Sep. 18, 2013 A blood test developed by researchers at Duke Medicine showed more than 90-percent accuracy in distinguishing between viral and bacterial infections when tested in people with respiratory illnesses.

The test, which detects a specific genetic signature that the sick persons immune system expresses as a response to the virus, demonstrates a potential new method for diagnosing the source of illnesses that have long been tough to pinpoint.

Reported in the Sept. 18, 2013, issue of the journal Science Translational Medicine, the finding moves the technology closer to clinical use, where it could help patients get quicker diagnoses and treatments, while curbing the unnecessary use of antibiotics that dont work on viral infections.

In instances such as pandemic flu or the corona-virus that has erupted in the Middle East, its extremely important to diagnose a viral illness far more accurately and speedier than can be done using traditional diagnostics, said co-senior author Geoffrey S. Ginsburg, M.D., Ph.D., director of Genomic Medicine and professor of medicine at Duke University School of Medicine. Current tests require knowledge of the pathogen to confirm infection, because they are strain-specific. But our test could be used right away when a new, unknown pathogen emerges.

When infected by a virus, a persons immune system responds differently than when fighting a bacterial infection. These differences are evident at the genetic level, where certain genes are switched on during a viral attack, creating a fingerprint that broadly identifies the culpable pathogen.

In previous work, the Duke team described the development of a blood test, using a special assay, to identify some 30 genes involved in the immune response to viral infection among volunteers who had agreed to be infected with a series of common upper respiratory viruses.

Unlike current tests that rely on evidence of the pathogen in the blood stream requiring knowledge of that particular bug to detect it the new approach could be used to detect unknown emerging diseases, including potential bioterrorism threats.

This is important not only in viral pandemics where infection may be caused by unknown viruses but also in routine care where the decision to treat or not with antibiotics is paramount, said lead author Aimee K. Zaas, M.D., MHS, associate professor of infectious diseases and international health at Duke.

The current study was a trial run of the blood test in a real-world setting. Among 102 people arriving at a hospitals emergency department with fever, 28 had a viral infection, 39 had a bacterial infection and 35 were healthy controls. Using the test, the Duke researchers were able to accurately classify more than 90 percent of the patients as having viral infection or not.

The assay provided true positive identifications of viral infection in 89 percent of the cases, and correctly ruled out the negative cases 94 percent of the time.

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Genomic test accurately sorts viral vs bacterial infections

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Wave Genetics Can Cure Any Disease - Dr. Peter Garyaev
http://wavegenetics.org/en - Wave Genetics by Dr. Peter Garyaev. This video contains some mind-boggling information, it will change the way you perceive the ...

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Professor Sir Stephen O #39;Rahilly - Human Metabolic Disease: Leassons from Genetics
Full story: UCD Ulysses Medal for Professor Sir Stephen O #39;Rahilly - http://www.ucd.ie/news/2013/09SEP13/160913-UCD-Ulysses-Medal-for-Professor-Sir-Stephen-OR...

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Professor Sir Stephen O'Rahilly - Human Metabolic Disease: Leassons from Genetics - Video

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Stem Cell Therapy Treatment for Autism with MR by Dr Alok Sharma, Mumbai, India
Improvement seen in just 3 months after Stem Cell Therapy Treatment for Autism with MR by Dr Alok Sharma, Mumbai, India After Stem Cell Therapy 1. Her sitting tolerance has improved from 15...

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Stem Cell Therapy Treatment for Cerebellar Ataxia by Dr Alok Sharma, Mumbai, India
Improvement seen in just 3 Months after Stem Cell Therapy Treatment for Cerebellar Ataxia by Dr Alok Sharma, Mumbai, India. Stem Cell Therapy done at Dr Alok...

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By Lora Hines

Houston Chronicle

Published: September 18, 2013

More than 10,000 veterans have enrolled in Houston in a nationwide program designed to understand the role genes play in health and eventually improve ways of preventing and treating illnesses.

Houston's Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center is among 50 facilities participating in a nationwide program to enroll 1 million veterans in the data collection system.

The Department of Veterans Affairs launched the voluntary Million Veteran Program three years ago to better understand how genes affect veterans' health and their ability to fight illnesses. The program requires participants to provide DNA so researchers can use it for future studies, said Dr. Rayan Al Jurdi, the Houston site's principal investigator.

In addition to DNA, researchers also will collect health, lifestyle and military-exposure information from questionnaires and medical records for a database. So far, the database has information from more than 250,000 veterans, including nearly 10,200 from the Houston VA, making it the largest study site, the VA said.

"Anyone in the VA, regardless of what diseases they do and don't have can participate," Al Jurdi said, adding that program could create the largest genetic sample worldwide. "That's what's exciting about it. The research possibilities are endless."

Participants include veterans who served as long ago as World War II and those who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan, Al Jurdi said. The database will give researchers access to large samples to study conditions such as diabetes, post-traumatic stress and depression, he said.

So far, no research has begun, Al Jurdi said.

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VA seeking 1 million volunteers for gene research

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Public release date: 16-Sep-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Karl Leif Bates karl.bates@duke.edu 919-681-8054 Duke University

DURHAM, N.C. -- Explorers need good maps, which they often end up drawing themselves.

Pursuing their interests in using the brains of birds as a model for the human brain, an international team of researchers led by Duke neuroscientist Erich Jarvis and his collaborators Chun-Chun Chen and Kazuhiro Wada have just completed a mapping of the bird brain based on a 10-year exploration of the tiny cerebrums of eight species of birds.

In a special issue appearing online in the Journal of Comparative Neurology, two papers from the Jarvis group propose a dramatic redrawing of some boundaries and functional areas based on a computational analysis of the activity of 52 genes across 23 areas of the bird brain.

Jarvis, who is a professor of neurobiology at Duke, member of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, said the most important takeaway from the new map is that the brains of all vertebrates, a group that includes birds as well as humans, have some important similarities that can be useful to research.

Most significantly, the new map argues for and supports the existence of columnar organization in the bird brain. "Columnar organization is a rule, rather than an exception found only in mammals," Jarvis said. "One way I visualize this view is that the avian brain is one big, giant gyrus folding around a ventricle space, functioning like what you'd find in the mammalian brain," he said.

To create different patterns of gene expression for the analysis, the birds were exposed to various environmental factors such as darkness or light, silence or bird song, hopping on a treadmill, and in the case of migratory warblers, a magnetic field that stimulated their navigational circuits.

The new map follows up on a 2004 model, proposed by an Avian Brain Nomenclature Consortium, also lead by Jarvis and colleagues, which officially changed a century-old view on the prevailing model that the avian brain contained mostly primitive regions. They argued instead that the avian brain has a cortical-like area and other forebrain regions similar to mammals, but organized differently.

