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Quorum sensing offers a dynamic approach to increase sensitivity to external signals

Researchers at UC San Diego who last year genetically engineered bacteria to keep track of time by turning on and off fluorescent proteins within their cells have taken another step toward the construction of a programmable genetic sensor. The scientists recently synchronized these bacterial "genetic clocks" to blink in unison and engineered the bacterial genes to alter their blinking rates when environmental conditions change.

21 Jan 2010

New research reveals grid cells in human brain provide a cognitive, spatial map

'Grid cells' that act like a spatial map in the brain have been identified for the first time in humans, according to new research by UCL scientists which may help to explain how we create internal maps of new environments.

21 Jan 2010

Study indicates size of brain structures may predict performance and learning rates

Researchers can predict your performance on a video game simply by measuring the volume of specific structures in your brain, a multi-institutional team reports this week.

21 Jan 2010

Study: PrEP treatment offers protection against HIV transmission in humanized mice

Systemic pre-exposure administration of antiretroviral drugs provides protection against intravenous and rectal transmission of HIV in mice with human immune systems, according to a new study published January 21, 2010 in the online journal PLoS ONE.

21 Jan 2010

Discovery of new class of compounds may help fight hepatitis C

Stanford University School of Medicine scientists have discovered a novel class of compounds that, in experiments in vitro, inhibit replication of the virus responsible for hepatitis C. If these compounds prove effective in infected humans as well, they may dramatically accelerate efforts to confront this virus’s propensity to rapidly acquire drug resistance, while possibly skirting some of the troubling side effects common among therapies in current use and in late-stage development.

21 Jan 2010

Life sciences and healthcare segments support nanotech venture capital investments

The heyday for nanotech venture capital (VC) likely saw its peak in 2008, when overall investment reached $1.4 billion. Last year, the sector raised only $792 million, signifying a 42% decline from 2008. But while overall nano VC backing is down, it's not out, according to a new report from Lux Research.

21 Jan 2010

New class of HCV inhibitors discovered by Eiger BioPharmaceuticals

Eiger BioPharmaceuticals, Inc., a biotechnology company developing antiviral therapies, announced today the publication of research from the labs of Stanford scientist and Eiger Founder, Dr. Jeffrey Glenn, M.D., Ph.D. and colleagues entitled, "Identification of a Novel Class of HCV Inhibitors". Published in the January 20th edition of Science and Translational Medicine, the research validates a domain, termed 4BAH2, within the non-structural protein (NS4B) of the HCV genome, as essential for HCV replication and describes the development of a high-throughput screen leading to the identification of small molecule inhibitors of 4BAH2.

21 Jan 2010

Study identifies new mechanism that causes allergic response in people

WHAT: A new study in human cells has singled out a molecule that specifically directs immune cells to develop the capability to produce an allergic response. The signaling molecule, called thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), is key to the development of allergic diseases such as asthma, atopic dermatitis (eczema) and food allergy.

21 Jan 2010

Study shows nutrition has a direct influence on the immune system

Bonn researchers have discovered an elementary mechanism which regulates vital immune functions in healthy people. In situations of hunger which mean stress for the body's cells, the body releases more antimicrobial peptides in order to protect itself. The scientists will publish their results in the journal Nature.

21 Jan 2010

Blueberries may help boost memory in older adults

Scientists are reporting the first evidence from human research that blueberries - one of the richest sources of healthful antioxidants and other so-called phytochemicals - improve memory.

21 Jan 2010

Research shows brain abnormalities develop years before Parkinson's symptoms appear

Scientists who have identified brain networks damaged in Parkinson's disease have new evidence that these systems become abnormal a few years before symptoms appear. And what's more, parts of the network appear to respond in a last ditch attempt to rescue the brain.

21 Jan 2010

Research provides new insights on VEGF receptor function

Researchers at the University of Helsinki, Finland, and the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) in Villigen, Switzerland, have determined the crystal structure of the ligand binding domain of a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor in complex with one of its ligands (VEGF-C).

