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Biochemistry

Researchers Working To Find New Effective Treatments For Tuberculosis – Gilmore Health News

Treatment of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections is difficult, especially with the emergence of strains that are drug-resistant. Researchers led by University of Oklahoma professor Helen Zgurskaya are now working to find new, more effective drugs for tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis

Read Also: SMARt751 Brings a Solution to Drug Resistance by Tuberculosis Bacteria in Animal Models

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a pathogenic bacterium that is implicated in the incidence of tuberculosis. Experts say it is the number one cause of infectious disease globally. It affects billions of people worldwide about 25 percent of the worlds population.

Treatment of patients with active symptoms typically involves the use of multiple antibiotics for months. But, as with an increasing number of other bacterial infections these days, this infectious disease is becoming more drug-resistant.

Currently, the treatment requires a combination of antibiotics taken by patients for six months, but now imagine that the disease does not respond to the treatment, stated Zgurskaya, who is the studys corresponding author and a George Lynn Cross Research Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences.

We are out of therapeutic options for this infection, and we need new drugs. The paper we published is focused on understanding how recently discovered new inhibitors kill the pathogen, she added.

Read Also: Antibiotics: Two Antibacterial Compounds Effective Against Resistant Tuberculosis Discovered

The new paper appeared in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Aside from OU scientists, its authors included researchers from Colorado State University, Creighton University, and the Georgia Institute of Technology.

In this study, researchers investigated the mycobacterial membrane protein Large 3 (MmpL3) transporter and its analogs. This inner membrane protein is very critical for coming up with new drugs for tuberculosis.

MmpL3 transporters are vital for shuttling materials that are needed to build the outer membrane of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. They are, thus, essential for bacteria growth and building antibiotic resistance.

Zgurskaya and her colleague isolated MmpL3 from bacterial cells and purified it. Next, they reconstituted this major target for anti-tuberculosis discovery and its analogs in artificial membranes.

The team went further to make a range of substrate mimics and transporter-specific inhibitors. It also examined the activities and properties of these molecules.

Findings showed that all reconstituted proteins aided proton transfer across membranes. However, striking differences were observed in the responses of MmpL3 analogs to pH and their interactions with substrate mimics and indole-2-carboxamide inhibitors.

Read Also: The BCG a Tuberculosis Vaccine Boosts Immune Cells and Reduces Risk of Other Infections

This new paper suggests that certain inhibitors stop the transport activity of MmpL3, together with its analogs, by blocking proton translocation.

This study creates a potent method for characterizing and making new drugs for tuberculosis.

The research lays the groundwork for working out the mechanism of MmpL3 transporters. It also provides a biochemical basis for grasping the inhibition of these transporters by tiny molecule compounds. This will hopefully prove crucial for developing new effective antibiotics for tuberculosis treatment.

The expected next step following the publication of this paper would be to use the developed methods to study other inhibitors, said Zgurskaya. This will help to know which ones are most effective for possible evaluation in clinical trials.

Read Also: Vitamin D Can Help Treat Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis

Proton transfer activity of the reconstituted Mycobacterium tuberculosis MmpL3 is modulated by substrate mimics and inhibitors

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Researchers Working To Find New Effective Treatments For Tuberculosis - Gilmore Health News

Biochemistry

Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor, Bio Sciences and Technology job with VELLORE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | 302478 – Times Higher…

Job Description:

Designations Available:

Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor

Desired Skillset:

Preferred Qualifications:

Ph.D. in Life Sciences / Biotechnology/Molecular Biology/ Biochemistry/ Chemical Engineering

Areas of Specializations:

Responsibilities:

Academics:

Research Consultancy:

Academic / Administration:

Apart from the above duties, any other relevant work is assigned by the Dean of the respective schools.

Department:School of Bio Sciences & Technology (SBST)Location:Vellore, Tamil Nadu, IndiaPosted On:19-Jul-2022Years Of Exp:0 to 20 Years

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Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor, Bio Sciences and Technology job with VELLORE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | 302478 - Times Higher...

Biochemistry

Phage therapeutics can be used to fight multidrug-resistant pathogens – News-Medical.Net

Scientists with the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences were among those providing the biochemical tools needed to help save a man's life through a unique emergency intervention in 2016.

