Genetherapy

Archive for December, 2009

Story Summary: Furthermore, in these mRNA experiments, CGEN-671s expression level in various healthy tissues was up to 200 times lower than the expression level of the previously known cancer target CD55, suggesting that the Compugen discovered splice variant should be a superior drug target candidate for cancer treatment. Recently concluded immunohistochemistry (IHC) studies, by independent pathologists using CGEN-671 specific antibodies, further confirmed the predicted potential for CGEN-671 to serve as a therapeutic mAb target for colorectal, breast and lung cancer. In these studies, it was shown that CGEN-671 was over expressed in more than 75% of the tissue sections derived from the colorectal cancer samples and had a very low expression in most samples of normal colon tissue. Also, of major significance for us is the fact that we have reached the point where we are now using multiple predictive capabilities in combination to accomplish this. In addition, the product candidate discovery platform that led to these oncology target discoveries, along with dozens of other potential mAb drug targets now at various stages of validation, uses both LEADS and MED, two of our most sophisticated infrastructure platforms. About Epithelial TumorsEpithelial tumors, also referred to as carcinomas, account for approximately 85% of all cancers, including the ten most prevalent cancers in the western world, such as breast, colorectal, lung, ovary, prostate and skin. Epithelial cells are the cover and lining of every surface or cavity of the body. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer related deaths in the US, with more than 150,000 deaths each year; colorectal and breast cancer are ranked second and third, respectively, with more than 40,000 deaths in the US annually for each. About Compugens Monoclonal Antibody Targets Discovery PlatformCompugens Antibody Therapeutic Targets Discovery Platform relies heavily on Compugens LEADS and MED capabilities, two computational biology infrastructure platforms that serve as core components for the development of Compugens discovery platforms. It includes extensive gene information and annotation, such as splice variants, antisense genes, SNPs, novel genes, RNA editing, etc. At the protein level, LEADS provides full protein annotation including homologies, domain information, subcellular localization, peptide prediction, and novelty status. Utilizing a sophisticated query interface, the proprietary MED platform allows the simultaneous examination of the expression of genes and pathways across all 1,400 conditions and tissues as well as all 40,000 microarray experiments. In addition to incorporating MED and LEADS, the mAb Targets Discovery Platform utilizes multiple data sources and algorithms to predict a large number of novel membrane proteins that can serve as targets for antibody therapeutics, such as for various cancer and autoimmune diseases. The selection of appropriate candidates from this large body of predicted membrane proteins is accomplished using sub-modules of algorithms and other computational tools developed specifically for each disease state or protein family. Binding of CD55 to complement proteins accelerates their decay, and thus disrupts the cascade and prevents damage to host cells. Compugens growing number of collaborations with major pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies cover both (i) the licensing of product candidates discovered by Compugen during the validation of its discovery platforms and in its internal research, and (ii) discovery on demand agreements where existing or new Compugen discovery platforms are utilized to predict and select product candidates as required by a partner. These statements include words such as may, expects, anticipates, believes, and intends, and describe opinions about future events. Some of these risks are: changes in relationships with collaborators; the impact of competitive products and technological changes; risks relating to the development of new products; and the ability to implement technological improvements. Some of these risks are: changes in relationships with collaborators; the impact of competitive products and technological changes; risks relating to the development of new products; and the ability to implement technological improvements….Read the Full Story

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1. Compugen and Bayer Schering Pharma to Collaborate on Compugen Discovered Oncology Target and Splice Variants
2. Compugen Announces Positive Therapeutic Effects of Novel Peptide in Animal Model of Retinopathy
3. Compugen Announces Positive Therapeutic Effects Of Novel Peptide In Animal Model Of Retinopathy

