Archive for the ‘Gene Therapy Research’ Category

FIVE POINTS, Calif., Oct.15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --S&W Seed Company (Nasdaq:SANW)today announced that Dan Gardnerhas joined S&W as Vice President of Seed Breeding and Genetics. Mr. Gardner joins S&W from a leadership position in breeding and international sales at Dairyland Seed Co., a Dow AgroSciences subsidiary, where he served for 18 years. Mr. Gardner,aUC Davis educated scientist and seedsman, is well known and respected in the alfalfa seed industry.

"It's no coincidence that Dan is joining our seniormanagement so soon after the acquisition of Imperial Valley Seeds," said Mark Grewal, chief executive officer of S&W Seed Company. "The leadership at S&W and IVS has long known Dan as a world class seed breeder. To say we are 'charged up' that Dan is joining us now -- after our acquisition of Imperial Valley Seeds -- would be a real understatement. It's perfect timing for him to come on board."

Dan Gardner's most recent position was asInternational Distribution ManagerfortheDairylandSeed Co., a subsidiary ofDowAgroSciences.In that capacity, Mr. Gardner was tasked withincreasing sales ofDairylandSeed's non-dormant alfalfa varieties in California, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, South Africa, Mexico, Argentina, and France.At the same time, Mr. Gardnerwasthe Alfalfa Breeding Leader and Field Station Leader for a multiple location team of breeders with testing locations in both North and South America.Duringhisyears as an alfalfa seed breeder, Mr. Gardner was responsible for Dairyland releasing 12 certified non-dormant and semi-dormant varieties plus the first "four"semi-dormant hybrids and the only non-dormant hybrid alfalfa in the world.Mr. Gardnergraduated from UCDavis in 1989 with a BS degree in Genetics and from the UCDavis Plant Breeding Academy in 2008. Mr. Gardner currently serves on the board of the California Seed Association.

S&W anticipates that Mr. Gardner will be intimately involved with the design and implementation of the company's plant breeding activities.S&W recently announced the expansion into the biotech segment through its intellectual property licensing and breeding agreements with Monsanto and Forage Genetics, Inc. (FGI).S&W has previously announced the expansion of its alfalfa seed breeding program to include dormant varieties.In addition, S&W is seeking to expand the stevia breeding program which it launched in 2009.

Dan Gardner, S&W's new Vice President of Breeding and Genetics, commented, "I look forward to continuing the S&W tradition of providing growers with the highest yielding alfalfa varieties, both in terms of seed yield and forage yield. My experience has prepared me to take existing S&W germplasm to the next level of yield performance, as well as broadening the range of S&W varieties to meet the expanding geography of S&W customers."

About S&W Seed CompanyFounded in1980 and headquartered in the Central Valley of California, S&W Seed Company is a leading producer of warm climate, high yield alfalfa seed varieties, including varieties that can thrive in poor, saline soils, as verified over decades of university-sponsoredtrials.S&WSeedalso offers seed cleaning and processing at its 40-acre facility in Five Points, Californiaand, in 2011,began the commercial launch of its California-basedsteviabusinessin response tothe growing global demand for the all-natural, zero calorie sweetenerfrom the food and beverage industry. For more information, please visitwww.swseedco.com.

Safe Harbor StatementThis release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. "Forward-looking statements" describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may," "future," "plan" or "planned," "will" or "should," "expected," "anticipates," "draft," "eventually" or "projected." You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and other risks identified in the Company's 10-K for thefiscal year ended June 30, 2012, and other filings made by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Dan Gardner Joins S&W as Vice President of Breeding and Genetics

SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 15, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Myriad Genetics, Inc. (MYGN) today announced that it will issue financial results for the first fiscal quarter 2013 following the close of market on Monday, November 5, 2012.

The Company will also host a conference call on Monday, November 5, 2012 at 4:30 P.M. Eastern to review the financial results. Participating on the call will be: Peter Meldrum, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mark Capone, President of Myriad Genetic Laboratories, Inc. and Jim Evans, Chief Financial Officer.

To listen to the call, interested parties may dial 800-354-6885 or 303-223-2680. All callers will be asked to reference reservation number 21607424.

The conference call will also be available through a live webcast at http://www.myriad.com.

A replay of the call will be available two hours after the end of the call for seven days and may be accessed by dialing 800-633-8284 or 402-977-9140 and entering reservation number 21607424.

About Myriad Genetics

Myriad Genetics is a leading molecular diagnostic company dedicated to making a difference in patient's lives through the discovery and commercialization of transformative tests to assess a person's risk of developing disease, guide treatment decisions and assess risk of disease progression and recurrence. Myriad's portfolio of molecular diagnostic tests are based on an understanding of the role genes play in human disease and were developed with a commitment to improving an individual's decision making process for monitoring and treating disease. Myriad is focused on strategic directives to introduce new products, including companion diagnostics, as well as expanding internationally. For more information on how Myriad is making a difference, please visit the Company's website: http://www.myriad.com

Myriad, the Myriad logo, BRACAnalysis, Colaris, Colaris AP, Melaris, TheraGuide, Prezeon, OnDose, Panexia and Prolaris are trademarks or registered trademarks of Myriad Genetics, Inc. in the United States and foreign countries. MYGN-F, MYGN-G

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Myriad Genetics to Announce First Fiscal Quarter 2013 Results on Monday, November 5, 2012

Newswise BETHESDA, MD -- October 15, 2012 -- The Genetics Society of America (GSA) is pleased to announce its 2013 award recipients. The five individuals honored are recognized by their peers for their outstanding achievements and contributions to the community of geneticists. They will receive their awards at GSA conferences during 2013.

This years award winners are an outstanding group of individuals who have all contributed in such powerful ways to the field of genetics in research, in education, and in fostering the genetics community. The GSA awards provide an opportunity for the genetics community as a whole to say a heartfelt thank you and to recognize those whose impressive achievements have advanced the science of genetics, said Phil Heiter, PhD, President of GSA.

The recipients of the 2013 GSA Awards are as follows:

Thomas D. Petes, PhD (Duke University) is awarded the Thomas Hunt Morgan Medal for lifetime contributions in the field of genetics.

Elaine A. Ostrander, PhD (National Institutes of Health, National Human Genome Research Institute) is awarded the Genetics Society of America Medal for outstanding contributions to the field of genetics in the last 15 years.

R. Scott Hawley, PhD (Stowers Institute for Medical Research) is awarded the George W. Beadle Award for outstanding contributions to the community of genetics researchers.

A. Malcolm Campbell, PhD (Davidson College) is awarded the Elizabeth W. Jones Award for Excellence in Education, which recognizes significant and sustained impact in genetics education.

