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Embryology

The COVID Vaccine: A Shot in the Arm for Fertility Treatment? – BioNews

8 February 2021

The rollout of COVID vaccination programmes has brought with it a renewed hope of a return to normality but has also raised questions about the impact of vaccinationon fertility treatment and pregnancy.

To help explain and clarify the advice to fertility patients and clinicians, and to fight misinformation spreading online, the Progress Educational Trust (PET) the charity that publishes BioNew held an online event.

'The COVID-19 Vaccine: A Shot in the Arm for Fertility Treatment?' was chaired by PET's director Sarah Norcross, and featured speakers outlining the approaches taken by UK, EU and US bodies.

Professor Jason Kasraie, chair of the Association of Reproductive and Clinical Scientists (ARCS), gave the first presentation an overview of the UK guidance issued by ARCS and the British Fertility Society (BFS). He emphasised that there is no known risk in giving non-live vaccines to pregnant women or those looking to conceive.

ARCS and BFS say there is no need to avoid pregnancy after vaccination, and women who would benefit from the vaccine should receive it without compromising their planned fertility treatment. However, as with any medical treatment, patients should be involved in the decisionmaking process. Pointing out the prevalence of fearmongering misinformation online, Professor Kasraie stressed the importance of being careful about how risk is communicated, when there is currently no cause for fear.

The next speaker, Dr Anna Veiga, coordinator of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE)'s COVID-19 Working Group, explained that ESHRE's relatively cautious position relates to an absence of concrete evidence.

ESHRE has decided not to offer a universal recommendation on whether or not men and women attempting assisted conception should get vaccinated before starting treatment, and instead emphasises the importance of weighing up the factors that are relevant to each individual patient. ESHRE recommends postponing the start of fertility treatment for at least a few days after the vaccine, to allow the immune response to settle.

Regarding vaccination and pregnancy, ESHRE suggests that pregnant women should not be vaccinated unless they are at particularly high risk. ESHRE also suggeststhat if a woman becomes pregnant after receiving the first vaccine dose then, then unless the woman is at particularly high risk the second dose should be delayed until the pregnancy is over. There is no advice to avoid pregnancy after vaccination.

Despite this cautious approach towards the vaccine, Dr Veiga noted that pregnant women have been shown to be at higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 compared to non-pregnant women. Women may therefore still decide to go ahead with vaccination, since the benefits of protection from COVID-19 might outweigh any theoretical risks from, vaccination.

Dr Sigal Klipstein, member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM)'s COVID-19 Task Force, explained that the ASRM's more permissive advice is based on assessing the known and very real risks of COVID-19 alongside the largely theoretical risks of the vaccine. As such, the ASRM recommends vaccination to everyone who can access the vaccine whether before or during pregnancy on the grounds that the benefits outweigh the risks.

To emphasise this point, Dr Klipstein gave the example of Israel's decision to make pregnant women a priority group for vaccination, due to their increased risk of developing severe COVID-19. Dr Klipstein further emphasised the important role of fertility specialists in promoting vaccination to their patients, their communities and the public, so as to counter worrying trends of vaccine hesitancy.

During the event, attendees were polled on whether they thought a consensus was needed between all relevant professional bodies on the COVID vaccine and fertility treatment. A clear majority (77 percent) voted yes, prompting Norcross to ask the panel if there was any hope of a consensus being worked out. All three speakers agreed that a uniform message would help avoid confusion and vaccine hesitancy, but that it would be difficult to achieve a consensus, due to each national body's need to follow the formal position of their country's health authorities. The speakers did, however, note that there was significant agreement on key points.

While most of the discussion focused on vaccination of women and the impact on pregnancy, there was an audience question about the impact vaccination might have on sperm quality. The panel agreed that there is no suggestion of risk to the quality of sperm, but that it might be beneficial for men to leave some time between vaccination and fertility treatment, simply to avoid any temporary side effects of the vaccine (such as a fever) having an effect on sperm production. However, it remains prudent for men to get vaccinated before a planned conception, not least so that they avoid the risk of transmitting COVID-19 to the pregnant woman.

