Archive for the ‘Gene Therapy Research’ Category

The case the court added to its docket concerns patents held by Myriad Genetics, a Utah company, on genes that correlate with increased risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.

The patents were challenged by scientists and doctors who said that their research and ability to help patients had been frustrated. Myriad and other gene patent holders have gained the right to exclude the rest of the scientific community from examining the naturally occurring genes of every person in the United States, the plaintiffs told the Supreme Court in their petition seeking review. They added that the patents prevent patients from examining their own genetic information and made it impossible to obtain second opinions.

The legal question for the justices is whether isolated genes are products of nature that may not be patented or human-made inventions eligible for patent protection.

A divided three-judge panel of a federal appeals court in Washington ruled for the company. Each judge issued an opinion, and a central dispute was whether isolated genes are sufficiently different from ones in the body to allow them to be patented.

The isolated DNA molecules before us are not found in nature, wrote Judge Alan D. Lourie, who was in the majority. They are obtained in the laboratory and are man-made, the product of human ingenuity.

The company urged the justices not to hear the case, saying that the isolated molecules at issue were created by humans, do not occur in nature and have new and significant utilities not found in nature. It has long been settled, the companys brief went on, that the human ingenuity required to create isolated DNA molecules is worthy of encouragement and that its fruits are worthy of protection.

The plaintiffs in the case, Association of Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics, No. 12-398, were supported by friend-of-the-court briefs filed by the American Medical Association, AARP and womens health groups.

The justices were also scheduled to consider on Friday 10 closely watched appeals in cases concerning same-sex marriage, but they gave no indications about which ones, if any, they will hear. It is not unusual for the justices to discuss petitions seeking their attention more than once, particularly when the cases present complex and overlapping issues.

The court is widely expected to agree to hear one or more cases on the constitutionality of the part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act of 1996 that forbids the federal government from providing benefits to same-sex couples married in states that allow such unions.

The court has also been asked to hear cases about Proposition 8, the ballot initiative that banned same-sex marriage in California, and an Arizona measure that withdrew state benefits from both gay and straight domestic partners.

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Supreme Court Takes Up Question of Patents in Gene Research

(Phys.org)Transposable elementsor transposonsare DNA sequences that move in the genome from one location to another. Discovered in the 1940s, for years they were thought to be unimportant and were called "junk DNA." But now scientists recognize that these bits of DNA play vital roles in gene and genome evolution, and are important genetic tools for genome engineering.

A group of scientists recently identified two transposable elementsTcBuster and Space Invaderthat are highly active in human cells, offering powerful genetic tools for mammalian genome engineering.

TcBuster, found in a beetle (Tribolium castaneum), was discovered at the University of California, Riversidespecifically, in the lab of Peter Atkinson, a professor of entomology and the director of the Center for Disease Vector Research. It has an activity comparable with other transposons already used in human gene therapy clinical trials.

"TcBuster is an active transposon, which means it can excise from and integrate into DNA," Atkinson said. "This is important because it has the ability to move genes into genomes and so can be developed as a genetic tool outside of Tribolium. It has been very difficult to identify active transposons but our ability to do so has increased with the use of bioinformatics tools with which to interrogate the ever expanding genomes that are being sequenced. Insects turn out to be particularly rich sources of active transposable elements. The bioinformatics approach we took enabled us to identify several such transposons."

Atkinson explained that TcBuster transposes at a high frequency, approaching that of the piggyBac and Sleeping Beauty transposons, considered to be the gold standard of transposons used in human gene therapy for delivering beneficial genes to the human gene in order to treat genetic disease.

"There are several clinical trials underway in labs using piggyBac in human gene therapy," he said. "TcBuster's high activity provides a new transposable element tool for this approach to treating some diseases."

Research results were published online, ahead of print, in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Oct. 22 and in PLOS ONE earlier this month. Atkinson is a coauthor on both research papers.

More information: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23091042 and http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0042666

Journal reference: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences PLoS ONE

Provided by University of California - Riverside

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Scientists identify two transposons that are active in human cells

Public release date: 29-Nov-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Vicki Cohn vcohn@liebertpub.com 914-740-2100 x2156 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News

New Rochelle, NY, November 29, 2012Osteoporosis, or reduced bone mineral density that can increase the risk of fractures, may affect as many as 30% of women and 12% of men worldwide. One risk factor for osteoporosis is vitamin D deficiency. A modified form of the vitamin D receptor present in some individuals may lower their risk for developing osteoporosis, according to an article in Genetic Testing and Molecular Biomarkers, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available on the Genetic Testing and Molecular Biomarkers website.

To act on cells in the body, vitamin D binds to a specific receptor on the surface of cells. A variation in the gene for the vitamin D receptor (called the Bsm I polymorphism) may change this interaction. In the article, "Vitamin D Receptor BSM I Polymorphism and Osteoporosis Risk: A Meta-Analysis from 26 Studies," authors Fu Jia and colleagues, Kunming Medical University and Yunnan University of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Yunnan, People's Republic of China, report that people with this genetic variation appear to have a significantly decreased risk of developing osteoporosis.