"The change in terminology is small this time, but the change in concept is big," Jarvis said. For this special issue, the of Journal of Comparative Neurology commissioned a commentary by Juan Montiel and Zoltan Molnar, experts in brain evolution, to summarize the large amount of data presented in the studies by the Jarvis group.

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10-year project redraws the map of bird brains

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Public release date: 17-Sep-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Jessica Koh jessica.koh.l.c@nhcs.com.sg 65-643-67924 SingHealth

The National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS) research team has successfully and completely reversed the effects of the hERG (human ether-a-go-go-related gene) mutation in long QT syndrome 2 (LQTS 2) in patient-specific heart cells, scoring a world's first. Long QT syndrome 2 is a dangerous heart rhythm disorder that can lead to sudden cardiac death, even in young patients. It is caused by a mutation in a specific gene known as hERG, which helps to control the electrical activity in the heart cells and coordinate its beating rhythm. Using the patient's own skin stem cells transformed to beating heart cells, the team tested various drug compounds and discovered that the drug, not normally tested in this condition could reverse the effects of long QT syndrome 2. This novel experiment paves the way for the better understanding on how drugs affect cell and intra-cell disordered function and allows safe testing of new compounds on patients' own cells, without the risk of side effects to the patients themselves. The findings have earned the team a best poster prize at the prestigious ESC (European Society of Cardiology) Congress on 1 September 2013, the largest international cardiology meeting attended by close to 30,000 participants.

"For the first time, we have mimicked a patient's disease condition in a petri dish, understood the mechanism of long QT syndrome 2 on this platform, and successfully tailored a drug that reverses the entire condition," said Associate Professor Philip Wong, Director, Research and Development Unit (RDU), NHCS.

Potential cure for long QT syndrome 2

To better study the disease, skin cells were obtained from a patient clinically diagnosed with long QT syndrome 2 caused by the hERG mutation. Using the skin cells, the NHCS research team generated human-induced pluripotent stem cells and reprogrammed these into heart cells. Pluripotent stem cells are among the most powerful stem cells and can be eprogrammed into any type of cells. The team found that the heart cells in a petri dish mirrored the patient's heart condition outside the body, allowing them to study the disease and test treatments accurately and repeatedly on the cells without any risk to the patient. By applying their understanding of the condition's fundamental disorder at the genetic level, the eam then tested various drug compounds and discovered a drug that could reverse the ffects of long QT syndrome 2, after a rigorous testing period of a year.

"With the efficacy aspect proven, we will be testing the therapy's safety profile as we move towards clinical applications," said Dr Ashish Mehta, Senior Research Scientist, RDU, NHCS, and lead investigator of the study.

Accelerated research discoveries

Conventional drug discovery and development involves understanding the basic causes of a disease at the level of genes, proteins and cells, and using the knowledge to derive specific targets to develop new drugs. The NHCS research team was able to accelerate the drug development path with their understanding of how long QT syndrome 2 develops in the patient-derived heart cells, and this helped them to efficiently shortlist drug compounds designed to correct the effects of the underlying hERG mutation. This novel method of assessing the efficacy of new drug compounds could revolutionise how researchers look at specific treatments for certain conditions and allow a more focused and accelerated path to drug discovery for life-threatening conditions.

"Our breakthrough in hERG-related long QT syndrome 2 could potentially help to accelerate the development of new cures very much faster, perhaps within 5 to 8 years. It is a shortcut compared to the conventional drug development route which could take 10 to 15 years," said Dr Winston Shim, Scientific Director, RDU, NHCS, "Another interesting point is that as the drug therapy is specific to the patient, there is a high chance that it will work on the individual whose skin cells were sampled for the study."

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National Heart Centre Singapore discovers patient-specific cure for dangerous heart rhythm disorder

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Sep. 17, 2013 The National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS) research team has successfully and completely reversed the effects of the hERG (human ether-a-go-go-related gene) mutation in long QT syndrome 2 (LQTS 2) in patient-specific heart cells, scoring a world's first. Long QT syndrome 2 is a dangerous heart rhythm disorder that can lead to sudden cardiac death, even in young patients. It is caused by a mutation in a specific gene known as hERG, which helps to control the electrical activity in the heart cells and coordinate its beating rhythm. Using the patient's own skin stem cells transformed to beating heart cells, the team tested various drug compounds and discovered that the drug, not normally tested in this condition could reverse the effects of long QT syndrome 2. This novel experiment paves the way for the better understanding on how drugs affect cell and intra-cell disordered function and allows safe testing of new compounds on patients' own cells, without the risk of side effects to the patients themselves. The findings have earned the team a best poster prize at the ESC (European Society of Cardiology) Congress on 1 September 2013, the largest international cardiology meeting attended by close to 30,000 participants.

"For the first time, we have mimicked a patient's disease condition in a petri dish, understood the mechanism of long QT syndrome 2 on this platform, and successfully tailored a drug that reverses the entire condition," said Associate Professor Philip Wong, Director, Research and Development Unit (RDU), NHCS.

Potential cure for long QT syndrome 2

To better study the disease, skin cells were obtained from a patient clinically diagnosed with long QT syndrome 2 caused by the hERG mutation. Using the skin cells, the NHCS research team generated human-induced pluripotent stem cells and reprogrammed these into heart cells. Pluripotent stem cells are among the most powerful stem cells and can be eprogrammed into any type of cells. The team found that the heart cells in a petri dish mirrored the patient's heart condition outside the body, allowing them to study the disease and test treatments accurately and repeatedly on the cells without any risk to the patient. By applying their understanding of the condition's fundamental disorder at the genetic level, the eam then tested various drug compounds and discovered a drug that could reverse the ffects of long QT syndrome 2, after a rigorous testing period of a year.

"With the efficacy aspect proven, we will be testing the therapy's safety profile as we move towards clinical applications," said Dr Ashish Mehta, Senior Research Scientist, RDU, NHCS, and lead investigator of the study.

Accelerated research discoveries

Conventional drug discovery and development involves understanding the basic causes of a disease at the level of genes, proteins and cells, and using the knowledge to derive specific targets to develop new drugs. The NHCS research team was able to accelerate the drug development path with their understanding of how long QT syndrome 2 develops in the patient-derived heart cells, and this helped them to efficiently shortlist drug compounds designed to correct the effects of the underlying hERG mutation. This novel method of assessing the efficacy of new drug compounds could revolutionise how researchers look at specific treatments for certain conditions and allow a more focused and accelerated path to drug discovery for life-threatening conditions.

"Our breakthrough in hERG-related long QT syndrome 2 could potentially help to accelerate the development of new cures very much faster, perhaps within 5 to 8 years. It is a shortcut compared to the conventional drug development route which could take 10 to 15 years," said Dr Winston Shim, Scientific Director, RDU, NHCS, "Another interesting point is that as the drug therapy is specific to the patient, there is a high chance that it will work on the individual whose skin cells were sampled for the study."

