All posts by medical

Cell Biology

Regenerative Medicine Market Size Worth $57.08 Billion By 2027: Grand View Research, Inc. – Markets Insider

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --The global regenerative medicine marketsize is expectedto reach USD 57.08 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 11.27% over the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Recent advancements in biological therapies have resulted in a gradual shift in preference toward personalized medicinal strategies over the conventional treatment approach. This has resulted in rising R&D activities in the regenerative medicine arena for the development of novel regenerative therapies.

Key Insights & Findings:

Read 273 page research report, "Regenerative Medicine Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Cell-based Immunotherapies, Gene Therapies), By Therapeutic Category (Cardiovascular, Oncology), And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2027", by Grand View Research

Furthermore,advancements in cell biology, genomics research, and gene-editing technology are anticipated to fuel the growth of the industry. Stem cell-based regenerative therapies are in clinical trials, which may help restore damaged specialized cells in many serious and fatal diseases, such as cancer, Alzheimer's, neurodegenerative diseases, and spinal cord injuries. For instance, various research institutes have adopted Human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESCs) to develop a treatment for Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

Constant advancements in molecular medicines have led to the development of gene-based therapy, which utilizes targeted delivery of DNA as a medicine to fight against various disorders. Gene therapy developments are high in oncology due to the rising prevalence and genetically driven pathophysiology of cancer. The steady commercial success of gene therapies is expected to accelerate the growth of the global market over the forecast period.

Grand View Research has segmented the global regenerative medicine market on the basis of product, therapeutic category, and region:

List of Key Players of Regenerative Medicine Market

Check out more studies related to Global Biotechnology Industry, conducted by Grand View Research:

Gain access to Grand View Compass, our BI enabled intuitive market research database of 10,000+ reports

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead.

Contact:Sherry JamesCorporate Sales Specialist, USAGrand View Research, Inc.Phone: 1-415-349-0058Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519Email: sales@grandviewresearch.comWeb: https://www.grandviewresearch.comFollow Us: LinkedIn| Twitter

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Regenerative Medicine Market Size Worth $57.08 Billion By 2027: Grand View Research, Inc. - Markets Insider

Anatomy

Pamplin Media Group – The anatomy of a wildfire response – Pamplin Media Group

Wildland firefighters in places like Southern Oregon work grueling hours and face sometimes-brutal conditions.

Last month's Game Hog Creek Fire, located 22 miles northwest of Forest Grove, burned just under 200 acres in a three-week span.

But while relatively harmless by wildfire standards it did not grow explosively, and it burned in a remote and unpopulated area its presence, coupled with Oregon's tragic fires over the past 11 months, has raised awareness of the dangers of these natural disasters, along with appreciation for firefighting work and the people who do it.

Dave Luttrell, who has spent 26 years working for the Oregon Department of Forestry fighting fires and who presently runs the South Fork prison camp nestled in the middle of the Tillamook State Forest, is keenly aware of the complexities that come with wildfires. They can start quick, move quicker, and regardless of the experience of those fighting them, they can be very dangerous.

"You have to be concerned with safety first and foremost, because people die," Luttrell said bluntly. "We don't lose too many people, thankfully, but while we have safety officers on crews, we basically say everybody on the fire is a safety officer and tell them that if there's something they're not comfortable with, we encourage them to say something."

Those crews often come from everywhere. The Bootleg Fire in Southern Oregon which has burned more than 400,000 acres since igniting more than a month ago boasts more than 2,000 firefighters. Like many Oregon wildfire responses, many of those battling the fire work for the Department of Forestry. They also get a crucial assist from contractors, an oft-underappreciated component of wildfire response.

Brandon Knox, who lives in Bend, flies helicopters for Leading Edge Aviation. Knox spends half of his year fighting fires. He was based in Chiloquin and working the area when he and his spotter laid eyes on what would become the Bootleg Fire. As per protocol, they flew over and assessed the scene before calling it in. As they did, and as they waited for a response, they witnessed the just how quickly wildfires can progress.

"There wasn't any real water supply nearby, so we just circled it," Knox said. "When we initially got over the top of it, it was probably about a half-acre. Within an hour, it grew to 200 or 300 acres, and by the time we went back for the night, which would've been about six hours, it was close to 3,000 acres with 60-, 70-foot flames."

When he's on wildfire duty, Knox's job consists of scooping and dropping water, placing personnel in nearby locations, and helping those in charge eyeball the blaze from above. He normally works 10 days on, two days off, and typically 7 a.m. to midnight.

An average morning starts with a tour of the blaze with strategic personnel who are looking for the best angles of attack. Knox and his team will do that two to three times daily, providing vital intelligence to firefighters on the group. The remainder of his day will be spent doing pretty much everything else.

While he's now based in Oregon, Knox estimates he's worked in more than a dozen states, and he's been doing so for more than a decade.

And just because he's not on the ground doesn't mean his job isn't dangerous. Knox and other pilots on wildfire response have smoke, heat, varying altitudes, wind and trees to deal with not to mention the fire itself.

"You're constantly managing your power with the different winds and the turbulence, and with the added weight of the water or the amount of people you're carrying," Knox said.

