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Tiny Reader Makes Fast, Cheap DNA Sequencing Feasible

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Newswise Researchers have devised a nanoscale sensor to electronically read the sequence of a single DNA molecule, a technique that is fast and inexpensive and could make DNA sequencing widely available.

The technique could lead to affordable personalized medicine, potentially revealing predispositions for afflictions such as cancer, diabetes or addiction.

"There is a clear path to a workable, easily produced sequencing platform," said Jens Gundlach, a University of Washington physics professor who leads the research team. "We augmented a protein nanopore we developed for this purpose with a molecular motor that moves a DNA strand through the pore a nucleotide at a time."

The researchers previously reported creating the nanopore by genetically engineering a protein pore from a mycobacterium. The nanopore, from Mycobacterium smegmatis porin A, has an opening 1 billionth of a meter in size, just large enough for a single DNA strand to pass through.

To make it work as a reader, the nanopore was placed in a membrane surrounded by potassium-chloride solution, with a small voltage applied to create an ion current flowing through the nanopore. The electrical signature changes depending on the type of nucleotide traveling through the nanopore. Each type of DNA nucleotide cytosine, guanine, adenine and thymine produces a distinctive signature.

The researchers attached a molecular motor, taken from an enzyme associated with replication of a virus, to pull the DNA strand through the nanopore reader. The motor was first used in a similar effort by researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, but they used a different pore that could not distinguish the different nucleotide types.

Gundlach is the corresponding author of a paper published online March 25 by Nature Biotechnology that reports a successful demonstration of the new technique using six different strands of DNA. The results corresponded to the already known DNA sequence of the strands, which had readable regions 42 to 53 nucleotides long.

"The motor pulls the strand through the pore at a manageable speed of tens of milliseconds per nucleotide, which is slow enough to be able to read the current signal," Gundlach said.

Gundlach said the nanopore technique also can be used to identify how DNA is modified in a given individual. Such modifications, referred to as epigenetic DNA modifications, take place as chemical reactions within cells and are underlying causes of various conditions.

"Epigenetic modifications are rather important for things like cancer," he said. Being able to provide DNA sequencing that can identify epigenetic changes "is one of the charms of the nanopore sequencing method."

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DNA Mapped in a Day Prompts U.S. Review of Genome Ethics

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By Alex Wayne - Mon Mar 26 17:17:10 GMT 2012

Jan. 30 (Bloomberg) -- Greg Lucier, chief executive officer of Life Technologies Corp., talks about the company's DNA sequencer and the results of his own genome sequencing done last year. Lucier spoke with Bloomberg's John Lauerman on Oct. 4, 2011. (Source: Bloomberg)

Obtaining a complete transcript of a persons DNA is getting faster and cheaper, raising ethical and privacy questions that the government must examine, a U.S. presidential commission said.

The panel said today it wants public input on developments in human genome sequencing, including how to balance individual privacy against societal benefits. The Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues, an advisory panel set up in 2009, plans to send President Barack Obama a report by the end of the year.

Translating an entire human genome required more than a decade of research and billions of dollars by the governments Human Genome Project, which completed the first sequence in 2003. Now, Oxford Nanopore Technologies Ltd. plans to sell a genome sequencer the size of a USB memory stick for $900 by the end of this year and companies including Life Technologies Corp. (LIFE) and Illumina Inc. (ILMN) promise genomes sequenced in a day.

Relatively inexpensive, rapid sequencing of whole human genomes appears not only likely, but imminent, the commission said in a regulatory filing. This prospect raises many questions for the scientific, medical, ethics and patient communities related to how this information can and ought to be collected, used and regulated.

Public comments are due by May 25, and the panel plans to spend six months on its research.

To contact the reporter on this story: Alex Wayne in Washington at awayne3@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Reg Gale at rgale5@bloomberg.net

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DNA Mapped in a Day Prompts U.S. Review of Genome Ethics

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New dean named at Nicholls

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Published: Monday, March 26, 2012 at 12:57 p.m. Last Modified: Monday, March 26, 2012 at 12:57 p.m.

Longtime biology teacher, interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Nicholls State University, and native son John Doucet will become a full dean, pending approval from the state University Board of Supervisors.

Doucet, who hails from Golden Meadow, has led the school since July, when Badiollah Asrabadi retired as dean.

Arts and Sciences is the largest academic unit on campus. It is responsible for many of the general education courses that all Nicholls students take and encompasses more than 150 faculty in 10 departments.

As a researcher, Doucet has contributed to 150 presentations, letters and workshops and more than 50 full-length publications. He has secured more than $1 million in research grants, and he also is the first certified public-health geneticist in the state of Louisiana.

