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Immunology

Mechanism Cells May Use To Protect Themselves From Oxidative Damage Uncovered – Technology Networks

A Montana State University biotechnology researcher was part of an international team that recently discovered an internal mechanism which may protect human cells from oxidative damage. The discovery could lead to strides in understanding many problems associated with aging and some chronic illnesses.Ed Schmidt, a professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology in MSU's colleges of Agriculture and Letters and Science, worked with research teams from Hungary, Sweden and Japan on the project. The mechanism, Schmidt said, is a previously unknown tool that cells can use to protect their proteins from being irreversibly damaged by cellular processes called redox reactions, which are common and necessary but which, in excess, can cause extensive damage.

"Redox reactions are any reaction where you're moving electrons from one molecule to another," said Schmidt. "Almost everything that goes on in our cells, chemically and energetically, involves the transfer of electrons. But it's critical that these be kept in balance. Our cells invest an enormous amount of effort and machinery into maintaining the right redox balance."

The discovery made by Schmidt's team focuses on sulfur atoms as part of protein molecules inside cells. When cells are exposed to external stressors from things humans eat, chemicals the cells are exposed to or any number of other sources that oxidative stress can damage parts of the proteins. It was previously thought that cells had no way to reverse that oxidation, instead relying upon making new proteins to replace the damaged ones. However, said Schmidt, it appears that our cells are sometimes able to protect themselves by adding an extra sulfur atom onto existing sulfurs in certain protein molecules. Then when the cell is exposed to stress, only that extra sulfur is damaged and can then be cleaved off by the cell, leaving behind a whole and undamaged protein.

"We suspect that once exposure begins, it's too late for the cell to do this," said Schmidt. "We think that cells have a subset of proteins already in this state with extra sulfur atoms, which makes them probably inactive, but kind of on reserve. These proteins on reserve get damaged but can be repaired and allow the cell to begin recovery to make new proteins."

Extreme oxidative damage can cause DNA mutations, said Schmidt. When those mutations accumulate, there is some evidence that points to an increased risk for cancers, inflammatory diseases and illnesses such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and diabetes. This new discovery may help lead to future strides in medicine by helping to predict or even mitigate those health problems, if human cells can utilize this mechanism more efficiently, Schmidt said, adding that there are even potential applications for medical procedures such as organ transplants.

"During transplants, the organ goes through a period where it doesn't have any oxygen or blood flow, but once it is transplanted, it gets a rush of oxygenated blood that causes a burst of oxidative stress," said Schmidt. "Now that we're starting to understand these mechanisms, maybe we can do something more sophisticated to allow the cells in a transplanted organ to prepare and protect themselves."

Schmidt's research team, which is also a part of the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station, worked with four other teams that brought expertise in biological sulfur chemistry, redox biology, cell biology and cell signaling from around the world. Next steps in this research, Schmidt said, include investigating exactly how cells manage to add those extra sulfur molecules and how that process is regulated.

"It's possible that by understanding this system more, we could make progress," said Schmidt.

"Understanding some of these mechanisms allows us to come up with new ideas."ReferenceDka et al. (2020) Control of protein function through oxidation and reduction of persulfidated states. Science Advances. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aax8358

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Mechanism Cells May Use To Protect Themselves From Oxidative Damage Uncovered - Technology Networks

Immunology

Coronavirus or common cold? How to tell the difference – CIProud.com

Posted: Feb 3, 2020 / 11:02 AM CST / Updated: Feb 3, 2020 / 11:02 AM CST

DALLAS, Texas (NEXSTAR) With the coronavirus causing concerns across the globe, many people may be wondering if their seasonal symptoms are the common cold, flu or something more.

Symptoms for the viral infection include runny nose, headache, cough and fever. And yes, those are also the common symptoms of the flu.

According to a report in Canadas Global News, that creates difficulty for medical professionals. It may be challenging to weed out mild cases of coronavirus due to its similarities with the flu, said Allison McGeer, an infectious disease specialist at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto.

Every respiratory virus is the same you get a runny nose, a stuffy nose, a cough, sometimes a sore throat, all because the lining of your nose and throat are damaged. The symptoms are caused by that virus or bacteria damaging the cells of your respiratory tract. It doesnt matter what virus is causing it, McGreer told Global News.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shortness of breath, body aches and chills could be associated with more dangerous types of the coronavirus. In more extreme cases, the virus may cause pneumonia, bronchitis, kidney failure and death.

Symptoms of milder coronavirus cases can be somewhat indistinguishable from the flu, Eleanor Fish, an immunology professor at the University of Toronto, told Global News.

While there isnt a vaccine to prevent coronavirus, there is a diagnostic test that quickly detects the bug. There are research teams already hard at work to create a vaccine.

