Published Aug 25, 2020 at 8:00 am(Updated Aug 25, 2020 at 9:46 am)

O you mankind, surely We created you of a male and a female, and We have made you races and tribes that you may get mutually acquainted. Surely the most honourable among you in the providence of God are the most pious; surely God is ever-knowing, ever-cognisant. Koran

All over the planet, we have a variety of people with differing ethnicity and race. The beauty of the planet is meant to be seen in its diversity. We can be known by those differences, with the best among us not determined by our looks but by our behaviour.

Life isnt static. There is always movement and the blending of cultures, customs and races. While there can be majorities and minorities, there is no need or prerogative of any group to destroy or colonise the identity or specificity of another subgroup by force or propaganda.

The Pacific is a beautiful example of thousands of years of ethnic divergence. To the untrained eye or ear, there could be an easy tendency to assume that many parts are all of one people. They look alike, the sounds of their vowels and consonants are similar, yet the languages are distinctly different and the DNA of the genetic pools are just as different.

Yes, you may use the generic term Asian, but look a little deeper because if one makes the assumption they are the same, a Japanese person would firmly argue that they are not Chinese or Vietnamese. A Malaysian will firmly assert they are not Indonesian and will be insulted for being identified that way.

We can also look a bit closer and take, for example, some ethnicity that had developed in the West Indies because of circumstances that forced movement and the histories of peoples to blend together, creating new identities.

In that regard, I speak of the Carib Indians, who were familiar to many islands and South America, and after whom the area was called the Caribbean. When the Africans were introduced to the area, many of them escaped slavery and captivity, and assimilated with the Caribs.

Later this assimilation became known as the Black Caribs, who along with indigenous Caribs resisted colonisation by all the European colonisers. They were forced to leave places such as St Vincent the home of my great-grandfather and became known as the Garifuna.

The Garifuna are Africans mixed with Carib; no one can deny either their African or Carib roots. Their circumstance has a uniqueness: they are a product of suffering and struggle of two separate groups of people, but ended up with a single identity and ethnicity of their own. Its an important distinction and one the world does respect as belonging solely to them, as they recall the tales of their unique experience.

In similar fashion, Bermudians descending from the early 1600s have a unique experience with African, Native American, Irish and English thrown together to populate what has become the indigenous population of the island. Today the genetics of those subgroups of people have a distinct pattern that indicates its own ethnicity. When one adds the DNA pattern, the distinct dialect and unique history, we have a unique classification that could be rightfully termed as native to Bermuda.

As a qualifier, one of my sons attended Dalhousie University and as an elective chose a course in genetics. His DNA was tested as a sample student and the results gained as reported by the professor showed that Bermuda was at the edge of its own ethnicity and was more homogeneous than the Japanese.

The other thing needing to be understood, particularly because of the lifestyle of the early 1800s, with white men cohabitating with mulatto women, which became commonplace pre-emancipation, the majority of what is termed white Bermudian has at least a great-great-great-grandmother who was black.

Given the way assimilation occurs, there are very few whites who do not have a black Bermudian ancestor. This, like it or not, is a truth about the DNA of native Bermudians: they are more of a tribe than they are of separate races.

It is extremely important that Bermudians preserve their identity and, given the threats levied against that identity of being truly Bermudian and the attempts to deny its nativity by removing its authenticity, calling it only a by-product of an other, it has become necessary to add the distinction native to emphasise the ethnicity and uniqueness of their history as being connected to this island called Bermuda.

It is important that all global institutions, even Google and information networks, also the United Nations, find cause to recognise the nativity and indigenous status of native Bermudians. No one can claim or remove what is a self-evident and living truth. Those who can find their way into the 18th century and are of that history cannot be legislated away or buried under false myth.

A great example of this is in fact, the Garifuna, because those who are native Bermudian are as Bermudian, as they are Garifuna. All those who can trace their family into the 18th century, when asked about their ethnicity, should say I am native Bermudian and not just Bermudian.

The difference is, one is a national ID and can be granted; the other is anthropological and cannot.

Continued here:
Identity of the native Bermudian - Royal Gazette

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

By David Muchunguh

What do you consider as your most important research or publication? Why?

I think our paper published in Nature is my most significant publication. Not only did we manage to publish in a highly respected international peer reviewed journal but also our work was featured on the cover.

We reported on inter-group relations among prehistoric communities of hunter-gatherers who lived in Nataruk, west of Lake Turkana. Together with Dr Marta Mirazn Lahr, Prof Robert Foley, and others, we were able to show that human conflict over resources is historical. Until this was published, violence of this nature was mainly associated with more settled or socially developed people, who had more resources to protect, for example food grain or land. But this study was able to show that warfare and violence did occur among communities irrespective of their wealth or possessions; or whether they were hunters or gatherers.

I am also especially fond of the paper that came out of my PhD research titled The origins of African Sheep: Archaeological and Genetic Perspectives in African Archaeological Review (2013) 30:3950) that documented the routes of how sheep were introduced into Africa and how sheep pastoralism spread throughout the continent.

You have been re-appointed as a member of the Commission for University Education, what fundamental changes do we need to improve the competitiveness of our university education?

Covid-19 pandemic has caused all universities to re-think how they operate. We have to adopt new and innovative ways of teaching and interacting with students. We have to ensure that learning and research continues.

This means greater investment in technology. Innovations and technology can be a great driver for economic development. I think there is not enough money going into research. If universities could get even half of what is envisioned in the Vision 2030 (which is 2 per cent of the GDP) it would make a huge impact on the economy. The universities need to upgrade and modernise their infrastructure for scholarship and research.

Expound on your role at the WHO

At the end of 2018, a Chinese scientist, He Jiankui, made a startling announcement, that he had genetically altered two babies genes in order to prevent them from getting HIV. This announcement was shocking because there are easier and safer ways to prevent HIV infections.

The gene editing technology that Jiankui used called CRISPR is not safe for use on humans and the implications of his experiments on innocent babies are huge. The Director General of the World Health Organization set up the WHO Expert Advisory Committee on Developing Global Standards for Governance and Oversight of Human Genome Editing to which I was appointed.

We are developing a governance framework for the management of this science. We are working very hard to complete this and we anticipate it will be finalised by December.

How did the Westgate experience affect the way you work, if at all it did?

My experience at Westgate changed me. Not only did I come face-to-face with death (after being shot twice in the chest at point-blank range) and survive, I saw humanity at its worst and at its best. I have chosen to carry the good with me.

My sister (who was with me) and I saw people putting their lives at risk to rescue and save us. I learnt what it means to be committed and to serve. And I have tried to emulate this from that experience.

Youve scored a number of firsts, would you like to tell us about them?

I was the founder and the first chairperson of the Department of Botany at JKUAT at 26 years of age. This automatically made me a member of the JKUAT Senate and I made history by being the youngest member of the JKUAT Senate.

The following year, I was appointed JKUAT Senate representative to the University Council. This was my first board appointment and at 27 years, it inducted me into leadership at a young age.

I was promoted to the post of associate professor in 2007 and to a full professor in 2013, making me the first female professor of Genetics in the country.

In research, I was the first in the world to characterise the sheep of Africa using molecular biology tools and the first in JKUAT to publish in the Nature journal. Like I mentioned earlier, we were the first to report violence among groups of hunter gatherers

What do you think is the future of science studies in Kenya?

The future is very bright. Since 2018, I have been honoured to be the chief Judge for the Young Scientist Kenya (YSK) National Science and Technology Exhibition. Every year students from all 47 counties assemble and showcase technologies, innovations and ideas that they have developed to use and more importantly to solve challenges that face their communities.

These are the minds that we need to nurture, because they know what their challenges are and they do not wait for someone else to provide solutions, they do that on their own.

YSK is an initiative of both the Ministry of Education and the Government of Ireland. When we have more students doing STEM in secondary school, then we will have more doing STEM at the tertiary level in universities and technical and vocational colleges. Research has shown that countries that have strong science, technology and innovation cultures develop faster economically and make the nation strong and competitive internationally.

What are you working on right now?

Right now my research involves identifying local innovations that can have a positive impact on increasing livestock production. Farmers are real innovators. They identify their problems and come up with solutions.

So you find that there are many inventions, innovations and local technologies at the farm level that should be patented, scaled up and disseminated to other regions to help other farmers. I am also keen on identifying digital solutions that can be integrated into livestock production.

For example, the use of digital platforms to connect farmers directly to sellers and thus increasing their profits and cutting out costly middlemen.

What do you do during your free time?

I read autobiographies and I knit beanies ... woollen hats. I am a member of a womens book club called Hodari Mothers Club and we have a project where we (among other things) make beanies for charity. Last year, we made beanies and donated them for use in preemie (premature baby) wards in the public hospitals. Right now our focus is to make beanies and donate them to adolescent cancer survivors.

More:
Don of many firsts and survivor of terror attack - Daily Nation

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Global CRISPR and Cas Genes Market Snapshot

CRISPR-Cas systems are efficient and easily programmable nucleic acid-targeting tools, with usage expanding beyond research and therapeutic development to precision breeding of plants and animals and engineering of industrial microbes. CRISPR-Cas systems have potential applications in microbial engineering including bacterial strain typing, immunization of cultures, autoimmunity or self-targeted cell killing, and the engineering or control of metabolic pathways for improved biochemical synthesis. The global CRISPR and Cas genes market was valued at US$ 1,451.6 Mn in 2017 and is anticipated to reach US$ 7,234.5 Mn by 2026, expanding at a CAGR of 20.1% from 2018 to 2026.

Read Report Overview - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/crispr-cas-genes-market.html

Usage of CRISPR-Cas systems in bacteria, rise in government spending on research and development of genome editing, increase in incidence of genetic disorders, and usage of CRISPR/Cas9 technology to improve crop production drive the global CRISPR and Cas genes market. Genome editing technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9 is a revolutionary step in the field of biomedical research. Application of CRISPR/Cas9 focusing on somatic cell genome editing program is aimed at accelerating the use of these technologies to treat various genetic disorders. However, ethical issues concerning CRISPR and lack of skilled professionals restrain the global CRISPR and Cas genes market.

The global CRISPR and Cas genes market has been segmented based on product type, application, end-user, and region. In terms of product type, the global market has been bifurcated into vector-based Cas and DNA-free Cas. Based on application, the global CRISPR and Cas genes market has been classified into genome engineering, disease models, functional genomics, knockout/activation, and others. In terms of end-user, the global market has been categorized into biotechnology & pharmaceutical companies, academic & government research institutes, and contract research organizations. Based on region, the global CRISPR and Cas genes market has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa.

Request Brochure of Report - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=26417

In terms of product type, the vector-based Cas segment dominated the global market in 2017, accounting for 62.1% share. Vector-based Cas expression systems are useful for researchers who focus on enriching Cas9-expressing cells or strive to establish a stable cell line. Vector-based Cas is also available with an inducible promoter that supports the creation of stable cell lines with minimal background expression, or for temporal control over Cas9 expression for wide-ranging experimental applications. The DNA-free Cas segment is anticipated to gain market share during the forecast period. Advantages such as gene editing with DNA-free CRISPR-Cas9 components to reduce potential off-targets and potential usage of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to find correlations with human diseases in model systems drive the segment.

Request for Analysis of COVID-19 Impact on CRISPR and Cas Genes Market- https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=covid19&rep_id=26417

Based on application, the genome engineering segment dominated the global CRISPR and Cas genes market in 2017. CRISPR technology allows genetic material to be added, removed, or altered at particular locations in the genome. Cas9 mRNA or purified Cas9 protein is the source for Cas9 nuclease expression in genome engineering experiments. Genomic engineering is the synthetic assembly of complete chromosomal DNA that is more or less derived from natural genomic sequences. Disease models was the second largest segment of the global market. CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing has also been applied in immunology-focused applications such as the targeting of C-C chemokine receptor type 5 and programmed death-1 gene. This technology has been increasingly applied in the study or treatment of human diseases, including Barth syndrome effects on the heart, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, hemophilia, -thalassemia, and cystic fibrosis.

Request for Custom Research - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=CR&rep_id=26417

In terms of end-user, the biotechnology & pharmaceutical companies segment dominated the global CRISPR and Cas Gene market in 2017. Adoption of CRISPR technology by pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies through strategic partnerships with innovators drives the segment. In 2017, CRISPR Therapeutics established a joint venture called Casebia Therapeutics LLP with Bayer HeathCare and its subsidiaries. Academic & government research institutes was the second largest segment of the global market.

Based on region, North America and Europe dominated the global CRISPR and Cas genes market in 2017, accounting for 71% share. Rise in research activities and technological advancements are expected to drive the CRISPR and Cas genes market in the regions during the forecast period. In 2016, a human clinical trial was initiated for the use of CRISPR to treat diseases in the U.S. Increase in adoption of technology and presence of key players in the region are likely to accelerate the growth of the CRISPR and Cas genes market in Europe during the forecast period.

