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Immunology

Neutrophils are key to mounting an effective immune response when receiving a pneumonia vaccine – UB News Center

BUFFALO, N.Y. University at Buffalo scientists exploring the nature of immunity after vaccination against Streptococcus pneumoniae, which causes pneumonia in people, have discovered that a specific type of white blood cell called neutrophils plays a more critical role than was previously known.

The research is especially relevant for the elderly because immunity declines with age.

Researchers at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB have found that in order to generate a protective response when vaccinated against Streptococcus pneumoniae, an individual must have a sufficient level of neutrophils.

The preclinical study is important because it is the first to use Prevnar-13, one of two pneumonia vaccines on the market, instead of a model antigen to study the nature of the immune response triggered by the vaccine.

Better vaccines

The idea behind our research is ultimately to make a better pneumonia vaccine, said Elsa Bou Ghanem, PhD, assistant professor of microbiology and immunology in the Jacobs School and senior corresponding author on the paper, published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases in May.

While B cells are a key factor in the immune response because they produce antibodies that fight viruses and pathogens, Bou Ghanem said the new findings about neutrophils could be relevant to potential improvements in developing vaccines against S. pneumoniae.

Now we have to think about the other immune cells in the mix as well, she said. Now we understand that its a little more complicated.

Bou Ghanem described neutrophils as the first defenders, noting that whenever any foreign object appears in the lungs, neutrophils are the first infection-fighting cells to appear.

That fact has long been known about neutrophils, also known as polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). They play key roles in the bodys rapid response to bacterial infection, known as the innate response.

But the UB researchers found that they also play a role in generating the adaptive response, the immune systems slower, more customized response to a specific infection.

Orchestrating the whole immune response

We have learned now that neutrophils orchestrate the whole immune response, both innate and adaptive, said Essi Tchalla, first author on the paper and a doctoral student in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology in the Jacobs School.

They made the discovery while studying how two groups of mice responded after being vaccinated with the polysaccharide conjugate vaccine: One group was normal and one group had had its neutrophils significantly depleted.

When exposed to S. pneumoniae a month after vaccination, all of the mice with normal neutrophil levels were able to mount a strong immune response and all of them survived, with only 12.5% of them showing any symptoms.

But in the group that had been depleted of neutrophils at the time of vaccination, nearly 80% became severely ill and more than half of the mice did not survive. These mice exhibited between 10 and 100 times more bacteria in their lungs than was seen in the normal controls.

The researchers report it was the lack of neutrophils at the time when mice were vaccinated, not at the time of exposure to the bacteria, that caused them to suffer the worst outcomes. The neutrophils were required for the production of protective antibodies against S. pneumoniae following vaccination.

Now we want to figure out what is the contribution of neutrophils in regulating this vaccine response, said Tchalla.

She said the team is looking at interferon gamma, which is involved in the innate immune response, and the possibility that neutrophils can produce interferon gamma, which in turn helps B cells to produce better antibodies against pathogens.

The long-range goal for Bou Ghanem and Tchalla is to investigate how the reduction in the efficacy of neutrophils in the elderly affects their ability to mount an immune response to S. pneumoniae when vaccinated.

One of their projects, currently on hold because of the pandemic, involves studying neutrophils provided by donors recruited through UBs Clinical and Translational Research Institute, a collaboration with Sanjay Sethi, MD, professor and chief of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine in the Jacobs School.

The findings may also be relevant to understanding the ability of elderly patients to generate an adequate immune response when vaccinated against other pathogens, including COVID-19, the UB researchers said.

The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health. Bou Ghanem has received additional NIH funding to study the factors that make the elderly susceptible to S. pneumoniae, and how to make vaccines more effective in elderly populations, in collaboration with Blaine Pfeifer, PhD, professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering in the UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

In addition to Bou Ghanem and Tchalla, co-authors are Manmeet Bhalla, PhD, postdoctoral associate in Bou Ghanems lab, and Elizabeth A. Wohlfert, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology in the Jacobs School.

Originally posted here:
Neutrophils are key to mounting an effective immune response when receiving a pneumonia vaccine - UB News Center

Immunology

AZTherapies Announces the Appointment of Drs. Robert Malenka, Adam Boxer, Vijay Kuchroo and Megan Levings, to Scientific Advisory Board – Stockhouse

BOSTON, Aug. 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AZTherapies, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company in advanced clinical trials to treat neuroinflammatory diseases, today announced the expansion of its Scientific Advisory Board, appointing esteemed neuroscientist Robert Malenka, M.D., Ph.D., as well as experts in the development of neuroimmunology and T-cell therapeutics, Adam Boxer, M.D., Ph.D., Vijay Kuchroo, D.V.M., Ph.D., and Megan Levings, Ph.D., who have joined the AZTherapies SAB following the company’s acquisition of Smith Therapeutics in October 2019.

We are very pleased to welcome these neuro-immunology leaders to our Scientific Advisory Board, as we are all committed to advancing efforts to slow down or halt the progression of neurodegenerative diseases by targeting neuroinflammation as the main cause of progressive neural damage, and declining cognition and function,” said David R. Elmaleh, Ph.D., AZTherapies’ Founder, CEO, and Chairman. Each of our new board members brings unique expertise relevant to our pipeline whether it be our Phase 3 program in early Alzheimer’s disease, our progressing candidate for the treatment of ALS and post-ischemic stroke cognitive impairment, or our novel biologic approach using specifically engineered immunosuppressive CAR-T regulatory (Treg) cells to treat neurodegenerative disease and I look forward to working together to achieve our common goals.”

