Monthly Archives: March 2012

Researchers building melanoma vaccine to combat skin cancer

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ScienceDaily (Mar. 19, 2012) Mayo Clinic researchers have trained mouse immune systems to eradicate skin cancer from within, using a genetic combination of human DNA from melanoma cells and a cousin of the rabies virus. The strategy, called cancer immunotherapy, uses a genetically engineered version of the vesicular stomatitis virus to deliver a broad spectrum of genes derived from melanoma cancer cells directly into tumors. In early studies, 60 percent of tumor-burdened mice were cured in fewer than three months and with minimal side effects.

Results of the latest study appear this week in the journal Nature Biotechnology.

"We believe that this new technique will help us to identify a whole new set of genes that encode antigens that are important in stimulating the immune system to reject cancer. In particular, we have seen that several proteins need to be expressed together to generate the most effective rejection of the tumors in mice," says Richard Vile, Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic researcher in the Department of Molecular Medicine and a coauthor of the study, along with Jose Pulido, M.D., a Mayo Clinic ophthalmologist and ocular oncologist.

Dr. Vile's success with melanoma adds to Mayo Clinic's growing portfolio of experimental cancer vaccines, which includes an active clinical trial of vesicular stomatitis vaccines for liver cancers. Future studies could include similar vaccines for more aggressive cancers, such as lung, brain and pancreatic.

"I do believe we can create vaccines that will knock them off one by one," Dr. Vile says. "By vaccinating against multiple proteins at once, we hope that we will be able to treat both the primary tumor and also protect against recurrence."

The immune system functions on a seek-and-destroy platform and has fine-tuned its capacity to identify viral invaders such as vesicular stomatitis virus. Part of the appeal of building cancer vaccines from the whole spectrum of tumor DNA is that tumors can adapt to the repeated attacks of a healthy immune system and display fewer antigens (or signposts) that the immune system can identify.

Cancers can learn to hide from a normal immune system, but appear unable to escape an immune system trained by the vesicular stomatitis virus with the wide range of DNA used in the library approach.

"Nobody knows how many antigens the immune system can really see on tumor cells," says Dr. Vile. "By expressing all of these proteins in highly immunogenic viruses, we increased their visibility to the immune system. The immune system now thinks it is being invaded by the viruses, which are expressing cancer-related antigens that should be eliminated."

Much immunotherapy research has slowed because of researchers' inability to isolate a sufficiently diverse collection of antigens in tumor cells. Tumors in these scenarios are able to mutate and reestablish themselves in spite of the body's immune system.

The study was a Mayo collaboration with professors Alan Melcher and Peter Selby at the Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Leeds, U.K. They were also co-authors.

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Spotlight on Synthetic Biology

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In a guest post at Scientific American's Lab Rat blog, iGEM-UANL team member Miguel Angel Loera Snchez discusses what he calls the "mainstream fronts of synthetic biology." These five fronts DNA synthesis, biological parts standardization, genetic code expansion, synthetic genetic circuits, and metabolic engineering have helped synthetic biology become "a fast growing and productive field," Snchez says. While much work remains to be done, the field "is attracting many smart and active young minds from different disciplines," he adds, leading him to believe that "the growth and innovation rate will likely increase in the years to come."

Meanwhile, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars's Synthetic Biology Project seeks to assess the societal impacts of advances in the field through a new public survey. The survey asks participants a variety of questions to investigate the ethical, legal, and social implications of synthetic biology research. "The results of this anonymous survey will be analyzed and compiled into a report, which will be released in mid- to late-May 2012," the Synthetic Biology Project group notes.

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Spotlight on Synthetic Biology

How to Predict Sickness: gene prophecy – future of pharmaceutical industry, health keynote speaker – Video

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01-03-2012 10:59 http://www.globalchange.com Future health trends -- how to predict future health by genetic prophecy. Matching your genes to medical history of others in the general population who may differ in age, gender, location, wealth, culture, but who may share vital indicators of future disease. Impact of gene profiling and pharmacogenomics on health care, from chosing the right medication to treat illness and disease, avoiding serious side effects, matching personal profile to treatment plans. Also gene profiling as part of health promotion, disease prevention, wellness and performance-based medicine. Enhancing performance -- whether sexual performance, mental performance (students or older people with Alzheimer's disease memory impairment / loss). Impact of ageing and obesity on consumer health spending, government budgets, health care, workforce and retirement age. Futurist conference keynote speaker Patrick Dixon -- speaking at corporate event for Novo Nordisk.

