NextVolume 11.32 August 23, 2010Previous

RNA Snippets Control Protein Production by Disabling mRNAs
MicroRNAs control protein production by causing messenger RNA to be disabled by the cell, according to scientists. [Press release from the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research discussing online prepublication in Nature]
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Stem Cells from the Thymus Reprogrammed to Become Skin Stem Cells
The study shows that stem cells from the thymus can function as hair follicle stem cells and contribute to the long-term maintenance of the skin. [Press release from the Medical Research Council Centre for Regenerative Medicine discussing online prepublication in Nature]
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Genetic Signature in TB Patients Sheds Light on Disease
Scientists have uncovered a ‘genetic signature’ in the blood of patients with active tuberculosis (TB). [Press release from the Medical Research Council discussing online prepublication in Nature]
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Cancer’s ‘Addiction’ Spurs New Treatment Hopes
Cancer can call upon a bewildering array of genetic tricks to wreak havoc, but researchers show that the disease can become dependent upon a tiny gene that allows it to adapt and proliferate. [Press release from Yale Cancer Center discussing online prepublication in Nature]
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Human Cells Can Copy not only DNA, but also RNA
Single-molecule sequencing technology has detected and quantified novel small RNAs in human cells that represent entirely new classes of the gene-translating molecules, confirming a long-held but unproven hypothesis that mammalian cells are capable of synthesizing RNA by copying RNA molecules directly. [Press release from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine discussing online prepublication in Nature]
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Researchers Identify Gene Linked to TB Susceptibility in Africans
A consortium of researchers has successfully used genome scanning to identify a gene associated with increased susceptibility to tuberculosis (TB) in African populations. [Press release from the University of Otago discussing online prepublication in Nature Genetics]
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Muscles Examined in Cancer Study
Scientists discovered a way to prevent the withering away of muscles in mice with cancer. [Press release from the Press Association discussing online prepublication in Cell]
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Discovery Opens Door to Therapeutic Development for FSH Muscular Dystrophy
Scientists are closer to understanding what triggers muscle damage in one of the most common forms of muscular dystrophy, called facioscapulohumeral (FSH) muscular dystrophy. [Press release from the National Institutes of Health discussing online prepublication in Science]
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‘Starvation Gene’ Could Make Resistance Futile for Ovarian Cancer Cells
Researchers have found a new player in ovarian cancer drug resistance -- a gene previously only known to be involved in helping fat and liver cells recover from starvation. [Press release from Cancer Research UK discussing online prepublication in Cancer Cell]
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Selected Cells from Blood or Bone Marrow May Provide a Route to Healing Blood Vessels
Isolating cells from a patient’s blood or bone marrow that nourish blood vessels may be a safer and less arduous route to treatment of cardiovascular disease than obtaining rare stem cells. [Press release from Emory University Woodruff Health Sciences Center discussing online prepublication in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology]
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Slippery DNA Holds Clues to Fighting Diseases that Progress with Age
Researchers are aware of some 40 neurological, neurodegenerative and neuromuscular diseases that share a common element -- they contain mutations in the form of repeating DNA that grows longer through the life of a patient, making the condition worsen. In an international study, they uncovered the workings behind this dynamic mutation. [Press release from the Hospital for Sick Children discussing online prepublication in Nature Structural and Molecular Biology]
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A 'Kill Switch' for Rogue Microbes
Researchers have developed a highly tunable genetic "switch" that offers a greater degree of control over microbes. [Press release from Massachusetts Institute of Technology discussing online prepublication in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA]
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New Stem Cell Discovery a Preliminary Step for Regenerative Medicine
Researchers found that the inclusion of vitamin C in cell culture media was responsible for chemical modification of DNA which has been known to cause chromosome instability and cancer in laboratory stem cell populations. [Press release from the University of Queensland discussing online prepublication in Stem Cells]
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Breakthrough Gene Therapy Prevents Retinal Degeneration
Researchers demonstrated that non-viral gene therapy can delay the onset of some forms of eye disease and preserve vision. [Press release from Tufts University School of Medicine discussing online prepublication in Molecular Therapy]
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Human Neural Stem Cells Restore Motor Function in Mice with Chronic Spinal Cord Injury
A study is the first to demonstrate that human neural stem cells can restore mobility in cases of chronic spinal cord injury, suggesting the prospect of treating a much broader population of patients. [Press release from the University of California, Irvine discussing online prepublication in PLoS One]
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Australian Scientists in Stem Cell First
Researchers at the University of New South Wales have found a way to generate induced pluripotent stem cells without introducing the risk of troublesome "foreign DNA". [Press release from The Age discussing online prepublication in PLoS One]
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Scientific Breakthrough as Red Blood Cells Are Made from IVF Embryos
British scientists have turned stem cells from spare IVF embryos into red blood cells as part of a project to manufacture synthetic blood on an industrial-scale. [The Independent]
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CURRENT PUBLICATIONS