"This meta-analysis provides a pathway to help determine the likelihood that a person may develop osteoporosis and is a good example for the potential application of genetics to clinical medicine," says Kenneth I. Berns, MD, PhD, Editor-in-Chief of Genetic Testing and Molecular Biomarkers, and Director of the University of Florida's Genetics Institute, College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL.

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About the Journal

Genetic Testing and Molecular Biomarkers is an authoritative peer-reviewed journal published 12 times per year in print and online that reports on all aspects of genetic testing, including molecular and biochemical based tests and varied clinical situations; ethical, legal, social, and economic aspects of genetic testing; and issues concerning effective genetic counseling. Tables of content and a free sample issue may be viewed on the Genetic Testing and Molecular Biomarkers website.

About the Publisher

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers is a privately held, fully integrated media company known for establishing authoritative peer-reviewed journals in many promising areas of science and biomedical research, including Human Gene Therapy and OMICS: A Journal of Integrative Biology. Its biotechnology trade magazine, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN), was the first in its field and is today the industry's most widely read publication worldwide. A complete list of the firm's 70 journals, books, and newsmagazines is available on the Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers website.

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Can a genetic variation in the vitamin D receptor protect against osteoporosis?

Scientists from the United States, United Kingdom and Germany recently completed the first analysis of the bread wheat genome, one of the "big three" global crops upon which mankind depends for nutrition.

"The gene sequences generated provide new and very powerful resources not only for basic research but also for breeding future generations of wheat more quickly and more attuned to local environmental conditions," said John C. Wingfield, assistant director of the National Science Foundation's Directorate for Biological Sciences.

"Wheat is a seminally important crop along with rice and corn. This international effort that includes NSF-supported scientists leveraged funding and resources from across the globe to support the broader wheat research community," said Wingfield.

NSF's Division of Integrative Organismal Systems through its Plant Genome Research Program funded research in the United States conducted at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York and at University of California, Davis. Details of the genomic analysis are in this week's Nature magazine.

Previously, the size and complexity of the wheat genome had been significant barriers to performing a complete analysis. But, the researchers were able to make rapid progress by developing a new strategy that compared wheat sequences to known grass genes--from rice and barley, for example.

Then they compared these known grass genes to direct ancestors of wheat, whose genomes are much simpler than modern wheat cereal grasses. This revealed a highly dynamic genome.

"The raw data of the wheat genome is like having tens of billions of scrabble letters," said Neil Hall, a lead researcher at the University of Liverpool's Centre for Genome Research in the United Kingdom. "You know which letters are present and their quantities, but they need to be assembled on the board in the right sequence before you can spell out their order into genes."

The gene comparison also revealed a wheat genome that has undergone genetic loss as a consequence of domestication.

Archeological and genetic evidence points to the South Caspian Basin near Iran and Azerbaijan as the origin of bread wheat cultivation about 8,000 years ago. Its cultivation is directly associated with the rapid spread of settled societies.

Today, wheat is one of the most widely cultivated crops due to its adaptability, high yields and nutritional and processing qualities. But new diseases and sub-optimal growing conditions have steadily reduced yields, increased prices and reduced reserves.

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Bread Wheat's Genetic Code Breakthrough

Public release date: 29-Nov-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Vicki Cohn vcohn@liebertpub.com 914-740-2100 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News

New Rochelle, NY, November 29, 2012Asian-American children have been at low risk for being overweight or obese compared to other racial and ethnic groups in the U.S., but that may be changing. Yet as rates of overweight and obesity rise, the risk appears to vary depending on the Asian country of origin, according to an article in Childhood Obesity, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free on the Childhood Obesity website at http://www.liebertpub.com/chi.

In the article "Prevalence of Obesity among Young Asian-American Children," weight measurements from Asian-American 4-year-olds showed that 26% were overweight or obese and 13% were obese. The study included the following Asian ethnic categories: Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Asian Indian, Korean, Vietnamese, and Other Asian/Pacific Islander.

When the children were divided into groups based on the mother's ethnicity, the study authors, Anjali Jain, MD et al. from The Lewin Group (Falls Church, VA), Children's National Medical Center, George Washington University School of Health and Health Sciences, Georgetown University (Washington, DC), and Medical College of Virginia (Richmond), found that while Chinese-American children were at lower risk of overweight or obesity (23.5%) than Whites (36%), Asian-Indian American children had the lowest rates (15.6%) and were the most likely to be underweight. In contrast, Vietnamese-American children had the highest rate of overweight or obesity (34.7%).