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How to Predict Sickness: gene prophecy - future of pharmaceutical industry, health keynote speaker - Video

Gene sequencing at warp speed

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But if youre listening to one person sing, and he changes his tempo, youre still going to stay in tune with him, said Meni Wanunu, an assistant professor of physics in Northeasterns College of Science.

Wanunu used the analogy to explain the difference between older and newer gene sequencing techniques. Old techniques, he said, analyzed millions of DNA molecules at a time. But new techniques take a single-molecule approach, a strategy that has the potential to revolutionize the field once a few significant challenges are overcome.

By obtaining the sequence of an organisms genetic material with ease, scientists can explore a range of research areas, from correlating genes with functions to answering evolutionary mysteries. Doctors can use gene sequencing to test for specific genes that are related to specific diseases, such as breast and ovarian cancers. Patients could learn in their home what foods to avoid and which drugs would be most effective for them.

Older and current commercial sequencing technologies are too expensive for realizing personalized health and medicine applications. By studying DNA motion through nanopores, Wanunus team and others in the field hope to provide simple and straightforward approaches that could reduce sequencing costs by a thousand times, making it available for all.

In an article published on Sunday in the journal Nature Methods, Wanunu and colleagues at University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University unveiled a device that speeds up the rate at which DNA molecules can be detected, a significant step toward reading their sequence.

Wanunu, who joined the Northeastern faculty in September, designs nanoscale membranes that contain pores through which charged particles, such as DNA molecules and salt ions, can pass when exposed to an electric field.

When a long DNA molecule passes through a pore, the membranes current momentarily subsides, yielding a negative spike in voltage signal. DNA consists of many repeating subunits called bases, each of which has previously been shown to exhibit a characteristic signal spike.

Existing state-of-the-art techniques cant measure current changes though a nanopore fast enough to allow reading each base. You can show that DNA was there, but not what the sequence is, Wanunu explained.

Slowing down DNA movement by lowering the voltage is not a practical solution, Wanunu said. If you lower the voltage too much, at some point DNA will not want to enter and if it doesnt enter you wont be able to read it. If it enters too fast, youre not going to know the sequence.

Armed with this information, the team focused their efforts on speeding up the rate of measurement. By thinking outside the box (literally), Wanunu's colleagues Jacob Rosenstein and Ken Shepard from Columbia University designed a miniature "patch-clamp amplifier" that is 10 times smaller than traditional amplifiers. More importantly, it is 10 times faster, being able to read current through the nanopore about every half microsecond just about the time it takes for a DNA base to move through.

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Gene sequencing at warp speed

Gene mutation found

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SCIENTISTS here have found a mutation in a gene that makes some cancer drugs less effective, as well as a solution to tackle this problem.

This mutation appears in about 15% of East Asians, and to a lesser extent in other Asians, but is completely absent in Caucasians and Africans.

A team of 55 researchers, led by Assoc Prof Ong Sin Tiong of Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, found that targeted drugs to combat specific types of lung and blood cancers did not work as well in patients with the mutated gene.

However, the shortcoming can be addressed by the addition of another drug that is currently not commercially available, but is used in clinical trials elsewhere.

The existing targeted drugs, which block the growth and spread of the cancer by interfering with the molecules that cause the tumour to grow, are not cheap.

The bill can come up to S$2,000 (RM4,800) to S$3,000 (RM7,200) a month for lung cancer patients, with the drug able to extend life by as much as 30 months.

For leukaemia, the cost is S$4,000 (RM9,600) to S$5,000 (RM12,000) a month, with patients living a good-quality life for as long as a decade.

However, in about 20% of patients with these forms of cancers, the drug benefit is not as good as it is for the rest.

The teams findings have been published in Nature Medicine considered one of the the worlds top biomedical journals.

Prof Patrick Casey, senior vice-dean for research at Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, called the discovery spectacular.

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Chemistry sets 'Bent' afire

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LOS ANGELES -- As executive producer of the new NBC comedy"Bent," Tad Quill is responsible for everything from writing the first episode to making sure the caterer doesn't poison anyone. But his most important role may be the most underappreciated one: playing matchmaker.

Good sitcoms -- and this is one of them -- need snappy dialogue, a compelling premise and engaging characters. But the most critical ingredient is chemistry between the lead actors, especially when the story hinges on a will-they-or-won't-they relationship.

Amanda Peet plays Alex, a recent divorcee who hires a gambling addict, Pete (David Walton), to remodel her house. You've seen this setup before -- she's cautious, he's wild; she's responsible, he's unreliable -- but it more than holds up because the two banter like a modern-day Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell.

You're 99.9 percent sure they'll end up in each other's arms, but watching them do the long, slow dance to get there is still a treat.

