Monthly Archives: August 2012

Biotech Industry Soaring in 2012 — ISIS Pharmaceuticals Surges on Strong Results

Posted on by

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire -08/08/12)- The Biotechnology Industry has been soaring in 2012 as companies -- both large and small -- have shown impressive growth. The SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (XBI) and the First Trust NYSE Arca Biotech Index ETF (FBT) are up roughly 32 percent for the year, outperforming the broader market by a wide margin. The Paragon Report examines investing opportunities in the Biotechnology Industry and provides equity research on ISIS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ISIS) and Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ACHN).

Access to the full company reports can be found at:

http://www.ParagonReport.com/ISIS

http://www.ParagonReport.com/ACHN

Despite having to negotiate a more challenging regulation process biotech companies have continued to show investors strong gains in 2012. The FDA Amendments Act of 2007 forced regulators to increase standards for approvals of new drugs, introducing mandatory risk evaluation and mitigation strategies. According to a Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology report from IMAP, several pharmaceutical firms have altered their drug portfolios from primary care driven blockbusters towards specialties such as oncology, immunology and inflammation, where the medical need is "so high that prices are more easily accepted by the regulators."

Paragon Report releases regular market updates on the Biotechnology Industry so investors can stay ahead of the crowd and make the best investment decisions to maximize their returns. Take a few minutes to register with us free at http://www.ParagonReport.com and get exclusive access to our numerous stock reports and industry newsletters.

Isis is exploiting its leadership position in antisense technology to discover and develop novel drugs for its product pipeline and for its partners. Isis' broad pipeline consists of 25 drugs to treat a wide variety of diseases with an emphasis on cardiovascular, metabolic, severe and rare diseases, and cancer. The company reported revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2012 were $47.3 million, nearly double the total for the same period in 2011.

Achillion is an innovative pharmaceutical company dedicated to bringing important new treatments to patients with infectious disease. Achillion's proven discovery and development teams have advanced multiple product candidates with novel mechanisms of action. Achillion is focused on solutions for the most challenging problems in infectious disease including hepatitis C and resistant bacterial infections.

The Paragon Report has not been compensated by any of the above-mentioned publicly traded companies. Paragon Report is compensated by other third party organizations for advertising services. We act as an independent research portal and are aware that all investment entails inherent risks. Please view the full disclaimer at:

http://www.paragonreport.com/disclaimer

Follow this link:
Biotech Industry Soaring in 2012 -- ISIS Pharmaceuticals Surges on Strong Results

New substances 15,000 times more effective in destroying chemical warfare agents

Posted on by

In an advance that could be used in masks to protect against nerve gas, scientists are reporting development of proteins that are up to 15,000 times more effective than their natural counterpart in destroying chemical warfare agents. Their report appears in ACS' journal Biochemistry.

Frank Raushel, David Barondeau and colleagues explain that a soil bacterium makes a protein called phosphotriesterase (PTE), which is an enzyme that detoxifies some pesticides and chemical warfare agents like sarin and tabun. PTE thus has potential uses in protecting soldiers and others. Natural PTE, however, works against only one of the two molecular forms of these chemical warfare agents, and it happens to be the less toxic form. The scientists thus set out to develop new versions of PTE that were more effective against the most toxic form.

To improve the enzyme's activity, Raushel and colleagues used an approach called "directed evolution." This technique imitates the way natural selection leads to improved forms of the biochemical substances in living things. In using directed evolution, the team made small random changes to the natural enzyme's chemical architecture and then tested resulting mutant enzymes for their ability to break down nerve agents. They isolated several mutants that fit the bill, including one that proved to be 15,000 times more effective than the natural enzyme.

More information: Enzymes for the Homeland Defense: Optimizing Phosphotriesterase for the Hydrolysis of Organophosphate Nerve Agents Biochemistry, Article ASAP. DOI: 10.1021/bi300811t

Abstract Phosphotriesterase (PTE) from soil bacteria is known for its ability to catalyze the detoxification of organophosphate pesticides and chemical warfare agents. Most of the organophosphate chemical warfare agents are a mixture of two stereoisomers at the phosphorus center, and the SP-enantiomers are significantly more toxic than the RP-enantiomers. In previous investigations, PTE variants were created through the manipulation of the substrate binding pockets and these mutants were shown to have greater catalytic activities for the detoxification of the more toxic SP-enantiomers of nerve agent analogues for GB, GD, GF, VX, and VR than the less toxic RP-enantiomers. In this investigation, alternate strategies were employed to discover additional PTE variants with significant improvements in catalytic activities relative to that of the wild-type enzyme. Screening and selection techniques were utilized to isolate PTE variants from randomized libraries and site specific modifications. The catalytic activities of these newly identified PTE variants toward the SP-enantiomers of chromophoric analogues of GB, GD, GF, VX, and VR have been improved up to 15000-fold relative to that of the wild-type enzyme. The X-ray crystal structures of the best PTE variants were determined. Characterization of these mutants with the authentic G-type nerve agents has confirmed the expected improvements in catalytic activity against the most toxic enantiomers of GB, GD, and GF. The values of kcat/Km for the H257Y/L303T (YT) mutant for the hydrolysis of GB, GD, and GF were determined to be 2 106, 5 105, and 8 105 M1 s1, respectively. The YT mutant is the most proficient enzyme reported thus far for the detoxification of G-type nerve agents. These results support a combinatorial strategy of rational design and directed evolution as a powerful tool for the discovery of more efficient enzymes for the detoxification of organophosphate nerve agents.

