Cell Biology

TreeFrog Therapeutics and Invetech Expand Partnership to Transition High-throughput Stem Cell Encapsulation Technology to GMP System for…

Since January 2019, TreeFrog Therapeutics has been collaborating with Invetech to turn its R&D encapsulation set-up into an automated single-use device for industrial bioproduction. "Our C-StemTM technology bridges stem cell biology and biophysics," explained Kevin Alessandri, CEO and CTO of TreeFrog Therapeutics. "We found in Invetech a team eager to confront a new technology, with strong execution capacities, supported by a step-by-step methodology to de-risk the project. As a matter of fact, they managed to deliver the prototype in time in April 2020, right in the middle of the COVID crisis."

The beta encapsulation system designed by Invetech meets its technical specifications with a throughput of 1,000 stem cell capsules per second. The first benefit of cell encapsulation is protection against hydrodynamic damages. This is instrumental to amplifying and differentiating fragile cells such as pluripotent stem cells in large-scale bioreactors. The second benefit of the capsule lies in the recapitulation of a biomimetic stem cell niche. In this micro-environment, pluripotent stem cells self-organize in a biomimetic 3D conformation, which promotes fast growth and accurate chromosome segregation.

"Today, our C-StemTM technologyreduces manufacturing costs by ten-fold, while dramatically improving batch-size, yields and genomic quality. All our efforts are now focused on bringing this technology to the clinic as fast as possible, by advancing a pipeline of cell therapies in co-development with leading pharmaceutical companies. In this context, our partnership with Invetech is critical to secure our roadmap to GMP compliance and to enhance even further the functionality, yield and processing conditions of our encapsulation device," said Maxime Feyeux, co-founder, CEO & CSO of TreeFrog Therapeutics.

"TreeFrog approached us with a very novel, early-stage technology that has progressed extremely fast and shows incredible promise," remarked David Kneen, Invetech's Vice President, Cell Therapy. "In under 18 months, our combined teams have transitioned C-StemTM from a bench-top proof-of-concept, to a closed and automated beta production system. It's been a great collaboration driven by our shared vision of commercializing this technology to enable the mass-production of cell therapies for patients in need."

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TreeFrog Therapeutics treefrog.fr

Pierre-Emmanuel Gaultier, Marketing & Communication Manager[emailprotected]+ 33 645 77 42 58

Invetech invetechgroup.com

Eeva Routio, Marketing Manager, Brand and Thought Leadership[emailprotected]+1858688 7136

SOURCE Invetech

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TreeFrog Therapeutics and Invetech Expand Partnership to Transition High-throughput Stem Cell Encapsulation Technology to GMP System for...

Cell Biology

New study traces the evolution of gill covers – ScienceBlog.com

The emergence of jaws in primitive fish allowed vertebrates to become top predators. What is less appreciated is another evolutionary innovation that may have been just as important for the success of early vertebrates: the formation of covers to protect and pump water over the gills. In anew study published in theProceedings of the National Academy of the Sciences (PNAS), USC Stem Cell scientists and their collaborators have identified a key modification to the genome that led to the evolution of gill covers more than 430 million years ago.

The scientists started by creating zebrafish with mutations in a gene called Pou3f3. Strikingly, fish lacking this gene, or the DNA element controlling its activity in the gills, failed to form gill covers. Conversely, zebrafish producing too much Pou3f3 developed extra rudimentary gill covers.

Intrigued by these findings, co-corresponding authorsGage CrumpandLindsey Barskecollaborated with scientists from several universities to explore whether changes in Pou3f3 might account for the wide variation in gill covers across vertebrates. Crump is a professor of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine at USC. Barske initiated the study in the Crump lab, and is now an assistant professor at Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center.

In jawless fish such as sea lampreys, which lack gill covers, the scientists found that the control element to produce Pou3f3 in the gill region is missing.

In contrast, in cartilaginous fish such as sharks and skates, the control element for Pou3f3 is active in all gills. Correspondingly, nearly all cartilaginous fish have a separate cover over each gill. In bony fish, including zebrafish, the control element produces Pou3f3 in one particular region, leading to a single cover for all gills.

