The Protein Man's Blog | A Discussion of Protein Research

What Are Biocides?

Biocides are non-antibiotic agents used as preservatives, disinfectants, or antiseptics. Although most biocides are chemical agents, microorganisms can also be used as biocides to suppress the growth of other organisms. Biocides act either by killing microorganisms or inhibiting their growth. Biocides can be further classified by their intended application. Preservatives are added to products to increase their shelf-life by preventing microbial decomposition. Disinfectants are agents that are applied to inanimate objects and surfaces, whereas antiseptics are agents applied to living tissue such as mucous membrane or skin. In today’s world, biocides are frequently encountered.  Preservatives are ubiquitous and are found in a diverse array of products ranging from food, beverages, and cosmetics to pharmaceutical drugs, biological samples, and research products. Likewise, the use of disinfectants has increased dramatically in response to the worldwide pandemic, and antiseptics are increasingly important in hospital settings.

What is a Western blot?

Western blotting is the process of transferring proteins from a gel onto a membrane to identify proteins of interest. The membrane is treated with antibodies that bind epitopes on the protein of interest. After further treatment with a secondary antibody, specific proteins in the sample can be visualized using detection techniques such as the Enhanced Chemiluminescence (ECL) method.

While two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures are still being used for basic research and drug discovery, screening, and testing, the use of 3D cell cultures is fast gaining popularity since it effectively addresses many of the limitations commonly encountered in 2D cell cultures. Specifically, three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures:

What’s the difference between DNA and mRNA vaccines and how do they work? Are they better than traditional vaccines? With all the exciting life-saving possibilities these modern technologies offer, it’s time to take a closer look.