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UAB scientists create alternative to the use of viruses in gene therapy

A team of scientists from the Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine at the UAB has produced an alternative to the use of viruses in gene therapy. The researchers synthesised nanoparticles which act as artificial viruses, capable of surrounding DNA fragments and releasing them as therapeutic agents, with no biological risk, into the interior of the cells.

9 Apr 2015

Researchers freeze biological structures to illustrate DNA double-strand break process

Scientists from the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, led by Guillermo Montoya, have developed a method for producing biological crystals that has allowed scientists to observe --for the first time-- DNA double chain breaks. They have also developed a computer simulation that makes this process, which lasts in the order of millionths of a second, visible to the human eye.

9 Dec 2014

Cypher researchers identify new genetic cause of severe epileptic encephalopathy

Cypher Genomics, Inc., the genome informatics company, announced today the identification of de novo KCNB1 missense mutations as a novel genetic cause of severe epileptic encephalopathy. Cypher’s co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer Ali Torkamani, Ph.D. reviewed the data today at a platform presentation at the ASHG 2014 meeting being held October 18 to 22 in San Diego.

21 Oct 2014

Pain receptors may hold key to treating obesity, diabetes and improving metabolic health

Blocking a pain receptor in mice not only extends their lifespan, it also gives them a more youthful metabolism, including an improved insulin response that allows them to deal better with high blood sugar.

23 May 2014

Study points to new therapeutic strategy for treating depression

A new study points to a conceptually novel therapeutic strategy for treating depression. Instead of dampening neuron firing found with stress-induced depression, researchers demonstrated for the first time that further activating these neurons opens a new avenue to mimic and promote natural resilience.

21 Apr 2014

Scientists present protein that facilitates control of nerve cells by light

Networked nerve cells are the control center of organisms. In a nematode, 300 nerve cells are sufficient to initiate complex behavior. To understand the properties of the networks, re-searchers switch cells on and off with light and observe the resulting behavior of the organism.

2 Apr 2014

First Edition: January 28, 2014

Today's headlines include the findings of a new poll, which sets the scene for tonight's State of the Union Address by President Barack Obama.

28 Jan 2014

GP clinics at hospitals: an interview with Dr Sharma, Monash University

Around 13 per cent of hospitals have a primary care unit within the emergency department and 6 per cent have a free standing primary care unit.

11 Apr 2013

IOF-ESCEO Pre-Clinical Symposium to be held on April 18 in Rome, Italy

Investigators with an interest in pre-clinical and translational musculoskeletal research are invited to attend the 3rd IOF-ESCEO Pre-Clinical Symposium to be held on April 18, in Rome, Italy.

29 Jan 2013

Thermo Fisher launches three new capillary ion chromatography columns

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world leader in serving science, today introduced three new high-capacity, high-efficiency 4 µm particle-size capillary IC columns that enable faster, more accurate analyses.

From Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. 13 Mar 2012

Scientists discover that sperm do not function like olfactory cells

According to a 2003 study by German and American scientists, a component of the Lily of the Valley scent known as Bourgeonal alters the calcium balance of human sperm and attracts the sperm. The "Lily of the Valley phenomenon" - also the title of a book about smelling - was born as a result of this discovery that sperm act as swimming olfactory cells which follow a "scent trail" laid by the egg. However, a detailed explanation for the Lily of the Valley phenomenon remained illusive as neither Bourgeonal nor other scents could be identified in the female sex organ.

29 Feb 2012

Engineers describe novel method that collates trace heavy metals in water

An unfortunate consequence of many industrial and manufacturing practices, from textile factories to metalworking operations, is the release of heavy metals in waterways. Those metals can remain for decades, even centuries, in low but still dangerous concentrations.

17 Dec 2011

New results from BioCryst's BCX4208 Phase 2b gout study

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. presents new results from its Phase 2b randomized, double-blind, dose-response study of BCX4208 in patients with gout who have failed to reach the clinically important serum uric acid (sUA) goal of <6 mg/dL on allopurinol alone.

8 Nov 2011

Patch-clamp recording reveals subtle differences between two neurotransmitter-gated ion channels

Using a high-resolution single-molecule study technique, University of Illinois researchers have seen the very subtle differences between two branches of an important family of neurotransmitter-gated ion channels.

3 Jun 2011

Salmonella enterica bacterium activates virulence genes through Fur protein

Salmonella enterica, one of the main causes of gastrointestinal infections, modulates its virulence gene expression, adapting it to each stage of the infection process, depending on the free iron concentration found in the intestinal epithelium of its host.

12 May 2011

Researchers identify two proteins in cellular response to mechanical stimulation

Scripps Research Institute scientists have identified two proteins with potential to be important targets for research into a wide range of health problems, including pain, deafness, and cardiac and kidney dysfunction.

3 Sep 2010

Millipore launches new ProRes-S media for downstream purification of monoclonal antibodies, proteins

Millipore Corporation, a leading provider of technologies, tools and services for the global life science industry, today announced the launch of its new ProRes-S media. With the addition of ProRes-S media, Millipore's purification suite now provides a complete solution for the downstream purification of monoclonal antibodies and proteins. Developed jointly with The Dow Chemical Company, ProRes-S media offers biopharmaceutical manufacturers greater flexibility and increased throughput in a smaller manufacturing footprint.

8 Jul 2010

Flexible treatment delivery intervention in primary care reduces symptoms of anxiety: Study

An intervention in primary care settings that allowed a choice of cognitive behavior therapy, medication, or both, along with computer-assisted treatment support for patients with common anxiety disorders, resulted in greater improvement in anxiety symptoms and functional disability compared to usual care, according to a study in the May 19 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on mental health.

19 May 2010

Optivia Biotechnology launches OptiDDI Suite for assessing transporter-related DDIs

Optivia Biotechnology Inc., a leading provider of in vitro transporter assay services, today announced the launch of the OptiDDITM Suite, a novel assay panel that assesses the most clinically significant transporter-related drug-drug interactions (DDIs), as identified by the International Transporter Consortium (ITC) in its report "Membrane Transporters in Drug Development" (Nature Reviews-Drug Discovery, March 2010).

12 May 2010

Agilent Technologies introduces new ion exchange and size exclusion columns for analysis of bio-molecules

Agilent Technologies Inc. today announced the availability of new ion exchange and size exclusion columns specifically designed for the analysis of bio-molecules including monoclonal antibodies, recombinant proteins, peptides, vaccine products and DNA/RNA. The columns provide robust, reproducible and high-resolution solutions for biopharmaceutical manufacturers to effectively monitor the safety, efficacy and stability of their products.

17 Mar 2010