Volume 11.34 September 6, 2010

Researchers Identify How Bone-Marrow Stem Cells Hold Their 'Breath' in Low-Oxygen Environments
Researchers have identified unique metabolic properties that allow a specific type of stem cell in the body to survive and replicate in low-oxygen environments. [Press release from UT Southwestern Medical Center discussing online prepublication in Cell Stem Cell]
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New Discovery by University of Georgia Scientists Shows that Cancer-Causing Gene is also Crucial in the Development of Stem Cells 
A research team at the University of Georgia has shown for the first time that a gene called Myc may be far more important in the development and persistence of stem cells than was known before. [Press release from the University of Georgia discussing online prepublication in Cell Stem Cell]
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Researchers Unveil "Toolbox of MiniPromoters" for Gene Research and Therapy
University of British Columbia researchers have led the development of a new "toolbox of MiniPromoters" for research and future therapies on brain, spinal cord and eye function. [Press release from The University of British Columbia discussing online prepublication in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA]
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Applying Stem Cell Technology to Liver Diseases
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) hold promise for cell replacement therapy and modeling human disease. Two independent research groups -- at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, and the University of California San Francisco -- have now shown that both possibilities are true for iPS cell-derived liver cells. [Press release from EurekAlert! discussing online prepublication in theJournal of Clinical Investigation]
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First Genetic Link to Common Migraine Exposed
A world-wide collaboration of researchers has identified the first-ever genetic risk factor associated with common types of migraine. [Press release from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute discussing online prepublication in Nature Genetics]
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Bone Marrow Cells Can Help in Heart Failure: Study
Patients with chronic heart failure given injections of their own bone marrow stem cells have better heart function and live longer, German researchers said. [Reuters Press Release]
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Transplanting Gut Microbes to Treat Disease
Earlier this summer, scientists reported the success of an unusual medical transplant; a woman with a life-threatening Clostridium difficile infection was treated, and apparently cured, with an injection of some of her healthy husband's gut bacteria. Researchers are now exploring the effects of this type of transplant in greater detail. They hope to eventually treat a wide range of ailments--from bowel diseases to obesity, diabetes to depression--by manipulating the bacteria that live in the human gut. [Press release from MIT Technology Review discussing online prepublication in Genome Research]
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U-M Researchers Receive Largest Single Collection of Psoriasis DNA Samples
Millions of Americans struggling with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are one step closer to a cure with the release of the first National Psoriasis Victor Henschel BioBank DNA samples for use in research at the University of Michigan Health System; research that hopes to uncover the unknowns about the genetics of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. [University of Michigan Health System Press Release]
Article

Live Imaging Puts New Light on Stem Cell Division
A long-held assumption about asymmetrical division of stem cells has cracked. Researchers report that the mitotic spindle does not act alone -- that cortical proteins help to position a cleavage furrow in the right location. A three-member team focused on Drosophila neural stem cells, long known for dividing asymmetrically. [Press release from the University of Oregon discussing online prepublication in Nature]
Article

Insulin Resistance, Type 2 Diabetes Linked to Plaques Associated With Alzheimer's Disease
People with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes appear to be at an increased risk of developing plaques in the brain that are associated with Alzheimer's disease, according to new research. [Press release from ScienceDaily discussing online prepublication in Neurology]
Article

New Study Sheds Light on Painkilling System in Brain
Repeatedly boosting brain levels of one natural painkiller soon shuts down the brain cell receptors that respond to it, so that the painkilling effect is lost, according to a surprising new study. [Press release from The Scripps Research Institute discussing online prepublication in Nature Neuroscience]
Article

Light at Night and Cancer
The researchers’ hypothesis was that Light at Night (LAN) harms production of melatonin, a hormone that is released from the pineal gland during the dark part of the 24h cycle and which is linked to the body’s cyclical night-day activity and seasonality. When this hormone is suppressed, the occurrence of cancer rises. The current study set out to establish or refute this hypothesis. [University of Haifa Press Release]
Article

New TB Diagnostic Proves Effective, Expedient, Study Finds
A molecular test designed to easily diagnose tuberculosis (TB) and detect a drug-resistant form of the bacterium that causes TB can provide much more specific, sensitive and rapid results than currently available TB diagnostics, according to a new study. [Press release from the National Institutes of Health discussing online prepublication in the New England Journal of Medicine]
Article