Remarkably, we have identified not only a gene responsible for gill cover formation, said Crump, but also the ancient control element that allowed Pou3f3 to first make gill covers and then diversify them in cartilaginous versus bony fish.

Barske and Crump even showed that humans retain this control element, reflecting the presence of gill cover-like structures in human embryos that are inherited from our distant fish ancestors.

Additional authors were Peter Fabian, Pengfei Xu, Nellie Nelson, and Haoze Vincent Yu from USC; Tyler Square, David Jandzik, and Daniel M. Medeiros from the University of Colorado; and Christine Hirschberger from the University of Cambridge, UK; and J. Andrew Gillis from the University of Cambridge, UK, and the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole.

Funding was provided by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (R35 DE027550, R00 DE026239, and R21 DE025940A), the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (R01 DC015829), the National Science Foundation (IOS 1744837), the A.P. Giannini Foundation, the Cincinnati Childrens Research Foundation, the Scientific Grant Agency of Slovak Republic (VEGA 1/0415/17), a Royal Society University Research Fellowship (UF130182), a Isaac Newton Trust award (14.23z), and a BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership studentship. The bioinformatics software and computing resources were funded by the USC Office of Research, the USC Norris Medical Library, Cincinnati Childrens Research Foundation, and the Hearing Health Foundation.

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Cell Biology

NTHU research could have significant impact on the treatment of dementia – News-Medical.net

Oct 8 2020

One of the causes of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's is the calcification of the basal nucleus of the brain, which blocks the membrane protein channels on the surface of brain cells, preventing the transmission of signal molecules and nutrients to the cells. A research team led by Professor Sun Yuh-Ju of the Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, working in conjunction with Chwan-Deng Hsiaos laboratory at Academia Sinicas Institute of Molecular Biology, has recently solved the mystery which has long surrounded the molecular structure of the phosphate transporter and their findings are expected to have a significant impact on research into the treatment of dementia. The teams research finding has been published in the August issue of Science Advances.

Professor Sun Yuh-Ju of the Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology showing team member Tsai Jia-Yin how to grow a crystal. (Photo: Business Wire)

According to Sun, membrane proteins, such as receptors, transporters and channels, are responsible for transmitting signals and supplying energy to cells, and therefore play a very important role in the development of pharmaceuticals. Human phosphate transporter (hPiT) is an important membrane protein for transporting phosphate and sodium ions into brain cells. But pathological changes can block this transport, allowing calcium phosphate to precipitate on the surface of the cell membrane, which will eventually lead to calcification of the basal nucleus, thereby producing the neurodegenerative symptoms typical of Parkinsons disease and Alzheimers disease.

Sun said that analyzing the human phosphate transporter and locating the site of the patients variants are important in finding a treatment for brain calcification. The next step is to cooperate with physicians in designing drugs based on this structure, using computer calculations and simulations in conducting experiments to identify small chemical molecules effective in restoring the normal functioning of membrane proteins. Chwan-Deng Hsiao, who specializes in biophysics, played a key role in this innovative research. After Sun's research team analyzed the three-dimensional structure of the human phosphate transporter, Hsiao used an artificial cell membrane to determine whether a mutation at the target location would prevent the membrane protein from transporting phosphate.

There are more than 30,000 kinds of proteins in the human body, amongst which membrane proteins are the most important, and least understood, which is why Sun has made it the focus of her research. It took 5 years to analyze the molecular structure of the phosphate transporter.

The first step in analyzing the molecular structure of membrane protein is to cultivate the membrane protein crystal. Human phosphate transporter crystal that is only one-tenth the size of a sesame grain, Sun said that its angular, glittering, and translucent form contains important information on molecular structure, such that its more precious and beautiful than a diamond.

The team member in charge of growing the membrane protein crystals was Tsai Jia-Yin, a postdoctoral researcher at NTHUs Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology.

