All posts by medical

Cell Biology

S2 Genomics and the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences Collaborate on Single-Cell Genomics on Solid Tissues – Business Wire

LIVERMORE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--S2 Genomics, a manufacturer and provider of automated tissue sample preparation systems, and the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS), a leading genomics research institute, today announced that RIKEN IMS has joined the S2 Genomics Early Technology Access Program to evaluate and further develop single cell sequencing applications on the S2 Genomics Singulator tissue preparation system.

Achieving high-quality single cell data from solid tissues relies upon consistent and reproducible cell or nuclei dissociation procedures. To overcome the challenges often seen with manual cell dissociation methods, S2 Genomics has developed the automated Singulator system to process solid tissue samples into suspensions of cells or nuclei for single-cell analysis.

Current methods of cell isolation are a significant bottleneck for researchers and can lead to inconsistencies in their data. The Singulator automates and standardizes the dissociation of solid tissues and can improve the quality of single-cell and single-nuclei data from a variety of solid tissue types, said Dr. Stevan Jovanovich, President and CEO of S2 Genomics. We are excited to work with the RIKEN IMS to evaluate the performance of the system and to develop new applications for the Singulator platform.

Dr. Aki Minoda, Unit Leader of the Epigenome Technology Exploration Unit, commented on the collaboration: We are delighted to collaborate with S2 Genomics and incorporate the Singulator into our workflow for single-cell analyses.

About S2 Genomics, Inc.

S2 Genomics, founded in 2016, is a leading developer of laboratory automation solutions to process solid tissue for life science applications. S2 Genomics technology platforms integrate advanced fluidics, optics, and biochemistry capabilities to produce sample preparation solutions for the next generation sequencing (NGS) and cell biology markets. For more information, visit http://www.s2genomics.com.

S2 Genomics, the S2 Genomics logo, and Singulator are trademarks of S2 Genomics, Inc.

About the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences

The RIKEN IMS aims to elucidate the pathogenesis of human diseases and establish new therapeutic methodologies by conducting cutting-edge research on human genome and immune function. To that end, we have established four Divisions: (1) Division of Genomic Medicine, (2) Division of Human Immunology, (3) Division of Disease Systems Biology, and (4) Division of Next Generation Cancer Immunology. These groups work together to promote state-of-the-art research.

For more information, visit https://www.riken.jp/en/research/labs/ims/index.html.

Originally posted here:
S2 Genomics and the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences Collaborate on Single-Cell Genomics on Solid Tissues - Business Wire

Cell Biology

Penn announces seven 2020 Thouron Award winners – Penn: Office of University Communications

Four University of Pennsylvania seniors and three recent alumni have won a Thouron Award to pursue graduate studies in the United Kingdom. Each scholarship winner receives tuition for as long as two years, as well as travel and living stipends, to earn a graduate degree there.

Established in 1960 and supported with gifts by the late John Thouron and his wife, Esther du Pont Thouron, the Thouron Award is a graduate exchange program between Penn and U.K. universities that aims to improve understanding and relations between the two countries.

Penns seven 2020 Thouron Scholars are:

Daniel Brennan

Senior Daniel Brennan, of Miami, is a varsity oarsmen for Penns lightweight crew team majoring in history and political science, with concentrations in military history and political theory in the School of Arts and Sciences. As a United States Marine and past moderator of the Universitys Philomathean Society, he is an advocate for greater civil-military awareness. Brennan works on national security policy as a Student Fellow at the Perry World House and is writing his honors thesis on the development of counterinsurgency strategy during the Cuban War of Independence. He is a Benjamin Franklin Scholar and has worked on anti-hunger issues both as a Fox Leadership Fellow with the Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia and by organizing his crew teams meal-packing events. In the U.K., he plans to pursue a masters degree in military history.

Braden Cordivari

Braden Cordivari, of Elverson, Pennsylvania, is a 2018 graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences. He received his bachelors degree in classical studies and anthropology with a minor in archaeological science. Since 2015, he has continued to work at Penns excavations at the ancient Iron Age city of Gordion in Turkey. He spent the 2018-19 academic year as a John Williams White Fellow at the American School of Classical Studies at Athens completing a program of intensive study of Greek archaeology and history. His research interests include human/environment relationships in the past and the study of craft production through science-based methods. Cordivari plans to pursue a masters degree in archaeological science at the University of Cambridge.

