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Immunology

Vir Biotechnology Identifies Two Antibodies That Bind to the Spike Protein of 2019-nCoV, Newly Named as SARS-CoV-2 – Yahoo Finance

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vir Biotechnology, Inc. (VIR), a clinical-stage immunology company focused on immune approaches to treating and preventing serious infectious diseases, today announcedthat it has identified two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that bind to SARS-CoV-2 (previously known as 2019-nCoV), which were originally found because they bind and neutralize the original SARS-CoV. The antibodies target the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in the region that the virus uses to enter cells through the cellular receptor ACE2. Infection with SARS-CoV-2 causes the newly named disease, Covid-19.

We are in the process of assessing neutralization with a pseudo-virus, said George Scangos, Ph.D., CEO of Vir. In addition, we are working with international partners to assess the capacity of these antibodies to neutralize the live virus, SARS-CoV-2.

The company is moving ahead with research to determine if its antibodies, or additional antibodies that it may be able to identify, can be effective as treatment and/or prophylaxis against SARS-CoV-2. To that end, the company is exploring collaborations with a number of other companies and governmental agencies. Amongst these are specific efforts at accessing manufacturing capacity globally.

We are pleased that, using the same platform that was used to isolate mAb114 which has proven to be active against Ebola, we have quickly identified antibodies with potential biological activity against SARS-CoV-2, said Herbert Skip Virgin, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer, Vir. We are working as rapidly as possible and look forward to sharing more information as we have it.

Vir identified these antibodies from an existing library of 20 fully human antibodies that bind and neutralize related coronaviruses, such as SARS-CoV and coronaviruses that infect animals. This library was built through a robust method for capitalizing on unusually successful immune responses naturally occurring in people who are protected from, or have recovered from, infectious diseases, including those caused by rapidly evolving and/or previously untreatable pathogens.

Antibody-based therapies are different from vaccines and have distinct attributes that may make them potentially valuable, particularly in pandemic settings:

Vir is investigating other approaches to identify additional potential therapies for SARS-CoV-2. In addition to testing these two antibodies, the company is also exploring the isolation of new antibodies specific for this virus using its antibody technology platform. These efforts may allow additional approaches to address this rapidly emerging public health epidemic.

About Virs Antibody PlatformVir has a robust method for capitalizing on unusually successful immune responses naturally occurring in people who are protected from, or have recovered from, infectious diseases. The platform is used to identify rare antibodies from survivors that have the potential to treat and prevent rapidly evolving and/or previously untreatable pathogens via direct pathogen neutralization and immune system stimulation. Vir engineers the fully human antibodies that it discovers to enhance their therapeutic potential. This platform has been used to identify and develop antibodies for pathogens including Ebola (mAb114, currently in use in the Democratic Republic of Congo), hepatitis B virus, influenza A, malaria, and others.

About Vir BiotechnologyVir Biotechnology is a clinical-stage immunology company focused on combining immunologic insights with cutting-edge technologies to treat and prevent serious infectious diseases. Vir has assembled four technology platforms that are designed to stimulate and enhance the immune system by exploiting critical observations of natural immune processes. Its current development pipeline consists of five product candidates targeting hepatitis B virus, influenza A, human immunodeficiency virus and tuberculosis. For more information, please visit http://www.vir.bio.

Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as may, will, expect, plan, anticipate, estimate, intend, potential and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on Virs expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release. Each of these forward-looking statements involves risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include statements regarding the companys efforts to neutralize the SARS-CoV-2 virus and identify additional potential therapies for SARS-CoV-2, and its ability to address the emerging public health epidemic. Many factors may cause differences between current expectations and actual results including unexpected safety or efficacy data observed during preclinical or clinical studies, challenges in neutralizing SARS-CoV-2, difficulty in collaborating with other companies or government agencies, and challenges in accessing manufacturing capacity within China. Other factors that may cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements in this press release are discussed in Virs filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the section titled Risk Factors contained therein. Except as required by law, Vir assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in expectations, even as new information becomes available.

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Contact:Vir Biotechnology, Inc.

InvestorsNeera Ravindran, MDHead of Investor Relations & Strategic Communicationsnravindran@vir.bio+1-415-506-5256

MediaLindy DevereuxScient PRlindy@scientpr.com+1-646-515-5730

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Vir Biotechnology Identifies Two Antibodies That Bind to the Spike Protein of 2019-nCoV, Newly Named as SARS-CoV-2 - Yahoo Finance

Immunology

E.A.T Announces Winners of $1 Million Grand Challenge to End Anaphylaxis – Yahoo Finance

New microbiome treatments and targets win Challenge as decided by distinguished panel of scientists, investors and entrepreneurs.

Winners to be awarded on February 27 at an event hosted by Bank of America Private Bank in New York City.