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NTHU research could have significant impact on the treatment of dementia - News-Medical.net

Cell Biology

Cytovia Therapeutics partners with Inserm to develop selective CD38 NK therapeutics and offer new treatment options for Multiple Myeloma patients |…

DetailsCategory: DNA RNA and CellsPublished on Thursday, 08 October 2020 15:15Hits: 87

NEW YORK, NY, USA and PARIS, France I October 08, 2020 I Cytovia Therapeutics ("Cytovia"), an emerging biopharmaceutical company, announces today that it has entered a research and licensing agreement with Inserm to develop NK engager bi-specific antibodies and iPSC CAR NK cell therapy targeting CD38, a key marker of multiple myeloma. The licensing agreement has been negotiated and signed by Inserm Transfert, the private subsidiary of Inserm, on behalf of Inserm (the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research) and its academic partners. Cytovia is licensing Inserm's CD38 antibody and Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) patent and applying its proprietary NK engager bispecific antibody and iPSC CAR NK technology platforms. The research agreement will include evaluation of the therapeutic candidates at Hpital Saint-Louis Research Institute (Inserm Unit 976) under the leadership of Professors Armand Bensussan and Jean-Christophe Bories.

Dr Daniel Teper, Cytovia's Chairman and CEO commented: "We are delighted to partner with one of the top centers of excellence in the world for research and treatment in hematology. CD38 is a validated target and Natural Killer cells have significant cytotoxicity to Myeloma cells. We are looking forward to bringing promising new options to address the unmet needs of patients with Multiple Myeloma and aim for a cure."

Professor Armand Bensussan, Director of The Immuno-Oncology Research Institute at Hpital Saint-Louis added: "We have demonstrated the selectivity of our novel CD38 antibody in killing myeloma cells but not normal cells such as NK, T, and B cells. The activation of NK cells through NKp46 may enhance the efficacy of the bispecific antibody in patients not responsive to CD38 monoclonal antibody therapy. CD38 CAR NK is a promising approach forrelapsed/refractory patients and an alternative to CAR T therapies."

About Multiple MyelomaMultiple Myeloma is a currently incurable cancer, affecting a type of white blood cell known as plasma cells. It leads to an accumulation of tumor cells in the bone marrow, rapidly outnumbering healthy blood cells. Instead of producing beneficial antibodies, cancerous cells release abnormal proteins causing several complications. While symptoms are not always present, the majority of patients are diagnosed due to symptoms such as bone pain or fracture, low red blood cell counts, fatigue, high calcium levels, kidney problems, and infections. According to the World Cancer Research Fund, Multiple Myeloma is the second most common blood cancer, with nearly 160,000 new annual cases worldwide, including close to 50,000 in Europe. 32,000 in the US, and 30,000 in Eastern Asia. Over 95% of cases are diagnosed late, with a 5-year survival rate of 51%. Initial treatment comprises of a combination of different therapies, including biological and targeted therapies, corticosteroids, and chemotherapy, with the option for bone marrow transplants for eligible patients. Immunotherapy and cell therapy are the most promising new treatment option for Multiple Myeloma, with the potential for long term cancer remission.

About CAR NK cellsChimeric Antigen Receptors (CAR) are fusion proteins that combine an extracellular antigen recognition domain with an intracellular co-stimulatory signaling domain. Natural Killer (NK) cells are modified genetically to allow insertion of a CAR. CAR-NK cell therapy has demonstrated initial clinical relevance without the limitations of CAR-T, such as Cytokine Release Syndrome, neurotoxicity or Graft vs Host Disease (GVHD). Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSC) - derived CAR-NKs are naturally allogeneic, available off-the-shelf and may be able to be administered on an outpatient basis. Recent innovative developments with the iPSC, an innovative technology, allow large quantities of homogeneous genetically modified CAR NK cells to be produced from a master cell bank, and thus hold promise to expand access to cell therapy for many patients.

About CytoviaCytovia Therapeutics Inc is an emerging biotechnology company that aims to accelerate patient access to transformational immunotherapies, addressing several of the most challenging unmet medical needs in cancer and severe acute infectious diseases. Cytovia focuses on Natural Killer (NK) cell biology and is leveraging multiple advanced patented technologies, including an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) platform for CAR (Chimeric Antigen Receptors) NK cell therapy, next-generation precision gene-editing to enhance targeting of NK cells, and NK engager multi-functional antibodies. Our initial product portfolio focuses on both hematological malignancies such as multiple myeloma and solid tumors including hepatocellular carcinoma and glioblastoma. The company partners with the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), the New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF), the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and CytoImmune Therapeutics. Learn more at http://www.cytoviatx.com

