Simulating biological surface dynamics in high-speed atomic force microscopy experiments

Biophysical Reviews: A goodbye to 2023

This Editorial for the IUPAB Biophysical Reviews journal (2023 volume 15 issue 6) first provides an overview of the contents of this "Regular Issue featuring an Issue Focus on the Computational Biophysics of Atomic Force Microscopy" before going on to highlight some of the notable work published in the journal throughout 2023. Highlights of the current Issue include the contributed review article by Antonio Benedetto, winner of the 2023 Michèle Auger Award for Young Scientists' Independent Research, the latest installment of the "Biophysical Reviews Top 5 Series" authored by Angela Dulhunty, and an Issue Focus on the topic of computational aspects of atomic force microscopy generated from an IUPAB-sponsored workshop held in 2022.

Computational biophysics of atomic force microscopy-an IUPAB-sponsored workshop

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is a structural determination technique that involves 'prodding' surfaces with a nanometer sized needle with concomitant measurement of the resisting force. Due to its ability to interrogate the nanometer-to-micrometer size range, AFM is especially suited to the structural analysis of everything from biopolymers to cells and, as such, has become an important biophysical method. As AFM was only invented in 1986 it is relatively less scientifically developed than other structural techniques, such as NMR, X-ray crystallography and electron microscopy, that have a longer history of usage. In September of 2022 the first workshop of its kind was held to examine modern computational methods useful for simulating and analysing bioAFM experiments. Sponsored by a small IUPAB workshop grant, the three day meeting was of the hybrid (joint online /in person) type and had presenting participants based in Australia, UK, Finland, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam and Japan. Each invited speaker was asked to deliver a lecture composed of half educational material (pitched at the level of an advanced postgraduate student) and half cutting edge research material (gathered from their own studies). IUPAB funds were used to invite young researchers (postgraduate students and early career scientists) from both within Japan and countries in the near asian region who had an interest in learning about the theoretical and experimental basis of the AFM technique. This Editorial describes the workshop and introduces the written contributions from the invited lecturers.

Biophysical Reviews' "Meet the Editors Series": a profile of Damien Hall

This piece introduces Damien Hall, Chief Editor of the Biophysical Reviews journal since 2019. Currently working as an Assistant Professor at Kanazawa University, the author describes his association with the journal along with some parts of his family history and academic journey.