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Biologists resolve immune protein structure to provide insight into pathogen-defense strategies

Biologists have resolved the structure of a ring of proteins used by the immune system to summon support when under attack, providing new insight into potential strategies for protection from pathogens.

17 Nov 2017

Brain astrocytes could play key role in pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease

Astrocytes, the supporting cells of the brain, could play a significant role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), according to a new study from the University of Eastern Finland. This is the first time researchers discovered a direct association between astrocytes and AD. Published in Stem Cell Reports, the study investigated the brain cell function of familial AD patients by using stem cell technologies.

17 Nov 2017

CRISPR shows potential to reduce diseases spread by mosquitoes

Research at the University of California, Riverside, have shown that it is possible for transgenic mosquitos to stably express the Cas9 enzyme in their germline. Cas9 addition will allow the utilization of the CRISPR gene editing tool to carry out efficient and highly targeted changes to the DNA of the mosquitoes.

16 Nov 2017

Study: People with non-O blood types have elevated risk of heart attack during high air pollution periods

Individuals who have A, B, or AB blood types have an elevated risk of having a heart attack during periods of significant air pollution, compared to those with the O blood type, according to new research from the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute and Brigham Young University.

15 Nov 2017

Changes in multiple different genes drive world's most deadly forms of lung cancer

A new UC San Francisco–led study challenges the dogma in oncology that most cancers are caused by one dominant "driver" mutation that can be treated in isolation with a single targeted drug. Instead, the new research finds one of the world's most deadly forms of lung cancer is driven by changes in multiple different genes, which appear to work together to drive cancer progression and to allow tumors to evade targeted therapy.

15 Nov 2017

MDA announces 13 new research grants to advance treatment for neuromuscular diseases

The Muscular Dystrophy Association today announced 13 new research and development grants totaling $3.5 million to accelerate the development of treatments for muscular dystrophy, ALS and related life-threatening diseases.

14 Nov 2017

Tulane professor wins Department of Defense grant for research into arteriovenous malformations

Tulane University's Stryder Meadows, a cell and molecular biology professor, received a $1.7 million grant from the Department of Defense to study how arteriovenous malformations (AVM), which are defects in arteries, veins and capillaries, form Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT), a genetic disorder that affects about 1 in 5,000 people.

14 Nov 2017

UCR researchers develop transgenic mosquitoes to help reduce spread of infectious diseases

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside have developed transgenic mosquitoes that stably express the Cas9 enzyme in their germline. The addition of Cas9 will enable the use of the CRISPR gene editing tool to make efficient, targeted changes to the mosquitoes' DNA.

14 Nov 2017

Study points at lysosomal storage disorder genes as potential key contributors to Parkinson's

An international study has shed new light on the genetic factors associated with Parkinson's disease, pointing at a group of lysosomal storage disorder genes as potential major contributors to the onset and progression of this common neurodegenerative disorder. The study appears in the journal Brain.

14 Nov 2017

New drug shows promise in mouse model of autism disorder

Scientists have performed a successful test of a possible new drug in a mouse model of an autism disorder. The candidate drug, called NitroSynapsin, largely corrected electrical, behavioral and brain abnormalities in the mice.

14 Nov 2017

Researchers make breakthrough in finding possible therapeutic fix for autism, intellectual disability

A breakthrough in finding the mechanism and a possible therapeutic fix for autism and intellectual disability has been made by a University of Nebraska Medical Center researcher and his team at the Munroe-Meyer Institute.

10 Nov 2017

Increasing hydroxyurea dose linked to reduction in hospitalization for young sickle cell anemia patients

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital investigators have shown that using the drug hydroxyurea to boost average fetal hemoglobin levels above 20 percent in children and teenagers with sickle cell anemia was associated with at least a two-fold reduction in hospitalization for any reason.

9 Nov 2017

Scientists characterize infection mechanism of Rift Valley fever virus

Rift Valley fever virus, transmitted by mosquitoes, is responsible for outbreaks in livestock in Africa and can also be fatal in humans. Scientists from the Institut Pasteur and the CNRS, working with the University of Göttingen, have characterized the mechanism used by the virus to insert one of its envelope proteins into the host cell membrane, thereby enabling it to infect the cell.

9 Nov 2017

Elevated levels of chronic stress hormones may promote EGFR inhibitor resistance in NSCLC patients

Elevated levels of chronic stress hormones, such as those produced by psychological distress, may promote resistance to drugs commonly used to treat lung cancer patients with EGFR mutations, according to new research from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

9 Nov 2017

Researchers discover mechanism behind skin inflammation in eczema

Publishing online this week in Cell Host & Microbe, researchers at Johns Hopkins report the discovery of a key underlying immune mechanism that explains why to how our skin becomes inflamed from conditions such as atopic dermatitis, more commonly known as eczema. Toxin-producing bacteria on the surface of our skin induces a protein that causes our own cells to react and cause inflammation.

8 Nov 2017

FDA approves first targeted cancer treatment based on basket study

The US Food and Drug Administration has announced that it has approved the drug vemurafenib for the treatment of patients with BRAF V600-mutant Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD).

7 Nov 2017

WISDOM trial aims to identify best way to screen for breast cancer

Since her 40s, Lilly Lidot has received yearly mammograms. Her sister did not get regular checkups, so when her cancer was diagnosed it had already spread to her brain. Lilly's sister died in 2010.

7 Nov 2017

FDA grants approval to first treatment for rare blood cancer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today expanded the approval of Zelboraf (vemurafenib) to include the treatment of certain adult patients with Erdheim-Chester Disease (ECD), a rare cancer of the blood.

7 Nov 2017

FDA approves new drug Zelboraf for Erdheim-Chester disease

The United States Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has approved Zelboraf (vemurafenib), a drug for the treatment of adults with a are type of blood cancer called Erdheim-Chester Disease or ECD.

6 Nov 2017

Study: Diverse autism symptoms may stem from malfunction in communication among brain cells

A defective gene linked to autism influences how neurons connect and communicate with each other in the brain, according to a study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Rodents that lack the gene form too many connections between brain neurons and have difficulty learning.

3 Nov 2017

Mutation News and Research

Biologists resolve immune protein structure to provide insight into pathogen-defense strategies

Brain astrocytes could play key role in pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease

CRISPR shows potential to reduce diseases spread by mosquitoes

Study: People with non-O blood types have elevated risk of heart attack during high air pollution periods

Changes in multiple different genes drive world's most deadly forms of lung cancer

MDA announces 13 new research grants to advance treatment for neuromuscular diseases

Tulane professor wins Department of Defense grant for research into arteriovenous malformations

UCR researchers develop transgenic mosquitoes to help reduce spread of infectious diseases

Study points at lysosomal storage disorder genes as potential key contributors to Parkinson's

New drug shows promise in mouse model of autism disorder

Researchers make breakthrough in finding possible therapeutic fix for autism, intellectual disability

Increasing hydroxyurea dose linked to reduction in hospitalization for young sickle cell anemia patients

Scientists characterize infection mechanism of Rift Valley fever virus

Elevated levels of chronic stress hormones may promote EGFR inhibitor resistance in NSCLC patients

Researchers discover mechanism behind skin inflammation in eczema

FDA approves first targeted cancer treatment based on basket study

WISDOM trial aims to identify best way to screen for breast cancer

FDA grants approval to first treatment for rare blood cancer

FDA approves new drug Zelboraf for Erdheim-Chester disease

Study: Diverse autism symptoms may stem from malfunction in communication among brain cells

Improving healthcare sustainability through carbon data

Managing vibration in IVF laboratories

A New Approach to Preventing Bladder Cancer Recurrence

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