FAIRFIELD, Conn., Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --End Allergies Together (E.A.T), a non-profit organization that funds research for the growing food allergy epidemic affecting approximately 32 million Americans, will award an initial $1 Million investment between two efforts. The first is a joint project between Vedanta Biosciences, Inc., led by Rose Szabady PhD, and Massachusetts General Hospital, led by Wayne Shreffler MD, PhD. It will evaluate the immune mechanisms involved in and the effectiveness of VE416, a first-of-its-kind microbiota therapeutic to restore immune balance in the food allergic intestine. The second effort, led by Talal Chatila MD, PhD from Boston Children's Hospital, will look at the protective effect of targeting a new pathway to stop anaphylaxis. Both efforts have significant potential for targeted therapies offering long-term protection against food-induced anaphylaxis while simultaneously promoting oral immune tolerance. The awards event hosted by Bank of America Private Bank will take place on Thursday, February 27 in New York City.

End Allergies Together (E.A.T), a non-profit organization that funds research for the growing food allergy epidemic affecting approximately 32 million Americans, announces winners of $1 million Grand Challenge to end anaphylaxis. The awards event hosted by Bank of America Private Bank will take place on Thursday, February 27 in New York City.

What is anaphylaxis?

Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. Various parts of the body can be affected, and symptoms such as throat tightening or closure, trouble breathing, swollen mouth, hives, dizziness and vomiting can occur within minutes or up to two hours after coming into contact with the allergen. Up to 20 percent of patients have a second wave of symptoms, called biphasic anaphylaxis, hours or even days after their initial symptoms have subsided.

The most common anaphylactic reactions are to foods, but individuals can also react to insect stings, medication and latex. With the rates of food allergy affliction now at 1 in 10 people in the U.S. and over 250 million worldwide, the rate of anaphylaxis is increasing. Further, according to the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 39 percent of people with anaphylaxis may have had idiopathic anaphylaxis, a reaction that can not be explained by a known trigger.

"Anaphylaxis represents one of the most urgent of medical emergencies, in which rapid diagnosis and prompt and appropriate treatment can mean the difference between life and death Although there has been steady progress in our understanding especially in the context of mouse models of the disorder the basic clinical management of anaphylaxis has changed little in decades." Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

The impact of anaphylaxis on the individual and their family can be significant. "The first time I saw my child have an anaphylactic reaction, I was changed forever," said Hillary Tolle Carter, Food Allergy Mother and Advocate. "You can no longer accept that food allergies are no big deal. It affects every aspect of your life. Every time food is involved you have to plan ahead, ask questions and be prepared with safe options for your child. The constant fear of that next anaphylactic reaction can take a serious toll on the entire family."

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E.A.T launched the Anaphylaxis Challenge in the spring of 2019 and brings together communities invested in preventing or ending life-threatening anaphylaxis. TheChallenge will accelerate progress by encouraging cooperation among those working within food allergy and across disease states to seek new and better solutions to take the life-threatening fear out of allergic reactions.

Dozens of researchers from private companies and public institutions entered The Challenge by submitting research business plans with potential solutions to help detect, prevent and/or better treat anaphylaxis (other than administering epinephrine). The award money will serve as seed funding to help accelerate andadvance the research and development required to bring these promising treatments closer to commercial viability.

Winner: Massachusetts General Hospital and Vedanta Biosciences, Inc.

"We are grateful for this recognition from E.A.T as we continuetoadvance our microbiome-derived product candidate for the potential treatment of food allergies in collaboration with Dr. Shreffler," said Rose Szabady Ph.D., Associate Director of Immunology, Vedanta Biosciences. "Mounting scientific evidence suggests that the microbiome plays an important role in food allergies, and this award recognizes the importance of further understanding the effects of the microbiota on the human immune system," continued Szabady. "We believe this work willshed light on the mechanisms by which our interventions modulate allergic immune response, and in turn, support continued development of our product candidate for patients seeking options other than avoidance."

Winner: Boston Children's Hospital

"We are most honored that our project was chosen by E.A.T's Panel. By targeting an immune mechanism central to the pathogenesis of food allergy and anaphylaxis, we aim not only to prevent this life-threatening complication but also to restore the immune system's tolerance to the allergenic foods," said Talal Chatila MD, PhD from Boston Children's Hospital. "We anticipate our studies will help bring forth a novel set of therapeutics for the treatment of food allergy-related anaphylaxis to the benefit of the patients and their families."

Honorable Mentions

The Challenge is a multi-year, multi-investment process whereby E.A.T, in collaboration with its Panelists, will provide funds, guidance and hands-on support to the most promising efforts. These include both the immediate awarding of $1 Million to the Winners as well as a commitment to partner with and consider future funding for a select group of Honorable Mentions which includes:

Dr. Joon Yun, M.D., an E.A.T Challenge Panelist and president of Palo Alto Investors explains the benefit of the Challenge model: "Grand Challenges can help nurture innovations in areas of unmet needs. The excitement and momentum associated with Grand Challenge competitions can help attract more attention, people, ideas, and funding to the issues of life-threatening anaphylaxis and food allergies."