"To some extent, this important article highlights variable vulnerability to childhood obesity, based on ethnicity and culture. But what may be most important is the message that groups we long thought of as relatively immune no longer are," says David L. Katz, MD, MPH, Editor-in-Chief of Childhood Obesity and Director of Yale University's Prevention Research Center. "The obesigenic forces that prevail in the developed and developing countries of the world appear to trump genes and ethnicity, and appear to be stronger than traditional cultural practices. We are all in this together, and thus all have common cause that transcends borders and cultural practices to devise the array of defenses we and our children need."

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About the Journal Childhood Obesity is a bimonthly journal, published in print and online, and the journal of record for all aspects of communication on the broad spectrum of issues and strategies related to weight management and obesity prevention in children and adolescents. The Journal includes peer-reviewed articles documenting cutting-edge research and clinical studies, opinion pieces and roundtable discussions, profiles of successful programs and interventions, and updates on task force recommendations, global initiatives, and policy platforms. It reports on news and developments in science and medicine, features programs and initiatives developed in the public and private sector, and includes a Literature Watch. Tables of content and a sample issue may be viewed on the Childhood Obesity website at http://www.liebertpub.com/chi.

About the Publisher Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers is a privately held, fully integrated media company known for establishing authoritative medical and biomedical peer-reviewed journals, including Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders, Population Health Management, Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics, and Journal of Women's Health. Its biotechnology trade magazine, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN), was the first in its field and is today the industry's most widely read publication worldwide. A complete list of the firm's 70 journals, newsmagazines, and books is available on the Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers website at http://www.liebertpub.com.

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. 140 Huguenot Street, New Rochelle, NY 10801-5215 http://www.liebertpub.com Phone (914) 740-2100 (800) M-LIEBERT Fax (914) 740-2101

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Which group of Asian-American children is at highest risk for obesity?

Public release date: 29-Nov-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Christopher Rucas christopher.rucas@nyumc.org 212-404-3525 NYU Langone Medical Center / New York University School of Medicine

Scientists at NYU Langone Medical Center have identified two genes involved in establishing the neuronal circuits required for breathing. They report their findings in a study published in the December issue of Nature Neuroscience. The discovery, featured on the journal's cover, could help advance treatments for spinal cord injuries and neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which gradually kill neurons that control the movement of muscles needed to breathe, move, and eat.

The study identifies a molecular code that distinguishes a group of muscle-controlling nerve cells collectively known as the phrenic motor column (PMC). These cells lie about halfway up the back of the neck, just above the fourth cervical vertebra, and are "probably the most important motor neurons in your body," says Jeremy Dasen, PhD, assistant professor of physiology and neuroscience and a member of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, who led the three-year study with Polyxeni Philippidou, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow.

Harming the part of the spinal cord where the PMC resides can instantly shut down breathing. But relatively little is known about what distinguishes PMC neurons from neighboring neurons, and how PMC neurons develop and wire themselves to the diaphragm in the fetus.

The PMC cells relay a constant flow of electrochemical signals down their bundled axons and onto the diaphragm muscles, allowing the lungs to expand and relax in the natural rhythm of breathing. "We now have a set of molecular markers that distinguish those cells from other populations of motor neurons, so that we can study them in detail and look for ways to selectively enhance their survival," Dr. Dasen says. Degeneration of PMC neurons is the primary cause of death in patients with ALS and spinal cord injuries.

To find out what distinguishes PMC neurons from their spinal neighbors in mice, Dr. Philippidou injected a retrograde fluorescent tracer into the phrenic nerve, which wires the PMC to the diaphragm, and then looked for the spinal neurons that lit up as the tracer worked its way back to the PMC. He used transgenic mice that express green fluorescent protein (GFP) in motor neurons and their axons in order to see the phrenic nerve. After noting the characteristic gene expression pattern of these PMC neurons, Dr. Philippidou began to determine their specific roles. Ultimately, a complicated strain of transgenic mice, based partly on mice supplied by collaborator Lucie Jeannotte, PhD, at the University of Laval in Quebec, revealed two genes, Hoxa5 and Hoxc5, as the prime controllers of proper PMC development. Hox genes (39 are expressed in humans) are well known as master gene regulators of animal development.

When Hoxa5 and Hoxc5 are silenced in embryonic motor neurons in mice, the scientists reported, the PMC fails to form its usual, tightly columnar organization and doesn't connect correctly to the diaphragm, leaving a newborn animal unable to breathe. "Even if you delete these genes late in fetal development, the PMC neuron population drops and the phrenic nerve doesn't form enough branches on diaphragm muscles," Dr. Dasen says.

Dr. Dasen plans to use the findings to help understand the wider circuitry of breathingincluding rhythm-generating neurons in the brain stem, which are in turn responsive to carbon dioxide levels, stress, and other environmental factors. "Now that we know something about PMC cells, we can work our way through the broader circuit, to try to figure out how all those connections are established," he says.