Third Generation Map of Human Genetic Variation Published
An international consortium published a third-generation map of human genetic variation, called the HapMap, which includes data from an additional seven global populations, increasing the total number to 11 populations. The improved resolution will help researchers interpret current genome studies aimed at finding common and rarer genetic variants associated with complex diseases. [Press release from the National Institutes of Health discussing online prepublication in Nature]
Article

Explaining "How & Why" Cancer Cells Eat Us Alive
Four key studies now propose a new theory about how cancer cells grow and survive, allowing researchers to design better diagnostics and therapies to target high-risk cancer patients. [Press release from Newswise discussing online prepublications in Cell Cycle]
Article

Study Points to Key Genetic Driver of Severe Asthma
Scientists have identified a genetic basis for determining the severity of allergic asthma in experimental models of the disease. The study may help in the search for future therapeutic strategies to fight a growing medical problem that currently lacks effective treatments. [Press release from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center discussing online prepublication in Nature Immunology]
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CURRENT PUBLICATIONS

Rapid Molecular Detection of Tuberculosis and Rifampin Resistance
Researchers assessed the performance of Xpert MTB/RIF, an automated molecular test for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and resistance to rifampin (RIF), with fully integrated sample processing in 1730 patients with suspected drug-sensitive or multidrug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis. [New Engl J Med]
Article

A Spindle-Independent Cleavage Furrow Positioning Pathway
Researchers show that early and late furrow proteins (Pavarotti, Anillin, and Myosin) are localized to the neuroblast basal cortex at anaphase onset by a Pins cortical polarity pathway, and can induce a basally displaced furrow even in the complete absence of a mitotic spindle. [Nature]
Article

Integrating Common and Rare Genetic Variation in Diverse Human Populations
This expanded public resource (‘HapMap 3’) of genome variants in global populations supports deeper interrogation of genomic variation and its role in human disease, and serves as a step towards a high-resolution map of the landscape of human genetic variation. [Nature]
Article

Genome-Wide Association Study of Migraine Implicates a Common Susceptibility Variant on 8q22.1
Researchers identified the minor allele of rs1835740 on chromosome 8q22.1 to be associated with migraine (P = 5.38 × 10-9, odds ratio = 1.23, 95% CI 1.150–1.324) in a genome-wide association study of 2,731 migraine cases ascertained from three European headache clinics and 10,747 population-matched controls. [Nat Genet]
Article

Atomic Structure of Human Adenovirus by Cryo-EM Reveals Interactions Among Protein Networks
Here, researchers report the structure of the whole human adenovirus virion at 3.6 angstroms resolution by cryo–electron microscopy (cryo-EM), revealing in situ atomic models of three minor capsid proteins (IIIa, VIII, and IX), extensions of the (penton base and hexon) major capsid proteins, and interactions within three protein-protein networks. [Science]
Article

Myc Represses Primitive Endoderm Differentiation in Pluripotent Stem Cells
Here scientists report that codeletion of c- and N-MYC in induced pluripotent stem cells and embryonic stem cells results in their spontaneous differentiation to primitive endoderm. [Cell Stem Cell]
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The Distinct Metabolic Profile of Hematopoietic Stem Cells Reflects Their Location in a Hypoxic Niche
Here, researchers show that long-term hematopoietic stem cells utilize glycolysis instead of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation to meet their energy demands. [Cell Stem Cell]
Article

s-SHIP Promoter Expression Marks Activated Stem Cells in Developing Mouse Mammary Tissue
Researchers used the s-SHIP promoter to tag presumptive stem cells with GFP in the embryos of a transgenic mouse model. [Gene Dev]
Article

Reshaping the Gut Microbiome with Bacterial Transplantation and Antibiotic Intake
In this study, researchers took advantage of recently developed tools for deep sequencing and phylogenetic clustering to examine the long-term effects of exogenous microbiota transplantation combined with and without an antibiotic pretreatment. [Genome Res]
Article

A Regulatory Toolbox of MiniPromoters to Drive Selective Expression in the Brain
The Pleiades Promoter Project integrates genomewide bioinformatics with large-scale knockin mouse production and histological examination of expression patterns to develop MiniPromoters and related tools designed to study and treat the brain by directed gene expression. [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A]
Article