He said there's an "oh, s--t" moment almost every day.

"When you're close to the top of a mountain or maybe the top of a ridgeline, the winds are always going to be shifting," Knox said. "And when you're out there with a long line or doing bucket work and that wind shifts, you often want to go one way, and the helicopter wants to go the other. There's always something."

And the ground has its own share of complexities. Luttrell said when Department of Forestry crews get called to a fire, they have to find or construct housing for hundreds to thousands of crew members, provide necessary supplies, and, of course, feed firefighters on the scene.

Fire crews work 12-hour shifts, either day or night. They start with a breakfast, take a lunch with them, then return and eat, and go to bed in preparation to do it all over the following day.

"It's hard work," Luttrell said. "There's not a ton of downtime, and these guys are dealing with a lot."

Luttrell said there are a number of ways to attack a fire, and technique often depends upon the size of the fire and the terrain in which it's burning. They'll do different things for grass fires, different things yet for fires consisting of fuels such as brush or oak savannas, and then if the terrain doesn't allow for trucks to get on site, they'll have to get crews directly into the area to attack it by hand as they did with the Game Hog Creek Fire, which largely burned in rugged slash lands.

"They often do what they call flanking maneuvers," Luttrell said. "They never try to take a fire head-on. They start at the back end, where it's not burning as hot, and they go around the edge."

Homes in the area can complicate things as well. Oftentimes, wildfires burn in remote areas of the state, like the Tillamook State Forest. When there are homes in the area, though, protecting them is a top priority as it was for firefighters battling blazes in Washington and Clackamas counties last September.

Luttrell said that starts with prevention. The Department of Forestry and other fire agencies tell homeowners to keep wood piles separate from the house, clear brush and trees so as to keep them a certain distance from structures, and keep flammable objects away from the house.

If an area with many structures is at risk, the Office of the State Fire Marshal typically gets involved, freeing up more resources to keep the fire at bay or, at least, help save what they can.

"We definitely don't want to see anybody's house burned down," Luttrell said. "So, if there's something we can do, we will, but we also won't put firefighters at risk."

Luttrell said there is increasing concern about powerlines. Downed lines were the culprit behind some of the most prominent fires in Oregon last September.

"Certainly, with powerlines, there's a chance they can start fires," he said, "so in times of concern, they're working with local utilities to determine if and when they should shut off power."

One common question that arises around wildfires is defining "containment," which indicates how much of the fire has been enclosed by a control line. A wildfire with 25% containment means control lines have been completed around 25% of the fire's perimeter.

Control lines sometimes called firebreaks can be created with controlled burns or by removing dry wood, brush and other vegetation with dozers. The intent is to form a barrier that will stop a wildfire from spreading, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, which has borne the brunt of the United States' increasingly dangerous wildfires over the past decade.

And do firefighters ever really get these things out before the winter takes care of it in the end?

The answer is: sometimes yes, sometimes no. But often, it depends on the weather.

Obviously, cooler and wetter conditions are beneficial, but Knox says that even when wildfires appear to wind down, the process of monitoring them for flare-ups is just beginning.

"As they get things under control and they start to release resources, we'll take somebody up to monitor if from above," he said. "They're always making sure there's no hotspots near the line and nothing that can jump containment. That's always what scares them."

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Pamplin Media Group - The anatomy of a wildfire response - Pamplin Media Group

Anatomy

Sandra Oh on the ‘Gift’ of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and Exploring Timely Topics on ‘The Chair’ (Exclusive) – Entertainment Tonight

Sandra Oh on the 'Gift' of 'Grey's Anatomy' and Exploring Timely Topics on 'The Chair' (Exclusive) | Entertainment Tonight arrow-left-mobilearrow leftarrow-right-mobilearrow rightGroup 7Gallery Icon Copy 2Video Play Button Copy 5Hamburger MenuInstagramYoutubeShare Button7C858890-6955-48EA-B871-66CE1E33590CVideo-Playbutton Copy Skip to main content

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Sandra Oh on the 'Gift' of 'Grey's Anatomy' and Exploring Timely Topics on 'The Chair' (Exclusive) - Entertainment Tonight

Anatomy

The anatomy of good health: | | azdailysun.com – Arizona Daily Sun

Chan refrains from focusing on weight loss in her practice. This is because the body is physiologically meant to survive, not lose weight. Rather, she helps her clients evaluate the role food plays in their lives along with nutritional counseling and meal preparation. Evolve Flagstaff also focuses on physical therapy and training.

Instead, Chan helps her clients embrace their body and learn fuel themselves to live life to the fullest.

"So much of our body shape and size is based on genetics, our economic situation, history so many different things that are completely out of our control that we may or may not be able to change our weight," Chan said. "Given the ideal environment of having access to food, to move or exercise and sleep enough will set you up in the genetic pool where you can actually let your genes express themselves.

However, that doesn't many people can't improve their nutritional intake.

According to Chan, many northern Arizonan diets don't get enough dietary fiber from not eating enough fruits and vegetables. This is even more common recently due to a surge in popuarlity in low-carb and keto diets. However, carbs are critical as they provide a good portion of fiber, nutrients and fuel for the body.