What is long QT syndrome?

Long QT syndrome is a disorder of the heart's electrical activity which may cause one to develop a sudden, uncontrollable, and dangerous heart rhythm. It is mainly an inherited condition, with a prevalence of about 1 in 5,000 people in Singapore. Non-inherited long QT syndrome may be brought on by certain medicines or other medical conditions. Left untreated, more than half of those with inherited long QT syndrome die within 10 years. There are about 13 gene mutations causing variations of long QT syndrome, with long QT syndrome 2 being one of the most common.

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Patient-specific cure discovered for dangerous heart rhythm disorder

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Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Protein Data Base-TNAU PDB
TNAU PDB is an open accessible database that focuses on proteome of various organisms. It is a data repository of various biotic and abiotic stress related p...

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Public release date: 17-Sep-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Vicki Cohn vcohn@liebertpub.com 914-740-2156 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News

New Rochelle, NYMary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers has introduced a preview issue of MOOCs Forum, a new publication dedicated to the development and sustainability of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). The burgeoning coverage of MOOCs in the press extols their potential. But within the communities of education, industrial learning, developers, investors and broad student demographics, the credibility, standards, protocols, utility and value of MOOCs are being questioned, researched and developed. MOOCs Forum is committed to providing and promoting dialogue, debate and discussion of the many process and content issues that will eventually impact the success and value of MOOCs. The objective and unbiased content will include letters to the editor, point-counterpoint discussions, perspectives and position papers, case studies, and roundtable discussions. MOOCs Forum will be available online with Open Access options and in print. The articles in the preview issue are available on the MOOCs Forum website.

The insightful Roundtable Discussion included in the preview issue, "State-of-the-Field" brings together domestic and international, traditional and open university, MOOC providers and end-user experts to discuss whether MOOCs will "democratize" education. Participants in the Roundtable include Andrew Ng, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Coursera; Jack Wilson, President Emeritus, University of Massachusetts; Peter Sloep, Professor at the Open University of the Netherlands; and Nish Sonwalkar, Editor-in-Chief of MOOCs Forum and Director of Research for the United States Distant Learning Association. The preview issue also includes the original research article "Self-Driven Mastery in Massive Open Online Courses" by C.B. Do, Z. Chen, R. Brandman, and D. Koller, as well as a Perspective titled "Crowdsourcing to Assess MOOCs: A Position Paper", by R.J. Clougherty Jr. and V. Popova.

"MOOCs are now facing many challenges. MOOCs Forum brings the best minds together and debates the issues for a long-term solution," says Nishikant Sonwalkar, ScD, Editor-in-Chief of MOOCs Forum. "We know MOOCs are here to stay and the Forum provides a voice for key stakeholders in defining the future of MOOCs."

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About the Journal

MOOCs Forum is published quarterly online with Open Access options and in print, and features diverse thoughts, opinions, perspectives, and practices on all topics related to Massive Open Online Courses. Led by Editor-in-Chief Nishikant Sonwalkar and a distinguished team of Associate Editors and Editorial Board members, MOOCs Forum provides the latest thinking in topics such as student identification and security, institutional benefits and liabilities, content and credit standards, platform advancements, matriculation, acceptability by employers, regulators, and universities, and a host of other dynamic topics that will influence the success and sustainability of MOOCs. Complete information is available on the MOOCs Forum website.

About the Publisher

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers is a privately held, fully integrated media company known for establishing authoritative peer-reviewed journals in promising areas of science and biomedical research, including 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing (launching 2014) and Telemedicine and e-Health. Its biotechnology trade magazine, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN), was the first in its field and is today the industry's most widely read publication worldwide. A complete list of the firm's 80 journals, books, and newsmagazines is available on the Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers website.

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MOOCs Forum -- preview issue of groundbreaking publication

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Public release date: 17-Sep-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Vicki Cohn vcohn@liebertpub.com 914-740-2100 x2156 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News

New Rochelle, NY, September 17, 2013Using a new in silico method called OptSwap scientists can predict how to engineer microorganisms to increase the yield of high-value biobased chemicals produced by industrial-scale cell factories. This example of how advanced computational tools are being applied to genome-scale metabolic modeling in microbes illustrates the important contributions from the field of Systems Biology, as highlighted in a special research section in Industrial Biotechnology, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert Inc., publisher. The articles are available on the Industrial Biotechnology website.

The article "Optimizing Cofactor Specificity of Oxidoreductase Enzymes for the Generation of Microbial Production StrainsOptSwap," by Zachary King and Adam Feist, University of California, San Diego and Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, describes the development of OptSwap. The authors identified microbial strain designs with significant advantages for the production of L-alanine, succinate, acetate, and D-lactate under the modeled conditions.

"The OptSwap method of King and Feist provides a great example of how systems approaches can enable more effective design and simulation of microbial strains," says Guest Editor Nathan D. Price, PhD, Associate Director, Institute of Systems Biology (Seattle, WA) and a member of the Industrial Biotechnology Editorial Board.

The IB IN DEPTH special section on Systems Biology includes review articles by Kieran Smallbone (University of Manchester, UK) and Pedro Mendes (Virginia Tech, Blacksburg): "Large-Scale Metabolic Models: From Reconstruction to Differential Equations"; Jacob Koskimaki, Anna Blazier, Andres Clarens, and Jason Papin (University of Virginia, Charlottesville): "Computational Models of Algae Metabolism for Industrial Applications"; Scott Harrison and Markus Herrgrd (Technical University of Denmark, Hrsholm): "The Uses and Future Prospects of Metabolomics and Targeted Metabolite Profiling in Cell Factory Development"; and Manual Alberto Garcia-Albornoz and Jens Nielsen (Chalmers University of Technology, Gteborg, Sweden): "Application of Genome-Scale Metabolic Models in Metabolic Engineering."

Research articles by Hnin Aung, Susan Henry, and Larry Walker (Cornell University, Ithaca, NY): "Revising the Representation of Fatty Acid, Glycerolipid, and Glycerophospholipid Metabolism in the Consensus Model of Yeast Metabolism,"; and by Patrick Hyland and Radhakrishnan Mahadevan (University of Toronto, Canada) and Serene Lock-Sow Mun (Universiti Teknologi Petronas, Tronoh Malaysia): "Prediction of Weak Acid Toxicity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Using Genome-Scale Metabolic Models" round out the special section.