About InsermFounded in 1964, the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm) is a public science and technology institute, jointly supervised by the French Ministry of National Education, Higher Education and Research, and the Ministry of Social Affairs, Health and Womens Rights. Inserm is the only French public research institute to focus entirely on human health and position itself on the pathway from the research laboratory to the patients bedside. The mission of its scientists is to study all diseases, from the most common to the rarest. With an initial 2020 budget of 927.28 million, Inserm supports nearly 350 laboratories throughout France, with a team of nearly 14,000 researchers, engineers, technicians, and post-doctoral students. http://www.inserm.fr

SOURCE: Cytovia Therapeutics

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Cytovia Therapeutics partners with Inserm to develop selective CD38 NK therapeutics and offer new treatment options for Multiple Myeloma patients |...

Biochemistry

University Sees Record-Breaking Year In Grant Funding News Center – Montclaire News

October 7, 2020

Across disciplines, faculty have received more than $22M in grants to further programs and research

Posted in: Homepage News, University

Montclair State faculty, leading educational programs and research in multiple disciplines across the University attracted a record-breaking $22.4 million in external grant funding for fiscal year 2020, shattering the FY 2019 record of $17.9 million.

Researchers in fields as diverse as biochemistry, educational leadership, environmental science, social work, modern languages and psychology are investigating everything from STEM education for Hispanic students and their families to school security climate, neurotransmitter functionality, K-12 education inclusion for children with disabilities, enzyme inhibitors for memory loss and so much more.

Funders include a growing and varied list of federal, state, local and private sponsors including the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Education and National Institute of Justice.

Ted Russo, director of Research and Sponsored Programs, reports the dollar amount is also nearly double what the University attracted just eight years ago, in FY 2012. Grants have seen steady growth each year during the last decade, and the University is off to a strong start for FY 2021 with $6 million in new funding announced in just the first few months.

Vice Provost for Research Scott Herness points out that the record breaking year coming after our R2 status, really solidifies our standing as a public research institution.

These grants show that our University is headed in exactly the right direction, increasing its research endeavors and our funding portfolio, says Herness. Its great for our faculty and for our students, who are getting lots of opportunities to participate in research.

Included in the FY 2020 funding:

In the first few months of FY 2021, the University has received approximately $6 million in new funding, including:

Story by Staff Writer Mary Barr Mann

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Biochemistry

Nitrous oxide, more harmful to the climate than CO2, increasing in atmosphere, study finds – CBC.ca

A new study published in the journal Nature suggests that nitrous oxide a gas that is 300 times more harmful to the climate than carbon dioxide is steadily increasing in the atmosphere.

While nitrous oxide is produced in different ways, the study found the largest contributor is agriculture,where it is produced as a by-product of nitrogen, largely used in agriculture as a fertilizer.

The atmosphere's nitrous oxide had 270 parts per billion in 1750, according to the study, and had risen to 331 parts per billion in 2018. The fastest rise was in the last five decades.

The international team of authors say that, on the current trajectory, the additional nitrous oxide could push the global temperature to 3 C above the pre-industrial average by 2100, which is far past the target of 1.5 C or 2 C laid out by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

"Currently, the emissions are on the path to cause a global temperature increase above three degrees by the end of this century," said Hanqin Tian, co-lead author of the study and director of the International Center for Climate and Global Change Research at Auburn University's School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences in Alabama.

"It highlights the urgency and it's critically important to think about this."

When it comes to climate change, three main greenhousegases are of particular concern: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane and nitrous oxide (N2O).

While most of the focus has been on CO2, there's beenrising concern about methane and N2O.

But nitrous oxide has largely been underestimated, according toanother of the study's authors.

"I don't think many people know about nitrous oxide, I would say, in terms of the magnitude of the emissions," said Parvadha Suntharalingamof the University of East Anglia's School of Environmental Sciences.

"On a sort of per molecule basis, oxide is more than 300 times as strong as a molecule of CO2 in terms of its global warming potential. So even though the magnitude of the emissions is less, the potency of the gas is much stronger. A little of it goes a long way."