Several audience questions addressed the lack of evidence available on the impact of the vaccine. The panel agreed that while there is currently little evidence on the impact of the vaccines on IVF treatment, gamete donation or the health of newborns, there is new information coming in constantly and at unprecedented speeds. Studies of long-term effects will by their nature take time, but there is reassurance to be drawn from studies undertaken on other non-live vaccines.

Dr Klipstein warned against the temptation of an overabundance of caution in the absence of data, as this could end up forcing women into an impossible scenario of weighing up the risk posed by COVID-19 to their own health with any theoretical risks to their baby from the vaccine. Professor Kasraie observed that IVF patients are known to be especially anxious during the pregnancy, so placing them in a position where they have to shield throughout the nine months of pregnancy for fear of catching COVID-19 could exacerbate their isolation and anxiety.

Overall, the event showed that despite some differences in the advice given by UK, EU and US bodies, there is significant agreement on the important role of vaccination in protecting the health of fertility patients and professionals alike. Evidence of the harm that can be caused by COVID-19 during pregnancy is clear, known and real. Evidence of harm that can be caused by COVID vaccines is at best theoretical and unsupported by evidence. Certain precautions may be taken in the absence of data, but it is important to ensure that such precautions are not taken to be an indication that there is a known risk.

PET is grateful to the Edwards and Steptoe Research Trust Fund, the British Fertility Society, the Bristol Fertility Clinic and CooperSurgical for supporting this event.

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The COVID Vaccine: A Shot in the Arm for Fertility Treatment? - BioNews

Immunology

ACAAI Annual Scientific Meeting 2020

After closely monitoring the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its continuing impact on our patients, practices and country, the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology has made the decision to deliver the ACAAI 2020 Annual Scientific Meeting as a 3-day, fully-virtual event, instead of meeting face-to-face in Phoenix this November.

The health and well-being of our conference attendees and faculty members is our top priority, and moving to a virtual platform ensures that we can offer an uncompromised program that is safe and filled with the outstanding content you have come to expect from the College.

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ACAAI Annual Scientific Meeting 2020

Immunology

Immunology: The neccesary requirements to practice – Study International News

Immunology is an exciting area of biomedical sciences.Over two centuries ago, Edward Jenner, the father of immunology, purposefully infected an eight year-old-boy with a disease that killed almost 10% of Englands population. Many people questioned his actions, but Jenner remained confident in his method. The young boy, James Phipps, did not die. In fact, he exhibited no signs of smallpox whatsoever.The result of this experiment? The worlds very first vaccine.

This life-saving medicine was the product of immunology. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have learned that there will never be such a thing as too many life-saving professionals who specialise in creating these preventive substances.

Immunology, by definition, is the study of the human immune system. It is not just an important branch of biomedical sciences, it is also one of the most complex. These professionals work as scientists or clinicians across different areas of research in diverse clinical specialities, ranging from allergy to cancer. Some might deal with human illnesses, while some also work within veterinary sciences.

Maria Ferreira, 74, is vaccinated by a health worker. Source: Michael Dantas / AFP

Depending on an individuals interest area or the organisation they work for, they often take on various kinds of work. Many teach and conduct research at universities. Others work in laboratories for government health agencies. Some are employed by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, developing new medical products and treatments. Many also work in medical offices, treating patients with autoimmune diseases.

Aspiring immunologists will need the right education and extensive training and an undergraduate degree is only the first step.Clinical positions that involve work with patients requires a medical school background and a doctor of medicine qualification.

Many schools offer pre-med programmes leading up to a bachelor of science. A major in biology is another pathway.Regardless of the path you choose, courses in biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, statistics, and mathematics are extremely crucial in designing your path.

