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Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a biologically important type of molecule that consists of a long chain of nucleotide units. Each nucleotide consists of a nitrogenous base, a ribose sugar, and a phosphate.

Study suggests modulation of "enhancer-directed RNAs" can alter gene expression in living cells

In a pair of distinct but complementary papers, researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and colleagues illuminate the functional importance of a relatively new class of RNA molecules.

5 Jun 2013

Six top scientists studying psoriasis receive NPF research grants to discover new treatments for chronic diseases

Six of the top scientists studying psoriasis-the most common autoimmune disease in the country, affecting 7.5 million Americans-and psoriatic arthritis, an inflammatory joint and tendon disease affecting up to 30 percent of people with psoriasis, received National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) research grants totaling $450,000 for projects that aim to discover new treatments and a cure for these chronic diseases.

5 Jun 2013

Better understanding of breast milk variability, strategies for optimizing neonatal diet

The composition of breast milk varies from mother to mother, and genetic factors may affect the levels of protective components in breast milk that could influence a newborn's outcomes.

5 Jun 2013

Weather may influence transmission of West Nile, chikungunya, and other viral disease

Urban epidemics resulting from viral diseases, such as West Nile fever and chikungunya fever, are transmitted by infected mosquitoes.

4 Jun 2013

Arcturus Therapeutics closes $1.3 M in seed funding round

Arcturus Therapeutics, Inc., an industry leader in RNAi technologies for the treatment of disease, today announced it has raised $1.3 million in a seed funding round led by multiple high net-worth private investors from the United States and Canada.

3 Jun 2013

Researchers develop RNA aptamers that inhibit HCV replication

Treatments against hepatitis C virus have only been partially successful. A major problem is that antivirals generate drug resistance. Now Seong-Wook Lee of Dankook University, Yongin, Republic of Korea and his collaborators have developed agents that bind to the business end of a critical protein, disabling it so successfully that no resistance has arisen.

3 Jun 2013

Study shows utility of cfDNA blood tests for breast cancer patients

Researchers from Chronix Biomedical and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center today announced that results from a pilot study demonstrating the utility of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) blood tests as a companion diagnostic for breast cancer patients are to be reported in a poster presentation titled "Modulation of breast cancer cell-free DNA with surgical resection" (Abstract #11060) at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting (ASCO 2013) being held from May 31 through June 4, 2013 in Chicago. The blood test detects cfDNA that is released into the blood stream by damaged and dying cancer cells.

1 Jun 2013

Nanoparticle-based immunotherapy for cancer

The German Research Foundation has established a new Collaborative Research Center on "Nanodimensional polymer therapeutics for tumor therapy" (CRC 1066) at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (MPI-P).

1 Jun 2013

Theoretical mathematical models offer insights into therapeutic, prevention strategies for HIV

The first few hours to days following exposure to human immunodeficiency virus can be of critical importance in determining if infection occurs in a patient. But the low numbers of viruses and infected cells at this stage makes it very difficult to study these events in humans or animal models.

1 Jun 2013

Scientists find that 'junk DNA' could promote cancer progression

Scientists at The University of Nottingham have found that a genetic rogue element produced by sequences until recently considered 'junk DNA' could promote cancer progression.

30 May 2013

Researchers develop multicolor fluorescence labeling method to identify tumor specific miRNAs

In recent years, microRNAs and other non-coding RNAs are small molecules that help control the expression of specific proteins. In recent years they have emerged as disease biomarkers.

27 May 2013

Researchers discover how drug prevents cancer progression

In collaboration with Daniel Zenklusen, also a University of Montreal biochemistry professor and lead author and doctoral candidate Vincent Messier, discovered that when cells are starved for nutrients TOR sends a signal to shut down production of a chemical message in the form of RNA to synthesize B cyclin ", Dr. Michnick explained.

24 May 2013

EGFR gums up cell's miRNA-processing machinery under oxygen starvation conditions

Even while being dragged to its destruction inside a cell, a cancer-promoting growth factor receptor fires away, sending signals that thwart the development of tumor-suppressing microRNAs before it's dissolved, researchers reported in an early online publication at Nature.

24 May 2013

New drug delivery system can help treat lung cancer

Researchers have developed a new drug delivery system that allows inhalation of chemotherapeutic drugs to help treat lung cancer, and in laboratory and animal tests it appears to reduce the systemic damage done to other organs while significantly improving the treatment of lung tumors.

23 May 2013

Video demonstrating a SPE microplate method for reproducible isolation of high quality RNA released by INTEGRA

INTEGRA has released a new video demonstrating a solid phase extraction (SPE) microplate method for reproducible, high throughput isolation of high-quality DNA-free total RNA.

From INTEGRA Biosciences 22 May 2013

Rice University computational study tracks regulatory mechanisms of E. coli cells

Environment is not the only factor in shaping regulatory patterns -- and it might not even be the primary factor, according to a new Rice University study that looks at how cells' protein networks relate to a bacteria's genome.

22 May 2013

Caltech biologists show that microRNA-146a protects stem cells during inflammation

When infections occur in the body, stem cells in the blood often jump into action by multiplying and differentiating into mature immune cells that can fight off illness. But repeated infections and inflammation can deplete these cell populations, potentially leading to the development of serious blood conditions such as cancer.

22 May 2013

UTMB researchers awarded grant to study gene therapy techniques to eliminate neuropathic pain

University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston researchers have been awarded a five-year, $1.8 million grant by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke to apply the techniques of gene therapy to the problem of neuropathic pain - that is, pain that arises from a malfunction in the nervous system.

21 May 2013

Scientists design 'fishing' technique to show health benefits of foods

New research suggests that a compound abundant in the Mediterranean diet takes away cancer cells' "superpower" to escape death.

21 May 2013

Understanding the role of dsRNA in antiviral host defense systems

Animals, insects, and plants use a variety of sensing mechanisms to detect invading pathogens such as viruses. One complex and effective antiviral defense system they share is based on recognition of double-stranded RNA, often produced when a virus invades a host cell.

20 May 2013

RNA News and Research

Further Reading

Study suggests modulation of "enhancer-directed RNAs" can alter gene expression in living cells

Six top scientists studying psoriasis receive NPF research grants to discover new treatments for chronic diseases

Better understanding of breast milk variability, strategies for optimizing neonatal diet

Weather may influence transmission of West Nile, chikungunya, and other viral disease

Arcturus Therapeutics closes $1.3 M in seed funding round

Researchers develop RNA aptamers that inhibit HCV replication

Study shows utility of cfDNA blood tests for breast cancer patients

Nanoparticle-based immunotherapy for cancer

Theoretical mathematical models offer insights into therapeutic, prevention strategies for HIV

Scientists find that 'junk DNA' could promote cancer progression

Researchers develop multicolor fluorescence labeling method to identify tumor specific miRNAs

Researchers discover how drug prevents cancer progression

EGFR gums up cell's miRNA-processing machinery under oxygen starvation conditions

New drug delivery system can help treat lung cancer

Video demonstrating a SPE microplate method for reproducible isolation of high quality RNA released by INTEGRA

Rice University computational study tracks regulatory mechanisms of E. coli cells

Caltech biologists show that microRNA-146a protects stem cells during inflammation

UTMB researchers awarded grant to study gene therapy techniques to eliminate neuropathic pain

Scientists design 'fishing' technique to show health benefits of foods

Understanding the role of dsRNA in antiviral host defense systems

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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