Buy CRISPR and Cas Genes Market Report - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=26417&ltype=S

Major players operating in the global CRISPR and Cas genes market include Synthego, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., GenScript, Addgene, Merck KGaA (Sigma-Aldrich), Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc., Transposagen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., OriGene Technologies, Inc., New England Biolabs, Dharmacon, Cellecta, Inc., Agilent Technologies, and Applied StemCell, Inc. These players adopt organic and in-organic growth strategies to expand product offerings, strengthen geographical reach, increase customer base, and capture market share.

Browse More Trending Reports by Transparency Market Research:

fNIRS Brain Imaging System Market

https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/fnirs-brain-imaging-system-market.html

Healthcare ERP Market

https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/healthcare-erp-market.html

Seborrheic Keratosis Treatment Market

https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/seborrheic-keratosis-treatment-market.html

About Us

Transparency Market Research is a next-generation market intelligence provider, offering fact-based solutions to business leaders, consultants, and strategy professionals.

Our reports are single-point solutions for businesses to grow, evolve, and mature. Our real-time data collection methods along with ability to track more than one million high growth niche products are aligned with your aims. The detailed and proprietary statistical models used by our analysts offer insights for making right decision in the shortest span of time. For organizations that require specific but comprehensive information we offer customized solutions through ad hoc reports. These requests are delivered with the perfect combination of right sense of fact-oriented problem solving methodologies and leveraging existing data repositories.

TMR believes that unison of solutions for clients-specific problems with right methodology of research is the key to help enterprises reach right decision.

Contact

Mr. Rohit BhiseyTransparency Market Research

State Tower,

90 State Street,

Suite 700,

Albany NY - 12207

United States

USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453

Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com

Website: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/

Go here to see the original:
CRISPR and Cas Genes Market: Rise in Incidence of Genetic Disorders and Increase in Applications of CRISPR and Cas Genes to Propel Market - BioSpace

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Investors looking for access to CRISPR gene editing technologies should consider the ARK Genomic Revolution Multi-Sector Fund (CBOE: ARKG), one of the ETFs best-positioned in this fast growing arena.

Looking ahead, CRISPR-based innovations to accelerate given the technologys ease of use, cost-efficacy, growing body of research surrounding its safety, and AI-powered CRISPR nuclease selection tools. CRISPR could also be utilized to address some of the most prominent healthcare problems, which opens up a significant investment opportunity in monogenic diseases.

According to three recent independent studies, CRISPR Cas9 a novel gene-editing technology could cause unintended changes, or off-target effects, to the human genome. Among them are gene deletions or unusual rearrangements of chromosomes, with unknown consequences, writes ARK Invest analyst Ali Urman in a recent note.

CRISPR could enable cheap and rapid write capabilities to correct genetic defects.

ARKG includes companies that merge healthcare with technology and capitalize on the revolution in genomic sequencing. These companies try to better understand how biological information is collected, processed and applied by reducing guesswork and enhancing precision; restructuring health care, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and enhancing our quality of life.

Currently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is drafting regulations for gene editing therapies. With roughly 1,000 human gene-editing trials already underway, regulators probably will have to review 20 new drug applications per year to keep up, notes Urman.

CRISPR, biotechs breakthrough of the century, will have a profound impact on the worlds most salient health and medical issues, especially as its toolbox expands.

CRISPR can cut DNA/RNA at a single point or in stretches; insert DNA/RNA and create novel gene sequences; activate and silence genes without making permanent changes; regulate protein expression levels epigenetically; record and timestamp biological events; track the movement of specific biological molecules; identify the presence of specific cancer mutations and bacteria; locate molecules without making changes; target and destroy specific viral and bacterial DNA and RNA; interrogate gene function multiplexed, and activate drug release at a specified trigger.

Last week, the FDA rejected BioMarins (BMRN) gene therapy for Hemophilia A, a severe chronic bleeding disorder, and requested more data, perhaps out of concern that off target effects could jeopardize patient safety. As a result, BioMarins potential cure could face a two-year delay, giving other pre-clinical Hemophilia A trials like Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA) an opportunity to catch up, writes Urman. CRISPR Cas9s potential is monumental. That said, regulators will have to standardize testing to identify off target effects and maximize its safety profile.

For more on disruptive technologies, visit our Disruptive Technology Channel.

The opinions and forecasts expressed herein are solely those of Tom Lydon, and may not actually come to pass. Information on this site should not be used or construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any product.

The rest is here:
Make the CRISPR Call With This Genomics ETF - ETF Trends

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Related: Officials Fear Fires Will Increase COVID-19 Transmission

Five months into the coronavirus pandemic, widespread testing has still proved to be a major obstacle in fighting the spread of the virus.

Demand has at times strained the supply of tests in the Bay Area throughout the pandemic and many have had to wait in long lines for free tests with results taking several days and in some cases even weeks.

Dr. Fyodor Urnov is a Professor with the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at UC Berkeley's Innovative Genomics Institute. He told KCBS Radios "Ask An Expert"Tuesday that scaling up the number of tests available has proved to be a major barrier, as the tests themselves can cost hundreds of dollars, require highly skilled workers to collect and run samples and take six-eight hours just to be processed in the lab.

But he believes that saliva samples and use of CRISPR technology together can solve these issues and make it possible for COVID-19 tests to be collected in the field with results delivered to patients in just two hours.

He saidthe IGI, like most other labs, is currently running qPCR tests on nasal swabs in order to test for the presence of the virus.

"We had to pivot, and we had to pivot to something that could be more scalable and something that could be cheaper. And thats changing one thing - which changes quite a bit - which is going from sticking a stick up your nose or throat or both, to saliva,"he said.

The FDA has granted emergency use authorization to several saliva-based tests.

Professor Urnov explainedsaliva samples are logistically easier to collect, and researchers at UC Berkeley are making progress in testing saliva directly for the presence of the virus without needing to purify the genetic material first, an expensive and time-consuming step in the testing process.

"There is a faster and cheaper way to do that and it may surprise you that its the same old CRISPR,"he explained. Dr. Urnov saidthe process is still being refined in order to make CRISPR tests for the virus more reliable, but he believes that within three to six months it could be possible to run these tests in the field.

"If you know what youre doing, with CRISPR you can get a result in under two hours,"he said.

Significant obstacles still remain, including access to testing supplies and the logistical challenges to deploying a new testing process on a large scale. But Dr. Urnov believes that there is potential for this technology to test a large number of people in vulnerable communities quickly, such as homeless encampments, skilled nursing facilities and low-income neighborhoods.

View post:
Saliva, CRISPR Could Be Key To Widespread Rapid Testing, Says Expert - KCBS

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

When Ralph Fisher,a Texas cattle rancher, set eyes on one of the worlds first cloned calves in August 1999, he didnt care what the scientists said: He knew it was his old Brahman bull, Chance, born again. About a year earlier, veterinarians at Texas A&M extracted DNA from one of Chances moles and used the sample to create a genetic double. Chance didnt live to meet his second self, but when the calf was born, Fisher christened him Second Chance, convinced he was the same animal.

Scientists cautioned Fisher that clones are more like twins than carbon copies: The two may act or even look different from one another. But as far as Fisher was concerned, Second Chance was Chance. Not only did they look identical from a certain distance, they behaved the same way as well. They ate with the same odd mannerisms; laid in the same spot in the yard. But in 2003, Second Chance attacked Fisher and tried to gore him with his horns. About 18 months later, the bull tossed Fisher into the air like an inconvenience and rammed him into the fence. Despite 80 stitches and a torn scrotum, Fisher resisted the idea that Second Chance was unlike his tame namesake,telling the radio program This American Life that I forgive him, you know?

In the two decades since Second Chance marked a genetic engineering milestone, cattle have secured a place on the front lines of biotechnology research. Today, scientists around the world are using cutting-edge technologies, fromsubcutaneous biosensorstospecialized food supplements, in an effort to improve safety and efficiency within the$385 billion global cattle meat industry. Beyond boosting profits, their efforts are driven by an imminent climate crisis, in which cattle play a significant role, and growing concern for livestock welfare among consumers.

Gene editing stands out as the most revolutionary of these technologies. Although gene-edited cattle have yet to be granted approval for human consumption, researchers say tools like Crispr-Cas9 could let them improve on conventional breeding practices and create cows that are healthier, meatier, and less detrimental to the environment. Cows are also beinggiven genesfrom the human immune system to create antibodies in the fight against Covid-19. (The genes of non-bovine livestock such as pigs and goats, meanwhile, have been hacked togrow transplantable human organsandproduce cancer drugs in their milk.)

But some experts worry biotech cattle may never make it out of the barn. For one thing, theres the optics issue: Gene editing tends to grab headlines for its role in controversial research and biotech blunders. Crispr-Cas9 is often celebrated for its potential to alter the blueprint of life, but that enormous promise can become a liability in the hands of rogue and unscrupulous researchers, tempting regulatory agencies to toughen restrictions on the technologys use. And its unclear how eager the public will be to buy beef from gene-edited animals. So the question isnt just if the technology will work in developing supercharged cattle, but whether consumers and regulators will support it.

Cattle are catalysts for climate change. Livestockaccount for an estimated 14.5 percent of greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, of which cattle are responsible for about two thirds, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). One simple way to address the issue is to eat less meat. But meat consumption is expected to increasealong with global population and average income. A 2012reportby the FAO projected that meat production will increase by 76 percent by 2050, as beef consumption increases by 1.2 percent annually. And the United States isprojected to set a recordfor beef production in 2021, according to the Department of Agriculture.

For Alison Van Eenennaam, an animal geneticist at the University of California, Davis, part of the answer is creating more efficient cattle that rely on fewer resources. According to Van Eenennaam, the number of dairy cows in the United Statesdecreasedfrom around 25 million in the 1940s to around 9 million in 2007, while milk production has increased by nearly 60 percent. Van Eenennaam credits this boost in productivity to conventional selective breeding.

You dont need to be a rocket scientist or even a mathematician to figure out that the environmental footprint or the greenhouse gases associated with a glass of milk today is about one-third of that associated with a glass of milk in the 1940s, she says. Anything you can do to accelerate the rate of conventional breeding is going to reduce the environmental footprint of a glass of milk or a pound of meat.

Modern gene-editing tools may fuel that acceleration. By making precise cuts to DNA, geneticists insert or remove naturally occurring genes associated with specific traits. Some experts insist that gene editing has the potential to spark a new food revolution.

Jon Oatley, a reproductive biologist at Washington State University, wants to use Crispr-Cas9 to fine tune the genetic code of rugged, disease-resistant, and heat-tolerant bulls that have been bred to thrive on the open range. By disabling a gene called NANOS2, he says he aims to eliminate the capacity for a bull to make his own sperm, turning the recipient into a surrogate for sperm-producing stem cells from more productive prized stock. These surrogate sires, equipped with sperm from prize bulls, would then be released into range herds that are often genetically isolated and difficult to access, and the premium genes would then be transmitted to their offspring.

Furthermore, surrogate sires would enable ranchers to introduce desired traits without having to wrangle their herd into one place for artificial insemination, says Oatley. He envisions the gene-edited bulls serving herds in tropical regions like Brazil, the worldslargestbeef exporter and home to around 200 million of the approximately 1.5 billion head of cattle on Earth.

Brazils herds are dominated by Nelore, a hardy breed that lacks the carcass and meat quality of breeds like Angus but can withstand high heat and humidity. Put an Angus bull on a tropical pasture and hes probably going to last maybe a month before he succumbs to the environment, says Oatley, while a Nelore bull carrying Angus sperm would have no problem with the climate.

The goal, according to Oatley, is to introduce genes from beefier bulls into these less efficient herds, increasing their productivity and decreasing their overall impact on the environment. We have shrinking resources, he says, and need new, innovative strategies for making those limited resources last.

Oatley has demonstrated his technique in mice but faces challenges with livestock. For starters, disabling NANOS2 does not definitively prevent the surrogate bull from producing some of its own sperm. And while Oatley has shown he can transplant sperm-producing cells into surrogate livestock, researchers have not yet published evidence showing that the surrogatesproduceenough quality sperm to support natural fertilization. How many cells will you need to make this bull actually fertile? asks Ina Dobrinski, a reproductive biologist at the University of Calgary who helped pioneer germ cell transplantation in large animals.

But Oatleys greatest challenge may be one shared with others in the bioengineered cattle industry: overcoming regulatory restrictions and societal suspicion. Surrogate sires would be classified as gene-edited animals by the Food and Drug Administration, meaning theyd face a rigorous approval process before their offspring could be sold for human consumption. But Oatley maintains that if his method is successful, the sperm itself would not be gene-edited, nor would the resulting offspring. The only gene-edited specimens would be the surrogate sires, which act like vessels in which the elite sperm travel.

Even so, says Dobrinski, Thats a very detailed difference and Im not sure how that will work with regulatory and consumer acceptance.

