Engineering calcium signaling of astrocytes for neural-molecular computing logic gates.

This paper proposes the use of astrocytes to realize Boolean logic gates, through manipulation of the threshold of [Formula: see text] ion flows between the cells based on the input signals. Through wet-lab experiments that engineer the astrocytes cells with pcDNA3.1-hGPR17 genes as well as chemical compounds, we show that both AND and OR gates can be implemented by controlling [Formula: see text] signals that flow through the population. A reinforced learning platform is also presented in the paper to optimize the [Formula: see text] activated level and time slot of input signals [Formula: see text] into the gate. This design platform caters for any size and connectivity of the cell population, by taking into consideration the delay and noise produced from the signalling between the cells. To validate the effectiveness of the reinforced learning platform, a [Formula: see text] signalling simulator was used to simulate the signalling between the astrocyte cells. The results from the simulation show that an optimum value for both the [Formula: see text] activated level and time slot of input signals [Formula: see text] is required to achieve up to 90% accuracy for both the AND and OR gates. Our method can be used as the basis for future Neural-Molecular Computing chips, constructed from engineered astrocyte cells, which can form the basis for a new generation of brain implants

Molecular Communications in Viral Infections Research: Modelling, Experimental Data and Future Directions

Hundreds of millions of people worldwide are affected by viral infections each year, and yet, several of them neither have vaccines nor effective treatment during and post-infection. This challenge has been highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, showing how viruses can quickly spread and impact society as a whole. Novel interdisciplinary techniques must emerge to provide forward-looking strategies to combat viral infections, as well as possible future pandemics. In the past decade, an interdisciplinary area involving bioengineering, nanotechnology and information and communication technology (ICT) has been developed, known as Molecular Communications. This new emerging area uses elements of classical communication systems to molecular signalling and communication found inside and outside biological systems, characterizing the signalling processes between cells and viruses. In this paper, we provide an extensive and detailed discussion on how molecular communications can be integrated into the viral infectious diseases research, and how possible treatment and vaccines can be developed considering molecules as information carriers. We provide a literature review on molecular communications models for viral infection (intra-body and extra-body), a deep analysis on their effects on immune response, how experimental can be used by the molecular communications community, as well as open issues and future directions