"Once we understand how the respiratory network is wired we can begin to develop novel treatment options for breathing disorders such as sleep apneas," adds Dr. Philippidou.

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Scientists describe the genetic signature of a vital set of neurons

The Hidden Source Episode 32 -CASPER IS MY FRIEND-
Myself ThatOneRebel playing some The Hidden Source! Nobody can see The Hidden only trained eyes can see him well! WATCH AS I MURDER EVERYONE AS THE HIDDEN MAHAAAHAHAHA The objective of The Hidden Source is that the humans aka IRIS must eliminate The Hidden to win vice versa for the Hidden but as the title says he is invisible and only is equipped with a knife capable of a one hit kill depending on server and only three grenades. The hidden has many abilities like taunting, super strength to ram objects into IRIS soldiers or be able to leap super high and hang on buildings. Lastly The Hidden can heal himself by eating bodies but only if they are stabbed to death not PIGSTICKED! (which is the one hit kill move) The IRIS are equipped with four weapons ranging from shotgun to rifle to SMG and a few options of equipment like senors to laser optics on your gun. Game is The Hidden Source which requires Half life 2 engine meaning you have to have Half Life 2 purchased already or another source game to run with STORYLINE In the early 1950s human genetics experimentation was taking its first, tentative steps. Amongst many other black projects, a team of British scientists working at an Infinitum Research experimental station stumbled across some remarkable phenomena involving DNA manipulation. This led to deeper research with dangerously unpredictable results, often leading to human patients losing their lives in irresponsible and immoral experiments. Time passed on, and by the mid ...From:ThatOneRebel55Views:4 1ratingsTime:12:50More inGaming

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The Hidden Source Episode 32 -CASPER IS MY FRIEND- - Video

Welcome to the Human and Molecular Genetics Center at MCW
Howard Jacob, Ph.D., director and founder of MCW #39;s personalized medicine program at the Human and Molecular Genetics Center, explains personalized medicine and how it will change the face of health care.From:Maureen MackViews:0 0ratingsTime:03:16More inScience Technology

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What is the difference between a talent and a spiritual gift
http://www.missionarymandate.org What is the difference between a talent and a spiritual gift? A summary of the transcript is found below First, let #39;s look at the similarities between a talent and a spiritual gift. Both are from God. (God makes his son to shine on both the good and the bad) Both are perfected with use. Both are given for the benefit of others. Can have more than one of each type. Spiritual gifts listed in 1 Cor. 12; Rom 12; Eph. 4; 1 Peter 4 Differences between talents and spiritual gifts. 1) A talent is the result of a person #39;s genetics and/or training. A spiritual gift is a manifestation of the power of the Holy Spirit. 2) Talents are given by God to anyone, Christian or non-Christian. Spiritual gifts are only possessed given to Christians. 3) Both talents and spiritual gifts are given to be used for God #39;s glory and to serve others. However, spiritual gifts are specifically given to build the church. 4) Talents are given at birth. Spiritual gifts are given at the new birth, when a person becomes a Christian.From:ourshapingdestinyViews:2 0ratingsTime:09:14More inFilm Animation

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What is the difference between a talent and a spiritual gift - Video

Cannabis Cup 2012 Delta 9 Genetics - Winston Party
We talk with Ed from Delta 9 Genetics and smoke some Rock Star from Bonguru Seeds.From:urbanremoViews:1179 42ratingsTime:05:47More inNonprofits Activism

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Cannabis Cup 2012 Delta 9 Genetics - Winston Party - Video

Dentist Edmonton - For Your Bright Smile! Call 780-666-3284
Dentist Edmonton - For Your Bright Smile! Call Your Edmonton Dentist 780-666-3284 Today! There is a Chinese proverb that goes something like, "smile will gain you 10 years of life." These words were written several hundred years ago, but today they are more real than ever: the relationship between oral health and overall health are seen on a daily basis, and this result is amazing! By brushing and flossing regularly, you can avoid a heart attack. We are not be there yet, but there is a growing link between periodontal disease and heart disease, diabetes and pregnancy complications: While the investigation continues, we learn that a healthy smile can really add 10 years to your life. At the heart of this research is a substance, which scientists call biofilms. If the word "biofilm" provides images of horror and Sci-Fi, you #39;re not far away. In real life, biofilm is important. It forms a colorless film on teeth, and this substance accumulates in time , and can lead to life-threatening health problems. Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, includes different stages of disease, including periodontal infection. periodontal literally means "around the tooth." The interesting thing is as the disease progresses, it may be under and affect the tooth or teeth. The initial phase of periodntal disease, which occurs when plaque begins inflamming the gums, causing them to become red, swollen and bleed easily. Usually, there is no discomfort at this stage. during a visit to a ...From:DentistEdmontonViews:2 0ratingsTime:01:02More inPeople Blogs

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30 days of Movember in 30 seconds
Thanks to Movember for giving me the chance to try to grow a Mo...and thanks to genetics for proving to me that I can #39;t. Feel free to send pity donations to au.movember.comFrom:2degreesofseparationViews:0 0ratingsTime:00:32More inHowto Style

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30 days of Movember in 30 seconds - Video

Cyprus-based molecular diagnostics startup NIPD Genetics has taken another key step toward commercializing its flagship assay, a noninvasive prenatal diagnostic test for Down syndrome.

