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Chronic jet lag deregulates cancer cell microenvironment
Mounting evidence suggests that good sleep is critical to many aspects of our health. Circadian rhythms regulate the sleep-wake cycle in everything from mammals to fruit flies to plants, and keeps them synced up to the 24-hour cycle of the Earth’s rotation. In humans, circadian rhythms can be disrupted by chronic jet lag and shift work. New research indicates that disrupting these rhythms has negative consequences for both tumor size and microenvironment in mice.
Tiny bovine antibody fragments show big potential
In the world of monoclonal antibodies, being small is a big deal. Smaller antibodies and antibody fragments can penetrate solid tumors that would be inaccessible to larger antibodies, and some can even make it across the blood-brain barrier. That’s why it’s exciting that researchers at the University of Bath and UCB (a Belgian biotech company) have designed extra-small antibody fragments from cows.
Maternal microbiome affects brain development in mice
Researchers led by UCLA’s Helen E. Vuong have determined that the presence of specific bacteria in the gut of pregnant mice can lead to long-term behavioral changes in the mice’s offspring. The group’s work contributes to the growing understanding of the relationship between gut bacteria and brain development.
Novel fusion protein could help hemophilia A patients
Hemophilia A, a rare medical condition that prevents blood from clotting properly, may soon have a new therapy to contend with, courtesy of a team led by hematologist Barbara Konkle of Bloodworks Northwest. A new fusion protein based on factor VIII has shown promising results in a small-scale clinical trial and has some researchers hopeful that this novel therapy could make life easier for hemophilia A patients.
Microgels protect transplanted islet cells from immune system
People with type I diabetes are unable to make the insulin needed to regulate their blood sugar, which is why they must take exogenous insulin every day. Another treatment option is pancreatic islet transplantation, wherein healthy donor islets (tiny structures which contain insulin-producing beta cells) are transplanted into the diabetic patient.
New syringe design facilitates injection of viscous biologics
A research team at MIT, led by Dr. Kripa Varanasi, has figured out a way around one of the major barriers to the delivery of concentrated biologic drugs.
mAbs: The Rory Story
My family’s dog, Rory, has always been weird. He will start screaming if, while running around the house like a maniac, he accidentally stubs his toe. He loves eating carrots. He gets jealous if two people are hugging and he isn’t included. He will only lie down on the softest pillow on the couch. He likes to sit on our laps after we’ve eaten dinner and flops over with wild abandon, confident that someone will catch him before he falls. He has been known to collect items such as books, shoes, and pencils in a particular corner of the living room. He is exceptionally food motivated and sometimes obnoxious in his relentless pursuit of affection.
Duke scientists describe inexpensive method to measure mask efficacy
Researchers at Duke University have developed a simple, low-cost method to assess the efficacy of different face masks at reducing the transmission of respiratory droplets during normal speech. Respiratory droplets are believed to be the primary way that people spread SARS-CoV-2 to one another.
A New Affinity Tag for Protein Purification
Researchers at Pohang University of Science & Technology have developed a novel technique to affinity tag and purify recombinant proteins. Their method does not rely on protein-based affinity ligands, but rather utilizes cucurbiturils, a family of macrocyclic molecules named after their resemblance to pumpkins (family Cucurbitaceae).
Coronavirus vaccines moving forward
Development of COVID-19 vaccines is moving forward at an unprecedented pace, and the public interest and press coverage are huge. And yet it is not easy for lay person or scientist to keep track of the multitude of vaccine candidates.