A New Tool for Predicting Protein Aggregation

Many human disorders, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, are characterized by misfolded proteins that aggregate (combine). It is important to understand the aggregation of proteins when creating soluble protein-based drugs. Therefore, methods that can predict the properties of protein aggregation are essential. Within the past decade, various tools have been developed to anticipate protein aggregation. Ventura et. al developed AGGRESCAN, which is the first tool that has relied on experimental patterns of aggregation on a cellular level. Mutants of the amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) were used to create the algorithm. Aggregation in the cytoplasm of E. coli was studied. Each mutation affects the peptide aggregation differently. The various aggregation patterns can be used to determine the likelihood of aggregation for the natural amino acids. AGGRESCAN is capable of using this information to determine the tendency of aggregation for each protein based on its relative position in the sequence. The algorithm has been commonly used due to its accuracy in predicting in vivo aggregation.

            The majority of the methods used to predict protein aggregation analyze linear sequences. Hence, they assume that the protein of interest is partially unstructured. For folded globular proteins, these regions may be blocked and therefore do not have a significant impact on aggregation. The authors introduce AGGRESCAN3D (A3D), which has evolved from the AGGRESCAN method. A3D allows the aggregation properties of globular proteins to be predicted because it is able to detect spatial relationships. A3D includes a “Dynamic Mode” that can be used, which considers the different structures that the input structure can have in the predicted aggregation patterns. Therefore, when wild type structures and destabilizing pathogenic mutations change in structure, A3D can account for the variations and model the aggregation patterns that stem from those variations in structure.

            A3D is documented online on a server and can be used to predict the likelihood of aggregation for globular proteins. The algorithm can be used to anticipate the effect of mutations in conformational disorders. It can also be used to design soluble protein-based drugs that can be used as treatment for disorders characterized by protein aggregation. Therefore, it provides the possibility of more effective treatment for patients with disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Reference:

R. Zambrano, M. Jamroz, A. Szczasiuk, J. Pujols, S. Kmiecik, S. Ventura. “AGGRESCAN3D (A3D): server for prediction of aggregation properties of protein structures”. Nucleic Acids Research, 2015; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkv359

Cold Sores: A Complete Annoyance

Have you ever had a cold sore/fever blister? If you have, then you know how painful and annoying they can be. Cold sores consist of small blisters on and/or around the lips. The area is usually red, sore and even itchy. They usually heal within a few days, and there are many medications available that speed up the healing process.

Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1). Once infected, the virus remains dormant in the body until it is triggered by a stressor, such as stress, fatigue, excessive sunlight, or a weakened immune system. Cold sores are very common, for approximately 80 % of the U.S. population has been exposed to this virus. I’ve always wondered why some of us consistently have cold sores while others never get them. Those lucky people have an immune system that is able to suppress the virus.

I and other cold-sore sufferers would love it if we never had to deal with another cold sore.  Researchers at Duke University may just make this a reality one day.  They have determined how the virus remains hidden. They now understand how the virus switches from the latent phase to the active phase on a molecular level. Using this information, they may be able to reawaken the virus and kill it.

For example, while HSV1 remains dormant, it produces latency associated transcript RNA, or LAT RNA. By using mice, the research team demonstrated that the LAT RNA, extremely unstable, broke down into smaller strands called microRNAs. The microRNAs impede viral reproduction by blocking the synthesis of proteins that aid in the viral replication cycle. Therefore, the virus is able to remain dormant if there are enough microRNAs to suppress protein production. However, when a stressor is present, the virus produces messenger RNA at an amount that the microRNAs cannot block. Thus, the proteins are created and active viral replication proceeds.

Curing the occurrence of cold sores requires a combination therapy. Treatment cannot reach the virus while it is inactive, so it must be activated to kill it. The researchers have designed a drug that binds to the microRNAs responsible for keeping the virus dormant. If the drug works like they expect, it will activate the virus, which would then replicate. After activating the virus, the patient would take acyclovir, which is an antiviral medication that destroys replicating HSV1. This would result in the person being cured of cold sores. Animal trials are being used to determine how the drug can be most effectively delivered. 


It has been years since this discovery, but as we know science takes time. I will definitely keep up with the progression of this research. I hope one day we will find out that no one will ever have to deal with a cold sore again.