In fact, American attitudes towards gene editing have been generally positive when the modification is in the interest of animal welfare. Many dairy farmers prefer hornless cows horns can inflict damage when wielded by 1,500-pound animals so they often burn them off in apainful processusing corrosive chemicals and scalding irons. Ina study published last yearin the journal PLOS One, researchers found that most Americans are willing to consume food products from cows genetically modified to be hornless.

Still, experts say several high-profile gene-editing failures in livestock andhumansin recent years may lead consumers to consider new biotechnologies to be dangerous and unwieldy.

In 2014, a Minnesota startup called Recombinetics, a company with which Van Eenennaams lab has collaborated, created a pair of cross-bred Holstein bulls using the gene-editing tool TALENs, a precursor to Crispr-Cas9, making cuts to the bovine DNA and altering the genes to prevent the bulls from growing horns. Holstein cattle, which almost always carry horned genes, are highly productive dairy cows, so using conventional breeding to introduce hornless genes from less productive breeds can compromise the Holsteins productivity. Gene editing offered a chance to introduce only the genes Recombinetics wanted. Their hope was to use this experiment to prove that milk from the bulls female progeny was nutritionally equivalent to milk from non-edited stock. Such results could inform future efforts to make Holsteins hornless but no less productive.

The experiment seemed to work. In 2015, Buri and Spotigy were born. Over the next few years, the breakthrough received widespread media coverage, and when Buris hornless descendant graced thecover of Wired magazine in April 2019, it did so as the ostensible face of the livestock industrys future.

But early last year, a bioinformatician at the FDA ran a test on Buris genome and discovered an unexpected sliver of genetic code that didnt belong. Traces of bacterial DNA called a plasmid, which Recombinetics used to edit the bulls genome, had stayed behind in the editing process, carrying genes linked to antibiotic resistance in bacteria. After the agency publishedits findings, the media reaction was swift and fierce: FDA finds a surprise in gene-edited cattle: antibiotic-resistant, non-bovine DNA,readone headline. Part cow, part bacterium?readanother.

Recombinetics has since insisted that the leftover plasmid DNA was likely harmless and stressed that this sort of genetic slipup is not uncommon.

Is there any risk with the plasmid? I would say theres none, says Tad Sonstegard, president and CEO of Acceligen, a Recombinetics subsidiary. We eat plasmids all the time, and were filled with microorganisms in our body that have plasmids. In hindsight, Sonstegard says his teams only mistake was not properly screening for the plasmid to begin with.

While the presence of antibiotic-resistant plasmid genes in beef probably does not pose a direct threat to consumers, according to Jennifer Kuzma, a professor of science and technology policy and co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University, it does raise the possible risk of introducing antibiotic-resistant genes into the microflora of peoples digestive systems. Although unlikely, organisms in the gut could integrate those genes into their own DNA and, as a result, proliferate antibiotic resistance, making it more difficult to fight off bacterial diseases.

The lesson that I think is learned there is that science is never 100 percent certain, and that when youre doing a risk assessment, having some humility in your technology product is important, because you never know what youre going to discover further down the road, she says. In the case of Recombinetics. I dont think there was any ill intent on the part of the researchers, but sometimes being very optimistic about your technology and enthusiastic about it causes you to have blinders on when it comes to risk assessment.

The FDA eventually clarified its results, insisting that the study was meant only to publicize the presence of the plasmid, not to suggest the bacterial DNA was necessarily dangerous. Nonetheless, the damage was done. As a result of the blunder,a plan was quashedforRecombinetics to raise an experimental herd in Brazil.

Backlash to the FDA study exposed a fundamental disagreement between the agency and livestock biotechnologists. Scientists like Van Eenennaam, who in 2017 received a $500,000 grant from the Department of Agriculture to study Buris progeny, disagree with the FDAs strict regulatory approach to gene-edited animals. Typical GMOs aretransgenic, meaning they have genes from multiple different species, but modern gene-editing techniques allow scientists to stay roughly within the confines of conventional breeding, adding and removing traits that naturally occur within the species.

That said, gene editing is not yet free from errors and sometimes intended changes result in unintended alterations, notes Heather Lombardi, division director of animal bioengineering and cellular therapies at the FDAs Center for Veterinary Medicine. For that reason, the FDA remains cautious.

Theres a lot out there that I think is still unknown in terms of unintended consequences associated with using genome-editing technology, says Lombardi. Were just trying to get an understanding of what the potential impact is, if any, on safety.

Bhanu Telugu, an animal scientist at the University of Maryland and president and chief science officer at the agriculture technology startup RenOVAte Biosciences, worries that biotech companies willmigrate their experimentsto countries with looser regulatory environments. Perhaps more pressingly, he says strict regulation requiring long and expensive approval processes may incentivize these companies to work only on traits that are most profitable, rather than those that may have the greatest benefit for livestock and society, such as animal well-being and the environment.

What company would be willing to spend $20 million on potentially alleviating heat stress at this point? he asks.

On a windywinter afternoon, Raluca Mateescu leaned against a fence post at the University of Floridas Beef Teaching Unit while a Brahman heifer sniffed inquisitively at the air and reached out its tongue in search of unseen food. Since 2017, Mateescu, an animal geneticist at the university, has been part of a team studying heat and humidity tolerance in breeds like Brahman and Brangus (a mix between Brahman and Angus cattle). Her aim is to identify the genetic markers that contribute to a breeds climate resilience, markers that might lead to more precise breeding and gene-editing practices.

In the South, Mateescu says, heat and humidity are a major problem. That poses a stress to the animals because theyre selected for intense production to produce milk or grow fast and produce a lot of muscle and fat.

Like Nelore cattle in South America, Brahman are well-suited for tropical and subtropical climates, but their high tolerance for heat and humidity comes at the cost of lower meat quality than other breeds. Mateescu and her team have examined skin biopsies and found that relatively large sweat glands allow Brahman to better regulate their internal body temperature. With funding from the USDAs National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the researchers now plan to identify specific genetic markers that correlate with tolerance to tropical conditions.

If were selecting for animals that produce more without having a way to cool off, were going to run into trouble, she says.

There are other avenues in biotechnology beyond gene editing that may help reduce the cattle industrys footprint. Although still early in their development,lab-cultured meatsmay someday undermine todays beef producers by offering consumers an affordable alternative to the conventionally grown product, without the animal welfare and environmental concerns that arise from eating beef harvested from a carcass.

Other biotech techniques hope to improve the beef industry without displacing it. In Switzerland, scientists at a startup called Mootral areexperimenting with a garlic-based food supplementdesigned to alter the bovine digestive makeup to reduce the amount of methane they emit. Studies have shown the product to reduce methane emissions by about 20 percent in meat cattle, according to The New York Times.

In order to adhere to the Paris climate agreement, Mootrals owner, Thomas Hafner, believes demand will grow as governments require methane reductions from their livestock producers. We are working from the assumption that down the line every cow will be regulated to be on a methane reducer, he told The New York Times.

Meanwhile, a farm science research institute in New Zealand, AgResearch, hopes to target methane production at its source by eliminating methanogens, the microbes thought to be responsible for producing the greenhouse gas in ruminants. The AgResearch team isattempting to developa vaccine to alter the cattle guts microbial composition, according to the BBC.

Genomic testing may also allow cattle producers to see what genes calves carry before theyre born, according to Mateescu, enabling producers to make smarter breeding decisions and select for the most desirable traits, whether it be heat tolerance, disease resistance, or carcass weight.

Despite all these efforts, questions remain as to whether biotech can ever dramatically reduce the industrys emissions or afford humane treatment to captive animals in resource-intensive operations. To many of the industrys critics, including environmental and animal rights activists, the very nature of the practice of rearing livestock for human consumption erodes the noble goal of sustainable food production. Rather than revamp the industry, these critics suggest alternatives such as meat-free diets to fulfill our need for protein. Indeed,data suggestsmany young consumers are already incorporating plant-based meats into their meals.

Ultimately, though, climate change may be the most pressing issue facing the cattle industry, according to Telugu of the University of Maryland, which received a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to improve productivity and adaptability in African cattle. We cannot breed our way out of this, he says.

Dyllan Furness is a Florida-based science and technology journalist. His work has appeared in Quartz, OneZero, and PBS, among other outlets. Follow him on Twitter @dyllonline

This article was originally published at Undark and has been republished here with permission. Follow Undark on Twitter @undarkmag

Read the original:
CRISPR cows could boost sustainable meat production, but regulations and wary consumers stand in the way - Genetic Literacy Project

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

This report focuses on Global and Japan CRISPR/Cas9 Market status, future forecast, growth opportunity, key market, and key players. The study objectives are to present the Global and Japan CRISPR/Cas9 Market development in the United States, Europe, and China.

In 2019, the Global and Japan CRISPR/Cas9 Market size was million US$ and it is expected to reach million US$ by the end of 2025, with a CAGR of during 2015-2025.

The report also summarizes the various types of Global and Japan CRISPR/Cas9 Market. Factors that influence the market growth of particular product category type and market status for it. A detailed study of the Global and Japan CRISPR/Cas9 Market has been done to understand the various applications of the usage and features of the product. Readers looking for scope of growth with respect to product categories can get all the desired information over here, along with supporting figures and facts.

Request for full report: https://www.lexisbusinessinsights.com/request-sample-148256

Top Key players: Caribou Biosciences, Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT), CRISPR Therapeutics, Merck, Mirus Bio, Editas Medicine, Takara Bio, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Horizon Discovery Group, Intellia Therapeutics, Agilent Technologies, Cellecta, GenScript, GeneCopoeia, and Synthego

Global and Japan CRISPR/Cas9 Market: Regional Segment Analysis.

This report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamics. It offers a forward-looking perspective on different factors driving or limiting market growth. It provides a five-year forecast assessed based on how the Global and Japan CRISPR/Cas9 Market is predicted to grow. It helps in understanding the key product segments and their future and helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making an in-depth analysis of market segments.

Key questions answered in the report include:

What will the market size and the growth rate be in 2026?

What are the key factors driving the Global and Japan CRISPR/Cas9 Market?

What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the Global and Japan CRISPR/Cas9 Market?

What are the challenges to market growth?

Who are the key vendors in the Global and Japan CRISPR/Cas9 Market?

What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the Global and Japan CRISPR/Cas9 Market?

Trending factors influencing the market shares of the Americas, APAC, Europe, and MEA.

The report includes six parts, dealing with:

1.) Basic information;

2.) The Asia Global and Japan CRISPR/Cas9 Market;

3.) The North American Global and Japan CRISPR/Cas9 Market;

4.) The European Global and Japan CRISPR/Cas9 Market;

5.) Market entry and investment feasibility;

6.) The reports conclusion.

All the research report is made by using two techniques that are Primary and secondary research. There are various dynamic features of the business, like client need and feedback from the customers. Before (company name) curate any report, it has studied in-depth from all dynamic aspects such as industrial structure, application, classification, and definition.

The report focuses on some very essential points and gives a piece of full information about Revenue, production, price, and market share.

Global and Japan CRISPR/Cas9 Market report will enlist all sections and research for every point without showing any indeterminate of the company.

Reasons for Buying this Report

This report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamics

It provides a forward-looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining the market growth

It provides a six-year forecast assessed based on how the market is predicted to grow

It helps in understanding the key product segments and their future

It provides pin point analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitors

It helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making an in-depth analysis of market segments

TABLE OF CONTENT:

1 Report Overview

2 Global and Japan CRISPR/Cas9 Growth Trends

3 Market Share by Key Players

4 Breakdown Data by Type and Application

5 United States

6 Europe

7 China

8 Japan

9 Southeast Asia

10 India

11 Central & South America

12 International Players Profiles

13 Market Forecast 2025-2025

14 Analysts Viewpoints/Conclusions

15 Appendixs

Get Global and Japan CRISPR/Cas9 Market Complete Brochure @ https://www.lexisbusinessinsights.com/request-sample-148256

About Us:

Statistical surveying reports is a solitary goal for all the business, organization and nation reports. We highlight a huge archive of most recent industry reports, driving and specialty organization profiles, and market measurements discharged by rumored private distributors and open associations. Statistical surveying Store is the far-reaching gathering of market knowledge items and administrations accessible on air. We have statistical surveying reports from a number of driving distributors and update our gathering day by day to furnish our customers with the moment online access to our database. With access to this database, our customers will have the option to profit by master bits of knowledge on worldwide businesses, items, and market patterns

Contact Us:

Lexis Business Insights

Aaryan

(Director- Business Development)

US: +1 210 907 4145

APAC: +91 98677 99788

[emailprotected]

http://www.lexisbusinessinsights.com

Original post:
Global and Japan CRISPR/Cas9|Top Key players: Caribou Biosciences, Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT), CRISPR Therapeutics, Merck, Mirus Bio, Editas...