Philip Ashton-Rickardt, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Immunology at AZTherapies also commented on the appointments: I am thrilled that the SAB members from Smith have agreed to stay on to support our efforts in the development of CAR-Tregs to restore a healthy balance of inflammatory and regulatory cells in the brain. Since last fall, we have continued to advance this innovative program through pre-clinical development, and now anticipate initial in vitro and in vivo proof of concept across several models of neurodegenerative disease later this year.”

Dr. Malenka is Deputy Director of the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute and Associate Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at Stanford University, while also serving as the Pritzker Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences. Recognized as a world leader in the field of synapse biology, his work has resulted in more than 250 scientific publications. Dr. Malenka is an elected member of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine as well as the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He received a B.A., summa cum laude, from Harvard College and an M.D. and a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Stanford University School of Medicine.

Dr. Boxer is Endowed Professor in Memory and Aging in the Department of Neurology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and directs UCSF’s Neurosciences Clinical Research Unit and the Alzheimer’s Disease and Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) Clinical Trials Program at the UCSF Memory and Aging Center. Dr. Boxer’s research is focused on developing new treatments and biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases. He is the principal investigator of the Advancing Research and Treatment for Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration Clinical Research Consortium, while also leading the FTD Treatment Study Group, which is looking to speed the development of new therapies for FTD. The author of more than 150 scientific publications, Dr. Boxer received his medical and doctorate degrees at New York University Medical Center.

Dr. Kuchroo is the Samuel L. Wasserstrom professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, and a senior scientist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He is also a member of the Broad Institute, and a participant in a Klarman Cell Observatory project that focuses on T cell differentiation. He is the founding director of the Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Dr. Kuchroo obtained his degree in Veterinary Medicine from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Hisar, India, and subsequently specialized in pathology at the University of Queensland, Brisbane Australia, where he obtained a Ph.D. He is the recipient of the Fred Z. Eager Research Prize, the Javits Neuroscience Award by the NIH, the Ranbaxy Prize in Medical Research, the Nobel Laureate Peter Doherty Lecture/Prize, and was named Distinguished Eberly Lecturer.

Dr. Levings is Professor, Department of Surgery and School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia, Investigator at BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Lead, Childhood Diseases Research Theme, and an Associate Member of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. She is internationally recognized in the field of human immunology and currently chairs the Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies Centers' of Excellence and is a member of the NIH-funded Immune Tolerance Network steering committee. Her research focuses on the use of T regulatory cells to replace conventional immunosuppression in the context of transplantation and autoimmunity. Dr. Levings received her BSc in biology from Simon Fraser University and her Ph.D. in genetics at the University of British Columbia.

About AZTherapies AZTherapies is an advanced clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel small molecules and biologic therapies that aim to fundamentally change neurodegenerative disease progression, extending normal cognition and function and improving quality of life in the aging population. Our lead candidate, ALZT-OP1, is built on a multi-modal approach that recognizes neuroinflammation as a root cause of serious neurodegeneration and seeks to stop or slow the progression of disease; the ALZT-OP1 Phase 3 COGNITE trial in early Alzheimer’s disease is fully enrolled, with trial completion expected in late 2020 and results in the first quarter of 2021. Following our lead program, we are advancing candidates for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), post-ischemic stroke cognitive impairment, and are pursuing an innovative CAR-Treg program that could have broad application across a spectrum of neurodegenerative diseases. AZTherapies is a private company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. To learn more, please visit http://www.aztherapies.com.

Media Contact: Jennifer LaVin jlavin@aztherapies.com

Investor Contact: Brian Bartlett Chief Financial & Accounting Officer brian.bartlett@aztherapies.com

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AZTherapies Announces the Appointment of Drs. Robert Malenka, Adam Boxer, Vijay Kuchroo and Megan Levings, to Scientific Advisory Board - Stockhouse

Genetics

Insights on the Global Animal Genetics Market 2020-2024 | COVID-19 Analysis, Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities and Threats | Technavio – Business…

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Technavio has been monitoring the animal genetics market and it is poised to grow by USD 1.79 billion during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of 7% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment.

Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable, and pessimistic) considering the impact of COVID-19. Please Request Free Sample Report on COVID-19 Impact

Frequently Asked Questions-

The market is concentrated, and the degree of concentration will accelerate during the forecast period. Animal Genetics Inc., AquaGen AS, Aviagen Group, Coperatie Koninklijke CRV u.a., Genetic Veterinary Sciences Inc., Genus Plc, Hendrix Genetics BV, Neogen Corp., Topigs Norsvin, and Zoetis Inc. are some of the major market participants. To make most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments.

Animal Genetics Market 2020-2024: Segmentation

Animal Genetics Market is segmented as below:

To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR40040

Animal Genetics Market 2020-2024: Scope

Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our animal genetics market report covers the following areas:

This study identifies the increase in consumption of animal-derived food products as one of the prime reasons driving the animal genetics market growth during the next few years.

Animal Genetics Market 2020-2024: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of vendors operating in the animal genetics market, including some of the vendors such as Animal Genetics Inc., AquaGen AS, Aviagen Group, Coperatie Koninklijke CRV u.a., Genetic Veterinary Sciences Inc., Genus Plc, Hendrix Genetics BV, Neogen Corp., Topigs Norsvin, and Zoetis Inc. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the animal genetics market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

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Animal Genetics Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights

Table of Contents:

PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT

PART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE

PART 04: MARKET SIZING

PART 05: FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS

PART 06: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY SOLUTION

PART 07: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE

PART 08: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE

PART 09: DECISION FRAMEWORK

PART 10: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES

PART 11: MARKET TRENDS

PART 12: VENDOR LANDSCAPE

PART 13: VENDOR ANALYSIS

PART 14: APPENDIX

PART 15: EXPLORE TECHNAVIO

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavios report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavios comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

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Insights on the Global Animal Genetics Market 2020-2024 | COVID-19 Analysis, Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities and Threats | Technavio - Business...