"What's also been surprising is that we found that the emissions of nitrous oxide have been rising pretty sharply and much more sharply than [what was] predicted really in some of these emission scenarios developed for the IPCC."

The study found that agriculture was responsible for almost 70 per cent of the global human-causedN2O between 2007-16 with most coming from East Asia, Europe, South Asia and North America. But the highest growth rates were found in emerging economies like Brazil, India and China.

The authors suggest that with better farming practices, however, decreases could be significant, thus curbing the climb in N2O emissions.

What On Earth27:00Is regenerative farming hope for a hotter planet?

For example, they note Europe has seen a decline in N2O emissions due to the introduction of emissions trading and because of many countries moving to a more efficient use of fertilizer. The chemical industry also helped by reducing emissions.

Illimar Altosaar, a professor in the department of biochemistry, microbiology and immunology at the University of Ottawa who was not involved in the study, says it's a good study, but more needs to be investigated as to the role oceans play in emissions of N2O.

"The ocean is the key," he said. "We don't know the biochemistry [of the oceans]and it's the phytoplanktonand the blue green algae that are doing a lot of this gas exchange."

Suntharalingamsays another consideration that is still not well-known is how climate feedback affects N2O emissions such as increased precipitation caused by climate change affects moisture content in the soil, whichcan affect how much N2Ois generated.

The authors stress the importance of agriculture and believe that it just needs to change in some countries.

"You need fertilizer. You need the food industry, and you can't get away from the application of fertilizer," Suntharalingam said. "I think a takeaway is that managed fertilizer application can be very successful in reducing emissions and that Europe managed to reduce emissions but not depress food production.

"You just need to make sure that how much you apply when you apply it and how you apply it is carefully managed, and you can maintain crop yields, but you can definitely reduce the emissions from the soils. Managed fertilizer application is a very important mitigation strategy."

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Biochemistry

Infinity BiologiX Expands Executive Team as Company Continues to Grow and Scale its Commercial Presence and Scientific Innovation – BioSpace

Oct. 8, 2020 12:00 UTC

Craig Eslinger joins as Vice President of Commercial Affairs and Mary Storella joins as Vice President and General Counsel

PISCATAWAY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today, Infinity BiologiX (IBX), a leading next-generation central laboratory providing sample collection and processing, storage, analytical services, and scientific and technical support, announced two key new hires as part of its executive team. The expanded executive team now includes Craig Eslinger, Vice President of Commercial Affairs, and Mary Storella, Vice President and General Counsel.

In his role as Vice President of Commercial Affairs, Eslinger will oversee the companys commercial presence as an independent entity following IBXs spin-off from Rutgers University in August. He will also be charged with building a world-class commercial team as the company expands into new markets. Eslinger comes to IBX with more than 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, public health, and contract research industries and is also scientifically trained in biochemistry and cyto/histopathology. Most recently he served as Vice President of Commercial Strategy at ICON and has worked for other industry-leading organizations including PPD, and SpaceLabs Medical.

Eslinger commented, With this role at IBX I have the unique opportunity to build something for a newly launched company which also has a rich history of experience in biobanking, bioprocessing, and analytics. He continued, Throughout its 21-year history the company has made a tremendous impact on bringing new products to market and helping healthcare providers use those medicines to effectively treat patients. Im thrilled to now broaden that impact by expanding our commercial presence to new markets and I look forward to working with this talented executive team in making IBX an industry leader.

As Vice President and General Counsel, Storella joins IBX with over 20 years of legal and business development experience in the healthcare industry. Most recently, she served as Vice President, Senior Counsel of Corporate Transactions at Celgene Corporation, where she was lead counsel on key strategic transactions. Prior to joining Celgene, Storella served on both the business development and legal teams at Merck & Co., Inc. as Executive Director, Business Development and Director, Corporate Transactions. She will play a pivotal role in establishing legal processes and best practices that support the companys rapid innovation and fast-paced business model.

I am excited and honored to join IBX at such a pivotal time in the growth of the company and at a time when the company is making such an impact in so many lives, commented Storella. I look forward to working with IBXs management team to build the legal framework necessary to support IBX as an independent company and to reach IBXs future strategic goals.