Journal reference: Biochemistry

Provided by American Chemical Society

Read more:
New substances 15,000 times more effective in destroying chemical warfare agents

What Is Anatomy?

Posted on by

Editor's Choice Main Category: Biology / Biochemistry Article Date: 07 Aug 2012 - 22:00 PDT

Current ratings for: What Is Anatomy?

3 (1 votes)

The word anatomy comes from the Greek ana- meaning "up", and tome- meaning "a cutting". Anatomy, especially in the past, has depended heavily on dissection. In Greek and Latin the words "anatomy" and "dissection" have virtually the same meanings. Although both words have similar origins, anatomy has evolved to become a broad discipline of its own, while dissection remains a technique of anatomical science.

Anatomy can be divided into Gross Anatomy (macroscopic anatomy) and Microscopic Anatomy.

Gross anatomy may involve dissection or noninvasive methods; the aim is to acquire data about the larger structures of organs and organ systems.

In dissection, the human or animal cadaver is cut open and its organs are studied. Endoscopy, inserting a tube with a camera at the end, might be used to study structures within living animals. There are non-invasive way of studying, for example, the blood vessels of living animals or humans; an opaque dye may be inserted into the animal to observe the circulatory system (angiography). Live beings may also be studied using MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or X-ray.

Medical and dental students, as part of their course, will have to perform some kind of practical work in gross human anatomy, this will involve dissection. In many cases, the students dissect human corpses (cadavers).

Sectioning - is cutting tissue into very thin slices so they can be examined. Histological stains are added to biological structures (such as tissues) to add colors or to enhance their colors so they can be more easily distinguished when they are examined, especially if different structures are next to each other. Histology is a discipline that is vital for the understanding and advancement of medicine, veterinary medicine, biology, and some other sub-disciplines of the life sciences.

Histology is used for:

Follow this link:
What Is Anatomy?

Iron, Vitamins Could Affect Physical Fitness in Adolescents

Posted on by

Article is published in the Journal of Applied Physiology

Newswise Bethesda, Md. (Aug. 8, 2012)Adolescence is an important time not only for growing but for acquiring healthy habits that will last a lifetime, such as choosing foods rich in vitamins and minerals, and adopting a regular exercise regimen. Unfortunately, several studies have shown that adolescents intake of important nutrients, as well as their performance on standard physical fitness tests, has fallen in recent years. Because nutrition and fitness are intertwinedfor example, iron forms part of hemoglobin, which carries oxygen to muscles, and antioxidants such as vitamin C aid in rebuilding damage after intense trainingthese two findings could be related. In a new study, researchers have found that adolescents blood levels of various micronutrients are correlated with how well they performed in certain physical fitness tests. Though these results dont prove causality, they suggest a new relationship between different measures of adolescent health.

The article is entitled Iron and Vitamin Status Biomarkers and its Association with Physical Fitness in Adolescents. The HELENA Study. and is online at http://bit.ly/Q2j6lJ. It appears in the online edition of the Journal of Applied Physiology, a publication of the American Physiological Society.

Methodology Researcher Luis Gracia-Marco of the University of Zaragoza, Spain and his colleagues relied on data from a larger, long-term research project known as the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescents Cross-Sectional Study, or HELENA-CSS. Part of this study, which involved thousands of volunteers between the ages of 12.5 and 17.5 in cities scattered across Europe, gathered nutrition and physical fitness data. Blood samples taken in one third of the volunteers (n=1089) were tested for a variety of micronutrients, including hemoglobin, indicative of iron intake, soluble transferrin receptor, serum ferritin, retinol, vitamin C, beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol, vitamin B6, cobalamin, holo-transcobalamin, plasma folate, RCB folate and vitamin D. The volunteers physical fitness was also assessed through a standing long jump test, which assesses lower-body muscular strength, and a 20 meter shuttle run test, which assesses cardiovascular fitness through maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max). When looking for correlations between the micronutrient levels and physical fitness, they took into account the adolescents age, time of year, latitude of the city they lived in, body mass index, age of menarche in females, and amount of regular physical activity (using accelerometers).

Results The researchers found that blood levels of certain micronutrients were intimately connected with the volunteers performance on the physical fitness tests. For cardiorespiratory fitness, concentrations of hemoglobin, retinol, and vitamin C in males and beta-carotene and vitamin D in females was associated with VO2max. For muscular fitness, concentrations of hemoglobin, beta-carotene, retinol, and alpha-tocopherol in males and beta-carotene and vitamin D in females was associated with performing better on the standing long jump test.

Importance of the Findings The authors suggest that studies connecting micronutrients, such as the ones they measured, with physical fitness in any population has been controversial and limited. This is especially true for adolescents, a group thats often difficult to gather information on. This new study, they say, is one of the first to find connections between micronutrients and physical fitness in this age group, with the strength of controlling the results for a complete set of relevant confounders. Yet, they note that more research still needs to be done.

The associations between physical fitness and iron or vitamin status observed in this cross-sectional study in adolescents should be followed up by a study specifically designed to evaluate causal relationships, the authors write.