Gregory Forkin

Gregory Forkin, of Philadelphia, is a 2019 graduate with a bachelors degree in mathematics, physics, and biology and a minor in chemistry. He was a University Scholar and a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Currently, he is conducting research in neuroscience under Professor Vijay Balasubramanian and is a teaching assistant in the Math Department in the School of Arts and Sciences. Forkin plans to pursue a masters degree in pure mathematics at the University of Cambridge.

Natasha Menon

Senior Natasha Menon, of Scottsdale, Arizona, is pursuing a major in philosophy, politics, and economics with a concentration in distributive justice and a minor in legal studies and history in the School of Arts and Sciences. Menon serves as president of the Undergraduate Assembly, through which she works to elevate the voices of marginalized communities on campus to effect change. She is also a Civic Scholar, and has volunteered at Moder Patshala, a Bangladeshi immigrant services center in Philadelphia, for three years. Menon plans to pursue a masters degree in international migration and public policy at the London School of Economics. Upon returning to the U.S., she hopes to pursue a law degree and engage in public service in Arizona.

Robert Subtirelu

Senior Robert Subtirelu, from Ronkonkoma, New York, is majoring in the biological basis of behavior and minoring in chemistry in the School of Arts and Sciences. A recipient of the 2019 Clinical and Translational Research Award, he has conducted research with the Perelman School of Medicines Department of Neurosurgery to investigate post-traumatic epilepsy. He works as a teaching assistant, volunteers with Wissahickon Hospice, and remains an active member of Penns Medical Emergency Response Team. He also founded and coordinated the activities of a not-for-profit organization that has established educational and nutritional programs internationally. Subtirelu plans to pursue a masters degree in clinical and therapeutic neuroscience at the University of Oxford.

Zachary Whitlock

Senior Zachary Whitlock, of Washington, D.C., is in the Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Researchjoint-degree program, majoring in materials science and engineering in the School of Engineering and Applied Science and in earth science in the School of Arts and Sciences. Whitlock has workedon biomimetic functional materialswith Penn Engineerings Shu Yang Laboratory and internationally at the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission. More recently, he worked at the intersection of industrial materials and environmental impact on the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy-funded project Fossil Fuels, the Building Industry, and Human Health. He is a 2020 Kleinman Undergraduate Fellow and Supported Student at the Water Center at Penn. He is planning to pursue a masters degree in environmental systems engineering at University College London and ultimately hopes to contribute to the sustainability and impact mitigation of projects reliant on ecosystem services.

Maia Yoshida

Maia Yoshida, of Madison, New Jersey, received her bachelors degree in 2018 in molecular and cell biology with a minor in fine arts. She is now a researcher in a bioengineering lab, engineering immune cells to better fight cancers. While at Penn, she researched the molecular mechanisms involved in neurodegenerative diseases and was a teaching assistant for a fine arts course on biological design. She also taught elementary school science at the Penn Alexander School in West Philadelphia. As the president of Global Brigades at Penn, she led fundraising efforts for sustainable development projects in Honduras. Yoshida plans to pursue a masters degree in STEM Education at Kings College London.

TheCenter for Undergraduate Research and Fellowshipsserves as Penns primary information hub and support office for students and alumni applying for major grants and fellowships, including the Thouron Award.

View post:
Penn announces seven 2020 Thouron Award winners - Penn: Office of University Communications

Cell Biology

We need to take steps toward building a consensus definition of biological aging – STAT

Ive been committed to understanding the biology of aging since I was a teenager, and my education and career took aim at this problem from many angles. One aspect that still perplexes me is that there isnt a good, easily communicable answer to this simple question: What is biological aging?

When it comes to biological aging research or, to use a fancier term, translational geroscience, scientists finally have a pretty good understanding of the major components of aging. But theres no consensus definition of it that consolidates the existing framework.

Why do we need such a definition of biological aging? A good definition can grab the essential characteristics of an entity and put them to good use. Two examples illustrate this.

advertisement

Here is an example from medicine, published this month in Nature: Cancer is a catch-all term used to denote a set of diseases characterized by autonomous expansion and spread of a somatic clone. That is a more exact way of saying, Cancer is a disease caused by uncontrolled division of abnormal cells. This definition captures the universal mechanism behind all cancers. As such, it also offers therapeutic options. No matter how diverse cancers get, keeping them under one umbrella is easier compared to the broad-spectrum of biological aging.