Robin Grimwood, IBX President and COO commented, IBX is pleased to be bringing on these seasoned professionals who will help lead the company during this important stage of strategic and aggressive growth. Craigs relationships across the industry and experience building teams are essential as we look for ways to expand our reach and grow our commercial organization quickly and at the highest quality possible. He continued, Marys unique combination of deep legal experience with a strong business development knowledge, with roles across pharmaceutical and life sciences, will be invaluable for IBX during this time of growth.

Eslinger and Storella join the current IBX executive team which, in addition to Grimwood, includes Dr. Andrew Brooks, Chief Executive and Scientific Officer, and Russell Hager, Executive VP and Strategic Operations.

About Infinity BiologiX

Infinity BiologiX (IBX) is a market-disrupting next-generation central laboratory. It collaborates with, and provides services to researchers and organizations in both the public and private sectors, including sample collection and processing, storage and analytical services, and scientific and technical support in both the research and clinical arenas. The company was previously RUCDR Infinite Biologics before spinning off from Rutgers University-New Brunswick in August 2020.

For more information, visit http://www.ibx.bio

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Infinity BiologiX Expands Executive Team as Company Continues to Grow and Scale its Commercial Presence and Scientific Innovation - BioSpace

Biochemistry

Endocannabinoids in the body can help fight intestinal infections – News-Medical.Net

Reviewed by Emily Henderson, B.Sc.Oct 7 2020

Endocannabinoids, signaling molecules produced in the body that share features with chemicals found in marijuana, can shut down genes needed for some pathogenic intestinal bacteria to colonize, multiply, and cause disease, new research led by UT Southwestern scientists shows.

The findings, published online today in Cell, could help explain why the cannabis plant - the most potent part of which is marijuana - can lessen the symptoms of various bowel conditions and may eventually lead to new ways to fight gastrointestinal infections.

Discovered in 1992, endocannabinoids are lipid-based neurotransmitters that play a variety of roles in the body, including regulating immunity, appetite, and mood. Cannabis and its derivatives have long been used to relieve chronic gastrointestinal conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease. Studies have shown that dysregulation of the body's endocannabinoid system can lead to intestinal inflammation and affect the makeup of gut microbiota, the population of different bacterial species that inhabit the digestive tract.

However, study leader Vanessa Sperandio, Ph.D., professor of microbiology and biochemistry at UTSW, says it's been unknown whether endocannabinoids affect susceptibility to pathogenic gastrointestinal infections.

To help answer this question, Sperandio and her colleagues worked with mice genetically altered to overproduce the potent mammalian endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG) in various organs, including the intestines. When the researchers infected these animals and their unmodified littermates with Citrobacter rodentium, a bacterial pathogen that attacks the colon and causes marked inflammation and diarrhea, the mutant mice developed only mild symptoms compared with the more extreme gastrointestinal distress exhibited by their littermates.

Examination of the mutant animals' colons showed far lower inflammation and signs of infection. These mice also had significantly lower fecal loads of C. rodentium bacteria and cleared their infection days faster than their unmodified littermates. Treating genetically unmodified animals with a drug that raised levels of 2-AG in the intestines produced similar positive effects.

Sperandio's team found that increased levels of 2-AG could also attenuate Salmonella typhimurium infections in mice and impede enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli - a particularly dangerous gastrointestinal bacteria that infects humans - in order to express the virulence traits needed for a successful infection.

Conversely, when the researchers treated mammalian cells in petri dishes with tetrahydrolipstatin, a Food and Drug Administration-approved compound sold commercially as Alli that inhibits 2-AG production, they became more susceptible to the bacterial pathogens.

Further experiments showed that 2-AG exerted these effects on C. rodentium, S. typhimurium, and E. coli by blocking a bacterial receptor known as QseC. When this receptor senses the host signaling molecules epinephrine and norepinephrine, it triggers a molecular cascade necessary to establish infection. Plugging this receptor with 2-AG prevents this virulence program from activating, Sperandio explains, helping to protect against infection.

Sperandio notes that these findings could help explain some of the effects of cannabis use on inflammatory bowel conditions. Although studies have shown that cannabis can lower inflammation, recent research has shown that these conditions also tend to have a bacterial component that might be positively affected by plant cannabinoids.