Story Summary: Epitopes are important for protective immunity and are key to developing new and more effective vaccines. D, an endowed professor in Microbial Immunology at the University of Iowa, who studies basic immunology that can inform vaccine design. This new support for Dr. Sette and colleagues, based on their proven track record in epitope identification, is timely and addresses major knowledge gaps in the design of effective vaccines. The genomes of microbes of very large sizes are now available, he said, referring to biomedical advances that have allowed the entire molecular blueprint of many viruses and microbes to be mapped. It is now technologically possible to tackle some of the biggest pathogens, such as malaria and TB (tuberculosis), with a truly unbiased screen that could reveal many exciting new vaccine and diagnostic candidates, said Dr. Sette, who is principal investigator on the tuberculosis and dengue virus contracts and co-investigator on the malaria contract. D. , co-investigator on the tuberculosis contract, described epitopes as what the immune system sees on an infected cell and which causes it to attack and eliminate the cell. By understanding which epitopes cause an immune attack, scientists can conceivably use those epitopes to develop a vaccine to ward off illness – in this case to tuberculosis. Were gradually coming to understand the complexity of the immune response in TB, and as we appreciate that complexity, we have to know what the targets of T cells are at various stages of infection and in people who have different outcomes, he said, adding that the La Jolla Institute study will be valuable in illuminating how tuberculosis epitopes trigger the immune systems T cells to launch an attack in a broad cross-section of patients. In both diseases, people living in the poorest countries are the most vulnerable, with the majority of deaths occurring in the developing world. 3 billion people – half of the worlds population – are at risk for malaria. For tuberculosis, the only vaccine available, BCG, has varying degrees of efficacy. For the malaria component, Dr. Sette and his research team will work with Denise Doolan, principal investigator on the malaria contract, and her team at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research in Australia, who are collecting blood samples from people exposed to the disease in Papua New Guinea, in collaboration with colleagues at the Papua New Guinea Institute for Medical Research. It will become apparent, based on various body indicators, which epitopes triggered a defensive reaction from the immune system. Institute researchers used the expansive resources of the Immune Epitope Database (IEDB), a major public health tool developed and hosted by the La Jolla Institute under a contract with the NIAID, to develop the malaria epitope predictions. Using mouse models, Dr. Shresta recently proved that T cells play a protective role. The information will provide another important piece of the puzzle that Institute researchers say will move the world closer to a vaccine. The smallpox vaccine is the most successful vaccine ever developed, added Dr. Peters, noting that it led to the worldwide eradication of the disease. In addition, smallpox remains of research interest due to bioterrorism concerns that the virus could one day be reintroduced, said Dr. Peters. Understanding the key aspects of viral protection against smallpox is important from this perspective as well. Contact Our News EditorsFor any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form. Depression During PregnancySome people believe that hormones during pregnancy offer a woman protection from depression. Without treatment, depression carries special risks for a mother-to-be, and thankfully, it is a very treatable condition. Without treatment, depression carries special risks for a mother-to-be, and thankfully, it is a very treatable condition….Read the Full Story

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1. NIH awards La Jolla Institute $18.8 million for major infectious disease study
2. The PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative And Crucell Announce Collaboration To Test New Adenovirus-based Malaria Vaccine Approach
3. New Malaria Vaccine Approach To Be Tested By PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative And Crucell

Blood vessel blockage, a common condition in old age or diabetes, leads to low blood flow and results in low oxygen, which can kill cells and tissues. Such blockages can require amputation resulting in loss of limbs. Now, using mice as their model, researchers at Johns Hopkins have developed therapies that increase blood flow, improve movement and decrease tissue death and the need for amputation. The findings, published online last week in the early edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, hold promise for developing clinical therapies.

A new type of gene therapy may help stop the progression of emphysema in young people who have an inherited form of the deadly disease.

Researchers say previous attempts to correct the gene mutation that predisposes young people to emphysema have failed to achieve lasting results.

But a new study shows a different approach that targets cells known as alveolar macrophages to deliver the gene therapy to the lungs of mice with this form of inherited emphysema was successful in treating the condition for two years.

Emphysema is a progressive lung disease that causes severe shortness of breath. There is no cure for the disease.

Story Summary: These are the findings of a study published in the 23 December advanced online issue of the journal Nature, that was led by Dr Antonio Iavarone, associate professor of neurology in the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Dr Andrea Califano, director of the Columbia Initiative in Systems Biology, both at Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York. The research team, which included physicists and biologists, used a new method called systems biology to help them find the genes from a mass of data representing a comprehensive network of trillions of interactions among molecules. By bringing together ideas from the fields of information theory and computational biology, Iavarone, Califano and colleagues assembled and experimentally validated a cellular network for a glioblastoma cell. The finding may open new avenues for combination therapy that targets both genes at the same time. As Califano explained:The finding means that suppressing both genes simultaneously, using a combination of drugs, may be a powerful therapeutic approach for these patients, for whom no satisfactory treatment exists. After finding the two genes with the systems biology approach, Iavarone and colleagues confirmed their role by experimenting on brain cancer cells and mice. Iavarone said that:The identification of C/EPB and Stat3 came as a complete surprise to us, since these genes had never been implicated before in brain cancer. From a therapeutic perspective, it means we are no longer wasting time developing drugs against minor actors in brain cancer, he said, adding that:We can now attack the major players. The new approach has the potential to change not only cancer research but also research into other diseases. In the new approach it is possible to analyze the network of molecular interactions and trace back from effects to root causes, following the principle of reverse engineering, to find the trigger genes. In fact, the two genes have very subtle effects, and these appear to be very similar in normal cells and cancer cells. It is only when they work together, that the two almost imperceptible effects become massive, like a tiny control switch causing a plane crash, they said. Written by: Catharine Paddock, PhD Copyright: Medical News Today Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News TodayAny medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional. Living with Breast CancerThere are many options for treating breast cancer, including surgery, hormonal treatments, radiation and chemotherapy….Read the Full Story