Other distinguished Challenge Panelists include:

"I am extremely grateful to our Panelists who committed immense time, thought, analysis and heart to this process over the past six months," said Elise Bates, President and Cofounder of E.A.T. "With their guidance and expertise, we have an exciting outcome for this first phase of our Challenge. Both winners have a clear path ahead based on positive results from initial animal and human studies."

Kindly hosted by Bank of America Private Bank on Thursday, February 27, the awards event will feature the winners and their work as well as a discussion about investing in food allergies with E.A.T Panelists Dr. Eric Edwards and Dr. Joon Yun as well as a representative from Bank of America.

To inquire about this event, please email Tania@endallergiestogether.org

About End Allergies Together (E.A.T)

E.A.T is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focused solely on raising money for food allergy research. E.A.T was cofounded in 2015 by Elise and Greg Bates and Kim and Tom Hall, who have children with severe food allergies, to help bridge the significant gap in research funding for this growing epidemic now affecting nearly 1 in 10 Americans and 250 million people globally. Since inception, E.A.T has committed to eleven promising research efforts across thirteen leading institutions.

Press Contacts: Kriskey + Lane Communications Susan Kriskey, susan@kriskeylane.com Marni Lane, marni@kriskeylane.com

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E.A.T Announces Winners of $1 Million Grand Challenge to End Anaphylaxis - Yahoo Finance

Immunology

Allergy & Asthma Center Celebrates 25th Anniversary with the Launch of New Website – P&T Community

ROCKVILLE, Md., Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Allergy & Asthma Center, the largest specialty practice serving pediatric and adult patients across the DMV, today unveiled its redesigned website commemorating its 25 years of dedication to delivering state-of-the-art allergy and asthma care for patients in a new up-to-date, highly-engaging website.

The new launch of premierallergist.com comes at a critical time when a patients' experience with a medical practice's website is just as important as their experience with the care they receive. Allergy & Asthma Center understood this, which prompted them to make an array of changes, not only in where their site lives and how it functions, but how visitors interact with content and, most important, the safety of patient information.

The most noted changes include:

"Launching the new website alongside celebrating our 25 years in business has been a great way to start the year," said Dr. Prasad Nataraj, Medical Director for Allergy & Asthma Center. Prospective patients deserve the best of both worlds their experience with our practice online and when they walk through our doors. This patient-centric thinking is what we strive to improve so that we can thrive for another 25!"

The new website was developed by PracticeBeat's best-in-class patient access, acquisition, and retention platform. For more information visit http://www.practicebeat.com.

About Allergy & Asthma CenterAllergy & Asthma Center, one of the largest single allergy, asthma and clinical immunology practices in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., was established by Prasad M. Nataraj, M.D. in 1995. Our experienced team of healthcare professionals offer treatment to both adults and children of all ages, and our 20 convenient locations span across Maryland and the DC Metro area. Both our staff and our specialists are passionate about adhering to core principles that make our practice exceptional, including: Patient-centered care, accessibility and availability, compassionate medical council, innovative medicine, attention to the underlying source of the problem, and patient empowerment and education. http://www.premierallergist.com

Media Contact:

Kathy Ruxton703.340.6343 234034@email4pr.com

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Immunology

Bacteriophages may play a role in childhood stunting and be able to help treat it – McGill Newsroom

New research spearheaded by McGill University has discovered that bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) found in the intestinal tracts of children may play a role in childhood stunting, a significant impediment to growth that affects 22% of children under the age of five around the world.

The study, published today in Cell Host & Microbe, also suggests that because they affect the abundance and diversity of bacterial communities in the gastrointestinal tract, these viruses could also be used to improve health. The researchers believe this work offers hope of developing new cost efficient therapies for populations where nutritional interventions, which have been shown to work, are difficult to implement and sustain in vulnerable human populations.

Phages, bacteria and stunting

Earlier studies had suggested that the gut microbiome might play a role in stunting by showing that stunted children have increased numbers of disease-causing bacteriaassociated with impaired digestive and absorption functionsliving in their gastrointestinal tracts.

But while much research has focused on the bacteria present in our gut and the influence they can have on human health, little attention has thus far been paid to other very common residents of our gastrointestinal tract bacteriophages.

Phages or bacteriophages, which are bacterial viruses, are naturally found in every environment where bacteria are found, and the human gut is no exception, says Corinne Maurice, an assistant professor in McGills Department of Microbiology and Immunology and senior author of the new study. Because phages are as abundant as their hosts, they might be involved in regulating them in many ways by killing specific bacteria, transferring virulence or antibiotic resistance genes to them, for example, but we currently dont have a clear understanding of what they do and how they do it. This is a fairly new and exciting field of research.

