Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Genetically engineered intestinal organoids reveal potential treatment targets against SARS-CoV-2

Using CRISPR/Cas9 and human intestinal organoids to study genes implicated in the biology of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), researchers from the Netherlands identified a specific serine protease (TMPRSS2) as an attractive pan-coronavirus therapeutic target. Their exciting findings are available in a study currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

24 May 2021

Research suggests Garcinia kola extract might suppress severe COVID-19 cytokine storms

Researchers in the UK and Nigeria have conducted a study showing that Garcinia kola seed extract and garcinoic acid may provide therapeutic benefits in the late stage of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and other coronavirus infections.

24 May 2021

Regular consumption of milk is not linked to increased cholesterol, shows study

Regular consumption of milk is not associated with increased levels of cholesterol, according to new research.

23 May 2021

SARS-CoV-2 mutations strengthen RBD-ACE2 binding, making the virus more infectious

In January 2020, the first complete severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) genome sequence was deposited to GenBank. Since then, the amount of new genome sequences has increased rapidly at GenBank and GISAID. This has laid the foundations for analyzing the virulence, antigenicity, pathogenicity, and transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 mutations.

22 May 2021

Specific enzymes protect the human skin and body from microbes, viruses

The human body is constantly exposed to various environmental actors, from viruses to bacteria to fungi, but most of these microbial organisms provoke little or no response from our skin, which is charged with monitoring and protecting from external dangers.

22 May 2021

Study on canine hereditary deafness may also shed light on human hereditary hearing defects

Finnish researchers have been the first to determine the cause for the nonsyndromic early-onset hereditary canine hearing loss in Rottweilers.

22 May 2021

Facets of SARS-CoV-2 infection and animal models

A new study in the journal Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology discusses the ribonucleic acid (RNA) genome of the virus, and the mechanisms by which it establishes infection within the host cell. The researchers also summarize the development of animal models of COVID-19, which will both help understand the clinical features of the illness, and indicate new approaches for the treatment of the infection.

21 May 2021

New study may lead to better treatments for prostate, ovarian, and breast cancers

Researchers at UVA Cancer Center have unveiled important new insights into how hormones known as androgens act on our cells – and the discovery could boost efforts to develop better treatments for prostate, ovarian and breast cancers.

21 May 2021

SARS-CoV-2 spike mutation can independently predict viral evolution

A team of scientists from Portugal has recently estimated the rate of mutation in two circulating variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) using experimental evolution methods. Their findings reveal that in a condition with no immune surveillance, SARS-CoV-2 can potentially undergo evolution during the first stages of infection. The study is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

21 May 2021

Plastic chemicals can induce changes in gene that is vital for neurological development

The chemical bisphenol F (found in plastics) can induce changes in a gene that is vital for neurological development. This discovery was made by researchers at the universities of Uppsala and Karlstad, Sweden.

20 May 2021

Scientists discover key component to repair the molecular motor of human heart

A team of scientists from Loyola University Chicago's Stritch School of Medicine have discovered a critical component for renewing the heart's molecular motor, which breaks down in heart failure.

20 May 2021

Cancer occurs through multiple steps that resurrect ancient cellular functions, suggests new model

In spite of decades of research, cancer remains an enigma. Conventional wisdom holds that cancer is driven by random mutations that create aberrant cells that run amok in the body.

20 May 2021

WHO’s new guidance sets essential standards to fight malaria, other vector-borne diseases

New guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) sets essential standards to inform future research and development on genetically modified mosquitoes, particularly in addressing issues relating to ethics, safety, affordability and effectiveness.

20 May 2021

Does cross-immunity exist between SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.28 and P.1 variants?

A team of researchers recently cross-tested severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies to assess their neutralization activity against different variants. The team recently released their findings as a preprint on the medRxiv* server.

20 May 2021

Two new SARS-like coronaviruses described in Russian horseshoe bats

Horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus sp.) are known reservoirs of zoonotic coronaviruses (CoVs). Over the last twenty years, viruses thought to have originated from these bats have given rise to two severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic outbreaks in humans: SARS-CoV-1 in 2002/2003, which was limited mostly to Asia, and the currently globally circulating SARS-CoV-2, first identified in December 2019.

20 May 2021

Study could serve as guidepost for developing new therapies for Alzheimer's disease

In a major breakthrough, researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) have discovered how amyloid beta--the neurotoxin believed to be at the root of Alzheimer's disease (AD)--forms in axons and related structures that connect neurons in the brain, where it causes the most damage.

20 May 2021

Scientists use anti-psychotics to treat flies displaying behavioral problems linked to schizophrenia-associated genes

Scientists have successfully treated flies displaying behavioral problems linked to newly discovered schizophrenia-associated genes in humans, using common anti-psychotics.

20 May 2021

Antithrombotic endothelial dysfunction is prevented by Tie2 activation in severe COVID-19

Researchers from the US recently assessed if severe COVID-19 is linked to procoagulant dysfunction of the endothelium and changes in the Tie2-angiopoietin axis. They assessed circulating endothelial markers in a study cohort of 98 patients with mild, moderate, or severe COVID-19. This study is published on the medRxiv* preprint server.

19 May 2021

Researchers use base editing to sustainably lower high LDL cholesterol levels

Base editing is a novel gene editing approach that can precisely change individual building blocks in a DNA sequence.

19 May 2021

Secondhand smoke during pregnancy linked to epigenetic changes in babies

Nearly a quarter of pregnant women say they've been around secondhand smoke - in their homes, at work, around a friend or relative - which, according to new research.

19 May 2021

Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Genetically engineered intestinal organoids reveal potential treatment targets against SARS-CoV-2

Research suggests Garcinia kola extract might suppress severe COVID-19 cytokine storms

Regular consumption of milk is not linked to increased cholesterol, shows study

SARS-CoV-2 mutations strengthen RBD-ACE2 binding, making the virus more infectious

Specific enzymes protect the human skin and body from microbes, viruses

Study on canine hereditary deafness may also shed light on human hereditary hearing defects

Facets of SARS-CoV-2 infection and animal models

New study may lead to better treatments for prostate, ovarian, and breast cancers

SARS-CoV-2 spike mutation can independently predict viral evolution

Plastic chemicals can induce changes in gene that is vital for neurological development

Scientists discover key component to repair the molecular motor of human heart

Cancer occurs through multiple steps that resurrect ancient cellular functions, suggests new model

WHO’s new guidance sets essential standards to fight malaria, other vector-borne diseases

Does cross-immunity exist between SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.28 and P.1 variants?

Two new SARS-like coronaviruses described in Russian horseshoe bats

Study could serve as guidepost for developing new therapies for Alzheimer's disease

Scientists use anti-psychotics to treat flies displaying behavioral problems linked to schizophrenia-associated genes

Antithrombotic endothelial dysfunction is prevented by Tie2 activation in severe COVID-19

Researchers use base editing to sustainably lower high LDL cholesterol levels

Secondhand smoke during pregnancy linked to epigenetic changes in babies

Genomics - Industry Focus eBook (2nd edition) eBook

Advancing brain microphysiological systems (bMPS)

PhD researcher at LifeArc

Unveiling Hidden Potential: Organoids for Disease Modeling in Neuroscience Research