The next step will include passing the Medical College Admissions Test, otherwise known as the MCAT. Once participants obtain a good score, medical school is the next destination.During this time, students spend the first two years in classrooms and laboratories, learning every aspect of human body systems, disease, pharmacology, medical ethics, and skills such as how to properly conduct examinations on patients.

The following two years are spent completing clinical rotations. Here, students apply their knowledge, diagnosing and treating patients under the supervision of a licensed physician. Upon completion, medical school graduates are required to complete a residency, oftentimes conducting extensive lab work to gain experience with immunological testing methods.

A fellowship will usually last three years. Once training and studies are completed, aspiring immunologists will be able to obtain a license from their states health board or a similar governing body.In the US, immunologists must be certified by the American Board of Paediatrics (ABP) or the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) as a prerequisite for being certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology (ABAI).

Once all the educational steps are complete, graduates will finally be able to begin their careers. With immunologists being highly trained and respected, these professionals reap rewards that go beyond saving lives.

As of 2019, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that allergists and immunologists earned a median annual salary of US$206,500. The BLS also indicates that these physicians would see a job growth rate of 3 to 4% or higher from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations.

Apart from the demand and the benefits that come with it, there are many reasons why immunology can offer long-term job stability. Overall, it is an excellent career path for anyone passionate about utilising science to solve global challenges.

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Immunology: The neccesary requirements to practice - Study International News

Immunology

Home | CIML

Eric VIVIER and Bernard MALISSEN, team leaders at the Marseille-Luminy Immunology Center, are on the 2020 list of the most cited researchers in the world for the fourth time, as in previous editions 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.Published annually by the prestigious Clarivate Analytics Company, previously Thomson Reuters, this ranking recognizes authors of the most frequently cited publications in the scientific community.A recognition mark that rewards the value of their discoveries and the exceptional research influence in their scientific field.

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Initial translational analysis, EXPLORE, showed overexpression of C5a/C5aR pathway in patients with severe COVID-19The primary objective of this investigator-sponsored trial, named FORCE, is to improve the proportion of COVID-19 patients with severe pneumonia who no longer need to be hospitalized, and to reduce the need for and duration of mechanical ventilation in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Through the translational data analysis in COVID-19 patients, we observed high levels of circulating C5a and over-activation of the C5a-dependent myeloid cell pathway, which is believed to contribute to inflammation in the lungs. Avdoralimab is a monoclonal antibody that blocks C5aR and has the potential to reduce the inflammatory response in the lungs, said Pr. Eric Vivier, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer at Innate Pharma and Professor at AP-HM (Marseille Public University Hospitals), Aix-Marseille University and Centre dImmunologie de Marseille-Luminy, CNRS, Inserm and AMU.More information

A Franco-German research team led by Prof. Michael Sieweke, from the Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden (CRTD) and the Center of Immunology of Marseille Luminy (CNRS, INSERM, Aix-Marseille University), today uncovered a surprising property of blood stem cells: not only do they ensure the continuous renewal of blood cells and contribute to the immune response triggered by an infection, but they can also remember previous infectious encounters to drive a more rapid and more efficient immune response in the future. These findings should have a significant impact on future vaccination strategies and pave the way for new treatments of an underperforming or over-reacting immune system. The results of this research are published in Cell Stem Cell on March 12, 2020. More information

C/EBP-Dependent Epigenetic Memory Induces Trained Immunity in Hematopoietic Stem Cellsde Laval B., Maurizio J., Kandalla P K., Brisou G., Simonnet L., Huber C., Gimenez G., Matcovitch-Natan O., Reinhardt S., David E., Mildner A., Leutz A., Nadel B., Bordi C., Amit I., Sarrazin S.*,., Sieweke M H.*,. Cell Stem Cell, 2020 , pii: S1934-5909(20)30017-5, PMID: 32169166

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Immunology

Does Prior Exposure to Coronaviruses Protect You? | In the Pipeline – Science Magazine

Theres a new paper out that clears up some of our thinking about the current pandemic and what protection people might have had before the latest coronavirus showed up. As so many people know by now, there are a lot of coronaviruses running around out there, and they are responsible for a small-but-real fraction of common cold type illnesses every year. Heres the CDC page on that topic, and here (from Wikipedia) is the phylogenetic tree of coronaviruses in general.