A definition from mathematics is also instructive: The derivative of a function is the measure of the rate of change of the value of the function dependent on changes in the input. It is a solid definition as it offers a procedure to compute the extreme values of a function.

Here are three consecutive steps empirical, philosophical, and computational that can be taken to create a good definition of biological aging:

The empirical step involves collecting what is already out there. Over the years, researchers have invented their own idiosyncratic definitions of biological aging, though these generally miss parts of the story.

Scientists often start papers with a summary referring to the consensus knowledge in the field and then ask the particular question they want to address and highlight the results. These summaries, which often contain definitions, are important educational windows into science, used by mainstream media to publicize results and form relevant narratives.

To illustrate the empirical step, I extracted four definitions from scientific papers exploring different aspects of aging that reveal the conceptual mess around defining biological aging.

Aging is characterized by a progressive loss of physiological integrity, leading to impaired function and increased vulnerability to death came from a 2013 paper in the journal Cell by Carlos Lpez-Otn and colleagues.

Aging underlies progressive changes in organ functions and is the primary risk factor for a large number of human diseases was the definition in a 2019 report in Nature Medicine by Benoit Lehallier and colleagues.

Aging is a progressive decline in functional integrity and homeostasis, culminating in death was used in a 2019 review of the genetics of aging in Cell by Param Priya Singh and colleagues.

Finally, a 2020 paper in Nature Medicine on personal markers of aging by Sara Ahadi and colleagues offered this: Aging is a universal process of physiological and molecular changes that are strongly associated with susceptibility to disease and ultimately death.

I analyzed several components of these definitions of biological aging, as indicated by the column headers in the table below, and identified some recurring themes. The final column indicates logical connections between these components.

This analysis offers two lessons, one negative and one positive. The negative lesson is that some definitions have hardly any overlap, as seen in I and II its apples and oranges. The positive lesson is that the recurring themes suggest the possibility of creating a core definition for biological aging using a bottom-up, empirical approach by analyzing many attempted definitions.

However, I dont believe that such a process would be sufficient.

The myriad definitions of biological aging help identify some necessary components of it. But an aggregated mash-up wont guarantee a formally correct and useful definition. Identifying the content itself is not enough, especially when dealing with such a complex and lifelong process. Just because we have found most of the puzzle pieces does not mean we can put the puzzle together without a clue to its shape.

This is where the philosophical step comes into the picture. Here, biologists will benefit from recruiting people trained to come up with a formal definition: philosophers, mathematicians, computer scientists, and the like.

The philosophical step involves identifying a list of criteria that a consensus definition of biological aging should meet. I believe that such a definition should meet at least these five criteria:

Completing the empirical and philosophical steps would yield a good starting point for a well-formed definition that captures the essentials of biological aging.

A consensus definition that meets both content and formal criteria, achieved through the empirical and philosophical steps, might help stabilize not just scientific consensus but consensus on public policy. Here the main issues are the relationship between biological aging and disease; and regulatory, clinical, and social aspects of healthy longevity. But a completed computational step will give us actual tools, helping the biomedical technology that advances healthy lifespans.

Applicability is perhaps the most important feature of a good definition, and this where the computational step comes in. The definition should suggest future experiments and, even more important, lend itself to computability so a formal model of biological aging can be built from it. Such a model can be used to simulate and compute biological aging scores based on input data and assess the effects of planned or real interventions to slow or stop negative aging processes.

Biomedical researchers now have a solid core of knowledge on biological aging, but do not have a working consensus definition to consolidate and represent this core knowledge and capture this so far elusive life process. The lack of an unambiguous and computable formal consensus definition of biological aging severely limits the applicability of this core knowledge to design comprehensive interventions to slow or stop negative aging processes.

A confident answer to the question What is biological aging? in humans will help us ensure that complexity does not hide any magical mysteries. Controlling that complexity to maximize a healthy lifespan wouldnt need a magic wand, either.

Attila Csordas is a longevity biologist and philosopher and the founding director of AgeCurve Limited, based in Cambridge, U.K.