Mediator and Cohesin Connect Gene Expression and Chromatin Architecture
Researchers report that mediator and cohesin physically and functionally connect the enhancers and core promoters of active genes in murine embryonic stem cells. [Nature]
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Mammalian MicroRNAs Predominantly Act to Decrease Target mRNA Levels
Results show that changes in mRNA levels closely reflect the impact of microRNAs on gene expression and indicate that destabilization of target mRNAs is the predominant reason for reduced protein output. [Nature]
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Microenvironmental Reprogramming of Thymic Epithelial Cells to Skin Multipotent Stem Cells
Researchers show that the thymus of the rat contains a population of clonogenic thymic epithelial cells that can be extensively cultured while conserving the capacity to integrate in a thymic epithelial network and to express major histocompatibility complex class II molecules and Aire. [Nature]
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An Interferon-Inducible Neutrophil-Driven Blood Transcriptional Signature in Human Tuberculosis
The studies demonstrate a hitherto underappreciated role of type I interferon-(alpha)(beta) signaling in the pathogenesis of tuberculosis, which has implications for vaccine and therapeutic development. [Nature]
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OncomiR Addiction in an In Vivo Model of MicroRNA-21-Induced Pre-B-Cell Lymphoma
Results demonstrate that tumors can become addicted to oncomiRs and support efforts to treat human cancers through pharmacological inactivation of microRNAs such as miR-21. [Nature]
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New Class of Gene-Termini-Associated Human RNAs Suggests a Novel RNA Copying Mechanism
Researchers show that human cells contain a novel type of sRNA that has non-genomically encoded 5’ poly(U) tails. The presence of these RNAs at the termini of genes, specifically at the very 3’ ends of known mRNAs, strongly argues for the presence of a yet uncharacterized endogenous biochemical pathway in cells that can copy RNA. [Nature]
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Genome-Wide Association Analyses Identifies a Susceptibility Locus for Tuberculosis on Chromosome 18q11.2
The study demonstrates that genome-wide association studies can identify new susceptibility loci for infectious diseases, even in African populations, in which levels of linkage disequilibrium are particularly low. [Nat Genet]
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Reversal of Cancer Cachexia and Muscle Wasting by ActRIIB Antagonism Leads to Prolonged Survival
Researchers show that in several cancer cachexia models, pharmacological blockade of ActRIIB pathway not only prevents further muscle wasting but also completely reverses prior loss of skeletal muscle and cancer-induced cardiac atrophy. [Cell]
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A Unifying Genetic Model for Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy
Researchers show that facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy patients carry specific single nucleotide polymorphisms in the chromosomal region distal to the last D4Z4 repeat. [Science]
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SIK2 Is a Centrosome Kinase Required for Bipolar Mitotic Spindle Formation that Provides a Potential Target for Therapy in Ovarian Cancer
Researchers show that the salt inducible kinase 2 (SIK2) localizes at the centrosome, plays a key role in the initiation of mitosis, and regulates the localization of the centrosome linker protein, C-Nap1, through S2392 phosphorylation. [Cancer Cell]
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Review Calls for New Federal Approach to Medical Countermeasures
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius released an examination of the federal government’s system to produce medications, vaccines, equipment and supplies needed for a health emergency, known as medical countermeasures. [Department of Health and Human Services, United States]
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Enhancing Research in Regenerative Medicine
The American Society of Hematology (ASH) convened a working group of experts from the fields of hematopoietic stem cell biology, embryonic stem cells, transplantation biology, and gene therapy at the urging of the Committee on Government Affairs with the goal of developing a "white paper" to inform recommendations to ASH and appropriate parties at the National Institutes of Health about the need for additional research in the area of regenerative medicine. [Blood]
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International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) Joins Forces with Roche and Genzyme to Launch Cell Therapy Industry Partnership
Many companies in the cell therapy regenerative medicine market including Roche, Genzyme, Athersys, Miltenyi Biotec, Hospira, Lonza and Life Technologies will join ISCT to launch a series of new initiatives that will create greater strategic alignment within the industry and drive late stage clinical development. [International Society for Cellular Therapy Press Release]
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ASH Recommends Cross-Disciplinary Engagement to Advance Regenerative Medicine
The American Society of Hematology (ASH) has developed specific recommendations to the scientific community and federal agencies to help propel collaborative research in regenerative medicine in order to make real strides in improving patient care. These recommendations were released in Blood. [American Society of Hematology Press Release]
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Quark Pharmaceuticals and Major Pharmaceutical Company Enter into Licensing Option Agreement for the p53 Suppressor Drug QPI-1002, the First siRNA Administered Systemically in Human
Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that it has granted Novartis an option to obtain an exclusive worldwide license to develop and commercialize its p53 temporary inhibitor siRNA drug QPI-1002, currently the subject of a Phase II clinical trial. [Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Press Release]
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Cryo-Cell Announces Célle(SM) Research and Development Collaboration with Department of Medicine, Monash University
Cryo-Cell International, Inc. announced a research and development collaboration agreement with Monash University in Australia. [Cryo-Cell International, Inc. Press Release]
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Oxford BioMedica Announces Licensing Agreement with Emergent BioSolutions Inc.