A lot of people have had one or more of the coronaviruses that are listed on the CDC page (229E, NL63, OC43, HKU1). But none of these are in the exact same family as the current beast the first two are alpha-coronaviruses and are fairly closely related to each other. The second two are in another genus, beta-coronaviruses, and are also pretty closely related to each other, but theyre off in a different lineage inside the beta-coronaviridae compared to the SARS-type coronaviruses like the current one. All of these things have spike proteins decorating them, but the spikes themselves vary in sequence, enough so that some of them have found completely different surface proteins to use for viral entry, as opposed to the SARS ones going for the ACE2 protein.

Still, immunology being what it is, the question has been open whether the B-cell and T-cell memory of past infections with these other coronviruses might give a person some protection against the current one. Ive wondered about that here on the blog myself. Its not at all a crazy idea, because what we have seen is that there are people out there who with cross-reactive antibodies that can bind to the pandemic coronavirus, some of these in blood samples from well before the current one started going through the human population. but (until now) weve lacked enough hard data to say.

Heres the MedrXiv version of the paper under discussion, and heres the version coming out now in Cell. The authors looked at 431 pre-pandemic blood samples, and compared them to 251 samples from people who have been infected in the current outbreak and recovered, as well as analyzing antibody profiles in people who are currently hospitalized. What theyve found is first, that most people have indeed been infected with one or more of the garden-variety coronaviruses. The pre-pandemic samples show plenty of antibody responses to these. Second, about 20% of these patients raised antibodies that do cross-reaction with the Spike or nucleocapsid proteins of the current pandemic coronavirus. And whats more, levels of such antibodies are elevated when a person in this group gets infected with SARS-Cov2: the immune system memory (as present in these patients B cells) responds by increasing production of the antibodies to the previous coronaviruses.

But heres the key part: cross-react does not mean neutralize and it does not mean provide protection from. These antibodies may or may not have been neutralizing against the other coronaviruses, but they dont seem to have any such effect on the current one. And in keeping with that, having such cross-reactive antibodies seems to provide no protection against catching SARS-Cov2 or against being hospitalized with it if you do. Theres no difference in the infection/hospitalization rates of the people who had cross-reactive coronavirus serum antibodies ready to go versus those who didnt. Theyre basically useless.

Now, you can still make an argument that the T cell component of immunity might provide some protection after a previous coronavirus infection. The current study didnt address this directly, but after these results, its at least less likely that thats happening. The authors make a note of this, and also note that pre-existing mucosal antibodies might exert a protective effect (which this study didnt examine, either). But prior circulating human coronavirus antibodies, even ones that can bind to the current one those it looks like we can rule out. Which is too bad.

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Does Prior Exposure to Coronaviruses Protect You? | In the Pipeline - Science Magazine

Immunology

Eurofins’ US Transplant Diagnostics and Cleveland Clinic Sign a Licensing Agreement to Expand Access to an Innovative, Novel Biomarker for Detecting…

LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo., Feb. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Eurofins Viracor, a leading infectious disease, immunology, and allergy diagnostics company focused on advancing diagnostic tests for transplant patients, announced today that it has entered into a license agreement with Cleveland Clinic for exclusive rights to an innovative urine biomarker test for detecting rejection in kidney transplant patients.

Detecting transplant rejection before damage to the transplanted kidney occurs remains a major unmet need. Additionally, diagnosing clinical acute rejection (cAR) without a biopsy and distinguishing cAR from other non-rejection causes of dysfunction remains a challenge for the transplant community.

The number of kidney transplants steadily rises each year in the United States1 with nearly 20 percent of transplants failing within three years2. This highlights the critical need for solutions that will address patient impact and the growing cost of medical treatment associated with kidney transplant complications.