The company published the findings of its most recent validation study for the test, which combines methylated DNA immunoprecipitation with quantitative real-time PCR, in the October issue of the journal Prenatal Diagnosis, reporting a sensitivity of 100 percent and specificity of 99.2 percent.

NIPD Genetics is now putting together an even larger validation study of 1,000 pregnant women from various European countries with an eye toward completing the trial and offering its assay as a genetic testing service in Europe next year, company officials said this week.

To that end, NIPD Genetics said it is also looking to raise up to 4 million (about $5.2 million) in a second round of equity financing.

NIPD Genetics, a spinout of the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, published the first peer-reviewed study of its test in Nature Genetics in March 2011 (PCR Insider, 3/10/2011).

The test involves collecting 10 mL of peripheral blood from a pregnant woman, then isolating the DNA. This is followed by methylated DNA immunoprecipitation, or MeDiP, which uses an antibody specific for 5-methylcytidine to capture methylated sites and enrich for DNA regions that are specifically hypermethylated in the fetal DNA and hypomethylated in the maternal DNA.

After methylation enrichment of the fetal DNA in maternal circulation, the researchers use qRT-PCR to quantify the amount of fetal DNA in the test sample. By comparing the amount of fetal DNA present in an unknown sample to that of a control sample from a pregnant woman known to carry a normal fetus, the technique can quantify the extra copy of chromosome 21 and distinguish Down syndrome pregnancies from normal pregnancies.

In last year's Nature Genetics paper, the company used the method to correctly diagnose 14 cases of Down syndrome and 26 normal cases from maternal peripheral blood samples, achieving 100 percent sensitivity and specificity.

That test began with a group of 12 differentially methylated regions, or DMRs, that the group had identified, eventually yielding a diagnostic formula for eight of those 12 regions.

However, since that time the company dug further into the literature to discover that some of these DMRs are located on high copy number regions of the chromosome, which could have caused some difficulties in classification, Elisavet Papageorgiou, NIPD Genetics' CSO, told PCR Insider this week.

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Cyprus' NIPD Genetics Validates Updated Trisomy 21 Assay; Eyes 2013 Launch for Testing Services

Some Horry County Schools students got a first-hand look at how a state-of-the-art genetics laboratory operates, courtesy of a genetics research facility that makes its home in South Carolina but treats people from all over the world.

The Gene Machine, a lab housed in a 41-foot custom bus, is the educational arm of the Greenwood Genetic Center, a nonprofit institute that provides clinical genetic services, diagnostic laboratory testing and research in medical genetics.

The bus made stops this week at the Academy for Technology and Academics, Myrtle Beach High School and Aynor High School with a mission to improve genetic literacy among high schools students using hands-on activities and to introduce them to careers in the fields of genetics and biotechnology.

Its awesome my students just love it, said Teresa Nirenstein, health science and pre-med instructor at ATA, as 25 of her pre-med juniors climbed into the mobile lab Tuesday. Its an impressive display of practical technology on wheels.

The students sat at tables outfitted with various tools of the genetics trade so they could learn how to test faux samples for the sickle cell anemia trait. Genetics instructors Jackie Cascio and Katie Henderson were on hand to guide the exercise step by step, answer questions and hopefully get them interested in science, Henderson said.

Students donned aprons and gloves before checking the tips on their micropipettes, instruments used to measure and dispense microscopic samples. Keeping their instruments vertical, they carefully loaded controlled samples into a gel substance.

Ive never known anything like this, so Im learning a lot, said Chelsea Billingsley, who is aiming to become a psychiatrist.

The gel was then loaded into an electrophoresis box that was put into a buffer liquid mostly made of water. Cascio sent an electric current, 275 volts, through the samples, which pushed them through the gel. The samples could then be identified and compared based on how far they traveled.

Its like jumping your car battery, Cascio said.

Robert Philius said he was already familiar with some things in the lab and was enjoying the exercise.

