Story Summary: Most advances are still limited to lab animals, but that hasnt stopped athletes from hoping for an early if unproven edge. We have no evidence that any athlete bought or used that stuff, said Mark Frankel, an American Association for the Advancement of Science bioethicist who studies gene doping. But the next big movement forward in terms of cheating is very likely to be in the genetic arena. The most likely biological targets for cheating are erythropoietin, the protein enhanced by Repoxygen; genes for the production of myostatin and insulin-like growth factor I, which affect muscle production (as in the lower mouse in the photo); and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, a family of proteins that regulate metabolism and have been touted as providing exercise in a pill. Some of the tests are aimed at detecting immediate evidence of doping: leftover fragments of engineered viruses used by gene therapists, telltale proteins, obviously modified DNA sequences, and so on. Moreover, even if a first generation of tests are successful, they could be tricked by slight changes to gene-modifying approaches. The concept is that if you suspect doping, you dont look for the drug, but for the effects of the drug on global gene expression and proteomic patterns, said Theodore Friedmann, a University of California, San Diego geneticist whos now combining results from WADA-supported research into statistical models of cheating. Even if someone makes a chemical change to a drug to make it invisible to testing, they cant wipe out the effects of the drug. This approach could end up being applicable not only to genetic modification, but to changes produced by traditional performance enhancers, like steroids and growth hormone. Could even these system-wide tests be duped?Anything you do to your body changes your body, said Rabin. com, join now so you can share your thoughts and opinions. Let all the tweakers jack themselves up with chemicals and compete. What a foolish statement, it is logically impossible to prove a negative. Just because an investigator cant think of a way to fool his own tests does not mean that its impossible. Dont also not to forget that last Olympic games,Chinese lies their ages of the gymnastics performers. While everything come up clean and that ages thing pop up in the news jam. The most exciting era in baseball was the steroid era, now its just a snooze fest….Read the Full Story

Story Summary: Virology: Molecular Biology and Pathogenesis is meant to be used as a textbook for a comprehensive virology course aimed at advanced undergraduate and graduate students. Chapter 4 then considers host defenses against microorganisms and viral countermeasures to subvert those host defenses. I know from more than three decades of teaching virology in this way that this is a sure-fire strategy for preparing students to approach the journal literature on any virus intelligently, key relevant knowledge already having been mastered. For the same reason, this book should continue to serve as a valuable reference for those who have studied from it, says Norkin. The flow of chapters in Virology constitutes a continuous narrative in which key principles are regularly reintroduced to show how they apply in different contexts. Virology: Molecular Biology and Pathogenesis has a list price of $149. Source: Jim SliwaAmerican Society for Microbiology Any 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. Contact Our News EditorsFor any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form….Read the Full Story

Story Summary: Now, two more studies question a longstanding staple at the health store, protein supplements, usually sold as a powder with testosterone-fueled names like Muscle Max 500 or Mega Monster Mass. Such supplements are top sellers. But a growing body of research shows you dont need protein supplementation unless you are a professional-level athlete in intense training or perhaps gravely ill from starvation or a wasting disease, and even then the need would be a case-by-case call. You do need protein when you exercise, particularly when you try to build muscle through weightlifting or other forms of resistance training. Experts whey inA study published last month, in the journal Nutrition, surveyed more than 1,000 adults at 50 ordinary commercial gyms and found that nearly half the men were taking dietary supplements, largely protein powders, with no supervision. Similarly, a smaller study — a masters thesis by Martin Frechette from University of Montreal — probed the diets of elite athletes, part of the Canadian Sport Centre Dietary Study. A 2008 study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Researchdocumented how protein supplements are common among high school athletes, who take the stuff largely on recommendation from coaches and friends under the misconception that protein equals strength. The reason is that unused protein cycles through the blood and ultimately breaks down into urea and acidic byproducts. These byproducts strain the kidneys as they filter through and likely trigger bone to release calcium. That protein alone is 400 calories, but usually other ingredients bump up the total to nearly 1,000 calories. Some bodybuilders feel they need a gram of protein per pound of body weight, depending on the intensity of the training. If you do use a supplement, then it is best during or just after a workout so that the damaged muscles can use that protein for repair….Read the Full Story