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Global CRISPR and Cas Genes Market research report presents a comprehensive overview of market size, share, evolution, trends, and forecast, and growth opportunities of CRISPR and Cas Genes market by product type, application, key manufacturers and key regions and countries. This report offers comprehensive analysis on global CRISPR and Cas Genes market along with, market trends, drivers, and restraints of the CRISPR and Cas Genes market. In-depth study of market size with data Tables, Bar & Pie Charts, and Graphs & Statistics which helps easy to understand detailed breakdown of market.

Note: Our analysts monitoring the situation across the globe explains that the market will generate remunerative prospects for producers post COVID-19 crisis. The report aims to provide an additional illustration of the latest scenario, economic slowdown, and COVID-19 impact on the overall industry.

For more insights into the Market, request a sample of this report (Including Full TOC, List of Tables & Figures, Chart) @ https://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=2713997&source=atm

Market segment by Type, the product can be split intoVector-based CasDNA-free Cas

Market segment by Application, split intoGenome EngineeringDisease ModelsOthers

Based on regional and country-level analysis, the CRISPR and Cas Genes market has been segmented as follows:North AmericaUnited StatesCanadaEuropeGermanyFranceU.K.ItalyRussiaNordicRest of EuropeAsia-PacificChinaJapanSouth KoreaSoutheast AsiaIndiaAustraliaRest of Asia-PacificLatin AmericaMexicoBrazilMiddle East & AfricaTurkeySaudi ArabiaUAERest of Middle East & Africa

In the competitive analysis section of the report, leading as well as prominent players of the global CRISPR and Cas Genes market are broadly studied on the basis of key factors. The report offers comprehensive analysis and accurate statistics on revenue by the player for the period 2015-2020. It also offers detailed analysis supported by reliable statistics on price and revenue (global level) by player for the period 2015-2020.The key players covered in this studySynthegoThermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.GenScriptAddgeneMerckIntegrated DNA Technologies, Inc.Transposagen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.OriGene Technologies, Inc.New England BiolabsHorizon Discovery Group Co.Cellecta, Inc.Agilent Technologies

For Information On The Research Approach Used In The Report, Ask to Our Industry [emailprotected] https://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=2713997&source=atm

This detailed report on CRISPR and Cas Genes market largely focuses on prominent facets such as product portfolio, payment channels, service offerings, applications, in addition to technological sophistication. The report lends versatile cues on market size and growth traits, besides also offering an in-depth section on opportunity mapping as well as barrier analysis, thus encouraging report readers to incur growth in global CRISPR and Cas Genes market.

This comprehensive research- documentary on global CRISPR and Cas Genes market is a holistic perspective of market developments, factors, dynamics, trends and challenges that decide growth trajectory of global CRISPR and Cas Genes market.

Apart from highlighting these vital realms, the report also includes critical understanding on notable developments and growth estimation across regions at a global context in this report on CRISPR and Cas Genes market.

These leading players are analyzed at length, complete with their product portfolio and company profiles to decipher crucial market findings. Additionally, the competitive landscape of the CRISPR and Cas Genes market is also evaluated at length in the report, to identify and analyze leading service providers.

Geographically, the detailed analysis of consumption, revenue, CRISPR and Cas Genes market share and growth rate, historic and forecast (2015-2026) of the following regions are covered-

North America (USA, Canada and Mexico)

Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)

Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)

South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.)

Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)

All the notable CRISPR and Cas Genes market specific dimensions are studied and analyzed at length in the report to arrive at conclusive insights. Further, a dedicated section on regional overview of the CRISPR and Cas Genes market is also included in the report to identify lucrative growth hubs.

This CRISPR and Cas Genes market also harps on competition intensity, thoroughly identifying and evaluating leading players in the CRISPR and Cas Genes market and their growth stimulators. Besides these aforementioned factors and attributes of the CRISPR and Cas Genes market, this report specifically decodes notable findings and concludes on innumerable factors and growth stimulating decisions that make this CRISPR and Cas Genes market a highly profitable.

You can Buy This Report from Here @ https://www.marketresearchhub.com/checkout?rep_id=2713997&licType=S&source=atm

A thorough take on essential elements such as drivers, threats, challenges, opportunities are thoroughly assessed and analyzed to arrive at logical conclusions. As the report proceeds further, Even further in the report emphasis has been lent on current, historical, as well as future growth tendencies to make accurate growth estimations based on market size, value, volume, demand and supply trends as well as growth rate.

Other vital factors related to the CRISPR and Cas Genes market such as scope, growth potential, profitability, and structural break-down have been innately roped in this CRISPR and Cas Genes report to accelerate market growth. This research compilation on CRISPR and Cas Genes market is a meticulous compilation of in-depth primary and secondary research. The report also lists ample understanding on various analytical practices such as SWOT and PESTEL analysis to guide optimum profits in CRISPR and Cas Genes market. The report is a conscious attempt to unearth market specific developments to ignite growth specific market discretion.

For More Information Kindly Contact:

marketresearchhub

90 State Street,

Albany NY,

United States 12207

Tel: +1-518-621-2074

USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948

Email: [emailprotected]

Here is the original post:
CRISPR and Cas Genes Market: Study Provides In-depth Analysis of CRISPR and Cas Genes Market along with the Current Trends and Future Estimations...

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

This report on Retro-Reflective Materials market has keen to several extents of analysis - industry research (global industry trends) and Retro-Reflective Materials market share analysis of topmost companies, along with company profiles, and which cooperatively include about the ultimate views regarding the Retro-Reflective Materials market landscape, emerging and an evolutionary segments of Retro-Reflective Materials market.

Retro-Reflective Materials Market forecasting derived from in-depth understanding attained from future market spending patterns provides enumerated insight to support your decision-making process. Our market forecasting is based on a market model derived from market connectivity, dynamics, and identified persuasive factors around which conventions about the market are made. These conventions are enlightened by fact-bases, put by primary and secondary research instruments, regressive analysis and an extensive connect with industry people.

Request Sample Copy of this Report @ https://www.cuereport.com/request-sample/40079

As moving to the next segment Retro-Reflective Materials Market report also evaluates the key opportunities in the market and outlines the factors that are and will be driving the growth of the Retro-Reflective Materials industry. The major vendors in the Retro-Reflective Materials market aggressively focused on enhancing their contributions to meet the business goal.

Request Sample Copy of this Report @ https://www.cuereport.com/request-sample/40079

The report also presents the market competition landscape and a corresponding detailed analysis of the major vendor/manufacturers in the market. The key manufacturers covered in this report:

Some of the Highlights about Table of Content of Retro-Reflective Materials Market

1 Retro-Reflective Materials Market overview

2 Executive Summary

3 Market Drivers, Challenges and Trends

4 Marketing, Distributors and Customer

5 Key Players Analysis

Request Customization on This Report @ https://www.cuereport.com/request-for-customization/40079

Originally posted here:
CRISPR in Agriculture Market Share Analysis and Research Report by 2026 - CueReport

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

A look at the shareholders of CRISPR Therapeutics AG (NASDAQ:CRSP) can tell us which group is most powerful. Large companies usually have institutions as shareholders, and we usually see insiders owning shares in smaller companies. Companies that have been privatized tend to have low insider ownership.

With a market capitalization of US$6.3b, CRISPR Therapeutics is rather large. Wed expect to see institutional investors on the register. Companies of this size are usually well known to retail investors, too. Taking a look at our data on the ownership groups (below), it seems that institutional investors have bought into the company. Lets take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about CRISPR Therapeutics.

Check out our latest analysis for CRISPR Therapeutics

Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once its included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing.

CRISPR Therapeutics already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. Its therefore worth looking at CRISPR Therapeutics earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters.

Investors should note that institutions actually own more than half the company, so they can collectively wield significant power. We note that hedge funds dont have a meaningful investment in CRISPR Therapeutics. ARK Investment Management LLC is currently the largest shareholder, with 9.2% of shares outstanding. Meanwhile, the second and third largest shareholders, hold 5.9% and 5.3%, of the shares outstanding, respectively.

A closer look at our ownership figures suggests that the top 17 shareholders have a combined ownership of 50% implying that no single shareholder has a majority.

While studying institutional ownership for a company can add value to your research, it is also a good practice to research analyst recommendations to get a deeper understand of a stocks expected performance. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too.

The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it.

I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions.

We can see that insiders own shares in CRISPR Therapeutics AG. This is a big company, so it is good to see this level of alignment. Insiders own US$78m worth of shares (at current prices). If you would like to explore the question of insider alignment, you can click here to see if insiders have been buying or selling.

With a 30% ownership, the general public have some degree of sway over CRISPR Therapeutics. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

With an ownership of 5.9%, private equity firms are in a position to play a role in shaping corporate strategy with a focus on value creation. Some investors might be encouraged by this, since private equity are sometimes able to encourage strategies that help the market see the value in the company. Alternatively, those holders might be exiting the investment after taking it public.

We can see that public companies hold 8.0% of the CRISPR Therapeutics shares on issue. We cant be certain but it is quite possible this is a strategic stake. The businesses may be similar, or work together.

While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. For instance, weve identified 3 warning signs for CRISPR Therapeutics that you should be aware of.

If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

PromotedWhen trading CRISPR Therapeutics or any other investment, use the platform considered by many to be the Professionals Gateway to the Worlds Market, Interactive Brokers. You get the lowest-cost* trading on stocks, options, futures, forex, bonds and funds worldwide from a single integrated account.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. *Interactive Brokers Rated Lowest Cost Broker by StockBrokers.com Annual Online Review 2020

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com.

More here:
Do Institutions Own CRISPR Therapeutics AG (NASDAQ:CRSP) Shares? - Simply Wall St

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Newswise Scientists are working to understand how therapeutic antibodies stimulate the bodys immune cells to kill cells that contribute to a wide range of diseases, including cancer.

Antibody therapies can be very powerful; however, sometimes the immune cells stop killing the disease-causing cells, explained South Dakota State University professor Adam Hoppe. He is working with researchers at the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom to examine how specialized immune cells called macrophages recognize and destroy target cells and why they sometimes do not.

We want to understand the pathways and immune signals that control macrophage activity making them moreor lesspotent killers, said Hoppe, whose research group in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry specializes in macrophages.

Work began July 10 on the National Institutes of Health project. It is one of six projects that were funded as part of a focused effort aimed at improving the effectiveness of therapeutic antibodies and one of the few that involves an international collaboration.

Professor Mark Cragg, alongside professor Stephen Beers, leads the University of Southampton team at the Center for Cancer Immunology. Its research focuses on how antibody therapeutics redirect and activate immune cells to target cancer as well as how to overcome resistance to these treatments.

They are the worlds experts on therapeutic antibodies that can target autoimmune or malignant B and T cells, Hoppe said, noting that they recently discovered how immune activation of macrophages is one the key components for effective antibody therapeutics. Postdoctoral researchers and doctoral students at SDSU and Southampton will work collaboratively on the five-year, $1.78 million project.

What the researchers learn will help increase the effectiveness of antibody therapeutics designed to fight cancer and target autoimmune disorders, such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Tracking genetic pathways

One of the main ways macrophages recognize target cells is via antibodies on the target cell surface, Hoppe said. However, sometimes the macrophages just do not respond or simply clean the antibody off the target cell and let it gothey do not kill it, he continued. This deactivation makes the antibody therapeutic ineffective.

Hoppe and his group will use the CRISPR gene-editing tool to identify which genes promote or inhibit the macrophages ability to use antibodies to destroy target cells. We want to figure out which genes control this activation and killing process, Hoppe said. Sequencing of the cellular level screenings will be done at SDSUs Genome Sequencing Facility.

Analyzing gene expression will require extensive use of bioinformatics, Hoppe noted. Professor Xijin Ge of SDSUs Department of Mathematics and Statistics will help with bioinformatics analysis using the universitys high-performance computing cluster. Senior research fellow Stephen Thirdborough will work with bioinformatics at the University of Southampton.

Verifying results

The Southampton research group will then study the genes identified through Hoppes CRISPR screenings in mice experiments to verify their importance. In addition, they will analyze data from patients who received antibody therapeutics to treat cancer and autoimmune disorders to confirm their results.

We want to understand what is deactivating the macrophages, Hoppe said. For instance, a therapeutic to treat B cell malignancies also works for mild lupus but not for more reactive lupus. We want to know why those antibodies can perform so well in some patients, but fail in others.

See the rest here:
NIH project seeks to improve cancer-fighting therapeutics - Newswise

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

LONGMONT, Colo., Aug. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --KromaTiD, Inc. announced today that it was awarded a Direct to Phase II SBIR grant by the National Human Genome Research Institute. The award supports development of a structural variant discovery platform - dGH DSCVR - enabling efficient discovery of genomic structural causes of rare disease and measurement of unwanted structural rearrangements that occur during gene editing. Single cell analysis with dGH DSCVR will provide data on structural variants at an unparalleled resolution, yielding essential measurements that cannot be made by any other sequencing or cytogenetic method.