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Education notebook | Mobile genetics lab brings science to students

Genetic sequences of drug-resistant bacteria have helped scientists better understand how these dastardly infections evolve--and elude treatment. But these superbugs are still claiming lives of many who acquire them in hospitals, clinics and nursing homes. And recent outbreaks of these hard-to-treat infections can spread easily in healthcare settings. Researchers might soon be able to track outbreaks in real time, thanks to advances in sequencing technology. So say Mark Walker and Scott Beaston, both of the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences and Australian Infectious Disease Research Center at the University of Queensland in Australia, in an essay published online November 29 in Science. "Genomic sequencing can provide information that gives facilities a head start in implementing preventive measures," they wrote. Current preventive measures, such as increasing healthcare worker hand washing and isolating infected patients, have helped to reduce the spread of many healthcare-acquired infections. But these preventable infections still kill some 100,000 patients in the U.S. each year. Walker and Beatson think genomics has the capacity to "revolutionize current practice in clinical microbiology," which currently relies primarily on culturing pathogens in the lab to study strain differences--a time-consuming process. Some promising examples have already emerged. A 2011 outbreak of Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPC), which is resistant to most known antibiotics, at the National Institutes of Health's Clinical Center killed 11 patients and infected many others. Genetic sequencing of samples from patients and from healthcare workers allowed epidemiologists to track the outbreak to a single patient and to trace its spread. The KPC analysis even pinpointed a transmission event in which a contaminated ventilator was used on a new patient. This level of detail points to the ability of "genome sequencing-based epidemiology to influence hospital management practices," the researchers noted. These discoveries, however, were made after the outbreak was underway. "In a real-time clinical situation, this information would enable further targeted testing of other patients or healthcare professionals to identify intermediate carriers," Walker and Beatson wrote. Moving closer to real-time tracking, researchers sequenced and analyzed strains from a 2011 outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in a neonatal intensive care unit in Cambridge, in the U.K., while the outbreak was still occurring. A local clinical microbiologist wondered whether infants who had contracted the superbug had strains related to those currently circulating in other clinics and hospital areas. A team sequenced samples and found that not all of the strains were related, but that there was indeed a clear outbreak cluster in the neonatal unit. The microbiologists were then able to trace potential means of spread and thereby reduce the risk of further spread. The genetic sequencing, completed on a bench-top sequencer, also provided information about the strain's virulence and nature of its antibiotic resistance. These instances "point to a future in which direct sequencing of clinical samples allows same-day diagnosis, antibiotic resistance gene profiling and virulence gene detection," Walker and Beatson noted. Such sequencing and analysis is still too expensive and labor-intensive for most health care institutions. But as technologies improve, putting the tools within reach, clinical microbiologists might be soon able to stop these superbug outbreaks before they start.

Follow Scientific American on Twitter @SciAm and @SciamBlogs. Visit ScientificAmerican.com for the latest in science, health and technology news. 2012 ScientificAmerican.com. All rights reserved.

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Real-Time Genetics Could Squash "Superbug" Outbreaks before They Spread

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Response Genetics, Inc. (RGDX), a company focused on the development and sale of molecular diagnostic tests for cancer, announced today that Thomas A. Bologna, Chairman and CEO, will present at the Canaccord Genuity Medical Technology and Diagnostics Forum in New York, NY.

Mr. Bologna's presentation is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. EST on Tuesday, December 4, 2012. Interested investors can access a live webcast of the presentation by going to the Investor Relations tab on the Response Genetics website: http://www.responsegenetics.com.

About Response Genetics, Inc. Response Genetics, Inc. (the "Company") is a CLIA-certified clinical laboratory focused on the development and sale of molecular diagnostic testing services for cancer.The Company's technologies enable extraction and analysis of genetic information derived from tumor cells stored as formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded specimens.The Company's principal customers include oncologists and pathologists. In addition to diagnostic testing services, the Company generates revenue from the sale of its proprietary analytical pharmacogenomic testing services of clinical trial specimens to the pharmaceutical industry.The Company's headquarters is located in Los Angeles, California.For more information, please visit http://www.responsegenetics.com.

Forward-Looking Statement Notice

Except for the historical information contained herein, this press release and the statements of representatives of the Company related thereto contain or may contain, among other things, certain forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Such forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties. Such statements may include, without limitation, statements with respect to the Company's plans, objectives, projections, expectations and intentions, such as the ability of the Company, to provide clinical testing services to the medical community, to continue to expand its sales force, to continue to build its digital pathology initiative, to attract and retain qualified management, to strengthen marketing capabilities, to expand the suite of ResponseDXproducts, to continue to provide clinical trial support to pharmaceutical clients, to enter into new collaborations with pharmaceutical clients, to enter into areas of companion diagnostics, to continue to execute on its business strategy and operations, to continue to analyze cancer samples and the potential for using the results of this research to develop diagnostic tests for cancer, the usefulness of genetic information to tailor treatment to patients, and other statements identified by words such as "project," "may," "could," "would," "should," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "plan" or similar expressions.