Story Summary: The researchers stress that exercise has benefits, regardless of whether or not a person can improve aerobic capacity. Indeed, elite athletes often have very high VO2 maxs compared with average Joe. However, about 20 years ago, some scientists started to question whether or not the link between training and fitnesslevel was so clearcut. In other words, a good portion, but not all, of a persons capacity to get more fit was set by their heredity. Exercise genesTo find out, Bouchard and his colleagues, who came from 14 different institutions, used data from three separate exercise studies, including the Heritage. They initially identified, using a novel approach, a set of 29 genes that seemed to predict a persons ability to improve their VO2 max. Of this 50 percent, the newly identified genes can only explain about 23 percent of the variation in an individuals ability to be trained to improve VO2 max. With this we can identify, with a reasonable degree of precision, who is a low responder to exercise, an average responder, or a high responder, Bouchard said. In addition, in the Heritage study, the people who improved their fitness (VO2 max) the most werent necessarily the ones who improved their blood pressure the most, or lowered their cholesterol. Real-world implicationsWhile Bouchard feels this study is a big step forward, more work is needed before it can have real-world applications, including finding more genes and then verifying the markers in other populations. But down the road, the findings may have practical uses. For instance, if someone learns they are a low responder to exercise, they know they may need to be more aggressive with their training in order to see an increase in their endurance. While other scientists agree that the work is intriguing, and notable for its unique approach to find and verify genes, they feel more research is needed. I think the question still remains as to how important these genes are in contributing to the improvements….Read the Full Story

Story Summary: There are about 300 million malaria cases worldwide each year, resulting in more than one million deaths, most of them African children. The parasite is treatable using medications, though drug resistance is a relatively common problem. Eradicating the disease has become a priority for scientists and health officials worldwide. The vaccine consists of a form of the AMA-1 protein, invented and manufactured by WRAIR, and the AS02 Adjuvant System, developed and manufactured by GSK. Previous studies in the U. S. and in Mali already have found the vaccine to be safe and to produce strong immune responses in adults. The blood stage is the period after the mosquito bite, when the parasite multiplies in the blood, causing disease and death. Other blood stage vaccines have been tested but none has shown the ability to prevent malaria disease. The children were randomly assigned to receive either one of three escalating doses of the malaria vaccine or a control rabies vaccine. All three doses of the vaccine proved to be safe and well tolerated, and all three doses also showed very strong antibody responses that were sustained for at least a year. That study also will examine whether the vaccine — though it is based on a single strain of malaria — can protect against the broad array of malaria parasites that exist. The University of Maryland employs hundreds of researchers worldwide in 23 countries outside of its home campus in Baltimore, says E. Albert Reece, M. D. , Ph. D. , M. B. A. , dean of the School of Medicine, vice president for medical affairs of the University of Maryland and the John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor. Dr. Plowe is a world-leading malaria researcher, and this groundbreaking work is representative of the global impact of the Center for Vaccine Development and the rest of the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Story Source:Adapted from materials provided by , via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS. Get the latest science news with our free email newsletters, updated daily and weekly….Read the Full Story

Story Summary: Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) researchers and their colleagues have found the key factors that cause proteins to turn into sticky, fibrous clumps that can grind cellular activity to a halt. The new findings show how some organisms prevent amyloid clumps from forming and point the way toward drugs that might one day do the same for humans. HHMI investigator David Eisenberg has been searching for a better molecular explanation for how and why amyloid proteins gum up the works. In the latest research they validated their algorithm using a set of protein segments from the well-studied enzyme ribonuclease A. They showed that when left on their own in a test tube, the segments of protein that they had computationally predicted would form amyloids actually did form long, thin fibrils that could be seen with an electron microscope. In contrast, two test segments predicted not to form amyloids retained their normal globular state under the same conditions. The team also shuffled the amino-acid sequences of the amyloid-forming ribonuclease segments to see whether a different arrangement of the same amino acids would still form amyloids. They applied the same test to 12,000 proteins catalogued in a database for which the three-dimensional structures of the proteins were already known. Eisenberg says evolution must have provided powerful prevention mechanisms — otherwise, he says, we would all fill up with amyloid fibrils. When Eisenberg and his team looked for the positions of these high-propensity segments within known protein structures, they quickly found one clue to what keeps their amyloid state at bay. In folded proteins, these segments tend not to be on the surface, or if they are on the surface, theyre not in the extended form needed to create fibrils, he said. Just one of these high-propensity segments in a loop where it has some flexibility can force a protein to form amyloid fibrils, even if it would never do so otherwise, he said. The findings appear to match what is known about proteins that do commonly form amyloids. Proteins such as amyloid beta, which is associated with Alzheimers disease, dont seem to have a highly structured native state, so they probably offer the exposure and the flexibility thats necessary for amyloid fibrils to form, Eisenberg said. Proteins such as amyloid beta, which is associated with Alzheimers disease, dont seem to have a highly structured native state, so they probably offer the exposure and the flexibility thats necessary for amyloid fibrils to form, Eisenberg said. According to Eisenberg, the findings are consistent with previous research showing that amyloid formation can sometimes be triggered by changing the structure of proteins with heat or chemicals, a process known as denaturing. According to Eisenberg, the findings are consistent with previous research showing that amyloid formation can sometimes be triggered by changing the structure of proteins with heat or chemicals, a process known as denaturing. A philanthropy serving society through biomedical research and science education….Read the Full Story