Genetics

Seattle Genetics Announces TUKYSA (tucatinib) Approved Within Months for All Countries Participating in FDA’s Project Orbis Initiative – BioSpace

Aug. 12, 2020 12:00 UTC

BOTHELL, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Seattle Genetics, Inc., Inc. (Nasdaq:SGEN) today announced that Australian regulatory authorities have approved TUKYSA (tucatinib) in combination with trastuzumab and capecitabine for the treatment of patients with advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer, including patients with brain metastases, who have received one or more prior anti-HER2-based regimens in the metastatic setting. Australia joins U.S., Switzerland, Canada and Singapore that approved TUKYSA under Project Orbis, an initiative of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Oncology Center of Excellence that provides a framework for concurrent submission and review of oncology drugs among participating international regulatory agencies.

In April, TUKYSA became the first new medicine approved in the United States under Project Orbis, and its approval is currently under review in the European Union. TUKYSA is an oral, small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) of HER2, a protein that contributes to cancer cell growth.1,2

The rapid approval of concurrent global reviews under FDAs Project Orbis for TUKYSA will allow for accelerated market entry of this new best-in-class treatment to HER2-positive breast cancer patients in need, said Clay Siegall, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer at Seattle Genetics. As our company continues to expand globally, we look forward to bringing TUKYSA to patients around the world.

The approvals are based on results from the pivotal trial HER2CLIMB, a randomized (2:1), double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that enrolled 612 patients with HER2-positive unresectable locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer who had previously received, either separately or in combination, trastuzumab, pertuzumab, and ado-trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1). The study results were published in The New England Journal of Medicine in December 2019. The company is pursuing a broad development strategy for TUKYSA in earlier stage HER2-positive breast cancer and other solid tumors.

About HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

Patients with HER2-positive breast cancer have tumors with high levels of a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), which promotes the growth of cancer cells. In 2018, more than two million new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed worldwide, including nearly 523,000 in Europe.3 Between 15 and 20 percent of breast cancer cases are HER2-positive.4 Historically, HER2-positive breast cancer tends to be more aggressive and more likely to recur than HER2-negative breast cancer.5,6,7 Up to 50 percent of metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer patients develop brain metastases over time.8,9,10

About TUKYSA (tucatinib)

TUKYSA is an oral medicine that is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor of the HER2 protein. In vitro (in lab studies), TUKYSA inhibited phosphorylation of HER2 and HER3, resulting in inhibition of downstream MAPK and AKT signaling and cell growth (proliferation), and showed anti-tumor activity in HER2-expressing tumor cells. In vivo (in living organisms), TUKYSA inhibited the growth of HER2-expressing tumors. The combination of TUKYSA and the anti-HER2 antibody trastuzumab showed increased anti-tumor activity in vitro and in vivo compared to either medicine alone.11 In the U.S., TUKYSA is approved in combination with trastuzumab and capecitabine for adult patients with advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer, including patients with brain metastases (disease that has spread to the brain), who have received one or more prior anti-HER2-based regimens in the metastatic setting.

TUKYSA is approved in the U.S., Switzerland, Canada, Singapore and Australia and is under review for approval in the EU.

U.S. Important Safety Information

Warnings and Precautions

If diarrhea occurs, administer antidiarrheal treatment as clinically indicated. Perform diagnostic tests as clinically indicated to exclude other causes of diarrhea. Based on the severity of the diarrhea, interrupt dose, then dose reduce or permanently discontinue TUKYSA

Monitor ALT, AST, and bilirubin prior to starting TUKYSA, every 3 weeks during treatment, and as clinically indicated. Based on the severity of hepatoxicity, interrupt dose, then dose reduce or permanently discontinue TUKYSA.

Adverse Reactions

Serious adverse reactions occurred in 26% of patients who received TUKYSA. Serious adverse reactions in 2% of patients who received TUKYSA were diarrhea (4%), vomiting (2.5%), nausea (2%), abdominal pain (2%), and seizure (2%). Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 2% of patients who received TUKYSA including sudden death, sepsis, dehydration, and cardiogenic shock.

Adverse reactions led to treatment discontinuation in 6% of patients who received TUKYSA; those occurring in 1% of patients were hepatotoxicity (1.5%) and diarrhea (1%). Adverse reactions led to dose reduction in 21% of patients who received TUKYSA; those occurring in 2% of patients were hepatotoxicity (8%) and diarrhea (6%).

The most common adverse reactions in patients who received TUKYSA (20%) were diarrhea, palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia, nausea, fatigue, hepatotoxicity, vomiting, stomatitis, decreased appetite, abdominal pain, headache, anemia, and rash.

Lab Abnormalities

In HER2CLIMB, Grade 3 laboratory abnormalities reported in 5% of patients who received TUKYSA were: decreased phosphate, increased ALT, decreased potassium, and increased AST. The mean increase in serum creatinine was 32% within the first 21 days of treatment with TUKYSA. The serum creatinine increases persisted throughout treatment and were reversible upon treatment completion. Consider alternative markers of renal function if persistent elevations in serum creatinine are observed.