Oxford BioMedica announced that it has signed a licensing agreement with Emergent Product Development Germany GmbH. [Oxford BioMedica Press Release]
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Proteonomix, Inc. Announces Joint Venture in the United Arab Emirates
Proteonomix, Inc. announced that it has executed a joint venture agreement with a group of investors that will create a new stem cell treatment and research facility in the United Arab Emirates. [Proteonomix, Inc. Press Release]
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Life Technologies Announces Agreement to Acquire Ion Torrent
Life Technologies Corporation announced a definitive agreement to acquire Ion Torrent for $375 million in cash and stock. [Life Technologies Corporation Press Release]
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BioMarin Acquires ZyStor Therapeutics, Inc.
BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. announced that it has acquired ZyStor Therapeutics, Inc. [BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. Press Release]
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Stem Cell Agency Commits $243 Million, Expands Team Approach to Developing New Therapies
The Governing Board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine approved the concept for up to $243 million round of funding to move stem cell-based therapies to clinical trial. [California Institute for Regenerative Medicine Press Release]
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NSF Awards $3 Million Stem Cell Bio-Manufacturing Program to Georgia Tech
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded $3 million to the Georgia Institute of Technology to fund a unique research program on stem cell bio-manufacturing. [Georgia Institute of Technology Press Release]
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Sanofi Seeks Efficiencies with New Model
Sanofi-aventis is dividing its vast resources into decentralized disease-based units, each with its own departments for research and development, regulatory affairs, marketing, and sales -- a plan designed to identify promising drugs more quickly and weed out failures before spending billions on unsuccessful clinical trials. [The Boston Globe]
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NIH Launches Effort to Define Markers of Human Immune Responses to Infection and Vaccination
A new nationwide research initiative has been launched to define changes in the human immune system, using human and not animal studies, in response to infection or to vaccination.
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Lawrence A. Tabak Named Principal Deputy Director NIH
National Institutes of Health Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., announced the appointment of Lawrence A. Tabak, D.D.S., Ph.D., as principal deputy director of the National Institutes of Health.
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Exceptional, Unconventional Research Enabling Knowledge Acceleration (EUREKA) (R01) (RFA-GM-11-003)
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Proposed Collection; Comment Request; STAR METRICS--Science and Technology in America's Reinvestment: Measuring the Effects of Research on Innovation, Competitiveness and Science (FR Doc. 2010-20614)
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National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-20291)
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Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meeting (FR Doc. 2010-20287)
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Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-20588)
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Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health; Notice of Meeting (FR Doc. 2010-20675)
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NIH-RAID Updates on Program Scope and Procedures: Biologics Manufacture, Lead Selection, and Product Development Plans (NOT-RM-10-012)
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Support of National Institute of General Medical Sciences Program Project Grants (P01) (PAR-10-266)
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Complete List of Currently Approved NDA and ANDA Application Submissions (PDF - 62KB) 
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Complete List of Currently Approved Premarket Approvals (PMAs) (PDF - 27KB)
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FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (United States)

GlaxoSmithKline and Human Genome Sciences Announce FDA Priority Review Designation for Benlysta® (Belimumab) as a Potential Treatment for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
GlaxoSmithKline PLC and Human Genome Sciences, Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted a priority review designation to Benlysta® (belimumab) as a potential treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus.
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Ipilimumab Receives FDA Priority Review Designation for Adult Patients with Previously Treated Advanced Melanoma
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted, for filing and review, the Biologics License Application for ipilimumab for the treatment of adult patients with advanced melanoma who have been previously treated.
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FDA, Companies Must Stretch Overseas Supply Oversight
The FDA is trying to stretch its enforcement reach over foreign drug suppliers, potentially through consent decrees, and is asking manufacturers to take bigger steps as well to tighten the pharmaceutical supply chain.
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