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Story Summary: In experiments in human and mouse cells, the flu-fighting proteins prevented or slowed most virus particles from infecting cells at the earliest stage in the virus lifecycle. The anti-viral action happens sometime after the virus attaches itself to the cell and before it delivers its pathogenic cargo. When we knocked the proteins out, we had more virus infection, said geneticist Abraham Brass, an instructor in medicine at HMS and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), who led the study first as a postdoctoral fellow in the Elledge research group and then in his own lab at the Ragon Institute. In the study, the surprisingly versatile antiviral proteins protected cells against several devastating human viruses – not only the current influenza A strains including H1N1and strains going back to the 1930s, but also West Nile virus and dengue virus. While IFITM did not protect against HIVor the hepatitisC virus, experiments suggested the protein may defend against others, including yellow fevervirus. The researchers do not know how the antiviral proteins deflect this variety of viruses, which use different mechanisms of entry into the cell. Since then, not much else has been discovered about the IFITM family. Versions of the IFITM genes are found in the genomes of many creatures, from fish to chickens to mice to people, suggesting the antiviral mechanism has been working successfully for millions of years in protecting organisms from viral infections. Then they examined what effect each blocked gene had on a cells response to influenza A virus. The screen revealed more than 120 genes with potential roles in different stages of infection. Four of those genes, when knocked down, allowed for a robust increase in the infection of cells by influenza A virus. Of these four candidate restriction factors, the research team concentrated on the IFITM3 protein because of its known link to interferon and found two closely related proteins in the IFITM family with similar activity. The virus is unable to make a protein in the cell to counteract the IFITM proteins, because the cell is already primed against the virus, Farzan said. The researchers have more questions than answers about how the IFITM restriction factors actually work, but they are excited about the range of inquiry the discovery opens up. For example, variations in the protein from person to person may explain differences in peoples susceptibility to flu and other viral infections, as well as its severity, the researchers speculate….Read the Full Story

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1. Scientists discover natural flu-fighting protein in human cells
2. Natural flu-fighting protein discovered in human cells
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Story Summary: The antibody, called F77, was found to bond more readily with cancerous prostate tissues and cells than with benign tissue and cells, and to promote the death of cancerous tissue, said the study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS). When injected in mice, F77 bonded with tissue where prostate cancerwas the primary cancer in almost all cases (97 percent) and in tissue cores where the cancer had metastasized around 85 percent of the time. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men, claiming half a million lives each year worldwide, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Weird eye viewing effect1hour ago Hey guys, Thats my first post here, and I couldnt find any other place online where I can ask something like that and get rational scientific explanation. Heres what happened to me today and I. . . does anyone knowDec 27, 2009 does anyone know if there is a disease involving not knowing whether u had a dream about something or that it is real lifeParkinsons like symptomsDec 26, 2009 Kidneys processing urineDec 25, 2009 How does the kidneys produce urine; in matter of regulation (?). Is it a flush when required or are they always dripping in the bladder? com) — Moving pictures are more suitable to interpret the mood of a person than a static photograph. A new study by researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological . . ….Read the Full Story

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Story Summary: The findings could have important implications for how the spread of infection is managed in hospital settings. Researchers from the National University of Ireland in Galway found that by adding increasing amounts of disinfectantto laboratory cultures of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the bacteriacould adapt to survive not only the disinfectantbut also ciprofloxacin – a commonly-prescribed antibiotic – even without being exposed to it. Disinfectants are used to kill bacteria on surfaces to prevent their spread. Importantly, the study showed that when very small non-lethal amounts of disinfectant were added to the bacteria in culture, the adapted bacteria were more likely to survive compared to the non-adapted bacteria. Dr. Gerard Fleming, who led the study, said, In principle this means that residue from incorrectly diluted disinfectants left on hospital surfaces could promote the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. What is more worrying is that bacteria seem to be able to adapt to resist antibioticswithout even being exposed to them. This will increase the effectiveness of both our first and second lines of defence against hospital-acquired infections, he said. Provided by Society for General Microbiologyotto1923- 19 hours agoDisinfectants may promote growth of superbugs Yes. Studying these interactions could lead to new ways of treating bacteria that are resistant . . . A new study by researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological . . . In the Dec. 6 issue of Nature Cell Biology, researchers from the Jo . . . In the Dec. 6 issue of Nature Cell Biology, researchers from the Jo . . ….Read the Full Story

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University of Nottingham (UK) researchers discover new insights that may facilitate the utilization of a drug derived from cordyceps, a mushroom that is commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), for the treatment of cancer.