At this point, the experts say travel history plays the biggest role in determining whether you have flu or cold-like symptoms versus the coronavirus. If you havent traveled to Wuhan, China, youre likely in the clear.

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Coronavirus or common cold? How to tell the difference - CIProud.com

Biochemistry

Registration Opens For NSPC Health Science Competition – Long Island Weekly News

Registration for the second Neurological Surgery P.C. Health Science Competition (NSPC HSC), a program of the Center for Science Teaching and Learning (CSTL), is now open at http://www.cstl.org/nspc. Last year the competition drew teams from 38 Long Island high schools, and 50 prize winners shared $80,000 in score-based awards.

Created to foster interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs, applications for the 2020 competition must be received by no later than 12 p.m. on April 30. A $25 non-refundable registration fee per team applies to all entries. The NSPC HSC is available exclusively to high school teams in Nassau and Suffolk counties. The competitions finals will be held on Wednesday, May 27.

Health and science careers are in high demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that health care-related occupations are expected to generate 2.3 million new jobs through 2024, representing faster employment growth than any other industry.

As leaders in the medical profession, we must focus on inspiring and motivating young people to take interest in STEM education and pursue careers in health and science, Michael H. Brisman, an attending neurosurgeon and CEO of Neurological Surgery, P.C., said. This is especially important with the high demand for health care and medical science positions, locally and nationally.

Student teams will be judged in one of five categories, including behavioral sciences; biology, medicine/health; biology, microbiology/genetics; health-related biochemistry/biophysics; as well as bioengineering, computational biology.

The five first-place winners in last years competition were Feyi Rufai, of Roslyn High School, in the behavioral sciences category; Alessi Demir, of Manhasset High School, in the biology: medicine/health category; Michael Lawes, of Elmont Memorial High School, in the biology: microbiology/genetics category; Jason Sitt, of Lynbrook Senior High School, in the health-related biochemistry and biophysics category and Christopher Lu, of Great Neck North High School, in the bioengineering and computational biology category.

Each winner received a $5,500 prize. The exact breakdown of prizes can be found at http://www.cstl.org/nspc/hsc-prizes.

The young people who were part of the first competition were brilliant and inspiring, Brisman said. Their understanding of medicine and health-related subjects was impressive. These students are exactly what we need to address the high demand of STEM, health science and health care-related jobs here on Long Island and across the nation. I believe the 2020 competition will further motivate both those who participate and others.

For more information about the NSPC Health Science Competition (NSPC HSC), competition rules and deadlines, visit http://www.cstl.org/nspc or call 516-764-0045.

Submitted by the Center for Science Teaching and Learning

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Registration Opens For NSPC Health Science Competition - Long Island Weekly News

Biochemistry

Bahamas and iguanas | News – The Bulletin

Every other December, a handful of students visit the home of the San Salvador Rock Iguana with David McKenzie, biology professor, to experience field ecology. During the last trip, one of the iguanas was killed.

There are about five hundred left in the world, said Scott Romeiser, senior biochemistry major. They are endemic to San Salvador island, however none of them really live there; they live on caysThe feral dogs and cats have essentially killed them off. One of the feral dogs got into a breeding enclosure that was on campus, which is essentially two lives lost for what is a critically endangered species.

Romeiser was one of 13 students who participated in the ten-day course over winter break alongside McKenzie and Marshall Sundberg, biology professor.

I didnt think about it too much just seeing them straight out, said Calder Klink, senior biology major. It may seem a bit insensitive, but they were just another animal.

According to Klink and Romesier, the students were all instructed not to tamper with native wildlife, given how fragile some of the ecosystems are.

I really learned to appreciate and embrace the diversity of nature and that you dont have to go to the Bahamas to appreciate biodiversity, Romesier said. We saw this squid, and it inked so that was coolThe class really enriched that experience because we had to pay attention to what we were looking at, the ecology of the living things and how they all work together.

While it was Romesier and Klinks first trip to the Bahamas, it is a routine expedition for McKenzie.

The guy I took it over from, Dr. Dwight Moore, said that he had been teaching the course for over 20 years, McKenzie said. The class is called Tropical Field EcologyI love it. Its probably my favorite class to teach because you get to go out there and see the biology rather than just reading about it.

McKenzie said the class has existed for over 35 years and is something he is excited to continue given the diversity the islands have to offer.

The iguana is a subspecies of the green iguana, so that main island and a few of the cays are the only places on Earth youll find them, McKenzie said. There is a pupfish which is just a little fish that seems to be going through rapid evolution on the islandIts found nowhere else on Earth.

According to McKenzie, there are plenty of benefits to field work that students cant get at home.

I love not having the class be research-focused but instead focusing on the field learning and having them ask why they see what they do, McKenzie said. Its so different than any of the other classes we offerEach trip is different but there are so many unique chances for immersion that students of all backgrounds can prosper from that exposure.