Through years of basic and clinical research, Robert Fairchild, Ph.D., Cleveland Clinic in collaboration with Roslyn Mannon, MD, University of Alabama, have identified a number of RNA molecules in urine that are highly accurate for the diagnosis of rejection and elevated risk of rejection in kidney transplant patients. As a specimen type, urine is a readily available, non-invasive, and convenient sample for patients.

Eurofins Viracor laboratory and Dr. Fairchild will work collaboratively to begin the critical process of sharing expertise and methods developed at Cleveland Clinic with the long-term goal of validating the novel, innovative diagnostic assay for use in patient testing.

With the combined transplant diagnosticsportfolio of Eurofins Viracorlaboratory and Transplant Genomics, Inc.innovative, non-invasive testing for subclinical rejection,this strategic collaboration marks another critical step in Eurofins' US Transplant Diagnostics' mission in improving graft and transplant outcomes, prolonging the life of a kidney, and addressing additional unmet needs across the continuum of transplant patient care.

About Viracor

With over 30 years of specialised expertise in infectious disease, immunology and allergy testing for immunocompromised and critical patients, Viracor Eurofins is committed to delivering results to medical professionals, transplant teams, reference laboratories and biopharmaceutical companies faster, when it matters most. Eurofins Viracor is passionate about delivering value to its clients by providing timely, actionable information, never losing sight of the connection between the testing it performs and the patients it ultimately serves.

Eurofins Viracor is a subsidiary of Eurofins Scientific (EUFI.PA), a global leader in bio-analytical testing, and one of the world leaders in genomic services. For more information, please visit https://www.eurofins.com/ and https://www.viracor-eurofins.com/ .

About Eurofins the global leader in bio-analysis

Eurofins is Testing for Life. Eurofins is a global leader in food, environment, pharmaceutical and cosmetic product testing and in agroscience Contract Research Organisation services. Eurofins is one of the market leaders in certain testing and laboratory services for genomics, discovery pharmacology, forensics, advanced material sciences and in the support of clinical studies, as well as having an emerging global presence in Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisations. The Group also has a rapidly developing presence in highly specialised and molecular clinical diagnostic testing and in-vitro diagnostic products.

With over 50,000 staff across a decentralised and entrepreneurial network of more than 800 laboratories in over 50 countries, Eurofins offers a portfolio of over 200,000 analytical methods to evaluate the safety, identity, composition, authenticity, origin, traceability and purity of a wide range of products, as well as providing innovative clinical diagnostic testing services and in-vitro diagnostic products.

The Group's objective is to provide its customers with high-quality services, innovative solutions and accurate results on time. Eurofins is ideally positioned to support its clients' increasingly stringent quality and safety standards and the increasing demands of regulatory authorities as well as the requirements of healthcare practitioners around the world.

In 2020, Eurofins reacted quickly to meet the global challenge of COVID-19, by creating the capacity for over 10 million patient tests per month to support efforts to identify and suppress the virus. The Group has established widespread PCR testing capabilities and has carried out over 10 million tests in its own laboratories, is supporting the development of a number of vaccines and has established its SAFER@WORK testing, monitoring and consulting programmes to help ensure safer environments during COVID-19.

Eurofins has grown very strongly since its inception and its strategy is to continue expanding its technology portfolio and its geographic reach. Through R&D and acquisitions, the Group draws on the latest developments in the field of biotechnology and analytical chemistry to offer its clients unique analytical solutions.

Shares in Eurofins Scientific are listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN FR0014000MR3, Reuters EUFI.PA, Bloomberg ERF FP).

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/eurofins-us-transplant-diagnostics-and-cleveland-clinic-sign-a-licensing-agreement-to-expand-access-to-an-innovative-novel-biomarker-for-detecting-rejection-in-kidney-transplant-patients-301224012.html

SOURCE Eurofins Viracor, Inc.

