Epicenter Bitcoin: Preston Byrne Sin Jones
By: Epicenter Bitcoin
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Bitcoin had a terrible 2014. And 2015 isnt looking too hot either.
Last year was not kind to Bitcoin. And 2015already looks as if it could be just as toughfor the digital currency:Bitcoin exchange Bitstamp went offline this week as it investigated a security breach;bitcoin pricesfell from about$320 at the beginning of the year to roughly $270 this week, according to industry site CoinDesk.
BitStamp, which isbased in Slovenia and Britain,iscurrently the third largest exchange by volume, according to Bitcoin Charts.
While details are scarce, a statement posted to the company's Web site says the companyhas "reason to believe" that one of its "operational wallets" -- a place connected to the Internet where some Bitcoins being processed by the services were stored -- was compromised on Jan. 4. The message also said that Bitstamp maintained "more than enough" offline reserves to cover the funds in the operation wallet.
But the incident harkens back to the collapse of Tokyo-based Mt. Gox, the once popular exchange that imploded spectacularly last spring. The company announced it was filing for bankruptcy in February, saying it had lostthe equivalent of nearly half a billion of bitcoins at the then-exchange rates. Just last week, Japanese authorities told a local newspaper that only a tiny fraction of the missing bitcoins could be attributed to hacking attacks from outside the company according to CoinDesk.
The Mt. Gox catastrophe was just one of many high profile incidents involving Bitcoin that helped drag down the price of the digital currency in 2014.Last January, Bitcoin prices pushed above $900 a pop -- but by the end of the year they hovered at a little more than a third of that price.
Bitcoinhas continued to struggle with its association with illicit online black markets and regulators efforts to regulate it.The Bitcoin Foundation, a non-profit formed to promote the cryptocurrencywhich counted Mt. Gox chief executive Mark Karpeles as a founding member, lost another founder to Bitcoin's black market ties: Former vice-chairman Charlie Shrem resigned after being arrested for supporting an illicit Bitcoin exchange for notorious digital black market Silk Road. (Shrem later pleaded guiltyto acount of aiding and abetting the operation of an unlicensed money transmitting business.)
What government regulationsapply to Bitcoin also remain murky -- although financial regulators in New York state are working on hammering out some requirements forBitcoin and other virtual currencies.The proposed ruleswould apply only to companies actually engaging in transmitting fundsfrom one place to another, and wouldn't apply to retailers simply accepting Bitcoin or private individuals who invest in the digital currency.
All in all, as Quartz noted in December, the fallout from these sort of high profile headaches helped make Bitcoin among the worst possible investments in 2014. However, there were other bright points for those in the industry: Outside investments in Bitcoin-related technology and services and merchant acceptance of the payment methodall rose during the year.
But for Bitcoin to really take off, it needs to become more popular with users, not just investors. While Bitcoin-backers continue to try to get the public engaged with the digital currency by sponsoring things like college football bowl games, the number oftransactions per day -- currently about 80,000, according to Blockchain.info ---suggests it hasn't quite caught on yet.
Andrea Peterson covers technology policy for The Washington Post, with an emphasis on cybersecurity, consumer privacy, transparency, surveillance and open government.
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Bitcoin had a terrible 2014. And 2015 isnt looking too hot either.
Hackers steal $5 million in bitcoin attack
LONDON (CNNMoney)
Cyber thieves have run off with about 19,000 bitcoin ($5.2 million) from Bitstamp accounts. The company said it has suspended services after some digital wallets were compromised on Jan 4.
Bitstamp told customers not to make any deposits as it works with authorities to find the culprits.
The firm said the breach accounts for only a fraction of its total reserves, with most held in secure offline storage systems. All balances held prior to the suspension would be repaid in full, it said.
It's not the first time Bitstamp has been the victim of cyber crime. Last February, the Slovenia-based company halted withdrawals after hackers overwhelmed its servers in a denial-of-service attack.
Related: Sony breaks silence after "malacious" hack
Bitcoin has lost some of its shine over the past year. The virtual currency is trading at about $275. That's well off peaks reached in late 2013 -- when prices topped $1,000. Its value has tumbled and exchanges have been beset with glitches and hacks.