KromaTiD currently provides commercial dGH products and services to industry and academic researchers assessing the integrity of engineered cells modified by CRISPR/Cas-9, base editing and virally mediated gene therapies. Vice President of Operations, Gretchen Pratt stated, "This funding enables KromaTiD to develop analytical methods for therapeutics generated via CRISPR/Cas-9 and to help identify the genomic structural causes of debilitating diseases. With the help of the NHGRI, we are excited to expand the range of technology and services we can offer our customers and collaborators."

dGH is the most sensitive method to measure genomic rearrangements arising from any cause. Using direct, definitive analysis of the genomic structure of many individual cells, the family of dGH assays provides researchers with single-cell unbiased measurements of structural variation, regardless of complexity, heterogeneity or rarity. This year, with a previous award from NHGRI, KromaTiD completed development of dGH SCREEN, a single cell, whole genome technique for screening cell libraries and batches of engineered cells. dGH DSCVR extends the capabilities of dGH SCREEN, allowing KromaTiD to discover potentially medically important structural variants, and also identify which genes are impacted by the variant. When combined, dGH SCREEN and dGH DSCVR will provide medical researchers with unprecedented efficiency in discovering and identifying causes of rare diseases and cancers.

According to KromaTiD's President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Christopher Tompkins, "With this SBIR award, the NHGRI is making previously impossible single cell measure of structural variants throughout the human genome not just possible but practical. dGH DSCVR isn't only a new method for discovering the cause of rare diseases and cancers, it is also an essential tool for understanding the outcomes of gene editing, and ultimately the most efficient test for the structural variants that cause disease."

About the NHGRI

The SBIR program enables scientific excellence and technological innovation by incentivizing small businesses to engage in commercial research and development.

About KromaTiD

Based in Longmont Colorado, KromaTiD develops and markets a full suite of dGH and Pinpoint FISH structural solutions, including custom products, to the engineered cells, undiagnosed diseases and oncology markets.

SBIR Research funding announced in this press release is supported by the National Human Genome Research Institute of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number 1 R44 HG011442-01. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Media Contact Contact: David SebestaPhone: 303-775-1512Email: 245892@email4pr.com

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kromatid-awarded-direct-to-phase-ii-sbir-grant-by-the-national-human-genome-research-institute-301116242.html

SOURCE KromaTiD, Inc.

Read more from the original source:
KromaTiD Awarded Direct to Phase II SBIR Grant by the National Human Genome Research Institute - PharmiWeb.com

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Jay Richards talked recently with Matt Scholz, Founder & CEO of Oisn Biotechnologies, about the challenges and promises of the information theory of biotech, especially as related to medicine:

The panel in which Scholz participated at COSM 2019 focused on how artificial intelligence can make a difference in medicine:

From the interview:

Jay Richards: So how would you distill this panel? It was you and Babak Parviz, formerly of Google Glass and now from Amazon (and formerly Google Glass) and Lindy Fishburne, whos on the funding side of information technology and biology.

Matt Scholz: The panel was put together ranging from the computational side of it to the actual therapeutic side and finance. So I think that made it a pretty interesting conversation really, because, to a great extent were working towards the same goals, but from very different angles.

Scholz spoke about his work in gene therapy:

Matt Scholz: What Im working on is, in some respects, the most literal amalgamation of information in life. Like were actually rewriting information in life; its gene therapy. But for the most part, I think the expertise on information and medicine is more on how do you analyze conditions and symptoms, make diagnoses, predict outcomes, that kind of thing.

Note: From the National Institutes of Heath: Gene therapy is an experimental technique that uses genes to treat or prevent disease. In the future, this technique may allow doctors to treat a disorder by inserting a gene into a patients cells instead of using drugs or surgery. Researchers are testing several approaches to gene therapy, including:

Replacing a mutated gene that causes disease with a healthy copy of the gene.

Inactivating, or knocking out, a mutated gene that is functioning improperly.

Introducing a new gene into the body to help fight a disease.

Although gene therapy is a promising treatment option for a number of diseases (including inherited disorders, some types of cancer, and certain viral infections), the technique remains risky and is still under study to make sure that it will be safe and effective. Gene therapy is currently being tested only for diseases that have no other cures.

Jay Richards: A lot of people ask questions about the problems of the regulatory regime in dealing with some of this new stuff. Whats your opinion in terms of, if there was a single primary impediment to real breakthroughs in this area, is it regulation? Is it just the toughness of the subject? Is it something else?

Matt Scholz: Well, I think the regulation in medicine is considerable both in the time and expense it takes, but I dont think its the primary impediment to anything. In fact, I think particularly in gene therapy, the regulators have been very responsive to changes in technology.

Note: Gene therapy has shown some success with muscular dystrophy (NPR, July 27, 2020), for example, and is an approved treatment for thalassemia (LaBiotech.eu, April 6, 2019). On the other hand, a gene therapy for treatment of hemophilia has been delayed, following questions around how long it lasts (STAT, August 20, 2020) The FDA has been expecting a surge of gene therapy trials (Pharmaceutical Technology, February 5, 2019).

Matt Scholz: Building new treatments in biology is the science itself is hard and the tools we use to build it are clumsy. And so for most of human history, we use mashed up plants to treat diseases, and moving to building viruses and ex vivo cell therapies and manipulating DNA is largely uncharted territory. The regulators have been, Id say, doing an admirable job really, trying to stay on top of those changes and interact with people building them. With that said, obviously, if you want to have a system that takes you a decade to get a drug approved

Jay Richards: Thats what we have.

Matt Scholz: it will cost time and money. And I think theres great conversations that could be had about how we weigh the risk of a drug versus the risk of a disease. And the balance weve struck gives us the system we have today. And its pretty comfortable to think, Okay, well, theres smart people at the FDA who are making sure I dont get things that are dangerous, but if youre dying of a disease

Jay Richards: The cost benefit changes.

Matt Scholz: Yeah, its very different. And I think it may be in some respects, less of what could be done about the regulatory environment as to what can be done to empower the patient. Because right now, the one person who has no say in healthcare is the patient. The bottom of the totem pole.

Jay Richards: Its the same thing with the economics of healthcare. Its a third-party payer problem, but if youre a patient, you actually dont know what the price of the services that youre getting is, thats the problem.

Matt Scholz: Its totally wild, and I think the patient should have the right to be the arbitrator of what goes into their body and not just be subject to the winds of the system. It shouldnt be that what the doctor says, the insurance company says, or even what the FDA says in that respect.

Its there for a reason. We know why these things exist, but its easy to imagine circumstances where you would have a very different perspective on risk and reward. And I would love to see the patients get more power.

You may also enjoy:

Business prof: Stop it! The world is NOT running out of stuff. A famous bet between two top thinkers settled that a long time ago. BYU Hawaiis Gale Pooley tells us, were not creating more atoms but we ARE creating the ability to make these atoms smarter.

and

Valley insider Peter Thiels comments last year proved prophetic: Chinas recent takeover of Hong Kong and the campus Cancel Culture spotlight his warnings for our cultures future in the age of 5G.

Continue reading here:
Gene Therapy: IT Meets Medicine, But Who Is In Charge? - Walter Bradley Center for Natural and Artificial Intelligence

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Male Hypogonadism Market A synopsis

The Male Hypogonadism Market study presents a compilation of market share, demand analysis, and future outlook associated with each segment as well as sub-segment. The key segments include, product type, end use, region, and relevant competitors. Important product-wise segments covered in the report contain product 1, product 2, product 3, and product 4, while important end uses include end use 1, end use 2, end use 3, and end use 4.

The Male Hypogonadism Market is estimated to reach ~US$ xx Mn/Bn in 2019. With a CAGR of xx% throughout the historic period 2014-2019, the Male Hypogonadism Market is expected to grow at healthy CAGR of xx% over the foreseeable timeframe 2017 2026. In this research study, 2018 is considered as the base year.

ThisPress Release will help you to understand the Volume, growth with Impacting Trends. Click HERE To get SAMPLE PDF (Including Full TOC, Table & Figures) at https://www.xploremr.com/connectus/sample/517

The Male Hypogonadism Market research provides vital insights to the readers:

The Male Hypogonadism Market research gets rid of the following queries:

The Male Hypogonadism Market research is a result of a comprehensive primary and secondary research performed by the analysts to extract the nuts and bolts of the Male Hypogonadism Market. Various service providers, implementation vendors and research in different departments of all gamut of companies were approached to provide a clear-cut picture of the market structure. Further, DROT analysis and Porters Five Forces analysis are used to offer the factors influencing the growth of the Male Hypogonadism Market.

Get Full Report Access athttps://www.xploremr.com/cart/517/SL

The report covers exhaustive analysis on:

Regional analysis includes

Get Your Copy at a Discounted Rate!!! Limited Time Offer!!! https://www.xploremr.com/connectus/check-discount/517

Benefits of Purchasing from XMR:

About Us

XploreMR is one of the worlds leading resellers of high-quality market research reports. We feature in-depth reports from some of the worlds most reputed market research companies and international organizations. We serve across a broad spectrum from Fortune 500 to small and medium businesses. Our clients trust us for our unwavering focus onquality and affordability. We believe high price should not be a bottleneck for organizations looking to gain access to quality information.

Contact us:

XploreMR111 North Market Street, Suite 300,San Jose, CA 95113, United StatesPh.No: +16692840108E-mail id- [emailprotected]Web- https://www.xploremr.com

Read more from the original source:
Male Hypogonadism Market Estimated to be Driven by Innovation and Industrialization 2017 2026 - The News Brok

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

An analysis report published by IndustryGrowthInsights (IGI) is an in-depth study and detailed information regarding the market size, market performance and market dynamics of the Male Hypogonadism Therapy. The report offers a robust assessment of the Global Male Hypogonadism Therapy Market to understand the current trend of the market and deduces the expected market trend for the Male Hypogonadism Therapy market for the forecast period. Providing a concrete assessment of the potential impact of the ongoing COVID-19 in the next coming years, the report covers key strategies and plans prepared by the major players to ensure their presence intact in the global competition. With the availability of this comprehensive report, the clients can easily make an informed decision about their business investments in the market.

Request a sample before buying this report @ https://industrygrowthinsights.com/request-sample/?reportId=171163

This detailed report also highlights key insights on the factors that drive the growth of the market as well key challenges that are expected to hamper the market growth in the forecast period. Keeping a view to provide a holistic market view, the report describes the market components such as product types and end users in details with explaining which component is expected to expand significantly and which region is emerging as the key potential destination of the Male Hypogonadism Therapy market. Moreover, it provides a critical assessment of the emerging competitive landscape of the manufacturers as the demand for the Male Hypogonadism Therapy is projected to increase substantially across the different regions.

The report, published by IndustryGrowthInsights (IGI), is the most reliable information because it consists of a concrete research methodology focusing on primary as well as secondary sources. The report is prepared by relying on primary source including interviews of the company executives and representatives and accessing official documents, websites, and press release of the companies. The IndustryGrowthInsights (IGI)s report is widely known for its accuracy and factual figures as it consists of a concise graphical representations, tables, and figures which displays a clear picture of the developments of the products and its market performance over the last few years.

Furthermore, the scope of the growth potential, revenue growth, product range, and pricing factors related to the Male Hypogonadism Therapy market are thoroughly assessed in the report in a view to entail a broader picture of the market.

Key companies that are covered in this report:

Eli LillyPfizerAbbVieNovo NordiskMerck KGaAMylanBayerTevaNovartisAbbottRocheEndo InternationalIpsenANI PharmaceuticalsTherapeuticsMDMale Hypogonadism Therap

*Note: Additional companies can be included on request

The report covers a detailed performance of some of the key players and analysis of major players in the industry, segments, application and regions. Moreover, the report also takes into account the governments policies in the evaluation of the market behavior to illustrate the potential opportunities and challenges of the market in each region. The report also covers the recent agreements including merger and acquisition, partnership or joint venture and latest developments of the manufacturers to sustain in the global competition of the Male Hypogonadism Therapy market.

By Application:

HospitalsDrugstoresOthers

By Type:

ParenteralTransdermalOralOthersMale Hypogonadism Therap

You can also go for a yearly subscription of all the updates on Male Hypogonadism Therapy market.

You can buy the complete report @ https://industrygrowthinsights.com/checkout/?reportId=171163

According to the report, the Male Hypogonadism Therapy market is projected to reach a value of USDXX by the end of 2026 and grow at a CAGR of XX% through the forecast period (2020-2026). The report covers the performance of the Male Hypogonadism Therapy in regions, North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa by focusing some key countries in the respective regions. As per the clients requirements, this report can be customized and available in a separate report for the specific region and countries.