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Eurofins' US Transplant Diagnostics and Cleveland Clinic Sign a Licensing Agreement to Expand Access to an Innovative, Novel Biomarker for Detecting...

Biochemistry

Biochemistry professor Tansey discovers protein that could melt tumors – The Vanderbilt Hustler

The discovery of MYC-HCF1 interactions may lead to a future tumor-shrinking treatment.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), pictured above, manages more than 2 million patients each year and is one of the largest academic medical centers in the Southeast, according to its website. (Hustler Multimedia/Truman McDaniel)

On Jan. 8, a study published in the journal eLIFE by Vanderbilt professor of biochemistry and cell and developmental biology, Dr. William Tansey, detailed the discovery of a genetic mutation that can be applied to shrink tumors quite quickly.

The protein, called MYC, is used by animals and humans alike for cell division and cell growth, which also allows tumor cells to rapidly expand. Tumors typically form when cells no longer have control of their growth, and MYC often enables cells to grow out of control, creating tumors. When Tansey and colleagues discovered a particular mutation that blocks the interaction between MYC and another protein, Host Cell Factor-1 (HCF1), tumors rapidly shrunk.

The next step, according to Tansey, is to identify certain molecules that are able to bind to HCF1 to prevent it from interacting with MYC.

Now that we know what we have to go after, the question is if we can do this beneficially and safely, Tansey said.

If molecules that bind to HCF1 are able to be identified, clinical trials could begin within the next decade for a potential tumor-melting clinical drug in the distant future, according to Tansey. However, the process is often long, and it may take years before this discovery is manifested into a drug, per Tansey.

If you had a molecule that was able to bind to HCF1 and prevent it from being touched by MYC, then that could form the basis of a future anti-cancer drug, Tansey said.

This discovery is the second time that a cancer-treating drug was discovered at Vanderbilt. In 2015, Vanderbilt professor of biochemistry, pharmacology and chemistry, Stephen Fesik, alongside Tansey, discovered a protein named WDR5 that similarly halts interactions with MYC. WDR5 is expected to be in clinical trials shortly, and is currently supported by the National Cancer Institutes Experimental Therapeutics Program, according to Tansey.

We are looking for something that will treat pre-existing tumors, and it seems as if this discovery could lead down that path, Tansey said.

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Biochemistry professor Tansey discovers protein that could melt tumors - The Vanderbilt Hustler

Biochemistry

Science of Aging is Focus of New Bakar Research Institute – UCSF News Services

Leanne Jones, PhD, will join UCSF from UCLA to lead the new Bakar Aging Research Institute.

UC San Francisco is launching the Bakar Aging Research Institute (BARI), a scientific community that aims to translate breakthroughs in aging research across many disciplines into new approaches and treatments that help people remain healthy and vibrant in later life.

The new Institute will bring together scientists and clinicians from all UCSF sites to address the most critical questions related to the science of aging. BARI members will be drawn from the UCSF Memory and Aging Center, the UCSF Hillblom Center for the Biology of Aging, the Department of Medicines Division of Geriatrics, and the UCSF Institute for Health and Aging, as well as many individual departments.

BARI will be headed by stem-cell scientist Leanne Jones, PhD, who will join UCSF from UCLA to serve as director and professor in the Department of Anatomy, with a joint appointment in the Department of Medicines Division of Geriatrics.

For aging research, the Bay Area is one of the best places in the world to be, said Jones. Thats one of the reasons UCSF is so appealing to me in addition to the world-class labs here, youve got excellent scientists interested in aging at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, UC Berkeley and Stanford, as well as many biotech and pharma companies on the Peninsula. Starting a new institute at UCSF focused on aging is an unparalleled opportunity. Seminal discoveries related to aging have been made at UCSF, and I see this new effort as a recognition of those, and laying the foundation for continued groundbreaking work.

Starting a new institute at UCSF focused on aging is an unparalleled opportunity. Seminal discoveries related to aging have been made at UCSF, and I see this new effort as a recognition of those, and laying the foundation for continued groundbreaking work.