###

About the Journal

Industrial Biotechnology, led by Co-Editors-in-Chief Larry Walker, PhD, Professor, Biological & Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, and Glenn Nedwin, PhD, MoT, CEO and President, Caisson Biotech, LLC, Davis, CA, is an authoritative journal focused on biobased industrial and environmental products and processes, published bimonthly in print and online. The Journal reports on the science, business, and policy developments of the emerging global bioeconomy, including biobased production of energy and fuels, chemicals, materials, and consumer goods. The articles published include critically reviewed original research in all related sciences (biology, biochemistry, chemical and process engineering, agriculture), in addition to expert commentary on current policy, funding, markets, business, legal issues, and science trends. Industrial Biotechnology offers the premier forum bridging basic research and R&D with later-stage commercialization for sustainable biobased industrial and environmental applications.

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OptSwap optimizes microbial strain design for production-scale bioprocessing

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Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) is a term used to describe plants and animals that have been produced through genetic engineering.

The resulting products are intended to be resilient, safe and provide higher yield, according to advocates. Many people however, disagree on the safety and efficacy of GMOs. Conflicting studies and passionate activists on each side have turned the topic into a vigorous debate. There are currently no laws requiring the identification of foods containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Washington state. Initiative 522 aims to change that by requiring those products to be labeled as such.

Supporters of I-522 claim GMO crops negatively impact farmers, consumers and the environment - earning the nickname frankenfood. The use of GMOs has resulted in infestations of herbicide-resistant weeds, which prompts the use of increasingly toxic and dangerous herbicides, according to the initiative.

Mixing plant, animal, bacterial, and viral genes in combinations that cannot occur in nature produces results that are not always predictable or controllable, and can lead to adverse health or environmental consequences, the initiative reads. Preserving the identity, quality, and reliability of Washingtons agricultural products is of prime importance to our states fiscal health.

The initiative also states more than 49 countries and the European Union already mandate the disclosure of GMOs on food labels. Other countries have instituted bans and/or restrictions on their use. More than 80 percent of the commercially processed foods available in the U.S. contain GMOs, according to the Non-GMO Project. Some foreign markets have chosen not to purchase agricultural imports from the U.S., for fear of unintentionally consuming GMO-containing food. This creates a billion-dollar loss in U.S. agriculture, according to advocates.

Skeptics of the cause regard scientific advancement as the saving grace in a world with increasingly difficult hunger-related issues to face. Large organizations such as the American Medical Association, World Health Organization, U.S. National Academy of Science and the British Royal Society believe genetic modification is safe and practical. Genetic engineers Dr. Marc Van Montagu, Dr. Mary-Dell Chilton and Dr. Robert Fraley have earned esteemed accolades such as the World Food Prize; an award equivalent to the Nobel Peace Prize for improving the quality and/or quantity of the worlds food supply.

Don Brunell, president of the Association of Washington Business (AWB), holds a positive view of genetic engineering. Scientific advancements allow farmers to produce more food in a smaller amount of time and resources, he said in his AWB weekly column, Presidents Perspective, on June 28. For example, by transplanting drought and insect-resistant genes into wheat, scientists have developed a strain that requires less water and pesticides. Agricultural biotechnology provides the answer to alleviating world hunger, he said.

Humans have modified crops for thousands of years, cross breeding varieties to make them tastier, bigger and more productive If opponents (of the GMO debate) succeed, the results will be disastrous, especially for the poor, Brunell said. We have no choice: We must grow more food on fewer acres. Fortunately, scientists have been working on a solution.

I-522 will rest on Novembers ballot. If it succeeds, all foods with GMO-containing ingredients will be required to say so on the label.

More:
GMO food initiative draws sparks from each side | Election

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The growth of personalised medicine threatens the communal approach that has brought our biggest health gains

ADVOCATES of personalised medicine claim that healthcare isn't individualised enough.

Backed up by the glamour of new biotechnologies such as direct-to-consumer genetic testing, personalised medicine what I call "Me Medicine" appears to its advocates as the inevitable and desirable way to go. Barack Obama, when still a US senator, declared that "in no area of research is the promise greater than in personalised medicine".

This trend towards Me Medicine is led by the US, but it is growing across the developed world.

In contrast, "We Medicine" public-health programmes such as flu shots or childhood vaccination is increasingly distrusted and vulnerable to austerity cuts. Yet historically this approach has produced the biggest increase in lifespan. Even today, countries with more social provision of healthcare and less individualistic attitudes have better health outcomes across all social classes.

Contrary to the claims of its proponents, the personalised approach hasn't yet delivered a paradigm shift in medicine. A 2012 Harris poll of 2760 US patients and physicians found that doctors had recommended personal genetic tests for only 4 per cent of patients. The Center for Health Reform & Modernization, run by US healthcare company UnitedHealth, put the figure at just 2 per cent.

But money is still pouring into Me Medicine. In July, the UK government announced that it would offer private companies a subsidy from a 300 million fund to encourage investment in its personalised medicine initiative, Genomics England. Last year the US administration increased the National Institutes of Health budget for personalised medicine, while cutting the budget for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Office of Public Health Genomics by 90 per cent.

Of course it would be nice if we could afford both, but in reality there's a growing risk that "me" will edge out "we". If it does, it won't be because the science is better or the outcomes more beneficial. In some instances of Me Medicine, clinical outcomes are worse than the We equivalent. For example, according to the UK's Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, private umbilical cord blood banks, which ostensibly provide a personal "spare parts kit" for the baby, produce poorer outcomes than public cord blood banking.

It is true that in some areas of Me Medicine, such as genetically individualised drug regimes for cancer care (technically known as pharmacogenetics), there has been genuine progress. For example, vemurafenib, a drug for aggressive melanoma, was reported in a 2012 New England Journal of Medicine article to extend the lifespan of 1 in 4 patients by seven months if they carry a specific genetic mutation in their cancer.

But only about half of those with the "right" type of tumour responded, and the mutation in question only occurs in about half of such melanomas. What is more, pharmaceutical firms will probably charge more for such drugs than for mass-market ones. They will be expensive, may benefit only a subset of the population and could leave cash-strapped state healthcare systems facing difficult decisions about where to allocate resources.

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*Me* medicine could undermine public health measures

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

RUTHERFORD, N.J., Sept. 18, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cancer Genetics, Inc. (CGIX) ("CGI" or the "Company"), an emerging leader in DNA-based cancer diagnostics that personalizes the clinical management of difficult-to-diagnose cancers, expanded its relationship with Roche Servicios S.A., an affiliate of the Swiss drug maker Roche. The companies will work together to develop workshops and training programs designed to drive adoption of biomarker-based cancer diagnostics at hospitals and cancer centers throughout Central America and the Caribbean.

Panna Sharma, CEO of CGI, stated, "This new initiative is an extension of our existing work with Roche Servicios, and it aligns with our focus on bringing our genomic testing to the community setting."

Since August 2012, CGI has performed highly complex testing services for Roche Servicios intended to provide information for the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer patients. These services help Roche Servicios deliver quality results to clinicians based in 14 different locations covering Central America and the Caribbean.