Jonathan K. Pritchard, PhD (HHMI and University of Chicago) is awarded the Edward Novitski Prize, which recognizes an extraordinary level of creativity and intellectual ingenuity in solving a significant problem in genetics research. Additional information about each of the awards and the recipients achievement is listed below.

Recipient: Thomas D. Petes, PhD, Duke University Award: The Thomas Hunt Morgan Medal

Dr. Petes is the Minnie Geller Professor in Genetics in the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC. He has made seminal research contributions that have furthered the understanding of the mechanisms of DNA damage and repair using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model system. His insights into comprehending genome stability and instability extend far beyond this model system, laying the foundation for much of our knowledge about how human cells replicate, protect, repair and combine their chromosomes. This has provided crucial understanding in identifying the gene defects of the most common form of hereditary colon cancer and in other human diseases.

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Genetics Society of America Announces 2013 Award Recipients

Public release date: 11-Oct-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Rhiannon Bugno Biol.Psych@utsouthwestern.edu 214-648-0880 Elsevier

Philadelphia, PA, October 11, 2012 A paper by Shizhong Han and colleagues in the current issue of Biological Psychiatry implicates a new gene in the risk for cannabis dependence. This gene, NRG1, codes for the ErbB4 receptor, a protein implicated in synaptic development and function.

The researchers set out to investigate susceptibility genes for cannabis dependence, as research has already shown that it has a strong genetic component.

To do this, they employed a multi-stage design using genetic data from African American and European American families. In the first stage, a linkage analysis, the strongest signal was identified in African Americans on chromosome 8p21. Then using a genome-wide association study dataset, they identified one genetic variant at NRG1 that showed consistent evidence for association in both African Americans and European Americans. Finally, they replicated the association of that same variant in an independent sample of African-Americans.

All together, the findings suggest that NRG1 may be a susceptibility gene for cannabis dependence.

An interesting feature of this paper is that these findings may also suggest a link between the genetics of schizophrenia and the genetics of cannabis dependence. NRG1 emerged into public awareness after a series of genetic studies implicated it in the heritable risk for schizophrenia. Subsequent studies in post-mortem brain tissue also suggested that the regulation of NRG1 was altered in the brains of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Thus, the current findings may help to explain the already established link between cannabis use and the risk for developing schizophrenia. A number of epidemiologic studies have attributed the association of cannabis use and schizophrenia to the effects of cannabis on the brain rather than a common genetic link between these two conditions.

"The current data provide a potentially important insight into the heritable risk for schizophrenia and raise the possibility that there are some common genetic contributions to these two disorders," commented Dr. John Krystal, Editor of Biological Psychiatry.

However, further research will be necessary to further confirm the role that NRG1 plays in cannabis dependence and the potential link between cannabis use and psychosis.

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A gene implicated in schizophrenia risk is also associated with risk for cannabis dependence

14 October 2012 Last updated at 20:02 ET

A team led by the University of Dundee believes it has made a significant step in understanding a skin disease which affects thousands in the UK.

Researchers have identified how the "p34 gene" plays a key role in causing the disease punctate PPK.

The condition causes dots of hard, thickened skin which are painful and uncomfortable.

It is believed the discovery will allow for easier diagnosis of punctate PPK and help developing new therapies.

The research team, led by Prof Irwin McLean at the University of Dundee, has published its results in the journal Nature Genetics.

Prof McLean said: "We have not only found this gene but we have been able to figure out how it works, which is very important.

"When the gene is disrupted or knocked out, the cells in the skin grow too fast and this results in these hard, thick, painful lesions which can be quite debilitating.

"When the gene is working properly then the skin forms normally."

He said he believed the research would lead to better treatments.

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Scientists find skin disease gene

Do we really need a test to tell us whether our genes are sabotaging our efforts to get fit?

A burgeoning industry is being built on the promise that genetic tests can predict how individuals are likely to respond to exercise and at which types of physical activity they may do best, an alluring concept for those who have struggled to get fit for years and never seem to see the same results as others.

As scientists gain a better understanding of genes, companies specializing in exercise-related genetic tests are cropping up. XRGenomics is one of the newest in the field. The company developed a test designed to look at a persons genes to predict whether they can easily improve their VO2 max, or their capacity for aerobic exercise. Simply put, the higher your VO2 max, the longer and harder you can exercise.

The company says its test, available through its website, is different from many of its competitors, particularly because it is based on clinical research and it looks at a higher number of genes.

The test focuses on genes linked to the bodys maximum capacity to carry oxygen to muscles during exercise. It can give people useful, accurate information to help them improve their physical health, says James Timmons, the companys director and a professor of systems biology at Loughborough University in Britain.

The genetic test is suited for everyone, Timmons said, whether physically fit or not. We see it as potentially a motivation tool for both ends of the spectrum, he said.

Even so, the idea raises numerous questions about how valuable such information is and whether the results are as empowering as proponents claim.

The XRGenomics test is designed to detect genetic patterns that make some individuals low responders to exercise. In other words, it can spot individuals who have a difficult time improving their aerobic capacity. About 20 per cent of the population falls into that category, according to Timmons. That means 80 per cent of people dont face any particular challenge if they want to increase their ability to exercise.

Even if people are considered low responders under the XRGenomics test, they can still improve their VO2 max levels through working out. Theyll finish the race, even if they wont bring home a medal.

And genes only tell one part of the story. While they may be a big component, many other factors are at play that help determine aerobic capacity, such as diet and how much effort individuals put into exercise.

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Can genetic tests help you build a better workout?

Hanggang ngayon ay usap-usapan pa rin ang Fresh Cell Therapy (FCT) o mas kilala natin bilang stem cell therapy lalo nat marami nang celebrities ang nahihikayat na sumailalim sa naturang medical procedure na nagpo-promote ng anti-aging at nakatutulong para labanan ang ilang serious health conditions.

Isa na nga rito ang sikat na hairstylist, beauty expert, philanthropist, businessman, at TV host na si Ricky Reyes o mas kilala bilang si Mother Ricky.

Sumailalim si Mother Ricky sa FCT noong Hunyo ng taong ito at ngayon nga ay ine-enjoy niya ang benepisyo nito sa kanyang kalusugan.

The fact that my arthritis is gone, Im very, very happy and Im thankful to Bobby [Kittichaiwong, Villa Medica CEO). And its just a two-shot on my back, gone instantly. You know, yung quality of life mo na hindi ka aray-aray-aray?

Tapos nagpunta ako sa Germany last June and its such a beautiful place. We even had meron ka pang tour sa Paris [France]. Very nice place, sabi ni Mother Ricky.

Nakausap ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) si Mother Ricky sa presscon ng Villa Medica tungkol sa FCT na ginanap kaninang tanghali, Oktubre 13, sa Crowne Plaza sa Ortigas, Pasig City.