Drug Interactions

Use in Specific Populations

For more information, please see the full Prescribing Information for TUKYSA here.

About Seattle Genetics

Seattle Genetics, Inc. is a global biotechnology company that discovers, develops and commercializes transformative cancer medicines to make a meaningful difference in peoples lives. ADCETRIS (brentuximab vedotin) and PADCEV (enfortumab vedotin-ejfv) use the companys industry-leading antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology. ADCETRIS is approved in certain CD30-expressing lymphomas, and PADCEV is approved in certain metastatic urothelial cancers. TUKYSA (tucatinib), a small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is approved in certain HER2-positive metastatic breast cancers. The company is headquartered in Seattle, Washington area, with locations in California, Switzerland and the European Union. For more information on our robust pipeline, visit http://www.seattlegenetics.com and follow @SeattleGenetics on Twitter.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this press release are forward looking, such as those, among others, relating to the therapeutic potential of TUKYSA including its efficacy, safety and therapeutic uses including the potential use of TUKYSA in combination with trastuzumab and capecitabine for the treatment of patients with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer, who have previously received two or more anti-HER2 regimens in any setting, and the potential to bring TUKYSA to patients in Australia, Canada, Singapore and Switzerland. Actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected or implied in these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such a difference include reimbursement processes, the extent of reimbursement, the possibility of adverse events or safety signals, the possibility that the ultimate utilization and adoption of TUKYSA by prescribing physicians may be limited, including due to impacts related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the possibility of difficulties in supplying and commercializing a new therapeutic agent, and the possibility of adverse regulatory actions. More information about the risks and uncertainties faced by Seattle Genetics is contained under the caption Risk Factors included in the companys Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2020 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Seattle Genetics disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

1 TUKYSA [package insert]. Bothell, WA: Seattle Genetics, Inc.2 Anita Kulukian, Patrice Lee, Janelle Taylor, et al. Preclinical Activity of HER2-Selective Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Tucatinib as a Single Agent or in Combination with Trastuzumab or Docetaxel in Solid Tumor ModelsMol Cancer Ther 2020;19:976-987.3 Breast. Globocan 2018. World Health Organization. 2019. https://gco.iarc.fr/today/data/factsheets/cancers/20-Breast-fact-sheet.pdf 4 Slamon D, Clark G, Wong S, et al. Human breast cancer: correlation of relapse and survival with amplification of the HER-2/neu oncogene. Science. 1987; 235(4785): 177-82.5 Loibli S, Gianni L. HER2-positive breast cancer. Lancet. 2017; 389(10087): 2415-29.6 Slamon D, Clark G, Wong S, et al. Human breast cancer: correlation of relapse and survival with amplification of the HER-2/neu oncogene. Science. 1987; 235(4785): 177-82.7 Breast Cancer HER2 Status. American Cancer Society website. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/understanding-a-breast-cancer-diagnosis/breast-cancer-her2-status.html. Accessed March 9, 2020.8 Freedman RA, Gelman RS, Anders CK, et al. TBCRC 022: a phase II trial of neratinib and capecitabine for patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer and brain metastases. J Clin Oncol. 2019;37:1081-1089.9 Olson EM, Najita JS, Sohl J, et al. Clinical outcomes and treatment practice patterns of patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer in the post-trastuzumab era. Breast. 2013;22:525-531.10 Bendell JC, Domchek SM, Burstein HJ, et al. Central nervous system metastases in women who receive trastuzumab-based therapy for metastatic breast carcinoma. Cancer. 2003;97:2972-2977.11 TUKYSA [package insert]. Bothell, WA: Seattle Genetics, Inc.

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Seattle Genetics Announces TUKYSA (tucatinib) Approved Within Months for All Countries Participating in FDA's Project Orbis Initiative - BioSpace

Genetics

OpGen Group Company Ares Genetics Demonstrates Feasibility of CLIA-compliant Next Generation Sequencing Workflow for Identification of Bacterial…

Accurate identification of antibiotic resistance markers based on the ARESdb QIAGEN CLC Module leveraging Ares Genetics proprietary antibiotic resistance database

Pathogens correctly identified with 100% sensitivity and specificity, antibiotic resistance markers with >95% sensitivity and >99% specificity, respectively

Study paves the way for routine clinical diagnostic application of next-generation sequencing (NGS) in timely as well as accurate infectious disease testing and drug susceptibility prediction

VIENNA, Austria, and GAITHERSBURG, Md., Aug. 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ares Genetics GmbH (Vienna, Austria; Ares Genetics), a subsidiary of OpGen, Inc. (Nasdaq: OPGN, OpGen), announced today the publication of a peer-reviewed study that demonstrates the feasibility of a highly accurate and reproducible sample-to-insight workflow for various clinical microbiology assays including the molecular identification of bacterial pathogens and their genetic markers of antibiotic resistance (Ref. 1).

The combined laboratory and bioinformatics workflow was developed following requirements of the U.S. Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA) for laboratory-developed tests (LDTs). The bioinformatics analysis workflow leverages the QIAGEN CLC Microbial Genomics ARESdb Module for detection of antibiotic resistance (AMR) markers (Ref. 2). Powered by artificial intelligence, Ares Genetics ARESdb is a comprehensive, global and continuously updated proprietary knowledgebase on AMR markers and their diagnostic relevance. Under a license from Ares Genetics, the QIAGEN CLC Microbial Genomics ARESdb Module provides users information about diagnostic performance parameters for individual AMR markers at antibiotic compound resolution and thereby addresses a key limitation of public AMR databases (Ref. 3).