References:

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/tc/cold-sores-topic-overview#1

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080702132213.htm

http://esciencenews.com/articles/2008/07/02/discovery.explains.how.cold.sore.virus.hides.during.inactive.phase

https://www.herpes-coldsores.com/cold_sores.htm

A New Therapy to Combat Drug-Resistant Bacteria

Antibiotics, also referred to as antimicrobial drugs, are one of the most frequently used drugs in medicine. They treat bacterial infections by either killing the bacteria or preventing the bacteria from reproducing and spreading. The emergence of drug-resistant bacteria has reduced the effectiveness of antibiotics. It is projected that approximately 10 million people will die by the year 2050 due to drug-resistant bacteria. Therefore, it is extremely important that new methods are produced to successfully treat bacteria that has adapted over time to resist antibiotics. The researchers suggest that antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) could be a good substitute for current antibiotics. These peptides are present in all living organisms and help defend against microbial infections. Approximately half of the amino acids present in AMPs are hydrophobic, but can adopt amphipathic structures (molecules containing hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions), which allows them to penetrate cell membranes. Franco et. al generated a synthetic peptide known as clavanin-MO. A marine tunicate antimicrobial peptide was used to derive this synthetic peptide.

            Their experiments, which were performed in vitro and in vivo, showed that clavanin-MO contained antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties. The peptide was successfully active against all the bacterial strains that were tested. Additionally, its efficacy for killing gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria was investigated, and it produced more successful results than the human cathelicidin AMP-LL37. The effectiveness of the peptide was also compared to two commonly used antibiotics, gentamicin and imipenem. Clavinin-MO proved to be more effective, even for multidrug resistant E. coli 2101123. These results exhibit clavanin-MO’s ability to treat a wide range of infections.

            The researchers also performed studies in vitro and in vivo to assess the toxic effects of clavanin-MO. Mouse red blood cells (mRBCs), RAW264.7 macrophage, L929 mouse fibroblast cell lines, and human embryonic kidney cells 293 (HEK-293) were used to perform the experiments. Concentrations of clavanin-MO necessary to produce antimicrobial activity were introduced to RAW264.7, L929 cells, and HEK-293 cells, and no cytotoxic effects were observed. A dose five times the amount necessary for successful antimicrobial treatment was administered to the mice, and still no toxicity was observed. Side effects must be considered when creating new treatments. It is very encouraging that such a large dose did not produce toxic effects. This demonstrates that the treatment can be not only effective, but also safe, which is just as important.

            Clavanin-MO was also found to contain beneficial immunomodulatory properties. One experiment was performed in vivo using the mice to track the migration of leukocytes to the infected area. A major component of treating infections involves inducing leukocytes to travel to the area of infection. Some peptides are able to perform this immunomodulatory activity. The results showed that clavanin-MO significantly increased the number of leukocytes present in the infected area of the mice.

            The increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria coupled with the lack of antimicrobial therapy development has caused an urgency to create alternative treatments for bacterial infections. Franco et. al have introduced a possible alternative that is very promising. A single peptide, clavanin-MO, has the ability to kill bacteria directly, but can also stimulate immune cells to attack the host. Additionally, throughout the treatment process, the peptide failed to produce toxic effects. While more research is needed, this new therapy moves us considerably closer to a method that combats the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

References:

http://www.nature.com/articles/srep35465

http://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/index.html

MutChromSeq: A New Technique for Fast Isolation of Genes

           With the ever-growing human population, it is important to produce enough food to meet the demand. The main source of food production is crops; therefore, it is vital that plants have high yields. Wheat and barley are two major crops found worldwide because they can survive in various environments, result in high yields, and contain many nutrients. If these traits could be controlled, then the yields would increase and there would be food security on a global scale. To control these traits, we must know the genes responsible for them. All we need to do is locate these genes in wheat and barley. This is easier said than done. Wheat and barley have large genomes and large regions of suppressed recombination. This makes it very time-consuming and expensive to use traditional map-based gene isolation. Additionally, obtaining sequences of whole genomes from several mutants is not feasible because comparing large datasets is challenging and costly. There are multiple techniques that can be used to make the sequences of the wheat and barley genomes less complex. However, these methods often result in some sequences being overlooked. Wulff et. al developed a new technique to reduce the complexity of the wheat and barley genomes that does not overlook certain sequences.