Peet, who was attached to the project from the start, read with about 20 actors and Quill saw more than 50 guys before casting Walton, who starred in the short-lived sitcoms"Perfect Couples"and "100 Questions."

"You know when it's right instantaneously," Quill says. "It's one thing to have actors saying a joke that's kind of funny, but when two people who really know what they're doing come together, you can be laughing out loud."

Walton isn't sure what makes this partnership work so well.

"Chemistry, like in real life, is hard to put words around," he says.

It helps to work with Peet, who has previously sizzled with Bruce Willis and John Cusack. She specializes in tough, intelligent characters who slowly reveal their vulnerabilities, fears and a desperate need for something more intimate than a handshake.

"It's not something I think about or set out to accomplish," Peet, whose last series, Aaron Sorkin's "Live From the Sunset Strip," also called for romantic electricity, says. "Tad's script has a lot of sexual tension and sexual suspense. You just play that."

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Chemistry sets 'Bent' afire

Guest Post: Apple Succumbs To Battery Chemistry?

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Submitted by Sabregold1999

Apple Succumbs To Battery Chemistry

In light of the news that Apple is issuing a dividend with the stock flirting with all-time highs, it might be a good time to assess where Apple is with its two products, the Iphone and the Ipad. There is no arguing with the success of these products, but that is not the real story that needs addressing. The real story for Apple is battery chemistry and much like the automakers it fails.

Apple, like a lot of gadget makers needs new iterations to generate a buzz. If the newest product lacks significant improvements the growth model suffers. For Apple any and all great innovations on the hardware side will be limited, simply because battery chemistry, unlike Moores law, moves at a snails pace. Here is some evidence to show you the proof.

Lets examine the latest offering from the IPad3. Apple was able to increase the size of the battery in its device by about 70%. It did this by engineering a more efficient internal set-up. It did NOT increase the energy density of the individual lithium ion cells. Why was all of this done? They did it for two reasons.

4G eats batteries and that new screen hogs power. So, without engineering a better set-up, the IPad 3 would have been much larger, instead of only slightly larger.

Why is this important? If you examine a laptop, theres a reason why the battery is as large as it is relative to the device. The laptop uses significant power and lithium ion batteries are only capable of packing so much energy density into a defined space. Design engineers at Apple and Samsung know perfectly well, that asking your phone or tablet to replace that of your laptop comes with one big problem that no one has solved; namely, battery chemistry.

For a company like Apple, it truly is constrained on what it can do moving forward with the Ipad and the Iphone franchises. Computing power comes at a price in small packages and with the latest revelation that energy densities did not improve, an investor might conclude that the next iterations will have to contain extraordinary software rather than hardware developments.

Oh and it is for this reason that this author believes Apple is tackling the TV market next. Stay tuned.

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Guest Post: Apple Succumbs To Battery Chemistry?

NBA High-5: Grizzlies flirt with chemistry experiment by courting Gilbert Arenas

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The five most interesting stories, rumors and notes in the NBA: 1. Chemistry test: Paging Lionel Hollins. Professor Hollins, please report to the chemistry lab.

The Memphis Grizzlies are having a very nice season, overcoming the loss of forward Zach Randolph to put themselves in position to finish with a upper-division Western Conference playoff seed. At 25-18, they are a half game behind the Clippers for the No. 4 spot.

On Friday, Randolph returned after missing 37 games with a knee injury. In two games since returning, Randolph is averaging 14 points and nine rebounds in 24.5 minutes off the bench.

But do the Grizzlies need one more piece? Apparently they think so, and on Monday, they brought in veteran guard Gilbert Arenas for a physical and will sign him if he passes, the Commercial Appeal's Ronald Tillery reports.

This should be interesting. Arenas, 30, has played 10 NBA seasons. During three of them -- 2004-05, '05-06 and '06-07 -- he was among the league's best offensive players, averaging 25.5, 29.3 and 28.4 points.

But knee injuries and off-court issues -- especially his conviction on a gun charge and subsequent suspension in 2010 -- changed things. Before this season, Orlando -- which obtained him via a trade last season -- waived him under the league's amnesty clause.

Arenas is one of six players who were amnestied this season, and none have bounced back to really make their old teams regret it. If Arenas plays, he would be one of three amnestied players currently active in the NBA, joining the Kings' Travis Outlaw (waived by Nets) and Knicks' Baron Davis (waived by Cavaliers).

The Clippers' Chauncey Billups (waived by Knicks) is out for the season with a torn Achilles' tendon, Charlie Bell (waived by Warriors) is playing in Italy, and, as we all know, Brandon Roy has retired.