The workflow was validated in a study focused on particularly challenging and clinically prevalent multi-drug resistant ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter cloacae) including the WHO priority 1 pathogens (Ref. 4). In this study, the workflow demonstrated >99% repeatability, reproducibility, and accuracy. Pathogens were correctly identified with 100% sensitivity and specificity, AMR markers with >95% sensitivity and >99% specificity, respectively.

Dr. Andreas Posch, CEO of Ares Genetics and corresponding author of the study, commented, This study demonstrates that next-generation sequencing in combination with a standardized bioinformatics workflow and a curated interpretation database enables a wide array of clinical microbiology assays with the performance and quality that meet the high standards required for human diagnostic use. We are very pleased to reach this important milestone in our development of universal molecular diagnostic solutions for the timely detection of pathogens and accurate prediction of antibiotic susceptibility.

Ares Genetics currently offers NGS-based clinical microbiology assays for epidemiology, infection control and research via its AI-powered bioinformatics platform ares-genetics.cloud under the brand name ARESupa - Universal Pathogenome Assay. In a recently published multi-center study, Ares Genetics demonstrated that ares-genetics.cloud can also accurately predict antibiotic susceptibility based on complex DNA signatures that are interpreted by combining ARESdb with artificial intelligence (Ref. 5). The combination of high-resolution NGS and AI-powered data interpretation can enable accurate as well as comprehensive molecular antibiotic susceptibility testing and has the potential to provide information on antibiotic therapy response much faster than current culture-based approaches.

Dr. Andreas Posch added: Highly standardized laboratory workflows like the one we realized in this study, are an important prerequisite for fast and reliable molecular solutions for pathogen identification and antibiotic susceptibility prediction in the clinical routine. They allow locally performed NGS analysis for expeditious turnaround times and cloud-based AI-powered data interpretation for clinical decision support. This enables new business models combining traditional IVD instrument and reagent business with SaaS business and hence paves the way for digital diagnostic companies like Ares Genetics.

Microbial infections and antibiotic resistance have become major healthcare challenges with rapidly spreading antimicrobial resistance estimated to have caused 700,000 deaths globally in 2016, a number that is projected to dramatically increase to 10 million deaths annually by 2050 if no countermeasures are taken (Ref. 6). While on July 9th 2020, more than 20 leading biopharmaceutical companies announced the launch of the AMR Action Fund aiming to bring two to four new antibiotics to patients by 2030, a recent white paper by Ares Genetics highlights the urgent need for novel diagnostic approaches to allow for rapid identification of causative pathogens and their susceptibility to available antibiotic options, in order to guide appropriate treatment of patients while enabling prudent and informed use of existing or future new antibiotics (Ref. 7).

The studies by Ares Genetics were supported through funding provided by the Vienna Business Agency and the Austrian Research Promotion Agency.

References

About OpGen, Inc.

OpGen, Inc. (Gaithersburg, MD, USA) is a precision medicine company harnessing the power of molecular diagnostics and bioinformatics to help combat infectious disease. Along with subsidiaries, Curetis GmbH and Ares Genetics GmbH, we are developing and commercializing molecular microbiology solutions helping to guide clinicians with more rapid and actionable information about life threatening infections to improve patient outcomes, and decrease the spread of infections caused by multidrug-resistant microorganisms, or MDROs. OpGens product portfolio includes Unyvero, Acuitas AMR Gene Panel and Acuitas Lighthouse, and the ARES Technology Platform including ARESdb, using NGS technology and AI-powered bioinformatics solutions for antibiotic response prediction.

For more information, please visit http://www.opgen.com.

Forward-Looking Statements by OpGen

This press release includes statements regarding a validation study of next-generation sequencing based tests provided by OpGens subsidiary, Ares Genetics GmbH. These statements and other statements regarding OpGens future plans and goals constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that are often difficult to predict, are beyond our control, and which may cause results to differ materially from expectations. Factors that could cause our results to differ materially from those described include, but are not limited to, our ability to successfully, timely and cost-effectively develop, seek and obtain regulatory clearance for and commercialize our product and services offerings, the rate of adoption of our products and services by hospitals and other healthcare providers, the realization of expected benefits of our business combination transaction with Curetis GmbH, the success of our commercialization efforts, the impact of COVID-19 on the Companys operations, financial results, and commercialization efforts as well as on capital markets and general economic conditions, the effect on our business of existing and new regulatory requirements, and other economic and competitive factors. For a discussion of the most significant risks and uncertainties associated with OpGen's business, please review our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are based on our expectations as of the date of this press release and speak only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

OpGen Contact:Oliver SchachtCEOInvestorRelations@opgen.com

Press Contact:Matthew BretziusFischTank Marketing and PRmatt@fischtankpr.com

Investor Contact:Megan PaulEdison Groupmpaul@edisongroup.com

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OpGen Group Company Ares Genetics Demonstrates Feasibility of CLIA-compliant Next Generation Sequencing Workflow for Identification of Bacterial...

Genetics

Genes take side in the battle of the sexes – Science News – Deadline News

Men may have a surprising genetic advantage over women, according to new research carried out at the University of St Andrews.

The study, published today inProceedings of the Royal Society Series B Biological Sciences, focused on genes that are present on the X chromosome.

These are carried by individuals of both sexes but with females typically having a double dose.

Traditionally, the over-representation of the X chromosome among females has been thought to lead to it favouring a genetic blueprint that benefits females at the expense of males.

But the St Andrews team have shown that, in many cases, the X chromosome instead sides with males in the battle of the sexes.