Hindi rin daw niya maitatanggi ang kabutihang naidulot ng FCT sa kanyang ina, na sumailalim din sa naturang therapy.

Oo naman, with my experience with my mom. Dati nakatungo na, ngayon nakataas na yung leeg na ganyan, paglalarawan pa ni Mother Ricky tungkol sa nagawa ng FCT sa kanyang ina.

Nai-stretch na yung mga kamay. Isang malaking utang na loob ko yun kay Bobby. It is a Christmas gift of Bobby to me to cure my mom.

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Ricky Reyes to help set up Fresh Cell Therapy clinic in the Philippines

DES MOINES The eyes of a hungry world will again be on Iowa this week as food experts gather for the Iowa Hunger Summit.

Although slowed by drought conditions this year, the long-term trend for U.S. crop and livestock production continues to grow and experts believe the genetics revolution will fuel record yields.

They also predict new technology and practices will spread to parts of the world that have barely scratched the surface of their food-growing potential.

We think there is a lot of head room still to go in terms of increasing yields in the major row crops, said David Fischhoff, Monsanto vice president for technology strategy and development.

Continued advancements in seed and plant genetics; soil, water and nutrient management; weed, disease and pest control; and precision equipment are driving increases in corn yields that have experts projecting an acre of fertile Iowa land could be producing 300 bushels of grain by 2030.

That would nearly double the top statewide corn average that Iowa farmers have been able to achieve.

It is expected soybean production would mirror that progress but at levels about a third of the per-acre output of corn plants.

Test plots in corn-growing competitions have produced yields into the 400-bushel-per acre range.

CRop production

Advances in farming practices quadrupled per-yield production in the last century, and Brent Wilson, manager of agronomical and technical services for DuPont Pioneer in Johnston, said if anything were probably pushing the accelerator faster now given the amount of financial resources, people and energy being deployed to increase productivity.

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Genetics, other changes promise higher food production

Regenevda recently opened its brand new flagship facility in Beverly Hills, specializing in cutting edge anti-aging treatments such as Stem Cell Therapy.

Beverly Hills, CA (PRWEB) October 12, 2012

Dr. Thom Lobe is an internationally respected surgeon and has been in practice for over 30 years. Consistently pioneering advances in medicine, Dr. Lobe was one of the first doctors to ever separate conjoined twins. Consistently working to help make advances in medicine, Dr. Lobe also has over 200 publications to his credit.

Overseeing the business aspect of Regenevda is Lindsey Combs. She is responsible for sales, staff, accounting, facility management, and business development. A graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles, Ms. Combs has been working in the anti-aging field for over 10 years and has been a California Licensed Esthetician since 2003.

Being one of the very few physicians in the country to hold the most advanced board certification (FAARM), Dr. Lobe is able to offer Stem Cell Therapy at the Regenevda clinic. Inside each persons own body, there are special cells in nearly every organ and tissue that have the ability to help heal damage. These special cells are called Stem Cells and this therapy works by harvesting these cells from a persons own blood, bone marrow, or fat and can help with different conditions. Some examples of procedures that use Stem Cell Therapy are: Stem Cell Facelifts, Stem Cell Breast Augmentation, and Stem Cell Joint Therapy. Stem Cell treatments are safe, non-invasive, and are done under local anesthesia.

Intravenous Nutrition Therapy (or IV Vitamin Therapy) is another anti-aging and rejuvenation treatment that can also help patients prevent migraines, lose weight, fight chronic infections like hepatitis, candida, lyme disease, as well as fight acute infections like the flu and mono. IV Therapy works by using intravenous solutions to deliver vitamins and minerals directly to the body cells. This bypasses the digestive system and provides a more direct method of delivery, which ensures that all of the nutrients required are delivered, allowing the patient to feel an improvement in condition almost immediately.

Human Growth Hormone (HGH) Therapy is another advanced treatment offered at Regenevda. HGH is secreted by the Pituitary gland and fuels cell growth and reproduction. This production peaks at adolescence. Over time, due to the effect of aging, the production of HGH slows down dramatically. As production declines, it makes it more difficult for the body to recover from physical and mental exertion. HGH Therapy acts as a supplement for HGH deficient adults to lessen body fat, boost lipid lineament, improve memory, promote bone density, as well as decrease risk factors that involve cardio-vascular conditions. If used at the onset of the decrease in HGH production, HGH Therapy can help curtail early aging and even be used as preventive measure against osteoporosis. A complete analysis of the patients sex hormones, evaluation of glucose regulation and functions of the adrenal gland, thyroid gland, and pancreas are performed before the treatment is administered for optimal results.

Combining decades of medical experience with the most cutting edge advances in medical technology, the Regenevda clinic looks to pave the way for the future of anti-aging treatments. The Regenevda Beverly Hills Institute of Cellular Therapy is located at 50 North La Cienega Boulevard. For any inquiries, they can be reached at 855-734-3638, or visit http://www.regeneveda.com.

About Regenevda :

Regeneveda, home of The Beverly Hills Institute of Cellular Therapy, provides state-of-the-art Stem Cell Therapy. Stem Cell Therapy is an effective treatment for chronic conditions such as Arthritis, Diabetes, Chronic Sports Injuries, and Chronic Pain, but is also revolutionizing anti-aging treatments such as Breast Enhancement, Erectile Dysfunction, and Facial Aging.

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Regenevéda Opens Flagship Stem Cell Therapy Clinic in Beverly Hills

DALLAS, October 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

The report "Autologous Cell Therapy Market(2012 - 2017)", published by MarketsandMarkets (http://www.marketsandmarkets.com), would be the first global and exclusive report on ACT market. It also gives clear information about the complete industry, approved products and potential market size; it also identifies driving and restraining factors for the global ACT market with analysis of trends, opportunities and challenges. The market is segmented and revenue is forecasted on the basis of major regions such as USA, Europe and Rest of the World (ROW). Further, market is segmented and revenues are forecasted on the basis of potential application areas of ACT.

Browse ACT market research data tables/figures spread through 111 slides and in-depth TOC on"Autologous Cell Therapy (ACT) Market (2012 - 2017)". http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/autologous-cell-therapy-market-837.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on reports.

There is a wide market potential and favorable landscape for adoption across many geographical locations of the world. During the forecast period, these technologies are expected to revolutionize the area of bio-pharma and personalized medicine. High incidence and lack of effective treatment for several diseases will drive the ACT technology in developed and developing nations.

Investment activities, for past five years are actively held in research and developments, attracting interests of cell therapy industry firms, medical centers and academic institutions. ACT potential can be demonstrated by mergers, collaborations, acquisitions and partnerships that happened actively between the ACT technology developing companies in past three years. Development of sophisticated automation devices for cell expansion and culture process for use in the treatment is one of the emerging trends of ACT market.