The class is open to all students who can afford the approximately $2,000 it costs to attend. Interested students should contact McKenzie ahead of time to get their spots for the 2021 trip at dmckenz1@emporia.edu.

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Bahamas and iguanas | News - The Bulletin

Biochemistry

How Hot Is The Cannabis Industry? Thousands Crowd Into City’s First Resource Fair Looking To Break Into The Business – Block Club Chicago

UNIVERSITY VILLAGE The thirst for getting into Illinois nascent legal cannabis industry was on full display Saturday as thousands packed into the citys first Cannabis Resource Fair.

How to expand the industrys diversity was a recurring topic as budding entrepreneurs line up to snag future state licenses to open cannabis businesses. All of the existing dispensaries are run by white men, a fact the state and city vow to improve on during the second round of licensing.

One message began with Mayor Lori Lightfoot in the morning and was echoed throughout the day: the industry is bigger than just pot shops.

The crowd showed up to the UIC Forum, 725 W. Roosevelt Road, to listen to panels, connect with industry players or pitch a new idea. Many had or were planning to apply for state licenses in the industry.

The event was free and connected dispensaries, government departments, groups organizing around social equity and other industry insiders to a crowd that was much more diverse than the industry itself.

In addition to vendor booths, there were six panel discussions on topics like expungement and navigating the complex regulatory obstacles that make it difficult to open a business in the industry.

Mayor Lightfoot opened the event before sitting down with State Rep. Kelly Cassidy and Wanda James, who opened the nations first Black-owned dispensary in Colorado, Simply Pure Dispensary.

Lightfoot said she hoped the event would help those with a great business idea link up with experts who can help them achieve their dreams.

Its all about building wealth, she said. Theres lots of different ways which you can participate and I want to make sure in the city of Chicago that we are laying the foundation for people to participate at all points of entry.

James had a free tip for entrepreneurs in the room, referencing a state law that requires strict packaging when driving on the highway with your cannabis.

The first person in this room that can come up with biodegradable child-proof packaging is going to be the richest person in this room, she said.

Lightfoots cannabis advisor Paul Stewart led the effort to organize the event and was thrilled with the turnout.

We had just over 4,800 people register and it felt like all 4,800 showed up. But I would probably guess close to 3,200- 3,500 over the course of the day, he said.

Stewart said the mayors team had been conducting neighborhood level outreach and realized there was a demand for a larger event, so they created what he described as a one stop shop.

We can bring all of the vendors here, all of the technical-assistance providers that we had already vetted so we knew people werent getting scammed, he said. You get expungement information, the licensing and technical assistance.

Stewart echoed the sentiment that those looking to enter the industry should look at other opportunities beyond opening a dispensary.

Everyone doesnt need to be a cannabis business. If you have a business already, then find out if you have the ability to contract with one of the companies. Anything from security, to trucking, electrical contractors, he said. We want as many local residents and clearly want to see more diversity in the industry as well.

On May 1 the state will announce the winners of 72 dispensary licenses statewide. On July 1, the Department of Agriculture will grant licenses to up to 40 processors, craft growers and transporting organizations.

Saturdays panel discussions were split into three, hour-long blocks with two simultaneous discussions. The popularity of the event led to an early hiccup, when people hoping to attend a panel on starting a business in the industry were shut out of the at-capacity meeting room.

A woman who asked not to be named attended because she is interested in opening an infusing or processing business. She was among a group of people unsuccessful getting into the room.

I came here to really understand what resources are available, which is why I am so upset that I cant get into the session on how to start a business, she said.

Later panels were moved into the main event hall to accommodate more people.

Many who attended were budding entrepreneurs who were seeking advice on the best way to enter the industry. Others saw it as a networking event a chance to pitch their product or idea.

Yewande Odusanwo owns a digital marketing company and was hoping to connect with people to help market their products. Odusanwo also hosts the Zora Talks podcast, where she interviews entrepreneurs in the healthy living business. She was inspired by James story and made it a stretch goal to get her on the podcast.

I saw it on the news today and I have my own business, she said. I just kind of wanted to see what opportunities there were in the cannabis industry.

Sugar LanCret, a tax accountant, and Precious Fraction, in school studying biochemistry, hope to one day open a dispensary or processing company. They plan to apply when more licenses become available next year.

Were preparing and we know that they have another round coming up next year, and so were getting all of our information and all of our documents ready now, said Fraction.

They attended a discussion on contracting opportunities. LanCret said they found it useful.

I liked their candor, she said. They helped paint a better picture of that [process], she said.

Samuel Hutchins works in the tech sector, which he said has the same lack of equity ownership as the cannabis industry.