Northern Arizonans also have an inclination for plant-based, vegan or vegetarian diets. Chan said these options are fantastic, but people can become protein deficient without researching how to get enough plant-based protein into their diet or by working with a dietitian. Protein is necessary for muscle, neurochemicals, enzymes and hormones basically everything.

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The anatomy of good health: | | azdailysun.com - Arizona Daily Sun

Anatomy

Goldsmith: "The Anatomy of a Screw Up: The Biden Eviction Moratorium Saga" – Reason

I am not alone in raising red flags about the Biden Administration's conduct with respect to the eviction moratorium. (See my prior writings here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here). Today, Lawfare published two detailed pieces about the situation. First, Jack Goldsmith wrote a post titled "The Anatomy of a Screw Up: The Biden Eviction Moratorium Saga." Second, Alan Rozenshtein wrote a post titled "Did the Justice Department Give President Biden Legal Advice on the CDC Eviction Moratorium?" Read both of the pieces carefully. Here, I'll excerpt a few highlights.

The introduction of Jack's piece captures many of my reactions to the Biden Administration's screwup:

It is hard to fathom how the experienced policy advisors and lawyers atop the Biden administration could have screwed up so badly in connection with the administration's defense of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) eviction moratoriums. The administration made it seem like it was acting blatantly unlawfully, when it was not. It made it seem like it needed bottom-covering arguments from law professors outside the administration when the arguments that the Justice Department of two administrations had made in defending the moratorium ban sufficed. And it made it seem like Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, rather than Attorney General Merrick Garland or White House Counsel Dana Remus, was directing legal decisionmaking in the Biden administration. All of this happened because the Biden administration over-reacted to a Supreme Court order that refused to halt the CDC moratorium. The administration's rule-of-law credibility is the big loser; and the Supreme Court's shadow docket the big winner.

Jack alluded to another credibility problem. OLC and the SG recognized that they had valid arguments, but didn't want to burn credibility with the Court. The Timesreported that administration lawyers felt lucky they got a reprieve from Justice Kavanaugh.

The department, and especially the Solicitor General, might have worried about credibility before the Supreme Court in light of its June 29 order, even if the order technically had no legal consequences. Or, more powerfully, the Justice Department might have worried that a likely and perhaps quick loss on the merits in the Supreme Court on a renewed eviction moratorium might limit the CDC's ability to take vital emergency action in the future. To say that the administration had legal options to renew the eviction moratorium is not at all to say that it would be a good idea to do so. The point is simply that no legal or ethical obstacle stood in the way.

Now the SG faces the worst of all worlds. I think Jack left out the most important aspect of the credibility problem. Biden said that he expected to lose, but hoped the policy would remain in place for a month so the money could be distributed. We are teetering very close to a bad faith abuse of legal process. And the Chief will not be pleased.

Finally, Goldsmith writes how these actions give the impression that DOJ "acted lawlessly.":

These revelations, in light of the earlier administration statements, made it seem like the administration had concluded that it could not lawfully renew the CDC moratorium but flipped its legal view under ferocious political pressure from Pelosi and Bush, with the assistance of cherry-picked legal advice from professors close to the administration. It seemed, in short, like the administration acted lawlessly to satisfy the fury of the left wing of the democratic party. This impression was deepened by the left's reaction to the administration's apparent flip-flop. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, for example, described the flip-flop as "a huge victory for the power of direct action and not taking no for an answer."

Now, let's turn to Alan's piece. OLC is in a very precarious position. The Office, which is staffed by leading law professors, was simply cast aside. After all, Pelosi said "get better lawyers!" And the President threw OLC under the bus by going to law professors outside the administration:

Taking this story at face value, the obvious question is: where was the Justice Department in all of this? What was the position of the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), which would ordinarily be the last word on high-profile, complex legal questions such as this one, or the Office of the Solicitor General and the Civil Division, which have responsibility for defending the new moratorium in court?

There are presumably three options. The first is that the Department of Justice told the White House that the CDC did not have the authority to issue a new eviction moratorium and the White House ignored that advice. The second option is that the department wasn't consulted, either because of an oversight from the White House or because the White House, suspecting that the department would return an answer it didn't want, simply didn't ask the Department of Justice. The third option is that the department was consulted, told the White House that the CDC did have this authority, and this fact has simply not been disclosed in the White House's public messaging so far. More reporting is needed on this question, but it's notable that, when Politico's Josh Gerstein asked Attorney General Merrick Garland whether the department signed off on the eviction moratorium, Garland did not answer the question.

Alan concludes:

If Pelosi really did tell Biden to "get better lawyers" and Biden responded by going outside the Department of Justice, that should set off alarms about the confidence that Biden has in the department's traditional role as the main source of legal advice and analysis for the executive branch.

There will be much more fallout from this incident. People in DC who are burned tend to talk to the press. And the Supreme Court will not quickly forget about this incident.

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Goldsmith: "The Anatomy of a Screw Up: The Biden Eviction Moratorium Saga" - Reason

Anatomy

Meet the 7 Pinoy virologists who will be at heart of anatomy of soon-to-rise PH Virology and Vaccine Institute – Manila Bulletin

Balik Scientists. Balik Puso. Balik Pilipinas.

