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    Category Biology/Biotechnology

    Researchers Wirelessly Hack ‘Boss’ Gene, a step toward Reprogramming the human Genome

    July 21, 2019, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    Two microscope images showing the FGFR1 in its normal state and when it's activated by laser light.
    The left image above shows the gene FGFR1 in its natural state. The right image shows the gene when exposed to laser light, which causes the gene to activiate and deactivate. Credit: University at Buffalo.

    Advance, made possible by tiny photonic implants, could lead to new treatments for cancer, mental disorders. A new University at Buffalo-led study describes how researchers wirelessly controlled FGFR1 – a gene that plays a key role in how humans grow from embryos to adults – in lab-grown brain tissue.

    The ability to manipulate the gene, the study’s authors say, could lead to new cancer treatments, and ways to prevent and treat mental disorders such as schizophrenia. The work – spearheaded by UB researchers Josep M. Jornet, Michal K. Stachowiak, Yongho Bae and Ewa K...

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    New research identifies gene that Hides Cancer cells from Immunotherapy

    July 20, 2019, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    Highlights

    •The early embryonic transcription factor DUX4 is active in many human cancers
    •DUX4-expressing cancers are characterized by low anti-tumor immune activity
    •DUX4 blocks interferon-γ-mediated induction of MHC class I and antigen presentation
    •DUX4 is significantly associated with failure to respond to anti-CTLA-4 therapy

    A team at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has identified a gene that could make immunotherapy treatments, specifically checkpoint inhibitors, work for a wider variety of cancer patients. The study, published today in Developmental Cell, found that when the DUX4 gene is expressed in cancer cells, it can prevent the cancer from being recognized and destroyed by the immune system.

    The team, led by Drs...

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    Red Wine’s Resveratrol could help Mars Explorers stay strong

    July 20, 2019, Categories  Astronomy/Space, Biology/Biotechnology

    Terminal assessment of the muscles of the triceps surae, including soleus (A)and gastrocnemius wet mass (D), soleus (B) and gastrocnemius (E) average cross sectional area (CSA), and representative images of the soleus (C) and gastrocnemius (F) muscles stained with anti-collagen VI (red), anti-slow-skeletal myosin heavy chain (green), and DAPI (blue). N = 6 per group. The results are presented as mean ± SEM; the results of the post hoc tests following the ANOVA are indicated. *p < 0.05, ∗∗p < 0.01, and ∗∗∗p < 0.001 vs. PWB100, respectively. #p < 0.05, ###p < 0.001, and #⁢#⁢#⁢#p < 0.0001 vs. PWB100 + RSV, respectively. $p < 0.05, $$p < 0.01, and $$$p < 0.001 vs. PWB40, respectively.

    Nutraceuticals that preserve muscle in reduced gravity will support long-term space mis...

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    New Cell discovered that can Heal Hearts

    July 18, 2019, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    These are photos of the hearts from two mice, one month after a heart event.
    These are photos of the hearts from two mice, one month after a heart event.

    Fundamental scientific discovery could lead to new ways to repair damaged hearts. University of Calgary researchers are the first to discover a previously unidentified cell population in the pericardial fluid found inside the sac around the heart. The discovery could lead to new treatments for patients with injured hearts. The study led by Drs. Paul Kubes, PhD, Justin Deniset, PhD and Paul Fedak, MD, PhD is published in the journal Immunity.

    The Kubes lab, in collaboration with the Fedak lab, found that a specific cell, a Gata6+ pericardial cavity macrophage, helps heal an injured heart in mice. The cell was discovered in the pericardial fluid (sac around the heart) of a mouse with heart injury...

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