Im really interested in understanding the intersection of technology and cannabis. Specifically from an equity lens and understanding that equity can be more than just the dispensary experience, but also the backend analytics that are helping make dispensaries more optimized and profitable, he said.

Peter Contos is vice president of the Cannabis Equity Illinois Coalition. His group has been attending community meetings for proposed dispensaries and asking cannabis companies to sign on to a community benefits agreement that would commit the companies to hiring standards beyond what state law requires.

On Saturday, he said his vendor booth was getting a lot of questions from people seeking to have their own, or a family members, record expunged for past cannabis-related offenses.

Were going to connect you with our partners at Legal Aid Chicago, Cabrini Green Legal Aid, who have been phenomenal for the last year in working with us to make sure the expungement process is as accessible as possible, he said.

Grady Norwood, managing partner of Chicago Minority Cannabis Group, said they provide classes that can train and certify people to work in the industry.

Everything is regulated now. So if you touch the weed, you gotta be certified, he said.

Classes are $100 and last 8 hours. He said they filled up five sign-in sheets with people interested in taking the class.

This was the citys first resource fair. There may be more planned later. Stewart said those who couldnt attend or are looking for more information can visit a website created by the mayors team.

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How Hot Is The Cannabis Industry? Thousands Crowd Into City's First Resource Fair Looking To Break Into The Business - Block Club Chicago

Biochemistry

Neighbor to Neighbor – The Item – Worcester Telegram

Joseph Hershberger, of Bolton, has been named to the Siena College fall dean's list.

Samuel Landadio, of Sterling, joined 22 other Cedarville University students who traveled to Washington, D.C. on Friday, Jan. 24, to attend the 2020 National March for Life.

The March for Life was held on the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade ruling in 1973, which legalized abortion in the U.S.

Three local residents were named to the fall dean's list at Nicholas college: Zachary Sullivan, of Berlin, Simeon Ramey, of Sterling, and Thomas Parda, of Lancaster.

Four local residents were named to the fall dean's list at Coastal Carolina University: Kelsie Antunes, a management major from Sterling; Brianna Krushefsky, a special education multi-categorical major from Boylston; Sarah Newton, a communication major from Lancaster; and Katarina Pizzarella, a marketing pre-major major from West Boylston.

Jillian Winer, of Bolton, was awarded faculty honors for the fall semester at Trinity College.

Southern New Hampshire University named four local residents to the fall president's list: Cassidy Cortes, of Bolton, Matthew Hross, of Clinton, Alexander Littizzio, of Sterling, and Katherine MacDonald, of Lancaster.

Stacy Anfinson, a University of Iowa student from Clinton, has been named to the fall dean's list. Anfinson's major is English in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Several local residents were among 1,678 students from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) named to the university's fall dean's list:

Berlin: Rachael Mair, Class of 2021, majoring in industrial engineering;

Bolton: Justin Schoepke, Class of 2022, majoring in aerospace engineering; Joshua McKeen, Class of 2022, majoring in computer science; John Higgins, Class of 2023, majoring in computer science; Matthew Adiletta, Class of 2021, majoring in electrical and computer engineering and computer science; Benjamin Guerriero, Class of 2022, majoring in electrical and computer engineering; and Andrew Adiletta, Class of 2023, majoring in electrical and computer engineering;

Boylston: Timothy McQuade, Class of 2020, majoring in mechanical engineering;

Clinton: Benjamin Seeto, Class of 2021, majoring in mechanical engineering; and Troy Howlett, Class of 2021, majoring in mechanical engineering;

Lancaster: Tyler Hunt, Class of 2022, majoring in aerospace engineering; and Allison Spratt, Class of 2022, majoring in management engineering;

Sterling: Olivia Wallace, Class of 2023, majoring in biochemistry; Carolyn Heighton, Class of 2021, majoring in biomedical engineering; Emma Bailey, Class of 2022, majoring in biomedical engineering; Emma Shulenburg, Class of 2023, majoring in biomedical engineering; Dylan Grady, Class of 2023, majoring in computer science; David Hinckley, Class of 2022, majoring in management engineering; and Rachel Manca, Class of 2020, majoring in management information systems; and

West Boylston: Priscilla Anand, Class of 2023, majoring in chemical engineering; Griffin Atchue, Class of 2023, majoring in computer science, and interactive media and game development; Hannah Frieden, Class of 2023, majoring in industrial engineering; John Amaral, Class of 2020, majoring in interactive media and game development, and computer science; and Molly O'Connor, Class of 2020, majoring in mechanical engineering.

Rebecca Meininger, of Bolton, has been named to the fall president's list at Clemson University. Meininger is majoring in marketing.

Carli Carbone, of Sterling, and Kyla Shaye, of Bolton, were named to the fall dean's list at the University of Delaware.

Jacqueline Cannon, a fourth-year student at the College of the Holy Cross, was named to the fall dean's list. She is the daughter of John and Maureen Cannon, of Lancaster.