View post:
We need to take steps toward building a consensus definition of biological aging - STAT

Cell Biology

Live-cell imaging provides new insights into dynamic structure of mitochondria – News-Medical.net

As power plants and energy stores, mitochondria are essential components of almost all cells in plants, fungi and animals. Until now, it has been assumed that these functions underlie a static structure of mitochondrial membranes. Researchers at the Heinrich Heine University Dsseldorf (HHU) and the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), supported also by the Center for Advanced Imaging (CAi) of HHU, and have now discovered that the inner membranes of mitochondria are by no means static, but rather constantly change their structure every few seconds in living cells. This dynamic adaptation process further increases the performance of our cellular power plants.

In our opinion, this finding fundamentally changes the way our cellular power plants work and will probably change the textbooks."

Prof. Dr. Andreas Reichert, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I at the HHU

The results are described in a publication in EMBO Reports.

Mitochondria are extremely important components in cells performing vital functions including the regulated conversion of energy from food into chemical energy in the form of ATP. ATP is the energy currency of cells and an adult human being produces (and consumes) approximately 75 kilograms of ATP per day. One molecule of ATP is produced about 20,000 times a day and then consumed again for energy utilization. This immense synthesis capacity takes place in the inner membrane of the mitochondria, which has numerous folds called cristae. It was previously assumed that a specific static structure of the cristae ensured the synthesis of ATP. Whether and to what extent cristae membranes are able to dynamically adapt or alter their structure in living cells and which proteins are required to do so, was unknown.

The research team of Prof. Dr. Andreas Reichert with Dr. Arun Kondadi and Dr. Ruchika Anand from the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I of the HHU in collaboration with the research team of Prof. Dr. Orian Shirihai and Prof. Dr. Marc Liesa from UCLA (USA) succeeded for the first time in showing that cristae membranes in living cells continuously change their structure dynamically within seconds within mitochondria. This showed that the cristae membrane dynamics requires a recently identified protein complex, the MICOS complex. Malfunctions of the MICOS complex can lead to various serious diseases, such as Parkinson's disease and a form of mitochondrial encephalopathy with liver damage. After the identification of the first protein component of this complex (Fcj1/Mic60) about ten years ago by Prof. Andreas Reichert and his research group, this is another important step to elucidate the function of the MICOS complex.

"Our now published observations lead to the model that cristae, after membrane fission, can exist for a short time as isolated vesicles within mitochondria and then re-fuse with the inner membrane. This enables an optimal and extremely rapid adaptation to the energetic requirements in a cell," said Prof. Andreas Reichert.

Source:

Journal reference:

Kondadi, A.K., et al. (2020) Cristae undergo continuous cycles of membrane remodelling in a MICOSdependent manner. EMBO Reports. doi.org/10.15252/embr.201949776.

View post:
Live-cell imaging provides new insights into dynamic structure of mitochondria - News-Medical.net

Cell Biology

Cultivating co-existence and community: The Eritrean and Ethiopian Students’ Association – The Gateway Online

A University of Alberta student group is setting an example for their communities by creating solidarity between Eritrean and Ethiopian students on campus.

The Eritrean and Ethiopian Students Association (EESA) began in 2017 to address a growing Eritrean and Ethiopian student body. Jostina Johannes, fifth-year criminology student and EESA co-president, said the group was also created as a result of the self-love and celebration of blackness movements happening at the time.

There was a general consciousness around embracing yourself and it aligned with the natural hair movement too, she said. There was this general societal celebration of self and in the wake of those times, EESA was born.

In embracing their culture and identity, Johannes said starting the group also served to undermine a negative stigma surrounding Ethiopia and Eritrea resulting from the 1980s Ethiopian famine.

To the public, some people still view [Ethiopia and Eritrea] through that negative stigma of the hut and the flies, she said. Yes there was a drought, but were more than that.

Bethel Seyoum, fifth-year psychology and vice-president (secretary) added the group was created to allow first-generation Ethiopian and Eritrean students space to discuss navigating their culture with their Canadian identity.

Were kind of in a weird as first-generation kids, so creating a space where we all understand ourselves in our communities, theres not really a space like that, Seyoum said. [The EESA] is our way of creating that.

Creating a combined Eritrean and Ethiopian association may seem like a small decision, but in the context of the two countries histories, creating the EESA was a large step forward.