The global ACT market is valued around $650 million by 2011 with a CAGR of 21%. Several products and technologies of ACT are in pipeline which is expected to hit the market during the forecast period, which will result in increased growth rate.

About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets is a global market research and consulting company based in the U.S. We publish strategically analyzed market research reports and serve as a business intelligence partner to Fortune 500 companies across the world. MarketsandMarkets also provides multi-client reports, company profiles, databases, and custom research services.

MarketsandMarkets covers thirteen industry verticals; including advanced materials, automotives and transportation, banking and financial services, biotechnology, chemicals, consumer goods, energy and power, food and beverages, industrial automation, medical devices, pharmaceuticals [ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pharmaceutical-market-research-3.html ], semiconductor and electronics, and Telecommunications and IT.

We at MarketsandMarkets are inspired to help our clients grow by providing apt business insight with our huge market intelligence repository. To know more about us and our reports, please visit our website http://www.marketsandmarkets.com.

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Global Autologous Cell Therapy Market worth $2.2 Billion by 2017

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/vgdk75/gtxs_capesaris) has announced the addition of the "GTx's Capesaris - A novel medical castration method" report to their offering.

Capesaris is an oral selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) that GTx is developing as a first-line androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in advanced prostate cancer. By utilizing this approach, GTx hopes that use will be devoid of many of the adverse effects of historical medical castration products such as diethylstilbestrol (DES, an estrogen replacement therapy), and the luteinizing hormone receptor hormone (LHRH) agonists that form the current standard of care. This report explores the validity of that premise, the probability of phase III success, the regulatory path to approval, and the market into which it will launch, if successful.

Key Topics Covered:

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

1. Prostate cancer

- Epidemiology

- Clinical presentation, diagnosis, and staging

- Current treatments

2. GTX-758 (CAPESARIS)

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Research and Markets: GTx's Capesaris - A Novel Medical Castration Method

Variant linked to increased risk for long-term organ failure

Highlights In the largest study of its kind, a variant within the multidrug resistance 1 (MDR-1) gene in kidney transplant donors was linked to a 69% increased risk for long-term failure of transplanted organs. This variant affects the expression of the protein that the MDR-1 gene encodes, which pumps drugs out of cells. (Immunosuppressant drugs are critical for preventing organ rejection but are also toxic to the kidneys.)

Newswise Washington, DC (October 11, 2012) A single genetic variant in kidney donors cells may help determine whether their transplanted organs will survive long term, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). The findings provide new information that might be used to improve transplant longevity by revealing that the genetic make-up of kidney transplant donors affects the survival of transplanted organs.

A transplant recipient must take lifelong immunosuppressive drugs to prevent rejection of the new organ, but these drugs can have serious side effects, including kidney damage. So, ironically, the very drugs needed to prevent kidney rejection can also be toxic to the kidneys. Research suggests that how well certain proteins pump these drugs out of kidney cells may influence the drugs kidney toxicity.

Richard Borrows, MB (Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, in the UK) and his colleagues looked to see if variants in the genes that encode such pumps might influence the health of transplanted kidneys. They investigated the links between donor and recipient gene variants with kidney outcome among 811 immunosuppressant-treated kidney transplant recipients.

Among the major findings: One particular variant within the multidrug resistance 1 (MDR-1) gene in donors was linked to a 69% increased risk for long-term failure of transplanted organs. The researchers validated the link in another 3,660 donors, making this the largest study of its kind. This variant affects the expression of the protein that the MDR-1 gene encodes, the drug transporter P-glycoprotein. No other genetic variants in donors or recipients were linked with organ survival or failure.

The study of donor, as opposed to recipient, gene variation is relatively uncommon in the field of transplantation, and it certainly warrants more attention, said Dr. Borrows. He added that a single genetic variant probably has limited effect on its own, but when combined, multiple genetic variants may play an important role in transplant longevity.

Study co-authors include Jason Moore, MBBS, Amy Jayne McKnight, PhD, Bernd Dhler, PhD, Matthew Simmonds, PhD, Aisling Courtney, PhD, Oliver Brand, PhD, David Briggs, PhD, Simon Ball, PhD, Paul Cockwell, PhD, Christopher Patterson, PhD, Alexander Maxwell, PhD, Stephen Gough, PhD, and Gerhard Opelz, PhD.

Disclosures: The authors reported no financial disclosures.

The article, entitled Donor ABCB1 Variant Associates with Increased Risk for Kidney Allograft Failure, will appear online at http://jasn.asnjournals.org/ on October 11, 2012, doi: 10.1681/ASN.2012030260.

Original post:
Single Gene Variant in Donors May Affect Survival of Transplanted Kidneys

When a patient in need of a kidney transplant finally receives their new organ, their health problems may not necessarily be over. For some kidney recipients, their bodies may ultimately reject the foreign kidney leading to the organs removal and another long wait for a new donor.

However, new research out of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham in the U.K. may help prevent this kind of painful rejection in the future. Scientists have discovered a single gene variant in kidney transplant donors that may predict whether or not the transplanted kidney will survive in the recipient.

The gene- the multidrug resistance 1 (MDR-1) gene was originally identified by the researcher of having a potential impact on kidney rejection and survival, because the protein the gene encodes helps to pump drugs out of cells.

In order for a transplanted kidney to successfully adapt and adhere to a new bodys system, the kidney recipient must take a number of immunosuppressive drugs to prevent rejection often including a class of drugs called calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs). Unfortunately, these kinds of medications can also come with serious side effects.

We wanted to look at a link between the genotype of the donor and the risk of transplant failure to CNI toxicity, Dr. Richard Borrows, in the department of nephrology and kidney transplantation at University Hospital Birmingham and the studys lead author, told FoxNews.com. Although they have revolutionized kidney transplantation, they are inherently toxic to the transplanted kidney. Theres a train of thought that that toxicity in turn leads to transplant failure.

Borrows and his team examined three different cohorts of pairs of kidney recipients and their donors. In the first group of 811 individuals, they looked for 52 gene variants in both the donors and the recipients. Only one gene appeared to be associated with kidney failure a particular variant of MDR-1.

Overall, the variant was linked with a 69 percent increased risk for long-term transplant failure. Two additional groups of a combined 3,660 donors confirmed the results.

The MDR-1 gene variant affects the expression of the protein that the gene encodes the drug transporter P-glycoprotein. Donor kidney cells with this kind of variant ultimately have more P-glycoprotein. Originally, the researchers believed that less P-glycoprotein would increase CNI toxicity and thus increase the chances of organ failure but instead the opposite was found to be true.

Borrows and his team have a few ideas as to why the increase of P-glycoprotein would potentially lead to kidney transplant failure, but did not test them.