Seven Filipino virologists who were trained abroad responded to the call of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to be part of the first-of-its-kind Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines or VIP.

As they are scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato Boy T. de la Pea on Friday, Aug. 13, they are expected to share their expertise in the study and development of local vaccines against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and their scientific researches on virology and other diseases.

It has been noted that from 1975 to 2020, the DOST was able to work with 564 Balik Scientists through 716 engagements under its brain gain flagship initiative, Balik Scientist Program (BSP).

The Balik Scientist Program has been bringing home Filipino scientists from all corners of the world for almost 46 years now, DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development Rowena Cristina L. Guevara told the Manila Bulletin.

As the Philippines continues to fight and brace itself for the effects of the pandemic, we saw the eagerness and dedication of our Balik Scientists to help our country. We wish to express our gratitude to our Balik Scientists for their unconditional and unwavering love and service to the country.

As the DOST is set to roll down its red carpet to the seven Balik Scientists, it is good to know their affiliations and expertise, putting them at the heart of the anatomy of the VIP which may rise at the New Clark Economic Zone in Capas, Tarlac by the end of 2023 or in 2024.

The profiles of the seven Filipino virologists were provided by Office of the Undersecretary for Research and Development, led by Guevara.

DR. ELPIDIO CESAR NADALA JR.

Ph.D. in Microbiology and Animal Virology

Post Doctoral in Aquatic Virology and Medical Biotechnology

-Vice President of Research and Development, Diagnostics for the Real World, Ltd (DRW), California, USA

Dr. Elpidio Cesar Nadala Jr. is a virologist and microbiologist with 20 years of experience in academic research and 17 years in the industry developing diagnostic assays for the detection of bacterial and viral pathogens.

He is the co-founder of the Diagnostics for the Real World, Ltd (DRW), where he spearheaded the development of rapid diagnostic tests for the detection of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) surface antigen, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) antibodies, and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) antibodies, as well as improved versions of the CE-marked Chlamydia rapid test.

His team was behind the development of the SAMBA II SARS-CoV-2 test for detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. The SAMBA II SARS-CoV-2 test was developed and validated within two months in 2020.

Currently, the SAMBA II SARS-CoV-2 test is used in 79 hospitals and schools in the United Kingdom with a total of 648 Assay Modules deployed and 300,000 tests used so far.

DR. LOURDES NADALA

Ph.D. in Microbiology (Major in Animal Virology)

-Vice President, Regulatory Affairs/Quality Assurance, Diagnostics for the Real World, Ltd (DRW)

Dr. Lourdes Nadala is a microbiologist/virologist by training with over 15 years of experience in microbial systematics and culture collection-related activities and over 20 years of shrimp and human diagnostics, including ISO accreditation and successful regulatory submission of in vitro diagnostic medical devices.

She spearheaded DRWs efforts for ISO 13485 accreditation and regulatory approval of in vitro diagnostic (IVD) products which include molecular point-of-care tests for early diagnosis of HIV in infants, viral load monitoring, and recently, SARS-CoV-2 Test using the SAMBA platform.

She also has extensive experience in field evaluations and clinical trials in IVDs.

She also worked on detection methods for infectious pathogens and spoilage organisms affecting food safety, ISO accreditation for 9001 and ISO Guide 34 (Reference materials), AOAC validations, and customer-driven research projects related to food safety and shelf life.

DR. TEODORO FAJARDO JR.

Ph.D. in Molecular Biology (Major in Molecular Biology and Molecular Virology

Post Doctoral Fellow at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK with PhD in Public Administration (Major in Public Management)

-Healthcare Scientist Team Manager , UK National External Quality Assessment Service (NEQAS)

Dr. Teodoro Fajardo Jr. has specialization in Molecular Virology and Molecular Biology (which includes but not limited to: gene cloning, virus isolation, culture, propagation, and virus plaque assay, TCID50, reverse genetics virus propagation, generating infectious RNA of (+) RNA virus creating virus progeny from in-vitro transcribed RNA, and other molecular virology techniques (in vitro RNA synthesis of full-length viral RNA, in vitro RNA transcription, cell-free and mammalian cell mRNA translation, cell-free viral assembly system, RNA-RNA interactions assay for viral RNA packaging and assembly, nucleic acid isolation and purification, site-directed mutagenesis and cloning,gel electrophoresis, viral protein isolation and analysis, western blot, in vitro and in vivo gene expression of monocistronic and bicistronic mRNA, in-vitro mRNA translation, transfection of cultured cell, viral plaque analysis, analysis of expressed viral proteins)

DR. MYRA HOSMILLO

Ph.D. in Molecular Medical Science

Post Doctoral Fellow in Professor Ian Goodfellows Lab, Division of Virology, Department of Virology

-Research Associate, Division of Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge

Dr. Myra Hosmillo is an expert in the field of virology, specifically on veterinary and medical virology with a 12-year research career largely focused on virus-causing gastroenteritis.

She first worked on animal viral gastroenteritis caused by rotaviruses, caliciviruses, hepatitis E virus, toroviruses, and coronaviruses.