More…

Story Summary: Embryonic stem cell research has the potential to change the future of medicine, said Sean Morrison, director of the U-M Center for Stem Cell Biology and one of the study leaders. For the study, Morrison teamed up with two colleagues at the U-M Life Sciences Institute: stem cell scientist Jack Mosher and population geneticist Noah Rosenberg. Their findings are scheduled to be published online Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine. If thats not done, we run the risk of leaving certain groups in our society behind, said Morrison, who is a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator at U-M. The Michigan initiatives are getting underway as stem cell scientists across the nation respond to sweeping policy changes issued by the Obama administration. Since that announcement, 40 lines have been approved for federal funding, including 22 lines that were part of the U-M genotyping study. Estimates of the total number of human embryonic stem cell lines in the world range up to 700. Project scientists expect to begin accepting the first donated embryos early next year and to achieve their first embryonic stem cell line by mid-2010. The work must abide by the restrictions imposed by the Michigan Constitution and federal regulations. The bills seek to impose new restrictions on embryonic stem cell research that could block much of the research approved by voters under Proposal 2, he said. In the U-M study, Mosher extracted DNA from embryonic stem cells and identified the pattern of genetic variation at nearly 500,000 sites within the genome, a process called genotyping. Rosenberg then compared the stem-cell genotypes to databases containing genetic information from 2,001 individuals of known ancestry. Mosher noted that the U-M Life Sciences Institute was created to bring together researchers with different sets of expertise to collaborate on problems they couldnt solve individually….Read the Full Story

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3. 2 lines account for most human embryonic stem cell research, Stanford scholar finds

Story Summary: Inflammation is a complex immune phenomenon that balances the activating and inhibitory actions of a finely-tuned set of molecules. RORalpha is known as a receptor specialized in controlling the expression of genes in the nucleus that exert an anti-inflammatory effect. Until now, it was thought that this protein was exclusively localized in neurons and not in astrocytes. This discovery thus demonstrates the expression of RORalpha in astrocytes and its role in regulating interleukin-6 (IL-6), an essential mediator of inflammation. The unexpected finding was that RORalpha exerts an ambivalent action on IL-6 production. However, under normal physiological conditions where the astrocyte is not stimulated, RORalpha activates IL-6 production at concentrations that are beneficial at a basal level. This ambivalence of both RORalpha and IL-6 thus permits astrocytes to react rapidly to attack so as to ensure favorable conditions under all circumstances in the microenvironment of neurons. In vivo, RORalpha is thus the molecular heart of a complex IL-6 regulation mechanism that occurs in the astrocyte to the benefit of neurons. These results are of particular interest in the context of neuronal death. The nuclear receptor RORalpha exerts a bi-directional regulation of IL-6 in resting and reactive astrocytes….Read the Full Story

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Story Summary: Molecular chaperone keeps bacterial proteins from slow-dancing to destructionDecember 28, 2009 Just like teenagers at a prom, proteins are tended by chaperones whose job it is to prevent unwanted interactions among immature clients. And at the molecular level, just as at the high school gym level, its a job that usually requires a lot of energy. Proteins in disease-causing bacteria like E. coliunfold when they land in stomach acidafter being accidentally ingested by humans and other animals. HdeA uses a unique timed-release mechanism, said postdoctoral fellow Tim Tapley, who spearheaded the work. While most molecular chaperones consume large amounts of cellular energy in order to function, HdeA instead taps energy freely available in its living environment. In this way, HdeA is a bit like a wind powered machine, except that instead of harnessing wind, HdeA uses the energy from pH changes in the surrounding environment as the bacteriamove from the acid stomach to the slightly alkaline small intestine, said James Bardwell, in whose lab the work was done. Bardwell is a professor of molecular, cellular and developmental biology and of biological chemistry, as well as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator. Now, a report in the November 14th issue of the journal Cell, a Cell Press publication, . . . In order to work properly, they must be folded just so, yet many proteins readily . . . com) — Researchers at North Carolina State University have discovered that the good bacteria found in dairy products and linked to positive health benefits in the human body might also be an effective . . . Conservation of Matter15 hours ago Let me first say that I am not a bio person. To be honest, I dont know much bio at all. Everything to our knowledge is governed by four fundamental forces: the gravitational, electromagnetic, and strong and weak nuclear forces. Dec 24, 2009 | / 5 (28) | Famous for its antioxidant properties and role in tissue repair, vitamin C is touted as beneficial for illnesses ranging from the common cold to cancer and perhaps even for slowing the aging process….Read the Full Story