Distinct viruses in healthy and stunted children

To understand how these viruses might play a role in stunting, Maurices team, in collaboration with the International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research in Bangladesh, collected fecal samples from 30 non-stunted and 30 unrelated stunted Bangladeshi children aged between 14 and 38 months.

Using a combination of microscopy, ribosomal gene sequencing, and metagenomics, they were able to determine that the phages found in the gut of non-stunted and stunted children are distinct. Furthermore, when gut bacteria from non-stunted children were exposed to phages from the guts of stunted children in vitro, they found that bad bacteria, suspected of being involved in stunting, proliferated.

By showing that phages can change the bacterial community in children between 6 and 23 months, our work shows the potential of phages for reestablishing the gut bacterial community in stunting, says Mohammadali Khan Mirzaei, a former postdoctoral student in the Maurice lab and first author of the new study.

Stunting has lifelong consequences (health/socioeconomic) and can be transferred from mother to child, says Maurice, who is also Canada Research Chair in Gut Microbial Physiology and a CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar. If phages can change bacterial communities in a specific way and long-term during child development, this could be a cheap treatment with no risk of antibiotic resistance.

Though the findings now need to be validated using a larger sample and in animal models, Maurice says that by understanding interactions between bacteria and viruses in the human gut, we might be able to one day manipulate them to improve human health.

Image caption: Bacteriophages are viruses that specifically infect bacteria.credit:iStock / Getty Images Plus

Bacteriophages isolated from stunted children can regulate gut bacterial communities in an age specific manner by Mohammadali Khan Mirzaei, Anik Ashfaq Khan, Prakash Ghosh, Zofia E. Taranu, Mariia Taguer, Jinlong Ru, Rajashree Chowdhury, Mamun Kabir, Li Deng, Dinesh Mondal and Corinne F. Maurice was published in Cell Host & Microbe.

This study was funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Canada Research Chair Program.

About McGill University

Founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1821, McGill University is Canadas top ranked medical doctoral university. McGill is consistently ranked as one of the top universities, both nationally and internationally. It is a world-renowned institution of higher learning with research activities spanning two campuses, 11 faculties, 13 professional schools, 300 programs of study and over 40,000 students, including more than 10,200 graduate students. McGill attracts students from over 150 countries around the world, its 12,800 international students making up 31% of the student body. Over half of McGill students claim a first language other than English, including approximately 19% of our students who say French is their mother tongue.

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Bacteriophages may play a role in childhood stunting and be able to help treat it - McGill Newsroom

Immunology

Plasma Fractionation Market – 2020 Share, Size, Growth, Trends, Business Insights, Competitive Landscape, Opportunities, Segments, Key Players,…

According to Plasma Fractionation Market 2020 Global Industry Forecast to 2026 Report published by Fortune Business Insights, the Global Plasma Fractionation Market size to reach $9.5 billion at CAGR of 10% by 2026. Market for Plasma Fractionation segmented by Product Type (Instruments and Reagents & Consumables), Technique (Hematology, Immunohistochemistry, Molecular Diagnostics, Diagnostic Imaging, Clinical Biochemistry, and Others), Animal Type (Livestock and Companion), End-user (Veterinary Hospitals & Clinics, Veterinary Reference Laboratories, and Others) and Regional Forecast 2019-2026.

According to Plasma Fractionation Market 2020 Global Industry Forecast to 2026 Report published by Fortune Business Insights, the Global Plasma Fractionation Market size to reach $38.65 billion at CAGR of 6.2% by 2026. Market for Plasma Fractionation segmented by Product Type (Instruments and Reagents and Consumables), Technique (Hematology, Immunohistochemistry, Molecular Diagnostics, Diagnostic Imaging, Clinical Biochemistry, and Others), Animal Type (Livestock and Companion), End-user (Veterinary Hospitals and Clinics, Veterinary Reference Laboratories, and Others) and Regional Forecast 2019-2026.

Plasma Fractionation Industry Key Players Analyzed in Report Are:

CSL, Octapharma, Grifols, S.A., Kedrion S.p.A., Biotest AG, Shire, Baxter, LFB.

Request a Sample Copy of the Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/plasma-fractionation-market-101614

Global Plasma Fractionation Market Insights:

The Global Plasma Fractionation Market is expanding at notable growth rate; this market growth is attributed to factors such as Increasing Prevalence of Congenital Disorders and Rising Usage of Plasma Proteins.