Now those Center for Phage Technology scientists in the Texas A&M Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Bryan-College Station, have completed a study about that treatment as well as other opportunities for phage therapy.

Their study, "Comparative genomics of Acinetobacter baumannii and therapeutic bacteriophages from a patient undergoing phage therapy," was published recently in the scientific journal Nature Communications.

The threat of antimicrobial resistance has become a worldwide concern, with the World Health Organization estimating at least 50 million people per year worldwide could die from it by 2050. Center for Phage Technology scientists believe phage therapeutics can be used to fight these resistant bacterial infections.

The premiere case involved phage center scientists working in collaboration with other scientists and physicians at University of California San Diego, UC San Diego, School of Medicine and the U.S. Navy Medical Research Center Biological Defense Research Directorate. Together, they worked to identify phages and determine a treatment plan for Tom Patterson, a professor of psychiatry at the UC San Diego School of Medicine, who was infected by a deadly pathogen while vacationing in Egypt.

Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that can infect and kill bacteria without having a negative effect on human or animal cells. Phages can be used alone or in combination with antibiotics or other drugs to treat bacterial infections.

Bacteriophage therapy is an emerging field that many researchers think could yield novel ways to fight antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. At the center, we are interested in the applications of phage therapeutics to fight multidrug-resistant bacterial infections."

Mei Liu, Ph.D., program director at the Center for Phage Technology and a primary investigator for the study

She said the center's work is aided by the team's deep knowledge of phage biology, particularly in the areas of phage lysis and phage genomics.

In 2015, while on vacation in Egypt during the Thanksgiving holiday, Patterson began to experience severe abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Local doctors diagnosed him with pancreatitis and treated him accordingly, but the treatments didn't work and his condition worsened.

He was later transported to Germany, where doctors found fluid around his pancreas and took cultures from the fluid's contents. The cultures showed he had been infected with a multidrug-resistant strain of Acinetobacter baumannii, an often-deadly pathogen found in hospital settings and in the Middle East. The same pathogen was also identified in many injured U.S. military members returning home after serving in that part of the world.

In Germany, Patterson was treated with a combination of antibiotics, and his condition improved to a degree where he could be airlifted to the intensive care unit at Thornton Hospital in the UC San Diego Health academic health system. There, however, the medical team discovered that the bacteria had become resistant to antibiotics.

Tom Patterson, in hospital bed, received phage therapy from Robert "Chip" Schooley, MD, left, of UC San Diego Health. (Courtesy photo used with permission of Dr. Tom Patterson)

A "compassionate use" exemption for phage therapy was requested by Dr. Robert "Chip" Schooley, the UC San Diego physician treating Patterson. He was given rapid approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, to proceed.

Shortly after the phage treatment began, Patterson awakened from a months-long coma. After a long recovery, his health improved greatly, and he was able to return to life as it was before the infection.

Acinetobacter baumannii is recognized as a significant bacterial pathogen in health care-associated infections. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report from 2019 stated that antibiotic-resistant pathogens cause more than 2.8 million infections and more than 35,000 deaths annually in the U.S.

Several characteristics of the pathogen that infected Patterson impacted the treatment regimens and outcomes, said Ry Young, Ph.D., director of the Center for Phage Technology.

Patterson's wife, Steffanie Strathdee, Ph.D., associate dean of global health sciences with UC San Diego School of Medicine and an infectious disease epidemiologist, had contacted Young to seek his help in finding a treatment for her husband once she became aware of Young's extensive work with phages.

Young and his lab team took up the challenge and worked almost nonstop for three months to help find a solution.

Phages are viruses that can infect and kill bacteria without affecting human or animal cells. Phage therapy was used extensively in the early 20th century prior to the use of antibiotics. (Stock illustration)

"Cases of resistant infections are becoming more prevalent and very few new antibiotics are available, so the use of bacteriophages to treat or control multidrug-resistant infections is being reconsidered as an alternative strategy," Young said. "Phage therapy is actually a very old concept, having been used extensively in the early 20th century during the pre-antibiotic era."

Phage treatment also has been successful in several more recent case studies involving multidrug-resistant strains of P. aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria.