If the record of amnestied players hints that Arenas won't be an All-Star for Memphis, can he be an effective backup point guard, as Davis has become for the Knicks? That's the role the Grizzlies need filled -- a backup behind established starter Mike Conley. They don't necessarily need a gunner off the bench, a role filled by O.J. Mayo, who ranks third on the team in shot attempts.

The signing of Arenas shows that the Grizzlies are looking to contend now, and there might be a good reason. There are rumblings in Memphis about a possible ownership change. Larry Ellison, the CEO of Oracle who was a finalist to buy the Golden State Warriors and also made an attempt to buy the New Orleans Hornets, is apparently making a run at the Grizzlies.

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NBA High-5: Grizzlies flirt with chemistry experiment by courting Gilbert Arenas

Cosmic rays modify chemistry of lunar ice

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Washington, Mar 20 (ANI): Cosmic rays bombarding moon fundamentally change chemistry and colour of the lunar ice and dirt, a new study has revealed.

Space scientists from the University of New Hampshire and multi-institutional colleagues report they have quantified levels of radiation on the moon's surface from galactic cosmic ray (GCR) bombardment that over time causes chemical changes in water ice and can create complex carbon chains similar to those that help form the foundations of biological structures.

In addition, the radiation process causes the lunar soil, or regolith, to darken over time, which is important in understanding the geologic history of the moon.

The paper is based on measurements made by the CRaTER instrument onboard NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) mission.

The telescope provides the fundamental measurements needed to test our understanding of the lunar radiation environment and shows that 'space weathering' of the lunar surface by energetic radiation is an important agent for chemical alteration.

CRaTER measures material interactions of GCRs and solar energetic particles (SEPs), both of which present formidable hazards for human exploration and spacecraft operations.

CRaTER characterizes the global lunar radiation environment and its biological impacts by measuring radiation behind a 'human tissue-equivalent' plastic.

Serendipitously, the LRO mission made measurements during a period when GCR fluxes remained at the highest levels ever observed in the space age due to the sun's abnormally extended quiet cycle.

During this quiescent period, the diminished power, pressure, flux and magnetic flux of the solar wind allowed GCRs and SEPs to more readily interact with objects they encountered - particularly bodies such as our moon, which has no atmosphere to shield the blow.

"This has provided us with a unique opportunity because we've never made these types of measurements before over an extended period of time, which means we've never been able to validate our models," said paper's lead author Nathan Schwadron, an associate professor of physics at the UNH Space Science Center within the Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space (EOS).

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MIT's Prof. Klavs Jensen Wins IUPAC-ThalesNano International Prize for Outstanding Work in Flow Chemistry

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RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC and BUDAPEST, HUNGARY and BOSTON, MA--(Marketwire -03/20/12)- IUPAC and ThalesNano have announced at the 2nd International Conference of the Flow Chemistry Society in Munich that the International Flow Chemistry Prize was awarded to Prof. Klavs Jensen, Warren K Lewis Professor and Department Head, Department of Chemical Engineering at MIT. The prize was awarded in recognition of Prof. Jensen's extensive activities and publications, which have made an outstanding contribution to the field of flow chemistry both in academia and industry.

During his acceptance speech, Prof. Jensen said: "Dr. Ferenc Darvas, thank you for this tremendous honor and for your leadership of the Flow Chemistry field. Also thank you to Prof. Droescher for supervising this special IUPAC prize. I would also like to thank my many colleagues in the flow chemistry and microreactor communities, my colleagues at MIT (Prof. Bawendi, Buchwald, and Jamison), and importantly, my students and postdocs. I have learnt a lot from everyone!"

Dr. Ferenc Darvas, President and Chairman of ThalesNano Inc., commented: "It's a great honor for both ThalesNano and myself personally to be able to present this award to Prof. Jensen in recognition of such a talented scientist and contributor to the field flow of chemistry. It is my hope that this award will turn the face of the chemistry community in 2012 towards this interesting and elegant synthetic technique."

Dr. Michael Droescher, Chairman of the IUPAC Committee on Chemistry and Industry, added: "Congratulations to Prof. Jensen on this award. The dramatic impact of flow chemistry in recent years and decades deserves an acknowledgement from the IUPAC. As a respect for all the chemists' work in this field, we are delighted to contribute to this prize hoping it will bring more attention towards such a valuable technique."