These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the Company's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities Exchange Commission. Actual results, including, without limitation, actual sales results, if any, or the application of funds, may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on various factors (many of which are beyond the Company's control). The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Investor Relations Contact:

Company Contact:

Peter Rahmer

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Response Genetics to Present at the Canaccord Genuity Medical Technology and Diagnostics Forum

SEATTLE, WA--(Marketwire - Nov 29, 2012) - Atossa Genetics, Inc. ( NASDAQ : ATOS ) announced today that Dr. Steven C. Quay, M.D., Ph.D., FCAP, chairman, CEO and president of Atossa Genetics, Inc., will present at the 5th Annual LD Micro Conference on Wednesday, December 5, 2012, at 10:00 AM Pacific Time, at the Luxe Sunset Bel Air Hotel in Los Angeles, California.

Dr. Quay's presentation will focus on the Company's novel approaches to breast cancer risk assessment and prevention, 2013 growth initiatives for its first year as a public company, and its unique investment thesis.

A link to the live audio webcast with slides of the presentation can be accessed on Atossa's website. After clicking on the webcast link, visitors will be directed to the proper conference's registration page. After completing the required fields and clicking "Register," visitors will then be brought to the dedicated webcast page. A replay of the webcast will be available for 90 days after the presentation and can be accessed at the same web address.

The LD Micro Conference is a two-day conference organized by LD Micro, a by-invitation only newsletter firm that provides micro-cap research for its clients. The LD Micro Conference focuses on undervalued micro-cap companies in a broad range of industries. A record 580 investors attended the 2011 event. Investors interested in attending the conference should call 408-457-1042 or e-mail Chris@ldmicro.com, or visit the conference website.

About Atossa Genetics, Inc.

Atossa Genetics, Inc., The Breast Health Company, is based in Seattle, Washington, and is focused on preventing breast cancer through the commercialization of patented, FDA-cleared diagnostic medical devices and patented, laboratory developed tests (LDT) that can detect precursors to breast cancer up to eight years before mammography, and through research and development that will permit it to commercialize treatments for pre-cancerous lesions.

The National Reference Laboratory for Breast Health (NRLBH), a wholly owned subsidiary of Atossa Genetics, Inc., is a CLIA-certified high-complexity molecular diagnostic laboratory located in Seattle, Washington, that provides the patented ForeCYTE Breast Health Test, a risk assessment test for women 18 to 73 years of age akin to the Pap Smear and the ArgusCYTE Breast Health Test, a blood test for recurrence in breast cancer survivors that provides a "liquid biopsy" for circulating cancer cells and a tailored treatment plan for patients and their caregivers.

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Atossa Genetics, Inc. to Present at the 5th Annual LD Micro Conference

Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes Game Movie
http://www.gamematics.net During a training mission on Shadow Moses, a nuclear weapons training facility on a remote island off the coast of Alaska, the Special Forces unit FOXHOUND rebelled against the United States government, under the command of Liquid Snake. Their target was the advanced weapon system Metal Gear REX, a gigantic robotic weapons platform able to independently launch a nuclear warhead at any target on the face of the planet. Their demand was the body of the greatest soldier who ever lived, Big Boss, which, through gene therapy, they could use to create an army of ultimate soldiers. With the safety of the entire world at stake, Colonel Roy Campbell, the former commander of FOXHOUND, summoned Solid Snake out of retirement for one last solo covert operation. Gameplay MrPlentl Developer: Silicon Knights Konami Publisher: KonamiFrom:lapman17Views:9 1ratingsTime:03:43:40More inGaming

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"Spiking Levels" Found At Paulsboro Crash Site Force Evacuation "Spiking Levels" Found At Paulsboro Crash Site Force Evacuation

Updated: Friday, November 30 2012 11:49 PM EST2012-12-01 04:49:14 GMT

Concerns about health safety are growing tonight. About 500 people have been told to evacuate. Officials are concerned with increased levels of a hazardous chemical.

Concerns about health safety are growing tonight. About 500 people have been told to evacuate. Officials are concerned with increased levels of a hazardous chemical.

Updated: Friday, November 30 2012 11:04 PM EST2012-12-01 04:04:06 GMT

Newark Police are investigating a home invasion where three men forced their way into a home and ordered three people to sit on the coach while they ransacked the apartment.

Newark Police are investigating a home invasion where three men forced their way into a home and ordered three people to sit on the coach while they ransacked the apartment.

Updated: Friday, November 30 2012 6:31 PM EST2012-11-30 23:31:59 GMT

In a statement issued Friday, Eagles quarterback Michael Vick says he's focused on rejoining the team on the field.

In a statement issued Friday, Eagles quarterback Michael Vick says he's focused on rejoining the team on the field.