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Story Summary: Butte, who is the studys senior author, and his colleagues looked at data from several large genome-wide association studies of single-nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs: tiny genomic variations that constitute the genetic underpinning for inter-individual human differences from eye color to nose shape to personality quirks. But at about one or two out of every 1,000 positions, the first persons genome may boast one variety of chemical unit, while the seconds hosts another type. There are several million SNPs in the human genome, making for a gigantic number of possible different versions of a human being, said the studys lead author, Marina Sirota, a fourth-year PhD student under Buttes supervision in Stanfords Biomedical Informatics Program. In the past few years the industrial-scale characterization of SNPs has been hugely enhanced by sophisticated electronic devices called gene chips, pioneered at Stanford about a decade ago. Gene chips can quickly scan an individuals genome to identify the chemical unit occupying each of more than a million SNP locations. From these published studies, Sirota, Butte and their colleagues culled about a half-dozen that had been conducted on patients with or without autoimmune diseases including type-1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, autoimmune thyroid disease and a spinal condition called ankylosing spondylitis. The investigators restricted their attention to SNPs that were examined in all the studies they were focusing on. Of those, the researchers found 15 SNPs for which having a particular chemical unit at that site predisposed an individual to several autoimmune diseases. Most intriguing of all, people predisposed to one pair of diseases were protected against the other. The scenario is akin to switches controlling banks of Christmas-tree lights. As more genomic information becomes available on increasingly advanced platforms, this sort of analysis can be done on more diseases, possibly hundreds of them. So well be able to find more relationships like these, Sirota said. Butte said finding SNPs predisposing people to one or another cluster of autoimmune diseases may help catch the onset of a disease earlier. And if a patient has a particular autoimmune disease, this might help us know what else to screen that patient for, or guess whether a drug that works well in a different autoimmune disorder could be useful in treating this patient. Several of these nine interesting SNPs weve found are located in or near genes that code for molecules found on cell surfaces, which makes them potentially easier targets for the drugs pharmaceutical researchers are best at producing. Research using DNA has revealed that people who have a below . . . A Rice University lab has discovered that dividing a particular fluorescent protein and using it as a tag is handy for analyzing the . . ….Read the Full Story

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Story Summary: It is released when APP, a larger protein, is cut by several enzymes. Thus, Abeta and APP are involved in the early process of AD development. APP is also known to be present at the synapses between neurons though its molecular action is not understood. Synapse loss is thought to be one of the main contributors to the cognitive decline seen in AD. In this new research, the GUMC scientists found decreased spine density in mice that have been genetically modified to not produce APP. The scientists then looked at four-week-old mice that over produced APP and found a significant increase in spine density. Our work suggests that APP balance is critical for normal neuronal development, connection of synapses, and dendritic spine development, all of which have implications for the extensive synapse loss and cognitive decline seen in Alzheimers disease, explains the studys author, Hyang-Sook Hoe, PhD, a research scientist in the department of neuroscience. This research was funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health….Read the Full Story

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Story Summary: HFMD is common among infants and children, as most of the recently reported cases have occurred in children. Sinovac is independently developing the EV 71 vaccine and will retain full commercialization rights of the vaccine upon approval. Created by Sydney University, the animal model showed cross protection and demonstrated that the vaccine is effective in animals. Our ability to submit the application ahead of the projected 2010 timeline is a validation of the R&D capabilities of the team developing this vaccine. A vaccine against EV 71 represents a significant unmet medical need, given that there are not effective preventive therapeutic alternatives for this life threatening viral illness affecting infants and children. About EV 71Enterovirus 71, or EV 71, causes Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (or HFMD). More than 90% of the reported cases occur in children under five years old. EV 71 is a frequent cause of HFMD epidemics associated with neurological disease in a small proportion of cases. 1 million cases were reported in China, with over 400 reported fatalities. Sinovacs vaccine products include Healive(R) (hepatitis A), Bilive(R) (combined hepatitis A and B), and Anflu(R) (influenza). 1(TM), Sinovacs pandemic influenza vaccine (H5N1) and H1N1 vaccine, have already been approved for government stockpiling. Sinovac is developing vaccines for enterovirus 71, universal pandemic influenza, Japanese encephalitis, and human rabies. Its wholly owned subsidiary, Tangshan Yian, is conducting field trials for independently developed inactivated animal rabies vaccine. These statements are made under the safe harbor provisions of the U. S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Sinovac does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. comscarrington@theruthgroup….Read the Full Story