Research Team In addition to Luis Gracia-Marco, the study team also includes Faustino R. Perez-Lopez, German Vicente-Rodriguez, and Luis A. Moreno, University of Zaragoza, Spain; Jara Valtuena and Marcela Gonzalez-Gross, Technical University of Madrid, Spain; Francisco B. Ortega, Karolinska Institute, Sweden; Christina Breidenassel and Peter Stehle, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms Universitat, Germany; Marika Ferrari and Giuseppe Maiani, National Research Institute on Food and Nutrition, Italy; Denes Molnar, University of Pecs, Hungary; Kurt Widhalm, Medical University of Vienna, Austria; Stefaan de Henauw, Ghent University, Belgium; Anthony Kafatos, University of Crete, Greece; Ligia E. Diaz, CSIC Madrid, Spain; Frederic Gottrand, University of Lille 2, France; and Manuel Castillo, University of Granada, Spain.

Funding Primary funding for the study was received from the Spanish Ministry of Health, Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, and the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation. Support for the HELENA Study was received through grants from the European Community Sixth TRD Framework Programme.

###

Link:
Iron, Vitamins Could Affect Physical Fitness in Adolescents

Star Nutrition Hires Pin Group to Increase Distribution to Home Shopping Channels and Major Retailers

Posted on by

CHICO, CA--(Marketwire -08/08/12)- Star Nutrition, Inc. (STAU), a California-based diversified health and wellness industry firm, has signed a contract with the Pin Group to increase product distribution to home-shopping channels and "big box" stores. Pin Group will utilize its affiliations with major retailers to help Incrediwear products become available to more consumers nationwide under the brand Bambosa, which uses Incrediwear technology.

"The consumer demand for our products has never been higher. And while our comprehensive network of distributors have done a great job getting our products to market, we really feel like Pin Group can help take us to that next level," says Star Nutrition CEO Jackson Corley. "We're really excited to get started on this business relationship and see Star Nutrition grow to new heights."

The new relationship will now include television, radio, print, direct mail, retail and home-shopping channels. The two-minute and 30-minute television segments were shot in May, while radio and print ads were finished last month. An infomercial will begin immediately in print and radio, and there will be a beta test of the television version.

"We always have to be mindful that we are working high-end, superior products as we have an excellent reputation to maintain," said Michael Xirinachs, CEO of Pin Group. "And the Incrediwear line matches up with our philosophy brilliantly. Their products are used and loved by some of the most amazing athletes worldwide, and that says a lot to us. We can't wait to work with them and build a Direct Response channel, as well as leverage our affiliations with major retailers."

Incrediwear products, such as the Incredisocks and Incredibrace lines, couple proven health benefits with extreme comfort. Because of their anion technology, the products increase circulation, regulate temperature, are antimicrobial and wick away moisture.

About Star Nutrition, Inc. California-based Star Nutrition is a publicly traded company (STAU) that prides itself on providing innovative, over-the-counter health care products. Its mission is to focus on producing products that will enhance the lives and wellness of its customers.

For more information visit Incrediwear.com or BuyIncrediwear.com.

Join the Incrediwear community at Facebook.com/Incrediwear and @Incrediwear.

See original here:
Star Nutrition Hires Pin Group to Increase Distribution to Home Shopping Channels and Major Retailers

Longevity: Make It For Better, Not Worse

Posted on by

Older Americans are paying attention to the steady stream of research findings and stories about impressive gains in longevity.

In particular, we have a pretty accurate view of the increases achieved in average life spans, according to the sixth biennial study of longevity sponsored by the Society of Actuaries (SOA).

Ask Americans age 65 and older how much longer they expect to live, and you're likely to get a fairly accurate response, the SOA reports. "By age 65, U.S. males in average health have a 40 percent chance of living to age 85 and females more than a 50 percent chance," the report says, and "the survivor of a 65-year-old couple is more than 70 percent likely to reach 85."

There also are encouraging signs that this recognition is leading to changes in financial planning and preparation for a longer retirement. In particular, greater attention is being paid to the age at which people begin to collect Social Security.

The program's early-retirement benefits can begin at age 62, but rise by about 8 percent a year for each year benefits are delayed until age 70. As people have become more confident that they will live to older ages, the appeal of delaying Social Security is on the rise.

But if we "get it" about longevity, the SOA warns, we still have a very sketchy understanding of longevity risks, a catch-all term that encompasses concerns about amassing enough money for retirement and then producing sufficient annual income payments so that we do not outlive our assets. "Many fail to understand the potential consequences of living beyond their own planned life expectancy," the report says. "Many people are not focused on risk management, and making assets last for the rest of their lives is not their highest priority."

In thinking about the implications of longevity, three strong themes emerge from the SOA's research and public polling:

1. Beware of the averages. By definition, our collective life spans represent an accurate figure on average longevity. But individual life spans differ greatly from these averages. "When people are told they will live to an age such as 80 or 85, they don't realize this means there is a 50 percent chance they could live longer than that age," the report says. People with lots of education and financial resources are likely to live much longer than average.

Likewise, Americans with little money or schooling are likely to live shorter lives, a fact that is often overlooked in proposals to increase the Social Security retirement age. The nation's longevity gap is distressingly large, the SOA report notes. "In the poorest part of the United States, life expectancy at birth is as low as in countries like Panama or Pakistan, a full 15 years behind the wealthiest and healthiest regions of the nation, where it rivals that of world leaders, Switzerland and Japan."

2. Understand your health risks. Lifestyle choices dominate longevity gains until we reach old age, the SOA says, at which point genetics is the greatest driver of remaining life spans. Beyond influencing how long we live, the ways we take care of ourselves can also determine the quality of our lives as we age as well as the financial burden of older-age health expenses.