Insulin Resistance is Associated with the Pathology of Alzheimer Disease
Researchers examined the association between diabetes-related factors and pathology of Alzheimer disease (AD) to evaluate how diabetes affects the pathogenic process of AD. [Neurology]
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Obama Administration Appeals Stem Cell Injunction
The Obama administration appealed a ruling that blocked federal funding of embryonic stem cell research and asked the judge who issued the injunction to put it on hold pending the appeal. [Obama Administration, United States]
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Medical School Leaders Express Support for Stem Cell Research in New AAMC Ad [Association of American Medical Colleges, United States]
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Notice of Meeting: Secretary's Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health, and Society (FR Doc. 2010-21532) [Department of Health and Human Services, United States]
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Findings of Research Misconduct (NOT-OD-10-132) [Department of Health and Human Services, United States]
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Protein Structure Initiative:Biology-Materials Repository (PSI:Biology-MR) (U01) (RFA-GM-11-008) [National Institute of General Medical Sciences, United States]
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Developing and Improving Institutional Animal Resources (G20) (RFA-RR-10-011) [National Center for Research Resources, United States]
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Roche and Aileron Enter Multi-Target Alliance to Develop Stapled Peptide Drugs for Diseases Across Multiple Therapeutic Areas
Aileron Therapeutics and Roche announced that they have entered into a collaboration to discover, develop and commercialize a new class of drugs called Stapled Peptide Therapeutics. [Aileron Therapeutics Press Release]
Article

Genzyme Confirms Receipt of Unsolicited Proposal
Genzyme Corp. confirmed that it has received an unsolicited, non-binding proposal from Sanofi-Aventis to acquire all the outstanding shares of Genzyme for $69 per share in cash. The Genzyme board of directors unanimously affirmed its previous rejection of Sanofi’s proposal. [Genzyme Corp. Press Release]
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Lonza Acquires Viral Vaccine and Vector Manufacturer Vivante GMP Solutions
Lonza entered the viral based-manufacturing market with its purchase of Vivante GMP Solutions, Inc. [Lonza Group, Ltd. Press Release]
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Kythera and Bayer Dermatology Unit Intendis Enter Licensing and Development Agreement for Adipolytic Agent ATX-101
Kythera Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. and Intendis announced that they have entered into a licensing agreement granting Intendis rights to Kythera’s lead product candidate, ATX-101, outside of the U.S. and Canada. ATX-101, a first-in-class investigational drug, is currently in clinical development for the reduction of submental fat. [Kythera Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. Press Release]
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ImmunoSolv Merges with Grampian BioConsultants & Secures Additional Funds
ImmunoSolv, a leading Edinburgh-based private company developer of immunology platform technology, is pleased to announce that it has completed a merger with Aberdeen-based Grampian BioConsultants Limited ("GBC"). The merged company will retain the name ImmunoSolv Limited. [ImmunoSolv Limited Press Release]
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Analysis: Genzyme Units Attract Interest, What About Sanofi?
Genzyme Corp is entertaining suitors for a small part of its business, even as it seeks a higher offer for the entire company from France's Sanofi-Aventis SA, which may want to keep them. [Reuters Press Release]
Article

Novadaq Signs North American Marketing and Sales Agreement with LifeCell
Novadaq® Technologies Inc. announced that it has entered into a five-year agreement with LifeCell™ Corporation for exclusive rights to market and distribute the SPY® Imaging System in the fields of open plastic reconstructive, gastrointestinal and head and neck surgery in North America. LifeCell is the market leader in regenerative products, such as Alloderm® Tissue Regeneration and Strattice™ Reconstructive Tissue Matrices, in the licensed surgical markets. [Novadaq Technologies Inc. Press Release]
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Afferent Pharmaceuticals Presents Data Supporting Use of P2X3 Antagonists in Reducing Bone Cancer Pain
Afferent Pharmaceuticals announced preclinicalin vivo results demonstrating that an investigational P2X3 receptor antagonist significantly prevented and reversed bone cancer pain behavior in comparison to vehicle controls. [Afferent Pharmaceuticals Press Release]
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Cardiome Achieves $30 Million Milestone
Cardiome Pharma Corp. announced that it has earned a US $30 million milestone payment from its collaboration with Merck (known as MSD outside the United States and Canada), through an affiliate. [Cardiome Pharma Corp. Press Release]
Article