The following is the TOC of the report:

Executive Summary

Assumptions and Acronyms Used

Research Methodology

Male Hypogonadism Therapy Market Overview

Global Male Hypogonadism Therapy Market Analysis and Forecast by Type

Global Male Hypogonadism Therapy Market Analysis and Forecast by Application

Global Male Hypogonadism Therapy Market Analysis and Forecast by Sales Channel

Global Male Hypogonadism Therapy Market Analysis and Forecast by Region

North America Male Hypogonadism Therapy Market Analysis and Forecast

Latin America Male Hypogonadism Therapy Market Analysis and Forecast

Europe Male Hypogonadism Therapy Market Analysis and Forecast

Asia Pacific Male Hypogonadism Therapy Market Analysis and Forecast

Asia Pacific Male Hypogonadism Therapy Market Size and Volume Forecast by Application

Middle East & Africa Male Hypogonadism Therapy Market Analysis and Forecast

Competition Landscape

Why you should buy this report?

The report also answers some of the key questions given below:

If you have any questions on this report, please reach out to us @ https://industrygrowthinsights.com/enquiry-before-buying/?reportId=171163

About IndustryGrowthInsights (IGI):

We keep our priority to fulfil the needs of our customers by offering authentic and inclusive reports for the global market-related domains. With a genuine effort from a dedicated team of business experts, IndustryGrowthInsights (IGI) has been in the service by providing innovative business ideas and strategies for the current global market for various industries and set its benchmark in the market research industry.

We have a large support of database from various leading organizations and business executives across the globe; so, we excel at customized report as per the clients requirements and updating market research report on the daily basis with quality information.

Contact Info: Name: Alex MathewsAddress: 500 East E Street, Ontario,CA 91764, United States.Phone No: USA: +1 909 545 6473 | IND: +91-7000061386Email: [emailprotected]Website: https://industrygrowthinsights.com

Read this article:
Male Hypogonadism Therapy Industry 2020 Market Size, Share, Price, Trend And Forecast To 2026- Industry Growth Insights - The Scarlet

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

According to Persistence Market Researchs new report, globalmale hypogonadism marketis slated to exhibit a steady expansion throughout the forecast period (2017-2026). Revenues from the global market for male hypogonadism are estimated to exceed US$ 3,300 Mn by 2026-end.

Governments Taking Initiatives to Spread Awareness about Male Hypogonadism Therapeutics

Lack of sex hormones, usually referred to as male hypogonadism has resulted into many health risks that include osteoporosis, heart disease, and cardiovascular diseases on the back of thinning of bones. Global male hypogonadism market comprises several patented brands that currently have high market penetration. Proliferation in geriatric population in tandem with rising incidences related to rheumatoid arthritis and obesity have been primary factors affecting prevalence of male hypogonadism globally.

Get Sample Copy of Report @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/22303

Company Profiles

Get To Know Methodology of Report @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/methodology/22303

Mounting incidences of testosterone deficiency in male population is a key factor that prevalence of male hypogonadism has surged worldwide. Several governments around the world have been taking initiatives to spread the awareness on hypogonadism treatment procedures, for example testosterone replacement therapy (TST), in order to relieve the painful burden on patients and their families.

As low testosterone levels are increasingly associated with exacerbation of chronic conditions, it further results into disorders apropos to hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Advent of TST has however enabled reduction in cases of male hypogonadism considerably. With growing awareness related to its treatment among patients, the market is likely to gain an uptick during the forecast period.

Rising availability of the selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) has further sustained the market expansion. The development and high availability of SARMs has led toward the provision of improved treatment procedure to patients having androgen deficiencies, thereby influencing the market growth.

Access Full Report @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/22303

North America will continue to Dominate Global Male Hypogonadism Market

North America will continue to dominate the global male hypogonadism market, with more than one-third revenue share during the forecast period. In addition, revenues from the male hypogonadism market in North America will exhibit the fastest expansion through 2026, as compared to those from all the other regional segments comprised in the report. Europe and Asia-Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) are also expected to remain lucrative for the male hypogonadism market. The market in APEJ will ride on a slightly higher CAGR than that in Europe through 2026.

Topical gels are expected to remain the most lucrative among drugs available for treatment of male hypogonadism globally, with sales projected to register the fastest expansion through 2026. Injectables will also remain a major revenue contributor to the market. Sales of injectable and transdermal patches are poised to reflect an equal CAGR through 2026.

Testosterone Replacement Therapy to Remain Preferred among Patients

Based on therapy, testosterone replacement therapy is expected to remain preferred among patients with male hypogonadism worldwide. Roughly 66% revenue share of the market is expected to be held by revenues from testosterone replacement therapy by 2026-end. Revenues from gonadotropin replacement therapy will remain slightly more than half revenues gained from testosterone replacement therapy throughout the forecast period.

Klinefelters syndrome is expected to remain the most prevalent disease type observed in the male hypogonadism market, and revenues from treatment of this disease will exceed US$ 1,800 Mn by 2026-end. Kallmann Syndrome and Pituitary Adenomas among disease types will also account for major revenue shares of the market by 2026-end.

Regions Covered In Report

Explore Extensive Coverage of PMR`sLife Sciences & Transformational HealthLandscape

Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.

To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.

Our client success stories feature a range of clients from Fortune 500 companies to fast-growing startups. PMRs collaborative environment is committed to building industry-specific solutions by transforming data from multiple streams into a strategic asset.

Contact us:

Ashish KoltePersistence Market ResearchAddress 305 Broadway, 7th FloorNew York City,NY 10007 United StatesU.S. Ph. +1-646-568-7751USA-Canada Toll-free +1 800-961-0353Sales [emailprotected]Website https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com

More here:
Male Hypogonadism Market : Extensive Analysis of Key Segments of the Industry and Emerging Growth Factors with Current Trends and Future Estimations -...

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

This article was originally published here

Stem Cell Rev Rep. 2020 Aug 22. doi: 10.1007/s12015-020-10033-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Therapeutic clinical and preclinical studies using cultured cells are on the rise, especially now that the World Health Organization (WHO) declared coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a public health emergency of international concern, in January, 2020. Thus, this study aims to review the outcomes of ongoing clinical studies on stem cells in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). The results will be associated with possible applications to COVID-19. Only three clinical trials related to stem cells are considered complete, whereby two are in Phase 1 and one is in Phase 2. Basically, the ongoing studies on coronavirus are using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from bone marrow or the umbilical cord to demonstrate their feasibility, safety, and tolerability. The studies not related to coronavirus are all in ARDS conditions; four of them are in Phase 1 and three in Phase 2. With the COVID-19 boom, many clinical trials are being carried out using different sources with an emphasis on MSC-based therapy used to inhibit inflammation. One of the biggest challenges in the current treatment of COVID-19 is the cytokine storm, however MSCs can prevent or mitigate this cytokine storm through their immunomodulatory capacity. We look forward to the results of the ongoing clinical trials to find a treatment for the disease. Researchers around the world are joining forces to help fight COVID-19. Stem cells used in the current clinical studies are a new therapeutic promise for COVID-19 where pharmacological treatments seem insufficient.Graphical Abstract.

PMID:32827081 | DOI:10.1007/s12015-020-10033-6

More:
Review of Trials Currently Testing Stem Cells for Treatment of Respiratory Diseases: Facts Known to Date and Possible Applications to COVID-19 -...

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Neutrophils are the warriors of the immune system. They are always ready to spring to action to help heal injuries or fight off disease. Unless, that is, something goes wrong in their developmental process.Immature neutrophils arent all warriors they can be dangerous turncoats. High levels of immature neutrophils in the bloodstream can be a tell-tale sign of cancer and may even be a biomarker for COVID-19.

Now scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) have tracked down the rare stem cells that generate neutrophils in human bone marrow. This research, published in Immunity, gives researchers a potential path for intervening in diseases where neutrophil development goes awry.

We have identified the stem cells that are the early origins of neutrophils, the most abundant blood cell type in humans, says Huy Dinh, Ph.D., a former LJI postdoctoral associate who recently moved to a faculty position at The University of WisconsinMadison. Dinh led the study with LJI Professor Catherine C. Hedrick, Ph.D. Knowing how human neutrophils develop is especially relevant today because immature neutrophils have been found to be elevated in both the blood and lungs of severe COVID-19 patients.

Despite their importance, neutrophils have proven very hard to study. They dont hold up well outside the body, and the stem cells that make them are even harder to investigate because they only live in bone marrow.

In 2018, the Hedrick Lab reported the discovery of a group of progenitor stem cells that give rise to mature neutrophils. These progenitors sole job was to generate neutrophils, yet they appeared to also promote tumor growth. The researchers believed that detecting these progenitors could give doctors a better way to catch early cancer cases. But first, the team needed to know a lot more about neutrophil development.

The new research revealed a progenitor cell type that exists even earlier in human neutrophil development. Dinh, a past SPARK Award recipient, together with Tobias Eggert, Ph.D., a LJI visiting scientist and Melissa Meyer, Ph.D., a LJI postdoc, who served as the co-first authors in the study, spearheaded the effort to use a tool called cytometry by time-of-flight (CyTOF) to distinguish these rare cells from other types of immune progenitor cells. This work also made it possible for the researchers to identify more specific protein markers on this early progenitor cell surface.

The discovery of these protein markers was important because until now, scientists have used only a few of markers to track neutrophils over time. The new study gives scientists specific markers for tracking neutrophil development from day one.

The researchers also found that cases of skin and lung cancers are often accompanied by a flood of immature neutrophils including the early progenitor cells into the bloodstream. These immature neutrophils change as they interact with tumor cells, though the researchers arent sure yet how these changes affect cancer progression.

Dinh likens the stages of neutrophil development to the cars on a train. The early progenitors are like the train engine, keeping everything going smoothly along the track to maturity. Cancer shakes everything up, and immature neutrophils jump off the track before they reach maturity. Its like the train is falling apart, Dinh says.

Neutrophil development has been in the news recently due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as studies have shown immature neutrophils are also more abundant in some patients with COVID-19. Dinh and Hedrick think perhaps the threat of the virus prompts the body to churn out neutrophils too quickly, again forcing immature cells off the track to maturity.

We need to study this phenomenon further to see if these neutrophils can be tied to case prognosis or if they can be a drug target for COVID-19, says Dinh.

The researchers hope to continue their work to discover the exact mechanisms that stop neutrophils from reaching maturity. Knowing the earliest cell that gives rise to neutrophils is really critical for trying to target and control these cells, says Hedrick. But we dont know exactly how to do that yet.

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

View post:
Researchers Get First-Ever Look at a Rare but Vital Stem Cell in Humans - Technology Networks

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

The researchers wanted to turn those awakened stem cells into cartilage. The recipe that worked was to treat the stem cells with bone morphogenetic protein, which is used to help fuse bones.

The scientists also used a drug called Avastin, which prevents the stem cells from getting a blood supply. Unlike bone and bone marrow, cartilage has no blood supply, and the drug helped stimulate the stem cells to turn into cartilage.

The investigators provided the drugs directly to the ends of bones, putting them in a gel.

The cartilage that grew in the mice not only looked like normal but lasted for four months, a quarter of the animals lifetimes. Dr. Chan and Dr. Longaker envision a time when doctors will be able to resurface arthritic joints or, even better, to treat people who are just beginning to develop arthritis, perhaps staving off the sort of damage that even joint replacements cannot fix.

If the strategy works in humans, then early treatment may be the best approach, Dr. Marx said.

Arthritis deforms joints and changes bones, he said. By the time people have hips or knees replaced, irreversible damage may be done. Legs may be bowed, bones damaged.

You cannot totally turn back the clock, Dr. Marx said. At that point, he said, adding cartilage will not fix it.

He worries, though, that orthopedists may not wait for rigorous studies the method of awakening the dormant cells is relatively simple, and the drugs required are already on the market.

Faced with a patient with aching knees, orthopedists may be tempted to say, Lets try this. You dont have much to lose, Dr. Marx noted.

Visit link:
Cartilage Is Grown in the Arthritic Joints of Mice - The New York Times

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Despite significant progress in treating cancer in recent years, the need for further improvements has persisted particularly for some of the most challenging forms of the disease, such as lung cancer. Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers, and is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women.

The majority of lung cancer cases are non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a complex disease that can affect each patient differently. Most cases of NSCLC are not diagnosed until the disease is advanced meaning it has metastasized or spread which can make it more challenging to treat.

The impact of lung cancer, and advanced NSCLC in particular, continues to be felt across our communities, explained Andrea Ferris, president and chairman of LUNGevity Foundation. While every persons experience with the disease is unique, many patients hope they can retain a sense of normalcy in their lives and are seeking more treatment options that offer a chance at a longer life.

Research Driving New Progress for Certain Patients

Researchers have accelerated their pursuit of new and differentiated approaches that address this critical unmet need, focusing on options that may offer patients a chance at a longer life. One area of research that has shown potential is combining treatments, such as immunotherapies, for certain patients with previously untreated advanced disease.

Hossein Borghaei, D.O., chief of thoracic medical oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia explains, Progress in treating advanced lung cancer has led to more options for patients with newly diagnosed advanced NSCLC. Some of the most recent developments in the field of immunotherapy are particularly exciting.