About ThalesNano, Inc.:

ThalesNano is a world-leading provider of continuous process chemistry instruments in the rapidly developing market of laboratory and process scale flow reactors. The company has the widest portfolio of bench-top continuous process instruments. Its R&D 100 award winning H-Cube continuous-flow hydrogenation reactor is used in hundreds of laboratories and has become the new industry standard for hydrogenation. http://www.thalesnano.com

About IUPAC:

IUPAC was formed in 1919 by chemists from industry and academia. For over eight decades, the Union has succeeded in fostering worldwide communications in the chemical sciences and in uniting academic, industrial and public sector chemistry in a common language. Recently, IUPAC has been pro-active in establishing a wide range of conferences and projects designed to promote and stimulate modern developments in chemistry.

About the Flow Chemistry Society:

The Flow Chemistry Society was formed by internationally recognized flow chemistry experts in 2010 to unite and represent those who are actively working on this rapidly developing field. The Society is dedicated to enhancing the public appreciation of flow chemistry and its integration into everyday practice throughout the world by delivering the latest knowledge and making it available for the entire chemistry community.

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MIT's Prof. Klavs Jensen Wins IUPAC-ThalesNano International Prize for Outstanding Work in Flow Chemistry

2012 BIO International Convention Opens Voting April 2nd for the Buzz of BIO

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WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) announces voting for the Buzz of BIO will open Monday, April 2, 2012. The Buzz winners will be featured at the 2012 BIO International Convention, held June 18-21, 2012 at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, MA. BIO is asking voters to look for innovative biotech companies that are research and development intensive. Select winners will receive complimentary registration to the Convention with Partnering, the opportunity to deliver a 15-minute Company Presentation in the BIO Business Forum and promotion by the BIO International Convention team to industry media.

Winners are determined by votes cast from life science thought leaders within the industry. Voting, which is available online, will give emerging companies looking to develop strategic partnerships a chance to gain invaluable exposure amongst their global life sciences peers. Early stage biotech companies should be encouraged by the data presented in the recently released BIO Industry Analysis Survey. The data shows investor optimism appears restored with a majority (56%) believing now is a good time to invest, particularly in early stage companies. In addition, partnering activity at the BIO Business Forum in June is expected to increase from last year, giving emerging companies numerous opportunities to connect and align with other organizations and companies.

Through the recognition received as a Buzz of BIO Winner, those emerging companies taking the title will enter Convention and the BIO Business Forum with a heightened sense of anticipation and excitement, allowing for endless partnering opportunities, said Alan Eisenberg, Executive Vice President, Emerging Companies & Business Development at BIO.

The BIO Business Forum has grownover thepast eleven years to become theindustry's largest partnering event, hosting a record breaking 21,000+ partnering meetings in 2011. Powered byBIO's One-on-One Partnering System, the Business Forum fosters the opportunity for companies toinitiate business contacts in a friendly environment and schedule meetings prior to theconference. To take advantage of partnering, please visit here.

The BIO Business Forum also hosts over 140 company presentations which by participating, will allow the Buzz of BIO winners to increase visibility, attract more partners and pitch their company objectives to a global audience representing over sixty countries and various industry investors, research analysts, policy makers and other business development executives.

The BIO International Convention will highlight the latest trends and the newest opportunities for executives, investors, scientists, policy leaders, and media from around the world. Speakers at the sessions will share breakthroughs in medicine, diagnostics, the environment, energy production, business operations, financing, partnerships, policy issues and food and agriculture. The Convention also features the BIO Business Forum, a unique platform for biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, academic research institutions, and investors from around the world to gather and discuss strategic opportunities. For registration, conference agenda and exhibitor information, visit 2012 BIO International Convention.

Upcoming BIO Events

BIO IP Counsels Committee Conference April 16-18, 2012 Austin, TX

World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology & Bioprocessing April 29-May 2, 2012 Orlando, FL

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2012 BIO International Convention Opens Voting April 2nd for the Buzz of BIO

White House Biotechnology Director to Keynote 2012 MichBio Annual Business Meeting

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ANN ARBOR, MI--(Marketwire -03/20/12)- MichBio, the biosciences industry association in Michigan, announced today that Dr. Michael Stebbins will be the keynote speaker at its 2012 Annual Business Meeting & Showcase on April 19 at Schoolcraft College in Livonia, MI.

Dr. Stebbins is the Assistant Director for Biotechnology in the Science Division of the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy (OSTP). He brings a unique view of the politics, culture and influence of science, and is a thought leader on wide-reaching topics on science policy, education, and funding. In his White House role, Stebbins serves as a lead policy expert on policies related to biological research and biotechnology.