Fortune Business Insights in a new report, titled Plasma Fractionation Market Size, Share and Industry Analysis, By Product Type (Albumin, Immunoglobulin (Intravenous Immunoglobulin and Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin), Coagulation Factors (Factor IX, Factor VIII, Prothrombin Complex Concentrates, Fibrinogen concentrates and Others), Protease Inhibitors and Others), By Application (Immunology and Neurology, Hematology, Critical Care, Pulmonology and Others), By End User (Hospitals and Clinics, Clinical Research Laboratories and Others (Academic Institutes, etc.)) and Geography Forecast, 2019-2026 states that the market was worth USD 24.07 Billion in the year 2018 and is likely to reach USD 38.65 Billion by 2026.

The process of separating several plasma components is called plasma fractionation. These components are separated with the help of processes such as ethanol fractionation and cryoprecipitation. Rising prevalence of congenital disorders is driving the global plasma fractionation market. Unlike pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry, plasma fractionation industry uses human blood plasma or living cells as raw materials to manufacture critical drugs. These life-saver products help in the treatment of severe health conditions caused by congenital metabolic deficiencies, immunological disorders, and trauma. This, along with increasing FDA approvals, will create lucrative growth opportunities for the market.

Plasma Fractionation Market Segmentation:

Plasma Fractionation Market Size, Share and Industry Analysis, By Product Type (Albumin, Immunoglobulin (Intravenous Immunoglobulin and Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin), Coagulation Factors, Protease Inhibitors and Others), By Application (Immunology and Neurology, Hematology, Critical Care, Pulmonology and Others), By End User (Hospitals and Clinics,), and Geography Forecast 2019-2026

Regional Insights:

Report analyzes Global Market for Plasma Fractionation by North America, South America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Among regions, North America is anticipated to maintain its dominance in the global plasma fractionation market in the forecast years. As per the research report, the market was valued at USD 10.08 Billion in 2018. The market in this region is expanding with the rising support from government regarding new plasma facilities. Increasing research activities on plasma fractionation processes with well-established healthcare infrastructure majorly contributes to the growth of the market in this region.

Following North America, Europe is the second-most leading region in the market owing to the rising sales of plasma proteins. In addition to this, the increasing prevalence of plasma indications and advanced improvements in the plasma fractionation process are encouraging growth in the market in this region. The market in Asia Pacific is prophesized to rise at a higher CAGR owing to the rising adoption of blood plasma fractionation in countries such as India and China.

Plasma Fractionation Market Growth Factors:

As per the data published by the National Institutes of Health, every year around 40,000 kgs of intravenous immunoglobulin and approximately 5,00,000 kgs of human albumin is produced all across the globe. This shows that the usage of immunoglobulin is increasing at a rapid rate, which is one of the primary factors responsible for driving the market. These immunoglobulins act as antibodies. Moreover, the adoption of immunoglobulins is increasing as play a crucial role in the detection and destruction of viruses and bacteria. They have been tested for the RandD of autoimmune disorders or Alzheimers. The demand for IgG products is fueling across several regions, which in turn, is increasing the sales of these products. All the above mentioned factors are anticipated to contribute to the growth of the market in the

Highlights of the Report:

In-depth analysis of various insights, namely, Plasma Fractionation Market trends, growth drivers, opportunities, and other related challenges.

Comprehensive details of key market players, their core competencies, and Plasma Fractionation Market share.

The potency of suppliers and buyers to make better business decisions.

Lists out the market size in terms of volume.

Table of Content:

1.1. Research Scope

1.2. Market Segmentation

1.3. Research Methodology

1.4. Definitions and Assumptions

3.Market Dynamics

3.1. Market Drivers

3.2. Market Restraints

3.3. Market Opportunities

4.1. Number of Cataract Surgeries - For Key Country/Region

4.2. Pipeline Analysis

4.3. Key Industry Developments - Mergers, Acquisitions, and Partnerships

4.4. Technological Advancements in Ophthalmic Surgery

4.5. Introduction of New Products / Approvals (by Major Players)

Continued

About us:

Fortune Business Insights offers expert corporate analysis and accurate data, helping organizations of all sizes make timely decisions. We tailor innovative solutions for our clients, assisting them address challenges distinct to their businesses. Our goal is to empower our clients with holistic market intelligence, giving a granular overview of the market they are operating in.

At Fortune Business Insights we aim at highlighting the most lucrative growth opportunities for our clients. We therefore offer recommendations, making it easier for them to navigate through technological and market-related changes. Our consulting services are designed to help organizations identify hidden opportunities and understand prevailing competitive challenges.

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Anatomy

Carla Gugino: ‘Sexuality is a primal part of who we are but it’s been misused’ – The Guardian

Carla Gugino has seen the headlines, too: femme fatale, screen siren, bombshell. I dont really relate to that much, she says, on a recent morning at a Manhattan cafe. Maybe an emotional bombshell.