He has served in several administrative roles, including heading up the schools honors program.

(Doucet) has been involved in projects and research related to both the arts and sciences, and his leadership is particularly evident through the continued growth of the University Honors Program, said Laynie Barrilleaux, vice president for academic affairs.

Aside from his scientific pursuits, Doucet has written stage plays and history books, most of which focus on his native south Louisiana.

Barrileaux said the focus on arts and sciences makes him a special fit for the head of the broadest college on campus. She also touts his ties to the local community.

Dr. Doucet brings with him an extensive knowledge of the university and the community it serves, she said.

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New dean named at Nicholls

Undergrad researcher makes her mark in UNI biology department

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Taking a small amount of initiative outside of class has paid off academically for senior biology major Kelsey Hampton. Hampton has been selected to present her research on the morphology of fiddler crabs at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research in Utah, held at Weber State University from March 29 through March 31.

While working with Carl Thurman, a professor in the biology department, Hampton and several other students have been studying the effects of various conditions such as climate change and environmental damage from oil spills on two separate populations of crabs in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea.

Were using Brazilian fiddler crabs as a model organism to observe relationships among species, Hampton said. Were watching evolution happen right now.

In the summer of 2011, Hampton, Dr. Thurman, and other students collected field data on the crabs along the Gulf Coast between Panama City, Fla., and Galveston, Texas.

The trip last summer was my favorite part of this project, Hampton said. We met a lot of new people from different schools and programs, and collecting information in the field was just really fun.

Hampton primarily attributes her success to good old-fashioned hard work and dedication, but also commends the UNI biology departments accessibility to students.

I really feel like the smaller class sizes make it easier to talk with professors and ask questions, as well as just getting to know everyone better, she said. Early on in college I was nervous about asking to take part in research, but all you really have to do is go in and talk to the professors. A lot of it is just taking that initiative.

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New synthetic biology technique boosts microbial production of diesel fuel

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ScienceDaily (Mar. 26, 2012) Significant boosts in the microbial production of clean, green and renewable biodiesel fuel has been achieved with the development of a new technique in synthetic biology by researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI). This new technique -- dubbed a dynamic sensor-regulator system (DSRS) -- can detect metabolic changes in microbes during the production of fatty acid-based fuels or chemicals and control the expression of genes affecting that production. The result in one demonstration was a threefold increase in the microbial production of biodiesel from glucose.

"The DSRS is an amazing and powerful new tool, the first example of a synthetic system that can dynamically regulate a metabolic pathway for improving production of fatty acid-based fuels and chemicals while the microbes are in the bioreactor," says Jay Keasling, CEO of JBEI and one of the world's foremost practitioners of synthetic biology, who led this research.

Keasling, who also serves as the Associate Laboratory Director for Biosciences at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) is the corresponding author of a paper describing this research in Nature Biotechnology. The paper is titled "Design of a dynamic sensor-regulator system for production of FAbased chemicals and fuels." Co-authors are Fuzhong Zhang and James Carothers of JBEI's Fuels Synthesis Division, which is directed by Keasling.

The need for new transportation fuels that are renewable and can be produced in a sustainable fashion has never been more urgent. Scientific studies have consistently shown that liquid fuels derived from plant biomass are one of the best alternatives if a cost-effective means of commercial production can be found. Major research efforts to this end are focused on fatty acids -- the energy-rich molecules in plant cells that have been dubbed nature's petroleum. Fatty acids now serve as the raw materials not only for biodiesel fuel, but also for a wide range of important chemical products including surfactants, solvents and lubricants.

"Microbial production of fuels and chemicals from fatty acids is a greener and sustainable alternative to chemical synthesis," says Zhang, who is the lead author of the Nature Biotechnology paper. "However, high productivities, titers and yields are essential for microbial production of these chemical products to be economically viable, particularly in the cases of biofuels and low-value bulk chemicals."

Hampering microbial production of fatty acid-based chemicals has been metabolic imbalances during product synthesis.

"Expression of pathway genes at too low a level creates bottlenecks in biosynthetic pathways, whereas expression at too high a level diverts cellular resources to the production of unnecessary enzymes or intermediate metabolites that might otherwise be devoted to the desired chemical," Zhang says. "Furthermore, the accumulation of these enzymes and intermediate metabolites can have a toxic effect on the microbes, reducing yield and productivity."

Using the tools of synthetic biology, there have been several strategies developed to meet this challenge but these previous strategies only provide static control of gene expression levels.