See the rest here:
Longevity: Make It For Better, Not Worse

SaneVax Announces Medical Surprise: Gardasil® HPV DNA Discovered in Post-Mortem Blood and Spleen Tissue

Posted on by

TROY, Montana--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

According to Norma Erickson, President of SaneVax Inc., testimony provided for a coroners inquest into the death of Jasmine Renata in New Zealand by Dr. Sin Hang Lee, a pathologist on the medical staff at Connecticuts Milford Hospital, revealed the discovery of HPV DNA fragments in post-mortem samples 6 months after Gardasil vaccination.

Dr. Lees testimony stated:

The finding of these foreign DNA fragments in the post-mortem samples six months after vaccination indicates that some of the residual DNA fragments from the viral gene or plasmid injected with Gardasil have been protected from degradation in the form of DNA-aluminum complexes in the macrophages; or via integration into the human genome.

Undegraded viral and plasmid DNA fragments are known to activate macrophages, causing them to release tumor necrosis factor, a myocardial depressant which can induce lethal shock in animals and humans.

Dr. Lee testified, The naked DNA in the vaccine was probably stabilized through a chemical binding between the mineral aluminum and the phosphate backbone of the double-stranded DNA.

Dr. Lee did not claim the HPV-16 L1 gene DNA he discovered in the post-mortem blood and spleen samples was the cause of the sudden and unexplained death of the New Zealand teenager in her sleep. He noted that the full autopsy analysis had ruled out all known causes of death, and stated that his discovery presented a plausible mechanism of action that needed further investigation in all cases of unexplained deaths following Gardasil vaccinations.

Dr. Lees testimony was provided via an international video link before Coroner Ian Smith in Wellington NZ at the request of the parents of the deceased girl on August 9.

Dr. Lee tested a total of 16 Gardasil samples from around the world under contract with the non-profit organization SaneVax Inc. Five of the Gardasil samples were distributed in New Zealand, each with a different lot number. Dr. Lee found HPV-16 L1 gene DNA fragments admixed with HPV-18 and/or HPV 11 L1 gene DNA in all samples. These HPV DNA fragments were firmly bound to the amorphous aluminum hydroxyphosphate sulfate (AAHS) particles used as an adjuvant in the vaccine formulation.

Dr. Lee is known for using the nested PCR/DNA sequencing technology for reliable detection and genotyping of HPV in clinical specimens. He is the author of the chapter, Guidelines for the Use of Molecular Tests for the Detection and Genotyping of Human Papillomavirus from Clinical Specimens in a Methods in Molecular Biology volume published by Humana Press in July 2012.

More here:
SaneVax Announces Medical Surprise: Gardasil® HPV DNA Discovered in Post-Mortem Blood and Spleen Tissue

Posted in DNA

Custom DNA Art Installation

Posted on by

When a Texas based entrepreneur and art aficionado contacted DNA Art US about providing DNA art for all his family we were, naturally, very interested. Ideas were discussed and over time these ideas developed into a unique series of artworks that would be the centerpiece of his art collection.

Each of the four pieces is a whopping 99 inches long and 16 inches wide. The incredible color reproduction of the Orange Aid color scheme ideally compliments the natural stone and the surrounding decor.

The floor to ceiling windows created a lot of glare on our regular acrylic product; the solution was museum quality non glare acrylic. This exotic material reduces reflections to less than 15% while maintaining over 98% light transmission. All that plus it is only half the weight of glass. In common with all our range of acrylic and metal DNA art products the wall mountings are hidden giving the impression of the artworks floating in space.

President of DNA Art US LLC, Ric Harrison, says, We enjoyed the challenge of producing totally unique custom DNA artworks for our customer. Since beginning that project we have had other requests for custom pieces and we see this as a growing market for people who want to express their personalities in different, eye-catching ways

Ordering and information about the process is available on the website, http://www.dna-art-us.com. The standard range of artworks can depict the DNA of one, two, or four people but any number can be included in a wide range of custom styles and sizes.

DNA Art US offers the DNA Vision and DNA Vision Zoom ranges in collaboration with DNA Art UK. This partnership provides the best of British design coupled with innovative American production processes. DNA Art US are the only company providing the highest quality materials, processes and genuine craftsmen to produce handmade printed artworks on acrylic, canvas and metal worthy of the name masterpiece.

Obtaining the DNA sample is very easy. Customers receive a DNA Collection kit through the mail and, using the enclosed sterile swab; simply rub the inside of the cheek with it. Cells from the inner cheek membrane are absorbed within the cotton. Place the swab back in the protective case and return it to DNA Art US and they take care of the rest.

It starts in the laboratory where the DNA is processed over a number of days to draw out and highlight each unique DNA pattern. At the optimum moment, the DNA pattern is photographed using a special camera. The image is then provided to one of the designers.

Each DNA sample is assigned a unique reference and that is used to track the sample all the way through the laboratory, design and production processes guaranteeing authenticity of the artwork. No need to be concerned about privacy either because all samples are destroyed after the photograph is taken. A certificate of authenticity is provided with the DNA masterpiece.

There are 25 standard designs to choose from and two display options, Original and Zoom. Thats 50 different ways to display your unique DNA. In addition to that, every customer has the opportunity to add their own signature, to the finished image after all, every great artist signs their work!

Here is the original post:
Custom DNA Art Installation

Posted in DNA

Oh, my stars and hexagons! DNA code shapes gold nanoparticles

Posted on by

ScienceDaily (Aug. 8, 2012) DNA holds the genetic code for all sorts of biological molecules and traits. But University of Illinois researchers have found that DNA's code can similarly shape metallic structures.