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Story Summary: The drug was effective in treating infection, but a high number of women still went on to experience preterm labour. The study suggests that it is important to investigate other factors, beside infection, to determine the cause of preterm labour. Professor Jim Neilson, from the Universitys School of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, explains: Labour that occurs before 37 weeks is defined as a preterm birth and is a major cause of infant death and illness. Currently there is no effective way to prevent premature births, but it is thought that infection could be a significant trigger. Our study showed, however, that treating infection with azithromycin, had no impact on reducing incidences of preterm labour. The results suggest that infection may not be the primary cause of preterm labour and other factors must be investigated further. Dr Nynke van den Broek, from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, added: The data collected as part of the trial will be further analysed to determine which factors during pregnancy were associated with the occurrence of preterm birth in this group of women. The field site in Malawi is highly representative of other sub Saharan African settings and the information on risk factors as well as pregnancy outcome will be very valuable to inform future studies. The results suggest that infection may not be the primary cause of preterm labour as previously thought. We recommend that routine antibiotics should not be given to pregnant women to prevent early births. Have any problems using the site?…Read the Full Story

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Story Summary: Molecular anchor links the 2 inheritable diseases Fanconi anemia and Blooms syndromeDecember 24, 2009 A new study establishes a molecular link that bridges two rare inherited disorders and explains why these diseases result in genetic instability. The research, published by Cell Press in the December 24th issue of the journal Molecular Cell, may lead to a better understanding of the complex mechanisms that enable cells to repair damaged DNA. Fanconi Anemia (FA) and Blooms Syndrome (BS) are unique rare genetic disorders that have some key characteristics in common. Dr. West and co-author, Dr. Andrew J. Deans, examined the FA gene FANCM because it has been shown to directly bind to DNA and has been shown to have specificity for substrates that are similar to those linked with the BS core complex. The researchers went on to show that a disruption of the interaction between the two core complexes and FANCM led to similar chromosomal repair defects representative of both BA and FA cells. We have shown for the first time that FANCM acts as a molecular scaffold that functions in a variety of repair reactions and serves as a bridge between FA and BS. Further understanding how these interactions and reactions are regulated should provide a more complete understanding of the molecular basis of FA and BS. Deans et al. : FANCM Connects the Genome Instability Disorders Blooms Syndrome and Fanconi Anemia. Not just among those who have the genetic disorder but among their family members, whose genes, they were told, made them highly susceptible to a variety . . . Such a device would be vision-saving because many severe eye diseases . . . 5 hours ago | not rated yet | 0 Half a protein is better than none, and in this case, its way better than a whole one. A Rice University lab has discovered that dividing a particular fluorescent protein and using it as a tag is handy for analyzing the . . . Dec 24, 2009 | / 5 (5) | Senators gave Barack Obama a huge political boost on Thursday by passing a sweeping remake of the US health care system that aims to extend coverage to 31 million uninsured Americans. Dec 24, 2009 | / 5 (3) | 0 Cancer progression is commonly thought of as a process involving the growth of a primary tumor followed by metastasis, in which cancer cells leave the primary tumor and spread to distant organs. Now, a new report in the December 24th issue of Cell, . . ….Read the Full Story

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Story Summary: com added a new report on Hepatitis B Vaccines – Pipeline Analysis and Market Forecasts to 2015 which gives current and future market competition in the global hepatitis B vaccines market. Hepatitis B Vaccines – Pipeline Analysis and Market Forecasts to 2015This is an essential source of information and analysis on the global hepatitis B vaccines market. – Geographic markets covered in this report include the US, the UK, Italy, Spain, Germany, France, and Japan. – Pipeline analysis data providing a split across different vaccine classes. Key market players covered are GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Dynavax Technologies, Pfizer, Emergent Biosoloutions, PepTcell and Celldex Therapeutics. Each trend is independently researched to provide qualitative analysis of its implications. – Key topics covered include strategic competitor assessment, market characterization, unmet needs and implications for future market associated with hepatitis B vaccines. Reasons to buyThe report will enhance your decision making capability in a more rapid and time sensitive manner. – Develop business strategies by understanding the trends shaping and driving the global hepatitis B vaccines market. – Drive revenues by understanding key trends, innovative products and technologies, market segments and companies likely to impact the global hepatitis B vaccines market in future. – Formulate effective sales and marketing strategies by understanding the competitive landscape and by analyzing the performance of various competitors. – Organize your sales and marketing efforts by identifying the market categories and segments that present maximum opportunities for consolidations, investments and strategic partnerships. – Whats the next big thing in the global hepatitis B vaccines market landscape?…Read the Full Story