The research didnt specifically focus on human genetics and instead applies to all creatures that exhibit sex differences.

Across the animal kingdom males and females of the same species can differ remarkably in their size, shape, life-history and behaviour.

Males of the blanket octopus, for instance, are barely the size of the females eye, and males of the rusty tussock moth grow large ochre wings while females have tiny vestigial ones.

However, despite these striking differences, the two sexes generally share the same genome the set of genetic instructions that act as a blueprint for building an organism.

This can lead to problems, as the genome that encodes the best male might not be the one that encodes the best female, and any evolutionary advance that better serves the interests of males is likely to come at the expense of females.

This all depends on where in the genome they are found and on aspects of the species lifestyles, such as whether mums tend to be younger than dads.

Thomas Hitchcock said: The average ages of mothers and fathers in the population can also tilt the balance of genes interests in favour of one sex. If, as in humans, the average father is older than the average mother, then our model shows that this will lead almost all genes to shift their interests towards what works best for males.

Professor Andy Gardner, added: In general, these different parts of the genome will disagree about how best to balance the fitness of females against males.

This can lead to an interesting intragenomic conflict, where an individuals own genes can go to war against each other, and the fallout from that is expected to be harmful for both females and males.

Read more here:
Genes take side in the battle of the sexes - Science News - Deadline News

Genetics

Animal Genetic Products Market Research Provides an In-Depth Analysis on the Future Growth Prospects and Industry Trends Adopted by the Competitors |…

The latest study on the Animal Genetic Products market presented by Reports and Data provides comprehensive information about the market size and market trends, along with factors impacting the market. The study offers a panoramic view and insights into the market along with a detailed outline of key outcomes of the industry. This information assists the businesses and companies in making strategic business decisions and formulating profitable plans to improve profitability and business. The study provides beneficial help to venture capitalists to understand other companies better and to boost the decision-making process. The report also provides extensive profiles of key competitors operating in the market.

COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the world and has brought about an economic slowdown. The report covers an impact analysis of the COVID-19 crisis on the overall industry. The report provides an in-depth analysis of the changing dynamics of the market and emerging trends and demands due to the pandemic. It also offers a current and future impact estimation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The dominant and slow-growing market segments are also analyzed in the report to provide a complete understanding of each key segment of the market. Emerging market players are also profiled in the report, along with their transition in the market. Strategic alliances such as mergers and acquisitions, product launches, joint ventures, collaborations, partnerships, agreements, and government deals are anticipated to change the market landscape and are included in the report. The report also provides quantitative and qualitative analysis and statistical data for the forecast period.

Key players of the market mentioned in the report are:

Genus Plc, Hendrix Genetics BV, Alta Genetics, CRV Holdings B.V., Neogen Corporation, VatGen, Animal Genetics Inc., Zoetis, Urus, and Envigo.

Research Methodology:

The research report is formulated by extensive primary and secondary research gathered by the research analysts. The data is further validated and verified by industry experts and have assisted in compiling the parametric estimations of the market for a comprehensive study. The competitive landscape data is provided by SWOT analysis of each market player along with feasibility analysis, investment return analysis, and Porters Five Forces analysis.

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The report provides a market forecast for each of the segments of the industry, such as product types and end-user applications.

Live Animals Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2018-2026)

Genetic Material Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2018-2026)

Testing Services Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2018-2026)

The research for the Animal Genetic Products market based on global and regional analysis is an astute process of collecting and organizing the statistical data related to the services and products offered in the Animal Genetic Products market. The research provides an insight to better understand the needs and wants of the targeted consumer audience. The report also provides an analysis of how efficient the company is to achieve the set targets. The research report is compiled using customer insights, marketing strategies, competitive landscape analysis, and overall growth trends of the market. The Animal Genetic Products industry is consolidated by several new players entering the market.

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Regional Bifurcation of the Market: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa.

Key offerings of the Global Animal Genetic Products Market Report:

To get the Report Description and TOC, visit @ https://www.reportsanddata.com/report-detail/animal-genetic-products-market

Thank you for reading our report. For further information or query regarding customization, kindly get in touch with us. Our team will make sure the report is customized according to your needs.

David is an Experience Business writer who regularly contributes to the blog, He specializes in manufacturing news

Continued here:
Animal Genetic Products Market Research Provides an In-Depth Analysis on the Future Growth Prospects and Industry Trends Adopted by the Competitors |...

Anatomy

Grey’s Anatomy season 17, episode 1: When will Grey’s Anatomy return? – Express

Fans could also find out more about Owen's background in the upcoming season.

Little is known about him prior to being employed at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital apart from the fact he had previously served in the army.

Showrunner Krista Vernoff opened up on Quaranstreaming: Comfort TV That Keeps Us Going panel about speaking to real-life doctors about the Covid-19 crisis.

She said: "The doctors come in and were the first people theyre talking to about these types of experiences theyre having.

"They are literally shaking and trying not to cry, theyre pale, and theyre talking about it as war a war that they were not trained for.

"And thats been one of our big conversations about Owen, is that hes actually trained for this in a way that most of the other doctors arent."

Grey's Anatomy is available to watch on ABC.

View post:
Grey's Anatomy season 17, episode 1: When will Grey's Anatomy return? - Express

Anatomy

When Will ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Season 17 Pick Up? – TVInsider

Get ready for a bit of a time jump whenGrey's Anatomy Season 17 begins.

The new episodes pick up "a month and a half into full COVID, so it's going to take place a little bit beyond where we left off," Giacomo Gianniotti, who plays Dr. Andrew DeLuca, told ET.