Mt. Gox, once the world's largest bitcoin trading platform, was struck by what was essentially a massive bank robbery in 2014. When the exchange discovered it was under attack, it stopped investors from pulling their money out. Nearly $400 million was lost forever.
Bitcoin was created in 2009 and allows users to buy merchandise anonymously. Last month Microsoft (MSFT, Tech30) joined a growing number of companies that accept bitcoins as payment, including PayPal and a scattering of restaurants and car services.
But the digital currency remains controversial since it is not government-issued and isn't practical for day-to-day use.
Excerpt from:
Hackers steal $5M from bitcoin exchange
LONDON (CNNMoney)
Cyber thieves have run off with about 19,000 bitcoin ($5.2 million) from Bitstamp accounts. The company said it has suspended services after some digital wallets were compromised on Jan 4.
Bitstamp told customers not to make any deposits as it works with authorities to find the culprits.
The firm said the breach accounts for only a fraction of its total reserves, with most held in secure offline storage systems. All balances held prior to the suspension would be repaid in full, it said.
It's not the first time Bitstamp has been the victim of cyber crime. Last February, the Slovenia-based company halted withdrawals after hackers overwhelmed its servers in a denial-of-service attack.
Related: Sony breaks silence after "malacious" hack
Bitcoin has lost some of its shine over the past year. The virtual currency is trading at about $275. That's well off peaks reached in late 2013 -- when prices topped $1,000. Its value has tumbled and exchanges have been beset with glitches and hacks.
Mt. Gox, once the world's largest bitcoin trading platform, was struck by what was essentially a massive bank robbery in 2014. When the exchange discovered it was under attack, it stopped investors from pulling their money out. Nearly $400 million was lost forever.
Bitcoin was created in 2009 and allows users to buy merchandise anonymously. Last month Microsoft (MSFT, Tech30) joined a growing number of companies that accept bitcoins as payment, including PayPal and a scattering of restaurants and car services.
But the digital currency remains controversial since it is not government-issued and isn't practical for day-to-day use.
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Canadian exchange to shut as Bitcoin bad news continues
Canadian Bitcoin exchange Vault of Satoshi is shutting down next month in the latest bad news to hit the cryptocurrency.
The operators of the exchange said they are focusing on another business project that began six months ago, one that is not related to cryptocurrency.
Run by Global CryptoCurrency Solutions, the Brantford, Ontario-based exchange is no longer accepting new deposits and will close Feb. 5.
Wed like to reassure the community that it has absolutely nothing to do with insolvency, stolen funds, or any other unfortunate scenario, the operators wrote in a post. Our decision stems from opportunities presented by a new business that has forced us to reexamine our priorities.
The company did not immediately respond to a request for more information. Its cofounder Michael Curry is also behind TurboFlix, a Web service that allows Canadians to watch Netflix content available in other countries.
Vault of Satoshi launched in October 2013 and describes itself as the first full proof-of-reserve exchange in the industry.
Its closure comes as European Bitcoin exchange Bitstamp said in a post that some of its operational wallets were compromised Jan. 4, leading to a loss of less than 19,000 bitcoins, which is roughly US$5.1 million.
The bulk of our bitcoin are in cold storage, and remain completely safe, Bitstamp co-founder Nejc Kodric wrote in a Twitter message.
The exchange, launched in August 2011, had tried to reassure customers that their coins are safe after a breach over the weekend forced it to suspend operations on Monday.
Bitstamp added that it is investigating the matter and communicating with law enforcement officials.
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1/3/15 Contra Costa Comets vs Merritt T-Birds Women’s Basketball Pt 2 – Video
1/3/15 Contra Costa Comets vs Merritt T-Birds Women #39;s Basketball Pt 2
By: Bay Area Sports TV
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1/3/15 Contra Costa Comets vs Merritt T-Birds Women's Basketball Pt 2 - Video
Tuggeranong Valley's Shane Devoy wins Cricket ACT's DB Robin Medal
Tuggeranong Valley's Shane Devoy Photo: Jeffrey Chan
In the big-hitting world of the Big Bash League, spinners who turn the ball away from the batsmen can be gold, and ACT Comets coach Mark Higgs believes tweaker Shane Devoy has the weapons to make it in Cricket Australia's Twenty20 slog-fest.