As EESA explained, Ethiopia and Eritrea were once the same country, but split after conflict. This separation, however, has created a lot of friction between the two communities. In spite of this, the EESSA wanted to put their older generations disputes to bed.

In our parents generation there were a lot of animosities between the two countries but for us, I think were much more open-minded because we see similarities between each other, Seyoum said.

I remember going to Heritage [Festival] as a kid and there was an Eritrean Pavillion, she continued. I was so confused because it was the same clothes and the same food as [Ethiopians]. [The division] wasnt really talked about much, I didnt even know [Eritrea] existed.

Despite the tension in the older generations, Elfas Johannes, third-year civil engineering student and EESA event planner and community outreach coordinator, finds that a major bonding site for the group is discovering how similar their parents actually are.

It seems like all of our parents are more-or-less the same and you can connect over it, laugh over it, Elfas Johannes said. Its a nice space to allow people to open up.

As the first group in Edmonton to join members from the two communities, EESA often finds that a majority of their event attendees are not only from the U of A, but also come from NAIT, MacEwan University, and even high schools in the city.

There are definitely movements [for reconciliation] online, but in Edmonton we are revolutionary, Jostina Johannes said. There isnt anything like this in the city, so its a safe space for anyone.

Divisions, however, go beyond just the two countries. According to the ESSA, politics, cultural groups, religion can also be very divisive issues in the greater Eritrean and Ethiopian communities.

For Natnael Abate, third-year cell biology student and the other co-president of EESA, leaving these kinds of labels at the door is a key tenet of the group.

The main goal is to appreciate both cultures, share knowledge and explore the similarities between [all of us], he said. Its about bonding without certain barriers.

In fostering co-existence and unity, the EESA holds various events throughout the year, open to anyone who wants to learn more about Ethiopian and Eritrean culture.

The event Injera and Chill is a cornerstone event for the group. This annual event centres around showcasing Eritrea and Ethiopias traditional dish injera, alongside games, dancing, and performances.

Its an opportunity to get a literal and metaphorical taste of our Eritrean and Ethiopian culture, Elfas Johannes said.

Beyond that, the EESA also collaborates with the Teddy Outreach Foundation to create a mentorship program for Eritrean and Ethiopian youth in the city. The group is also planning to create an Edmonton version of the popular Eritrean and Ethiopian meme account BunaTime and a Valentines Day matchmaking event called Habaesha, a play on the colloquial term Habesha.

For Natnael Abate and Elfas Johannes, participating in the EESA provides them with the opportunity to learn more about their culture and themselves.

You dont feel alone, there are familiar faces out there that you can interact with, Abate said.In the past few years I havent been following up on my culture, but [being in EESA] gives your initiative to start learning more about it.

Ive been gaining a better understanding of myself, where I come from and where I want to go, Elfas Johannes said. I think its rooting me Im embracing my culture, Im identifying with it, Im learning more about my culture with every single interaction I have.

I need to learn about where I came from because ultimately, I need to know where I came from to know where Im going.

Read the rest here:
Cultivating co-existence and community: The Eritrean and Ethiopian Students' Association - The Gateway Online

Cell Biology

MicroRNA Exhibit Unexpected Function in Driving Cancer – Newswise

MEDIA CONTACT

Available for logged-in reporters only

Nature Communications

Newswise PHILADELPHIA -- Researchers long thought that only one strand of a double-stranded microRNA can silence genes. Though recent evidence has challenged that dogma, its unclear what the other strand does, and how the two may be involved in cancer. New research from Thomas Jefferson University has revealed that both strands of some microRNA coordinate to act on the same cancer pathways, across multiple cancers, to drive aggressiveness and growth two hallmarks of poor prognosis for cancer patients.

This coordination of activity is really surprising, says senior author Christine M. Eischen, PhD, professor and Vice Chair of the department of Cancer Biology at Jefferson and co-leader of the Molecular Biology and Genetics program at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center (SKCC) Jefferson Health. We know that the strands dont hit the same target sequences. But despite that fact, we see that they are working together.

Researchers have not paid much attention to the both sides of microRNA, in part because reagents created to probe microRNAs were aimed at only one strand, so as a field, we werent looking at the whole picture, says Dr. Eischen.