Before joining the White House OSTP, he served as a science advisor to the Obama Campaign and was a member of the Obama Presidential Transition Team. He was the Director of Biology Policy for the Federation of American Scientists, is a co-founder of Scientists and Engineers for America, and was a former Adjunct Professor of Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania. He has worked as a policy fellow for the National Human Genome Research Institute and as a Legislative Fellow for Senator Harry Reid. He received his B.S. at SUNY Stony Brook and a Ph.D. in Genetics while working at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

"Public policy dictates many aspects of bioscience discovery and commercialization," said Stephen Rapundalo, Ph.D., MichBio president and CEO. "No one knows that better than Dr. Stebbins. Specifically, he understands how having a sound science policy can affect the future of America. Mike Stebbins has insightful perspectives on the evolving dynamics playing out towards a national bioeconomy policy, and what that means for U.S. innovation and competitiveness in the global biosciences industry."

Before coming to Washington, Dr. Stebbins was a senior editor for Nature Genetics, worked as a science journalist for Reuters and as a science advisor to ScienCentral News. In addition, he has written for various publications, and was a frequent contributor to This Week in Science, where he discussed issues relating to science and policy.

The MichBio Annual Business Meeting & Showcase attracts over 200 biosciences leaders from around the state. The evening will include a strolling, networking dinner and exhibits followed by brief comments from Dr. Rapundalo. The keynote address will follow.

This year a first-ever Michigan Bio-Talent Summit will precede the Annual Business Meeting from 9 am - 5 pm. The Summit will bring together bio-industry executives, educators, and talent and workforce development stakeholders from around Michigan. Attendees will discuss the bio-industry's current and future talent needs, alignment of curricula with those needs, and best practices in the retention and recruitment of a qualified bioscience workforce.

MichBio is the trade association committed to driving growth of Michigan's biosciences industry. MichBio members include biosciences companies, academic and research institutions, biosciences service providers, and related organizations. For more information, visit http://www.michbio.org.

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White House Biotechnology Director to Keynote 2012 MichBio Annual Business Meeting

Team discovers how bacteria resist a 'Trojan horse' antibiotic

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Public release date: 19-Mar-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Diana Yates diya@illinois.edu 217-333-5802 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

CHAMPAIGN, lll. A new study describes how bacteria use a previously unknown means to defeat an antibiotic. The researchers found that the bacteria have modified a common "housekeeping" enzyme in a way that enables the enzyme to recognize and disarm the antibiotic.

The study appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Bacteria often engage in chemical warfare with one another, and many antibiotics used in medicine are modeled on the weapons they produce. But microbes also must protect themselves from their own toxins. The defenses they employ for protection can be acquired by other species, leading to antibiotic resistance.

The researchers focused on an enzyme, known as MccF, that they knew could disable a potent "Trojan horse" antibiotic that sneaks into cells disguised as a tasty protein meal. The bacterial antibiotic, called microcin C7 (McC7) is similar to a class of drugs used to treat bacterial infections of the skin.

"How Trojan horse antibiotics work is that the antibiotic portion is coupled to something that's fairly innocuous in this case it's a peptide," said University of Illinois biochemistry professor Satish Nair, who led the study. "So susceptible bacteria see this peptide, think of it as food and internalize it."

The meal comes at a price, however: Once the bacterial enzymes chew up the amino acid disguise, the liberated antibiotic is free to attack a key component of protein synthesis in the bacterium, Nair said.

"That is why the organisms that make this thing have to protect themselves," he said.

In previous studies, researchers had found the genes that protect some bacteria from this class of antibiotic toxins, but they didn't know how they worked. These genes code for peptidases, which normally chew up proteins (polypeptides) and lack the ability to recognize anything else.

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Team discovers how bacteria resist a 'Trojan horse' antibiotic

A Chance to Ease the Pain Of a Rescue Hero of 9/11

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A special dog used to help people is getting some much-needed help of her own at a Virginia clinic.

Red, a 12-year-old black Labrador, is one of the last surviving search-and-rescue dogs deployed during the 9/11 attacks, Fox affiliate WTTG-TV reported.

Her handler, Heather Roche, told the station that Red was recently certified when the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, occurred, saying the search-and-rescue operation that followed was her first big mission.

Red's job was to find DNA evidence at the Pentagon's north parking lot with 26 other dogs, according to Roche, who said she did a "fantastic job."

"I got her as a puppy ... You have to convince [her] everything that she does, whether it's climbing ladders or any kind of search, that it's her idea," Roche told WTTG. "No matter what I've asked her to do, she's done it and she's done it flawlessly."

But in her old age, Red developed crippling arthritis and underwent stem cell regenerative therapy Monday to help ease her pain so she can get back out on the job.