"When a gene expression control system is tuned for a particular condition in the bioreactor and the conditions change, the control system will not be able to respond and product synthesis will suffer as a result," Zhang says.

The DSRS responds to the metabolic status of the microbe in the bioreactor during synthesis by sensing key intermediate metabolites in an engineered pathway. The DSRS then regulates the genes that control the production and consumption of these intermediates to allow their delivery at levels and rates that optimize the pathway for maximum productivity as conditions change in the bioreactor.

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Students create their own study abroad program to China

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Many University students will travel abroad this summer, but only two funded by the Honors International Scholars Program will travel toChinato study medicine.

JuniorMuhan Huand sophomoreMatthew Hess,biochemistry majors from Augusta, will leave for Beijing in June. From there they will travel toKaifeng,China,where they will shadow doctors in the city hospital. The couple will also visit a small village outside of the city to experience the differences between a big city hospital and a small town clinic.

Muhan Hu and her boyfriend Matt are going on a trip to China funded by the Honors program to learn about medicine in Asia. KATHRYN INGALL/Staff

TheHonors International Scholars Programis an award program granted to second and third year honors students through competitive application to support them so they may travel abroad.

We dont want lack of money to prevent students from studying abroad, saidMaria de Rocher, coordinator of honors programming. We select students depending on the money we have available, usually around 35 to 45 students. This year we were able to award scholarships to 50, so thats a great number we have been able to award.

De Rocher said the scholarship gets funding from individual donations, and applications are due in early November for travel the following year.

Students who apply can choose an already existing program or can make their own program. During the application process, students write a proposal of what they will do and from that they are judged on whether the idea is worth funding.

Hu and Hess chose to make their own program studying different types of medicine inChina, because Hu was able to connect with people there who could help her reach this goal.

The big challenge was actually getting in touch with someone inChinawho would sponsor us while we were there, Hu said. I do not foresee any huge problems once we get there. I am fluent in Chinese, but I think Matt might have a harder time since he doesnt speak the language.

Hu, who is originally fromChina, said she is enthusiastic about going back to be able to tour the country and see the sites with Hess while studying medicine there.

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Students create their own study abroad program to China

Manatee school board talks nutrition, health insurance, reading tonight

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MANATEE -- New federal nutrition guidelines are coming to school cafeterias in Manatee County and elsewhere in the United States.

The new nutrition guidelines will require every public school student to have a fruit or vegetable on their plate, said Sandra Ford, the district's director of nutrition services. The new rules are a result of a federal law passed in December 2010 called the Healthy Hunger-free Kids

Act, Ford said.

The act earned support from not only President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, who have been advocates of healthier eating habits among children, but from Republicans including former Sen. Bill Frist and former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee.

Because the Manatee School District already offers several fruits and vegetables at each meal, Ford said she anticipates little financial impact. But she does anticipate that about 20 percent of students who didn't previously eat a fruit or vegetable will now be more likely to.

The school board today is also set to review a status report on the district's health insurance fund deficit that shows the shortfall sitting at just over $3.5 million as of January 2012, the latest date for which figures are available. The board had decided last year to reduce that shortfall by imposing a 2.75 percent pay cut on teachers and other cuts on other employees, but the deficit will be lessened more slowly since the board decided not to make that pay cut retroactive to the start of this school year.

Another highlight of tonight's meeting is a report from Moody Elementary School, one of five schools that are part of a pilot program called Project Push, designed to improve the reading performance of children for whom English is a second language.

This is the first year of the project and so no data is yet available, said Joe Stokes, director of elementary education. Moody's experience and that of the other four participant schools -- Daughtry, Orange Ridge-Bullock, Palm View, and Rogers Garden -- will determine whether the program will be expanded to all Manatee County elementary schools next year, Stokes said.

The meeting is at 5:45 p.m. at school board headquarters, 215 Manatee Ave. W.

Follow the tweets of Christine Hawes, Herald education reporter, during the school board meeting on Twitter @chawesreports. Hawes can also be reached at 941-745-7081.

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The time is ripe for Salmonella

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Public release date: 25-Mar-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Laura Udakis l.udakis@sgm.ac.uk 44-118-988-1843 Society for General Microbiology

The ripeness of fruit could determine how food-poisoning bacteria grow on them, according to scientists presenting their work at the Society for General Microbiology's Spring Conference in Dublin this week. Their work could lead to new strategies to improve food safety, bringing many health and economic benefits.

A wide range of fresh produce has been linked to outbreaks of Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica including melons, jalapeo and serrano peppers, basil, lettuce, horseradish sprouts and tomatoes. Researchers at Imperial College London are looking at how these bacterial pathogens latch onto fruits and vegetables and establish themselves in the first place.