The work was published in Nature Communications, February 20th, 2020.

First author Ramkrishna Mitra, PhD, a Research Instructor in Dr. Eischens lab, started by using a computational approach that allowed him to search for both strands of the microRNA. Our data showed that one strand of many of the pairs were not degraded as previously thought. We saw large numbers of both pairs in many cancers, says Dr. Mitra.

Looking at data from 5200 cancer patient samples from 14 cancer types, the researchers found 26 microRNA pairs that both appeared either more active and abundant or less active and abundant across multiple cancers.

We then narrowed our search for the biggest effects, says Eischen. Dr. Mitra developed a new computational biology approach, in part, through the analysis of the genes essential for cancer cell survival and growth across 290 cancer cell lines to identify the pathways both microRNA pairs impacted across multiple cancer types. The researchers also determined which microRNA pairs had a bigger impact on driving or suppressing cancer growth together than either strand alone.

They found two pairs, named miR-30a and miR-145 that fit the bill. Each pair has different target genes, but the targets hit the same cancer pathways, says Dr. Eischen. These microRNAs help keep cancers in check as seen both in patient data and in tumor cell lines. As a result, many cancers, such as kidney, lung, breast, become more aggressive when they lose these microRNAs and this impacts patient survival.

To validate the findings of their computational work, the researchers replicated what they found using an experimental approach. They forced expression of miR-145 and miR-30a in lung cancer cell lines, which reduced the cancers aggressive traits, specifically its growth and migration.

The SKCC has a longstanding history of discovery related to small RNA function in cancer, and Dr. Eischens breakthroughs have significant potential for understanding both tumor development and tumor progression, says Karen Knudsen, PhD, Executive Vice President of Oncology Services at Jefferson Health, and the Enterprise Director of the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center Jefferson Health, one of only 71 NCI-designated cancer centers in the US.

Support for this study was provided by NCI R01CA177786, the Pellini Foundation, the Herbert A. Rosenthal endowed chair, NCI Cancer Center core grant P30CA056036 that supports the MetaOmics core facility and the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center.

Article Reference: Ramkrishna Mitra, Clare M. Adams, Wei Jiang, Evan Greenawalt, and Christine M. Eischen, Pan-cancer analysis reveals cooperativity of both strands of microRNA that regulate tumorigenesis and patient survival, Nature Communications, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14713-2, 2020.

Media Contact: Edyta Zielinska, 215-955-7359, edyta.zielinska@jefferson.edu.

See the article here:
MicroRNA Exhibit Unexpected Function in Driving Cancer - Newswise

Cell Biology

Caribou Biosciences and ProMab Biotechnologies Announce Sale and Assignment Agreement for Humanized scFv Targeting BCMA – BioSpace

Feb. 19, 2020 13:00 UTC

BERKELEY, Calif. & RICHMOND, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Caribou Biosciences, Inc., a leading CRISPR genome editing company, and ProMab Biotechnologies, Inc., a biotechnology CRO/CDMO specializing in antibody engineering and CAR-T development, today announced a sale and assignment agreement under which Caribou gains access to a ProMab humanized single-chain variable fragment (scFv) targeting the B Cell Maturation Antigen (BCMA) for use in allogeneic engineered cell therapies. Caribou intends to utilize this scFv in the development of its CB-011 program, an allogeneic CAR-T therapy targeting BCMA-positive tumors including multiple myeloma.

We are excited for the opportunity to have access to this highly advanced, humanized molecule and believe it will significantly advance our promising CB-011 CAR-T program, said Steven Kanner, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of Caribou.

We anticipate that our humanized BCMA scFv will aid greatly in Caribous efforts to further its allogeneic CAR-T program, and hope our technology continues to improve the field of preclinical and clinical stage immunotherapy research by providing broad choices of validated antibodies, said John Wu, MD, Chief Executive Officer of ProMab.

Under the terms of the agreement, ProMab received an upfront payment and is eligible for royalties on net sales of licensed products containing the BCMA scFv.