Story Summary: Once inside the mosquito, the parasites reproduce in the gut and accumulate in the salivary glands, ready to infect another human host with the next bite. Play movie (Requires Flash Plug-in)The Life cycle of Malaria Part 1: Human HostWhen a malaria-carrying mosquito bites a human host, the malaria parasite enters the bloodstream, multiplies in the liver cells, and is then released back into the bloodstream, where it infects and destroys red blood cells. The antibody levels that the vaccinated children achieved were as high or higher than those measured in adults whose lifelong exposure to malaria protects them against the disease. More than 80 percent of those deaths occur among African children younger than age five. No approved vaccine is available to protect against the disease. Medications are available to treat malaria, but resistance to these drugs is a common problem that is worsening. The human immune system recognizes the presence of AMA1 molecules and generates antibodies that prevent invasion of red blood cells by the merozoites. Some of the children experienced temporary pain and swelling at the site of the injections, but the effects were generally well-tolerated, according to Plowe. Prior to receiving the vaccine, the children in the trial had only low levels of antibodies against AMA1 in their blood. Those antibody levels increased more than 100-fold in the children receiving the malaria vaccine and remained high during a year of follow-up blood tests. The vaccine was invented and manufactured by the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and formulated with an adjuvant — a compound that boosts the immune response to the vaccine — from GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals. The results of the larger trial will shed light on a key uncertainty surrounding malaria vaccines. The AMA1 molecule occurs in many different forms both within Africa and around the world, and a vaccine against some forms of the molecule may not protect against other forms. The AMA1 molecule occurs in many different forms both within Africa and around the world, and a vaccine against some forms of the molecule may not protect against other forms. The AMA1 molecule occurs in many different forms both within Africa and around the world, and a vaccine against some forms of the molecule may not protect against other forms….Read the Full Story

Story Summary: 8 Million to Drive Development of Parkinsons Disease Biomarker Pipeline, /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research today announced more than in awards for 13 new projects to speed the discovery of biomarkers of PD. The development of biomarkers is of critical importance to increasing the speed and efficiency of PD therapeutic development, allowing scientists and clinicians to more accurately identify appropriate subjects for clinical studies, measure disease progression and monitor treatment effects in clinical trials. The lack of clear and reliable biomarkers of PD is one of the greatest hurdles to developing and testing new treatments that slow, stop or even prevent the disease a key unmet need for Parkinsons patients. The development of drug biomarkers is also critical to provide researchers with a tool for conclusively assessing whether a given drug is reaching brain areas of interest and/or achieving its desired effect. The following is a complete list of funded projects, which are made possible through the generous support of The Brin Wojcicki Foundation. T-Cell Receptor Changes as a Biomarker of Parkinsons DiseaseChuanhai Cao, PhD, , College of MedicineAnalysis of the Enteric Nervous System Using Routine Colonoscopy Biopsies: a Biomarker of Neurodegeneration in Parkinsons Disease?, MD, PhD, Department of Neurology, Inserm U913, , QE3 Trial Ancillary Biomarkers Study, MD, DPhil, Development of an mGluR5 Imaging Marker for Parkinsons Disease, MD, Institute for Neurodegenerative DisordersAssessing Heart Rate Variability in the Parkinsons Associated Risk Study Cohort, MD, The Parkinsons InstituteValidating the Electrocardiogram as a Tool to Identify Pre-Motor Parkinsons Disease, MD, The Parkinsons InstituteValidation of Neuroimaging Biomarkers for Nigrostriatal Neurons, MD, in The Role of Striatal Serotonergic Terminals in L-Dopa Induced-Dyskinesia in PD Patients, MD, PhD, FRCP, Imperial College Raising Antibodies to Alpha-Synuclein, MD, University of Biomarkers of Pioglitazone Effects in PD, MD, PhD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center ()High Resolution Diffusion Tensor MRI Imaging as a Biomarker of Parkinsons Disease Diagnosis and Disease Progression, MD, High Resolution Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Parkinsons Disease and Parkinsons Plus Syndromes, PhD, Development of alpha6-selective Neuronal Nicotinic Receptor Imaging Agent as a Parkinsons Disease Biomarker, PhD, Targacept, Inc. The Michael J. Fox Foundation has been a leader in the development of PD biomarkers for several years, with investments of nearly to date. The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to ensuring the development of better treatments, and ultimately a cure, for Parkinsons disease through an aggressively funded research agenda….Read the Full Story