Their technique, MutChromSeq, involves flow sorting and comparing the sequences of various mutant chromosomes. This method identifies the mutation and eliminates the need for fine mapping and recombination. MutChromSeq was used to reclone the barley Eceriferum-q gene and clone de novo the wheat Pm2 gene. Even though a false positive was included in the Eceriferum-q example, the correct gene was still identified. The chromosomes were isolated using fluorescent markers. The sequences of the six mutant chromosomes were compared to the wild-type chromosomes.

This approach includes mutagenesis, the reduction of genome complexity, and high-throughput screening. Therefore, the plant species must be able to undergo mutagenesis. Also, the phenotype of the target gene and the chromosome the gene is on must be known. MutChromSeq can be used on genes that meet these requirements, and the method is quick and inexpensive. This method makes it possible to isolate and clone genes that were very difficult to manage in the past.

The researchers introduce a very powerful technique for gene isolation. For genes that could not be easily cloned before, there is now a fast and inexpensive technique that can be used. This is especially impactful for the production of crops. With this new approach, the genes that produce beneficial traits in crops can be targeted. Thus, crops can be improved to better withstand pests and changes in weather. This is very encouraging for the future of food production.

Reference:

Javier Sánchez-Martín, Burkhard Steuernagel, Sreya Ghosh, Gerhard Herren, Severine Hurni, Nikolai Adamski, Jan Vrána, Marie Kubaláková, Simon G. Krattinger, Thomas Wicker, Jaroslav Doležel, Beat Keller, Brande B. H. Wulff. “Rapid gene isolation in barley and wheat by mutant chromosome sequencing.” Genome Biology, 2016.

http://genomebiology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13059-016-1082-1

The Value of Plants in Solving Crimes

            A major aspect of crime scene investigation is the collection of evidence. Plants are likely not the first thing to come to mind when considering valuable evidence for solving a murder. One probably thinks of other types of evidence, such as blood, fingerprints, weapons, or shoe prints. Those are examples of more commonly encountered evidence. However, forensic botany can also provide significant information about a crime that was committed. The anatomy, taxonomy, and ecology of plants are some features of botanical evidence that can be analyzed. The identification of plant species can link the suspect to the crime scene or indicate if the body was moved from one location to another. Additionally, the time a body was buried or left at a site can potentially be determined using plant material.

            Forensic botany involves the use of plants to aid criminal investigations. In 1992, plant DNA was used to solve a murder investigation in Arizona. It was the first time that plant DNA typing was legally accepted as evidence. The body of a woman was discovered in the Arizona desert underneath a Palo Verde tree. A suspect, Mark Bogan, was identified using a beeper found near the body. In the back of his truck, there were seed pods from a Palo Verde tree. Could DNA analysis match the seed pods in the back of his truck to the tree the body was found under? Dr. T. Helentjaris set out to find the answer. A technique called Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was used to analyze the evidence and a band pattern was produced. He also analyzed seed pods collected from other Palo Verde trees throughout Maricopa County to find out if the band patterns of the seed pods were specific to individual Palo Verde trees. He concluded that the seed pods collected from Bogan’s truck came from the tree at the crime scene. He testified in court, and Bogan was convicted of first degree murder.

            Often, botanical trace evidence does not have enough features, especially when the plant material is deteriorated, to identify the genus or species of the plant, so DNA technology is used. Dr. Robert Bever and the Bode Technology Group, Inc. are working on creating molecular methods for analyzing botanical trace evidence, which can be very useful for linking evidence and/or suspects to the crime scene. Using plant systematics, many loci that aid in the identification of plants have been characterized, which include several nuclear (18S, ITS1, ITS2) and chloroplast (rbcL, atpB, ndhF) genes. A DNA extraction, cloning, and sequencing procedure for identifying plants has been created by the Bode Technology Group, Inc. using some of those genes. Applying these methods, many plant species have been identified from physical evidence, such as algae, evergreens, and flowering herbs, shrubs, and trees. Some plants are located in very specific areas in which botanical trace evidence could be extremely valuable for establishing linkage.

            I provided one example of how plant material can be used as forensic evidence, but the attached article contains many more cases that exemplify the impact botanical evidence can have in solving crimes. Many of these investigations would likely not have been solved without the collection of plant materials as evidence. This emphasizes the importance of considering all types of items and materials as evidence because the seemingly smallest piece of evidence could be the key to solving the crime. Hopefully more attention will be given to this type of evidence when analyzing crime scenes given the impact it could have on the investigation.