After a stunning summer with both bat and ball, Devoy added the DB Robin Medal to his trophy cabinet at Wednesday night's Cricket ACT grade presentation night at Woden Tradies for his 45 wickets and 514 runs across all three first-grade competitions over summer.
He was a runaway winner with 28 votes, six clear of Ginninderra batsman Sam Gaskin, with Queanbeyan's Michael Spaseski third on 20.
It adds to the Peter Solway Medal the Tuggeranong Valley all-rounder won the previous summer as the Comets' best player in the Futures League for 2012-13.
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Weston Creek Molonglo's Ingrid Svilans won the SJ Moore Medal for the women's competition for her 422 runs at an average of 70.33, while Luke Ryan won the inaugural Darren Richards Medal as the ACT's best indoor cricketer.
After another stunning summer, Higgs felt Devoy had the tools to take his game to the next level both at state level and also in the lucrative Big Bash League.
He said Devoy's left-arm orthodox bowling suited Twenty20 cricket.
"Left-arm orthos, in particular, are big value in Big Bash cricket because they spin the ball away from the right-hander," Higgs said.
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Tuggeranong Valley's Shane Devoy wins Cricket ACT's DB Robin Medal
US woman with psoriasis has patches of silver 'bark' forming over her body
WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT Pat Schuerman, 50, was diagnosed with skin condition psoriasis at age 24 Patches of thick, red welts and rough, silvery scales that look like bark or plaster of Paris are forming all over her body, leaving her feeling 'hideous' Has been thrown out of shops as owners worry her condition is contagious Developed psoriatic arthritis in her joints which makes walking difficult Now no longer leaves the house due to insecurities over her looks
By Madlen Davies for MailOnline
Published: 09:56 EST, 5 January 2015 | Updated: 17:37 EST, 5 January 2015
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Pat Schuerman, 50, says she no longer leaves the house because insecurities over her psoriasis have left her feeling 'hideous' and like a 'leper'
A woman has described how unsightly patches of silvery 'bark' are forming all over her body as a result of the skin condition psoriasis.
Pat Schuerman, 50, is covered in thick, red welts and rough, silvery scales, which she described as 'looking like bark' or 'plaster of Paris'.
She is constantly itching and feels 'hideous', but despite trying a range of treatments to help manage her condition, nothing has worked.
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US woman with psoriasis has patches of silver 'bark' forming over her body
LEO Pharma submits NDA to US FDA for aerosol foam to treat plaque psoriasis
PBR Staff Writer Published 06 January 2015
LEO Pharma has submitted a new drug application (NDA) to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking approval for calcipotriene and betamethasone dipropionate aerosol foam to treat patients with plaque psoriasis, the most common clinical form of psoriasis.
The aerosol foam formulation of the fixed combination of calcipotriene and betamethasone dipropionate 0.005%/0.064%, has been developed to improve treatment for patients with plaque psoriasis.
The NDA is based on studies of patients with plaque psoriasis, which include the Phase IIIa PSO-FAST trial that evaluated efficacy and safety at four weeks and the Phase II MUSE safety trial.
LEO Pharma president and CEO Barbara Osborne said: "Psoriasis is a chronic, debilitating disease. Patients with inadequately managed plaque psoriasis can experience substantial burden of illness, with similar reductions in quality of life to those experienced by patients with diabetes or cancer.
"With the regulatory submission announced today, we are taking a step further towards providing additional topical treatment options for people living with psoriasis."
The company said that regulatory filings in Europe and other countries are planned during the course of 2015 and 2016.
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LEO Pharma submits NDA to US FDA for aerosol foam to treat plaque psoriasis
FSX Boeing 747-400 landing Toronto Pearson – Video
FSX Boeing 747-400 landing Toronto Pearson
World travel Boeing 747-400 landing. Runway 33R Toronto Pearson international.
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Laura Giannola, Greece Tour Guide – Video
Laura Giannola, Greece Tour Guide
Laura Giannola, Greece Tour Guide - Tour of the Aegean with Trip leader Laura Giannola Travel Videos HD, World Travel Guide http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=World1Tube ...
By: World Travel Guides
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Strong dollar makes world travel cheaper for Americans
AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, File FILE - In this Tuesday, March 22, 2011 file photo, tourists take pictures in front of Rome's ancient Colosseum. A strong U.S. dollar is making world travel cheaper for Americans in 2015.
