Comparative Genomics and Proteomics in Drug Discovery gives an overview of how emerging genomic and proteomic technologies are making significant contributions to global drug discovery programs, and in particular the key role that comparative genomics and proteomics play within this strategy. Each chapter is written by respected authorities, with hands-on experience, from both academic and pharmaceutical backgrounds.

The book is intended to be a resource for students as well as scientists in education and for the general public to learn about proteomics and genomics. Chromosomes form the basis for our genetic heritage and are the code for protein synthesis. The Human Genome Map came out in 2002, and the Proteome Sequence Map is under currently being created by a global consortia initiative. Proteome and genome building blocks already form the basis of scientific research areas as well as large parts of the pharmaceutical and biomedical industry. The book initiative will provide the background to and our current understanding of these gene and protein areas, as well as describe how cutting-edge science is using these resources to develop new medicines and new diagnostics for patient care and treatment. The book will be useful for undergraduate students as well as university students and researchers who need a good understanding of genomics and proteomics within the clinical field. The book will also be targeted at a broad public as well as readers not specialized within this field. Dr. Marko-Varga is the head of the Head of Div. Clinical Protein Science & Imaging at the Biomedical Center, Dept. of Measurement Technology and Industrial Electrical Engineering, Lund University, and Professor at the 1st Department of Surgery, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.

Human biology has now entered into a phase of post-genomics and it might not be an exaggeration to say that the major outcome of the human genome sequencing has finally been to open the way to the exploration of the proteome-proteomics. Proteins are the functional output of genes and there are two main expected outcomes from human proteomics. The first is to discover new molecular markers for early diagnosis and profiling of pathologies. The second is to decipher the intracellular signaling pathways leading to the initiation and progression of pathologies, for the identification of new targets and the development of innovative therapeutic strategies. This is clearly a promising challenge that this book explores through a series of ongoing experiences and projects representative of the new era in which biology and medicine have now entered.

This is an innovative textbook for undergraduates as well as postgraduates offering basic knowledge of biology. Its aim is to provide state-of-the-art information about this developing science that has the potential to replace existing biological approaches to study genes and proteins. The chapters are explained in a concise yet detailed manner, including ample cross-references, references to literature and databases, tables and illustrations. The book's sound approach to this intricately complex field makes it an exceptional resource for further exploration into biochemistry, molecular biology, genomics and drug designing fields. Abundant learning features make this book the ideal teaching and learning tool. KEY FEATURES • Illustrations to bolster understanding of complex biochemical relations • Tables for quick access to precise data • Extensive end-of-chapter exercises and references • The most basic details furnished for those who are new to biology • User-friendly, Internet-based bioinformatics tools that allow researchers to extract information from databases and analyze it • Analysis of one software tool discussed in each chapter step-by-step from entering the input till interpretation of the results This is an in-depth textbook written for the biologist who wants a thorough understanding of the popular bioinformatics programs and molecular databases currently in use. It provides a broad, application-oriented overview of this technology.

Malaria is a threat to mankind and responsible for millions of cases of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Plasmodium parasite is responsible for causing disease. This work investigates and reveals the hidden information inside the parasite genomes using comparative genome analysis and codon usage bias study. The possibility of using variable surface proteins as a common drug target has been checked in both the human infecting Plasmodium species and it was found that variable surface proteins cannot be used as a common drug target due to existence of sequential and structural differences at both the genome and proteome level. Metabolic network information is also utilized in this piece of work for identifying new drug targets. Further in silico approaches viz. molecular modeling, structure-based 3D pharmacophore model generation, virtual screening and docking etc. were also utilized to find the drug prototypes.

Delivery of therapeutic proteomics and genomics represent an important area of drug delivery research. Genomics and proteomics approaches could be used to direct drug development processes by unearthing pathways involved in disease pathogenesis where intervention may be most successful. This book describes the basics of genomics and proteomics and highlights the various chemical, physical and biological approaches to protein and gene delivery. Covers a diverse array of topics from basic sciences to therapeutic applications of proteomics and genomics delivery Of interest to researchers in both academia and industry Highlights what’s currently known and where further research is needed

The patenting and licensing of human genetic material and proteins represents an extension of intellectual property (IP) rights to naturally occurring biological material and scientific information, much of it well upstream of drugs and other disease therapies. This report concludes that IP restrictions rarely impose significant burdens on biomedical research, but there are reasons to be apprehensive about their future impact on scientific advances in this area. The report recommends 13 actions that policy-makers, courts, universities, and health and patent officials should take to prevent the increasingly complex web of IP protections from getting in the way of potential breakthroughs in genomic and proteomic research. It endorses the National Institutes of Health guidelines for technology licensing, data sharing, and research material exchanges and says that oversight of compliance should be strengthened. It recommends enactment of a statutory exception from infringement liability for research on a patented invention and raising the bar somewhat to qualify for a patent on upstream research discoveries in biotechnology. With respect to genetic diagnostic tests to detect patient mutations associated with certain diseases, the report urges patent holders to allow others to perform the tests for purposes of verifying the results.