Dr. John Herrity of Burke Animal Clinic in Burke, Va., told the station that "Red has a back issue that, after a fall from a ladder, has not really been right, and has been living in pain, so we're going to give those stem cells IV [intravenously] and then also inject them along the back to try to help Red's comfort."

"She's had a great career and has made a difference to a lot of families by bringing their loved ones home," Roche said.

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A Chance to Ease the Pain Of a Rescue Hero of 9/11

9/11 search and rescue dog receives stem cell therapy

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A special dog used to help people is getting some much-needed help of her own at a Virginia clinic, myFOXdc.com reported.

Red, a 12-year-old black Labrador, is one of the last surviving search and rescue dogs deployed during the 9/11 attacks.

Her handler, Heather Roche, told WTTG-TV that Red was recently certified when Sept. 11, 2001, occurred, and the devastating terror attacks were her first big mission.

Red's job was to find DNA evidence at The Pentagon's north parking lot with 26 other dogs, and according to Roche, she did a "fantastic job."

"I got her as a puppy ... You have to convince [her] everything that she does, whether it's climbing ladders or any kind of search, that it's her idea," Roche told WTTG-TV. "No matter what I've asked her to do, she's done it and she's done it flawlessly."

But in her old age Red developed crippling arthritis, and underwent stem cell regenerative therapy Monday to help ease her pain so she can get back out on the job.

Dr. John Herrity of Burke Animal Clinic in Burke, Va., told WTTG-TV, "Red has a back issue that, after a fall from a ladder has not really been right, and has been living in pain, so we're going to give those stem cells IV [intravenously] and then also inject them along the back to try to help Red's comfort."

"She's had a great career and has made a difference to a lot of families by bringing their loved ones home," Roche said.

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9/11 search and rescue dog receives stem cell therapy

SanBio Announces Enrollment of First Cohort of Patients in Its Clinical Trial of Stem Cell Therapy for Chronic Stroke

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MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., March 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- SanBio Inc. today announced the successful enrollment of the first dose cohort of patients in its Phase 1/2a clinical trial testing the safety and efficacy of a novel allogeneic stem cell therapy product, SB623, in patients suffering from chronic deficits resulting from previous stroke injuries. The first 6 patients, of a total of 18, have been successfully administered SB623. The trial is being conducted at Stanford University and the University of Pittsburgh. No safety concerns have been reported. For details regarding this clinical trial, please refer to http://www.strokeclinicaltrial.org.

SB623 is derived from adult bone marrow and has shown safety and efficacy in rodent models of chronic stroke. "This represents a major milestone in the human clinical testing of this important new approach for regenerative medicine", said Keita Mori, SanBio CEO. "We are pleased to learn that the initial dose level was well tolerated."

SB623 is being delivered to the damaged region of the brains of patients who have suffered an ischemic stroke. Product safety is the primary focus of the study but various measurements of efficacy are also being tested.

"The successful completion of the initial dose cohort is a major step in any first-in-human study", said Dr. Ernest Yankee, SanBio's Vice President of Development. "We are looking forward to initiating the next two dose cohorts and wrapping up the study. The safety findings thus far are very encouraging"

About SB623: SB623 is a proprietary cell therapy product consisting of cells derived from genetically engineered bone marrow stromal cells obtained from healthy adult donors. SB623 is administered adjacent to the area damaged by stroke and functions by producing proteins that aid the regenerative process.

About SanBio: SanBio is a privately held San Francisco Bay Area biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of new regenerative cell therapy products.

For more information: http://www.san-bio.com

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SanBio Announces Enrollment of First Cohort of Patients in Its Clinical Trial of Stem Cell Therapy for Chronic Stroke

Hero Dog Receives Stem Cell Therapy

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Stem Cell Therapy Helping Heroic Dogs Recover

News4's Darcy Spencer explains how a breakthrough treatment is helping search and rescue dogs like Red recover after years of working in disaster zones.

A breakthrough treatment is helping area search-and-rescue dogs that played key roles on Sept. 11, 2001, and during other disasters.

Red's first assignment as a search, rescue and recovery dog was at the Pentagon following the 9/11 attacks. Years of rescue work and a 12-foot fall from a ladder have taken a toll. Arthritis forced Red into retirement in July and turned her into a couch potato.

The 12-year-old black lab received a breakthrough stem cell treatment today that will ease her pain and give her more mobility.

Her veterinarian, Dr. John Herrity, of the Burke Animal Clinic, has done more than two dozen of the stem cell operations developed by Medivet America, which also donated the cost of the procedure.

The treatment won't bring Red back out of retirement, but it is expected to put spring back in her step within a couple of months.