They have discovered that strains of Salmonella behave differently when attached to ripe and unripe tomatoes. "Bacteria that attach to ripe tomatoes produce an extensive network of filaments, which is not seen when they attach to the surface of unripe tomatoes. This could affect how they are maintained on the surface," explained Professor Gad Frankel who is leading the research. "We are not completely sure yet why this happens; it might be due to the surface properties of the tomatoes or alternatively the expression of ripening hormones."

This is just one example of the subtle interplay between food-poisoning microbes and the fresh produce they contaminate, that determines how pathogens become established in the food chain. "Apart from Salmonella, strains of E. coli are also particularly devious in the way they interact with plant surfaces. They have hair-like appendages and flagella they can use as hooks to successfully secure themselves onto things like salad leaves."

Although fresh fruits and vegetables are recognized as important vehicles that transmit harmful bacteria, they are still important components of a healthy and balanced diet. "By and large, raw fruits and vegetables are safe to eat and provide numerous health benefits. By working out the reasons behind sporadic outbreaks of infections, we can control these better and help maintain consumer confidence. By improving food safety we would also see important economical and health benefits."

Understanding how bacteria interact with fresh produce is a crucial but only the first step, explained Professor Frankel. "Translating research into new policies or methods for decontamination is the challenge for future studies," he said.

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The time is ripe for Salmonella

Using viruses to beat superbugs

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Public release date: 25-Mar-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Laura Udakis l.udakis@sgm.ac.uk 44-118-988-1843 Society for General Microbiology

Viruses that can target and destroy bacteria have the potential to be an effective strategy for tackling hard-to-treat bacterial infections. The development of such novel therapies is being accelerated in response to growing antibiotic resistance, says Dr David Harper at the Society for General Microbiology's Spring Conference in Dublin.

Bacteriophages are viruses that can infect bacteria and multiply within them, breaking down the cell and destroying the bacteria - amplifying themselves in the process to deal with more bacteria. They are found everywhere including in river water, soil, sewage and on the human body. Soon after their initial discovery in 1915, bacteriophages were investigated as antibacterial therapeutic agents. A limited understanding of their mode of action meant early work was often unsuccessful and with the advent of the chemical antibiotic era, bacteriophages were passed over as therapeutics.

Dr Harper, Chief Scientific Officer at AmpliPhi Bioscience in Bedfordshire explains why bacteriophages are being revisited as antibacterial agents. "Each bacteriophage is highly specific to a certain type of bacteria and needs the right bacterial host cell in order to multiply. The more bacterial targets there are, the quicker they grow by killing the host cells. Therefore it seems very likely that infections harbouring high numbers of bacteria will benefit most from bacteriophage therapy for example chronically infected ears, lungs and wounds," he said. "For these types of infection, only a tiny dose of the virus is needed - as small as one thousandth of a millionth of a gram. This can usually be administered directly to the site of infection in a spray, drops or a cream. The major advantage to bacteriophages is that they don't infect human cells so seem likely to be very safe to use."

Increasing resistance to antibiotics has meant that bacterial infections are becoming more and more difficult to treat. With fewer antibiotics available to treat drug-resistant infections, research into bacteriophage therapy has been accelerated. "The rate of new antibiotics coming onto the market does not match the rate of increasing drug-resistance. The need for new approaches to counter such high resistance is both urgent and vital. New approaches will save lives," stressed Dr Harper.

Clinical trials for bacteriophage therapy are now underway. The first clinical trial for safety was reported in 2005 and the results demonstrating the effectiveness of bacteriophage therapy were published in 2009. This clinical trial was conducted by AmpliPhi. The company is planning further clinical trials in conditions where existing antibacterial therapies are not able to help. "With the results of further clinical trials, once regulatory issues are overcome and future investment secured in this area of research, this should lead to the development of novel products suitable for widespread use to tackle bacterial diseases and overcome antibiotic resistance", said Dr Harper.

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Vaccinating chickens could prevent food-borne illness

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Public release date: 25-Mar-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Laura Udakis l.udakis@sgm.ac.uk 44-079-908-26696 Society for General Microbiology

A vaccine could be developed to prevent Campylobacter being carried in chickens. This approach could drastically cut the number of cases of food poisoning, saving the UK economy millions each year, says an American scientist presenting his work at the Society for General Microbiology's Spring Conference in Dublin.