"Phages had been sidelined as a potential treatment for bacterial infections when antibiotics came into wide use in the U.S.," Liu said. "But in other areas of the world, particularly where antibiotics were not immediately available, researchers and doctors have continued developing and practicing phage therapy. Now we are seeing more instances of how phage therapy can be used when antibiotics alone are not sufficient to treat bacterial infections."

Jason Gill, Ph.D., professor in the Texas A&M Department of Animal Science and associate director of the Center for Phage Technology, said while the Patterson case and similar case studies treating multidrug-resistant bacteria have been encouraging in terms of clinical outcome, a more in-depth examination of the phage-host interaction during treatment and its implications is needed.

"The recent study showed that resistance to the therapeutic phages emerged early, and the acquisition of new mobile elements by the bacteria can occur during treatment," said Gill, a corresponding author of the study. "It is important to have a thorough genomic analysis of phages prior to phage treatment in order to maximize treatment success and minimize both effort and resources. There is also a need for conventional experimental testing for phage host range and growth characteristics."

Gill also noted the use of well-characterized phages in a phage cocktail can avoid redundancy and significantly save time and effort in phage production and purification. Eight of the nine phages used for treatment in the Patterson case turned out to be closely related, and this knowledge could have been used to streamline the process if the investigators had known this when assembling the treatment.

"The Patterson case has done a lot to increase awareness of phage therapy and its effectiveness as an alternative therapy for multidrug-resistant pathogenic strains," Liu said. "The success of phage therapy in that case and other cases has brought wider attention to its use and efficacy."

Liu added that the Center for Phage Technology is focusing on developing the technology, standardizing optimal delivery procedures and securing necessary approvals from regulatory agencies to make phage treatment available to patients in the U.S.

"Much of what we did in the Patterson case was unconventional due to the context of phage therapy at that time," Liu said. "But there have been many advances in genomic sequencing and other technologies since then. Today, it would be a much quicker and more efficient process to develop and implement phage therapy if there was another case similar to Patterson's."

Source:

Journal reference:

Liu, M., et al. (2022) Comparative genomics of Acinetobacter baumannii and therapeutic bacteriophages from a patient undergoing phage therapy. Nature Communications. doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-31455-5.

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Phage therapeutics can be used to fight multidrug-resistant pathogens - News-Medical.Net

Biochemistry

Postdoctoral Researcher, Seaweed Molecular Biology, Physiology and Genetics, Ryan Institute, School job with NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, GALWAY |…

Postdoctoral Researcher Seaweed Molecular Biology, Physiology and Genetics, Ryan Institute, School of Natural Sciences.NUIG RES 192-22Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for a full time position as a Postdoctoral Researcher (Plant Molecular Biology & Metabolism) in the Plant Systems Biology research group of Dr. Ronan Sulpice at the National University of Ireland, Galway.This 24 months position is funded by the Marine Institute and is available from September 2022 to end date of August 2024.

Job Description:The successful candidate will combine advanced knowledge of molecular genetics research with large-scale metabolic and phenotypic screening of algae. The experiments will consist of large scale metabolic analyses and growth phenotyping screens, whole genome sequencing of Palmaria strains, and data will be aggregated in a built for purpose database. Traits of focus in the project will include identification of genetic markers to identify best performing strains, both for biomass quality and growth performance.Thus experimental approaches employed in the project will include DNAseq, biochemical assays, phenotyping, and extensive field- and lab-level screening.In addition to the experimental aspect of the project, the successful candidate is expected to contribute to the dissemination of the results, help to report the results, and participate in the daily life of the laboratory.