References:

http://www.cmj.hr/2001/42/3/11387649.pdf

http://www.denverda.org/DNA_Documents/bogan.pdf

A Combined Therapy Technique for Treating Cancer

Many people are diagnosed with cancer every day or have loved ones who have suffered from all different types of cancer. With so many people battling cancer, effective treatment strategies are crucial. Chemotherapy is one type of current cancer treatment that is widely used. However, it has its drawbacks. Patients experience many harmful side effects because the drugs target both cancerous and healthy cells. Photothermal therapy (PTT) is an emerging technique that has shown to be effective in killing cancer cells. It uses electromagnetic energy (usually in near infrared wavelength) to excite light sensitizers (such as noble metals, carbon materials, or organic polymers and molecules). When excited, they release vibrational energy in the form of heat, which kills the cancer cells. This technique is especially favorable because it is selective, targeting the cancer cells and leaving healthy cells alone. Therefore, it is noninvasive and much safer. Adverse side effects are severely diminished. However, PTT does not always destroy all the cancer cells, which can result in relapses.

            The limitations of these treatments lead researchers to consider a combined treatment therapy that involves chemotherapy and PTT. Studies have shown that heat can improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy, so researchers have focused on the cancer treatments that combine chemotherapy and PTT. Tu et. al developed carbon nanoparticles (CNPs)/doxorubicin@SiO₂ nanocomposites via reverse microemulsion, while also controlling the size and high drug loading ratio, to deliver the drugs using the combined methodology. The nanocomposites are a good platform for delivery due to their ability to generate high heat, perform pH responsive drug delivery, and release a high amount of drugs when induced by heat. Mice were injected with 4T1 tumor cells. They were treated using each therapy separately and combined. For the single therapy, the tumors continually grew throughout 14 days of treatment. When the treatment techniques were combined, the tumors were completely eradicated six days after the treatment. These results exhibit the effectiveness of a combined therapy approach for cancer treatment.

Figure 1. Schematic diagram showing the strategy for the synthesis and combined photothermal and chemo-therapy of CNPs/Dox@SiO₂ NCs.

This research is very important given the prevalence of cancer throughout the world. In the United States alone, approximately 1,685,210 cancer cases will be diagnosed and 595,690 deaths from cancer will occur in 2016 (American Cancer Society). With the large incidence of cancer diagnoses and cancer deaths, the demand for newer, safer, and more effective treatments is great. This study introduces an alternative technique for cancer treatment that combines chemotherapy and photothermal therapy with the use of carbon nanoparticles (CNPs)/doxorubicin@SiO₂ nanocomposites to deliver the drugs. This is a more effective technique due to the selective targeting of cancer cites. This therapy would produce significantly fewer side effects for patients. Additionally, the method’s ability to eradicate the entire tumor severely decreases the chances that the patient will have a recurrence of the cancer. This methodology also has such a huge impact because it can be used on all types of cancer.

References:

http://www.cancer.org/research/cancerfactsstatistics/index

Xiaolong Tu, Lina Wang, Yuhua Cao, Yufei Ma, He Shen, Mengxin Zhang, and Zhijun Zhang. "Efficient cancer ablation by combined photothermal and enhanced chemo-therapy based on carbon nanoparticles/doxorubicin@SiO2 nanocomposites." Carbon. Volume 97, 35-44, February 2016. http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.shsu.edu/science/article/pii/S0008622315004406

Does an apple a day really keep the doctor away?

            I love apples, and I eat one every day with my lunch. The saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” often comes to mind. This lead me to think: is it actually true? So I did some research and this is what I found.

            In 2000, researchers at Cornell University found that eating an apple a day does help keep the doctor away, publishing their work in the scientific journal, Nature. They found that phytochemicals, mostly found in apple’s skin, provide anticancer and antioxidant benefits. They also claim that eating whole fruits and vegetables provides more health benefits than vitamin supplements. Cornell’s Food Science and Toxicology department studies found that the antioxidant properties in a fresh apple were equal to 1,500 milligrams of Vitamin C.