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Story Summary: BBS proteins shown to run an export business that protects ciliaDecember 28, 2009 The BBSome (red) removes signaling proteins from flagella by linking them to a subset of IFT particles (green). A protein complex mutated in human disease removes excess signaling molecules to prevent them from damaging cilia, say researchers from UMass Medical School. The study will be published in the December 28 issue of the Journal of Cell Biology. Lechtreck et al. turned to the green alga Chlamydomonas, and found that BBS proteins were only present on a subset of IFT particles in each of the algas two flagella. The researchers speculate that a similar buildup of disruptive proteins causes cilia dysfunction in BBS patients; the BBSome may remove excess signaling proteins from flagella by linking them to a subset of IFT particles undergoing retrograde transport out of the cilia. Author Karl Lechtreck says that the next step is to fluorescently tag the signaling proteins and compare their movements to BBS and IFT proteins. The discovery in mice shows that the microscopic structures known as primary cilia . . . Conservation of Matter15 hours ago Let me first say that I am not a bio person. To be honest, I dont know much bio at all. I have a question regarding cell replication and conservation of matter. Everything to our knowledge is governed by four fundamental forces: the gravitational, electromagnetic, and strong and weak nuclear forces. And at the molecular level, just as at the high school gym level, its a job that usually . . . 23 hours ago | / 5 (2) | More than 20 pilot whales died in a mass beaching in New Zealand Sunday while another 40 were successfully herded back to sea, conservation officials said….Read the Full Story

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Story Summary: Everyone who works with stem cells should be doing this kind of analysis. Greater diversity in cell samples would set the stage for more broadly relevant research by labs in academia and industry, more robust results on the safety and efficacy of potential therapies, and more successful tissue transplants. Pluripotent stem cells would potentially provide physicians with the ability to replace or repair damaged tissues throughout the body. Much research on pluripotent stem cells to date has been conducted on human embryonic stem cells, which are harvested from discarded embryos (those created but not used for the purposes of in vitro fertilization, a technique to help couples conceive). These cells–called induced pluripotent stem cells–are created by taking a sample of skin cells or another type of differentiated cell and using chemicals and molecular biology techniques to coax them back into a pluripotent state. The current analysis included 47 human embryonic stem cell lines collected from labs located around the world–including Korea, Australia, and Finland. Laurent noted that simply asking cell donors about their ethnic heritage does not provide accurate data. Theres often an ancestor from a different area who a person doesnt know about, she said. Notably lacking from the samples were cell lines representing African heritage. In addition, the authors found that the country in which a cell line was generated did not necessarily predict the ethnicity of the donor. In creating a new pluripotent stem cell line from an individual with a West African Yoruba background, the scientists generated a line that contains distinct genetic markers for disease risk and drug metabolism. I think that increasing ethnicity and genetic diversity is an important reason for generating new lines….Read the Full Story

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1. 2 lines account for most human embryonic stem cell research, Stanford scholar finds
2. Two Lines Account for Most Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Stanford Scholar Finds
3. U-M study reveals lack of diversity in embryonic stem cell lines

Story Summary: Notching up a role in the multisystem disease tuberous sclerosis complexDecember 28, 2009 Two independent teams of researchers have identified a role for enhanced activation of the signaling protein Notch in tumors characterized by inactivation of either the TSC1 or the TSC2 protein. As indicated by Warren Pear, at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, in an accompanying commentary, these data provide a rationale for testing whether Notch inhibitors are of benefit to those with TSC-associated tumors. Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a multisystem disease characterized by the formation of benign tumors in multiple organs. Results presented in the second study, by Hongbing Zhang and colleagues, at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Peoples Republic of China, provide further evidence that TSC proteins regulate Notch activity and that Notch overactivity contributes to the tumorigenic potential of cells deficient in either TSC1 or TSC2. A new study appearing in Clinical and Translational Science shows the mechanisms governing stem cell expansion in bre . . . com) — Moving pictures are more suitable to interpret the mood of a person than a static photograph. com) — Researchers from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine have identified mutations in the gene for TRPV4 that cause two related degenerative motor nerve disorders, scapuloperoneal spinal muscular . . ….Read the Full Story

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1. Eureka Genomics Plays Key Role in Identification of Viral Strains Involved in an Emerging Disease Afflicting Syrah Grapevines in California
2. Small changes in protein chemistry play large role in Huntingtons disease
3. News: Mouse Model Developed to Understand T Cellsa Role in Kidney Damage Disease.

