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Protein Design and Engineering in Biochemistry

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 January 2026 | Viewed by 552

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
Interests: biochemistry; genetics and molecular biology; protein engineering; biomedical engineering

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences explores the rapid advancements in protein engineering, molecular biology, and biomedical engineering, driven by cutting-edge technologies. It highlights recent progress in the design, synthesis, and application of engineered proteins, biochemical tools, and their integration into biomedical solutions. Topics of interest include computational protein design, directed evolution, CRISPR-based genome editing, synthetic biology, and the development of biomaterials for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. We also invite contributions on molecular biology’s role in disease mechanisms, targeted therapies, and the engineering of biological systems for drug delivery and regenerative medicine. This issue aims to provide a platform for sharing innovative methodologies, experimental findings, and theoretical insights bridging fundamental science and translational applications. By bringing together diverse perspectives, we hope to inspire collaboration and new directions in addressing global health challenges through molecular and biomedical innovation. We welcome original research, reviews, and perspectives from both academia and industry.

Dr. Om Prakash Narayan
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • protein engineering
  • molecular biology
  • biochemical tools
  • computational protein design
  • directed evolution
  • CRISPR/Cas9
  • synthetic biology
  • biomaterials
  • protein therapeutics
  • regenerative medicine

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

12 pages, 3211 KiB  
Article
CRISPR/Cas12a-Based One-Tube RT-RAA Assay for PoRV Genotyping
by Mingfang Bi, Zunbao Wang, Kaijie Li, Yuhe Ren, Dan Ma and Xiaobing Mo
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(14), 6846; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26146846 - 16 Jul 2025
Viewed by 274
Abstract
Porcine rotavirus (PoRV), a primary etiological agent of viral diarrhea in piglets, frequently co-infects with other enteric pathogens, exacerbating disease severity and causing substantial economic losses. Its genetic recombination capability enables cross-species transmission potential, posing public health risks. Globally, twelve G genotypes and [...] Read more.
Porcine rotavirus (PoRV), a primary etiological agent of viral diarrhea in piglets, frequently co-infects with other enteric pathogens, exacerbating disease severity and causing substantial economic losses. Its genetic recombination capability enables cross-species transmission potential, posing public health risks. Globally, twelve G genotypes and thirteen P genotypes have been identified, with G9, G5, G3, and G4 emerging as predominant circulating strains. The limited cross-protective immunity between genotypes compromises vaccine efficacy, necessitating genotype surveillance to guide vaccine development. While conventional molecular assays demonstrate sensitivity, they lack rapid genotyping capacity and face technical limitations. To address this, we developed a novel diagnostic platform integrating reverse transcription recombinase-aided amplification (RT-RAA) with CRISPR–Cas12a. This system employs universal primers for the simultaneous amplification of G4/G5/G9 genotypes in a single reaction, coupled with sequence-specific CRISPR recognition, achieving genotyping within 50 min at 37 °C with 100 copies/μL sensitivity. Clinical validation showed a high concordance with reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). This advancement provides an efficient tool for rapid viral genotyping, vaccine compatibility evaluation, and optimized epidemic control strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Protein Design and Engineering in Biochemistry)
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