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2 Kids Suffering From Rare Disease Admitted Into Gene Therapy Study

SCMOM 2012_NeoStem
NeoStem, Inc. is an emerging technology leader in the fast-developing cell therapy market. Its business strategy combines a state-of-the-art contract development and manufacturing subsidiary, Progenitor Cell Therapy, LLC, with a medically important cell therapy product development program. NeoStem #39;s most clinically advanced therapeutic, AMR-001, is being developed at its Amorcyte subsidiary, which is enrolling patients in a Phase 2 trial for preservation of heart function after a heart attack. Athelos Corporation, also a NeoStem subsidiary, is in early stage clinical exploration of a T-cell therapy for autoimmune conditions. Pre-clinical assets include our VSELTM Technology platform and our mesenchymal stem cell product candidate for regenerative medicine. http://www.neostem.com Presenter: Jonathan Sackner-Bernstein, NeoStem, Inc.From:AllianceRegenMedViews:4 1ratingsTime:14:54More inScience Technology

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SCMOM 2012_Stanford Cardiovascular Institute
Stanford Cardiovascular Institute (CVI) is the nucleus for cardiovascular research at Stanford University. Formed in 2004, the Cardiovascular Institute is home to Stanford #39;s myriad cardiovascular-related adult and pediatric research, clinical, and educational programs, centers and laboratories, as well as over 500 Stanford basic scientists, graduate students, clinician scientists, and other researchers in heart and vessel disease and prevention. Within the area of cardiac regenerative medicine, the Stanford CVI has significant research endeavors involving human pluripotent stem cells for (1) cardiovascular disease modeling, (2) drug screening and discovery, and (3) personalized cell therapy. Recently, Stanford CVI investigators received a $20 million CIRM Disease Team Therapy Award for performing pre-IND work that would enable the first-in-man clinical trial involving injection of human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes for patients with heart failure. wulab.stanford.edu Presenter Joseph Wu, Associate Professor, Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of MedicineFrom:AllianceRegenMedViews:3 0ratingsTime:17:06More inScience Technology

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SCMOM 2012_Regen BioPharma, Inc.
The Regen BioPharma business model is to take multiple stem cell therapeutics to and through the human "safety and signal of efficacy" stage (Phase I/II clinical trials). The approach is a highly focused analysis of issued patents in regenerative medicine, identification and acquisition of undervalued assets that have demonstrated proof of concept, and forming companies around these assets. Having assembled a core infrastructure specialized in obtaining regulatory approval and executing clinical trials in cell therapy, we aim to act as a "superincubator" that within 18 - 24 months grows technologies from laboratory to an asset ready for spin-off or sale to feed the pipeline of Big Pharma. http://www.regenbiopharma.com Presenter: J. Christopher Mizer, President, Regen BioPharma, Inc.From:AllianceRegenMedViews:4 1ratingsTime:09:13More inScience Technology

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SCMOM 2012_TAP Biosystems
TAP Biosystems provides advanced automated systems for cell therapy scale-up and manufacture. At SCMOM 2012 TAP will be showcasing a range of systems including the CellBase CT trade; automated cell culture system for ex vivo expansion of autologous cell therapy products. Plus the Cellmate trade; system for batch production of cells in rollers bottles and the RAFT trade; system for producing biomimetic 3D tissue models in standard plate formats. Staff from TAP will also be available to discuss our collaborative working process to help businesses create new cell therapy scale-up and GMP manufacturing systems. http://www.tapbiosystems.com Presenter: Rosemary Drake, Chief Scientific Officer, TAP BiosystemsFrom:AllianceRegenMedViews:2 0ratingsTime:17:41More inScience Technology

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SCMOM 2012_The Clinical Outlook for Regenerative Medicine
As many regenerative medicine and cell therapy products move into clinical trials, a clearer understanding of how these products will perform clinically is critical for achieving regulatory approval and ultimately, for commercialization. This session will discuss the major clinical events expected to drive the regenerative medicine sector over the next two years, as well as address some of the key issues facing these products as they approach the marketplace. Moderator: Greg Lucier, MBA, Chairman and CEO, Life Technologies Panelists: Jay Siegel, MD, Chief Biotechnology Officer and Head, Global Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs, Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson Johnson Paul Simmons, Ph.D., Executive Vice President, Corporate Research and Product Development, Mesoblast Limited Matthias Steger, Ph.D., MBA, Global Head Research and Technology Partnering, Roche Ltd. Dean Tozer, Vice President, Corporate Development, Shire Regenerative MedicineFrom:AllianceRegenMedViews:5 1ratingsTime:01:16:22More inScience Technology

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Ovation Cell Therapy- My First Impression!
Hey ya #39;ll. I realize that I am not wearing makeup in this video. If you find that to be frightening, please feel free to go watch something else 🙂 You know how I #39;m growing out my hair and stuff? Well, I stumbled upon Ovation Cell Therapy for like, super cheap, and thought I #39;d let you guys know what I think. I #39;ve read mixed reviews on the product and decided that I #39;d just have to try it for myself. I have naturally wavy, brown, medium-thick hair, just for anyone wondering! Here #39;s my first video on the topic. Hope you enjoy, and as always, thank you SO MUCH for watching :)From:Cristan JoViews:0 0ratingsTime:08:02More inHowto Style

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Ovation Cell Therapy- My First Impression! - Video