One example is the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations approval of the first and only dual immunotherapy approach for newly diagnosed patients. Opdivo (nivolumab) is a prescription medicine used in combination with Yervoy (ipilimumab) for adults with advanced stage NSCLC that has spread to other parts of your body (metastatic) and tests positive for PD-L1 and do not have an abnormal EGFR or ALK gene.

Opdivo can cause problems that can sometimes become serious or life threatening and can lead to death. Serious side effects may include lung problems (pneumonitis); intestinal problems (colitis) that can lead to tears or holes in your intestine; liver problems (hepatitis); hormone gland problems (especially the thyroid, pituitary, adrenal glands, and pancreas); kidney problems, including nephritis and kidney failure; skin problems; inflammation of the brain (encephalitis); problems in other organs; and severe infusion reactions; and complications of stem-cell transplant that uses donor stem cells (allogeneic). Additional serious side effects of Yervoy alone include: nerve problems that can lead to paralysis; eye problems; and complications of stem-cell transplant that uses donor stem cells (allogeneic). Please see Important Facts about side effects for Opdivo and Yervoy below.

Opdivo and Yervoy work with your immune system to help fight cancer in two ways. Yervoy stimulates the kind of cells that help fight cancer, while Opdivo may help these cells to find and fight the cancer cells again. While doing so, Opdivo and Yervoy can also affect healthy cells. These problems can sometimes become serious or life threatening and can lead to death. These problems may happen anytime during treatment or even after treatment has ended. Some of these problems may happen more often when Opdivo is used in combination with Yervoy.

Clinical Trial Findings: A Chance to Live Longer

Opdivo + Yervoy was studied in a clinical trial and compared to platinum-based chemotherapy among certain patients with previously untreated, advanced NSCLC that tested positive for PD-L1.

In the trial, 396 patients received Opdivo + Yervoy and 397 patients received platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients who were treated with Opdivo + Yervoy lived longer than those treated with platinum-based chemotherapy:

In the trial, 396 patients received Opdivo + Yervoy and 397 patients received platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients who were treated with Opdivo + Yervoy lived longer than those treated with platinum-based chemotherapy:

An additional analysis showed:

The data supporting this dual immunotherapy approach are encouraging, particularly as one third of the patients who responded to treatment with Opdivo + Yervoy were still alive at three years, said Dr. Borghaei. Further, Opdivo + Yervoy offers a non-chemotherapy option, which can be important to some patients.

The most common side effects of Opdivo, when used in combination with Yervoy, include: feeling tired; diarrhea; rash; itching; nausea; pain in muscles, bones, and joints; fever; cough; decreased appetite; vomiting; stomach-area (abdominal) pain; shortness of breath; upper respiratory tract infection; headache; low thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism); decreased weight; and dizziness. Please see Important Facts about side effects for Opdivo and Yervoy below.

Evolving Outlooks and Adapting Support for Patients

Facing a lung cancer diagnosis and beginning treatment can be life-altering in many ways and todays unique environment as a result of the coronavirus has brought about additional considerations for patients, caregivers and the broader healthcare community, with telemedicine and other forms of remote support playing an increasingly vital role.

Patients should know there are resources available and ways to stay connected, even during times when maintaining physical distance from others is important, said Ferris. We have transformed many of our patient support and education offerings into virtual formats, which we are updating frequently to provide the most recent information and reach and connect as many people as possible.

Dr. Borghaei also urges patients to reach out to their doctor or care team to learn about and take advantage of available remote support offerings. Advances in cancer research are still happening every day, with Opdivo + Yervoy being one example. Its as important as ever that people diagnosed with lung cancer speak with their doctor to fully understand their treatment options. While how we deliver care might look different now in some ways, our commitment to helping patients live longer hasnt changed.

To learn more about Opdivo + Yervoy, please visit http://www.Opdivo.com.

INDICATION

OPDIVO (nivolumab) is a prescription medicine used in combination with YERVOY (ipilimumab) as a first treatment for adults with a type of advanced stage lung cancer (called non-small cell lung cancer) when your lung cancer has spread to other parts of your body (metastatic) and your tumors are positive for PD-L1, but do not have an abnormal EGFR or ALK gene.

It is not known if OPDIVO is safe and effective in children younger than 18 years of age.

OPDIVO (10 mg/mL) and YERVOY (5 mg/mL) are injections for intravenous (IV) use.

ImportantSafetyInformationforOPDIVO(nivolumab) + YERVOY (ipilimumab)

OPDIVO is a medicine that may treat certain cancers by working with your immune system. OPDIVO can cause your immune system to attack normal organs and tissues in any area of your body and can affect the way they work. These problems can sometimes become serious or life-threatening and can lead to death. These problems may happen anytime during treatment or even after your treatment has ended. Some of these problems may happen more often when OPDIVO is used in combination with YERVOY.

YERVOY can cause serious side effects in many parts of your body which can lead to death. These problems may happen anytime during treatment with YERVOY or after you have completed treatment.

Serious side effects may include:Lung problems (pneumonitis). Symptoms of pneumonitis may include: new or worsening cough; chest pain; and shortness of breath. Intestinal problems (colitis) that can lead to tears or holes in your intestine. Signs and symptoms of colitis may include: diarrhea (loose stools) or more bowel movements than usual; blood in your stools or dark, tarry, sticky stools; and severe stomach area (abdomen) pain or tenderness. Liver problems (hepatitis). Signs and symptoms of hepatitis may include: yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes; severe nausea or vomiting; pain on the right side of your stomach area (abdomen); drowsiness; dark urine (tea colored); bleeding or bruising more easily than normal; feeling less hungry than usual; and decreased energy.Hormone gland problems (especially the thyroid, pituitary, adrenal glands, and pancreas). Signs and symptoms that your hormone glands are not working properly may include: headaches that will not go away or unusual headaches; extreme tiredness; weight gain or weight loss; dizziness or fainting; changes in mood or behavior, such as decreased sex drive, irritability, or forgetfulness; hair loss; feeling cold; constipation; voice gets deeper; and excessive thirst or lots of urine. Kidney problems, including nephritis and kidney failure.Signs of kidney problems may include: decrease in the amount of urine; blood in your urine; swelling in your ankles; and loss of appetite. Skin problems.Signs of these problems may include: rash; itching; skin blistering; and ulcers in the mouth or other mucous membranes. Inflammation of the brain (encephalitis). Signs and symptoms of encephalitis may include: headache; fever; tiredness or weakness; confusion; memory problems; sleepiness; seeing or hearing things that are not really there (hallucinations); seizures; and stiff neck. Problems in other organs. Signs of these problems may include: changes in eyesight; severe or persistent muscle or joint pains; severe muscle weakness; and chest pain.

Additional serious side effects observed during a separate study of YERVOY alone include: Nerve problems that can lead to paralysis. Symptoms of nerve problems may include: unusual weakness of legs, arms, or face; and numbness or tingling in hands or feet. Eye problems.Symptoms may include: blurry vision, double vision, or other vision problems; and eye pain or redness.

Get medical help immediatelyif you develop any of these symptoms or they get worse. It may keep these problems from becoming more serious. Your healthcare team will check you for side effects during treatment and may treat you with corticosteroid or hormone replacement medicines. If you have a serious side effect, your healthcare team may also need to delay or completely stop your treatment.

OPDIVO and OPDIVO + YERVOY can cause serious side effects, including: Severe infusion reactions. Tell your doctor or nurse right away if you get these symptoms during an infusion: chills or shaking; itching or rash; flushing; difficulty breathing; dizziness; fever; and feeling like passing out.Graft-versus-host disease, a complication that can happen after receiving a bone marrow (stem cell) transplant that uses donor stem cells (allogeneic), may be severe, and can lead to death, if you receive YERVOY either before or after transplant. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for the following signs and symptoms: skin rash, liver inflammation, stomach-area (abdominal) pain, and diarrhea.

Pregnancy and Nursing: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. OPDIVO and YERVOY can harm your unborn baby. If you are a female who is able to become pregnant, your healthcare provider should do a pregnancy test before you start receiving OPDIVO. Females who are able to become pregnant should use an effective method of birth control duringtreatmentand for at least 5 months after the last dose. Talk to your healthcare provider about birth control methods that you can use during this time. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you are pregnant during treatment. You or your healthcare provider should contact Bristol Myers Squibb at 1-800-721-5072 as soon as you become aware of the pregnancy. Pregnancy Safety Surveillance Study: Females who become pregnant during treatment with YERVOY are encouraged to enroll in a Pregnancy Safety Surveillance Study. The purpose of this study is to collect information about the health of you and your baby. You or your healthcare provider can enroll in the Pregnancy Safety Surveillance Study by calling 1-844-593-7869. Before receiving treatment, tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if either treatment passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for 5 months after the last dose.

Tell your healthcare provider about: Your health problems or concerns if you: have immune system problems such as autoimmune disease, Crohns disease, ulcerative colitis, lupus, or sarcoidosis; have had an organ transplant; have lung or breathing problems; have liver problems; or have any other medical conditions. All the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

The most common side effects of OPDIVO, when used in combination with YERVOY, include: feeling tired; diarrhea; rash; itching; nausea; pain in muscles, bones, and joints; fever; cough; decreased appetite; vomiting; stomach-area (abdominal) pain; shortness of breath; upper respiratory tract infection;headache; low thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism); decreased weight; and dizziness.

These are not all the possible side effects. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit http://www.fda.gov/medwatchor call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see U.S. Full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide forOPDIVO and YERVOY.

2020 Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.

OPDIVO and YERVOY are registered trademarks of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.

7356US2001251-01 08/20

Read more:
The Science of Survival: Evolving Research in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer - Reuters

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Steadman Philippon Research Institute has been granted the prestigious Regenerative Medicine Innovation Project Investigator-Initiated Clinical Trials award from the National Institutes of Health. Steadman Philippon Research Institutes Chief Scientific Officer Johnny Huard, Ph.D. will serve as the principal investigator.

Marc J. Philippon, M.D., who serves as managing partner of The Steadman Clinic and co-chair of SPRI and Scott Tashman, Ph.D., director of biomedical engineering at SPRI, will serve as co-principal investigators. The clinical trials are expected to begin enrolling in the fall of 2020.

The award, administered by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, ranks as one of the most significant in SPRIs history, both in size and recognition. Given the potential of regenerative medicine to enhance human health and treat disease, the United States Congress included a provision in the 21st Century Cures Act a law passed in December 2016 to accelerate medical discovery and innovation to support the NIH-established Regenerative Medicine Innovation Project.

The Regenerative Medicine Innovation Project aims to accelerate the field by supporting clinical research on adult stem cells while promoting the highest standards for protecting patient safety during the conduct of research.

This is a really great honor for SPRI, said Huard in a news release. Past recipients of these RMIP awards have been Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Boston Childrens Hospital, Columbia University Health Sciences, Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, Harvard University, University of Colorado Denver and Yale University.So, we are in very good company.

Huard first came to Vail in 2015 and has served as the director of the Center for Regenerative Sports Medicine in addition to his role as the institutes chief scientific officer.

The grant anticipates over $2.8 million from the NIH and requires a 1:1 match from SPRI over the next five years, pending availability of federal funds. The clinical trials and resulting publications and reports will take place over the next five years. A generous SPRI benefactor committed to fund the first year of the match, and Dr. Huard is hopeful that with the NIH matching the funds, more philanthropists will be inspired to become involved in this groundbreaking project.

Our donors have been so generous in supporting all that we do here at SPRI, Huard said. And I am very grateful and confident that we will raise the funds necessary to complete these trials over the next five years.

The trial is entitled, The Use of Senolytic and Anti-Fibrotic Agents to Improve the Beneficial Effect of Bone Marrow Stem Cells for Osteoarthritis. Huard explains in laypersons terms:

The idea behind the trial is to delay osteoarthritis in the knee, Huard said. Our goal is to delay the need for that first knee replacement in a patient for as long as we can. Over time SPRI intends to expand this area of research to other joints including hip and shoulder.

This clinical trial is designed to determine whether senolytic and/or antifibrotic agents will improve the beneficial effect of bone marrow stem cells for the treatment of symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. The trial will include four groups, totaling 100 patients, to investigate the teams hypothesis that the use of these agents will improve patient outcomes.

One of the great things that I love about this particular clinical trial is that we are actively involving our orthopedic surgeons and our biomotion lab staff as well, Huard said. This will truly be a team effort over the next five years.

Those world-class surgeons are led by Dr. Philippon, considered one of the worlds foremost orthopedic surgeons. The biomotion lab is under the direction of Dr. Tashman. The contributions of these two leaders and the talented roster of surgeons, clinicians and technicians in their departments will be critical to the success of the upcoming clinical trials. SPRIs Center for Outcomes-Based Orthopaedic Research and its director, Grant Dornan, are also participating in this project by contributing the statistical outcomes.