About Caribou Biosciences, Inc. Caribou is a leading company in CRISPR genome editing founded by pioneers of CRISPR-Cas9 biology. The company is developing an internal pipeline of off-the-shelf CAR-T cell therapies, other gene-edited cell therapies, and engineered gut microbes. Additionally, Caribou offers licenses to its CRISPR-Cas9 foundational IP in multiple fields including research tools, internal research use, diagnostics, and industrial biotechnology. Interested companies may contact Caribou at licensing@cariboubio.com. For more information about Caribou, visit http://www.cariboubio.com and follow the Company @CaribouBio. Caribou Biosciences and the Caribou logo are registered trademarks of Caribou Biosciences, Inc.

About ProMab Biotechnologies, Inc. ProMab Biotechnologies focuses on developing and commercializing mouse, rabbit, and human monoclonal antibodies as well as chimeric antigen receptor-T Cell (CAR-T) products. ProMabs CAR-T platform covers both hematological and solid cancers with intensive in vitro and in vivo pre-clinical validation designed for safer and better treatment. As a CRO in the immunology field for 19 years, ProMab offers standard laboratory procedures and animal studies for antibody discovery through the integration of the newest techniques in antibody library construction, next generation sequencing, unique humanization modeling, high-throughput screening, and artificial intelligence analysis systems. ProMab aims to out-license antibodies validated in CAR-T therapy in the preclinical stage or to bring CAR-T technologies to the early stage market of clinical study. ProMab has partnered with top biotechnology startups, medical institutions, and pharmaceutical companies to advance the development of cell therapies as well as bispecific antibodies targeting multiple cancers. For more information, visit http://www.promab.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200219005112/en/

Read more from the original source:
Caribou Biosciences and ProMab Biotechnologies Announce Sale and Assignment Agreement for Humanized scFv Targeting BCMA - BioSpace

Physiology

How the time of day affects global brain fluctuations? – Tech Explorist

Circadian rhythms govern diverse aspects of physiology, including sleep/wake cycles, cognition, gene expression, temperature regulation, and endocrine signaling. Similarly, studies of brain function in both humans and animals have documented time of daydependent variation at multiple scales of brain organization.

Despite the clear influence of circadian rhythms on physiology, most studies of brain function do not report or consider the impact of time of day on their findings.

A new study suggests that the strength of the brains global signal fluctuation shows an unexpected decrease as the day progresses.

Scientists analyzed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data of approximately 900 subjects who were scanned between 8 am and 10 pm on two different days as part of the Human Connectome Project.

Various investigations have indicated that the brains global signal changes more unequivocally when one is drowsy (for example, after inadequate rest) and changes less when one is progressively alert (for example, after espresso).

Based on known circadian variation in sleepiness, the authors speculated that global signal fluctuation would be lowest in the morning, increment in the mid-afternoon, and dip in the early evening.

Instead, they observed a combined decline in global signal fluctuation as the day progressed. This global decline was generally conspicuous in visual and somatosensory brain regions, which are known for communicating dynamic fluctuations inside people after some time.

Over the entire mind, time of day was additionally connected with marked diminishes in resting-state functional connectivitythe associated action between various brain regions when no specific task is being performed.

Csaba Orban, the first author of the study, said, We were surprised by the size of the overall time-of-day effects since the global fMRI signal is affected by many factors and there is substantial variation across individuals. At the present moment, we dont have a good explanation of the directionality of our findings. However, the fact that we also observed slight time-of-day-associated variation in the breathing patterns of participants suggests that we may also need to consider clues outside of the brain to understand these effects fully.

Based on the study, scientists suggest that time of day of fMRI scans and other experimental protocols and measurements, as this could help account for between-study variation in results and potentially even failure to replicate findings.

Thomas Yeo, the studys senior author, said, We hope these findings will motivate fellow neuroscientists to give more consideration to potential effects of time of day on measures of brain activity, especially in other large-scale studies where subjects are often scanned throughout the day for logistical reasons.

The study is published in the journal PLOS Biology.

Read this article:
How the time of day affects global brain fluctuations? - Tech Explorist

Physiology

From the lab to the gym: U of T Mississauga physiology students receive hands-on experience – News@UofT

A group ofundergraduate physiology students at the University of Toronto Mississaugaare ditching their lab coats in favour of gym clothes.

The students are hitting the gym and getting their hearts pumping for a fourth-year course created and taught byBryan Stewart, a professor in the department of biology and cell and systems biology. The course relies on a first-time partnership with the Recreation, Athletics and Wellness Centre (RAWC).