Gugino, 48, has three decades of film, television and theatre under the belt of her high-waisted jeans. An actor of variety and intellect, who often channels sexuality like some high-voltage current, she is currently starring in Alice Birchs Anatomy of a Suicide at the Atlantic Theater. She is described in the play originally staged at the Royal Court in London in 2017 as the most beautiful thing Ive ever seen. In the cafe, in a stripy turtleneck and yesterdays mascara, her hair pulled into a funny sort of pompadour, bent over a cup of herbal tea (isnt that what all bombshells drink?), she arguably is.

If you know Gugino from childrens flicks (Spy Kids) or comic-book adaptations (Sin City, Watchmen) or disaster movies (San Andreas), you could be forgiven for wondering what she is doing in an avant garde off-Broadway drama. So here is what you should also know: in 2004, she made her Broadway debut, in Arthur Millers After the Fall, playing Maggie, the turbulent, unforgiving Marilyn Monroe-inspired role. I felt like I was home, she says. And from that moment, I realised, Oh, this is a huge. This has to be something I do for the rest of my life. She has returned to theatre every few years including in Eugene ONeills Desire Under the Elms, and in Athol Fugards The Road to Mecca. Seven years ago, she and her partner, the writer and director Sebastian Gutierrez, relocated to Manhattan. So when she does a play, she can usually walk to work.

Anatomy of a Suicide spoke to her, Gugino says, viscerally and intellectually. It simultaneously tracks three generations of women in three time periods (roughly: the 1970s, the 2000s, the 2030s), with many lines spoken in unison, which means that it demands extreme technical rigour. Playing a woman who wants to die makes emotional claims, too.

Its a really tricky place to live in, she says. Because it costs you, this play. And it should. She has been reading accounts of suicidal ideation and listening to podcast interviews, working toward someone who is always trying to crack life. She just cant. And I relate to that. Life is really hard, she says. All of us have those moments when you just dont know what your value is here and what the value of staying is, she says. So for me, there were personal elements. She just spoke to me, this woman.

Her character, Carol, has a perilous kind of magnetism. She fascinates people even or especially when she doesnt mean to. God we were all so in love with you in school, another character says. I know literally three girls who started smoking because you used to smoke. Guginos other current roles capitalise on that allure like Daisy, the thief she plays on the cable noir Jett (in televisual limbo now that Cinemax has killed its original programming division), or Stella, which she will act opposite Audra McDonalds Blanche and Bobby Cannavales Stanley in a Streetcar Named Desire revival this summer.

She calls sexuality a primal part of who we are and part and parcel of who I am and shes interested in exploring it in her work, she says, because as a woman, I find it to be a huge centre of our power that has been misused and misrepresented a lot of the time. (She doesnt quite put a movie like Sin City in that category, but she recognises that its sex scenes didnt come from character.) Still, she wished she werent asked about it quite so often because it speaks to a certain American puritanism. I find it so interesting that you can see a nipple shot off, but you cant see a woman walking from the bed to the bathroom naked without being commented on.

The violence in Anatomy of a Suicide is psychological, self-inflicted. Before each show, she prepares by running lines and listening to a piece of music that moves her closer to Carol, a lullaby of death, basically, she says. She and the rest of the cast take three breaths together, a ritual the director Lileana Blain-Cruz developed. After the show, the cast take three more breaths and then she plays a song that kind of brings me joy or makes me laugh or makes me want to dance, something to help her shake it off.

Every day, as she walks to work, she thinks about what she needs to accomplish that day, what her character will undergo. And I can feel, she says, that part of me thats like, Dont make me go there. But to know that she can? Exhilaration.

At the Atlantic theater, New York, until 15 March.

In the UK, the Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14. Hotlines in other countries can be found here.

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Anatomy

New discovery: Madagascar’s bizarre aye-aye has six fingers on each hand – The Conversation Africa

The aye-aye is one of natures most fascinatingly bizarre creatures. Native to Madagascar, this lemur is the largest nocturnal primate in the world and has unique features that set it apart. It has batlike ears that allow it to echo-locate and rodent-like ever-growing incisors both unique among primates.

It is most famous for its exceptionally long and skinny fingers. In fact, they are so long that the aye-ayes hand accounts for about 41% of the total length of the forelimb.

The animals also have highly specialised, extremely long third digits middle fingers if you like which they use to find food. They tap them against wood to generate acoustic reverberations that allow them to find woodboring larvae. These are then fished out with exceptional dexterity because the finger can swivel like a shoulder, and it is so thin that the animal habitually rests it on its even longer fourth finger for support.

My colleagues and I recently found yet another unique specialisation that sets the aye-aye apart from other primates: a sixth finger on each hand.

Previously undocumented, this tiny extra digit - called a pseudothumb - is a structure on each wrist made of bone and cartilage. We think that it may have evolved to help the lemur grip branches as it climbs through the trees and to help it grasp small objects, since its other fingers became so long and specialised.