The team found that DNA segments can direct the shape of gold nanoparticles -- tiny gold crystals that have many applications in medicine, electronics and catalysis. Led by Yi Lu, the Schenck Professor of Chemistry at the U. of I., the team published its surprising findings in the journal Angewandte Chemie.

"DNA-encoded nanoparticle synthesis can provide us a facile but novel way to produce nanoparticles with predictable shape and properties," Lu said. "Such a discovery has potential impacts in bio-nanotechnology and applications in our everyday lives such as catalysis, sensing, imaging and medicine."

Gold nanoparticles have wide applications in both biology and materials science thanks to their unique physicochemical properties. Properties of a gold nanoparticle are largely determined by its shape and size, so it is critical to be able to tailor the properties of a nanoparticle for a specific application.

"We wondered whether different combinations of DNA sequences could constitute 'genetic codes' to direct the nanomaterial synthesis in a way similar to their direction of protein synthesis," said Zidong Wang, a recent graduate of Lu's group and the first author of the paper.

Gold nanoparticles are made by sewing tiny gold seeds in a solution of gold salt. Particles grow as gold in the salt solution deposits onto the seeds. Lu's group incubated the gold seeds with short segments of DNA before adding the salt solution, causing the particles to grow into various shapes determined by the genetic code of the DNA.

The DNA alphabet comprises four letters: A, T, G and C. The term genetic code refers to the sequence of these letters, called bases. The four bases and their combinations can bind differently with facets of gold nanoseeds and direct the nanoseeds' growth pathways, resulting in different shapes.

In their experiments, the researchers found that strands of repeating A's produced rough, round gold particles; T's, stars; C's, round, flat discs; G's, hexagons. Then the group tested DNA strands that were a combination of two bases, for example, 10 T's and 20 A's. They found that many of the bases compete with each other resulting in intermediate shapes, although A dominates over T.

Next, the researchers plan to investigate exactly how DNA codes direct nanoparticle growth. They also plan to apply their method to synthesize other types of nanomaterials with novel applications.

The National Science Foundation supported this work.

Read this article:
Oh, my stars and hexagons! DNA code shapes gold nanoparticles

Posted in DNA

Molecular economics: New computer models calculate systems-wide costs of gene expression

Posted on by

Project Scientist Daniel Hyduke and Ph.D. candidate Joshua Lerman, in the Palsson Systems Biology Research Group, Department of Bioengineering, discuss how their model enables detailed calculations of the total cost of synthesizing many different chemicals, including biofuels. Photo Credit: UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering

(Phys.org) -- Bioengineers at the University of California, San Diego have developed a method of modeling, simultaneously, an organisms metabolism and its underlying gene expression. In the emerging field of systems biology, scientists model cellular behavior in order to understand how processes such as metabolism and gene expression relate to one another and bring about certain characteristics in the larger organism.

In addition to serving as a platform for investigating fundamental biological questions, this technology enables far more detailed calculations of the total cost of synthesizing many different chemicals, including biofuels. Their method accounts, in molecular detail, for the material and energy required to keep a cell growing, the research team reported in the journal Nature Communications.

This is a major advance in genome-scale analysis that accounts for the fundamental biological process of gene expression and notably expands the number of cellular phenotypes that we can compute, said Bernhard Palsson, Galetti Professor of Bioengineering, at the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering.

With this new method, it is now possible to perform computer simulations of systems-level molecular biology to formulate questions about fundamental life processes, the cellular impacts of genetic manipulation or to quantitatively analyze gene expression data, said Joshua Lerman, a Ph.D. candidate in Palssons Systems Biology Research Group.

The teams method can be compared to understanding both the chemical reactions and the machinery that are required to refine crude oil into petrol in a large, industrial factory. Modeling metabolism tells you what biochemical reactions need to take place. Modeling the organisms gene expression tells you what kind of machinery you need. The teams method specifically accounts for the expression of enzymes, which are the molecular machines responsible for the biochemical processes of life. With this knowledge, it is possible to explore how an organism distributes its resources to promote growth and how genetic manipulation of these organisms alters this distribution.

What you could hypothetically do with our model is simulate the total cost of producing a value-added product, such as a biofuel. That includes all the operating and maintenance costs, said Daniel Hyduke, a project scientist in Palssons lab. Hyduke said the method has the potential to help streamline industrial metabolic engineering efforts by providing a near complete accounting of the minimal material and energy costs associated with novel strain designs for biofuel, commodity chemicals, and recombinant protein production.

Hyduke and Lerman prototyped the method on the minimal, yet metabolically versatile, hyperthermophile Thermotoga maritima. Because T. maritima is not currently ready for use in industrial applications, Hyduke and Lerman are working as part of a larger team to produce similar models for industrially relevant microorganisms, such as E. coli.

Weve built a virtual reality simulator of metabolism and gene expression for Thermotoga maritima, and shown that it much better approximates phenotypes of cells than modeling metabolism in isolation, said Lerman.

Journal reference: Nature Communications

Here is the original post:
Molecular economics: New computer models calculate systems-wide costs of gene expression

Hanna team wins Biology Bowl at Clemson

Posted on by

The T.L. Hanna High School Biology Bowl Team recently won the annual Bobby G. Wixon Biology Bowl at Clemson University.

More than 900 students took the biology merit exam, and the T.L. Hanna team came out on top in Division III.