            Liu et. al looked at the difference in effects on cancer cell growth between the apple’s skin and its flesh. Colon cancer cells were treated with apple extract from the skin and flesh of a Red Delicious apple. The cancer cell growth was decreased by 43 % using 50 milligrams of the apple skin extract, while only 29 % of the cancer cell growth decreased when using the apple extract without the skin. The extracts were also tested on liver cancer cell growth. Similar results were obtained, with the apple extract from the skin and flesh decreasing cancer cell growth by 57 % and 40 %, respectively.

A more recent article on the topic was published in the Journal of Functional Foods in 2013. Zhao et. al discussed how apple consumption decreased plasma concentrations of oxidized low-density lipoprotein/beta₂-glycoprotein I complex (oxLDL-β₂GPI), which is a contributor to atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a condition characterized by fatty plaques in the arteries, which can lead to cardiac events such as heart attack and stroke.

These studies show that apples can indeed help keep the doctor away!

References:

http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20000621/benefits-of-eating-fruit#1

Eberhardt, M. V., Lee, C. Y., and Liu, R. H. Antioxidant activity of fresh apples. Nature 405(6789): 903-904, 2000.

Link to abstract: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v405/n6789/full/405903b0.html

Shi Zhao, Joshua Bomser, Elizabeth L. Joseph, and Robert A. DiSilvestro. Intakes of apples or apple polyphenols decease plasma values for oxidized low-density lipoprotein/beta₂-glycoprotein I complex. Journal of Functional Foods. Volume 5, Issue 1, 493-497, January 2013.

http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.shsu.edu/science/article/pii/S1756464612001363

Designing a Universal Influenza Vaccine

           Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory disease caused by a family of RNA viruses, which belong to the family Orthomyxoviridae. The most effective preventative measure for influenza viruses is vaccination. The three genera of Orthomyxoviridae are influenza types A, B, and C. Only influenza A can lead to both seasonal epidemics and pandemic strains. Type B influenza viruses change by the process of antigenic drift. The flu is constantly evolving, and one way it changes is through antigenic drift, which is when changes in the genes occur as the influenza virus replicates. Additionally, the accumulation of these genetic changes over time results in the production of viruses with different antigenic properties, which the seasonal flu vaccines account for. Therefore, a new flu vaccine with a different composition is created annually to parallel the evolution of the viruses. It targets strains of influenza A and B that will likely be present in future flu seasons. Pandemic strains are caused by antigenic shift, which is when a new influenza A virus is created due to major, sudden changes in the previous virus. Most people do not have antibodies to fight off the new virus. One example is the 2009 H1N1 virus. A completely new virus formed and quickly spread, creating a pandemic.

            The authors of an article published in the journal Bioinformatics designed a universal flu vaccine to target multiple strains at once, which would help fight the more basic strains before they turn into pandemics. The researches designed two epitope ensemble vaccines that offer wide coverage of the different subtypes of the virus. One targets the US population, and the other is a universal vaccine. The US-specific vaccine covers 95% of observed influenza subtypes. The universal vaccine covers 88 % of universal subtypes. The ultimate goal of a “universal” vaccine is to protect against most influenza A subtypes, if not all. Accomplishing such broad protection is challenging due to the constantly changing influenza viruses. More studies must be conducted on this topic before we would have a true “universal” vaccine for the flu. However, this research is promising for the future of influenza vaccine development. It could lead to new strategies in design to offer broader, more effective vaccines that last longer.



References:

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/index.htm

Qamar M. Sheikh, Derek Gatherer, Pedro A Reche, Darren R. Flower. Towards the knowledge-based design of universal influenza epitope ensemble vaccines. Bioinformatics, 2016; btw399 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btw399

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160930085814.htm

 

Specific Fungus Yields Information about the Development of Crohn’s Disease

            Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory disease that affects the digestive tract. Symptoms include severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, and fatigue. The disease results from the immune system responding abnormally to gut microbial antigens. Previous studies have concentrated on the bacterial community in the intestines. The authors conducted studies that focused on the overlooked fungal community.

            The researchers analyzed fecal samples from patients with and without Crohn’s disease. The samples from those with Crohn’s disease contained strong fungal-bacterial interactions, specifically two bacteria (Escherichia coli and Serratia marcescens) and one fungus (Candida tropicalis). Additionally, Candida tropicalis was more abundant in patients with Crohn’s disease than their relatives who did not have the disease. They also found that the abundance of beneficial bacteria decreased in Crohn’s disease patients.