The presence of P-glycoprotein seems to promote cellular damage by cholesterol and cholesterol esters, Borrows said. Also, in animal models, the presence of P-glycoprotein is associated with an increased likelihood of kidney damage when blood supply to the kidney is interrupted. So on one hand, this protein seems to be involved in the transport of CNI inhibitors, and on the other hand it seems to be involved in many other biological processes as well. So we need to tease each of these out.

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Single gene variant may affect transplanted kidney survival

HEIDELBERG, GERMANY and BUDAPEST, HUNGARY--(Marketwire - Oct 12, 2012) - Genetic Immunity ( OTCBB : PWRV ), a leader in immunotherapy technology product development, and DKFZ (German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany) signed a collaborative agreement to develop a DNA-based vaccine for the treatment of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection that causes cervical cancer and other cancers of the anus, penis, vulva, vagina, and oropharynx. Present HPV vaccines (Cervarix, Gardasil) have no therapeutic effect on HPV-related diseases, so they will not treat existing diseases or conditions caused by HPV.

The Division of Genome Modifications and Carcinogenesis led by Prof. Dr. Lutz Gissmann will initiate a preclinical research program to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of the DKFZ's HPV-specific plasmid DNA using Genetic Immunity's nanomedicine formulation and Langerhans cell-targeting administration technologies. DKFZ is a world leading research center in tumor virology. Harald zur Hausen was awarded the Nobel Medicine Prize for his work on HPV-caused cancer of the cervix. Zur Hausen, former Scientific Director of the German Cancer Research Center, is recognized for finding that cervical cancer is caused by viral infections. His research made it possible to develop a vaccine against one of the most frequent cancers in women. Zur Hausen shared the Nobel Prize for Medicine with Franoise Barr-Sinoussi and Luc Montagnier for discovering HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

"There is a huge unmet medical need for such cancer vaccine, because vaccines we have developed earlier do not provide protection against cancer when used for treatment of existing conditions caused by HPV. Our goal is to provide protection against cancer for patients after the onset of sexual activity, after they might be exposed to HPV," said Dr. Julianna Lisziewicz, CEO of Genetic Immunity.

Genetic Immunity has successfully tested in clinical trials DermaVir, a candidate immunotherapy for the cure of HIV. This new collaboration is using the clinically proven technology expanding the pipeline to another deadly viral disease that causes cancer. The partners will test whether HPV-specific memory T cells induced by Genetic Immunity's nanomedicine products could protect against cancer after infection has occurred.

"We found that Genetic Immunity technology is unique to target the vaccine DNA into the nucleus of the Langerhans cells. We believe that it will provide a breakthrough in cancer immunotherapy. We pioneered HPV prophylactic vaccines with new innovations and we would like to expand this tradition to therapeutic setting," said Dr. Prof. Gissmann of DKFZ.

Genetic Immunity is a wholly owned subsidiary of Power of the Dream Ventures, Inc. ( OTCBB : PWRV ).

About Genetic Immunity

Genetic Immunity, part of Power of the Dream Ventures, Inc. (PWRV), is a clinical stage technology company committed to discovering, developing, manufacturing and commercializing a new class of immunotherapeutic biologic drugs for the treatment of viral infections, cancer and allergies. Our Langerhans cell-targeting nanomedicines are exceptional in both safety and immune modulating activity boosting specific Th1-type central memory T cells. These are essential to eliminate infected cells or cancerous cells, and balance the immune reactivity in response to allergens.

In 1988 Drs. Lisziewicz and Lori founded Genetic Immunity in the US after they described the 1st patient whose immune system was boosted to control HIV after treatment interruption (Lisziewicz et al. New England Journal of Medicine 1999) that lead to the invention of DermaVir. The Company's innovative technology team directed by Dr. Lisziewicz, a champion of immune boosting therapies, is now headquartered in Budapest, Hungary. She has been invited into the Scientific Advisory Board of the HIV Cure Initiative led by Francoise Barre-Sinoussi Nobel Prize Laureate for her HIV research in 2009. For more information please visit http://www.geneticimmunity.com

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DKFZ and Genetic Immunity Sign Collaboration Agreement to Develop HPV Therapeutic Vaccine

ScienceDaily (Oct. 11, 2012) Researchers at the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System have identified a genetic signature that distinguishes patients with complicated sarcoidosis, an inflammatory lung disease that can be fatal, from patients with a more benign form of the disease. The gene signature could become the basis for a simple blood test.

Their findings are reported online in the journal PLOS ONE.

In sarcoidosis, tiny clumps of abnormal tissue form in organs of the body. These clusters of immune cells, called granulomas, cause inflammation. Sarcoidosis can occur in the lymph nodes, liver, eyes, skin or other tissues, but almost always also in the lungs. The cause of the disease is unknown. African Americans are at higher risk for the disease and for more severe cases.

"One of the perplexing aspects of this disease is that two thirds of the people who get sarcoidosis get better with only minimal therapy," says Dr. Joe G.N. "Skip" Garcia, vice president for health affairs at the University of Illinois and principle investigator on the study.

But one third of patients go on to develop complicated sarcoidosis -- neurologic sarcoidosis, cardiac sarcoidosis and progressive lung disease, Garcia said. Complicated sarcoidosis can leave patients with lung damage, and in a small percentage of cases the disease can be fatal.

The challenge, Garcia says, is that there is no difference in the clinical presentation between patients with simple sarcoidosis and those who will go on to develop more serious disease.

The researchers took blood from patients with simple and complicated sarcoidosis as well as patients without the disease to look for a pattern of gene expression unique to complicated sarcoidosis.

They were able to identify a distinct 20-gene pattern of gene expression that could reliably identify those most likely to progress to complicated sarcoidosis.

A 31-gene expression signature had been identified previously, but a smaller panel of genes makes the new test less expensive and more useful clinically, said Garcia.

"We are dedicated to looking for new insights as well as new therapies for sarcoidosis and hope to someday be able to identify people at risk for it ahead of time," Garcia said.

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New gene test flags risk of serious complications in sarcoidosis

Public release date: 12-Oct-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Megan Fellman fellman@northwestern.edu 847-491-3115 Northwestern University

Researchers from Johns Hopkins and Northwestern universities have discovered how to control the shape of nanoparticles that move DNA through the body and have shown that the shapes of these carriers may make a big difference in how well they work in treating cancer and other diseases.

This study, to be published in the Oct. 12 online edition of the journal Advanced Materials, is also noteworthy because this gene therapy technique does not use a virus to carry DNA into cells. Some gene therapy efforts that rely on viruses have posed health risks.

"These nanoparticles could become a safer and more effective delivery vehicle for gene therapy, targeting genetic diseases, cancer and other illnesses that can be treated with gene medicine," said Hai-Quan Mao, an associate professor of materials science and engineering in Johns Hopkins' Whiting School of Engineering.

