may help sperm fertilize eggs and protect sperm in the female genital tract. In addition, scientists are looking for ways to recruit MCP and DAF to tell the immune system what to kill and what to leave alone. This research eventually could affect cancer therapy, organ transplantation, and treatments for a wide range of inflammatory diseases.

A sterile solution of amino acids and peptides prepared from a protein by acid or enzymatic hydrolysis and used intravenously for the maintenance of positive nitrogen balance in severe illness, after surgery of the alimentary tract, in the diets of infants allergic to milk, or as a high protein dietary supplement. Protein hydrolysates have a range of applications in the food and allied healthcare sectors. Bitterness is a negative attribute associated with most food protein hydrolysate.

The term 'nutrient sensing' has been defined and interpreted in different ways. In the narrowest sense, a nutrient sensor is a protein whose binding to a nutrient leads to a change inthe function of that protein, which in some cases may triggerdownstream activation of a signalling cascade. Nutrients suchas AAs (amino acids), glucose and fatty acids have traditionallybeen considered as metabolic fuels for cell growthand development. But this view is undergoing a rapid changewith an increased understanding of the mechanisms bywhich such nutrients can act as mediators of signal transductionpathways. These nutrient-mediated signalling cascades regulate specific aspects of fuel and energy metabolism,ultimately influencing cell growth, proliferation and survival.

Protein purification is a series of processes intended to isolate a single type of protein from a complex mixture. Protein purification is vital for the characterisation of the function, structure and interactions of the protein of interest. Purification may be preparative or analytical. Preparative purifications aim to produce a relatively large quantity of purified proteins for subsequent use. Examples include the preparation of commercial products such as enzymes (e.g. lactase), nutritional proteins (e.g. soy protein isolate), and certain biopharmaceuticals (e.g. insulin). Analytical purification produces a relatively small amount of protein for a variety of research or analytical purposes, including identification, quantification, and studies of the protein's structure, post-translational modifications and function. The first purified proteins were urease and Concanavalin A.

In biochemistry, a receptor is a protein on the cell membrane or within the cytoplasm or cell nucleus that binds to a specific molecule (a ligand) such as a neurotransmitter or a hormone or other substance, and initiates the cellular response to the ligand. Ligand-induced changes in the behavior of receptor proteins result in physiological changes that constitute the biological actions of the ligands.These proteins are used in intercellular communication. For example if a hormone is binding to a receptor causes the receptor protein release a signal to perform some action.

Recombinant protein is a protein that it's code was carried by a recombinant DNA.The term recombinant DNA means that two segments of DNA in a plasmid. Plasmids are usually occurring in bacteria. When a recombinant DNA is inserted to a bacteria, this bacteria will produce protein based on this recombinant DNA. This protein iscalled recombinant protein.The use of bacteria in order to produce recombinant protein has grown in the recent years. Using recombinant DNA and inserting it to a plasmid of rapidly reproducing bacteria enables the manufacture of recombinant protein. These recombinant proteins can be variety of types, the can be Antibodies, antigens, hormones and enzymes

Ribavirin is an anti-viral drug which is active against a number of DNA and RNA viruses. It is a member of the nucleoside antimetabolite drugs that interfere with duplication of viral genetic material. Though not effective against all viruses, ribavirin is remarkable as a small molecule for its wide range of activity, including important activities against influenzas, flaviviruses and agents of many viral hemorrhagic fevers.Ribavirin is a pro-drug, meaning that it is a chemical precursor for the actual pharmacologically active molecule. When the pro-drug is administered, the body converts it into the desired chemical. Ribavirin is activated by cellular kinases which change it into the 5' triphosphate nucleotide. The primary observed serious adverse side-effect of ribavirin is hemolytic anemia, which may worsen preexisting cardiac disease. The mechanism for this effect is unknown. It is dose-dependent and may sometimes be compensated by decreasing dose.