            This study shows for the first time that bacterial species in the gut, as well as fungi, play a role in the disease. They discovered how the bacteria and fungi interact. Together, they form a biofilm, which is a thin, sticky layer of microorganisms. The film attaches to sections of the gut, which could be triggering the inflammation that causes the symptoms attributed to Crohn’s disease. The researchers also are the first to include Serratia marcescens as a contributor. In a previous study conducted by another research group (Ochieng et al.), S. marcescens was revealed to interact with epithelial cells of the intestine in cultures and produce effects that could play a large role in Crohn’s disease by worsening the episodes of inflammation in the intestine.

A person’s diet and environment also contribute to the microorganisms present in the intestines. However, the addition of new information regarding the role bacteria and fungi play in the development of Crohn’s disease opens the door for the development of new treatments. More research must be done, but as more is learned about the disease, more can be done to help those suffering from it.

Resources:

To learn more about Crohn’s disease visit: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMHT0022801/

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160920151435.htm

References:

G. Hoarau, P. K. Mukherjee, C. Gower-Rousseau, C. Hager, J. Chandra, M. A. Retuerto, C. Neut, S. Vermeire, J. Clemente, J. F. Colombel, H. Fujioka, D. Poulain, B. Sendid and M. A. Ghannoum. Bacteriome and Mycobiome Interactions Underscore Microbial Dysbiosis in Familial Crohn’s Disease. mBio, September 2016 DOI: 10.1128/mBio.01250-16

John B Ochieng, Nadia Boisen, Brianna Lindsay, Araceli Santiago, Collins Ouma, Maurice Ombok, Barry Fields, O Colin Stine, and James P Nataro. Serratia marcescens is injurious to intestinal epithelial cells. Gut Microbes. 5.6, 2014.

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.4161/19490976.2014.972223

The Use of Magnetic Bacteria in Drug Delivery

A recent article published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology shows that using magnetic bacteria could be a more successful method for delivering drugs to tumors. The major issue encountered when designing cancer therapies is finding a way to deliver chemotherapy drugs to only the tumors, keeping healthy tissues unaffected. Nanocarriers, which are small particles that transfer drugs, have been developed to do just that. As they circulate through the body, they target only the cancer cells. However, since they depend on the circulatory system to travel to the tumor, a large portion is filtered out of the body and never reaches the tumor. They also have trouble getting inside the tumor due to a difference in pressure between the tumor and its surrounding tissue. Therefore, the nanocarriers never reach the hypoxic zones of the tumor, which are the site of active cell division. These zones have very low oxygen content. If a procedure can be found to deliver the drugs to these regions, the metastasis rate will greatly decrease. That is what the authors set out to do.

            The researchers found that a bacteria known as magnetococcus marinus (MC-1), which is already present in nature, could be used since they thrive in areas of water with low oxygen. MC-1 contains a chain of magnetic nanocrystals, which work like the needle of a compass. When in the Northern Hemisphere, the nanocrystals cause the bacteria to travel in a northern direction. MC-1 is also comprised of sensors that can detect changes in oxygen levels. These two components aid the bacteria in finding the tumor and sustaining their location in the low oxygen area. Once reaching the tumor, the magnetic field is turned off. The bacteria then rely on the sensors to locate the hypoxic zones.

            Experiments were performed to test the use of MC-1 as a treatment for tumors. The study was conducted on mice, and they found that the bacterial cells were located deep inside the tumor, specifically in low oxygen areas. Then, the researchers attached vesicles, containing the drugs, to the cells to test their effect on penetration into the tumors. An estimated 55 % of the cells with attached vesicles successfully traveled into the tumor versus current nanocarriers only transporting about 2% of the drugs into the tumor. This exhibits the effectiveness of the method and proves promising for the treatment of tumors.

            The researchers plan to look at the effect of the bacterial cells on tumor size reduction. They also want to investigate if other types of cancer-killing medicines can be delivered via MC-1. This study provides advancements in current methods that have huge implications for those suffering from cancer. Drug delivery that specifically targets the tumors diminishes side effects and makes the treatment more successful. This research and future studies stemming from it will provide enormous potential for improved cancer treatment.