Here are the different rankings that student can achieve: Placing in first, second or third means that a student is in the top one percent; an "honorable mention" places a student in the top three percent; a "second honorable mention" places a student in the top 10 percent.

Congratulations to the team and Richard Morand for their efforts. Here are the results for T.L. Hanna participants:

Michael Baker, first place (tie); Nicholas Royals, first place (tie); Jeanette Rodriguez, first place; Adam Schnell, second place (Biology Bowl); and Adam Schnell, third place (Biology Merit Exam).

Also, Nathan Henk, Timothy Moss, Alex Stoll, Victoria Murphree, Molly Bedenbaugh, Daniel Lippiat and Kayli Henk achieved honorable mention and Alex Rubin achieved second honorable mention.

Excerpt from:
Hanna team wins Biology Bowl at Clemson

Research and Markets: Comprehensive Chiroptical Spectroscopy. Applications in Stereochemical Analysis of Synthetic …

Posted on by

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/bpl7ss/comprehensive_chir) has announced the addition of John Wiley and Sons Ltd's new book "Comprehensive Chiroptical Spectroscopy. Applications in Stereochemical Analysis of Synthetic Compounds, Natural Products, and Biomolecules" to their offering.

This book provides an introduction to the important methods of chiroptical spectroscopy in general, and circular dichroism (CD) in particular, which are increasingly important in all areas of chemistry, biochemistry, and structural biology. The book can be used as a text for undergraduate and graduate students and as a reference for researchers in academia and industry.

Experimental methods and instrumentation are described with topics ranging from the most widely used methods (electronic and vibrational CD) to frontier areas such as nonlinear spectroscopy and photoelectron CD, as well as the theory of chiroptical methods and techniques for simulating chiroptical properties. Applications of chiroptical spectroscopy to problems in organic stereochemistry, inorganic stereochemistry, and biochemistry and structural biology are also discussed, and each chapter is written by one or more leading authorities with extensive experience in the field.

Key Topics Covered:

PART I A HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

PART II ORGANIC STEREOCHEMISTRY

PART III INORGANIC STEREOCHEMISTRY

PART IV BIOMOLECULES

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/bpl7ss/comprehensive_chir

Read more from the original source:
Research and Markets: Comprehensive Chiroptical Spectroscopy. Applications in Stereochemical Analysis of Synthetic ...

New substances 15,000 times more effective in destroying chemical warfare agents

Posted on by

In an advance that could be used in masks to protect against nerve gas, scientists are reporting development of proteins that are up to 15,000 times more effective than their natural counterpart in destroying chemical warfare agents. Their report appears in ACS' journal Biochemistry.

Frank Raushel, David Barondeau and colleagues explain that a soil bacterium makes a protein called phosphotriesterase (PTE), which is an enzyme that detoxifies some pesticides and chemical warfare agents like sarin and tabun. PTE thus has potential uses in protecting soldiers and others. Natural PTE, however, works against only one of the two molecular forms of these chemical warfare agents, and it happens to be the less toxic form. The scientists thus set out to develop new versions of PTE that were more effective against the most toxic form.

To improve the enzyme's activity, Raushel and colleagues used an approach called "directed evolution." This technique imitates the way natural selection leads to improved forms of the biochemical substances in living things. In using directed evolution, the team made small random changes to the natural enzyme's chemical architecture and then tested resulting mutant enzymes for their ability to break down nerve agents. They isolated several mutants that fit the bill, including one that proved to be 15,000 times more effective than the natural enzyme.

More information: Enzymes for the Homeland Defense: Optimizing Phosphotriesterase for the Hydrolysis of Organophosphate Nerve Agents Biochemistry, Article ASAP. DOI: 10.1021/bi300811t

Abstract Phosphotriesterase (PTE) from soil bacteria is known for its ability to catalyze the detoxification of organophosphate pesticides and chemical warfare agents. Most of the organophosphate chemical warfare agents are a mixture of two stereoisomers at the phosphorus center, and the SP-enantiomers are significantly more toxic than the RP-enantiomers. In previous investigations, PTE variants were created through the manipulation of the substrate binding pockets and these mutants were shown to have greater catalytic activities for the detoxification of the more toxic SP-enantiomers of nerve agent analogues for GB, GD, GF, VX, and VR than the less toxic RP-enantiomers. In this investigation, alternate strategies were employed to discover additional PTE variants with significant improvements in catalytic activities relative to that of the wild-type enzyme. Screening and selection techniques were utilized to isolate PTE variants from randomized libraries and site specific modifications. The catalytic activities of these newly identified PTE variants toward the SP-enantiomers of chromophoric analogues of GB, GD, GF, VX, and VR have been improved up to 15000-fold relative to that of the wild-type enzyme. The X-ray crystal structures of the best PTE variants were determined. Characterization of these mutants with the authentic G-type nerve agents has confirmed the expected improvements in catalytic activity against the most toxic enantiomers of GB, GD, and GF. The values of kcat/Km for the H257Y/L303T (YT) mutant for the hydrolysis of GB, GD, and GF were determined to be 2 106, 5 105, and 8 105 M1 s1, respectively. The YT mutant is the most proficient enzyme reported thus far for the detoxification of G-type nerve agents. These results support a combinatorial strategy of rational design and directed evolution as a powerful tool for the discovery of more efficient enzymes for the detoxification of organophosphate nerve agents.