DALLAS If you've been putting off a trip abroad because it's too expensive, start packing your bags.
A stronger dollar has reduced the price of travel, from a hotel room to a glass of beer, in much of Europe, Japan, India and elsewhere.
"This is one of the best times for Americans to travel in years," says Matt Kepnes, author of "How to Travel the World on $50 a Day" and other travel books.
WHY THE DOLLAR IS STRONG
Other economies are shaky, making their currencies less valuable. Europe is barely growing. Japan is already officially in recession. China's growth has slowed. Meanwhile, the U.S. economy has been chugging along, and the dollar has gained too. Many economists expect that steady U.S. growth will compel the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates later this year, making dollar investments more attractive and leading traders to sell other currencies and buy dollars.
WHAT IT MEANS
Let's say that in June you had a charming dinner for two in Paris for 75 euros. First, congratulations. Second, it cost $103 then; today it would be $89. Expensive countries may not be cheap, but at least they're more affordable now.
BEST BARGAINS
Thanks to the pound's decline, England is cheaper than it was six months ago. But the euro has slumped more, making most of continental Europe an even better bargain. Travel writer Kepnes says Greece is attractive right now because hotels and tour operators have been slashing prices to fill rooms. The same thing is happening in Portugal and parts of Spain.
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Myanmar: See the country by private jet, balloon and boat
A new excursion organized by TCS World Travel, which specializes in private jet tours, will explore the ancient cities and Buddhist monasteries of Myanmar. Travelers will float in a hot air balloon over the temples of Bagan, take a boat ride on Inle Lake with the Intha people and visit small riverside villages to learn about the people and culture of Myanmar. One option includes visiting a Burmese cat sanctuary.
Dates: Feb. 20-March 7
Price: The rate is $37,750 per person, double occupancy. Single supplement is $3,537. Tours are all-inclusive:direct jet charter, transfers by private vehicles,hotel accommodations, all meals, private guided sightseeing,entrance fees and amenities.
Info: TCS World Travel, (800) 454-4149
Follow us on Twitter@latimestravel, like us on Facebook@Los Angeles Times Travel.
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The incredible rise of Dubai as the world's air travel hub
Dubai is also leading 2014 (January-September) in terms of international passengers, with a shade more than 52 million until the end of the same month, compared to 51.7m for Heathrow.
Paul Griffiths, the chief executive of Dubai Airports, said he was confident statistics would show the airport had ended 2014 with more than 70 million passengers, confirming its place as the worlds busiest international hub.
It seals a rise that has been predicted for some time, but remains astonishing despite its inevitability.
Back in 2008, the then chief executive of British Airways, Willie Walsh, warned that Dubais plan was to become the hub that links the worlds biggest aviation market, North America, with its fastest-growing, Asia and this link would bypass Europe altogether.
How Dubai pipped Heathrow
Statistics from Airports Council International; 2020 shows projected figures
Yet the airport had only started appearing among the worlds 30 busiest airports the previous year, in 2007, when 34.3m passengers passed through. As several Middle Eastern airports and airlines competed for a greater slice of the aviation market (see our 2008 story, Middle East special: The new golden age for air travel), Dubai was by then clearly standing out.
In 2008, the airport opened its Emirates Terminal 3, the worlds largest passenger terminal (and the second busiest terminal in the world).
Opened exclusively for Emirates flights, which accounts for around 50 per cent of Dubais passengers, it doubled the airports capacity.
The number of passengers arriving in the city since 2008 has indeed increased twofold, and the rapid expansion shows little sign of slowing down.
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Esperanza, An Auberge Resort Earns Top Ranking in Travel + Leisure's World's Best List
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico (PRWEB) January 06, 2015
Esperanza, An Auberge Resort, an intimate beachfront escape in Cabo San Lucas, is proud to be honored in Travel + Leisures annual 2015 T+L 500 Worlds Best Hotels list, a compilation of the 500 best hotels in the world. The magazines readers rated Esperanza among the worlds best as one of the Best Hotels in Mexico, with an overall score of 92.4.
The T+L 500 List reflects the sentiments of Travel + Leisures discriminating readers, who ranked the worlds leading hotels and resorts in a variety of categories ranging from guest rooms and facilities, location, service and food, to value for money.