"Cancer Genetics' advanced technologies provide crucial genomic information that can be used for better outcome prediction and targeted treatment," stated Alvaro Soto, Central America and Caribbean General Manager of Roche Servicios. "We've seen great results in our work with Cancer Genetics. Together we've already affected hundreds of lives by targeting early therapeutics faster. By expanding our relationship, we are strengthening our ability to provide patients the best service possible."

Lan Wang, M.D., medical director of CGI, stated, "The workshops and training programs we are implementing will improve access to accurate genetic-based diagnostics, positively impacting therapeutic decision making in cancer care throughout the region, while adhering to the highest industry standards."

Mr. Sharma added: "We are extremely pleased to work with Roche on improving cancer care in the region. Building on our Expand Dx(TM) outreach program, our joint efforts are well-positioned to accelerate the adoption of targeted tools to fight cancer."

Roche Servicios plans to evaluate other CGI programs that can increase its scope of services and range of patients being serviced.

CGI's Expand Dx(TM) program is designed to enhance and expand community access to cancer diagnostics and personalized cancer treatment by developing outreach to hospitals and cancer centers. Expand Dx(TM) builds on a laboratory's capabilities to increase efficiency and drive revenue, helping community facilities stay competitive and grow in today's evolving market.

About Cancer Genetics:

Cancer Genetics, Inc. is an emerging leader in DNA-based cancer diagnostics that personalizes the clinical management of difficult-to-diagnose cancers. These cancers include hematological, urogenital and HPV-associated cancers. The Company's comprehensive range of oncology-focused tests and laboratory services provide critical genomic information to healthcare professionals, cancer centers, and biopharma companies. Through its CLIA certified and CAP accredited state-of-the-art reference lab, Cancer Genetics services some of the most prestigious medical institutions in the world and has strong research collaborations with major cancer centers such as Memorial Sloan-Kettering, The Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic and the National Cancer Institute. For further information, please see http://www.cancergenetics.com.

Originally posted here:
Cancer Genetics, Inc. (CGIX) Expands Relationship With Roche Servicios S.A.

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

SEATTLE, WA--(Marketwired - Sep 18, 2013) - Atossa Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATOS), The Breast Health Company, announced today that it has entered into a nationwide distribution agreement with McKesson Medical-Surgical to sell and distribute Atossa's MASCT device and patient collection kits. The MASCT device is used in OB/GYN, primary care, and women's clinics to perform a non-invasive collection of breast fluid. The specimens are analyzed at the National Reference Laboratory for Breast Health, a subsidiary of Atossa, with the ForeCYTE Breast Health Test, which assesses a woman's future risk of breast cancer.

Under terms of the agreement, McKesson Medical-Surgical will sell and distribute the MASCT device and patient collection kits nationwide through its sales force.

Dr. Steven C. Quay, Chairman, President & CEO of Atossa Genetics, commented, "Our agreement with McKesson Medical-Surgical is another important step forward in making the ForeCYTE test the standard of care in breast cancer risk assessment. McKesson Medical-Surgical is one of the country's top medical distributors and we are pleased that they have agreed to add the ForeCYTE test to their product portfolio. With their extensive market presence, we look forward to providing physicians a much needed early warning system by detecting the earliest, reversible precursors of breast cancer."

"We're pleased to be able to offer Atossa Genetics' products to our customers," said Joan Eliasek, Senior Vice President, Supplier Management, McKesson Medical-Surgical. "As a company, we are in business for one reason: better health. And fighting cancer is a major aspect of better health in our country. That's why Mckesson's corporate citizenship initiative is focused on supporting the fight against cancer. We are glad to offer products to our customers that help them deliver better care for their patients."

Chris Destro, Vice President, Sales and Marketing for Atossa, stated, "McKesson Medical-Surgical will enable us to further increase our penetration into all geographical markets while expanding our relationships with physician offices. With a large sales force calling on physician practices, we look forward to working closely with the McKesson Medical-Surgical sales team."

Breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer. One woman is diagnosed every minute. Current detection methods lack the ability to detect very small concentrations of precancerous cells (ductal hyperplasia) at breast cancer's earliest stages. Early detection enables lifestyle change and/or chemopreventative treatment to reverse the abnormal cells. Atossa's ForeCYTE Breast Health Test has been shown in analytical validation to detect as few as 10 precancerous breast cells.

About the ForeCYTE Breast Health Test

The ForeCYTE Breast Health Test, intended for the 110 million women in the U.S. ages 18 to 73, is a painless, quick and non-invasive procedure that can be done in a physician's office. A small sample of fluid, aspirated from the nipple of each breast with the Company's MASCT device, can provide vital early detection of cancer or pre-cancerous conditions that may progress to cancer over an approximately eight year period and before cancer can be detected by mammography or other means and without the risks of radiation, especially in women younger than age 50. No invasive biopsy needles or open surgical incisions are used in the Atossa test and the test is painless.

Just as the Pap smear has reduced cervical cancer rates by over 70 percent, becoming the most successful screening test in medicine, the goal of Atossa Genetics is to reduce the stubbornly high rate of breast cancer through the early detection of the pre-cancer changes that can lead to breast cancer and the treatment of those early changes.

About McKesson Medical-Surgical

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Atossa Genetics Signs Distribution Agreement With McKesson Medical-Surgical

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MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

23andMe, the leading personal genetics company, is working with Udacity, a Silicon Valley-based education start-up, to create a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on human genetics. Tales from the Genome will provide an accessible introduction to genetic concepts and technology for just about anyone. The course is designed to be particularly helpful for high school, college and medical students, as well as health care professionals and life-long learners. Course participants can choose to complete the entire course or just the individual lessons on the topics they find most interesting. Tales from the Genome also incorporates personal and engaging perspectives from people living with a variety of genetic traits, from color blindness to lactose intolerance.

Tales from the Genome covers the fundamental principles of inheritance, gene structure and expression, mutation and variation, development of simple and complex biological traits, human ancestry and evolution, and the acquisition and interpretation of personal genetic information. By the end of the course, students will have an enhanced understanding of both the science of genetics and the various ways genetics informs their personal health.

Genetics is so much more than what many students experience in a traditional classroom setting, said Dr. Matthew Cook, the main instructor for the course. It should really be about the stories our genomes can tell, all the biological secrets wound up and packaged into efficient information storage units called chromosomes.

Dr. Cook earned his Ph.D. at Duke University and completed training as a post-doctoral scholar at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Cook then joined the content development team at Udacity to share his passion for genetics with the world.

As individuals are becoming more actively involved in their health care and more physicians incorporate personalized medicine into their practice, genetic information is becoming a fundamental element of basic health care, said Dr. Uta Francke, senior medical director at 23andMe and co-instructor of Tales from the Genome. As a result, genetics education has never been more important, particularly for individuals seeking the best possible care for themselves and their families.