Three local students were named to the fall dean's list at Wentworth Institute of Technology: Nicholas DeVincent and Chrisoula Moraitis, of Berlin, and Adriana Valenti, of Bolton.

Clinton Savings Bank announced several promotions.

Kelly Manz was promoted to consumer loan officer, an advancement from her position of consumer loan underwriter. Manzs previous CSB roles include teller, senior teller, teller supervisor and assistant branch manager.

After Consumer Lending had an extremely busy year, Ms. Manzs vast skillset did not go unnoticed, said Debra Colonna, vice president/mortgage operations manager. Kelly worked tirelessly this past year underwriting consumer loans - she exemplifies what we look for in our employees and we are extremely lucky to be able to call her a member of our team.

Manz, is a Clinton native now living in Leominster. She began working at CSB in 2004. Her primary responsibilities are underwriting and processing consumer loans.

In her free time, Manz loves traveling, attending concerts, spending time with her husband, Kyle, and daughter, Kasey, as well as volunteering at local community fairs. Throughout the course of her CSB career, she has been selected several times as employee of the month.

Lisa Poirier was promoted to vice president (VP), controller. In her role as VP, controller, Poirier is responsible for preparing the monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements, calculating the Allowance for Loan Losses (ALLL), preparing the annual budget, and preparing and analyzing Liquidity and the Asset / Liability Management reports.

Ms. Poirier has been an integral part of the CSB team since she began working here in 1998, said Richard Hayward Jr., executive vice president/chief financial officer/treasurer. Furthermore, she has continuously shown her commitment to learning the inner workings of all departments within CSB and has impressed us for over 20 years with her advanced knowledge of accounting and finance, her passion to learn, and her on-going dedication to her work.

Poirier holds a bachelors degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting from Fitchburg State University. Poirier started at CSB as a teller, which eventually led her to the accounting department as the accounting clerk. Shortly thereafter she was promoted to staff accountant followed by accounting supervisor. Poirier was later promoted to assistant VP, controller and now holds the title of VP, controller.

When she is not at CSB, Poirier enjoys reading, watching movies and spending time with her dog, Harley, and her daughter, Sabrina. Additionally, since adopting Harley at the Sterling Animal Shelter, she often donates to the shelter as well as to other various charities through CSBs programs.

Nicole Martin has been promoted to the role of senior vice president (SVP), branch administration officer. After contributing to the growth of the retail side of Clinton Savings Bank for the last several years, Martin will broaden relationships with the banks customers and business partners in the community while continuing to be responsible for the operation and customer service performance of the branches.

Since Ms. Martin joined our team in 2016, she has worked tirelessly to improve the retail aspects of CSB as well as the function of our branches, said Robert Paulhus Jr., president and CEO of Clinton Savings Bank. She has used her strong administrative skills and extensive retail experience to elevate Clinton Savings Bank overall brand and retail staff. We are very lucky to have an employee like Ms. Martin who has a tenacious work ethic that heavily contributes to Clinton Savings Banks success.

With over 30 years of banking experience, Martin joined CSB as vice president, retail sales manager. During her time with the bank, one of Martins most notable accomplishments at CSB was building and establishing goals to achieve growth, profitability and operational efficiency. Martin attended Worcester State University, and now live in Clinton and enjoys spending time with her two children.

Samantha Ingui was promoted to operations officer. She began working at CSB in 2006 as a teller at the Sterling branch, which led her to becoming a teller supervisor, then assistant branch manager in both Sterling and Bolton. Ingui joined the operations department in 2015 as the operations supervisor.

Ms. Ingui has demonstrated her vast knowledge of CSB products and services, system capabilities and compliance requirements, while effectively supervising a staff of 6 employees, explained Pam Cutler, vice president/operations manager. "Her knowledge base and the experience shes gained over the past 14 years in retail and operations make Ms. Ingui an invaluable resource for her staff and peers.

Ingui's responsibilities as the new operations officer include, but are not limited to, overseeing all aspects of deposit operations including deposit accounts, card services, online banking, cash management, ACH and IRA. She is also responsible for training staff on regulatory requirements, products, policies and procedures.

In her free time, she enjoys going to the beach, attending concerts and spending time with her husband, Ryan, and their two children. Additionally, she is secretary of the Houghton Elementary School PTO Board in Sterling.

Two local students were named to the fall dean's list at the University of the South: Clare McNamara, of Bolton, daughter of Elizabeth and Frank McNamara Jr.; and Mary Watkins, of Sterling, daughter of Laura and John Watkins.