In terms of filling in the gaps in the story, "we might have some flashbacks. We might have some things where we're referencing last season." Filming is set to start in September, but that could change, as it already has; they were previously looking to begin this month.

While he hasn't read a script yet, he does have some sort of idea of what viewers will see on-screen, just in terms of keeping the actors safe."We're going to be wearing full [personal protective equipment] of course, as we're going to take place in coronavirus on the show when we start the season. All of our characters will be justifiably protected," Gianniotti explained. Because they play doctors, "we're uniquely lucky that we get to wear PPE."

(ABC/Kelsey McNeal)

Grey's recently promoted Richard Flood, who plays Dr. Cormac Hayes, to series regular, suggesting that we'll see more of Dr. Meredith Grey's (Ellen Pompeo) love triangle in Season 17. With his character the other part of it, Gianniotti expects that as well.

Last season, DeLuca and Meredith's relationship hit a rough patch, and as it ended, he was going through quite a bit in terms of his mental health. (The firefighter spinoffStation 19 appeared to confirm he's bipolar, through a conversation between his sister, Stefania Spampinato'sDr. Carina DeLuca, and her girlfriend, Danielle Savre's firefighter Maya Bishop.) According to Gianniotti, that may have opened the door for Hayes to be "much more desirable and stable and more of a compatible partner" for Meredith.

Grey's Anatomy, Season 17, Fall 2020, ABC

Original post:
When Will 'Grey's Anatomy' Season 17 Pick Up? - TVInsider

Anatomy

Anatomy of the perfect transfer saga – RTE.ie

The blockbuster summer transfer.

It's one of the most bloated, soap-operatic, indulgent parts of professional football.

And yet, it's a sirens' call to a lot of supporters. You want to resist its nonsense, but it's hard not to be lured towards the mysterious waters of a rumour mill.

Even if a lot of the juiciest ones turn out be red herrings or ploys from a player to get a few more zeroes added to their currentcontract, every so often a big shark jumps pooland the ripples change the game.

Certainly Neymar's 222m move to PSG from Barcelona in 2017 had that kind of impact.

It led to Barca shelling out 160m for Philippe Coutinho, and Liverpool in turn making Virgil van Dijk the most expensive defender of all time when they paid Southampton 84m for the Dutchman's services.

They later forked out 75m for Roma's Alisson, a record fee for a keeper. Chelsea smashed that a couple of weeks later when they brought Kepa Arrizabalaga in from Athletic Bilbao for 80m, while the following year Manchester United eclipsed the Van Dijk fee after they stumped up 87m for Leicester centre-half Harry Maguire.

The hysteria around these transfers isn't a modern phenomenon either. In 1984, Napoli paid Barcelona 11m to lure volatile genius Diego Maradona to Italy, triggering scenes of adulation on a religious scale. Seventy-five thousand supporters wedged intoSan Paolo Stadium for the Argentinian's unveiling.

In England, it took a while for such mammoth fees to become a regular occurrence.

The record transfer fee was broken there in 1995 when Andy Cole left Newcastle United for Manchester United in a 7m deal.

A year and a half later, Alan Shearer's 15m switch to the Magpies from Blackburn Rovers blew that out of the water.

Right now Jadon Sancho's on-again off-again move to Manchester United is the most glamorous bit of tittle-tattle around.How will it end? Time will tell. But if Sancho does leave Borussia Dortmund before the extended window ends in October, it'll be done with all the usual fanfare these stunningly expensive dealsbring.

Expect it to tick a few familiar boxes...

THE BOMBSHELL

A rumour; a whisper; a leak from a well-placed source- the initial talk of a big switch usually comes from enigmatic manouevres in the background as the various parties of interest make their move.

In the summer of 2000 though, it was a public declaration of intent that seemed too outlandish to believe.

Talking himself up before the Real Madrid presidential elections, candidateFlorentino Perez said that if he landed the role he would sign the jewel in the crown of arch-rivals Barcelona: Luis Figo.

Perez played the whole thing beautifully. He set up a deal through Figo's agent that lured the Portuguese star into agreeing to move to Real if Perez won the election. Figo's people did not believe it would happen, andPerez reportedly promised the payer a considerable sum (1.7m) if he didn't get the presidency.

It looked like easy money. However, if Perez did win and Figo didn't move, he'd have to pay Perez a penalty fee of 22m.

Perez was voted in,Figo and his agent were left in an impossible situation, and he headed for the Bernabeu in what remains one of the most contentious transfers of all time.

In 1990, there was a famous fallout to rival it. On the eve of the World Cup, Juventus broke the world transfer record to sign Roberto Baggio from Fiorentina, the 10m deal leading to riots in Florence.Supporters took to the streets to vent their anger at losing Il Divin Codino (The Divine Ponytail), with around 50 people suffering injuries in the chaos.

They threw bricks, chains and petrol bombs, leading to clubpresident Flavio Pontello locking himself inside the ground to take refuge from the mob.

On his return to Florence the next season with Juve, Baggio declined to take a penalty kick that his team had won when trailing 1-0.

They missed it anyway,and Baggio later picked upa Fiorentina scarf that had been tossed onto the pitch just after he was subbed in what was perceived to be a warm gesture towards his former club.

Two days later, a couple of hundred Juve fans came to the training ground to give Baggio a piece of their mind and remind him where his loyalties should lie.

You can't please them all.

THE SULK

Players who don't get the big move they want have a tendency to throw some toys out of the pram. Van Dijk and before him Dejan Lovren both made life difficult for Southampton after Liverpool came calling.