Food-borne illness costs the UK an estimated 2 billion each year. Campylobacter is the leading cause of food-borne illness and is responsible for about 30% of cases in the UK. Campylobacter jejuni was responsible for more than 371,000 estimated cases in England and Wales in 2009, resulting in more than 17,500 hospitalizations and 88 deaths.

Campylobacter jejuni is found in the gut of many animals, including chickens. If Campylobacter-contaminated poultry is not prepared and cooked properly, the micro-organism can be transmitted to humans where it may cause severe gastrointestinal disease.

Scientists at Washington State University are studying the maternal antibodies that are passed from hens to their chicks. "These antibodies protect chicks from becoming colonized by Campylobacter in the first week of life," explained Professor Michael Konkel who is leading the research. "Our group has now identified the bacterial molecules that these antibodies attack, which has given us a starting point for a vaccine against Campylobacter," he said. "We have already found that chickens injected with these specific molecules found on the surface of Campylobacter jejuni produce antibodies against the bacterium. This response partially protects them from colonization."

A vaccine could be a powerful weapon to help control food-borne illness. "Preventing contamination of poultry at slaughter has not been effective at reducing illness in humans. It has been shown that about 65% of chickens on retail sale in the UK are contaminated with Campylobacter," explained Professor Konkel. "Ideally, the best way to prevent contamination is to stop chickens on the farm from becoming colonized with this microorganism in the first place, which could be achieved by vaccination. Our goal within the next 6 months is to test a vaccine for chickens that will reduce Campylobacter colonization levels. There's still a long way to go, but I'm confident our lab and others are moving in the right direction."

Controlling food-borne illness through vaccination would have a significant impact both in the UK and globally. "A safe food supply is central to human health. If we can decrease the load of human pathogens in food animals, then we can reduce human illness. A 1% reduction in the number of cases of food-borne illness would save the UK around 20 million per year. In developing countries, where people and food animals often share the same environment, diseased animals also pose a direct public health risk; vaccination would help mitigate this risk," said Professor Konkel.

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Dental plaque bacteria may trigger blood clots

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Public release date: 25-Mar-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Laura Udakis l.udakis@sgm.ac.uk 44-118-988-1843 Society for General Microbiology

Oral bacteria that escape into the bloodstream are able to cause blood clots and trigger life-threatening endocarditis. Further research could lead to new drugs to tackle infective heart disease, say scientists presenting their work at the Society for General Microbiology's Spring Conference in Dublin this week.

Streptococcus gordonii is a normal inhabitant of the mouth and contributes to plaque that forms on the surface of teeth. If these bacteria enter into the blood stream through bleeding gums they can start to wreak havoc by masquerading as human proteins.

Researchers from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and the University of Bristol have discovered that S. gordonii is able to produce a molecule on its surface that lets it mimic the human protein fibrinogen a blood-clotting factor. This activates the platelets, causing them to clump inside blood vessels. These unwanted blood clots encase the bacteria, protecting them from the immune system and from antibiotics that might be used to treat infection. Platelet clumping can lead to growths on the heart valves (endocarditis), or inflammation of blood vessels that can block the blood supply to the heart or brain.

Dr Helen Petersen who is presenting the work said that better understanding of the relationship between bacteria and platelets could ultimately lead to new treatments for infective endocarditis. "In the development of infective endocarditis, a crucial step is the bacteria sticking to the heart valve and then activating platelets to form a clot. We are now looking at the mechanism behind this sequence of events in the hope that we can develop new drugs which are needed to prevent blood clots and also infective endocarditis," she said.

Infective endocarditis is treated with surgery or by strong antibiotics which is becoming more difficult with growing antibiotic resistance. "About 30% of people with infective endocarditis die and most will require surgery for replacement of the infected heart valve with a metal or animal valve," said Dr Petersen. "Our team has now identified the critical components of the S. gordonii molecule that mimics fibrinogen, so we are getting closer to being able to design new compounds to inhibit it. This would prevent the stimulation of unwanted blood clots," said Dr Steve Kerrigan from the RCSI.

The team are also looking more widely at other dental plaque bacteria that may have similar effects to S. gordonii. "We are also trying to determine how widespread this phenomenon is by studying other bacteria related to S. gordonii. What our work clearly shows is how important it is to keep your mouth healthy through regular brushing and flossing, to keep these bacteria in check," stressed Dr Petersen.