Several local residents were named to the fall dean's list at the University of New Hampshire:

Berlin: Ryliegh Scott, high honors, majoring in exercise science;

Bolton: Ashley Masse, honors, majoring in psychology; Caleb McClure, highest honors, majoring in psychology; Jill Conry, high honors, majoring in business administration:accounting; Elena Barshak, high honors, majoring in English; and Hannah Roth, highest honors, majoring in human development and family studies;

Boylston: William Hodgdon, high honors, majoring in geography;

Clinton: Christopher Saunders, honors, majoring in English literature;

Lancaster: Haley Taddeo, honors, majoring in sustainable agriculture and food systems; and Matthew Morrison, high honors, majoring in business administration;

Sterling: Connor Pauplis, highest honors, majoring in biomedical science and veterinary science; Samuel Marcoulier, highest honors, majoring in homeland security; Jack Prendergast, honors, majoring in undeclared; and Sophie Citro, high honors, majoring in psychology; and

West Boylston: Molly Krause, high honors, majoring in occupational therapy; and Nicholas Pichierri, high honors, majoring in English.

Six local residents were named to the fall dean's list at Northeastern University:

Berlin: Sanjana Sankar, majoring in chemical engineering/ biochemistry; and Lauren Walsh, majoring in mathematics

Bolton: Benjamin Fox, majoring in computer engineering; Isabella Susi, majoring in ecology and evolutionary biology; and Rachel Fox, majoring in mechanical engineering; and

Clinton: Smeet Patel, majoring in mechanical engineering.

Four local residents were named to the fall dean's list at Hofstra University: William Cubero, of Bolton; Gianna Direda, of Sterling; Audra Doolin, of Clinton; and Julia Wachtel, of Bolton.

Nicholas Galle, of Sterling, was named to the fall dean's list at Marquette University. Galle is pursuing a bachelor's degree in journalism.

Two residents were named to the fall dean's list at Colby College: Andrew Macdonald, Class of 2021, who attended Cushing Academy and is the son of Norman and Rebecca MacDonald, of Bolton; and Connor Smith, Class of 2020, who attended Bancroft School and is the son of Kelly Smith and Debra Twehous, of Lancaster.

Kate Burman, of Clinton, was named to the Champlain College fall dean's list.

Victoria Brandvold, of Bolton, was named to the fall dean's list at Muhlenberg College.

Two residents were named to the fall dean's list at The University of Hartford: Brooke Diefenbach, of Lancaster, and Andrew Wilcox, of Boylston.

Submit your Neighbor to Neighbor items to: clintonitem@yahoo.com or The Item, c/o Gannett, 100 Front St., fifth floor, Worcester, MA 01608.

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Neighbor to Neighbor - The Item - Worcester Telegram

Biochemistry

Artist Creates Series of Paintings Inspired By Her Chronic Migraines – My Modern Met

Boston-based artist Bethany Nol Murray has found a way to channel her migraines into painting. The series, entitled Migraines in Nature, explores the sensory overload that accompanies the condition, including the ocular disturbances called auras. By viewing these kaleidoscopic landscapesdistorted by migrainesthe artist hopes people will find unexpected joy in the natural world around them.

Before pursuing art, Murray studied biochemistry at Reed College for two years. Afterward, she transferred to the Rhode Island School of Design and graduated with a BFA in Painting. It was there that the artist began to merge her interest in her own headache disorder with her creative work. I have had chronic migraines for over twenty years of my life, Murray says. I began making paintings to show the incredible beauty that accompanies this strange neurological condition, as I have always been fascinated at the neurobiology behind the imagery I see. Most of the paintings in the series are based in heavily wooded forests, which the artist explains is often a refuge for her to avoid strong light. To illustrate her visual symptoms of auras, macroscopia, and microscopia, Murray distorts the landscapes with expressive waves, large areas of fractured color, and bursts of white light.

The artist describes the series of paintings as having an Alice in Wonderland feeling to them. Each forest scene shows a world of magnified color, which borders on fantasy. To achieve this, Murray works with white and black gessousing the black of the canvas to be the shadow, and adding the light in a swirling, patterning effect that mimics the aura I see all the time. This heavy contrast makes each piece from the series stand out as a unique visual encounter.My paintings have been proof to myself of what I experience during an attack, and despite the pain, Ive made the choice to see the good, weird, and beautiful, says Murray.

To keep up to date with the artists latest creations, including upcoming exhibitions, you can follow her on Instagram.

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Artist Creates Series of Paintings Inspired By Her Chronic Migraines - My Modern Met

Genetics

Israel Prize awarded to Hebrew University Professor Dani Zamir for his agricultural research – Haaretz

The Israel Prize for agricultural research and environmental science is being awarded to Prof. Dani Zamir, the Education Ministry announced Sunday. Zamir is professor emeritus in genetics at the Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment at Hebrew University.

