Scientists at the University of Maryland and the Johns Hopkins University have been testing different antimicrobial or peptide blockers that prevents the transmission of the parasitic infection from mosquito to human. What appears to be most effective in animal models is a combination of the antimicrobial with peptide blockers and an antibody. While fungi have been used successfully in the past to fight malaria, the inoculation of the mosquito had to occur within a short timeframe of parasite infection, or the treatment was rendered useless. Using these new engineered fungus, the need to inoculate the mosquitoes shortly after parasitic infection appears to be eliminated. This study has just been published in Science magazine (vol 331:1074).
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Monday, February 28, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Inhibition of CSR regrows hair!
Baldness is a common aliment that many people would rather reverse or avoid completely. Stress and other life events can impact hair follicle growth and lead to a form of baldness. This suggests that stress hormones, including corticosteroids, are major contributors to the problem. Indeed, in mouse models, inhibition of corticosteroid releasing hormone (CSR), adrenocortropic hormone or glucocorticoids can impair hair follicle growth. A recent article in PLoS One by Wang et al has shown by inhibiting two forms of the corticosteroid releasing hormone (CSR1 and CSR2) together, but not either one alone, synergized to regrow hair in mice. In this paper, administration of a CSR1/CSR2 inhibitor, astressin-B, for only 5 days produced dramatic hair regrowth on the heads and back of balding mice. The hair that regrew did so quickly (within a matter of weeks) and lasted for at least 4 months -- a long time in a mouse lifespan.
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Thursday, February 17, 2011
Potential new method to treat antibiotic resistant bacteria
Antibiotic resistant bacteria infections are on the rise. Numbers of MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) cases are skyrocketing and ways to treat them are limited. By using the proteins expressed in the bacteria itself, scientists have found a new way to eliminate such bacterial infections.
When bacteria infect human cells, the bacteria hijacks the human DNA in the cell to allow for successful propagation. This is done by controlling the human RNA and protein levels in the cell and turning on or off the genes to promote the bacteria’s survival.
Most current methods to treat bacterial infections either focus on blocking proteins on the human cell that control entry of the bacteria into the cell or by not allowing bacteria from taking control of the human DNA/RNA machinery. A new approach turns the attention to the bacterial proteins themselves and have shown that by blocking the bacterial genes, infected cells can be effectively eliminated from the body.
This new technique uses a small molecule inhibitor (RNPA-1000) to block the action of a bacterial RNAse enzyme that normally causes the human RNA to be degraded. By blocking this RNAse, the human RNA remains and continues to accumulate in the cell. As the cell becomes completely filled with so much RNA, cell death pathways are triggered and the cell dies.
Although the RNAse inhibitor (RNPA-1000) does work, it won’t be used in the clinic because of some toxicity to normal uninfected cells. RNPA-1000 is, however, being used as a model to design new drugs that work in similar ways.
visit www.bitsofscience.org
Plos Pathogens 7: 1-13, 2011
When bacteria infect human cells, the bacteria hijacks the human DNA in the cell to allow for successful propagation. This is done by controlling the human RNA and protein levels in the cell and turning on or off the genes to promote the bacteria’s survival.
Most current methods to treat bacterial infections either focus on blocking proteins on the human cell that control entry of the bacteria into the cell or by not allowing bacteria from taking control of the human DNA/RNA machinery. A new approach turns the attention to the bacterial proteins themselves and have shown that by blocking the bacterial genes, infected cells can be effectively eliminated from the body.
This new technique uses a small molecule inhibitor (RNPA-1000) to block the action of a bacterial RNAse enzyme that normally causes the human RNA to be degraded. By blocking this RNAse, the human RNA remains and continues to accumulate in the cell. As the cell becomes completely filled with so much RNA, cell death pathways are triggered and the cell dies.
Although the RNAse inhibitor (RNPA-1000) does work, it won’t be used in the clinic because of some toxicity to normal uninfected cells. RNPA-1000 is, however, being used as a model to design new drugs that work in similar ways.
visit www.bitsofscience.org
Plos Pathogens 7: 1-13, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Anti-cocaine vaccines show promise against addiction
Studies demonstrated that conjugation of cocaine analogs to adenoviral protein particles resulted in the successful induction of an immune response that was able to successfully sequester the cocaine in the bloodstream, preventing it from affecting the brain. Similar approaches are underway to develop anti-nicotine and anti-alcohol vaccines.
Several groups are investigating whether such technology will be successful at treating other addictions including nicotine, heroin, and alcohol. The underlying theory is that adenoviral particles that are no longer infectious will be able to elicit an immune response and that by attaching nicotine, cocaine or other addictive drug to these particles will create a specific antibody response. Initial studies show that a significant and specific response is achievable (Hicks et al, Molecular Therapeutics 2011; Polosa et al, Trends in Pharmacological Sciences 2011). Clinical trials to test some of these vaccines are currently underway.
Several groups are investigating whether such technology will be successful at treating other addictions including nicotine, heroin, and alcohol. The underlying theory is that adenoviral particles that are no longer infectious will be able to elicit an immune response and that by attaching nicotine, cocaine or other addictive drug to these particles will create a specific antibody response. Initial studies show that a significant and specific response is achievable (Hicks et al, Molecular Therapeutics 2011; Polosa et al, Trends in Pharmacological Sciences 2011). Clinical trials to test some of these vaccines are currently underway.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Genome papers published 10 years ago
Happy Anniversary! It was 10 years ago this month that the first complete human genome sequence was published in Science and Nature Magazines. Discussion and planning of the project had started in1986 when the National Academies of Science gathered a group of experts to discuss the feasibility and advisability of undertaking such an enormous task. They produced a report in 1988 advising that plans should proceed ahead. It would involve private and public partnerships that would have to develop new technology to do the job. Estimates were that it would take over 10 years and cost $3billion US. Expectations were that sequencing the human genome would revolutionize modern medicine.
In reality the human genome project was finished ahead of schedule and below budget. A truly remarkable feat! It launched the field of medical genetics and personalized medicine. The idea that medicines will be tailored to your specific genome is remarkable. While some have questioned why more clinical applications like personalized medicine haven’t been developed, many advances linking genomic differences and clinical treatment have emerged. Drugs such as gleevac (chronic myeloid leukemia), warfarin (anti-clotting), mercaptopurine (immune suppression), interferon (hepatitis C), herceptin (breast cancer) and tamoxifen (breast cancer) among others that are administered based on presence of specific genomic sequences or expression of particular proteins have been developed as a consequence of this project. Many more are in development or will be developed as research continues.
visit bitsofscience.org
In reality the human genome project was finished ahead of schedule and below budget. A truly remarkable feat! It launched the field of medical genetics and personalized medicine. The idea that medicines will be tailored to your specific genome is remarkable. While some have questioned why more clinical applications like personalized medicine haven’t been developed, many advances linking genomic differences and clinical treatment have emerged. Drugs such as gleevac (chronic myeloid leukemia), warfarin (anti-clotting), mercaptopurine (immune suppression), interferon (hepatitis C), herceptin (breast cancer) and tamoxifen (breast cancer) among others that are administered based on presence of specific genomic sequences or expression of particular proteins have been developed as a consequence of this project. Many more are in development or will be developed as research continues.
visit bitsofscience.org
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