Mao, co-corresponding author of the Advanced Materials article, has been developing nonviral nanoparticles for gene therapy for a decade. His approach involves compressing healthy snippets of DNA within protective polymer coatings. The particles are designed to deliver their genetic payload only after they have moved through the bloodstream and entered the target cells. Within the cells, the polymer degrades and releases DNA. Using this DNA as a template, the cells can produce functional proteins that combat disease.

A major advance in this work is that Mao and his colleagues reported that they were able to "tune" these particles in three shapes, resembling rods, worms and spheres, which mimic the shapes and sizes of viral particles. "We could observe these shapes in the lab, but we did not fully understand why they assumed these shapes and how to control the process well," Mao said. These questions were important because the DNA delivery system he envisions may require specific, uniform shapes.

To solve this problem, Mao sought help about three years ago from colleagues at Northwestern. While Mao works in a traditional wet lab, the Northwestern researchers are experts in conducting similar experiments with powerful computer models.

Erik Luijten, associate professor of materials science and engineering and of applied mathematics at Northwestern's McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science and co-corresponding author of the paper, led the computational analysis of the findings to determine why the nanoparticles formed into different shapes.

"Our computer simulations and theoretical model have provided a mechanistic understanding, identifying what is responsible for this shape change," Luijten said. "We now can predict precisely how to choose the nanoparticle components if one wants to obtain a certain shape."

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Scientists discover that shape matters in DNA nanoparticle therapy

ScienceDaily (Oct. 12, 2012) Researchers from Johns Hopkins and Northwestern universities have discovered how to control the shape of nanoparticles that move DNA through the body and have shown that the shapes of these carriers may make a big difference in how well they work in treating cancer and other diseases.

This study, published in the Oct. 12 online edition of Advanced Materials, is also noteworthy because this gene therapy technique does not use a virus to carry DNA into cells. Some gene therapy efforts that rely on viruses have posed health risks.

"These nanoparticles could become a safer and more effective delivery vehicle for gene therapy, targeting genetic diseases, cancer and other illnesses that can be treated with gene medicine," said Hai-Quan Mao, an associate professor of materials science and engineering in Johns Hopkins' Whiting School of Engineering.

Mao, co-corresponding author of the Advanced Materials article, has been developing nonviral nanoparticles for gene therapy for a decade. His approach involves compressing healthy snippets of DNA within protective polymer coatings. The particles are designed to deliver their genetic payload only after they have moved through the bloodstream and entered the target cells. Within the cells, the polymer degrades and releases DNA. Using this DNA as a template, the cells can produce functional proteins that combat disease.

A major advance in this work is that Mao and his colleagues reported that they were able to "tune" these particles in three shapes, resembling rods, worms and spheres, which mimic the shapes and sizes of viral particles. "We could observe these shapes in the lab, but we did not fully understand why they assumed these shapes and how to control the process well," Mao said. These questions were important because the DNA delivery system he envisions may require specific, uniform shapes.

To solve this problem, Mao sought help about three years ago from colleagues at Northwestern. While Mao works in a traditional wet lab, the Northwestern researchers are experts in conducting similar experiments with powerful computer models.

Erik Luijten, associate professor of materials science and engineering and of applied mathematics at Northwestern's McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science and co-corresponding author of the paper, led the computational analysis of the findings to determine why the nanoparticles formed into different shapes.

"Our computer simulations and theoretical model have provided a mechanistic understanding, identifying what is responsible for this shape change," Luijten said. "We now can predict precisely how to choose the nanoparticle components if one wants to obtain a certain shape."

The use of computer models allowed Luijten's team to mimic traditional lab experiments at a far faster pace. These molecular dynamic simulations were performed on Quest, Northwestern's high-performance computing system. The computations were so complex that some of them required 96 computer processors working simultaneously for one month.

In their paper, the researchers also wanted to show the importance of particle shapes in delivering gene therapy. Team members conducted animal tests, all using the same particle materials and the same DNA. The only difference was in the shape of the particles: rods, worms and spheres.

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Shape matters in DNA nanoparticle therapy

ScienceDaily (Oct. 12, 2012) Researchers from Johns Hopkins and Northwestern universities have discovered how to control the shape of nanoparticles that move DNA through the body and have shown that the shapes of these carriers may make a big difference in how well they work in treating cancer and other diseases.

This study, to be published in the Oct. 12 online edition of the journal Advanced Materials, is also noteworthy because this gene therapy technique does not use a virus to carry DNA into cells. Some gene therapy efforts that rely on viruses have posed health risks.

"These nanoparticles could become a safer and more effective delivery vehicle for gene therapy, targeting genetic diseases, cancer and other illnesses that can be treated with gene medicine," said Hai-Quan Mao, an associate professor of materials science and engineering in Johns Hopkins' Whiting School of Engineering.

Mao, co-corresponding author of the Advanced Materials article, has been developing nonviral nanoparticles for gene therapy for a decade. His approach involves compressing healthy snippets of DNA within protective polymer coatings. The particles are designed to deliver their genetic payload only after they have moved through the bloodstream and entered the target cells. Within the cells, the polymer degrades and releases DNA. Using this DNA as a template, the cells can produce functional proteins that combat disease.

A major advance in this work is that Mao and his colleagues reported that they were able to "tune" these particles in three shapes, resembling rods, worms and spheres, which mimic the shapes and sizes of viral particles. "We could observe these shapes in the lab, but we did not fully understand why they assumed these shapes and how to control the process well," Mao said. These questions were important because the DNA delivery system he envisions may require specific, uniform shapes.

To solve this problem, Mao sought help about three years ago from colleagues at Northwestern. While Mao works in a traditional wet lab, the Northwestern researchers are experts in conducting similar experiments with powerful computer models.

Erik Luijten, associate professor of materials science and engineering and of applied mathematics at Northwestern's McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science and co-corresponding author of the paper, led the computational analysis of the findings to determine why the nanoparticles formed into different shapes.

"Our computer simulations and theoretical model have provided a mechanistic understanding, identifying what is responsible for this shape change," Luijten said. "We now can predict precisely how to choose the nanoparticle components if one wants to obtain a certain shape."

The use of computer models allowed Luijten's team to mimic traditional lab experiments at a far faster pace. These molecular dynamic simulations were performed on Quest, Northwestern's high-performance computing system. The computations were so complex that some of them required 96 computer processors working simultaneously for one month.

In their paper, the researchers also wanted to show the importance of particle shapes in delivering gene therapy. Team members conducted animal tests, all using the same particle materials and the same DNA. The only difference was in the shape of the particles: rods, worms and spheres.

Read the original here:
Shape matters in DNA nanoparticle therapy: Particles could become a safer, more effective delivery vehicle for gene ...