Journal reference: Biochemistry

Provided by American Chemical Society

Go here to see the original:
New substances 15,000 times more effective in destroying chemical warfare agents

What Is Anatomy?

Posted on by

Editor's Choice Main Category: Biology / Biochemistry Article Date: 07 Aug 2012 - 22:00 PDT

Current ratings for: What Is Anatomy?

3 (1 votes)

The word anatomy comes from the Greek ana- meaning "up", and tome- meaning "a cutting". Anatomy, especially in the past, has depended heavily on dissection. In Greek and Latin the words "anatomy" and "dissection" have virtually the same meanings. Although both words have similar origins, anatomy has evolved to become a broad discipline of its own, while dissection remains a technique of anatomical science.

Anatomy can be divided into Gross Anatomy (macroscopic anatomy) and Microscopic Anatomy.

Gross anatomy may involve dissection or noninvasive methods; the aim is to acquire data about the larger structures of organs and organ systems.

In dissection, the human or animal cadaver is cut open and its organs are studied. Endoscopy, inserting a tube with a camera at the end, might be used to study structures within living animals. There are non-invasive way of studying, for example, the blood vessels of living animals or humans; an opaque dye may be inserted into the animal to observe the circulatory system (angiography). Live beings may also be studied using MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or X-ray.

Medical and dental students, as part of their course, will have to perform some kind of practical work in gross human anatomy, this will involve dissection. In many cases, the students dissect human corpses (cadavers).

Sectioning - is cutting tissue into very thin slices so they can be examined. Histological stains are added to biological structures (such as tissues) to add colors or to enhance their colors so they can be more easily distinguished when they are examined, especially if different structures are next to each other. Histology is a discipline that is vital for the understanding and advancement of medicine, veterinary medicine, biology, and some other sub-disciplines of the life sciences.

Histology is used for:

Visit link:
What Is Anatomy?

TiGenix completes recruitment for arthritis trial

Posted on by

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgian biotechnology firm TiGenix has recruited enough patients to start a mid-stage trial for its stem cell-based treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, it said on Wednesday. "This is the most advanced stem cell therapy trial in rheumatoid arthritis in the world, and completing the enrolment on time confirms our leadership position in the field," said chief executive Eduardo ...

More:

TiGenix completes recruitment for arthritis trial

NASA mission gives a peek of rover's journey to Mars

Posted on by

PASADENA, Calif. NASA's latest adventure to Mars has given the world more than just glimpses of a new alien landscape.

It opened a window into the trip itself, from video footage of the landing to a photo of the rover hanging by a parachute to a shot of discarded spacecraft hardware strewn across the surface. And the best views -- of Mars and the journey there -- are yet to come.

"Spectacular," mission deputy project scientist Joy Crisp said of the footage. "We've not had that before."

Since parking itself inside an ancient crater Sunday night, the Curiosity rover has delighted scientists with views of its new surroundings, including the 3-mile-high mountain it will drive to. It beamed back the first color picture Tuesday revealing a tan-hued, pebbly landscape and the crater rim off in the distance.

Locale aside, Curiosity is giving scientists an unprecedented sense of what it took to reach its Martian destination. The roving laboratory sent back nearly 300 thumbnails that NASA processed into a low-quality video showing the last 2 1/2 minutes of its white-knuckle dive through the thin Martian atmosphere.

In the video, the protective heat shield pops off and tumbles away. The footage gets jumpy as Curiosity rides on a parachute. In the last scene, dust billows up just before landing.

NASA twice tried to record a Mars landing. In 1999, the Mars Polar Lander carried similar gear, but it slammed into the south pole after prematurely shutting off its engines. Another effort was aborted in 2008 during the Phoenix lander's mission to the northern plains when mission managers decided not to turn it on for fear it would interfere with the landing.

"It's too emotional for me," said Ken Edgett of the Malin Space Science Systems, which operates the video camera. "It's been a long journey and it's really awesome."

The full high-resolution video will be downloaded when time allows and should give the first peek of a landing on another planet.

Curiosity's journey to Mars spanned eight months and 352 million miles. The rover gently touched down Sunday night after executing an elaborate and untested landing routine. The size of a compact car, it was too heavy to land using air bags. Instead, it relied on a heat shield, parachute, rockets and cables to lower it to the ground.

See more here:

NASA mission gives a peek of rover's journey to Mars

Industrial Nanotech Launches New Nanocoating to Cool and Protect Decks

Posted on by

NAPLES, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Industrial Nanotech, Inc. (Pink Sheets:INTK), an emerging global leader in nanotechnology based energy saving and sustainable solutions announced today that the Company has launched a new product, Nansulate(R) Deck, for protection and cooling of wooden decks and railings. This clear protective coating helps to cool deck surface temperatures as well as protects the wood from moisture, UV and weathering, while also being resistant to mold and algae growth.

This new product is the result of customer demand, stated Francesca Crolley, V.P. Business Development for Industrial Nanotech, Inc. Customers of our home and roof insulation products were asking us for a coating that could help make their decks cooler in the summer, while also protecting them from mold and algae growth and weathering. Our customers are also very sustainable, so they appreciate the fact that our products do not contain biocides and are environmentally friendly, and will make their decks and railings last longer. After working with our R&D team, we developed a version of our industrial technology, which is used in all types of factory environment and harsh exposure applications, that could fill this need and provide solutions that are not currently available in the deck coating marketplace. Part of what we do is use sustainable nanotechnology to provide solutions to issues that most companies cant solve. Weve provided unique solutions for corrosion under insulation, difficult to insulate areas, and lead abatement, to name a few, and continue to enjoy the challenges that companies and customers bring to us daily.