In addition, cannabis compounds or synthetic derivatives could eventually help patients kick intestinal bacterial infections without antibiotics. This could be particularly useful for infections caused by enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, Sperandio says, which produces a deadly toxin when it's treated with antibiotics, rendering these drugs not only counterproductive but extremely dangerous. Because many virulent bacteria that colonize areas elsewhere in the body also have the QseC receptor, she adds, this strategy could be used more broadly to fight a variety of infections.

By harnessing the power of natural compounds produced in the body and in plants, we may eventually treat infections in a whole new way."

Vanessa Sperandio, Ph.D., professor of microbiology and biochemistry at UTSW

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Biochemistry

Carmell Therapeutics Announces Appointment of Dr. Israel Nur as Scientific Advisor – Business Wire

PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Carmell Therapeutics, a pioneering company in the development and commercialization of innovative Plasma-based Bioactive Materials (PBMs) to accelerate bone and soft tissue healing, today announced that Dr. Israel Nur joined the company as a Scientific Advisor. Carmell Therapeutics has a unique biologic solution that addresses unmet needs in bone and soft tissue treatment and utilizes an innovative, proprietary platform that accelerates healing, reduces complications and enables patients to get back to their daily lives more quickly.

Israel brings a wealth of plasma derivatives experience and will provide invaluable guidance to Carmell as we continue to expand, which we are doing across the board, in fact, weve already doubled our footprint in Pittsburgh, said Randy Hubbell, President and Chief Executive at Carmell Therapeutics. We are thrilled to welcome Israel at this pivotal time for the organization as we advance our efforts to bring CT-101 Bone Healing Accelerant (BHA) to patients and healthcare providers.

Earlier this year, Carmell received Fast Track Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its BHA, which will help expedite the companys lead program to the goal of a Biologic License Application (BLA) approval.

Im looking forward to working with Carmell at this exciting time and sharing my expertise in biologic development of plasma-based materials, said Dr. Israel Nur. Bone Healing Acceleration is an important area that could make a considerable impact in the orthopedic/wound healing market and Carmell has the unique, transformational technology to make this a reality.

Dr. Israel Nur has over four decades of research and development (R&D) in biological experience, with a strong focus in plasma and serum derived product industry, in both the public and private sectors. He has proven expertise in developing biosurgical combination products. Most recently, Israel Nur was a senior director at Ethicon, leading the Manufacturing Scientific Team. Before that, he was managing the Ethicon Biosurgery R&D research and innovation team. Prior to the acquisition of Omrix biopharmaceuticals Inc. by JNJ, Dr. Nur was VP, R&D and one of the founders of Omrix. He also developed a line of plasma derived products, including the Intravenous immunoglobulin (OmriGam). During the early 2000s, under his leadership and with the collaboration of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the US Army and the Ministry of Defense, Omrix developed and manufactured a line of biodefense and bioterrorism products. Before joining the industry, Dr. Nur was a Visiting Fellow, Laboratory of Biochemical Pharmacology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), NIH, in Bethesda, Maryland. He started his career in NIH as a research fellow in National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in Fort Dietrich, Frederick MD.

Dr. Nur is an author of 53 publications in peer review journals and an inventor of more than 40 patents. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and a Master of Science in Microbiology from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel.

About Carmells PBM Technology Platform

Carmell Therapeutics unique PBM technology platform can be delivered in multiple formats to the site of injury from putties to pastes to surgical screws. A proprietary manufacturing process ensures product safety and that bioactive regenerative factors are delivered as the product degrades allowing for optimal healing. Carmell currently has two PBM products in development a Bone Healing Accelerant and a Tissue Healing Accelerant.

About Carmell Therapeutics

Carmell Therapeutics (Carmell) is addressing the burden of bone and tissue healing with its proprietary Plasma-based Bioactive Material (PBM) technology, designed to improve patient outcomes and reduce health care costs. Carmells transformational biologic will have significant impact on important therapeutic areas with many unmet clinical needs such as trauma fixation healing, spine fusion, sports medicine, dental bone regrowth, wound care, aesthetic medicine and animal health. For more information, please visit http://www.carmellrx.com.