The Merseysiderswere on the other side of it when Luis Suarez wanted to go to Arsenal in 2013. Had the Gunners bid a bit more than the 40m and one pound they wrongly believed was enough to trigger his buyout clause, they would have gotten the Uruguayan.

Instead Suarez stayed put, stewed in the reserves for a while as punishment before re-emerging and almost leading Brendan Rodgers' men to the title.

Then there'sPeter Odemwingie, the unwitting star of a marvellously bizarre deadline day saga.

The West Brom striker drove from Birmingham down to London to try and complete a move to QPR.

But the deal collapsed as QPR failed to get it over the line by the 11pm deadline. "(Afterwards) I said I'm going to play a song from Akon, Lonely, and drive home. I wish it all didn't happen, but that's life," said Odemwingie who had to return to the Baggies with his tail between his legs.

Still, nothing defines the absurdity of life as a top-level earner in the game better than Ashley Cole's infamous reaction to Arsenal's contract offer of 55,000-a-week in 2005 [he'd previously been on around 27,000 but wanted 60,000].

"I nearly swerved off the road," he writes in his autobiography."'He [Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein] is taking the piss, Jonathan!' I yelled down the phone. I was so incensed. I was trembling with anger. I couldnt believe what Id heard. I suppose it all started to fall apart for me from then on."

By the summer of 2006, he was a Chelsea player.

THE SLANGING MATCH

Things get testy when managers are trying to keep a hold of their prized assets.

In December 2008 when Real Madrid were circling around Cristiano Ronaldo, United boss Alex Ferguson came out swinging.

"Do you think I would enter into a contract with that mob?" he said. "Absolutely no chance. I would not sell them a virus.There is no agreement whatsoever between the clubs." Ronaldo was gone for 80m by the following June.

Back in 1998, Aston Villa's John Gregory didn't takethe departure of Dwight Yorke to Old Trafford particularly well. "A couple of weeks ago Dwight openly stated to me that he wanted to play for Manchester United and not Aston Villa. That really hurt me, and if I had had a gun I would have shot him," he deadpanned after Ferguson got the attacker for 12.6m.

And Ferguson was involved in another heated affair in 1993 when he angered Blackburn Rovers manager Kenny Dalglish by swooping for Roy Keane very late in the day. The Corkman had told Dalglish he would go to Ewood Park from relegated Nottingham Forest but once United got in his ear, the midfielder had a change of heart.

"You've made a bad move," Dalglish growled at Keane.

Twenty-five years later, when reflecting on the transfer, Dalglish was able to laugh it off, telling Keane on Sky Sports:"The next time I saw you, you'd won about three [league titles] and a European Cup. I said,'I told you you'd made a mistake'."

THE FANS' ABANDONMENT OF ALL RATIONALE

All bets are off once your team is linked to an exotic new signing.

The presence of cameras around the various grounds in the hours before the deadline day cut-off point has attracted nosy supporters keen to get involved in the excitement.

It's led to many an ashen-faced reporterstiffly soldiering through an update surrounded by a gurning crowd hellbent on going viral. Some outlets have actually stopped the practice now after things got a little too... colourful.

In this age of endless scrutiny, fanbases have developed an almost comical level of sophistication when it comes to staying in the loop.

In 2018, 32,000 Arsenal fans spent an an hour and a half watchinga virtual screen trackinga private jet from Dortmund to London.

Why?The Flightradar24 Twitter account had claimed that strikerPierre Emerick Aubameyang was on board and heading to England to sign a deal.

The constant monitoring of footballers' social media activity is another favoured tactic.

Last October, eagle-eyed Liverpool supporters spotted that Kylian Mbappe liked an Instagram post from Mo Salah, who'd published a photo of himself with Jordan Henderson after a 2-1 win against Spurs.

It could only mean one thing, right? Well, wrong. Despite giving Salah a virtual love heart, Mbappe has yet to make a move to Merseyside.

THE LATE TWIST

In recent years TV coverage of transfer deadline day has become this weird assault on the senses where we're told absolutely anything could happen but, often, nothing really does.

There's been exceptions in fairness. Manchester City upset the old order in 2008 whenSheikh Mansour took over the club and immediately started to spend his money on a scale the Premier League had never seen before.

They tried, and failed, to hijack Manchester United's move for Dimitar Berbatov but offset that very quickly by pulling off an outrageous deal to sign Robinho from Real Madrid. The Brazilian looked certain to link up with compatriot Felipe Scolari at Chelsea until the newly minted Citizens threw down a huge offer to get him north.

As revealed in a lengthy piece on Robinho in The Athletic, when faxing through their offerCity put the paper in the wrong way and it came out the other side blank. "Try again," Real told them. They did, and they got him.

Robinho may not have taken off at City in the way they would have hoped but his capture signalled the dawn of a new era at the Etihad.

In 2011 we had one of the barmiest sequence of big-money moves ever. Chelsea, who had long admired Liverpool superstar Fernando Torres, finally got their man for 50m.

The Redswere desperate to make a statement of their own after losing their poster boy and ended up paying an eye-watering 35m for Newcastle's Andy Carroll - and this came after they'd swooped for the then lesser know Suarez, who arrived for 22.5m from Ajax.

On the helicopter to Liverpool to complete the deal, Carroll had his agent Google the Liverpool squad because he only knew two of his new team-mates - Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.

"That's actually a true story," he said years later. "Its bad because its Liverpool players, but its not disrespectful - I just literally didnt watch football, so I didnt know."

Maybe we take this stuff too seriously.

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Anatomy of the perfect transfer saga - RTE.ie