Zamirs fields of research deal with improving plants and developing innovative tools for genetic cultivation. For example, he developed a group of cultured tomatoes that contain a DNA string from species of wild tomatoes that make them resistant to dryness, salt and various diseases.

Twenty years ago he founded the company AB Seeds, which together with the universitys Yissum technology transfer company developed one of the leading species of tomatoes grown in California. Ten years ago, he and his student, Yaniv Semel, set up a company that applies computational methods to genetic cultivation. Zamir has won numerous research grants, including a particularly prestigious grant from the European Research Council

The prize committee called Zamir a leader in his field who is internationally recognized and involved in international cooperative ventures. He has contributed and continues to contribute to Israeli and global agriculture.

For 35 years, Zamir taught the basic genetics course in the agriculture department, along with advanced courses. Hebrew University noted that all the students in the agriculture department, from 1982 to today (except the years he was on sabbatical) studied genetics with Prof. Zamir.

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Israel Prize awarded to Hebrew University Professor Dani Zamir for his agricultural research - Haaretz

Genetics

The Key to Your Perfect Diet Could Be Hiding in Your DNA – The Spoon

Our DNA contains the code that dictates how our body works including, apparently, information about which foods we should (and shouldnt) be eating.

Dr. Sherry Zhang is on a mission to help individuals eat healthier based on their unique genetic code. Thats why she created GenoPalate, the DNA-driven personalized nutrition company, and also why we cant wait to welcome her onstage at Customize, our food personalization summit in NYC next month.

Before she hits the stage, we had the chance to ask Dr. Zhang a few questions about DNA vs. microbiome-based nutrition, data privacy and the biggest challenges towards harnessing the power of personal biology.

This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.

Tell us a little bit about what GenoPalate does.GenoPalate is a personalized nutrition platform. We believe that food and nutrition play a powerful role in our health and wellbeing. Our mission is to empower people to optimize their health through personalized nutrition insights.

The GenoPalate platform uses the latest research in metabolic health, genetics and nutrition to provide personalized insights to encourage healthier eating behaviors. From a simple saliva sample, our proprietary technology uses DNA to make personalized recommendations on the ideal intake of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. We make this actionable for our customers by providing a comprehensive list of foods that best suit their geneticnutritional requirements.

Whats the difference between DNA-driven and microbiome-driven diet recommendations?This is a hard question as we are NOT comparing apples to apples. When we test DNA (like ancestry or 23andMe and Genopalate) we are testing the blueprint of a humans genome. The human genome is a 3.2 billion-letter genetic code that we all were born with. Within our genetic code or DNA we have many variants that define not only our food preferences but how our bodies will respond to or metabolise specific nutrients. For example there are variants that predict tolerance to lactose or caffeine metabolism.

Another factor that may contribute to how our bodies respond to nutrients, are the bacterial, viral and fungal floras that live in our gut. These are known as our microbiomes. Microbiome companies are testing the RNA and DNA of the gut bacteria NOT of our human genetic code.This is an important distinction. Microbiome research, while promising, is still in its infancy. Many studies are still being conducted to understand how nutritional interventions impact the microbiome and how they impact on human health.

How do you navigate concerns around data privacy?We at GenoPalate take extra care to keep customers genetic and personal information private and safe as we understand how important it is for us to deliver the best possible practices for customers data privacy. We implement de-identification along with encryption of each individuals data to ensure secure storage and complete anonymous separation fromgenetic and personal information. Only automated GenoPalate product services have access to all of the information to fulfill each order and deliver each product to customers. As a business, we do not sell, lease or rent users personal information to third-parties without the users consent. Customers genetic information may be used by GenoPalates product development team to enhance services to customers.

In this case, customers data will be de-identified and aggregated before analysis to preserve anonymity. We will continue investing measures that ensure responsible management of user data including transparency, consumer education, proper consenting and data security and privacy design and more by following the principles recommended by organizations such as Forum of Future Privacy.

Whats one of the biggest challenges facing personalized nutrition?I think one of the biggest challenges facing personalized nutrition is the question of how to create a contextual user experience in order to continuously drive a persons success in healthy eating.

Human genetics is known to explain approximately 30 percent of the variations we have observed in our phenotypic traits such as weight and body mass distribution, glucose and lipids profiles, blood pressure and inflammatory biometrics. We also know that approximately 40 percent of the health phenotype outcomes are also driven by an individuals daily lifestyle behaviors.

What we yet need to tackle as a scientific community is to establish an effective way of harnessing the power of personal biology in the context of that persons living environment. GenoPalate is up for the challenge and is seeking forward-thinking organizations to partner in our quest for helping people to reach and maintain their optimal health and prevent chronic diseases.

Watch Dr. Zhang dive deeper into the world of DNA-driven food recommendations at Customize on February 27th! Use discount code SPOON15 and Grab your tickets here before theyre gone.