Every second week, the students head to the RAWC for their lab, where they use a myriad of tests to measure physiological responses to activity, including blood pressure and respiratory output. Each session has a specific component; one week students might use electrocardiograms,the next they may learn about respiratory volume.

Students analyze the data theyve collected during the weeks between labs.

Students measure respiratory volume during a fourth-year physiology lab held at the RAWC (photo by Drew Lesiuczok)

It is the only course on campus like this, says Stewart, noting the hands-on experience is useful not only for for students heading into the medical field, but for anyone who wants to speak intelligently with health-care providers about electrocardiograms or gas levels when they, or their relatives, receive care.

It is important they are exposed to this, Stewart says.

Athulya Ajith, a fourth-year biology and psychology student, signed up, in part, because she had never gone to the RAWC to work out and this was one way to stay fit and healthy while also learning new skills.

The equipment is cool to see, she says, adding that the lab gives her a chance to see results on an actual subject and gives her exposure to testing equipment before she goes to medical school.

Stewart, who recently completed a one-year leave after serving as the vice-principal, research at U of T Mississauga, developed the class as a natural continuation of the third-year physiology class he previously taught.

I have always wanted to do a lab course, says Stewart, whose first degree was in human kinetics. The third-year class is a foundational physiology course, Stewart says, while the focus of this new course is about adaptations to a variety of environments.

Students use exercise and activity to learn about adaptation, such as examining how someones physiology adapts when training, or answering questions like why a resting heart rate decreases over time with exercise. The focus, Stewart says, is what happens on a physiological level.

Stewart says the partnership with the RAWC is new for both the gym and the academic arm of the university. The RAWC not only gives students access to exercise equipment, but provides them with a real-world environment where they have to troubleshoot or work around other users.

I am really happy with the level of support Ive gotten both from my department and from the deans office, Stewart says, adding that he plans to continue the course in upcoming years.

More here:
From the lab to the gym: U of T Mississauga physiology students receive hands-on experience - News@UofT

Physiology

How low oxygen levels in the heart can cause arrhythmias – Futurity: Research News

Share this Article

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

New research reveals the underlying mechanism for a dangerous heart disorder in which low oxygen levels in the heart produce life-threatening arrhythmias.

The discovery, made with human heart muscle cells derived from pluripotent stem cells, offers new targets for therapies aimed at preventing sudden death from heart attack.

Our research shows that within seconds, at low levels of oxygen (hypoxia), a protein called small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) is linked to the inside of the sodium channels which are responsible for starting each heartbeat, says Steve A. N. Goldstein, vice chancellor for health affairs at the University of California, Irvine and professor in the School of Medicine departments of pediatrics and physiology and biophysics.

And, while SUMOylated channels open as they should to start the heartbeat, they re-open when they should be closed. The result is abnormal sodium currents that predispose to dangerous cardiac rhythms.

Every heartbeat begins when sodium channels open and ions to rush into heart cellsthis starts the action potential that causes the heart muscle to contract. When functioning normally, the sodium channels close quickly after opening and stay closed. After that, potassium channels open, ions leave the heart cells, and the action potential ends in a timely fashion, so the muscle can relax in preparation for the next beat.

If sodium channels re-open and produce late sodium currents, as observed in this study with low oxygen levels, the action potential is prolonged and new electrical activity can begin before the heart has recovered risking dangerous, disorganized rhythms.

Fifteen years ago, the Goldstein group reported SUMO regulation of ion channels at the surface of cells. It was an unexpected finding because the SUMO pathway had been thought to operate solely to control gene expression in the nucleus.

This new research shows how rapid SUMOylation of cell surface cardiac sodium channels causes late sodium current in response to hypoxia, a challenge that confronts many people with heart disease, says Goldstein. Previously, the danger of late sodium current was recognized in patients with rare, inherited mutations of sodium channels that cause cardiac Long QT syndrome, and to result from a common polymorphism in the channel we identified in a subset of babies with sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

The information gained through the current study offers new targets for therapeutics to prevent late current and arrhythmia associated with heart attacks, chronic heart failure, and other life-threatening low oxygen cardiac conditions.

The National Institutes of Health funded the study, which appears in Cell Reports.

Source: UC Irvine

Read the rest here:
How low oxygen levels in the heart can cause arrhythmias - Futurity: Research News