Duties: What the successful candidate will do attached to the specific post (list /bulletpoint)-Sample seaweeds-Extract DNA, and analyse NGS data generated-perform large throughput metabolic and growth analyses-collaborate with the laboratory team technically and scientifically-write papers/reports-interact with stakeholders-participate to report progress to grant agency-participate in dissemination activities-participate in lab management and co-supervision of students-may act as mentor to co-supervisor of students and have limited teaching hours

Qualifications/Skills required:

Essential Requirements:Track record in molecular biology, ideally with a background on micro- or macro-algae.PhD in Plant or seaweed biology and a good research track record that demonstrates strong capabilities and outputs.knowledge of R for analysis of large datasetsStrong proven (via publications, patents and other research outputs) research recordOrganisational, writing and report/paper drafting skills.Driving licenseSkills in biochemistry (metabolic analyses)

Desirable Requirements:Previous experience in a laboratory from the private sectorHave experience in grant writingEvidence for team working (including supervision and/or lab management experience)

Salary: 39,523- 45,609 per annum pro rata for shorter and/or part-time contracts (public sector pay policy rules pertaining to new entrants will apply).Start date: Position is available from 01/09/2022

Continuing Professional Development/Training:Researchers at NUI Galway are encouraged to avail of a range of training and development opportunities designed to support their personal career development plans.

Further information on research and working at NUI Galway is available on Research at NUI Galway

For information on moving to Ireland please see http://www.euraxess.ie

Further information about the laboratory is available at https://sulpice-lab.com/

Informal enquiries concerning the post may be made to Dr. Ronan Sulpice ronan.sulpice@nuigalway.ie

To Apply:Applications to include a covering letter, CV, and the contact details of three referees should be sent, via e-mail (in word or PDF only) to Dr. Ronan Sulpice ronan.sulpice@nuigalway.ie

Please put reference number NUIG RES 192-22 in subject line of e-mail application.

Closing date for receipt of applications is 5.00 pm 15/08/2022

We reserve the right to re-advertise or extend the closing date for this post.

National University of Ireland, Galway is an equal opportunities employer. All positions are recruited in line with Open, Transparent, Merit (OTM) and Competency based recruitment

'NUI Galway provides continuing professional development supports for all researchers seeking to build their own career pathways either within or beyond academia. Researchers are encouraged to engage with our Researcher Development Centre (RDC) upon commencing employment - see http://www.nuigalway.ie/rdc for further information.

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Postdoctoral Researcher, Seaweed Molecular Biology, Physiology and Genetics, Ryan Institute, School job with NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, GALWAY |...

Genetics

NIH grant awarded to Marshall researcher for studying genetic mechanisms of cocaine addiction – News-Medical.Net

Price E. Dickson, Ph.D., an assistant professor of biomedical sciences at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, has received a $407,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health to study the genetic and genomic mechanisms driving the relationship between social reward and cocaine addiction.

During the two-year R21 grant, Dickson and his research team will study the genetic and genomic mechanisms driving social reward and the preference for a social reward over a drug reward. Social rewards refer to the reinforcing social stimuli that individuals experience during interactions with others. A strong drive to seek out social interactions rather than drugs of abuse may confer addiction resistance, whereas the absence of this drive may result in addiction vulnerability, Dickson explains.

"Despite the importance of social rewards in addiction, the genetic mechanisms underlying variation in the preference for a social reward over a drug reward have been unexplored," Dickson said. "Because the mouse genome is very similar to the human genome, genetic studies using mice can provide valuable information about the genetics underlying human addiction."

To model the vast genetic diversity in humans, the team will use mice from the Collaborative Cross mouse panel, which contains almost all of the genetic diversity present in both wild and laboratory mice. To identify the genetic mechanisms underlying the preference for social interactions rather than addictive drugs, individual Collaborative Cross mice will have the choice to intravenously self-administer cocaine or to briefly interact with another mouse. Single-cell RNA sequencing will then be used to identify genetic signatures associated with these preferences in the reward circuitry of the brain.

"The successful completion of this project will provide a foundation for future deep characterization of identified genetic mechanisms driving the preference for a social reward over a drug reward in mice and contribute to the development of novel, more effective addiction treatments, Dickson said."

Since joining Marshall's faculty in 2020, Dickson has authored or co-authored four publications in academic journals and four presentations at scientific conferences. He is a recipient of a 2020 K99/R00 program grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to further his research on the genetic relationship between stress and addiction. Dickson joined the School of Medicine faculty in June 2020, following seven years of postdoctoral research at the Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine.

The grant (1R21DA054929-01A1) was announced July 12 by U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV).

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NIH grant awarded to Marshall researcher for studying genetic mechanisms of cocaine addiction - News-Medical.Net

Genetics

Explained| Genetics and its Mendelian inheritance – The Hindu

Long before genes, genomes and genetics were known, Augustinian monk Gregor Mendel established three principles of inheritance from his experiments on pea plants.