She was also involved in developing experimental systems to use animal viruses as a surrogate model of human viruses; particularly established an enhanced cell culture system and reverse genetics of porcine sapovirus to study its virus replication and the interactions with host innate immune response.

In Cambridge, she developed fundamental systems to directly study the pathogenesis of human norovirus using human intestinal organoids and replicon systems in human gastric tumor cells.

DR. CHRISTINA LORA LEYSON

PhD in Infectious Diseases

-Postdoctoral Researcher, Exotic and Emerging Avian Viral Diseases Group, Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory (SEPRL)

Dr. Christina Lora Leyson is an expert in standard DNA, RNA, and protein laboratory techniques including quantitative PCR, cloning, and protein expression and knowledge on sequence analysis, phylogenetics, and homology modeling with basic coding skills using Python for applications such as data wrangling and analysis.

DR. HOMER PANTUA, DVM

Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences specializing in Immunology and Virology

-Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, USA; BioAssets Corporation

Dr. Homer Pantua is an Innovative and motivated infectious disease drug discovery scientist with over 13 years of industry experience as the lead scientist.

He has strong technical skills that encompass microbiology, molecular biology, immunology, biochemistry, and biotechnology.

He has an excellent track record of working as a lead scientist in diverse projects that progressed from early discovery to development.

DR. LEODEVICO L. ILAG

Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology; Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Structural biology of viruses and viral proteins

-Molawin Creek Ventures Pty. Ltd. (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia); Xerion Ltd (Brighton, Victoria, Australia); Philippine Asian Biotechnology R&D, Inc. (Manila, Philippines); Plentex Philippines, Inc, Plentex Realty Inc, PlentexAgri-Milling Corp, Plentex Aquaculture Corp (Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines)

Dr. Leodevico L. Ilag is a veteran microbiologist and immunologist with 25 years of solid research in discovery, preclinical and clinical development of biologics and dietary/food ingredients (peptides, proteins, antibodies, natural products, agricultural waste streams) with applications in oncology, cardiovascular disease, CNS, infectious disease, metabolic disease, and dermatology.

He has technical experience in antibody engineering; structural biology; virology; immunology; biochemistry; microbiology; genetics.

He has 25 years of international (Europe, US, Asia, and Australia) entrepreneurial biotechnology experience (R&D, business development/licensing/deal-making, strategy, general management, intellectual property management, financing, and operations) from conception through seed financing to initial public offering (IPO) raising the equivalent of more than A$80 million.

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Meet the 7 Pinoy virologists who will be at heart of anatomy of soon-to-rise PH Virology and Vaccine Institute - Manila Bulletin

Cell Biology

Rewiring cell division to make eggs and sperm | Penn Today – Penn Today

To create eggs and sperm, cells must rewire the process of cell division.

Mitosis, the common type of cell division that human bodies use to grow everything from organs to fingernails and to replace aging cells, produces two daughter cells with the same number of chromosomes and approximately the same DNA sequence as the original cell. Meiosis, the specialized cell division that makes egg and sperm in two rounds of cell division, creates four granddaughter cells with new variations in their DNA sequence and half as many chromosomes in each cell. Meiosis uses most of the same cellular machinery as mitosis to achieve this very different outcome; only a few key molecular players prompt the rewiring from one type of division to another.

One such key player is the protein Meikin, which is found exclusively in cells undergoing meiosis. New research from Penns Michael Lampson and Jun Ma, collaborating with Whitehead Institute Member Iain Cheeseman and graduate student Nolan Maier, demonstrates how Meikin is elegantly controlled and sheds light on how the protein acts to serve multiple roles during different stages of meiosis.

The findings, which appear in the journal Developmental Cell, reveal that Meikin is precisely cut in half midway through meiosis. Instead of this destroying the protein, one half of the molecule, known as C-Meikin, goes on to play a critical role as a previously hidden protein actor in meiosis.

It was a pleasure working together to understand how some of the specialized meiotic functions that are necessary for making healthy eggs and sperm are controlled, says Lampson, a professor of biology in the School of Arts & Sciences.

Cells have this fundamental process, mitosis, during which they have to divide chromosomes evenly or it will cause serious problems like cancer, so the system has to be very robust, Maier says. Whats incredible is that you can add one or two unique meiotic proteins like Meikin and dramatically change the whole system very quickly.

During both mitosis and meiosis, sister chromatidscopies of the same chromosomepair up to form the familiar X shape of a chromosome. In mitosis, each chromatideach half of the Xis connected to a sort of cellular fishing line ,and these lines reel the chromatids to opposite ends of the cell, where the two new cells are formed around them.

In the first round of division in meiosis, however, the sister chromatids stick together, and one whole X is reeled into each new cell. Meikin helps to achieve this different outcome by ensuring that, while the chromosomes are being unstuck from each other in preparation for being pulled apart, each pair of sister chromatids stays glued together in the right place. Meikin also helps ensure that certain cellular machinery on the sister chromatids is fused so that they will connect to the same line and be reeled together to the same side of the cell.