Leanne Jones, PhD

The diverse perspectives and breadth of approaches, coupled with UCSFs strongly collaborative culture, ensure that the Institute is uniquely positioned to achieve its primary goals. First, BARI will unite researchers and encourage cross-collaboration, and will also position UCSF to make key recruitments in aging science to bridge and build research groups. Second, BARI researchers will strive to uncover the molecular and cellular underpinnings of how and why we age, as a roadmap to understand what sets the stage for developing age-related diseases such as cancer, neurodegeneration, and cardiovascular disease. Working with UCSFs world-renowned clinicians, BARI researchers will develop cutting-edge technologies and therapeutic strategies to slow or reverse the aging process, as well as new ways to diagnose and tackle diseases of aging. Finally, the Institute will help to establish best practices for equitable care for older adults in our communities, thereby improving quality of life for everyone.

Saul Villeda, PhD, a UCSF neuroscientist, will serve as associate director of the new Bakar Aging Research Institute.

To lead the new Institute, Jones will be joined by UCSF neuroscientist Saul Villeda, PhD, assistant professor of anatomy, who will serve as associate director. Villeda is well known for his innovative research on aging. In a much-publicized study published in 2020, for example, he showed how exercise prompts the liver to produce an enzyme that promotes better cognitive function and helps prevent neurodegenerative decline. He believes that this enzyme might one day be administered as a drug to provide the same benefits to those unable to do vigorous physical activities.

In addition to Jones and Villeda, the institute will be guided by an executive committee that includes Nobel laureate Elizabeth Blackburn, PhD, professor emeritus of biochemistry and biophysics; Diana Laird, PhD, associate professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences; Hao Li, PhD, professor of biochemistry and biophysics; and John Newman, MD, PhD, assistant professor of medicine.

BARI takes flight in the Bay Area at an opportune time. California has the largest aging population in the United States, and in San Francisco the trend is even more pronounced some 30 percent of the population will be over age 60 by 2030 according to the San Francisco Human Services Agency.

Meeting the growing health care needs of this expanding demographic will be challenging, but Bay Area institutions are well suited to address these challenges, said Jones, whose work in tissue regeneration has revealed the impact that aging has on the ability of stem cells to maintain tissues throughout the body.

Being able to take an observation in the lab and immediately work with clinicians to develop a novel therapy or intervention to target the processes that contribute to aging is one of the immediate goals of the new Institute. Therefore, Jones and Villeda said, fostering communication between basic scientists and clinicians to enhance translational medicine is essential.

Philanthropy received for this Institute will invest in the people, technologies, and research projects needed to drive deeply collaborative aging research at UCSF, said UCSF Chancellor Sam Hawgood, MBBS. The Bakar Aging Research Institute will be a key driver for innovation throughout UCSF, and particularly at Parnassus Heights, where it will be headquartered. By aligning our community around a shared research agenda, and empowering them with cutting-edge technology and new faculty positions, work at the BARI will leapfrog our current knowledge in the field.

The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is exclusively focused on the health sciences and is dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care.UCSF Health, which serves as UCSFs primary academic medical center, includes top-ranked specialty hospitals and other clinical programs, and has affiliations throughout the Bay Area.

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Science of Aging is Focus of New Bakar Research Institute - UCSF News Services

Biochemistry

Researchers find a way to measure key characteristics of proteins that bind to RNA – News-Medical.net

A team of Case Western Reserve University researchers has found a way to measure key characteristics of proteins that bind to RNA in cells--a discovery that could improve our understanding of how gene function is disturbed in cancer, neurodegenerative disorders or infections.

RNA--short for ribonucleic acid--carries genetic instructions within the body. RNA-binding proteins play an important role in the regulation of gene expression. Scientists already knew that the way these proteins function depends on their "binding kinetics," a term that describes how frequently they latch on to a site in an RNA, and how long they stay there.