Long before genes, genomes and genetics were known, Augustinian monk Gregor Mendel established three principles of inheritance from his experiments on pea plants.

Its a commonly observed habit in families to draw likenesses between members of the youngest generation and their ancestors. This baby has a smile like her mother, one would say, or, He has exactly the temperament of his grandfather. This project may be extended by some to even saying, X writes so well, she has inherited this from her eldest aunt. If someone should be outstandingly brilliant in math or history, quick follows the comment Its all in the genes.

Now, many of these traits may not be heritable, or little is known about whether they are inherited. So these statements often are mere speculations; however, they are speculations supported by a pervasive and instinctive knowledge of the laws of genetics and the mechanism of genes and heredity. Of course, its one thing to pull out statements like this based on purely anecdotal occurrences and quite another to demonstrate them through years of careful experimentation.

The latter is what Gregor Mendel did. In the 1860s, much before the gene was discovered or the term genetics was coined, Mendel, a monk of the order of St. Augustine, discovered the cornerstone of genetics the laws of Mendelian inheritance using a methodical approach that is the envy of scientists even today. For this, he later came to be celebrated as the father of genetics.

For eight years, starting with 22 pea plants, he and his disciples allowed the plants to self-pollinate and cross-pollinate and came up with around 10,000 descendent plants. By observing them, Mendel came up with three laws. The first of these is the principle of uniformity all the progeny of a cross between plants that differ in only one trait will look alike. This can be understood as follows if the parent plants differ by only one trait say, one has wrinkled seeds and one has round seeds but are alike in all other aspects, the progeny will all have round seeds or all have wrinkled seeds depending on which trait is dominant. It was Gregor Mendel who first introduced the concepts of dominant and recessive traits.

But he believed, and showed experimentally, that the progeny contain the other traits within them and pass them on to subsequent generations. Continuing our previous example, if the four identical-looking plants from generation two, all with round seeds, were cross-fertilized, their offspring would have a mix of round and wrinkled seeds in a 3:1 ratio. This showed that even though they themselves had only round seeds, they carried in them something, let us say particles, that passed on the trait to their offspring.

Based on the above concept, Mendel put forth the second principle of inheritance, which is that the particles which determine these traits are separated during meiosis into gametes, and that meiosis produces an equal number of egg or sperm cells that contain particles carrying each trait.

The third principle he laid down was the principle of independent assortment, which statesthat alleles of one locus segregate into gametes independently of alleles of other loci. This means the choiceof one trait (say round or wrinkled seeds) does not affect the passing on of choices of a different trait (such as white or purple flowers).

With these laws, Mendel established the foundation of genetics even though he did not know anything about genes, genomes and genetics. No wonder, then, that he is known as the father of genetics. He submitted these findings and his observations of eight years in 1865 to the relatively lesser-known journal published by the Natural History Society of Brno (now in the Czech Republic).The paper was not noticed or celebrated much when he was alive. When Mendel died in 1884, all his papers were burnt, making it really difficult to trace out his contributions.

Decades later, in 1900, Mendels paper was independently discovered by three scientists working in the field. Further work has revealed much more complex details of genetics and inheritance, but Mendel has a place that cannot be denied.

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Explained| Genetics and its Mendelian inheritance - The Hindu

Genetics

Is alcoholism genetic? Everything you need to know as Vicky Pattinson opens up about her battles – Evening Standard

V

icky Pattison has opened up about her struggle with alcohol and said she was scared to have kids who felt broken like her.

The former Geordie Shore star, 34, has been working with Channel 4 on a documentary about her father, who is an alcoholic and her own relationship with alcohol.

During an interview with Skys Beth Rigby, Vicky admitted to having an addictive personality, adding that she was scared of history repeating itself, as her father is an alcoholic.

Vicky explained that she was unable to live a balanced life and was often self-sabotaging. The media personality said: I always worried because Im like him in a lot of ways and I was aware that I had an addictive personality.

Speaking about her fears around having children, Vicky said: I was also just really scared that I was going to have children who felt in some way broken like me.