Industrial Nanotechs patented line of award winning nanotechnology based insulation and protective coatings have been used in industry and by consumers since 2004. These sustainable products provide solutions to energy savings, surface protection, and environmental remediation in an environmentally friendly, clear liquid coating line.

Read more at: http://www.nansulate.com/store/decks

About Nansulate(R)

Nansulate(R) is the Company's patented product line of award winning, specialty coatings containing a nanotechnology based material and which are well-documented to provide the combined performance qualities of thermal insulation, corrosion prevention, resistance to mold growth, fire resistance, chemical resistance and lead encapsulation in an environmentally safe, water-based, coating formulation. The Nansulate(R) Product Line includes industrial, residential, agricultural and solar thermal insulation coatings. Additional information about the Company and its products can be found at their websites, (www.inanotk.com) and (www.nansulate.com). Blog: http://www.nansulate.com/nanoblog, Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/NanoPioneer, Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Nansulate.

About Industrial Nanotech Inc.

Industrial Nanotech Inc. is a global nanoscience solutions and research leader and member of the U.S. Green Building Council. The Company develops and commercializes new and innovative applications for sustainable nanotechnology which are sold worldwide.

Safe Harbor Statement

Excerpt from:

Industrial Nanotech Launches New Nanocoating to Cool and Protect Decks

Harry Potter Medicine exhibit

Posted on by

Harry Potter's World: Renaissance Science, Magic and Medicine - a traveling exhibition from the National Library of Medicine that explores the Harry Potter book series' roots in the Renaissance traditions which played an important role in the development of Wester science and medicine - is on display now through September 10.

Read this article:

Harry Potter Medicine exhibit

Chinese Medicine Fair to Spotlight Health Solutions

Posted on by

Conference on Chinese Herbal Medicine Among Highlights

Hong Kong, Aug 8, 2012 - (ACN Newswire) - More than 110 exhibitors and a score of expert speakers will present the latest Chinese medicine products, services and intelligence at the 11th edition of the International Conference & Exhibition of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine & Health Products (ICMCM), which will take place, 16-18 August, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Jointly organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the Modernized Chinese Medicine International Association, the event will be dedicated to trade visitors over the first two days before welcoming the public on 18 August.

"In view of the growing health consciousness around the world and the increasing demand for health products and services, ICMCM continues as a fair and conference to provide a one-stop trading, shopping and information exchange for Chinese medicine and health products," said Modernized Chinese Medicine International Association President Vivien Chou, speaking at today's press conference. "Recognised as one of the world's leading events of its kind, ICMCM will provide insights into the development of Chinese medicine and health products."

Exhibitors and Themes

The fair will feature exhibitors from Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Macau, Singapore, Taiwan and the Chinese mainland, with three provinces Guizhou, Jilin and Qinghai organising group pavilions.

The exhibition will be divided into the following theme zones: Chinese Medicine, Health Supplements, Healthcare & Therapy, Raw Material, Equipment & Related Services, and Research & Development.

Conference Highlights

A two-day conference under the theme "Chinese Herbal Medicine for Major Disease Burden and Health Promotion," will discuss the latest findings and applications of Chinese medicine. Topics will include preventive treatment of disease, Chinese herbal medicine for vascular and immunological diseases and the bioactivity and standards of Chinese herbal medicine.

Speakers will come from the mainland, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, the Netherlands, Singapore, Taiwan and the United States. They will include Professor Li Da-ning, Vice Commissioner of the mainland's State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Professor Chen Kai-xian, Presidentof Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Professor Zhang Bo-li, President of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Dr David Eisenberg, Associate Professor of Medicine and Public Health at Harvard University. Dr Mei Wang, Director of the Netherlands' SU BioMedicine, will speak on the first successful registration of a Chinese herbal medicine in the European Union.

Read the original:

Chinese Medicine Fair to Spotlight Health Solutions

City weighs taxpayer burden of medical school, bond package

Posted on by

To view our videos, you need to enable JavaScript. Learn how. install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now. Then come back here and refresh the page.

Council Member Mike Martinez suggested increasing the package to $400 million, while trying to work around Mayor Lee Leffingwell's reluctance to raise taxes.

Leffingwell says he is hesitant to increase the size of the bond package because the council has already approved rate increases for electricity, water and natural gas service, among others.

The mayor also supports State Sen. Kirk Watson's push to establish a medical school at the University of Texas, and to build a new, state-of-the-art research hospital.

"Realizing that it is such a high priority for our city and for our region, I think it's very appropriate for other jurisdictions to keep in mind that we have to respect that request too," Leffingwell said.

Sen. Watson says his law firm is not at all involved in the efforts to bring a medical school to the University of Texas, but voters need to be educated about the benefits higher taxes will bring.

"They are going to want to create 15,000 jobs and $2 billion in economic activity, Sen. Watson said. They are going to want to take care of the indigent population, so they save money because people aren't at the emergency room."

However, it all still comes with a price tag. Travis County voters would pick up about 10 percent of the tab, or $35 million a year. That would cost the average Austin area homeowner about $88 more a year in property taxes.

"For every dollar of local money we put up, the federal government will match it with $1.46," Watson said.

Leffingwell expects Austin's bond package to be broken up into about seven partsincluding transportation, affordable housing and parks.

Go here to read the rest:

City weighs taxpayer burden of medical school, bond package