In my studies of primates, I always wanted to examine the exceptional hand structure of aye-ayes and I was recently able to dissect some specimens to do so.

Little is known about the actual population size of aye-ayes, but they are hard to find and a large-scale loss of their habitat suggests population decline.

My colleagues and I dissected six adult and one immature specimen. Of course, no animals were sacrificed for the purposes of this study. Three specimens were captiveraised, acquired from the Duke Lemur Centre in the US. Three were wildborn adults housed in the collections of the Musum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris. One was a wildborn adult from Tsimbazaza Botanical and Zoological Park in Anatananarivo, Madagascar.

Dissections were performed to analyse the anatomy of the hand and wrist. A seventh specimen was used to create a digital reconstruction of these anatomical structures following MRI scanning and manual segmentation a technique similar to a medical scan that allows the anatomy to be viewed in three-dimensions in a digital space.

Our discovery of the extra digit was pretty much accidental. As we traced the tendon of one of the forearm muscles down past the wrist and into the hand, it unexpectedly split into two directions and the smallest bit extended to a strange little structure near the thumb.

When we examined the structure further, we noted a small bone and a cartilaginous extension that were moved in different directions by three different muscles. We realised the little structure was a pseudothumb. It even had its own fingerprint!

All the ayeaye specimens observed during the course of this study displayed this full suite of anatomical structures on each hand: it is not merely an anomaly, but is clearly a feature typical of the species.

Its rather mysterious that no one had noticed the finger before, but this could be because it is mostly embedded in the fleshy part of the hand and therefore easy to miss. It could also be that the long fingers are so distracting that anatomists just never noticed this small structure.

Collectively, the muscles associated with the ayeaye pseudothumb are positioned to enable adduction (moving it in toward the thumb), abduction (moving it away from the thumb) and opposition (moving it across the palm toward the little finger). Essentially, it moves in the same way as the real thumb.

My colleagues and I propose that there are three evolutionary scenarios for why the pseudothumb exists.

First, a pseudothumb may appear in species in which the thumb has become just another finger. That is what happened in the early bears: they lost the need for a thumb sticking toward the middle as this would just get in the way while the animal was walking.

Second, pseudodigits may emerge if the animal needs really broad hands for digging or swimming as in the case of some moles.

Lastly, a pseudodigit may develop when the hand has become hyperspecialised and in which the evolution of a pseudothumb can facilitate greater manual dexterity. This scenario would appear to explain the presence of a pseudothumb within the ayeaye.

We suggest that the tap foraging adaptations of the ayeaye hand have resulted in the loss of grip dexterity, and so the pseudothumb can help to address this.

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New discovery: Madagascar's bizarre aye-aye has six fingers on each hand - The Conversation Africa

Anatomy

‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘Station 19’: Do Fans Love or Hate the Excessive Crossovers? – Showbiz Cheat Sheet

With yet another unofficial crossover tonight, Greys Anatomy fans are getting confused. Many fans were not sure if they were supposed to watch Station 19 before Greys Anatomy tonight. Lets take a look at how fans feel about the crossovers between the two shows.

Station 19 began as a spin-off to Greys Anatomy in March 2018. Originally only Ben Warren (Jason George) left the medical drama to become a firefighter at Station 19. A few crossovers were in the works, and some characters would appear on both shows every so often.

We dont want to do it every week, we dont want to create a mold, we dont want to fall into any kind of pattern, we dont want people to ever know what to expect, showrunner KristaVernoff told Deadline.

On Jan. 23, 2020, the two shows collided for a massive crossover as Greys Anatomys midseason premiere with Station 19s Season 3 premiere. ABC dominated ratings that Thursday night with the two shows. Since the ratings are doing so well, more crossovers are in the works.

Some fans feel forced to watch the spinoff and arent happy about it. Others view the crossover events but do not watch Station 19 on the regular. In those cases, they rely on other fans to fill them in on why certain things are happening.

Is there tension between the two S19 people? one fan asked on Reddit. This is why crossover sucks, Im lost on a potential relationship.

Another fan of both shows filled in the lost Greys Anatomy fan about what happened. This weeks episodes wasnt a crossover, so most fans only watched the later evening show.

I know its hard to find a storyline after 16 seasons, but please stop trying to make Station 19 happen, wrote another fan. I have enough trouble caring about the actual Greys cast; I dont need a new group of extras with lines to not care about.

Others are downright mad that they now have more new characters to worry about.

Although many viewers are confused about whether or not they should watch both shows every week, some do watch and love both. A few fans even like Station 19 more than Greys Anatomy.

Wow, this show is incredible, wrote onefan on Twitter. It was expected since its a spinoff of Greys Anatomy but being honest? Its way better than Greys, I mean, in character development and rep. Its so emotional, funny, well written!