But the documentary has brought us a lot of peace and clarity.

But, what is alcoholism, and is it genetic? Heres everything you need to know.

What is alcoholism?

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines alcohol dependency as a form of problem drinking that has become severe, with compulsive behaviors and physical dependence associated with the condition.

What causes alcoholism?

Typically, alcohol addiction is considered to involve several complex risk factors:

Stress in ones work or home life may trigger an addiction. When the person drinks alcohol, for example, they may feel relaxed and happy compared to the stress they feel when they are sober. This reinforces the desire to use alcohol as a coping mechanism for stress.

Those who have mental illnesses, especially anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia are very likely to struggle with co-occurring alcohol use disorder.

Women are at risk of developing alcoholism faster than men due to differences in body mass, hormones, and metabolism.

Is alcohol dependecy genetic?

Genetics and family history are the most correlated with risk of alcohol dependency, in fact, genetic risk is about half of the problem, while family history is the other half.

Certainly, genetics are passed down through families, but family history also includes the environment in which one was raised. Childhood abuse, parental struggles, and mental illness in close family members all contribute to the risk of developing an addiction to drugs or alcohol.

These are numerous genes found to be associated with substance abuse, including alcoholism. Some genes can help a person regulate their alcohol consumption or avoid the substance altogether; others increase the persons risk of abusing alcohol.

Gene expression is also affected by environment. If a person grows up in a house with a parent who abuses drugs, struggles with mental illness, suffers a major financial setback or similar stress, and the child has a gene linked to alcohol use disorder, they are very likely to develop this condition later in life.

Prevention and education programs can address this risk as part of regular medical checkups. Genetics are understood to be a component of AUD, but not the sole cause.

If youre struggling with alcohol abuse, there are some useful tips on the NHS website for support.

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Is alcoholism genetic? Everything you need to know as Vicky Pattinson opens up about her battles - Evening Standard

Genetics

Population genomics of Group B Streptococcus reveals the genetics of neonatal disease onset and meningeal invasion – Nature.com

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Genetics

Cruchaga named Morriss Professor Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis – Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

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Studies genetic architecture of neurodegenerative diseases

Carlos Cruchaga, PhD, has been named the Barbara Burton and Reuben M. Morriss III Professor at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Shown at his installation ceremony are (from left) David H. Perlmutter, MD, executive vice chancellor for medical affairs and dean of the School of Medicine; Cruchaga; and Chancellor Andrew D. Martin.

Carlos Cruchaga, PhD, a pioneer in the use of human genomic data to understand and elucidate the biology of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimers disease, has been named an inaugural Barbara Burton and Reuben M. Morriss III Professor at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

Cruchaga was installed by Chancellor Andrew D. Martin and David H. Perlmutter, MD, executive vice chancellor for medical affairs, the George and Carol Bauer Dean of the School of Medicine and the Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Distinguished Professor.

The professorship was created through a bequest from the late Reuben M. Morriss III and Barbara Burton Morriss to Washington University, to advance Alzheimers disease research.

The Morrisses were devoted members of the St. Louis community, and their investment in Washington University and specifically in Alzheimers research has created three endowed professorships bearing their names, Martin said. Through their generous gift to the university, they will continue to have a powerful impact on research and teaching at the university in perpetuity.

Added Perlmutter: We are deeply grateful to Barbara and Reuben Morriss for investing in Washington University and in our work to advance the understanding and treatment of Alzheimers disease. We look forward to future discoveries from the Cruchaga lab as Carlos combines complex technologies to identify genetic variants that may contribute to Alzheimers, Parkinsons disease and other devastating disorders.

Cruchagas research focuses on leveraging data from genetics, genomics and other omics and integrating that information with findings from neuroimaging and neuropathology to identify novel genes, biological pathways, molecular biomarkers and drug targets that may generate new approaches to diagnosing and treating neurodegenerative illnesses.

Carlos came to Washington University as a postdoc to study the genetics of neurodegenerative illnesses, said Charles F. Zorumski, MD, the Samuel Guze Professor and head of the Department of Psychiatry. In 2014, Carlos became the leader of the genetics group at the Knight Alzheimer Disease Research Center (ADRC) and at the Hope Center for Neurological Disorders in the Department of Neurology. And last year he became the founding director of the Neurogenomics and Informatics Center, pioneering approaches to improve the understanding of causes and potential treatments for these devastating illnesses.