Reference:

Magneto-aerotactic bacteria deliver drug-containing nanoliposomes to tumour hypoxic regions. Felfoul O, Mohammadi M, Taherkhani S de Lanauze D, Zhong Xu Y, Loghin D, Essa S Jancik S, Houle D, Lafleur M, Gaboury L, Tabrizian M Kaou N, Atkin , Vuong T, Batist G, Beauchemin N, Radzioch D, Martel S. Nat Nanotechnol. 2016 Aug 15.

Link to the abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27525475

National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering Resource: http://www.nibib.nih.gov/news-events/newsroom/swarms-magnetic-bacteria-could-be-used-deliver-drugs-tumors

 

A Patient-Specific Approach to Treating Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Lung diseases are the third leading cause of death in the United States. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is one type of lung disease. This disease causes scarring on the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. There is no cure for IPF, and the shortage in human disease models has delayed advancements in available therapies. The study by Wilkinson et al introduces a method to create tissue-engineered organoids that can lead to a deeper understanding of the biology of the disease. The authors improve on previous methods of creating lung tissue by presenting a technique that generates patient-specific lung organoids, which can undergo high throughput screening. Lung organoids were formed using stem cells from adult lungs and alginate beads. The adhesion of the cells to the beads results in lung organoids that imitate actual lungs. The authors tested their engineered lung to see if it functioned like a real one, and they successfully found scarring on the lung organoid that resembled IPF. The researchers also found that organoids could be produced from other cell types.

Given the lack of available models, this research presents a significant breakthrough. The most valuable aspect of this method is that it is patient-specific. The disease affects each person differently, so one treatment can’t be used for everyone. Using the lung organoids, doctors can see how a patient’s body will react to different drugs and provide personalized treatment. Since the organoids can be generated so quickly, multiple drugs can be screened at once. This will provide faster determinations of the medication best suited for each patient. The quicker they can get the proper medication, the better.

This technique can be helpful for not only IPF, but other lung diseases as well. This type of research holds even further implications for the future, specifically for transplants. Patients could have a transplant of an organ that was created using their own cells. The patient would not have to be put on a list to wait for a donor organ to become available. It would also be safer because receiving an organ generated from the patient’s cells severely diminishes the chance his or her body will reject it.

Here is a link if you would like to read more about idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis

 

Reference:
http://stemcellstm.alphamedpress.org/content/early/2016/09/14/sctm.2016-0192.short?rss=1

Alzheimer’s: A Prescription for Weed

What comes to mind when you see the word “dementia”? The term dementia refers to a decline in memory resulting in a struggle to perform daily activities. There are many types of dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease is the most common.

 

Alzheimer’s disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Over five million Americans suffer from the disease, and this number is expected to grow rapidly within the next few decades. Alzheimer’s affects not only the people suffering from the disease, but their families as well. It places a major mental and financial burden on them as they care for their loved ones. This disease is majorly impacting the nation, therefore, advancements in treatment are essential.

The use of marijuana in the medical industry is a very controversial topic. A manuscript published in the journal of Molecular Pharmaceutics reports on using the active ingredient in marijuana, THC (delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol), to influence the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease. The main characteristic of Alzheimer’s is the accumulation of plaque in the brain caused by amyloidβ-peptide (Aβ) aggregation. The article exhibits how THC can inhibit the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which is responsible for this aggregation. By binding to the peripheral anionic site of AChE, THC inhibits the Aβ aggregation. The authors of the manuscript suggest that THC acts as a better inhibitor of Aβ aggregation than what is used in current drugs. Their research introduces a molecular process in which THC could prevent the disease’s progression, as well as treat the symptoms.

It is important to investigate the long term effects of using THC as a treatment for Alzheimer’s. Studies must be conducted to explore potential health and safety concerns, such as addiction.

 

Similar research has been conducted since the article mentioned above. One study, published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease in 2014, describes the potential therapeutic effects THC can provide for Alzheimer’s disease. The following link leads you to this abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25024327

Reference:

A Molecular Link between the Active Component of Marijuana and Alzheimer's Disease Pathology
Lisa M. Eubanks,†, Claude J. Rogers,†, Albert E. Beuscher IV,‡, George F. Koob,§, Arthur J. Olson,‡, Tobin J. Dickerson,† and, and Kim D. Janda*,†
Molecular Pharmaceutics 2006 3 (6), 773-777
DOI: 10.1021/mp060066m

Other Resources:
http://www.alz.org/facts/
http://www.cdc.gov/aging/aginginfo/alzheimers.htm