However, other viewers cannot get on board with both shows.

OMG, another crossover,another Greys Anatomy fan tweeted. Really.really.how many more crossovers do we have to sit through before they realize we dont want them. If Station 19 cant stand on its own, then bye, but stop bringing#GreysAnatomy, and its characters down with it.

The bottom line is that you might miss out on some back story with your Greys Anatomy characters if you do not watch both shows. Station 19 airs at 8 pm ET on Thursday nights, with Greys Anatomy, immediately following at 9 pm ET.

We do have weekly updates for Greys fans who do not want to watch Station 19 right here: Greys Anatomys Ben Warren Just Solidified Endless Crossovers with Station 19 Heres What Happened Tonight to the Greys Characters on Station 19

Read more: Greys Anatomy: The Shocking Reason Ben Warren Runs Into FiresStraight From Station 19

The rest is here:
'Grey's Anatomy' and 'Station 19': Do Fans Love or Hate the Excessive Crossovers? - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Anatomy

‘Grey’s Anatomy’: I Killed Him With My Gayness Best TV Quotes – TVLine

You wont find a Best TV Dialogue category on tonights broadcast of the Oscars (how rude!), but you will find the winners right here, in our latest Quotes of the Week gallery. (We couldnt choose just one victor, though, so its a 21-way tie. Rules, schmules.)

Unfortunately, our awards dont have a red carpet or shiny trophies. But theydo include some of the most memorable TV moments from the past seven days, hailing from dramas, comedies and unscripted series.

This time around, weve got Larrys controversial eating habits onCurb Your Enthusiasm, aBold Type nickname that any self-respecting 12-year-old would laugh at, Josies (slightly worrying) shout-out to her former stomping ground on Katy Keene and a perfectly timed political joke onLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Also featured in this weeks roundup: double doses ofGreys Anatomy, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Bachelor andThe Flash, plus sound bites from The Masked Singer, Legends of Tomorrow, Station 19 and more.

Check out the attached gallery or click here for direct access then hit the comments and tell us if we missed any of your faves!

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'Grey's Anatomy': I Killed Him With My Gayness Best TV Quotes - TVLine

Anatomy

Greys Anatomy season 16: Will Meredith and Deluca break up? – Express

The stress has been mounting at the Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital as of late with the ongoing trauma from the car crashing into Joes Bar and personal problems with many of the surgeons on the ABC medical drama. The pressure does also seem to be taking its toll on Meredith Grey (played by Ellen Pompeo) and boyfriend Andrew Deluca (Giacomo Gianniotti). So are the pair going to call it a day on their relationship?

At the end of season 15, fans were delighted when Meredith and Deluca had their first kiss.

After ongoing fears she would lose her license, Deluca decided to surprise Meredith with champagne on the roof.

Here, the head of general surgery confessed her love for him which officially started the pairs romance on the show.

However, things have not been going as smoothly for the couple as of late.

READ MORE:Greys Anatomy season 16 Netflix release date: When is it on Netflix?

When the show returned for season 16 last year, Meredith was on trial, trying to win back her license after committing insurance fraud.

This put a massive strain on her relationship with Deluca as she told him she wasnt sure if they could still be together if she could no longer be a practicing surgeon as it would be too painful knowing he was doing her dream job.

She recently admitted she missed Deluca after spending some time apart but there could be a new love interest on the horizon which could see the end of their relationship.

In the season 16 midseason finale, fans were introduced to a new character in the shape of Dr. Cormac Hayes (Richard Flood) who has been nicknamed McWidow.

Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh) messaged Meredith to let her know she had sent over a welcome back to work package but it wasnt an item but rather Dr Hayes who she had sent to Grey Sloan Memorial from her own hospital in Switzerland.

Cristina has also nicknamed him McWidow, hinting not only that his other half had died like Merediths husband Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey) did, but that he could be the new McDreamy in her life, the playful nickname given to Derek.

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Dr Hayes is set to become the new head of paediatric surgery, replacing the beloved Dr Alex Karev (Justin Chambers) after the actor announced he was leaving the show.

Already, Hayes and Meredith have been at loggerheads with one another but could this mean a potential romantic connection, especially with things not going exactly to plan with Deluca?

Their turbulent relationship is set to continue in next weeks episode entitled A Diagnosis on Thursday, February 20.

The official synopsis reads: DeLuca is irritated after Meredith takes over his patient Suzanne whose symptoms continue to stump the doctors at Grey Sloan.

Elsewhere in the hospital, Jackson, Owen and Jo work on a couple injured in a bear attack; and Levi is hurt when Nico doesnt want him to meet his parents.

So could this mean the beginning of the end for Meredith and Deluca?

Greys Anatomy continues every Thursday at 9pm on ABC.

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Greys Anatomy season 16: Will Meredith and Deluca break up? - Express