Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

UCLA receives nearly $14 million NIH grant to investigate immunotherapy to destroy HIV

UCLA researchers and colleagues have received a $13.65 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to investigate and further develop an immunotherapy known as CAR T, which uses genetically modified stem cells to target and destroy HIV.

16 Jun 2020

Accelerating the Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer with Mass-Spectrometry Based Techniques

An interview with Livia Eberlin, Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at Austin, discussing the development of mass-spectrometry based techniques for cancer diagnosis and improved clinical outcomes.

From Pittcon 16 Jun 2020

Researchers analyze immune properties of ancient human DNA

Could remnants of DNA from a now-extinct human subspecies known as the Denisovans help boost the immune functions of modern humans?

16 Jun 2020

Early genetic rescue may be a potential therapy in autism spectrum disorder

A mouse study by Craig Powell, M.D., Ph.D., and colleagues suggests that early genetic rescue may be a potential therapy in autism spectrum disorder or ASD.

16 Jun 2020

Micro-dystrophin gene therapy can improve outcomes in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Researchers from Nationwide Children's Hospital have published in JAMA Neurology results from the first four patients treated in the first clinical trial of systemic delivery of micro-dystrophin gene therapy in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) - and initial findings suggest that the therapy can provide functional improvement that is greater than that observed under the standard of care.

16 Jun 2020

Human antibodies provide powerful protection against SARS-CoV-2 in animal tests

A team led by Scripps Research has discovered antibodies in the blood of recovered COVID-19 patients that provide powerful protection against SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes the disease, when tested in animals and human cell cultures.

15 Jun 2020

Tracing coronavirus habitats with genomics

Now, a new study by researchers at the University of Ottawa and published on the preprint server bioRxiv in June 2020 reports the differences in genomes of viruses that are exposed to antiviral proteins vs. those that are not. This host-derived pressure on the virus to adapt may help devise newer ways to build an effective vaccine.

15 Jun 2020

Molecular approach can improve diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension is a serious problem associated with a wide variety of lung diseases, which can lead to right ventricular dysfunction and death.

15 Jun 2020

Study: Exposure to air particulate matter impairs metabolism of olfactory mucosal cells

Exposure to air particulate matter impairs the metabolism of olfactory mucosal cells, according to a recent study from the University of Eastern Finland. The results can contribute to a better understanding of how air pollutants may harm brain health, as the olfactory mucosa can act as a key pathway to the brain.

15 Jun 2020

Creating the first 3D neural map of a heart

News-Medical spoke to Dr. Vadigepalli and Dr. Schwaber about their groundbreaking research in which they managed to map the neurons in the heart.

15 Jun 2020

First-ever study reveals the evolution and relationships for all European butterflies

For the first time, a complete time-calibrated phylogeny for a large group of invertebrates is published for an entire continent.

15 Jun 2020

Chimeric reference standards for validating controls in SARS-CoV-2 tests

A preliminary study by researchers from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and the University of New South Wales and published on the preprint server bioRxiv in June 2020 reports the use of chimeric design to produced reference standards for diagnostic tests. This could allow a highly flexible approach to the development of different genetic features in the same test, even for organisms that are not directly related.

15 Jun 2020

Effect of human genes on severity and infectivity of SARS-CoV-2

Now, a new paper published on the preprint server medRxiv* reports the results of an analysis of the association between the genetic variants in the patients and the clinical progression of the disease. The study included 332 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in a single-center, with widely varying laboratory and clinical features. There were 25, 12, and 17 patients with asymptomatic, mild, and critical disease.

14 Jun 2020

MGH researchers identify key mechanism in X chromosome inactivation

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have identified a key mechanism in X chromosome inactivation, a phenomenon that may hold clues that lead to treatments for certain rare congenital disorders.

12 Jun 2020

Researchers identify link between methylation and the body's circadian rhythms

Every second of every day, countless biochemical reactions take place in our bodies' cells. The organization of this complex system is the result of billions of years of evolution, fine-tuning our functions since the first primordial organisms.

12 Jun 2020

PCR Biosystems launches new kit for ultra-sensitive, high-throughput detection of SARS-CoV-2

PCR Biosystems, the UK-based PCR experts, today announced the launch of qPCRBIO Probe 1-Step Virus Detect, a high-concentration 4x RT-qPCR kit designed specifically for ultra-sensitive, high-throughput detection of viral RNA sequences, including SARS-CoV-2.

12 Jun 2020

Ashion Analytics is now part of NCI's MATCH cancer clinical trials

Ashion Analytics, a clinical laboratory of the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), an affiliate of City of Hope, is now part of the National Cancer Institute's MATCH program, which provides patients who have rare or difficult-to-treat cancers with access to unique clinical trials nationwide that might give them the best therapeutic treatments and outcomes.

12 Jun 2020

Researchers question the mechanism of retinitis pigmentosa

Researchers who made a knock-in mouse-model of the genetic disorder retinitis pigmentosa 59, or RP59, expected to see retinal degeneration and retinal thinning. As reported in the journal Cells, they surprisingly found none, calling into question the commonly accepted -- though never proved -- mechanism for RP59.

12 Jun 2020

Engineered natural killer cells show promise for treating a form of leukemia

Using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and deleting a key gene, researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have created natural killer cells - a type of immune cell - with measurably stronger activity against a form of leukemia, both in vivo and in vitro.

12 Jun 2020

Aspirin reduces hereditary colorectal cancer risk

Aspirin reduces colorectal cancer risk by half in individuals at high genetic risk. Preventive efficacy is prolonged for 10-20 years after treatment with aspirin.

11 Jun 2020

Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

UCLA receives nearly $14 million NIH grant to investigate immunotherapy to destroy HIV

Accelerating the Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer with Mass-Spectrometry Based Techniques

Researchers analyze immune properties of ancient human DNA

Early genetic rescue may be a potential therapy in autism spectrum disorder

Micro-dystrophin gene therapy can improve outcomes in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Human antibodies provide powerful protection against SARS-CoV-2 in animal tests

Tracing coronavirus habitats with genomics

Molecular approach can improve diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension

Study: Exposure to air particulate matter impairs metabolism of olfactory mucosal cells

Creating the first 3D neural map of a heart

First-ever study reveals the evolution and relationships for all European butterflies

Chimeric reference standards for validating controls in SARS-CoV-2 tests

Effect of human genes on severity and infectivity of SARS-CoV-2

MGH researchers identify key mechanism in X chromosome inactivation

Researchers identify link between methylation and the body's circadian rhythms

PCR Biosystems launches new kit for ultra-sensitive, high-throughput detection of SARS-CoV-2

Ashion Analytics is now part of NCI's MATCH cancer clinical trials

Researchers question the mechanism of retinitis pigmentosa

Engineered natural killer cells show promise for treating a form of leukemia

Aspirin reduces hereditary colorectal cancer risk

Industry Focus eBook - Cell & Gene Therapy (1st Edition) eBook

Redefining control and consistency in anaerobic microbiome workflows

AI in Healthcare: How generative tools are transforming clinical practice

The future of automation: Machine learning–driven hepatocyte and organoid counting