Germline News and Research

RSS

Underexpression of specific metabolic enzyme is a common feature in kidney cancer, study shows

A team of investigators has discovered that the underexpression of a specific metabolic enzyme is a common and adverse epigenetic modulating feature in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), according to a recent study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

20 Oct 2021

Nucleoside modifications suppress the potential of RNA to activate dendritic cells

A new paper shows that human TLR3, TLR7, and TLR8 receptors are activated with naturally occurring RNA, but this is eliminated once modified nucleosides such as m5C, m6A, m5U s2U, or pseudouridine are incorporated.

12 Oct 2021

SARS-CoV-2 beta variant elicits variant specific and cross-reactive antibodies

One recent study assessed the serum of Beta variant infected patients to determine whether major non-VOC antibodies could neutralize this virus.

5 Oct 2021

Study identifies broadly neutralizing antibody panel against SARS-like viruses

A recent study describes 40 broadly neutralizing antibodies from two individuals with a history of COVID-19 who were recently immunized against the virus.

13 Sep 2021

Discovery of diverse sarbecovirus broadly neutralizing antibodies from SARS-CoV-2 “infected-vaccinated” humans

Scientists were inspired by the robust serum nAb responses in people who recovered from natural SARS-CoV-2 infection and were later vaccinated using mRNA vaccine. They isolated and characterized bnAbs from two COVID-19 convalescent donors who were recently vaccinated. These isolated bnAbs were found to be highly potent against sarbecoviruses. This research is available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

13 Sep 2021

Study uncovers new mechanism for memory transfer between individual roundworms

When an organism encounters a threat in its environment, it is to the species' advantage to warn others of the peril.

4 Sep 2021

Studies offer insight into how the human body develops and acquires mutations throughout life

New insights into how the human body develops from one cell into trillions, and the genetic mutations that cells pick up along the way, have been generated by two studies from scientists at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, the University of Cambridge and their collaborators.

26 Aug 2021

Vaccinating previously infected induces more potent antibodies less susceptible to escape from SARS-CoV-2 variants

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causal agent of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which has claimed more than 4.3 million lives worldwide. Even after implementing various measures, such as vaccination and social restrictions, SARS-CoV-2 and its variants of concern (VoC) leave the world's public health systems and economies in turmoil.

16 Aug 2021

Discovery of highly potent neutralizing monoclonal antibodies against SARS-CoV-2

A new study published in the journal Nature Communications has reported two neutralizing antibodies, namely, nCoVmab1 and nCoVmab2, which are potent against SARS-CoV-2.

13 Aug 2021

Natural vs. vaccine-induced COVID-19 immunity

A new paper discusses the protection offered by immunity against COVID-19 following vaccination as compared to natural infection.

10 Aug 2021

Researchers create new model for studying earliest stages of retinoblastoma

Scientists at St. JudeChildren's Research Hospital have created a laboratory model for studying retinoblastoma driven by inherited mutations in theRB1gene.Retinoblastoma is a rare cancer of the retina, the thin tissue inside the back of the eye.

6 Aug 2021

Public and private SARS-CoV-2 T cell receptors may be crucial for pan-coronavirus vaccines

Researchers have just established a structural basis for two spike glycoprotein epitopes of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that are restricted to human leukocyte antigen (HLA) A2 molecules. More specifically, they are involved in the presentation of antigenic peptides to specific T lymphocytes and recognized by public and private T cell receptors. The research is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

2 Aug 2021

Comprehensive genomic sequencing essential to capitalize precision medicine for pediatric cancer care

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital investigators have demonstrated that comprehensive genomic sequencing of all pediatric cancer patients is feasible and essential to capitalize on the lifesaving potential of precision medicine.

26 Jul 2021

Novel monoclonal antibody could pave way for future COVID-19 treatments and vaccines

Researchers in the United States have shown that targeting the N-terminal domain (NTD) of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral spike protein could achieve broad neutralization of variants of concern.

11 Jul 2021

Study: Genetic mutations associated with breast cancer risk are the same in Black and white women

The prevalence of genetic mutations associated with breast cancer in Black and white women is the same, according to a new JAMA Oncology study of nearly 30,000 patients led by researchers in the Basser Center for BRCA at the Abramson Cancer Center. About five percent of both Black and white women have a genetic mutation that increases their risk of breast cancer.

14 Jun 2021

New treatment may improve outcomes for patients with BRCA mutation-associated early breast cancer

Results were released this week on a new treatment with the potential to improve the outcomes for patients with hereditary BRCA mutations and high-risk, early-stage breast cancer.

5 Jun 2021

Potent antibody with unique genetic signature and spike recognition mechanism neutralizes SARS-CoV-2

In a new study, researchers used an antibody discovery technology to identify a new potently neutralizing antibody with a unique mode of SARS-CoV-2 recognition. They reported their results on the bioRxiv preprint server.

18 May 2021

Minorities substantially underrepresented in pancreatic cancer clinical trials

Despite the fact that certain racial and ethnic minorities get pancreatic cancer more often, are diagnosed at a younger age and die sooner, clinical trials fail to include representative proportions of non-White patients at every phase of study, according to research that was selected for presentation at Digestive Disease Week 2021.

14 May 2021

Researchers show SARS-CoV-2 genes can be integrated into the human genome

Researchers in the United States have shown that genes from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) – can be integrated into the genome of infected human cells.

10 May 2021

COVID-19 donor antibodies show broad cross-reactivity against SARS-CoV-2 variants and related viruses

A new study reports on a set of antibodies from COVID-19 donor serum, which seems to be cross-reactive across multiple Sarbecoviruses, including the very similar SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)-CoV.

28 Apr 2021