ScienceDaily (Oct. 10, 2012) Huntington's disease (HD) is an inherited genetic disorder caused by the multiple repetition of a DNA sequence (the nucleotides CAG) in the gene encoding a protein called "Huntingtin". People who do not suffer from the disease have this sequence repeated 10 to 29 times. But in an affected person, the triplet is present more than 35 times.

Huntingtin protein can be found in various tissues of the human body and is essential for the development and survival of neurons in adults. When the mutant gene is present, an aberrant form of the Hungtingtin protein is produced, causing the symptoms of the disease: involuntary movements, changes in behavior and dementia, among others. Although there are several promising studies, there is currently no cure for HD. There are only palliative treatments of symptoms, and Huntington's patients die about 15 years after the symptoms onset.

Unlike other neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer or Parkinson), only a single gene is responsible for HD (i.e. the disorders is monogenic), and a therapy based on the inhibition of the gene, will open new perspectives of research for the development of a treatment.

A recently developed tool by scientists around the world is based on the modification of proteins that are found naturally in all living beings. These proteins are called Zinc Finger proteins, and can recognize and bind to specific DNA sequences. This enables the regulation of those genes to which they are attached.

A study conducted by researchers of the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) in Barcelona provides positive results reducing the chromosomal expression of the mutant gene, which would prevent the development of disease. The research is published in Early Edition by the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

"We designed specific ZFP that recognize and specifically bind to more than 35 repetitions of CAG triplet, preventing the expression of the gene containing these repeats and reducing the production of the mutant Huntingtin protein. When applying this treatment to a transgenic mouse model carrying the human mutant Huntingtin gene, we observed a delayed onset of the symptoms, "says Mireia Garriga-Canut, first author of the study and researcher at the Gene Network Engineering group at the CRG. Another co-author of the study, Carmen Agustn Pavn, adds that "the next step is to optimize the design for an effective and durable treatment for patients. This would pave the way to find a therapy for Huntington's disease".

The research was funded by the FP7 program of the European Commission and the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain.

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Zinc fingers: A new tool in the fight against Huntington's disease

It sounds like a scene from a TV show: Someone sends a discarded coffee cup to a laboratory where the unwitting drinker's DNA is decoded, predicting what diseases lurk in his or her future.

A presidential commission found that's legally possible in about half the states and says new protections to ensure the privacy of people's genetic information are critical if the nation is to realize the enormous medical potential of gene-mapping.

Such whole genome sequencing costs too much now for that extreme coffee-cup scenario to be likely. But the report being released Thursday says the price is dropping so rapidly that the technology could become common in doctors' offices very soon and there are lots of ethical issues surrounding how, when and with whom the results may be shared.

Without public trust, people may not be as willing to allow scientists to study their genetic information, key to learning to better fight disease, the report warns.

"If this issue is left unaddressed, we could all feel the effects," said Dr. Amy Gutmann, who chairs the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues.

Mapping entire genomes now is done primarily for research, as scientists piece together which genetic mutations play a role in various diseases. It's different than getting a lab test to see if you carry, say, a single gene known to cause breast cancer.

Gutmann said her commission investigated ahead of an anticipated boom in genome sequencing as the price drops from thousands today to about $1,000, cheaper than running a few individual gene tests.

AP

The sheer amount of information in a whole genome increases the privacy concerns. For example, people may have their genomes sequenced to study one disease that runs in the family, only to learn they're also at risk for something else with implications for relatives who may not have wanted to know.

Thursday's report shows a patchwork of protection. A 2008 federal law prohibits employers or health insurers from discriminating on the basis of genetic information, so that people don't put off a potentially important gene test for fear of losing their job or health coverage. But that law doesn't prevent denial of life insurance or long-term care insurance. Plus, there's little oversight of how securely genetic information is stored electronically, the report found.

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US Panel Urges Gene Privacy Protection

ScienceDaily (Oct. 11, 2012) A paper by Shizhong Han and colleagues in the current issue of Biological Psychiatry implicates a new gene in the risk for cannabis dependence. This gene, NRG1, codes for the ErbB4 receptor, a protein implicated in synaptic development and function.

The researchers set out to investigate susceptibility genes for cannabis dependence, as research has already shown that it has a strong genetic component.

To do this, they employed a multi-stage design using genetic data from African American and European American families. In the first stage, a linkage analysis, the strongest signal was identified in African Americans on chromosome 8p21. Then using a genome-wide association study dataset, they identified one genetic variant at NRG1 that showed consistent evidence for association in both African Americans and European Americans. Finally, they replicated the association of that same variant in an independent sample of African-Americans.

All together, the findings suggest that NRG1 may be a susceptibility gene for cannabis dependence.

An interesting feature of this paper is that these findings may also suggest a link between the genetics of schizophrenia and the genetics of cannabis dependence. NRG1 emerged into public awareness after a series of genetic studies implicated it in the heritable risk for schizophrenia. Subsequent studies in post-mortem brain tissue also suggested that the regulation of NRG1 was altered in the brains of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Thus, the current findings may help to explain the already established link between cannabis use and the risk for developing schizophrenia. A number of epidemiologic studies have attributed the association of cannabis use and schizophrenia to the effects of cannabis on the brain rather than a common genetic link between these two conditions.

"The current data provide a potentially important insight into the heritable risk for schizophrenia and raise the possibility that there are some common genetic contributions to these two disorders," commented Dr. John Krystal, Editor of Biological Psychiatry.

However, further research will be necessary to further confirm the role that NRG1 plays in cannabis dependence and the potential link between cannabis use and psychosis.

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Gene implicated in schizophrenia risk is also associated with risk for cannabis dependence

ScienceDaily (Oct. 11, 2012) Scientists have observed the neurological mechanism behind temperature-dependent -- febrile -- seizures by genetically engineering fruit flies to harbor a mutation analogous to one that causes epileptic seizures in people. In addition to contributing the insight on epilepsy, their new study also highlights the first use of genetic engineering to swap a human genetic disease mutation into a directly analogous gene in a fly.

In a newly reported set of experiments that show the value of a particularly precise but difficult genetic engineering technique, researchers at Brown University and the University of California-Irvine have created a Drosophila fruit fly model of epilepsy to discern the mechanism by which temperature-dependent seizures happen.

The researchers used a technique called homologous recombination -- a more precise and sophisticated technique than transgenic gene engineering -- to give flies a disease-causing mutation that is a direct analogue of the mutation that leads to febrile epileptic seizures in humans. They observed the temperature-dependent seizures in whole flies and also observed the process in their brains. What they discovered is that the mutation leads to a breakdown in the ability of certain cells that normally inhibit brain overactivity to properly regulate their electrochemical behavior.