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J. Craig Venter, Ph.D., describes biofuels, vaccines and foods from made-to-order microbes

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Public release date: 25-Mar-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Michael Bernstein m_bernstein@acs.org 619-525-6268 (March 23-28, San Diego Press Center) 202-872-6042

Michael Woods m_woods@acs.org 619-525-6268 (March 23-28, San Diego Press Center) 202-872-6293 American Chemical Society

SAN DIEGO, March 25, 2012 Just as aspiring authors often read hundreds of books before starting their own, scientists are using decades of knowledge garnered from sequencing or "reading" the genetic codes of thousands of living things to now start writing new volumes in the library of life. J. Craig Venter, Ph.D., one of the most renowned of those scientists, described the construction of the first synthetic cell and many new applications of this work today at the 243rd National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world's largest scientific society, which is underway this week.

In a plenary talk titled, "From Reading to Writing the Genetic Code," Venter described a fundamental shift in his field of genomics, and its promise for producing synthetic life that could help provide 21st century society with new fuels, medicines, food and nutritional products, supplies of clean water and other resources. Venter, a pioneer in the field, led the team at Celera Genomics that went head-to-head with the government-and-foundation-funded Human Genome Project in the race to decode the human genome. This quest, in which the 23,000 human genes were deciphered, ended with the teams declaring a tie and publishing simultaneous publications in 2001.

"Genomics is a rapidly evolving field and my teams have been leading the way from reading the genetic code deciphering the sequences of genes in microbes, humans, plants and other organisms to writing code and constructing synthetic cells for a variety of uses. We can now construct fully synthetic bacterial cells that have the potential to more efficiently and economically produce vaccines, pharmaceuticals, biofuels, food and other products."

The work Venter described at the ACS session falls within an ambitious new field known as synthetic biology, which draws heavily on chemistry, metabolic engineering, genomics and other traditional scientific disciplines. Synthetic biology emerged from genetic engineering, the now-routine practice of inserting one or two new genes into a crop plant or bacterium. The genes can make tomatoes, for instance, ripen without softening or goad bacteria to produce human insulin for treating diabetes. Synthetic biology, however, involves rearranging genes on a much broader scale that of a genome, which is an organism's entire genetic code to reprogram entire organisms and even design new organisms.

Venter and his team at the not-for-profit J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI), which has facilities in Rockville, Maryland, and San Diego, announced in 2010 that they had constructed the world's first completely synthetic bacterial cell. Using computer-designed genes made on synthesizer machines from four bottles of chemicals, the scientists arranged those genes into a package, a synthetic chromosome. When inserted into a bacterial cell, the chromosome booted up the cell and was capable of dividing and reproducing.

In the ACS talk, Venter described progress on major projects, including developing new synthetic cells and engineering genomes to produce biofuels, vaccines, clean water, food and other products. That work is ongoing at both JCVI and at his company, Synthetic Genomics Inc. (SGI). A project at SGI for instance, aims to engineer algae cells to capture carbon dioxide and use it as a raw material for producing new fuels. Another group uses synthetic genomic advances with the goal of making influenza vaccines in hours rather than months to better respond to sudden mutations in those viruses.

Venter also described his work in sequencing the first draft human genome in 2001 while he and his team were at Celera Genomics, as well as the work on his complete diploid genome published in 2007 by scientists at JCVI, along with collaborators at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and the University of California, San Diego. In addition to continued analysis of Venter's genome, he and his team are also studying the human microbiome, the billions of bacteria that live in and on people, and how these microbes impact health and disease.

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J. Craig Venter, Ph.D., describes biofuels, vaccines and foods from made-to-order microbes

Professor leaves positive legacy

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By Stephen Brooks | Originally Published: 1 hour ago |Modified: 1 hour ago |

Biochemistry professor Rawle Hollingsworth in his lab on Wednesday March 9, 2005.

During biochemistry professor Rawle Hollingsworths nearly 30 years at MSU, Tom Sharkey, chair of the biochemistry and molecular biology department, remembers having many conversations with him during casual run-ins outside the office.

One encounter sticks out in Sharkeys mind, who said he has a strong memory of listening to Hollingsworth explain carbohydrate involvement in blood types one day in the parking lot.

I was just fascinated to learn the things he was explaining, Sharkey said. Its just one of those moments in time that get frozen for reasons that you dont really know why.

Hollingsworth, a 55-year-old Haslett, Mich. resident, died from a pulmonary embolism on Feb. 29.

After completing his doctorate at the University of the West Indies in the Caribbean, Hollingsworth started as an assistant professor at MSU in 1983 and climbed the ranks to become a full professor.

I would say his enthusiasm really was the thing I continually think about when I think of him, Sharkey said.

Rawle Hollingsworth met his wife, Saleela Hollingsworth, at the University of the West Indies. The two were married for 26 years and had two children, Misha, 20, and Akhil, 15.