Dr. Francke is an emeritus professor of genetics and pediatrics at Stanford University, where she taught molecular and clinical genetics. Tales from the Genome is also co-instructed by 23andMe Senior Director of Research, Dr. Joanna Mountain. Dr. Mountain previously served as a faculty member at Stanford University in the anthropological sciences and genetics departments.

Tales from the Genome will be available to the public as of September 30, 2013 on Udacity.

About 23andMe

23andMe, Inc. is the leading personal genetics company dedicated to helping individuals understand their own genetic information through DNA analysis technologies and web-based interactive tools. The company's Personal Genome Service enables individuals to gain deeper insights into their ancestry and inherited traits. The vision for 23andMe is to personalize healthcare by making and supporting meaningful discoveries through genetic research. 23andMe, Inc., was founded in 2006, and the company is advised by a group of renowned experts in the fields of human genetics, bioinformatics and computer science. More information is available at http://www.23andMe.com.

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23andMe and Udacity Launch Introductory Human Genetics Course

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Public release date: 17-Sep-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Mary Leach mary_leach@meei.harvard.edu Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary

BOSTON (Sept. 17, 2013) Researchers from the Eaton-Peabody Laboratories of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Harvard Medical School have created a new mouse model in which by expressing a gene in the inner ear hair cells -- the sensory cells that detect sound and sense balance -- protects the mice from age-related hearing loss (ARHL) and noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), the two most common forms of deafness.

Their research, described in the Journal Neuroscience, provides new insight into protective mechanisms for hearing loss and suggests the potential for future molecular approaches, which may include gene therapy or medicine, to treat ARHL and NIHL.

Hearing loss is a serious public health issue. Nearly one-third of adults 64 and older have significant ARHL. After age 85, that number almost doubles to 64 percent. NIHL, also a common complaint, is one of the most self-reported occupational injuries. The irreversible loss of inner ear outer cells is a cause of both types of hearing loss. Hearing aids and cochlear implants help those suffering from hearing loss in some cases, but there is no device that works for everyone and no cure.

Mass. Eye and Ear researchers set out to understand if both types of hearing loss share a common underlying mechanism by studying certain inbred strain of mice. They investigated whether overexpression of Isl1, an inner ear progenitor gene with roles in development and differentiation, could be effective in protecting the inner ear.

The team found that Isl1 expression protected hair cells from degeneration in aging and promoted hair cell survival after exposure to loud noise. As a result, the hearing in aged mice or in mice exposed to intense noise was significantly better than their siblings without the gene.

"The Isl1 gene further preserved the connections between hair cells and neurons, which is necessary for hearing," said senior author Zheng-Yi Chen, D.Phil., Mass. Eye and Ear researcher and Associate Professor of Otolaryngology, Harvard Medical School.

Future research can evaluate if Isl1 is protective from ARHL and NIHL in other mouse strains. The investigators hope to eventually study if such protection can be extended to the human condition.

"To our knowledge, our model is the first in which expression of a single gene in postnatal hair cells results in hair cell survival and hearing preservation in mice that otherwise suffer from age-related and noise-induced hearing loss," Dr. Chen said.

Original post:
Researchers gain insight into protective mechanisms for hearing loss

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Orange, CA (PRWEB) September 17, 2013

The top regenerative medicine clinic in Southern California, TeleHealth, is now offering stem cell therapy for back pain due to degenerative disc disease. The treatment has the potential to repair and regenerate damaged spinal discs and is performed as an outpatient procedure. For more information and scheduling, call (888) 828-4575.

One of the most troublesome spinal conditions to treat has been degenerative disc disease. Normally, a spinal disc contains 80% water. However, as it degenerates that percentage decreases and the discs are not great at regenerating themselves. This degeneration may unfortunately happen at a young age due to genetics or post traumatic deterioration.

TeleHealth, the leading stem cell therapy clinic in California, is now offering regenerative medicine treatments for degenerative disc disease. This includes either platelet rich plasma therapy (PRP), bone marrow derived stem cell injections, fat derived stem cell injections or a combination of therapies.

The treatments are on the cutting edge of medicine and have brought home to millions of individuals suffering from degenerative arthritis, disc disease and soft tissue injuries. TeleHealth also provides stem cell injections for osteoarthritis, rotator cuff tendonitis, achilles tendonitis, tennis elbow, ligament sprains and new indications such as hair loss and breast reconstruction after cancer.

The essential problem is that the metabolism of the degenerative disc is too slow and not able to heal itself. Stem cell treatments bring in vital reparative cells to the area along with growth factors to spur healing. The stem cell treatments for degenerative disc disease are not covered by insurance, however, most other treatments are at TeleHealth.

The treatments are all outpatient and offered by Board Certified doctors. For more information and scheduling of stem cell treatments for disc disease, call (888) 828-4575.

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Southern California Regenerative Medicine Clinics Now Offering Stem Cell Therapy for Degenerative Disc Disease and ...

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Public release date: 16-Sep-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Mary Leach Mary_Leach@meei.harvard.edu 617-573-4170 Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary

BOSTON -- Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a genetic disease that causes progressive loss of vision and is caused by mutations in more than 50 genes. Conventional methods for identification of both RP mutations and novel RP genes involve the screening of DNA coding sequences.

In a paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers from the Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, and others tested DNA with the use of whole genome sequencing, a technique that takes into account all variants from both the coding and noncoding regions of the human genome. With this approach the authors report a number of unique RP mutations, a previously undescribed disease gene called NEK2 that involves the retinal photoreceptors, and structural DNA rearrangements originating in introns.

This paper supports the advantages of the use of whole genome sequencing to search for mutations in patients with RP.

The researchers performed whole genome sequencing in 16 unrelated patients with autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa (ARRP), a disease characterized by progressive retinal degeneration and caused by mutations in over 50 genes, in search of pathogenic DNA variants, the authors wrote. Eight patients were from North America, whereas eight were Japanese, a population for which ARRP seems to have different genetic drivers.

Using a specific work flow, they assessed both the coding and noncoding regions of the human genome, including the evaluation of highly polymorphic SNPs, structural and copy number variations, as well as 69 control genomes sequenced by the same procedures. They detected homozygous or compound het erozygous mutations in 7 genes associated with ARRP (USH2A, RDH12, CNGB1, EYS, PDE6B, DFNB31, and CERKL) in eight patients, three Japanese and five Americans. Fourteen of the 16 mutant alleles identified were previously unknown. Among these, there was a 2.3-kb deletion in USH2A and an inverted duplication of 446 kb in EYS, which would have likely escaped conventional screening techniques or exome sequencing. Moreover, in another Japanese patient, they identified a homozygous frameshift (p.L206fs), absent in more than 2,500 chromosomes from ethnically matched controls, in the ciliary gene NEK2, encoding a serine/threonine-protein kinase. Inactivation of this gene in zebrafish induced retinal photoreceptor defects that were rescued by human NEK2mRNA. In addition to identifying a previously undescribed ARRP gene, the study highlights the importance of rare structural DNA variations in Mendelian diseases and advocates the need for screening approaches that transcend the analysis of the coding sequences of the human genome.

