Molecule News and Research

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LUMICKS partners with AstraZeneca, University of Cambridge to establish new 'Center of Excellence for Dynamic Single-Molecule Analysis for Accelerated Drug Discovery and Biology'

The center will be based around LUMICKS’ C-Trap™ optical tweezers–fluorescence microscope, which for the first time enables real-time observation and probing of biomolecular interactions. The approach will be pioneered in several pharmacology and biology assays with the aim of accelerating the discovery of potential new drugs.

From Lumicks 28 Jun 2018

Rethinking current method paves way for new, personalized cancer diagnostics

All diseases have a genetic component. Advances in understanding the genetic mechanisms behind these disease enables the development of early diagnostic tests, new treatments, or interventions to prevent disease onset or minimize disease severity.

28 Jun 2018

Scientists discover protein crucial for activating inflammation

Researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago have identified a protein that is crucial for activating inflammation - both the good kind of inflammation that leads to healing wounds and fighting infection, as well as excessive inflammation where the immune system can damage tissues and organs.

27 Jun 2018

Researchers scale up fluorescence imaging technique to analyze larger areas

Researchers have scaled up a powerful fluorescence imaging technique used to study biological processes on the cellular level. Previously limited to samples just millimeters in area, the expanded approach can analyze samples with areas up to 4 square centimeters.

27 Jun 2018

Discovery provides new mechanism that could be exploited to create malaria vaccine

Scientists have revealed that immune cells called natural killer (NK) cells may play a key role in ridding the body of malaria-infected blood cells, a study in eLife reports.

27 Jun 2018

Study finds byproduct of common prostate cancer drug can stimulate growth of tumor cells

A genetic anomaly in certain men with prostate cancer may impact their response to common drugs used to treat the disease, according to new research at Cleveland Clinic. The findings may provide important information for identifying which patients potentially fare better when treated with an alternate therapy.

26 Jun 2018

Novel theranostic agent designed for precise tumor diagnosis and therapy

A novel, intelligent theranostic agent for precise tumor diagnosis and therapy has been developed that remains as small molecules while circulating in the bloodstream, can then self-assemble into larger nanostructures in the tumor, and be activated by the tumor microenvironment for therapy guided by photoacoustic imaging.

26 Jun 2018

MIT researchers decode structure of molecule that gives tissues their elasticity

The stretchiness that allows living tissues to expand, contract, stretch, and bend throughout a lifetime is the result of a protein molecule called tropoelastin. Remarkably, this molecule can be stretched to eight times its length and always returns back to its original size.

26 Jun 2018

Targeting proteins in semen could prevent sexually transmitted spread of Ebola virus

Protein fragments, called amyloid fibrils, in human semen significantly increase Ebola virus infection and protect the virus against harsh environmental conditions such as heat and dehydration. Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania report these findings in a study published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

26 Jun 2018

Study reveals new way to inhibit capillary leakage in sepsis

Leakage from the blood capillaries is a key mechanism leading to septic shock and multiorgan failure, which affect millions of patients annually worldwide. However, there is no effective way to inhibit the vessel leakiness. A new study by scientists at the University of Helsinki and Wihuri Research Institute demonstrates that vascular leakage can be inhibited by targeting vascular integrins.

25 Jun 2018

CRISPR technique reduces repetitive behavior in fragile X syndrome mouse models

Scientists have used CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to lessen some autism symptoms in mice with a form of fragile X syndrome, the most common known single-gene cause of autism spectrum disorder.

25 Jun 2018

Oxygen-starved tumors have an Achilles' heel that could be targeted with drugs

A tumor's goal is simple: to grow, grow, grow, by making more cancer cells. But that often means growing so fast that the oxygen supply gets scarce, at which point cells within the tumor start to suffocate.

25 Jun 2018

Study links molecular changes in the brain to key behaviors in addiction

Changes in a brain signaling system contribute to the development of alcohol addiction-like behaviors in rats, according to a new study led by researchers at Linköping University, Sweden.

25 Jun 2018

Lund researchers develop fluorescent variant of a molecule that inhibits cancer stem cells

A team of researchers at Lund University in Sweden has developed a fluorescent variant of a molecule that inhibits cancer stem cells.

25 Jun 2018

Researchers use gene editing to reduce autism symptoms in mice

Researchers have used CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to treat symptoms of autism in mice. It is hoped that the tool could one day be used to help humans.

25 Jun 2018

Scientists discover secret to success of antiviral gene

It's been known for years that humans and other mammals possess an antiviral gene called RSAD2 that prevents a remarkable range of viruses from multiplying.

25 Jun 2018

Chemists find new way to make enzymes do a non-natural reaction

Princeton chemists have found a way to make a naturally occurring enzyme take on a new, artificial role, which has significant implications for modern chemistry, including pharmaceutical production.

22 Jun 2018

USC study reveals how the cell launches emergency response to repair damaged DNA

The cell has its own paramedic team and emergency room to aid and repair damaged DNA, a new USC Dornsife study reveals.

21 Jun 2018

Aquinnah Pharmaceuticals wins NINDS grant to advance novel therapies for ALS

Aquinnah Pharmaceuticals, leaders in stress granule biology, an exciting new target for the development of neurodegenerative therapeutics, announced today that it has been awarded $3.4 million from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke in a competing grant to advance novel therapeutic drug candidates towards the clinic for treating patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

21 Jun 2018

New approach could provide objective and easy-to-obtain measure of dietary adherence

An analysis of small molecules called "metabolites" in a blood sample may be used to determine whether a person is following a prescribed diet, scientists at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have shown.

20 Jun 2018

Molecule News and Research

LUMICKS partners with AstraZeneca, University of Cambridge to establish new 'Center of Excellence for Dynamic Single-Molecule Analysis for Accelerated Drug Discovery and Biology'

Rethinking current method paves way for new, personalized cancer diagnostics

Scientists discover protein crucial for activating inflammation

Researchers scale up fluorescence imaging technique to analyze larger areas

Discovery provides new mechanism that could be exploited to create malaria vaccine

Study finds byproduct of common prostate cancer drug can stimulate growth of tumor cells

Novel theranostic agent designed for precise tumor diagnosis and therapy

MIT researchers decode structure of molecule that gives tissues their elasticity

Targeting proteins in semen could prevent sexually transmitted spread of Ebola virus

Study reveals new way to inhibit capillary leakage in sepsis

CRISPR technique reduces repetitive behavior in fragile X syndrome mouse models

Oxygen-starved tumors have an Achilles' heel that could be targeted with drugs

Study links molecular changes in the brain to key behaviors in addiction

Lund researchers develop fluorescent variant of a molecule that inhibits cancer stem cells

Researchers use gene editing to reduce autism symptoms in mice

Scientists discover secret to success of antiviral gene

Chemists find new way to make enzymes do a non-natural reaction

USC study reveals how the cell launches emergency response to repair damaged DNA

Aquinnah Pharmaceuticals wins NINDS grant to advance novel therapies for ALS

New approach could provide objective and easy-to-obtain measure of dietary adherence

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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