Saleela Hollingsworth said her husband loved traveling, reading and music and always put the childrens interests first.

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Bone Marrow Stem Cell Therapy Trial – Clues, But No Answers

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(RTTNews.com) - An important clinical trial, which evaluated the use of autologous bone-marrow-cell therapy in patients with chronic ischemic heart failure, has failed to meet the prespecified end points of improvement in most measures of heart function, according to the results presented at the American College of Cardiology 2012 Scientific Sessions.

The trial dubbed, FOCUS - a phase II study, is the largest study to date to investigate if a patient's own bone marrow cells improved myocardial perfusion, reduced left ventricular end-systolic volume or enhanced maximal oxygen consumption in patients with coronary artery disease or LV dysfunction, and limiting heart failure or angina. The FOCUS trial was undertaken by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute-sponsored Cardiovascular Cell Therapy Research Network.

Ninety two patients with chronic ischemic heart disease , having a left ventricular ejection fraction of 45% or less, a perfusion defect by single-photon emission tomography, or SPECT, who were no longer candidates for revascularization, were enrolled in the trial. Sixty one patients in the study were administered bone marrow cells through transendocardial injections while thirty one patients were administered placebo.

An assessment of primary endpoints at 6 months has revealed that there is no statistically significant difference between the treatment group and placebo arm in left ventricular end-systolic volume assessed by echocardiography, maximal oxygen consumption, and reversibility on SPECT. The secondary outcomes, including percent myocardial defect, total defect size, fixed defect size, regional wall motion, and clinical improvement, also has not exhibited any difference between the two arms.

However, according to the study authors, exploratory analyses have revealed that left ventricular ejection fraction improved in the treatment group compared with the placebo group by 2.7%.

The authors, led by Emerson Perin, concluded that the findings provide evidence for further studies to determine the relationship between the composition and function of bone marrow product and clinical end points. Understanding these relationships will improve the design and interpretation of future studies of cardiac cell therapy, the authors noted.

The results were published online March 24 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Bone Marrow Stem Cell Therapy Trial - Clues, But No Answers

How vitamin D helps prevent lung cancer

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by: Aurora Geib

Increasing vitamin D may now be a matter of life or death, as recent studies have shown that it may play a vital role in the fight against lung cancer. To date, lung cancer is one of the three most common cancers that kill men and women in developed countries with a statistic of one million deaths every year.

Researchers from the University of California at San Diego discovered a correlative relationship between higher rates of lung cancer and less exposure to the sun.

Cancer and vitamin D

The study compared data from national and international databases and compared the lung cancer rates in 111 countries. It found a correlation with smoking, lung cancer and significant lower UVB exposure. Although the current study focused only on lung cancer, research conducted on other cancers have pointed to the fact that most cancer cases are seen in subjects living far from the equator, suggesting that lower levels of vitamin D also account for a high risk of colon and other cancers. Read more...

AyurGold for Healthy Blood

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Cancer industry trying to co-opt most recent potential natural cure – frankincense

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by: Paul Fassa

"There is not one, but many cures for cancer available. But they are all being systematically suppressed by ... the major oncology centers. They have too much of an interest in the status quo," stated Dr Robert Atkins, MD, creator of the Atkins Diet, after licensure problems for curing cancer patients with ozone therapy during the 1960s.

Yet the cancer industry keeps doing exactly what Dr. Atkins described. It is amazing how many cures do exist while many suffer and die from "accepted" incredibly expensive toxic chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

At least 100 natural cancer cures have been discovered and used successfully without side effects since 1920.

Now independent research points to another potential natural cancer cure, Sacred Frankincense. This is an herb grown mostly in Oman, south of Saudi Arabia and east of Yemen on the Arabian Sea coast. It has been used medicinally for thousands of years for several ailments by Ayruvedic medicine. However, research is being conducted with the goal of isolating active ingredients in the herb that Big Pharma may mimic with lucrative FDA approved patents. Read more...

AyurGold for Healthy Blood

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Physical Therapist Technician:

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Seeking a full-time, experienced Physical Therapist Technician for our progressive, employee centered outpatient clinic located in Marana, AZ. We are also looking to hire per diem Physical Therapist Technicians for all four of our locations in Tucson. Your impact on our organization will be significant in providing support services for our clinicians and extraordinary customer service for our patients. This is an opportunity to stretch and improve your skills.
Responsibilities include: Instructing patients in therapist directed programs, and performing other front office/ physical therapy duties accurately and efficiently. Displaying a professional, courteous, and positive attitude when performing job duties and having the ability to work in a team environment. Our company takes pride in its ability to provide the highest level of customer service. We are looking for a new team member who will aim to ensure that all patients receive the greatest quality of treatment and care.
Qualifications: high school diploma or equivalent; basic typing, English and Math skills; computer proficiency and a minimum of two years of experience with a medical or therapy practice. Bilingual English/Spanish is a plus. Customer service experience required.
Benefits for full time employees include: medical insurance, 401(k) plan, profit sharing, holiday pay and PTO
Please email mail your resumes to resumes@mipts.com