###

This work was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (Grant 310030_138346) and the Gebert Rf Foundation, Switzerland (Rare Diseases-New Technologies Grant); a Center Grant from the Foundation Fighting Blindness; National Institutes of Health Grants DK072301 and MH-084018; Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan Grant 23300101 and Grant 23300201; the Japan Science and Technology Agency, and the Strategic Research Program for Brain Sciences; and a Grant-in-Aid for Scientic Research on Innovative Areas from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan and Takeda Science Foundation. A full list of authors and their contributions to the research is available in the paper.

About Massachusetts Eye and Ear

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Whole DNA sequencing reveals mutations, new gene for blinding disease

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Sep. 16, 2013 Scientists at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute (Sanford-Burnham) today announced the discovery that a gene encoding an enzyme, phosphoinositide-dependent kinase-1 (PDK1), plays an essential role in the development and progression of melanoma. The finding offers a new approach to treating this life-threatening disease.

The team of researchers, led by Ze'ev Ronai, Ph.D., professor and scientific director of Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute in La Jolla (San Diego, Calif.), used genetic mouse melanoma models to show the importance of the PDK1 gene in melanoma. Specifically, mice lacking the PDK1 gene in their melanocytes (cells that transform to become melanoma) had smaller melanoma tumors, a significant loss of metastasis, and a prolonged survival time. In some cases, the median survival time was increased by more than 50 percent. Further, by treating mice with the PDK1 gene with an inhibitor of PDK1 (PDK1i), the scientists were able to delay the development of melanoma and inhibit metastasis. The published results are available online in the advanced online publication of Oncogene.

"We have shown that PDK1 is required for melanoma metastasis, and that by inactivating the PDK1 enzyme we can delay the onset of melanoma lesions and almost completely abolish metastasis," Ronai said. Prior to this study, it was known that PDK1 activity played an important role in normal cell processes such as cell metabolism, protein translation, and cell survival. PDK1 activity was also known to be associated with specific tumor types. For example, inactivation of PDK1 activity has been shown to inhibit pancreatic cancer. This study provides the first genetic evidence for the importance of PDK1 in melanoma.

David Fisher, M.D., Ph.D., professor and chairman of the Edward Wigglesworth Department of Dermatology, director of the Melanoma Program, and director of Cutaneous Biology at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, commented, "The study by Ronai and colleagues is novel and important for melanoma therapeutics because it identifies a new and tractable treatment approach. The investigators achieved impressive results which validate PDK1 as a new treatment target for melanoma."

"This collaboration between Sanford-Burnham and Yale researchers shows unequivocally that melanoma cells require PDK1 for both development and metastasis. The team also demonstrates that a molecular inhibitor is capable of duplicating the effects of the genetic approaches suggesting that the cancer field should invest more efforts into PDK1 targets," said Meenhard Herlynn D.V.M., D.Sc., director of Melanoma Research and leader, Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis program at the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia, Pa.

Melanoma, Disease Progression, and Treatment

Although less common than other types of cancer, melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer. In the United States, over 70,000 new cases are diagnosed per year and 9,000 deaths are attributed to the disease. Metastatic melanoma is a progressive form of melanoma that happens when cancerous cells from the original tumor break off, circulate, and form new tumors in other parts of the body, leading to life-threatening disease.

Recently, advances in the treatment of melanoma that activate the immune system by targeting the molecules CTLA4 and PD1, and targeting kinases such as BRAF, have shown promise. Although these drugs have led to improved patient survival, they do not cure melanoma. Therefore, additional therapies are needed. Recently, it has been shown that a combination of targeted therapies can be more effective.

"It is important now to demonstrate the impact of PDK1 inhibition in combination with other therapies currently used in melanoma, including BRAFi or immunological targets (PD1/CTL4A), on melanoma development and metastasis. A number of PDKi are available and others are in development, offering an important addition to the currently available combination therapies. Ultimately, our goal is to see if inhibition of PDK1 will contribute to better outcomes for patients with melanoma," Ronai said.

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New target for melanoma treatment

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Newswise LA JOLLA, Calif., September 16, 2013 Scientists at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute (Sanford-Burnham) today announced the discovery that a gene encoding an enzyme, phosphoinositide-dependent kinase-1 (PDK1), plays an essential role in the development and progression of melanoma. The finding offers a new approach to treating this life-threatening disease.

The team of researchers, led by Zeev Ronai, Ph.D., professor and scientific director of Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute in La Jolla (San Diego, Calif.), used genetic mouse melanoma models to show the importance of the PDK1 gene in melanoma. Specifically, mice lacking the PDK1 gene in their melanocytes (cells that transform to become melanoma) had smaller melanoma tumors, a significant loss of metastasis, and a prolonged survival time. In some cases, the median survival time was increased by more than 50 percent. Further, by treating mice with the PDK1 gene with an inhibitor of PDK1 (PDK1i), the scientists were able to delay the development of melanoma and inhibit metastasis. The published results are available online in the advanced online publication of Oncogene.

We have shown that PDK1 is required for melanoma metastasis, and that by inactivating the PDK1 enzyme we can delay the onset of melanoma lesions and almost completely abolish metastasis, Ronai said. Prior to this study, it was known that PDK1 activity played an important role in normal cell processes such as cell metabolism, protein translation, and cell survival. PDK1 activity was also known to be associated with specific tumor types. For example, inactivation of PDK1 activity has been shown to inhibit pancreatic cancer. This study provides the first genetic evidence for the importance of PDK1 in melanoma.

David Fisher, M.D., Ph.D., professor and chairman of the Edward Wigglesworth Department of Dermatology, director of the Melanoma Program, and director of Cutaneous Biology at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, commented, The study by Ronai and colleagues is novel and important for melanoma therapeutics because it identifies a new and tractable treatment approach. The investigators achieved impressive results which validate PDK1 as a new treatment target for melanoma.

This collaboration between Sanford-Burnham and Yale researchers shows unequivocally that melanoma cells require PDK1 for both development and metastasis. The team also demonstrates that a molecular inhibitor is capable of duplicating the effects of the genetic approaches suggesting that the cancer field should invest more efforts into PDK1 targets, said Meenhard Herlynn D.V.M., D.Sc., director of Melanoma Research and leader, Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis program at the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia, Pa.