21 Jan 2010

Maturation disorders of nerve terminals may trigger autism

For brain cells to communicate, the contacts to each other must function. The protein molecule neuroligin-1 plays an important role in this as it stimulates the necessary maturation processes at the contact sites (synapses) of the nerves.

21 Jan 2010

Ambry Genetics introduces new StemArray product and services utilizing aCGH technology

Ambry Genetics today introduces their new StemArray™ product and services utilizing aCGH technology to cover the entire genome. The Ambry StemArray™ offers a higher resolution approach to standard karyotyping for stem cells at comparable costs.

20 Jan 2010

SCF to host "Accelerate the Cure" fundraiser

On Thursday, January 21, 2010, the Sabrina Cohen Foundation for Stem Cell Research (SCF) is hosting “Accelerate the Cure,” a fundraiser with Dr. Joshua Hare, Louis Lemberg Professor of Medicine, Director, Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine.

20 Jan 2010

DNA testing can help individuals make more-informed health and lifestyle decisions

Mention the term “genetic testing” and reactions can vary widely—from curiosity, to reticence or anxiety, to enthusiastic acceptance. The reality is, DNA testing has been used for decades, primarily to determine the paternity of children and to obtain forensic evidence for police investigations and legal trials.

20 Jan 2010

Copper-free version of click chemistry crafted to create biomolecular probes

For the first time, the widely used molecular synthesis technique known as click chemistry has been safely applied to a living organism. Researchers with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and the University of California (UC) Berkeley have crafted a unique copper-free version of click chemistry to create biomolecular probes for in vivo studies of live mice. Conventional click chemistry reactions require a copper catalyst that is toxic to cells and organisms.

20 Jan 2010

Novel approach could speed up discovery for new psychiatric drugs

Researchers from the University of British Columbia and Harvard University have co-developed a system that captures on video and barcodes the behavioral responses of zebrafish to chemical compounds on a large scale. The approach could dramatically speed up the discovery of new psychiatric drugs.

20 Jan 2010

New LNP compositions that improve systemic delivery of RNAi therapeutics discovered

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, today announced the publication of new data in the journal Nature Biotechnology by Alnylam scientists and collaborators from Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation, AlCana Technologies, Inc., and The University of British Columbia (UBC). The new study employed a rational design approach for the discovery of novel lipids that can be incorporated into lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for systemic delivery of RNAi therapeutics.

20 Jan 2010

QuantRx Biomedical's developments in genetics-based technology

QuantRx® Biomedical Corporation, a broad-based diagnostic company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative diagnostic products, today provided an update from Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Walter Witoshkin on its involvement in genetics-based personalized medicine and disease prevention.

20 Jan 2010

Medical Science News

Quorum sensing offers a dynamic approach to increase sensitivity to external signals

New research reveals grid cells in human brain provide a cognitive, spatial map

Study indicates size of brain structures may predict performance and learning rates

Study: PrEP treatment offers protection against HIV transmission in humanized mice

Discovery of new class of compounds may help fight hepatitis C

Life sciences and healthcare segments support nanotech venture capital investments

New class of HCV inhibitors discovered by Eiger BioPharmaceuticals

Study identifies new mechanism that causes allergic response in people

Study shows nutrition has a direct influence on the immune system

Blueberries may help boost memory in older adults

Research shows brain abnormalities develop years before Parkinson's symptoms appear

Research provides new insights on VEGF receptor function

Maturation disorders of nerve terminals may trigger autism

Ambry Genetics introduces new StemArray product and services utilizing aCGH technology

SCF to host "Accelerate the Cure" fundraiser

DNA testing can help individuals make more-informed health and lifestyle decisions

Copper-free version of click chemistry crafted to create biomolecular probes

Novel approach could speed up discovery for new psychiatric drugs

New LNP compositions that improve systemic delivery of RNAi therapeutics discovered

QuantRx Biomedical's developments in genetics-based technology

How can microdialysis benefit drug development

Global and Local Efforts to Take Action Against Hepatitis

Addressing Important Cardiac Biology Questions with Shotgun Top-Down Proteomics

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