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CRISPRa identifies potassium channels as neuronal entry factors and druggable targets for SARS-CoV-2

New research led by Le Cong of Stanford University School of Medicine in California indicates that the KCNA6 potassium channel may help with viral entry and promote infection. In addition, KCNA6 is highly expressed in OLIG2+ neuronal cells, which has been shown to be suspectable to SARS-CoV-2 in the olfactory neuroepithelium. This area appears to contribute to loss of smell commonly observed during infection.

6 Jul 2021

Study explores how human ACE2 variants can modify SARS-CoV-2 binding

A recent tour-de-force study by researchers from the United Kingdom reveals variants of the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) that can improve or decrease binding of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – including two variants with distinct population distributions showing an enhanced affinity for viral spike glycoprotein.

5 Jul 2021

Antibiotic clofoctol shows potential against SARS-CoV-2

In a recent study, a group of French researchers aimed to reduce the regulatory preclinical development steps that potential candidates are normally subjected to.

5 Jul 2021

Phylogenetic network analysis reveals recombinant origin of the SARS-CoV-2 alpha (B.1.1.7) variant

Researchers from the U.S. recently used the phylogenetic network approach to analyze the origin of the VOC202012/01 (alpha) or the PANGO Lineage B.1.1.7 variant, which was first reported in U.K. in 2020 and soon spread to other countries. This study is published on the bioRxiv preprint server while the paper undergoes peer review.

5 Jul 2021

Researchers develop random priming amplification method for whole-genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 and H1N1

Researchers from the UK recently compared the performance of 4 different random priming amplification methods to recover SARS-CoV-2 RNA. In method 1 (H-P), the reverse transcriptase (RT) step included random hexamers, whereas, in methods 2-4, RT incorporated an octamer primer with a known tag. This study is published on the bioRxiv preprint server.

5 Jul 2021

A new study reveals unintended CRISPR/Cas9 editing events

A recent study by researchers from Sweden and the United Kingdom shows that CRISPR/Cas9-based genomic engineering can prompt unwanted on-target effects, and highlights the complexity of human DNA repair mechanisms in the presence of the powerful prokaryotic Cas9 nuclease. The paper is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

4 Jul 2021

Structure-guided T cell vaccine design could offer broad protection SARS-CoV-2 variants

Gaurav Gaiha, MD, DPhil, a member of the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, studies HIV, one of the fastest-mutating viruses known to humankind.

2 Jul 2021

What role did the SARS-CoV-2 delta variant play in India’s devastating second wave?

A detailed report, available on the preprint server medRxiv*, describes the various facets of the second wave that set it apart from the first. The report also contains the findings of an extended SIR model that explored the potential effects of intervention at various time points in the second wave.

2 Jul 2021

The use of flavonoids as antiviral agents against SARS-CoV-2

Researchers in Iran have undertaken a comprehensive review of flavonoids and their antiviral potential against SARS-CoV-2.

2 Jul 2021

Genetic variants in a neuro-associated gene cause neurodevelopmental disorder, finds study

Mayo Clinic researchers have discovered that genetic variants in a neuro-associated gene called SPTBN1 are responsible for causing a neurodevelopmental disorder. The study, published in Nature Genetics, is a first step in finding a potential therapeutic strategy for this disorder, and it increases the number of genes known to be associated with conditions that affect how the brain functions.

2 Jul 2021

Researchers evaluate tools for identification of microRNAs in plants

Almost twenty years ago, the process of RNA silencing was discovered in plants, whereby small fragments of RNA inactivate a portion of a gene during protein synthesis.

1 Jul 2021

Researchers discover genetic markers that drive the timing of first sex and birth

An Oxford-led team, working with Cambridge and international scholars, has discovered hundreds of genetic markers driving two of life's most momentous milestones - the age at which people first have sex and become parents.

1 Jul 2021

Study explores lectins from plants, fungi, algae and cyanobacteria as pan-coronavirus inhibitors

In a recently published article scientists have provided a detailed description of the utility of mannose-specific lectins in preventing coronavirus infections. They have specifically explained how mannose-specific lectins derived from plants, algae, fungi, and bacteria selectively bind N-glycans present on the surface of viral spike protein and how such interactions can be medically utilized to control coronavirus transmission.

1 Jul 2021

ERS Genomics and Nippon Gene sign CRISPR/Cas9 license agreement

ERS Genomics Limited, which was formed to provide broad access to the foundational CRISPR/Cas9 intellectual property co-owned by Dr. Emmanuelle Charpentier, and Nippon Gene Co., Ltd (Nippon Gene), a manufacturer of genetic engineering research reagents and diagnostic reagents for humans, animals, and plants, today announced a non-exclusive license agreement granting Nippon Gene access to ERS Genomics’ CRISPR/Cas9 patent portfolio.

1 Jul 2021

New software tool can help identify gene regulators more efficiently

A team of scientists at the University of Illinois Chicago has developed a software tool that can help researchers more efficiently identify the regulators of genes. The system leverages a machine learning algorithm to predict which transcription factors are most likely to be active in individual cells.

1 Jul 2021

Researchers identify proteins that contribute to the pathogenicity of COVID-19 virus

Researchers at Texas Biomedical Research Institute (Texas Biomed) have narrowed down the proteins enabling SARS-CoV-2 to cause disease.

1 Jul 2021

Study offers a new model for examining genetic risk associated with nicotine dependence

Some people casually smoke cigarettes for a while and then stop without a problem, while others develop long-term, several packs-per-day habits. A complex mix of environmental, behavioral, and genetic factors appear to raise this risk for nicotine dependence.

1 Jul 2021

Genome News and Research

CRISPRa identifies potassium channels as neuronal entry factors and druggable targets for SARS-CoV-2

Study explores how human ACE2 variants can modify SARS-CoV-2 binding

Antibiotic clofoctol shows potential against SARS-CoV-2

Phylogenetic network analysis reveals recombinant origin of the SARS-CoV-2 alpha (B.1.1.7) variant

Researchers develop random priming amplification method for whole-genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 and H1N1

A new study reveals unintended CRISPR/Cas9 editing events

Structure-guided T cell vaccine design could offer broad protection SARS-CoV-2 variants

What role did the SARS-CoV-2 delta variant play in India’s devastating second wave?

The use of flavonoids as antiviral agents against SARS-CoV-2

Genetic variants in a neuro-associated gene cause neurodevelopmental disorder, finds study

Researchers evaluate tools for identification of microRNAs in plants

Researchers discover genetic markers that drive the timing of first sex and birth

Study explores lectins from plants, fungi, algae and cyanobacteria as pan-coronavirus inhibitors

ERS Genomics and Nippon Gene sign CRISPR/Cas9 license agreement

New software tool can help identify gene regulators more efficiently

Researchers identify proteins that contribute to the pathogenicity of COVID-19 virus

Study offers a new model for examining genetic risk associated with nicotine dependence

Ion channel conserved in coronaviruses a potential new drug target for COVID therapeutics

Study highlights changes within SARS-CoV-2 variants that could be exploited to design effective inhibitors

Study provides important insights into early stages of SARS-CoV-2 infection

Genetics & Genomics - Second Edition eBook

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

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