Story Summary: Study reveals new genetic culprit in deadly skin cancer– 30 Aug 2009 — Drawing on the power of DNA sequencing, National Institutes of Health researchers have identified a new group of genetic. New technique could eliminate inherited mitochondrial disease– 26 Aug 2009 — Researchers have developed an experimental technique with the potential to prevent a class of hereditary disorders passed. The MCG researchers think it may also play a role in cancer treatment by inactivating a protein required for cancer growth. The celastrol induces the protein to form fibrils and clusters it together, which inactivates it, said Dr Chadli, whose research was published in the January edition of The Journal of Biological Chemistry. When they are clustered, theyre not available for other functions that help cancer grow. The research was funded by a seed grant from the MCG Cardiovascular Discovery Institute and a Scientist Development Grant from The American Heart Association. They can hopefully be used in combination with other therapeutic agents to reduce the probability of cancer resistance, he said. Source: Medical College of Georgia– 23 August 2009Johns Hopkins scientists say they have figured out how bacteria that cause diarrhoea may also be the culprit in some colon cancers. Source: Medical College of Georgia– 23 August 2009Johns Hopkins scientists say they have figured out how bacteria that cause diarrhoea may also be the culprit in some colon cancers. — full story– 15 July 2009An international team of scientists has sequenced the genome of Schistosoma mansoni, a parasitic worm, commonly known as a blood fluke, that infects 210 million in 76 countries through. — full story– 15 July 2009An international team of scientists has sequenced the genome of Schistosoma mansoni, a parasitic worm, commonly known as a blood fluke, that infects 210 million in 76 countries through….Read the Full Story

Story Summary: Now researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have shown that a protein that controls DNA accessibility is responsible for the cells unruly ways. But neural crest cells are a spectacular example of migratory cells that are capable of becoming over 100 different cell types, including neurones, the bone and cartilage of the face, jaw and teeth, pigment cells and certain heart structures. Wysocka is the senior author of the research, which will be published online Feb. 3 in Nature. Most DNA in a cell is tightly wrapped around proteins and compacted into what is called chromatin. Choosing which portions of DNA to expose and which to keep tightly bundled can control cell fate. And yet, CHD7s involvement in CHARGE indicated that this chromatin remodeller is a critical component of the proper migration and specialisation of the neural crest. The neural crest forms early in development (in humans, at three to five weeks of gestation) when a portion of the cells that will become the embryo folds inward into a tube that will become the brain and the spinal cord. For obvious ethical reasons, the researchers couldnt study the effect of tweaking CHD7 levels in human embryos. Because the problems occur so early in development, Wysocka and her colleagues turned to frog embryos to test how CHD7s activity affected neural crest cells in a living animal. Researchers found that blocking CHD7 expression or its activity in frog embryos interfered with the ability of the neural crest cells to migrate during development. This gave us confidence that we were on the right track, said Wysocka. Its apparent that CHD7 is required for the reprogramming and migration of the neural crest cells, which is when one would predict major changes in chromatin organisation would be taking place. Further research showed that CHD7 works with another protein called PBAF to bind areas of DNA associated with, but far from, genes involved in neural crest cell specialisation and migration. Interestingly, CHD7 duplications have been recently associated with small-cell lung cancer, one of the most highly metastatic and aggressive types of cancer. — full story– 15 July 2009An international team of scientists has sequenced the genome of Schistosoma mansoni, a parasitic worm, commonly known as a blood fluke, that infects 210 million in 76 countries through. — full story– 15 July 2009An international team of scientists has sequenced the genome of Schistosoma mansoni, a parasitic worm, commonly known as a blood fluke, that infects 210 million in 76 countries through….Read the Full Story