Dr. Philippon is not only a world-class surgeon but he is also an innovator, Huard said. He always wants to improve and is still willing to try new things to enhance patient outcomes. Dr. Tashman is the same way. Like everyone here at SPRI and The Steadman Clinic, they are embracing the cutting-edge technology available to them and finding new and better ways to treat patients and, most importantly, reduce patients recovery time and get them back to their active lives as quickly and safely as possible.

Huard notes that the rare combination of a globally recognized research institute like SPRI and a world-class orthopedic surgery clinic like The Steadman Clinic in the same building is one of the key factors in the awarding of this RMIP grant.

Weve got something here in Vail that many other research institutes dont have, Huard said. We have one of the worlds finest orthopedic clinics right next door, working hand-in-hand with us every day.

Dr. Huard and Dr. Tashman along with Suzanne Liv Page, J.D., our director of grants and contracts have worked diligently to prepare and gain acceptance of this grant proposal from the NIH, Philippon said. Our surgeons here at The Steadman Clinic eagerly await the opportunity to participate in the trial. Johnny, Scott and their staff have put SPRI into position to undertake major trials and studies like this one and we are all very honored that the NIH has given SPRI this incredible opportunity.

See the original post here:
Steadman Philippon Research Institute receives prestigious matching grant from the National Institutes of Health - Vail Daily News

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Background:Microfracture is a surgical technique that involves creating multiple holes of 3-4 mm depth in the subchondral bone to recruit stem cells in the bone marrow to the lesion, inducing fibrocartilage repair and knee cartilage regeneration. Recently, it has been reported that increasing the exposed area of the lower cartilaginous bone (drilling a lot of holes) increases the outflow of stem cells, which is expected to affect the physical properties of the subchondral bone when the exposed area is large. The purpose of this study was to analyse the effect of the distance between the holes in the microfracture procedure on the structural stability of the osteochondral bone using a finite element method.

Methods:In this study, lateral aspects of the femoral knee, which were removed during total knee arthroplasty were photographed using microtomography. The model was implemented using a solitary walks program, which is a three-dimensional simplified geometric representation based on the basic microtomography data. A microfracture model was created by drilling 4 mm-deep holes at 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, and 5 mm intervals in a simplified three-dimensional (3D) geometric femoral model. The structural stability of these models was analysed with the ABAQUS program. We compared the finite element model (FEM) based on the microtomography image and the simplified geometric finite element model.

Results:Von Mises stress of the subchondral bone plate barely increased, even when the distance between holes was set to 1 mm. Altering the distance between the holes had little impact on the structural stability of the subchondral bone plate. Safety factors were all below 1.

Conclusions:Although we did not confirm an optimal distance between holes, this study does provide reference data and an epidemiological basis for determining the optimal distance between the holes used in the microfracture procedure.

Read more:
The effect of distance between holes on the structural stability of subchondral bone in microfracture surgery: a finite element model study - DocWire...

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Michigan State University researchers have created for the first time a miniature human heart model in the laboratory, complete with all primary heart cell types and a functioning structure of chambers and vascular tissue.

Aitor Aguirre, assistant professor of biomedical engineering at MSUs Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering.

These minihearts constitute incredibly powerful models in which to study all kinds of cardiac disorders with a degree of precision unseen before, said Aitor Aguirre, the studys senior author and assistant professor of biomedical engineering at MSUs Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering.

This study, Generation of Heart Organoids Modeling Early Human Cardiac Development Under Defined Conditions, appears on the bioRxiv preprint server and was funded by grants from the American Heart Association and the National Institutes of Health. In the United States, heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death.

The human heart organoids, or hHOs for short, were created by way of a novel stem cell framework that mimics the embryonic and fetal developmental environments.

Organoids meaning resembling an organ are self-assembling 3D cell constructs that recapitulate organ properties and structure to a significant extent, said Yonatan Israeli, a graduate student in the Aguirre Lab and first author of the study.

The innovation deploys a bioengineering process that uses induced pluripotent stem cells adult cells from a patient to trigger embryonic-like heart development in a dish generating a functional mini heart after a few weeks. The stem cells are obtained from consenting adults and therefore free of ethical concerns.

This process allows the stem cells to develop, basically as they would in an embryo, into the various cell types and structures present in the heart, Aguirre said. We give the cells the instructions and they know what they have to do when all the appropriate conditions are met.

Because the organoids followed the natural cardiac embryonic development process, the researchers studied, in real time, the natural growth of an actual fetal human heart.

This technology allows for the creation of numerous hHOs simultaneously with relative ease, contrasting with existing tissue engineering approaches that are expensive, labor intensive and not readily scalable.

One of the primary issues facing the study of fetal heart development and congenital heart defects is access to a developing heart. Researchers have been confined to the use of mammalian models, donated fetal remains and in vitro cell research to approximate function and development.

Now we can have the best of both worlds, a precise human model to study these diseases a tiny human heart without using fetal material or violating ethical principles. This constitutes a great step forward, Aguirre said.

Whats next? For Aguirre, the process is twofold. First, the heart organoid represents an unprecedented look into the nuts and bolts of how a fetal heart develops.

In the lab, we are currently using heart organoids to model congenital heart disease the most common birth defect in humans affecting nearly 1% of the newborn population, Aguirre said. With our heart organoids, we can study the origin of congenital heart disease and find ways to stop it.

And second, while the hHO is complex, it is far from perfect. For the team, improving the final organoid is another key avenue of future research. The organoids are small models of the fetal heart with representative functional and structural features, Israeli said. They are, however, not as perfect as a human heart yet. That is something we are working toward.

Aguirre and team are excited about the wide-ranging applicability of these miniature hearts. They enable an unprecedented ability to study many other cardiovascular-related diseases from chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity to the effect of diabetes, during pregnancy, on the developing fetal heart.

Other researchers involved in this study were Aaron Wasserman, Mitchell Gabalski and Kristen Ball at MSU; and Chao Zhou, Jinyon Zhou and Guangming Ni at Washington University in St. Louis.

(Note for media: Please include a link to the original paper in online coverage: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.06.25.171611v2)

See the rest here:
Scientists grow the first functioning mini human heart model - MSUToday

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Share this Article

You are free to share this article under the Attribution 4.0 International license.

Researchers have created, for the first time, a miniature human heart model in the laboratory.

The mini-hearts are complete with all primary heart cell types and a functioning structure of chambers and vascular tissue.

The organoids are small models of the fetal heart with representative functional and structural features. They are, however, not as perfect as a human heart yet. That is something we are working toward.

These mini-hearts constitute incredibly powerful models in which to study all kinds of cardiac disorders with a degree of precision unseen before, says Aitor Aguirre, assistant professor of biomedical engineering at Michigan State Universitys Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering and senior author of the study on the work on the bioRxiv preprint server. In the United States, heart disease is the leading cause of death.

The researchers created the human heart organoids, or hHOs for short,by way of a novel stem cell framework that mimics the embryonic and fetal developmental environments.

Organoidsmeaning resembling an organare self-assembling 3D cell constructs that recapitulate organ properties and structure to a significant extent, says first author Yonatan Israeli, a graduate student in Aguirres lab.

The innovation deploys a bioengineering process that uses induced pluripotent stem cellsadult cells from a patient to trigger embryonic-like heart development in a dishgenerating a functional mini-heart after a few weeks. The stem cells are obtained from consenting adults and therefore free of ethical concerns.

This process allows the stem cells to develop, basically as they would in an embryo, into the various cell types and structures present in the heart, Aguirre says. We give the cells the instructions and they know what they have to do when all the appropriate conditions are met.

Because the organoids followed the natural cardiac embryonic development process, the researchers studied, in real time, the natural growth of an actual fetal human heart.

This technology allows for the creation of numerous hHOs simultaneously with relative ease, contrasting with existing tissue engineering approaches that are expensive, labor intensive and not readily scalable.

One of the primary issues facing the study of fetal heart development and congenital heart defects is access to a developing heart. Researchers have been confined to the use of mammalian models, donated fetal remains, and in vitro cell research to approximate function and development.

Now we can have the best of both worlds, a precise human model to study these diseasesa tiny human heartwithout using fetal material or violating ethical principles. This constitutes a great step forward, Aguirre says.

Whats next? For Aguirre, the process is twofold. First, the heart organoid represents an unprecedented look into the nuts and bolts of how a fetal heart develops.

In the lab, we are currently using heart organoids to model congenital heart diseasethe most common birth defect in humans affecting nearly 1% of the newborn population, Aguirre says. With our heart organoids, we can study the origin of congenital heart disease and find ways to stop it.

And second, while the hHO is complex, it is far from perfect. For the team, improving the final organoid is another key avenue of future research.

The organoids are small models of the fetal heart with representative functional and structural features, Israeli says. They are, however, not as perfect as a human heart yet. That is something we are working toward.

The researchers are excited about the wide-ranging applicability of these miniature hearts. They enable an unprecedented ability to study many other cardiovascular-related diseasesincluding chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity and the effect of diabetes, during pregnancy, on the developing fetal heart.

Additional researchers from Michigan State and Washington University in St. Louis contributed to the work.

The American Heart Association and the National Institutes of Health funded the study.

Source: Michigan State University

Original Study DOI: 10.1101/2020.06.25.171611

Original post:
First lab-made 'mini-hearts' mimic the real thing - Futurity: Research News

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Hosted by investor judges, the Start-Up Showcases will take place within four themed tracks: Precision Livestock Farming, Aquaculture, Animal Health, and the Microbiome & Feed.

Investor Jenny Rooke, Managing Director, at Genoa Ventures says: As innovative start-ups increasingly reimagine biology as an engineering-augmented process, exciting new approaches to addressing fundamental needs in animal health and agriculture will result.

Cattle Eye (Ireland) has created the worlds first autonomous livestock monitoring platform that is improving the lives of farmers and livestock, and revolutionising the protein supply chain. Its deep learning AI platform is designed to interpret the visual imagery of livestock from web cameras and extract valuable insights about those cows.

Cynomys (Italy) is the first company to patent an IoT solution for monitoring environmental parameters in animal housings. Our self-contained devices can control more than 30 parameters and farmers can monitor anything, from toxic gases to water quality factors, on our secure cloud platform at any time wherever they are, highlights International Manager, Ambra Milani.

Soos Technology (Israel) develops hatching technology to solve the biggest challenge the egg-production industry has today, male-chick culling. Its solution is an incubation system (AI-driven software controlling a customized incubation cell) that controls the sex development process in chicken embryos and results in more functional females that lay eggs.

Impact-9(Ireland) develops aquaculture structure solutions for high energy environments using flexible materials and smart design approaches to address big wave challenges. It aims to open access to new sites and deliver clean, secure, sustainable aquaculture with reduced maintenance and competitive costs.

Umitron (Singapore & Japan) is building user-friendly data platforms for aquaculture by using IoT, satellite remote sensing, and AI. Its technology helps farmers improve farm efficiency, manage environmental risks, and increase business revenues.

Micron Agritech (Ireland) has developed Tastail, a portable testing kit that allows farmers or vets to detect parasitic infections in cattle instantly and on-site. Parasites are a huge health problem in cattle and many farmers are currently using medication as a preventative measure instead of testing for parasites. This is leading to resistance and so the EU has passed legislation to ban the prophylactic use of anthelmintic medication, says Director & Co-Founder, Sean Smith.

Pharm Robotics (USA) With the animal health sector heading towards complete automation as labour challenges continue, Pharm Robotics system offers a complete solution with instant analytics to the shot-delivery process, which will be a must-have for dairy farmers to achieve operational sustainability. Alika Chuck, Co-Founder & CFO says: With Sureshot, dairy farmers will now have more time to tend to other important areas within their operation and make better-informed decisions.

Zelp(UK) develops smart wearable technology for cattle that neutralises livestock methane exhalations and is responsible for 40% of the total agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. The wearable also gathers unique emissions-related data to improve animal welfare, optimise herd management, and quantify emissions.

General Probiotics (USA) develops innovative cellbots and antimicrobial probiotics that eliminate harmful pathogens in livestock that enable the production of safe food and reduce our current dependency on antibiotics. In our most recent field trial, we observed a 67% decrease in the mortality rate caused by necrotic enteritis in chickens infected with Clostridia perfringens, when birds were administered our cellbots, says CEO Yiannis Kaznessis.

Beta Bugs (UK) creates high performance insect genetics for the insects as the protein sector is using proven biotech and breeding strategies. Its current focus is on the Black Soldier Fly and its use as an animal feed, with a mission of doubling this industry's productivity, enabling it to compete on price point with commoditized feed ingredients.

The start-ups will be quizzed on the viability of their technologies and business models by seasoned animal agtech investors:

The start-up community will join the virtual Animal AgTech Innovation Summit on September 14, as it brings together 400 animal agtech leaders for an action-packed day of 1-1 video networking, live panels and small group roundtable discussions.

The full programme, speaker faculty and delegate registration are available at http://www.animalagtecheurope.com.

Excerpt from:
Ten innovators take the digital stage to transform the livestock industry - The Pig Site

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith