Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Biomineralization
A natural process by which living organisms produce
minerals.
Biospecific
interaction
Biospecific interactions include the binding of an
antibody to its target molecule, the interaction
between the protein streptavidin and its ligand
biotin, or the binding of a ligand to its cell surface
receptor.
Biotemplating
The exploration of naturally occurring organic
protein structures such as VNPs for the synthesis of
man-made materials.
Chemotherapy
The chemical treatment of cancer; the administration
of therapeutic drugs.
Chimera
A genetically modified version of the wild-type or
the native form of an organism, protein, or VNP.
A VNP chimera is, for example, a VNP displaying
foreign antigenic peptides. Such chimeras are used
in vaccine development.
Chromophores
A chemical structure that is responsible for the
coloration of a molecule.
Co-transfection
Transfection of cells that incorporates both a
replication-deficient virus and a helper vector or
plasmid that supplies the necessary replication
proteins in trans.
Coat protein
Proteins that form the exterior “coat” of the virus,
which is referred to as the capsid.
Computed
tomography (CT)
The word tomography is derived from the Greek
word tomos and means “section” or “slice.” CT is
the computerized processing of tomography images
into a 3D image.
Covalent bond
A chemical bond between two molecules in which
pairs of electrons are shared. It is the strongest
chemical interaction.
Cryo-electron
microscopy
A form of electron microscopy where the sample
is cooled down to a cryogenic temperature (liquid
nitrogen temperature) for analysis. Many virus
structures have been studied and solved using cryo-
electron microscopy.
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