Story Summary: More than 30 percent of seniors are not immunized against pneumonia in 36 statesA new report, Adult Immunization: Shots to Save Lives, released today by the Trust for Americas Health (TFAH), the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) found that more than 30 percent of adults ages 65 and older had not been immunized against pneumonia in 36 states as of 2008. The U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other experts recommend that all seniors should be vaccinated against pneumonia, which is a one-time shot for most individuals, since seniors who get the seasonal flu are at risk for developing pneumonia as a complication. 1 percent of seniors had not been immunized against pneumonia, and even in the state with the highest immunization rate – Oregon – more than one quarter (26. 8 percent) of seniors were not immunized. 8 percent) of seniors were not immunized. Washington, D. C. had the lowest number of seniors immunized, with nearly half (45. Washington, D. C. had the lowest number of seniors immunized, with nearly half (45. Overall, the Adult Immunization report found millions of American adults go without routine and recommended vaccinations each year, which leads to an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 preventable deaths, thousands of preventable illnesses, and $10 billion in preventable health care costs each year. In addition to low rates of pneumonia immunizations, only 2. In addition to low rates of pneumonia immunizations, only 2. 1 percent of eligible adults have had the tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough vaccine; only 10 percent of eligible adult women have had the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine; and only 36. 1 percent of all adults were vaccinated against the seasonal flu in 2008. Thousands of lives could be saved each year if we could increase the number of adults who receive routine and recommended vaccinations, said Jeffrey Levi, PhD, Executive Director of TFAH. We need a national strategy to make vaccines a regular part of medical care and to educate Americans about the effectiveness and safety of vaccines. We need a national strategy to make vaccines a regular part of medical care and to educate Americans about the effectiveness and safety of vaccines. Today, the vast majority of vaccine-preventable diseases, hospitalization and deaths occur among adults. This is tragic, because currently-available vaccines can prevent many of these illnesses, said William Schaffner, MD, FIDSA, chair of IDSAs Immunization Work Group and co-author of the report. The report identified several key reasons why adult vaccination rates remain low in the United States despite the recommendation of medical experts, including: Limited access: Most adults are outside of institutionalized settings, like the military or colleges, where vaccines can be required; Limited care and insurance coverage: Primary and preventive care for adults is limited, particularly for the uninsured and underinsured; Limited financing for immunizations: Many adults have medical insurance that does not pay for vaccines and their administration, so out-of-pocket costs may be prohibitive for many individuals; Misunderstanding and misinformation: Many adults are misinformed about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines; and Limited research and development: Vaccine research, development, and production have been limited in the United States for decades. The report identified several key reasons why adult vaccination rates remain low in the United States despite the recommendation of medical experts, including: Limited access: Most adults are outside of institutionalized settings, like the military or colleges, where vaccines can be required; Limited care and insurance coverage: Primary and preventive care for adults is limited, particularly for the uninsured and underinsured; Limited financing for immunizations: Many adults have medical insurance that does not pay for vaccines and their administration, so out-of-pocket costs may be prohibitive for many individuals; Misunderstanding and misinformation: Many adults are misinformed about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines; and Limited research and development: Vaccine research, development, and production have been limited in the United States for decades. The report identified several key reasons why adult vaccination rates remain low in the United States despite the recommendation of medical experts, including: Limited access: Most adults are outside of institutionalized settings, like the military or colleges, where vaccines can be required; Limited care and insurance coverage: Primary and preventive care for adults is limited, particularly for the uninsured and underinsured; Limited financing for immunizations: Many adults have medical insurance that does not pay for vaccines and their administration, so out-of-pocket costs may be prohibitive for many individuals; Misunderstanding and misinformation: Many adults are misinformed about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines; and Limited research and development: Vaccine research, development, and production have been limited in the United States for decades. This country has a first-rate system for immunizing children, but too many adults are falling through the cracks, said Richard J. Whitley, MD, FIDSA, president of IDSA. Clearly, we need to build a better system for immunizing adults. Thousands of adults die each year from vaccine preventable diseases, yet adult vaccination rates remain low, said Litjen (LJ) Tan, MS, PhD, Director of Medicine and Public Health for the American Medical Association. The health care community can take a lead role in raising immunization rates by educating their adult patients on the safety and efficacy of vaccines and letting them know that getting vaccinated is one of the best ways to protect themselves and loved ones from disease. The health care community can take a lead role in raising immunization rates by educating their adult patients on the safety and efficacy of vaccines and letting them know that getting vaccinated is one of the best ways to protect themselves and loved ones from disease. The health care community can take a lead role in raising immunization rates by educating their adult patients on the safety and efficacy of vaccines and letting them know that getting vaccinated is one of the best ways to protect themselves and loved ones from disease. The health care community can take a lead role in raising immunization rates by educating their adult patients on the safety and efficacy of vaccines and letting them know that getting vaccinated is one of the best ways to protect themselves and loved ones from disease. The report outlines a number of policy recommendations to increase rates of adult vaccinations. Some top recommendations include: Close coverage gaps: Providers should be required to offer full coverage for all vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP); Medicare should fully cover all recommended vaccinations under Part B; and a Vaccines for Uninsured Adults (VFUA) Program should be created to cover all adults who are uninsured. Consider post-health reform scenarios: As any vaccine-related provisions are being phased in, steps should also be taken to expand support of existing adult vaccine programs during the interim time before these proposals are in full effect, and a Vaccines for Uninsured Adults (VFUA) Program would still need to be created to cover adults who will remain uninsured after reform. Increase public education: CDC and local and state health departments should receive increased resources to create and manage broad public education campaigns targeted at improving adult immunization rates, including communicating about the effectiveness and safety of vaccines. Increase provider and patient information: Standard practices should be developed to review patients immunization histories and vaccinations should be offered at appropriate medical encounters, such as during physicals, cancer screenings, and pre-natal visits. Health providers should also play an increased role in reducing transmission of disease and set an example by complying with the recommended vaccines to protect themselves, their staffs, and their patients. Increase research, development, and production: The National Institutes of Health (NIH), CDC, and the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should receive increased resources for vaccine research and development, including safety surveillance and research, and incentives should be provided for development and research in the United States to assure supplies of vaccines, especially during times of crisis. Percent of Seniors NOT Vaccinated Against Pneumonia by StateRates listed are the number of adults aged 65 and older who have not been vaccinated against pneumonia. Rankings are based on combining three years of data (2006-2008) from the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to stabilize data for comparison purposes. Illinois (40. Illinois (40. Texas (36. (tie) Alabama (36. 0%), Georgia (36….Read the Full Story