Until now, researchers could not measure the kinetics of RNA-binding proteins in cells. But the Case Western Reserve researchers answered this longstanding question in RNA biology. The findings open the door to a biochemical understanding of RNA protein interactions in cells.

By understanding the kinetics, researchers can quantitatively predict how an RNA binding protein regulates the expression of thousands of genes, which is critical for developing strategies that target RNA protein interactions for therapeutic purposes.

The study marks a major step toward understanding how gene function is regulated and how to devise ways to correct errors in this regulation in diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative disorders or infections."

Eckhard Jankowsky, Study Principal Author and Professor, Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Director, Center for RNA Science and Therapeutics, Case Western Reserve University

Their study, "The kinetic landscape of an RNA binding protein in cells," was published Feb. 10 in Nature. Funding from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences and the National Science Foundation supported the research.

The co-authors, all from Case Western Reserve, are: research associate Deepak Sharma; graduate students Leah Zagore, Matthew Brister and Xuan Ye; Carlos Crespo-Hernndez, a chemistry professor; and Donny Licatalosi, an associate professor of biochemistry and member of the Center for RNA Science and Therapeutics.

To measure the kinetics of RNA binding proteins, the researchers used a laser that sends out extremely short (femtosecond) pulses of ultraviolet light to cross-link the RNA-binding protein known as DAZL to its several thousand binding sites in RNAs. (DAZL, short for Deleted in Azoospermia-Like, is involved in germ cell development.) They then used high throughput sequencing to measure the change of the crosslinked RNA over time and determined the binding kinetics of DAZL at thousands of binding sites.

The resulting "kinetic landscape" allowed the researchers to decode the link between DAZL binding and its effects on RNAs.

Source:

Journal reference:

Sharma, D., et al. (2021) The kinetic landscape of an RNA-binding protein in cells. Nature. doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03222-x.

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Researchers find a way to measure key characteristics of proteins that bind to RNA - News-Medical.net

Biochemistry

Study: Consume walnut regularly to diminish negative results of H. pylori infection – Devdiscourse

A new study using mice models, distributed in the Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition recommends that regular walnut consumption might be a promising mediation for lessening negative results related to Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) disease, a broad bacterial infection that influences the greater part of the world's population. Using mice models, researchers from the CHA Cancer Prevention Research Center in Korea found preliminary evidence that eating a diet rich in walnuts may help protect against negative outcomes associated with H. pylori infection. Specifically, the research found that walnut extracts, formed from whole walnuts, may help create protective proteins and anti-inflammatory actions in the gut that may safeguard against H. pylori infection and resulting in cancer in mice. The study was supported by the California Walnut Commission.

Prevalence of H. pylori is most common in developing countries as it is generally related to socioeconomic status and hygienic conditions and is thought to be spread through person to person contact or even through food and water. H. pylori infection is a major cause of ulcers in the stomach and small intestine as well as stomach cancer and peptic ulcer disease. While treatments are currently available, there are concerns about the bacteria's growing resistance to antibiotics. Due to increasing challenges associated with antibiotic resistance, researchers have been investigating dietary and other non-bacterial approaches to improve the impact of H. pylori infection, such as in this new study.

This is not the first time walnuts have been linked to a lower risk of gastrointestinal cancer development in mice. Two other animal studies published in Cancer Prevention Research and Nutrients found that walnuts in the diet may suppress colon tumour development by modifying gut bacteria as well as inhibit the progression of colorectal cancer by suppressing angiogenesis - the development of new blood vessels which facilitates the growth of cancer cells. Animal studies are valuable for providing background information and can be used as a basis for future research in humans. Based on the existing body of evidence, including this study on walnuts, dietary approaches to reduce symptoms of H. pylori infection, such as inflammation, seem worthwhile to pursue in a well-designed clinical trial to confirm the findings. (ANI)

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(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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Study: Consume walnut regularly to diminish negative results of H. pylori infection - Devdiscourse