More specifically, when chromosomes are first paired up, they are glued together by adhesive molecules in three regions: the centromere, or center of the X, where Meikin localizes; the region around the center; and the arms of the X. In the first round of meiosis, Meikin helps to keep the glue in the region around the center intact so the sister chromatids will stick together. Simultaneously, Meikin helps prime the center region to be unglued, while a separate process unglues the arms. This ungluing allows the chromosomes to separate and be prepared for later stages of meiosis.

Cheeseman and Maier initially predicted that Meikins role ended after meiosis I, the first round of meiotic cell division. In meiosis II, the second round of cell division, the cells being created should end up with only one sister chromatid each, and so the chromatids must not be kept glued together. Maier found that near the end of meiosis I Meikin is cleaved in two by an enzyme called Separase, the same molecule that cleaves the adhesive molecules gluing together the chromosomes. At first, this cleavage seemed like the end of Meikin and the end of this story.

However, unexpectedly, the researchers found that cells lacking Meikin during the second half of meiosis do not divide properly, prompting them to take another look at what happens to Meikin after it gets cleaved. They found that Separase cleaves Meikin at a specific point--carving it with the precision of a surgeons scalpelto create C-Meikin, a previously unknown protein that turns out to be necessary for meiosis II. C-Meikin has many of the same properties as the intact Meikin molecule, but it is just different enough to take on a different role: helping to make sure that the chromosomes align properly before their final division.

Theres a lot of protein diversity in cells that you would never see if you dont go looking for it, if you only look at the DNA or RNA. In this case, Separase is creating a completely different protein variant of Meikin than can function differently in meiosis II, says Cheeseman, who is also a professor of biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Im very excited to see what we might discover about other hidden protein forms in cell division.

Answering the question of Meikins role and regulation throughout meiosis required a close collaboration and partnership between Maier and Lampson lab senior research scientist Ma, the Lampson lab being experts on studying meiosis using mouse models. Working with mouse oocytes, or immature egg cells, Ma was able to reveal the behaviors and critical contributions of Meikin cleavage in meiotic cells in mice. Both labs credit the close exchange with helping them to get a deeper understanding of how cells rewire for meiosis.

Once cells have completed these specialized meiotic divisions, the researchers found that it was critical for oocytes to fully eliminate Meikin. They determined that, after meiosis II, C-Meikin is degraded by another molecule, the anaphase-promoting complex or APC/Cthis time for good. With Meikin gone and the rewiring of cell division reversed, eggs and sperm are ready for mitosis; should they fuse and form an embryo, that is the next cell division they will undergo. The researchers note that the way Meikin is regulated by being broken downfirst into C-Meikin and then completelymay help cells to organize their timing during meiosis. Breaking apart a protein is an irreversible step that creates a clear demarcation between before and after in a multi-step process.

The researchers hope that by uncovering the intricacies of meiosis, they may shed light on what happens when the creation of eggs and sperm goes wrong and perhaps contribute to the understanding of infertility.

Written by Greta Friar

The study was supported by grants from The Harold G & Leila Y. Mathers Charitable Foundation, the National Science Foundation (Grant 2029868), a Pilot award from the Global Consortium for Reproductive Longevity and Equity, the National Institutes of Health (GM126930 and GM122475), and the Henry and Frances Keany Rickard Fund Fellowship from the MIT Office of Graduate Education.

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Rewiring cell division to make eggs and sperm | Penn Today - Penn Today

Cell Biology

Stem Cell Scientists Explore the Latent Regenerative Potential of the Inner Ear – SciTechDaily

The organ of Corti, the hearing organ of the inner ear, contains rows of sensory hearing cells (green) surrounded by supporting cells (blue). Credit: Image by Yassan Abdolazimi/Segil Lab/USC Stem Cell

Scientists from the USC Stem Cell laboratory of Neil Segil have identified a natural barrier to the regeneration of the inner ears sensory cells, which are lost in hearing and balance disorders. Overcoming this barrier may be a first step in returning inner ear cells to a newborn-like state thats primed for regeneration, as described in a new study published inDevelopmental Cell.

Permanent hearing loss affects more than 60 percent of the population that reaches retirement age, said Segil, who is a Professor in the Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, and the USC Tina and Rick Caruso Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. Our study suggests new gene engineering approaches that could be used to channel some of the same regenerative capability present in embryonic inner ear cells.

In the inner ear, the hearing organ, which is the cochlea, contains two major types of sensory cells: hair cells that have hair-like cellular projections that receive sound vibrations; and so-called supporting cells that play important structural and functional roles.

When the delicate hair cells incur damage from loud noises, certain prescription drugs, or other harmful agents, the resulting hearing loss is permanent in older mammals. However, for the first few days of life, lab mice retain an ability for supporting cells to transform into hair cells through a process known as transdifferentiation, allowing recovery from hearing loss. By one week of age, mice lose this regenerative capacityalso lost in humans, probably before birth.

Based on these observations, postdoctoral scholar Litao Tao, PhD, graduate student Haoze (Vincent) Yu, and their colleagues took a closer look at neonatal changes that cause supporting cells to lose their potential for transdifferentiation.