Story Summary: This study is particularly important as it provides the first direct correlation of gene expression data with in vivoadministration and histological localization of Tb4 in muscle tissue, stated Dr. Allan L. Goldstein, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC, and RegeneRxs chief scientific advisor. RegeneRx is focused on the discovery and development of novel peptides to accelerate tissue and organ repair. Currently, RegeneRx is developing three product candidates, RGN-137, RGN-259 and RGN-352 for dermal, ophthalmic, and cardiovascular tissue repair, respectively. These product candidates are based on Tb4, a synthetic copy of a 43-amino acid, naturally occurring peptide, in part, under an exclusive world-wide license from the National Institutes of Health. RegeneRx is also developing novel peptides for the cosmeceutical industry based on its experience with Tb4 and its biological activities in the skin. Tb4 is a synthetic version of a naturally occurring peptide present in virtually all human cells. RegeneRx has identified several molecular variations of Tb4 that may affect the aging of skin, among other properties, and could be important candidates as active ingredients in pharmaceutical and consumer products. Researchers at the National Institutes of Health, and at other academic institutions throughout the world, have published numerous scientific articles indicating Tb4s in vitroand invivo efficacy in accelerating wound healing and tissue protection under a variety of conditions. Any forward-looking statements in this press release represent the Companys views only as of the date of this release and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date….Read the Full Story

Story Summary: This detailed mapping is a significant move towards the success of targeted differentiation of stem cells into specific organs, which is a crucial consideration for stem cell therapy. The study was published in the genomics journal Genome Researchon February 4, 2010. DNA methylation causes specific subunits of DNA to be chemically modified, which controls which areas of the genome are active and which ones are dormant. We identified patterns of many genes that are methylated or de-methylated during differentiation….Read the Full Story

Story Summary: By taking heat shock proteins away from cells, the stabilization is taken away and cell death occurs. Dr. Chadli and colleagues at the Mayo Clinic believe celastrol holds the key to specificity, targeting the HSP90-activated protein required for folding steroid receptors. The celastrol induces the protein to form fibrils and clusters it together, which inactivates it, said Dr. Chadli, whose research was published in the January edition of The Journal of Biological Chemistry. When they are clustered, theyre not available for other functions that help cancer grow. Source: Jennifer HilliardMedical College of Georgia 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. Contact Our News EditorsFor any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form. PLEASE DONATE HEREThese are the most read articles from this news category for the last 6 months: Cellphones Cause Brain Tumors, Says New Report By International EMF Collaborative26 Aug 2009A new report, Cellphones and Brain Tumors: 15 Reasons for Concern, Science, Spin and the Truth Behind Interphone, was released today by a collaborative of international EMF activists. All of these treatments have potential physical and emotional side effects. All of these treatments have potential physical and emotional side effects. Discover how two women went through treatment and what they did to cope. Discover how two women went through treatment and what they did to cope….Read the Full Story