Melanoma, Disease Progression, and Treatment

Although less common than other types of cancer, melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer. In the United States, over 70,000 new cases are diagnosed per year and 9,000 deaths are attributed to the disease. Metastatic melanoma is a progressive form of melanoma that happens when cancerous cells from the original tumor break off, circulate, and form new tumors in other parts of the body, leading to life-threatening disease.

Recently, advances in the treatment of melanoma that activate the immune system by targeting the molecules CTLA4 and PD1, and targeting kinases such as BRAF, have shown promise. Although these drugs have led to improved patient survival, they do not cure melanoma. Therefore, additional therapies are needed. Recently, it has been shown that a combination of targeted therapies can be more effective.

It is important now to demonstrate the impact of PDK1 inhibition in combination with other therapies currently used in melanoma, including BRAFi or immunological targets (PD1/CTL4A), on melanoma development and metastasis. A number of PDKi are available and others are in development, offering an important addition to the currently available combination therapies. Ultimately, our goal is to see if inhibition of PDK1 will contribute to better outcomes for patients with melanoma, Ronai said.

# # #

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Researchers Identify New Target for Melanoma Treatment

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

CAMBRIDGE, England--(BUSINESSWIRE)--

Gene editing platform now includes rAAV, ZFN and CRISPR

Horizon Discovery (Horizon), a leading provider of research tools to support translational genomics research and the development of personalized medicines, today announced it has entered into a non-exclusive license agreement with Harvard University to access intellectual property related to the commercialization of CRISPR gene editing technology for research use.

By adding CRISPR to its GENESIS precision gene-editing platform, Horizon can now offer researchers an unrivalled toolbox capable of performing rapid functional genomics experiments, as well as creation of high-precision human disease models for deployment at all stages of drug discovery and diagnostic development. Horizon will employ all three genome editing technologies for custom client-led projects, as well as to expand on its own menu of over 500 genetically-defined off-the-shelf cell lines and related products. In addition, the company will soon launch a range of rAAV, CRISPR and hybrid rAAV/CRISPR gene-editing kits and associated reagents, supported by Horizons technical team with expertise in all gene editing platforms and their application in translational research.

Horizons scientists now have the freedom to choose the best technology, or combination of technologies, to most effectively achieve the specific goals for each customer project, commented Dr. Darrin Disley, CEO of Horizon. The landscape for CRISPR IP is in a settling phase, and by licensing key IP such as this from Harvard as well as complementary IP from other organizations, Horizon is ensuring that we continue to be able to offer our customers a best-in-class solution for their research needs.

CRISPR is an RNA-guided gene editing system which gained notoriety in late 2012 through the simultaneous publication of several seminal articles describing its ability to introduce either a targeted double strand break or single strand nick in the genome of mammalian cells.

The introduction of a nick rather than a full double strand break offers advantages over other nuclease technologies when the goal of the project is to introduce a specific mutation rather than simply disrupting the gene, said Eric Rhodes, CTO, Horizon Discovery. By combining both CRISPR and ZFNs with our proprietary rAAV technology, Horizon is working to develop novel approaches that achieve levels of gene editing efficiency not previously seen when using a single approach alone.

The intellectual property licensed from Harvard Office of Technology Development relates to inventions originating from the lab of Dr. George Church at Harvard Medical School and inventions originating at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard. Financial terms were not disclosed. Horizon continues to review the gene editing field for further IP licensing opportunities.

About Horizon Discovery http://www.horizondiscovery.com/

Horizon Discovery Limited (Horizon) is a leading provider of research tools to support translational genomics research and the development of personalized medicines. Using GENESISTM, Horizon is able to alter any endogenous gene sequence of a human or mammalian cell-line quickly, reliably and without introducing unwanted and confounding genotypes and/or phenotypes.

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Horizon Discovery Licenses CRISPR Gene Editing Technology from Harvard University

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Public release date: 16-Sep-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Vicki Cohn vcohn@liebertpub.com 914-740-2100 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News

New Rochelle, NY, September 16, 2013Repeated exposure to low level blasts (LLB) can cause symptoms similar to sports concussion. Soldiers or law enforcement officers called "breachers" receive training in using low level blasts for forced entry. They may be at risk for diminished neurocognitive performance and symptoms caused by the harmful effects of blast-related pressure changes on the brain, as described in a study published in Journal of Neurotrauma, a peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free on the Journal of Neurotrauma website at http://www.liebertpub.com/neu.

Charmaine Tate and colleagues, New Zealand Defence Force (Auckland), Banyan Biomarkers, Inc. (Alachua, FL), Naval Medical Research Center and Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (Silver Spring, MD), and University of Florida (Gainesville), measured the levels of three blood biomarkers, performance on cognitive tests, and self-reported symptoms among a "breacher" population of the New Zealand Defence Force.

The authors compared the composite scores of the five individuals with the highest scores to the five participants with the lowest scores. They report a significant relationship between blood biomarker load and neurocognitive deficits and between symptoms and neurocognitive performance.

In the article "Serum Brain Biomarker Level, Neurocognitive Performance, and Self-Reported Symptom Changes in Soldiers Repeatedly Exposed to Low-Level Blast: A Breacher Pilot Study," the researchers describe their findings and conclude that the results suggest "a measureable degree of brain perturbation linked to LLB exposure."

John T. Povlishock, PhD, Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Neurotrauma and Professor, VCU Neuroscience Center, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond notes that, "Although the work presents a pilot study, its finding are potentially of great importance. Not only does this report strongly suggest the damaging consequences of repeated blast injury, but it also identifies biomarkers capable of detecting change in this population. As noted by the authors, these biomarker studies, together with the composite data analysis methodologies reported in this communication, should prove invaluable in future expanded studies of blast injury."

###

About the Journal

Journal of Neurotrauma is an authoritative peer-reviewed journal published 24 times per year in print and online that focuses on the latest advances in the clinical and laboratory investigation of traumatic brain and spinal cord injury. Emphasis is on the basic pathobiology of injury to the nervous system, and the papers and reviews evaluate preclinical and clinical trials targeted at improving the early management and long-term care and recovery of patients with traumatic brain injury. Journal of Neurotrauma is the official journal of the National Neurotrauma Society and the International Neurotrauma Society. Complete tables of content and a sample issue may be viewed on the Journal of Neurotrauma website at http://www.liebertpub.com/neu.

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Low level blast explosions harm brain, says new study in Journal of Neurotrauma

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NEHRU TE JF - ALTA GENETICS
Nehru TE JF é filho de Urutu NF e Acauã JF. Descende, tanto na linha alta quanto na linha baixa, de animais comprovadamente leiteiros. Touro provado para lei...

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NEHRU TE JF - ALTA GENETICS - Video

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