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Carmell Therapeutics Announces Appointment of Dr. Israel Nur as Scientific Advisor - Business Wire

Physiology

NIH intramural researcher Dr. Harvey Alter wins 2020 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine – National Institutes of Health

News Release

Monday, October 5, 2020

National Institutes of Health intramural researcher Harvey J. Alter, M.D., has won the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his contributions to the discovery of the hepatitis C virus. Dr. Alter is a Senior Scholar at the NIH Clinical Centers Department of Transfusion Medicine and shares the award with Michael Houghton, Ph.D., University of Alberta, Canada, and Charles M. Rice, Ph.D., Rockefeller University, New York City.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said, Prior to their work, the discovery of the Hepatitis A and B viruses had been critical steps forward, but the majority of blood-borne hepatitis cases remained unexplained. The discovery of Hepatitis C virus revealed the cause of the remaining cases of chronic hepatitis and made possible blood tests and new medicines that have saved millions of lives.

I am overwhelmed at the moment, but so pleased that this originally obscure virus has proven to have such a large global impact, said Dr. Alter. There are so many persons at NIH who advanced my research, but for now I can only thank NIH, itself, for creating the permissive and collaborative environment that supported these studies over the course of decades. I dont believe my contributions could have occurred anywhere else.

Dr. Alters career at NIH has spanned more than 50 years where he focused his research on the occurrence of hepatitis in patients who had received blood transfusions. In the 1970s, despite the discovery of hepatitis B, Dr. Alter saw a significant number of patients receiving blood transfusions still developed chronic hepatitis due to an unknown infectious agent. Dr. Alter and his colleagues showed that blood from these hepatitis patients could transmit the disease to chimpanzees, the only susceptible host besides humans. Subsequent studies also demonstrated that the unknown infectious agent had the characteristics of a virus. Alters methodical investigations defined a new, distinct form of chronic viral hepatitis, which became known as non-A, non-B hepatitis. His work was instrumental in leading to the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic agents and providing the scientific basis for instituting blood donor screening programs that have decreased the incidence of transfusion-transmitted hepatitis to near zero.

Harvey Alter is a scientists scientist smart, creative, dedicated, persistent, self-effacing, intensely dedicated to saving lives, said NIH Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D. His work to identify the nature of the hepatitis C virus has led to dramatic advances in protecting the blood supply from this very serious illness, and ultimately to the development of highly successful therapy.

Dr. Alter had focused on viral hepatitis even before his work on hepatitis C. In the 1960s, he co-discovered the Australia antigen, a key to detecting hepatitis B virus. Later, he spearheaded a project at the NIH Clinical Center that created a storehouse of blood samples used to uncover the causes and reduce the risk of transfusion-associated hepatitis. In 2000, Alter was awarded the prestigious Clinical Lasker Award. In 2002, he became the first NIH Clinical Center scientist elected to the National Academy of Sciences, and in that same year he was elected to the Institute of Medicine. In 2013, Dr. Alter was honored with the distinguished Canada Gairdner International Award.

Harvey is known for a very sharp sense of humor, a tireless, work ethic, and for treating everyone well, said James K. Gilman, M.D., chief executive officer of the NIH Clinical Center. As a long-time military physician, I am grateful to what Harvey and his co-winners have done to make it possible to provide a safe blood supply to the men and women who serve the country in uniform.

Dr. Alters co-recipient Dr. Rice has received continuous NIH funding totaling more than $67 million since 1987, primarily from NIHs National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

For more on Drs. Alter, Houghton and Rices contributions to the discovery of the hepatitis C virus, visit the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences site: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/2020/press-release/.

About the NIH Clinical Center: The NIH Clinical Center is the worlds largest hospital entirely devoted to clinical research. It is a national resource that makes it possible to rapidly translate scientific observations and laboratory discoveries into new approaches for diagnosing, treating, and preventing disease. Over 1,600 clinical research studies are conducted at the NIH Clinical Center, including those focused on cancer, infectious diseases, blood disorders, heart disease, lung disease, alcoholism and drug abuse. For more information about the Clinical Center, visit https://clinicalcenter.nih.gov/index.html.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH):NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov.

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NIH intramural researcher Dr. Harvey Alter wins 2020 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine - National Institutes of Health