Story Summary: Kim Orth is an original and creative biochemist and a tribute to our institution, said Dr. Daniel K. Podolsky, UT Southwestern president. With the addition of Dr. Orth, four of the nine Hackerman Award recipients have been UT Southwestern faculty members. Other winners from the medical center are Dr. Xiaodong Wang, professor of biochemistry, in 2003; Dr. Zhijian James Chen, professor of molecular biology, in 2005; and Dr. Patrick Harran, former professor of biochemistry, in 2007. Kim Orth has already made important contributions to our understanding of how bacteria cause disease and what proteins control signaling in the cell, said Ernest H. Cockrell, chairman of The Welch Foundation. For example, she found that an infectious ocean-dwelling bacterium found in oysters and other shellfish kills its hosts cells by causing them to burst, providing the invader with a nutrient-rich meal that can then be used to fuel proliferation. Understanding how this bacterium commandeers that process led to the discovery of an entirely new way that ATP – a molecule that helps provide energy to our cells – can alter other molecules. There is so much more to learn about the most fundamental mechanisms of life. Investing in basic research now pays dividends decades into the future, Dr. Orth said. She joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2001 as a W. W. Caruth Jr. Scholar in Biomedical Research. Since its inception in 1954, the Welch Foundation has supported basic chemical research in Texas through grants to researchers and chemistry departments at colleges and universities; funding of endowed chairs; an annual chemical research conference; and a summer program for high-school students, among other initiatives. Since its inception in 1954, the Welch Foundation has supported basic chemical research in Texas through grants to researchers and chemistry departments at colleges and universities; funding of endowed chairs; an annual chemical research conference; and a summer program for high-school students, among other initiatives….Read the Full Story

Story Summary: Although its a very important contribution to the international grape research community, its not limited to grapes, said professor Anne Fennell in SDSUs Department of Horticulture, Forestry, Landscape and Parks. The authors are former SDSU post-doctoral researcher Jerome Grimplet (now at the Institute for Grapevine and Wine Sciences in Spain), Grant R. Cramer of the University of Nevada-Reno, Julie A. Dickerson of Iowa State University, SDSU research assistant Kathy Mathiason, John Van Hemert of Iowa State University and SDSUs Anne Y. Fennell. Fennell is the principal investigator in a project funded by a $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation that is now unveiling a major tool supporting grape molecular systems research. Metabolites are chemical compounds formed as part of the natural biochemical process in the plant. It allows scientists to see how plant processes respond to a change in an environmental variable such as day length. This resource allows visualization of dynamic interactions of transcripts, proteins, and metabolites within known molecular networks — for example, metabolic or signaling pathways, she said. This resource allows visualization of dynamic interactions of transcripts, proteins, and metabolites within known molecular networks — for example, metabolic or signaling pathways, she said. Integrating transcripts with protein and metabolite profiles in a comprehensive molecular map enables the researcher to explore different biochemical responses of grapevines to developmental and environmental cues. Additional plug-ins available in Cytoscape can be used to analyze the data further. Additional plug-ins available in Cytoscape can be used to analyze the data further. Additional plug-ins available in Cytoscape can be used to analyze the data further. A tutorial at the VitisNet site instructs users on what software is needed, how to obtain that software, and how to upload and visualize data on the molecular networks of VitisNet. A tutorial at the VitisNet site instructs users on what software is needed, how to obtain that software, and how to upload and visualize data on the molecular networks of VitisNet. Keywords:Contact InformationAvailable for logged-in reporters onlyDescriptionA new Web-based tool at South Dakota State University helps plant breeders & researchers worldwide analyze molecular data to select best grapes & other plant stock to breed better plants. Keywords:Contact InformationAvailable for logged-in reporters onlyDescriptionA new Web-based tool at South Dakota State University helps plant breeders & researchers worldwide analyze molecular data to select best grapes & other plant stock to breed better plants….Read the Full Story