enGene Adds Leading Nanomedicine Expert To Scientific Advisory Board
enGene Inc., a privately held biotechnology company developing an innovative platform technology to deliver nucleotides (DNA or siRNA) to mucosal tissue for treating a variety of diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease and diabetes, announced that Dr. Russell J. Mumper has joined the Company's Scientific Advisory Board. [enGene Inc. Press Release]
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Celator® Pharmaceuticals Raises $20 Million in Series D Financing
Celator Pharmaceuticals, a privately held pharmaceutical company developing new and more effective therapies to treat cancer based on the company's proprietary technology, announced that it raised $20 million in a Series D private equity financing. [Celator Pharmaceuticals Press Release]
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Sirona Biochem Signs Binding Preliminary Agreement to Acquire TFChem
Sirona Biochem Corp., a biotechnology company specializing in carbohydrate-based molecules, including therapeutics for diabetes and obesity, announced it has signed a preliminary binding agreement to acquire 100% of the shares of TFChem S.A.S., a privately held France-based drug discovery company specializing in the synthesis and stabilization of carbohydrate-based molecules. [Sirona Biochem Corp. Press Release]
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Jefferson Researchers Receive $3 Million NIH Grant to Study Molecular and Genetic Mechanisms in Platelets
Scientists at Jefferson Medical College have received a four-year, $3 million National Institutes of Health grant funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute to study variations of platelet function, specifically, the genetics of platelet gene expression. The study aims to find data that can be translated into novel therapeutic strategies and develop better predictors of cardiovascular disease. [Jefferson University Hospitals Press Release]
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Cell Therapy Foundation Calls for Additional Research, Extensive Clinical Trials
Some of the most promising medical research conducted to treat diseases of the brain, heart, and circulatory system is moving too slowly to help millions of patients, according to the Cell Therapy Foundation, which advocates the use of adult stem cells to dramatically impact and improve the condition of patients who suffer from a variety of conditions. [PR Newswise Press Release]
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New Cell Transplantation Journal Launched
A new and unique journal on cell transplantation aimed at helping translate laboratory findings into clinical applications is being launched by Cognizant Communication Corporation as a companion journal to Cell Transplantation. [EurekAlert! Press Release]
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Pfizer to Acquire FoldRx Pharmaceuticals
Pfizer Inc. and FoldRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held drug discovery and clinical development company, announced that they have entered into an agreement under which Pfizer will acquire FoldRx. [Pfizer Inc. Press Release]
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NIH Orders Immediate Shutdown of Intramural Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Responding to a court order, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) ordered intramural researchers studying human embryonic stem cells to shut down their experiments.
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NIH Asks Judge to Suspend Stem Cell Research Injunction
Warning of a "devastating impact" on ongoing research, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) asked a federal court to stay a preliminary injunction that last week forced NIH to suspend future grant payments to study human embryonic stem cells (hESC) and shut down its in-house research on hESCs.
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Lawrence A. Tabak Named Principal Deputy Director NIH
National Institutes of Health (NIH) 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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NIH Director's Response to Stem Cell Injunction
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Status of Applications and Awards Involving Human Embryonic Stem Cells, and Submissions of Stem Cell Lines for Eligibility Consideration (NOT-OD-10-126)
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Clarification on the Roles of NIH Scientific Review Groups (SRG) and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUC) in Review of Vertebrate Animal Research (NOT-OD-10-128)
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Clarification of Eligible Institutions for PA-10-050: Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH, CDC, FDA and ACF for Small Business Innovation Research Grant Applications (Parent SBIR [R43/R44])
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Center for Scientific Review; Amended Notice of Meeting (FR Doc. 2010–21816)
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Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010–21815)
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National Institute of Mental Health; Amended Notice of Meeting (FR Doc. 2010–21817)
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National Human Genome Research Institute; Notice of Closed Meeting (FR Doc. 2010–21819)
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Prospective Grant of Exclusive License: Use of Pentosan Polysulfate To Treat Certain Conditions of the Prostate (FR Doc. 2010–21818)
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Public Workshop on Cell and Gene Therapy Clinical Trials in Pediatric Populations
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7341.002 - Inspection of Human Cells, Tissues, and Cellular and Tissue-Based Products (HCT/Ps)
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FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (United States)

MedImmune Receives Complete Response Letter on Motavizumab
AstraZeneca announced that MedImmune, its biologics unit, has received a second complete response letter (CRL) on motavizumab from the US Food and Drug Administration.
Article

Abbott Receives FDA Approval for First Automated Molecular Test for Assessing Hepatitis B Treatment
Abbott announced it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market the Abbott RealTime HBV assay for measuring viral load or the amount of hepatitis B virus in a patient's blood.
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Guidance for Industry; Small Entities Compliance Guide—The Index of Legally Marketed Unapproved New Animal Drugs for Minor Species; Availability. [FR Doc. 2010-21981]
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Docket No. FDA-2010-D-0432, CVM 201058.  Guidance for Industry; Small Entities Compliance Guide—Designation of New Animal Drugs for Minor Uses or Minor Species; Availability. [FR Doc. 2010-21980]
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