Story Summary: This study represents one of the largest and best organized studies of the host genetics in infectious diseases published, said Prof Edison Liu, Executive Director at the GIS. The strength of Chinese clinical sciences and of Singapores targeted genomic capabilities makes a powerful scientific combination. The key to this collaboration and one that was recently published on the genetics of Asian migration is that the studies were initiated and executed by Asian partners acting as equals. Hopefully, this will initiate a new phase of cooperation between historically competing Asian countries whose primary links have been with western communities. It mainly affects skin and peripheral nerves and may lead to irreversible disabilities. According to the World Health Organizations (WHO) report, 254,525 new cases of leprosy were diagnosed in 2007. Because M. leprae cannot be cultured in the laboratory, and because it only infects humans and the Armadillo, research and thus the biological understanding of leprosy are very limited. The discovery of the 7 susceptibility genes has not only helped to understand some peoples susceptibility to this disease, but also opened the door for further biological and clinical research to reveal the mechanism of leprosy development. How To Kill Bed Bugs20 Jul 2009Bed bugs, known scientifically as Cimex lectularius (Cimicidae) are small wingless insects that feed by hematophagy – exclusively on the blood of warm blooded-animals….Read the Full Story

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1. Leprosy susceptibility genes reported
2. Genome Institute of Singapore and Roche NimbleGen develop rapid approach to identify H1N1 virus mutations and resistance to drugs – insciences
3. Scientists identify cholesterol-regulating genes

Story Summary: With a new chip called DMET, as many as 170 genes can be examined for more than a thousand variations. Such a development is particularly critical for cancer research, both in terms of drug discovery and treatment. Genetic variability among patients in cancer clinical trials is not commonly taken into account, a factor that could skew dosage amounts and doom an otherwise promising new drug. DMET appears to offer great promise in this field as a reliable test unveiling genetic variations that correlated with drug effectiveness and toxicity, says Deeken. Deeken serves as a consultant to Sanofi-Aventis, the manufacturer of docetaxel, a drug involved in the current reported study. The study was done in part at the National Cancer Institute and supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health. The Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of Georgetown University Medical Center and Georgetown University Hospital, seeks to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer through innovative basic and clinical research, patient care, community education and outreach, and the training of cancer specialists of the future. Georgetown University Medical Center is an internationally recognized academic medical center with a three-part mission of research, teaching and patient care (through Georgetowns affiliation with MedStar Health). GUMCs mission is carried out with a strong emphasis on public service and a dedication to the Catholic, Jesuit principle of cura personalis — or care of the whole person….Read the Full Story

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1. Goal of Personalized Medicine for Cancer Goes Mainstream
2. Goal of Personalized Medicine for Cancer Goes Mainstream
3. Goal of Personalized Medicine for Cancer Goes Mainstream

Story Summary: Since the 1998 discovery of RNA interference the naturally occurring phenomenon in which the flow of genetic informationfrom a cells nucleusto the protein-building machinery of the cell is disrupted scientists have been pursuing the tantalizing ability to shut off any gene in the body. Specifically, they have been trying to silence malfunctioning genes that cause diseases such as cancer. How they did it: The team at MIT, along with Alnylam researchers, have developed methods to rapidly produce, assemble and screen a variety of different lipidoids, allowing them to pick out the most effective ones. The team focused on one that appeared the most promising, dubbed C12-200. If the same dosing were translated to humans, a potential therapy would only require an injection of less than 1 milliliter to specifically inhibit a gene, compared with previous formulations that would have required hundreds of milliliters, says Anderson. Next steps: The MIT/Alnylam team hopes to start clinical trials within the next couple of years, after figuring out optimal doses and scaling up the manufacturing capability so they can produce large amounts of the siRNA-lipidoid complex. More information:Lipid-Like Materials for Low Dose, in vivo Gene Silencing, Kevin T. Love, Kerry P. Mahon et al. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, week of Dec. 28, 2009. Researchers in the laboratory of Mark E. Davis at the California Institute of Technology have been using small interfering RNA (siRNA), sometimes . . . A new study by researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological . . . In the Dec. 6 issue of Nature Cell Biology, researchers from the Jo . . . 4 hours ago | not rated yet | 0 Researchers led by specialists at the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute have found that injecting a corticosteroid, triamcinolone, directly into the eye may slow the progression of proliferative diabetic retinopathy, a complication . . ….Read the Full Story

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1. Quark Pharmaceuticals Announces the Presentation of Data Indicating Potential Utility of QPI-1002 in Chronic Kidney Disease at the RNA Interference Summit
2. Alnylam Grants KOKEN License to Kreutzer-Limmer Patents for the RNA Interference (RNAi) Research Products Market
3. RNA interference can suppress ovarian tumor growth

Emory University (USA) cite 100 preclinical studies and two clinical trials showing the beneficial effects of progesterone treatment for central nervous system injuries including traumatic brain injury.

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