Cruchaga has published more than 270 manuscripts and is the principal investigator on six grants funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He is a core leader for the biobank and genetics core of the international Dystonia Coalition; the Aging Adult Brain Connectome project; the Alzheimers Biomarkers Consortium-Down Syndrome; the Knight ADRC genetics core; and the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN) genetics core.

Cruchaga earned his doctorate in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2005 at the University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain. As a postdoc, he trained in quantitative human genomics in the laboratory of Alison Goate, DPhil, at Washington University. He established his own laboratory in 2011. His key aim has been to leverage genetics, multi-omics and functional genomics studies in neurodegeneration and diseases of the central nervous system and to translate those into improvements in human health by better understanding the molecular underpinnings of disease.

It is quite an honor to have our work recognized in this way, Cruchaga said. We have been attempting to leverage a great deal of information to identify treatments that might make a big difference in the lives of millions of people affected by Alzheimers disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. This endowment allows us to advance that work, help patients and provide hope for those affected by some very distressing diseases.

A graduate of Saint Louis Country Day School in Ladue, Mo., and Princeton University in New Jersey, Reuben Morriss III earned a law degree from Washington University in 1964. He joined Boatmens Bank, beginning a long career as a leader of the St. Louis financial sector. He eventually became chairman and president of Boatmens Trust Co., a position he held until his retirement in 1995. He was a board chair of Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School and of William Woods University in Fulton, Mo. He also served on the boards of St. Lukes Hospital in Chesterfield, Mo., and the St. Louis Bi-State American Red Cross.

Barbara Burton Morris was a graduate of John Burroughs School in Ladue, and Briarcliff College in Westchester County, N.Y. She was a board member of the Alzheimers Association and the Central Institute for the Deaf, and she donated time and resources to many other local charitable and cultural institutions.

The couple was married for 48 years and had two children, Burton Douglass Morriss and Barbara Dulany Morriss; and five grandchildren. Reuben Morriss III died in 2006, and Barbara Burton Morriss died in 2018.

Washington University School of Medicines 1,700 faculty physicians also are the medical staff of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Childrens hospitals. The School of Medicine is a leader in medical research, teaching and patient care, and currently is No. 4 in research funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Through its affiliations with Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Childrens hospitals, the School of Medicine is linked to BJC HealthCare.

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Cruchaga named Morriss Professor Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis - Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

Genetics

Lifestyle or Genetics: Which is More Important for Heart Health? – One Green Planet

It has been a busy day in the Emergency Department. Doctors, nurses, and other staff are bustling about, doing their best to provide excellent care for every patient. Dialogue fills the nursing stations with background noise. I am walking from room to room, tending to several patients, performing my initial evaluation on some, and providing test results to others. As I finally take a few moments to sit down in front of my computer and do some charting, the nurse in charge hands me the EMS phone.

The paramedic at the other end of the line informs me that they are en route with a 54-year-old male having severe chest pain and difficulty breathing. They have obtained an EKG that is concerning and have given him medications to treat his pain. Their estimated arrival time at our hospital will be in approximately ten minutes.

Upon receiving this report, I spring into action. I notify the nurses, and we begin preparing a room to care for our next patient, setting up monitors, IV start kits, and other resuscitative equipment. The ambulance pulls into the garage, and within another moment, the doors slowly swing open, and the crew rolls in. A dark-haired man is sitting up and leaning forward on the stretcher. Beads of sweat roll down his forehead, and he appears moderately distressed as he clutches his chest.

I greet my patient, Hi, Im Dr. Piriano. When did your symptoms begin?

He looks at me with fear in his eyes. Im so scared.

I know. I place my hand on his shoulder. Dont worry. Were going to help you.

I started to feel pressure in my chest about an hour ago. I feel nauseous, and Im having trouble breathing.

OK, got it. Were going to be doing a lot of things really quickly to take care of you. As I utter these words, a technician has already connected the patient to an EKG machine and is printing out the electrical tracing of his heartbeats. Once complete, she tears the paper from the machine and hands it to me. The pattern on the pink sheet is unmistakablethis man is indeed having a heart attack.