Two other 9/11 search-and-rescued dogs have been treated with stem cell therapy and are back to their normal activities.

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Hero Dog Receives Stem Cell Therapy

Cell-in-a-Box® Encapsulation Technology Creates Extensive Applications within the Stem Cell Arena

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SILVER SPRING, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Nuvilex, Inc. (OTCQB:NVLX), an emerging biotechnology provider of cell and gene therapy solutions through its acquisition of the SG Austria assets, today discussed the value of encapsulation, freezing, storage, survivability and localization of human stem cells once implanted using the proprietary Cell-in-a-Box technology.

The encapsulation of human stem cells is enabled by the Cell-in-a-Box technology, which can then be frozen, stored and later implanted into target tissues. The benefits of encapsulation are several: first, the process allows for freezing of stem cells for long-term storage without appreciably affecting viability. Second, encapsulation protects the stem cells from stress factors caused by direct aeration and sheer forces associated with bioreactors. Third, Cell-in-a-Box encapsulated stem cells are held in place at the site of implantation, maximizing their potential efficacy as they have the potential to stimulate growth of surrounding new, healthy tissue. Finally, encapsulated cells may prevent any potential side effects associated with direct injection since they remain localized to the area of treatment when encapsulated.

Dr. Robert Ryan, Chief Executive Officer of Nuvilex, commented, For many years it was assumed stem cells existed only to replace cells that had died or were damaged. Recent studies suggest factors stem cells secrete provide signals to surrounding tissue that can stimulate regeneration. The potential therefore, is that if stem cells can be maintained at a particular site where damaged, removed or non-functional tissue was through some sort of holding mechanism, this may aid in a positive growth response in that tissue. In addition, the stem cells themselves have the potential to undergo development into the appropriate cell type at that location, potentially creating miniature organs. The Cell-in-a-Box technology is designed specifically for those purposes. Thus, encapsulated stem cells would be implanted and remain in place, ultimately being able to serve a broad number of medical applications entirely dependent on where in the body they are placed.

About Nuvilex

Nuvilex, Inc. (OTCQB:NVLX) is an emerging international biotechnology provider of live clinically useful, therapeutically valuable, encapsulated cells, as well as services for encapsulating live cells for the research and medical communities. Through substantial effort, the aspects of our corporate activities alone and in concert with SG Austria continue to move toward agreement completion and ultimately a strong future together. Our companys ultimate clinical offerings will include cancer, diabetes and other treatments using the companys industry-leading cell and gene therapy expertise and cutting edge, live-cell encapsulation technology.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 involving risks and uncertainties, including product demand, market competition, and Nuvilexs ability to meet current or future plans which may cause actual results, events, and performances, expressed or implied, to vary and/or differ from those contemplated or predicted. Investors should study and understand all risks before making an investment decision. Readers are recommended not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. Nuvilex is not obliged to publicly release revisions to any forward-looking statement, to reflect events or circumstances afterward, or to disclose unanticipated occurrences, except as required under applicable laws.

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Cell-in-a-Box® Encapsulation Technology Creates Extensive Applications within the Stem Cell Arena

iWorx Introduces High Performance Data Acquisition System with Analytical Software for OEM Applications

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DOVER, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

iWorx, a developer of advanced physiology research tools, has introduced the IX-404E Data Acquisition System for OEM applications that require data recording and analysis. The cost-effective, high performance system features four single-ended analog inputs and a 16 bit analog-to-digital converter. The system is capable of sampling at up to 10 k/s/s per channel on each of its 4 channels and can be easily embedded into a variety of biomedical and analytical devices.

The IX-404E system is controlled by iWorx LabScribe2 Recording and Analysis Software which is included with the system. LabScribe2 software features an intuitive, user-friendly interface for setting up acquisition screens, calibrating signals and analyzing data. A comprehensive set of analytical routines have been preconfigured making data analysis and interpretation quick and easy. LabScribe2 software also includes a scripting function for creating custom analytical routines.

More information on iWorx IX-404E Data Acquisition System can be found at http://www.iworx.com. Contact iWorx Systems, Inc., 62 Littleworth Road, Dover, NH 03820 (T) (800) 234-1757, (F) (603) 742-2455, billm@iworx.com.

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About iWorx

iWorx advanced research solutions include high performance recording hardware, software, and components that accelerate metabolic, cardiovascular, neuromuscular and respiratory physiology research. In addition to data acquisition systems, iWorx offers a full selection of signal conditioners, stimulators, transducers, electrodes, cables, and general-purpose laboratory equipment and accessories.

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iWorx Introduces High Performance Data Acquisition System with Analytical Software for OEM Applications