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The Key to Your Perfect Diet Could Be Hiding in Your DNA - The Spoon

Immunology

Coronavirus lurking in feces may be a hidden source of spread – The Japan Times

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA While doctors have focused on respiratory samples from pneumonia cases to identify coronavirus patients, they might have ignored a less apparent source of the spread: diarrhea.

The novel coronavirus was detected in the loose stool of the first U.S. case a finding that hasnt featured among case reports from Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the outbreak. However, that doesnt surprise scientists who have studied coronaviruses, nor doctors familiar with the bug that caused SARS.

Diarrhea occurred in about 10 to 20 percent of patients afflicted with severe acute respiratory syndrome about 17 years ago and was the source of an explosive SARS outbreak in the Amoy Gardens residential complex in Hong Kong.

SARS and Wuhan viruses bind to the same distinctly shaped protein receptors in the body that are expressed in the lungs and intestines, making these organs the primary targets for both viruses, said Fang Li, an associate professor of veterinary and biomedical sciences at the University of Minnesota.

The discovery of the Wuhan virus, dubbed 2019-nCoV, in the fecal material of the 35-year-old man treated at the Providence Regional Medical Center Everett in Washington is interesting, said Scott Lindquist, the state epidemiologist for infectious disease at Washingtons Department of Health.

That adds to the knowledge about this, he told reporters on a conference call Friday. Its not only excreted in your respiratory secretions, its also secreted in your stool.

Researchers dont yet know how exactly 2019-nCoV spreads from person to person, but they suspect it is most likely from coming into contact with virus-containing droplets that could be emitted by an infected persons cough and transferred to their hands or surfaces and objects.

That has led to a run on face masks. But those may be of limited benefit in the event the virus is being transmitted via the fecal-oral route, said John Nicholls, a clinical professor of pathology at the University of Hong Kong.

Squat latrines lacking covers, common in China, and hands that arent washed thoroughly with soap and water after visiting the bathroom could be a source of virus transmission, said Nicholls, who was part of the research team that isolated and characterized the SARS virus.

A virus-laden aerosol plume emanating from a SARS patient with diarrhea was implicated in possibly hundreds of cases at the Amoy Gardens housing complex in 2003. That led Hong Kong researchers to understand the importance of the viruss spread through the gastrointestinal tract and to recognize both the limitation of face masks and importance of cleanliness and hygiene, Nicholls said in an interview.

I think in Wuhan, that would be a very likely place where you might get the transmission from fecal material, he said. If its using the same receptor as for SARS, I cant see why it shouldnt be replicating in the gut.

Nicholls and colleagues at the University of Hong Kong are testing laboratory models of human tissues and specimens to understand where and how the Wuhan virus replicates, he said.

Doctors have reported diarrhea infrequently in 2019-nCoV patients admitted to Wuhan hospitals, though it has been more prominent among reported cases outside the city, including members of a Shenzhen family infected in Wuhan, and more recently in the first U.S. case in Washington state. That patient experienced a two-day bout of diarrhea from which a sample tested positive.

The lab in Washington didnt attempt to grow the virus from that specimen, said Lindquist, because it wasnt going to add anything to his care.

Many of the emerging coronaviruses are so-called pneumoenteric viruses, meaning they can replicate both in the respiratory tract and the gastrointestinal system, said Ralph Baric, professor of microbiology and immunology at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, who has studied coronaviruses for decades.

Overwhelmed by hundreds of severely sick pneumonia patients, doctors in Wuhan might not have focused on any gastric signs, Baric said in a phone interview.

The Chinese are so overwhelmed at the moment and trying to do a combination of treating patients and dealing with the scope of the outbreak, and then trying to get out papers that describe whats happening, he said.

Any virus in stool is more likely to be present during the acute phase of an infection, occurring before hospitalized patients develop a life-threatening complication known as acute respiratory distress syndrome, Baric said.

I have also spent most of my time focusing on the respiratory tract symptomology rather than the gut because of the relationship between these different emerging viruses and acute respiratory distress syndrome, he said.

Zijian Feng, deputy director general of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and colleagues released a report Wednesday on the first 425 Wuhan cases, and noted that early infections that didnt appear to display typical signs such as fever and viral pneumonia or had mild symptoms might have been missed.

The initial focus of case detection was on patients with pneumonia, but we now understand that some patients can present with gastrointestinal symptoms, Feng and co-authors said in their report, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Emerging evidence of virus-containing diarrhea warrants further investigation, said Peter Collignon, a professor of clinical medicine at the Australian National University Medical School in Canberra, who advises the Australian government on infection control.

This is something new, Collignon said in an interview. We presume its respiratory droplets, but with SARS there was evidence of other routes. We have to keep an open mind.

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Coronavirus lurking in feces may be a hidden source of spread - The Japan Times