In supporting cells, the hundreds of genes that instruct transdifferentiation into hair cells are normally turned off. To turn genes on and off, the body relies on activating and repressive molecules that decorate the proteins known as histones.In response to these decorations known as epigenetic modifications, the histone proteins wrap the DNA into each cell nucleus, controlling which genes are turned on by being loosely wrapped and accessible, and which are turned off by being tightly wrapped and inaccessible. In this way, epigenetic modifications regulate gene activity and control the emergent properties of the genome.

In the supporting cells of the newborn mouse cochlea, the scientists found that hair cell genes were suppressed by both the lack of an activating molecule, H3K27ac, and the presence of the repressive molecule, H3K27me3.However, at the same time, in the newborn mouse supporting cells, the hair cell genes were kept primed to activate by the presence of yet a different histone decoration, H3K4me1.During transdifferentiation of a supporting cell to a hair cell, the presence of H3K4me1 is crucial to activate the correct genes for hair cell development.

Unfortunately with age, the supporting cells of the cochlea gradually lost H3K4me1, causing them to exit the primed state. However, if the scientists added a drug to prevent the loss of H3K4me1, the supporting cells remained temporarily primed for transdifferentiation. Likewise, supporting cells from the vestibular system, which naturally maintained H3K4me1, were still primed for transdifferentiation into adulthood.

Our study raises the possibility of using therapeutic drugs, gene editing, or other strategies to make epigenetic modifications that tap into the latent regenerative capacity of inner ear cells as a way to restore hearing, said Segil. Similar epigenetic modifications may also prove useful in other non-regenerating tissues, such as the retina, kidney, lung, and heart.

Reference: 30 July 2021, Developmental Cell.DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2021.07.003

Additional co-authors of the study include Juan Llamas, Talon Trecek, Xizi Wang, andZlatka Stojanovain the Segil Lab at USC, and Andrew K. Groves at Baylor College of Medicine.

Sixty percent of this project was supported by federal funding from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (R01DC015829, R01DC014832, T32DC009975, F31DC017376). Additional funding came from the Hearing Restoration Project at the Hearing Health Foundation.

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Stem Cell Scientists Explore the Latent Regenerative Potential of the Inner Ear - SciTechDaily

Cell Biology

Astellas and Minovia Therapeutics Announce Strategic Collaboration for Novel Mitochondrial Cell Therapy Programs – Business Wire

TOKYO & HAIFA, Israel--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Minovia Therapeutics, Ltd. (CEO; Natalie Yivgi-Ohana, Ph.D., Minovia) and Astellas Pharma Inc. (TSE: 4503, President and CEO: Kenji Yasukawa, Ph.D., Astellas) today announced a worldwide strategic collaboration and license agreement for the research, development, and commercialization of novel cell therapy programs for diseases caused by mitochondrial dysfunction.

Through this strategic collaboration, Astellas and Minovia aim to accelerate the creation of allogeneic mitochondrial cell therapy programs. The two companies will jointly research cell therapy program candidates comprised of cells derived from Astellas proprietary genetically-engineered, induced pluripotent stem cells and augmented with Minovias proprietary MAT platform technology. The goal of these programs will be to treat diseases caused by mitochondrial dysfunction, through the transfer of healthy mitochondria to restore the patients tissues.

Minovia is a leading company in the field of mitochondrial cell therapy that utilizes mitochondrial transfer to deliver healthy mitochondria to a patients diseased cells. Minovia has a unique technology platform called Mitochondrial Augmentation Therapy (MAT), where the patients own cells are isolated, loaded with healthy mitochondria obtained from a healthy donor, and then re-infused back into the patient. Minovia is currently conducting research, development and clinical studies with MAT in mitochondrial diseases.

Astellas is engaged through its US subsidiary companies, Astellas Institute for Regenerative Medicine (AIRM) and Universal Cells Inc., to advance allogeneic, off-the-shelf, differentiated cell therapy programs derived from pluripotent stem cells1. The new collaboration with Minovia extends Astellas capabilities in mitochondrial biology, and follow its recent acquisition of Mitobridge, Inc. and Nanna Therapeutics Limited2,3.

We are excited and honored to collaborate with Astellas, stated Minovias Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Natalie Yivgi-Ohana, Ph.D. We share with Astellas both their passion for mitochondrial science and their commitment to patients in need of new therapies. As Minovia continues the development of Mitochondrial Augmentation Therapy, we believe this partnership is critical to accelerate the development of off-the-shelf, allogeneic cell therapy programs for the many patients living with mitochondrial diseases caused by mitochondrial dysfunction.

Naoki Okamura, Representative Director, Corporate Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Financial Officer, at Astellas said, "We, at Astellas, have positioned mitochondrial biology as one of the Primary Focuses of our research and development strategy to develop therapies for patients with unmet medical needs. One of the aspirations of this Primary Focus is to establish a mitochondrial cell therapy platform. Minovia is pioneering mitochondrial cell therapy and has unique technologies for enhancing delivery of healthy mitochondria to the patients cells. This strategic collaboration with Minovia will accelerate and expand our pipeline of treatment options for patients with diseases with underlying mitochodrial dysfunction.

Under the terms of the agreement, Minovia receives an upfront cash payment of $20M USD. Through the joint research program with Minovia, if Astellas develops and commercializes product candidates for diseases caused by mitochondrial dysfunction, Minovia is eligible to receive up to $420M USD per product in future development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments from Astellas.