I explain the EKG findings to my patient and tell him that he will need a cardiac catheterization to find the blocked artery and place a stent to open it and restore blood flow to his heart. He is given heart-protective medications, the cardiologist is called, and he is soon whisked off to the catheterization suiteall within thirty minutes from the time he entered the Emergency Department. It is rewarding to know that this gentleman will receive a new lease on life. Modern medicine is undoubtedly incredible, and I am in awe knowing how much progress humans have made. It is truly miraculous to witness the coordinated efforts of a team of people acting so swiftly to save another persons life.

However, I still have one critical questiondid this persons heart attack have to happen at all? The answer to this question is where the story changes from one of suffering to one of hope.

My fictional patient, like millions of real people, has heart disease. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease. It is caused by plaque build-up in the arteries supplying the heart with life-giving oxygen and nutrients, causing these blood vessels to narrow. The most recent statistic from February of 2022 reveals that about 18.2 million adults in the United States age 20 and older have CAD. Although this is certainly a harrowing fact, it can be drastically changed.

How so?

To answer this question, we have to look at the causes of CAD. Without getting into the details of the mechanisms of plaque build-up, suffice it to say that the major players in the development of CAD are cholesterol and inflammation. Thus, if we can lower these two things, we can also reduce our chances of plaque formation. Sounds greatbut how can we do this? The answer is that it all comes down to lifestyle, as levels of cholesterol and inflammation are intimately connected to how we live and what we eat.

Some people may object, citing bad genetics and stating that they have a strong family history of heart disease. They may note multiple relatives who suffered heart attacks at fairly young ages. It doesnt matter what I do. Im doomed to have a heart attack, they may state. On the surface, it may seem as though they have a valid point. However, digging deeper will reveal an entire realm of evidence and knowledge that refutes this belief.

Does lifestyle play a more important role in the health of our hearts than our genes do? Lets take a brief look at some of the research. One of the most prominent figures in this area of study is Dr. Dean Ornish. For more than three decades, Dr. Ornish and his colleagues, in collaboration with major academic institutions, have been conducting research studies investigating the effects of lifestyle on well-being. The participants in their studies made lifestyle changes that consisted of a low-fat vegetarian diet, aerobic exercise, stress management, smoking cessation, and group psychosocial support. Their results were nothing short of remarkable. Thus far, I have been speaking about the prevention of heart disease. These studies demonstrated that a healthy lifestyle could reverse heart disease that has already developed. Amazing! Two of these research papers have been published in the Journal of the American Medical Association and The Lancet. Another study also showed that lifestyle changes, such as those mentioned, improved many of the risk factors that lead to heart disease, such as body weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol.

Even more exciting is the fact that such lifestyle changes not only reduce the risk factors for heart disease but also affect our DNA. A field of science called epigenetics explores how our environments affect our genes. Moreover, it appears that genes have switches and can be activated and inactivated by environmental cues, such as our lifestyles. In other words, live an unhealthy lifestyle, and disease-preventing genes may be deactivated while disease-promoting genes may be activated. Conversely, live a healthy lifestyle, and the opposite may occur. One study examining prostate cancer found that lifestyle changes affected the expression of over 500 genes.

This information is truly powerful and inspiring. It provides evidence that we are not victims of our genes. An individual is not doomed to have a heart attack solely because many family members have already suffered through one. By changing our lifestyles, we can prevent disaster. We can control our destinies and our lives. We have that capability, and there is extraordinary hope in that.

Reducing your meat intake and eating more plant-based foods is known to help withchronic inflammation,heart health,mental wellbeing,fitness goals,nutritional needs,allergies,gut health,andmore! Unfortunately, dairy consumption also has been linked to many health problems, includingacne,hormonal imbalance,cancer, and prostate cancer,and has manyside effects.

For those interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend purchasing one of our manyplant-based cookbooksor downloading theFood Monster Appwhich has thousands of delicious recipes making it the largest vegan recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about theenvironmentalandhealth benefitsof aplant-based diet.

Here are some resources to get you started:

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Lifestyle or Genetics: Which is More Important for Heart Health? - One Green Planet