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Fulbright Information Session:

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Are you interested in spending a year abroad – taking classes, performing a research project, or teaching English – after you graduate?
Then you should consider applying for the Fulbright Program for U.S. Students. The Fulbright is one of the most prestigious awards available for U.S. students. It is open to individuals from any discipline. The award supports a year in one of over 130countries, during which you can take classes, carry out a research project, or serve as an English Teaching Assistant.
Find out more at the:
Fulbright Program for U.S. Students Information Session
Thursday, March 29 @ 3:30pm
Chavez Building, Room 301, The University of Arizona Campus, Room 301
Open to the entire UA community
Please RSVP to Jeff Thibert, Scholarship Advisor in the Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships (ONCS) at the UA Honors College, at thibert@email.arizona.edu. Also, be sure to tell Jeff if you can’t attend but would like more information. You can also read more about the Fulbright Program at http://us.fulbrightonline.org/.

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Aurora Announces Joining Hitachi Data Systems Technology Alliance Program

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First Aperio and Dell, now Aurora and Hitachi. 

AURORA JOINS HITACHI DATA SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY ALLIANCE PROGRAM TO OFFER BEST-IN-BREED DATA MANAGEMENT AND DIGITAL PATHOLOGY SOLUTIONS

MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA- March 20, 2012 – Aurora Interactive announced today that it has joined the Hitachi Data Systems Technology Alliance Program.  This will allow Aurora to deliver data management and digital pathology solutions to their clients, giving clients timely control of their data and medical choices.

“Aurora is proud to join the Hitachi Data Systems Technology Alliance Program. Hitachi Data Systems is a globally respected leader in the IT industry, and one of the premier technology and services providers to the medical field. Joining this program will allow us to seamlessly fulfill the needs of our clients who have taken the next step in digital pathology adoption and require universal and vendor neutral mass data management solutions. Our participation in the Hitachi Data Systems Technology Alliance Program is fully aligned with our strategy of universality and interoperability and our commitment to giving our clients control over their data and medical choices. As HDS believes that data drives our world and information is the new currency, Aurora believes that timely and efficient data and information access is the key to better patient care and outcomes,” stated Pierre Le Fèvre, President and Chief Executive Officer, Aurora Interactive.

“Hitachi Data Systems would like to welcome Aurora Interactive to our Technology Alliance Program. We strongly believe in partnering with best-in-breed providers to bring our clients leading technologies to pair with our data management systems. Aurora Interactive is an ideal digital pathology partner for us,” said Dave Wilson, senior director, Global Health Solutions,, Hitachi Data Systems.

About Aurora Interactive Ltd.

Aurora Interactive has developed the leading web based software platform (mScope) for simplification, productivity and ease of communications.  mScope’s Universal Web Viewer has collaborative tools to view medical slides and images anytime, anywhere, regardless of file format.  The software has four applications to aid digital pathology web based communications needs: mScope Education, mScope Clinical, mScope Research and mScope Universal Viewer. Aurora’s mission is to improve patient outcomes and help members of the medical community achieve their full potential by eliminating the learning, diagnostic and collaborative restrictions imposed by time and space. http://www.aurorainteractive.com 

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PathXL Webinar: Biobanking – A New Era

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Pathxl logo
4th April 2012, 4.15pmGMT /11.15amEST /8.15amPST /5.15pmCET

PathXLTM Biobank is a highly configurable sample collection, tracking, storage, management and distribution platform that provides the flexibility required to build customised solutions across a range of biobank applications. 

As well as providing a complete biobank management solution, PathXLTM Biobank is also available in the form of a virtual microscopy plug-in to existing biobank solutions enhancing its functionality and efficiency.Biobank pic

Guest Speaker:  

PathXLTM Biobank was developed in partnership with the Northern Ireland Biobank; Dr Jackie James (Northern Ireland Biobank Scientific Lead) provides a customer insight. 

Why Attend?

This is the world’s first biobank platform with an inbuilt image management and viewing platform specifically for virtual slides.  Find out how you can manage collection, tracking and distribution of all samples in your biobank and see how easily researchers can search, review and request samples online.

Click here to register

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