Story Summary: On Tuesday 2nd February, a Manhattan court presided by Judge Robert Sweet heard attorneys argue for and against a federal lawsuit filed by American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Public Patent Foundation against the Patent and Trademark Office, Myriad Genetics and the University of Utah Research Foundation. When they submitted her blood to Myriad Genetics, they refused to do the test because they didnt accept her insurance. They argue that no matter how ingenious the isolation process is, it does not alter the structure of the DNA itself and so the genes essentially remain products of nature. They also refute Myriads patent claims over the correlations between mutations and cancer because mutations are a law of nature: Einstein discovered that e=mc2 but he would not have been allowed to patent it. Also involved in this case are issues around the First Amendment and the constitution, where by granting patents on the genes themselves, the government has essentially given Myriad exclusive control of all knowledge about the gene, which the plaintiffs argue is a clear violation of the First Amendment. Myriad argues that patents are a necessary incentive for researchers to discover the BRCA genes and develop commercial tests. For instance, on the incentive angle, they pointed out that researchers were doing BRCA testing before the patents were granted and Myriad stopped anyone else doing research once it got the patents. Today, said ACLU, thousands of researchers and clinicians who could be doing BRCA testing and give women the results they want cant do it because of the patents. Six of the plaintiffs are individual women who say they have been pre-empted from knowing about their gene status because of the patents. At the end of the 2-hour hearing, after hearing the arguments for both sides, Judge Robert Sweet thanked the attorneys for their clarity and skill, acknowledged the sharp difference of opinion, and touched on the fact this case is of great concern to science and industry and anyone concerned about breast cancer, pointing out that nearly everyone has been affected by the disease in one way or another either directly or because they know people who have, or they care for them. As we get to know more and more about breast cancer, a disease that affects one woman out of every eight, we are learning that it is not one disease but many, and perhaps even specific to individuals. Should ACLU and the plaintiffs they represent win the case, it could mean a huge change in the field of genetic research, where the race is on daily to patent more and more genes. About 20 per cent of human genes are now covered by patent claims (including genes linked to Alzheimers disease, muscular dystrophy, colon cancer, asthmaand many other conditions). About 20 per cent of human genes are now covered by patent claims (including genes linked to Alzheimers disease, muscular dystrophy, colon cancer, asthmaand many other conditions). About 20 per cent of human genes are now covered by patent claims (including genes linked to Alzheimers disease, muscular dystrophy, colon cancer, asthmaand many other conditions)….Read the Full Story

Story Summary: Researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, however, have shown that some of the pores constituent proteins, called nucleoporins, pull double duty as transcription factors regulating the activity of genes active during early development. This is the first time nucleoporins gene regulatory function has been demonstrated in multicellular organisms, and these findings, reported in the Feb. 5, 2010 issue of Cell, not only reveal a new class of transcription factors but may offer new insights into the mechanisms behind cancer. Since nuclear pore complexes are part of the nuclear membrane, which delineates the cell nucleus, it had been assumed that when a gene was regulated by a nucleoporin, it somehow had to make its way to the periphery of the nucleus, adjacent to the nuclear pore. Very few studies have looked at nuclear pore components for their potential role in gene regulation in animal cells, says Hetzer. The fact that NPC components can interact with genes inside the nucleus makes a lot more sense in how they can regulate gene activity. The gene doesnt go to the pore; the pore protein goes to the gene. The ability of the nuclear pore proteins to come off the pore and go inside the nucleus provides a global mechanism for the involvement of pores in gene regulation. Previously, Hetzers lab had shown that nuclear pore components deteriorate during aging in post-mitotic cells. His team is now investigating whether age-dependent deterioration in long-lived cells, such as neurons and muscles, could also explain why certain genes are misregulated. This study was partly supported by grants from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences and the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation. About the Salk Institute for Biological StudiesThe Salk Institute for Biological Studies is one of the worlds preeminent basic research institutions, where internationally renowned faculty probe fundamental life science questions in a unique, collaborative, and creative environment. Focused both on discovery and on mentoring future generations of researchers, Salk scientists make groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of cancer, aging, Alzheimers, diabetes, and cardiovascular disorders by studying neuroscience, genetics, cell and plant biology, and related disciplines….Read the Full Story

Story Summary: NTU researchers complete the worlds first in-depth study of the malaria parasite genomeGroundbreaking research done at Singapores Nanyang Technological Universitys (NTU) School of Biological Sciences (SBS) could lead to the development of more potent drugs or a vaccine for malaria, which is transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes and kills up to three million people each year. Assistant Professor Zbynek Bozdech and his team of researchers, including graduate students and post-doctorals from SBS Division of Genomics & Genetics, have scored a world first in successfully using transcriptional profiling to uncover hitherto unknown gene expression (activity) patterns in malaria. The research teams breakthrough made the January 2010 edition of the top-ranked journal, Nature Biotechnology, which is a satellite publication of Nature, the worlds leading peer-reviewed journal. Up till now, scientists have a good understanding of the gene functions for only about half of the more than 5,000 genes. Researchers at Germanys renowned institute for tropical diseases, the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, have validated the research findings, which are expected to provide exciting new insights into parasite biology. In successfully using transcriptional profiling to study the behavior of the malaria parasite, NTUs researchers have ventured into the unknown and paved the way for future breakthroughs in healthcare….Read the Full Story