*1: R&D Meeting (December 10, 2020). Available at: https://sw4503.swcms.net/ja/ir-library/ir-meetings/inframe/main/014/teaserItems1/07/linkList/0/link/RDmeeting2020_pre_jp.pdf *2: Astellas Corporate website Accelerating the discovery and development of novel drugs that target mitochondrial functions.. Available at: https://www.astellas.com/jp/en/stories/science/mitobridge *3: Astellas Corporate website Primary Focus - Mitochondria Biology. Available at: https://www.astellas.com/jp/en/partnering/primary-focus#Mitochondria-Biology

About MinoviaMinovia Therapeutics, Ltd. is a clinical stage company and the first to use a mitochondrial cell therapy approach with the hope of bringing life-changing therapies to patients living with mitochondrial diseases, through their proprietary Mitochondrial Augmentation Therapy (MAT) platform. Minovia has an on-going autologous cell therapy program in clinical development, utilizing MAT for the future potential treatment of primary and secondary mitochondrial diseases. For more information, please visit our website at https://www.minoviatx.com.

About AstellasAstellas Pharma Inc. is a pharmaceutical company conducting business in more than 70 countries around the world. We are promoting the Focus Area Approach that is designed to identify opportunities for the continuous creation of new drugs to address diseases with high unmet medical needs by focusing on Biology and Modality. Furthermore, we are also looking beyond our foundational Rx focus to create Rx+ healthcare solutions that combine our expertise and knowledge with cutting-edge technology in different fields of external partners. Through these efforts, Astellas stands on the forefront of healthcare change to turn innovative science into value for patients. For more information, please visit our website at https://www.astellas.com/en.

Cautionary NotesIn this press release, statements made with respect to current plans, estimates, strategies and beliefs and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements about the future performance of Astellas. These statements are based on managements current assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available to it and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: (i) changes in general economic conditions and in laws and regulations, relating to pharmaceutical markets, (ii) currency exchange rate fluctuations, (iii) delays in new product launches, (iv) the inability of Astellas to market existing and new products effectively, (v) the inability of Astellas to continue to effectively research and develop products accepted by customers in highly competitive markets, and (vi) infringements of Astellas intellectual property rights by third parties. Information about pharmaceutical products (including products currently in development) which is included in this press release is not intended to constitute an advertisement or medical advice.

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Astellas and Minovia Therapeutics Announce Strategic Collaboration for Novel Mitochondrial Cell Therapy Programs - Business Wire

Cell Biology

Growing demand for Cell Culture-based Vaccine to propel the global Cell Culture Market – BioSpace

In molecular and cellular biology, cell culture acts as a significant tool for biological research. Today, most biotechnology products are primarily reliant on the mass culturing of animal cell lines. Cell cultures have found applications in diverse areas and serve as a model system for numerous research efforts.

An increase in funding from the government for cell-based research is significantly triggering the growth of the global cell culture market. In addition to this, cell culture techniques are widely used as an alternative to current egg-based strategies for the development of cell-based vaccines. With an increase in communicable diseases and the risk of a pandemic, cell culture has potential applications in the development of viral vaccines. Thus, cell culture technology is been extensively used in the development of U.S-licensed vaccines such as vaccines against rubella, smallpox, chickenpox, hepatitis, rotavirus, and polio. All such factors coupled with the growing prevalence of chronic diseases leading to a surge in demand for monoclonal antibodies and growing use of single-use technologies are escalating the growth of the global market.

Growing demand for cell culture products including equipment, reagents, and cell culture medium from academic and research institutes is fuelling the growth of the market. Moreover, the growing demand for 3D cell culture, major players focusing to expand the business in untapped regions, and the launch of new cell cultures are strengthening the growth of the global market. In March 2021, Thermo Fisher Scientific announced launch of new Gibco Human Plasma-like Medium (HPLM). It mimics the metabolic profile of human plasma and is the first cell culture medium that is especially designed to enable the researchers to get a realistic view of cell growth in the human body. Furthermore, growing demand for Covid-19 vaccine due to the rapid spread of deadly coronavirus will generate ample opportunities for the growth of the global market during the forecast period.

The global cell culture market is segregated based on product, application, end-user, and region. The product segment is bifurcated into consumables and instruments. The application segment is divided into stem cell technology, tissue engineering & regenerative medicine, drug screening & development, cancer research, and others. The end-user comprises pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, research institutes, and others.

Regionally, North America is estimated to dominate the global cell culture market during the forecast period. This is majorly due to increase in cell culture-based vaccine approvals, growing demand from research institutes, and the growing prevalence of chronic diseases. Asia Pacific is predicted to grow rapidly during the forecast period. This is attributed to the increase in government funding for research purpose and the growing demand for cell culture products.

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Thermo Fisher Scientific, Becton, Dickinson and Company, Lonza Group AG, Danaher Corporation, GE Healthcare, Merck KGaA, Sartorius AG, HiMedia Laboratories, Eppendorf, and Corning Incorporated are some of the prominent players that are operating in the global cell culture market.

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Growing demand for Cell Culture-based Vaccine to propel the global Cell Culture Market - BioSpace