In addition to providing insight into the neurology of febrile seizures, said Robert Reenan, professor of biology at Brown and a co-corresponding author of the paper in the Journal of Neuroscience, the study establishes

"This is the first time anyone has introduced a human disease-causing mutation overtly into the same gene that flies possess," Reenan said.

Engineering seizures

Homologous recombination (HR) starts with the transgenic technique of harnessing a transposable element (jumping gene) to insert a specially mutated gene just anywhere into the fly's DNA, but then goes beyond that to ultimately place the mutated gene into exactly the same position as the natural gene on the X chromosome. HR does this by outfitting the gene to be handled by the cell's own DNA repair mechanisms, essentially tricking the cell into putting the mutant copy into exactly the right place. Reenan's success with the technique allowed him to win a special grant from the National Institutes of Health last year.

The new paper is a result of that grant and Reenan's collaboration with neurobiologist Diane O'Dowd at UC-Irvine. Reenan and undergraduate Jeff Gilligan used HR to insert a mutated version of the para gene in fruit flies that is a direct parallel of the mutation in the human gene SCN1A that causes febrile seizures in people.

When the researchers placed flies in tubes and bathed the tubes in 104-degree F water, the mutant fruit flies had seizures after 20 seconds in which their legs would begin twitching followed by wing flapping, abdominal curling, and an inability to remain standing. After that, they remained motionless for as long as half an hour before recovering. Unaltered flies, meanwhile, exhibited no temperature-dependent seizures.

The researchers also found that seizure susceptibility was dose-dependent. Female flies with mutant strains of both copies of the para gene (females have two copies of the X chromosome) were the most susceptible to seizures. Those in whom only one copy of the gene was a mutant were less likely than those with two to seize, but more likely than the controls.

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Engineered flies spill secret of seizures

They're called discreet DNA samples, and the Elk Grove, California, genetic-testing company easyDNA says it can handle many kinds, from toothpicks to tampons.

Blood stains from bandages and tampons? Ship them in a paper envelope for paternity, ancestry or health testing. EasyDNA also welcomes cigarette butts (two to four), dental floss ("do not touch the floss with your fingers"), razor clippings, gum, toothpicks, licked stamps and used tissues if the more standard cheek swab or tube of saliva isn't obtainable.

If the availability of such services seems like an invitation to mischief or worse - imagine a discarded tissue from a prospective employee being tested to determine whether she's at risk for an expensive disease, for instance - the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues agrees.

On Thursday it released a report on privacy concerns triggered by the advent of whole genome sequencing, determining someone's complete DNA make-up. Although sequencing "holds enormous promise for human health and medicine," commission chairwoman Amy Gutmann told reporters on Wednesday, there is a "potential for misuse of this very personal data."

"In many states someone can pick up your discarded coffee cup and send it for (DNA) testing," said Gutmann, who is the president of the University of Pennsylvania.

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Citing privacy concerns, US panel urges end to secret DNA testing

BOTHELL, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Iverson Genetic Diagnostics, Inc. announced today an exclusive licensing agreement with Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine under which Iverson receives global exclusive commercialization rights for molecular diagnostics that are designed to help physicians to assess cardiovascular risk in men and women and infertility risk in women. In this new era of personalized medicine, it is now possible to more accurately determine if the healthy cholesterol fraction, HDL, and its partner protein, scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI), affect risk for heart disease in men and women as well as hormonal and fertility outcomes in women. Mutations within the SR-BI gene (SCARB1) are common and work by Annabelle Rodriguez-Oquendo, M.D. at John Hopkins University School of Medicine has suggested that variations within theSCARB1gene show associations with heart disease risk in men and women as well as hormonal and fertility problems in women.

Leroy Hood, M.D., Ph.D., co-founder of the Institute for Systems Biology and a member of Iverson Genetic Diagnostics Board of Directors, commented, The importance of finding gene variants that affect the metabolism of cholesterol, especially the healthy fraction, and hormones--hence causing disease--is incredibly important for personalized medicine. This agreement between Iverson and Johns Hopkins is a wonderful example of a diagnostic test that could significantly improve the health of many patients throughout the world.

DeanSproles, CEO of Iverson Genetic Diagnostics, Inc., stated, We are very pleased to collaborate with Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine on this product and look forward to including the new SR-BI test in the Iversons Physicians LogicTMportfolio later this year.

About Iverson Genetic Diagnostics, Inc.

Iverson Genetic Diagnostics, Inc. is a Nevada C corporation with administrative headquarters in Bothell, Washington, and production headquarters in Charleston, South Carolina. Iverson is establishing a recognizable global brand for providing trusted genetic tests and testing services for the emerging market of individualized medicine and genetics-based molecular diagnostics. The companys mission is to improve patient outcomes through personalized care. Iverson is a fully credentialed laboratory service company focused on providing results within 24 hours for hospitals and physicians. Iversons patented technology, Physicians LogicTM, is our healthcare information resource developed to deploy test results to providers and integrate with various electronic medical record systems in a HIPAA-compliant environment.

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Iverson Genetic Diagnostics, Inc. Announces an Exclusive Licensing Agreement with Johns Hopkins University School of ...

Yesterday (Wednesday October 10) we were pleased to see the launch of Dukes second Coursera MOOC (Massive Open Online Course), Introduction to Genetics and Evolution. Led by Dr. Mohamed Noor, the course bills itself as a whirlwind introduction to evolution and genetics.

As we observed in Dukes first Coursera MOOC on Bioelectricity, the course discussion boards lit up almost immediately with students eager to begin. The site recorded over 1000 posts and 10,000 comments in the past 24 hours. As expected, virtual and in-person study groups began to form right away (both within the course site and outside of it).

Who are these students and where are they? Based on a pre-course questionnaire sent out by the instructor, over 120 countries are represented and 2/3 of the students reside outside of the United States. Professor Noor is delighted at the level of activity and enthusiasm from thestudents enrolled in the course from the first day, andhappy to see the breadth of students participating 8th graders toretirees, those in evolution graduate programs to those who haventfinished high school, the breadth of countries represented for example,there were enough people from the Philippines enrolled to organize aFilipino study group!

To give a blurred snapshot of a rapidly moving target, here are few quick numbers about the course since its launch yesterday:

Professor Noor commented today, Its going to be hard for me to restrainmyself from spending many hours a day watching the discussion forumposts that appear literally almost every minute!

Yvonne leads program evaluation for CIT and provides leadership to library assessment efforts as head of the library's Assessment Core Team. Her work includes serving on library- and university-wide planning committees and working groups, and she also directs evaluation activities for the Clinical Research Training Program in the School of Medicine at Duke. Her interests include organizational learning, utilization-focused evaluation, survey design and evaluation capacity-building.

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Genetics and Evolution, Duke's Second Coursera Course, Begins