Theres a wealth of exceptional hotels and resorts around the world and we are incredibly honored that the discerning readers of Travel + Leisure continue to recognize us among the best of the best, said Marc Rodriguez, General Manager, Esperanza, An Auberge Resort. This recognition is a testament to the dedication of our staff, who takes great pride in maintaining the highest level of service and amenities that our guests have come to expect.
Travel + Leisures 2015 T+L 500 hotels represent the hotels with the highest overall scores from the 2014 Worlds Best Awards readers survey and serves as a guide for travelers for where to stay in the year ahead. The 2015 T+L 500 List will be announced in the January issue of Travel + Leisure and the full list is published online at http://www.travelandleisure.com/tl500/2015.
Esperanza encompasses a 57-room resort, 60 privately owned villas, 36 private residences, a full-service spa and several signature dining outlets, located on the bluffs overlooking two private coves at Punta Ballena near Cabo San Lucas. The resort is a member of the prestigious Relais & Chteaux collection. For reservations or more information, please call toll-free 866-311-2226 or visit http://www.esperanzaresort.com. Follow Esperanza on Facebook at facebook.com/EsperanzaResort and on Twitter at @EsperanzaResort.
About Auberge Resorts Collection Auberge Resorts Collection owns and operates a portfolio of exceptional hotels, resorts, residences and private clubs under two distinct brands: Auberge Hotels and Resorts, timeless luxury properties acclaimed for their intimate, understated elegance, and VieVage Hotels and Resorts, a new lifestyle brand that brings together contemporary themes of design, community and wellness in a fresh, active and social environment. While Auberge nurtures the individuality of each property, all share a crafted approach to luxury that is expressed through captivating design, exceptional cuisine and spas, and gracious yet unobtrusive service. Properties in the Auberge Resorts Collection include: Auberge du Soleil and Calistoga Ranch, Napa Valley, Calif.; Esperanza, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Hotel Jerome, Aspen, Colo.; Malliouhana, Anguilla; Nanuku, Fiji; The Auberge Residences at Element 52, Telluride, Colo.; Pronghorn Resort, Bend, Ore.; VieVage, Napa Valley; and Auberge Beach Residences and Spa Fort Lauderdale, with several others in development. For more information about Auberge Resorts Collection, please visit http://www.aubergeresorts.com/. Follow Auberge Resorts Collection on Facebook at facebook.com/AubergeResorts and on Twitter at @AubergeResorts.
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Esperanza, An Auberge Resort Earns Top Ranking in Travel + Leisure's World's Best List
VLOG #4 – Il Nuovo Super Computer Di Alex – Video
VLOG #4 - Il Nuovo Super Computer Di Alex
Salve ragazzi, oggi super notizia: PC nuovo!! Chiedetemi nei commenti quale gioco fare e ci far anche un gameplay. Specifiche pi precise per chi se ne intende: Intel Core i5 4590 3.3...
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Oceans can last forever on super-Earths
Washington, Jan 6 (IANS): A new research finds that oceans on super-Earths can last for billions of years.
Super-Earths are planets up to five times the mass, or 1.5 times the size of Earth.
When scientists consider whether a planet is in the habitable zone, they think about its distance from the Sun and its resultant surface temperature.
"However, they should also think about oceans, and look at super-Earths to find a good sailing or surfing destination," said lead author Laura Schaefer from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA).
Earth maintains its oceans through planet-wide recycling.
Schaefer used computer simulations to see if this recycling process was applicable to super-Earths.
She found that planets two to four times the mass of Earth are even better at establishing and maintaining oceans than our Earth. The oceans of super-Earths would persist for at least 10 billion years.
"This suggests that if you want to look for life, you should look at older super-Earths," Schaefer added.
Schaefer presented her findings at a press conference at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society Monday.
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Super-Earths capable of maintaining oceans of liquid water
January 6, 2015
A gas giant planet rising over the horizon of an alien waterworld. New research shows that oceans on super-Earths, once established, can last for billions of years. (Credit: David A. Aguilar/CfA)
Chuck Bednar for redOrbit.com Your Universe Online
One of the key factors in the search for life on other worlds is a planets ability to sustain liquid water, and researchers from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) have for the first time revealed that this possibility exists on the type of planets known as super-Earths.
Super-Earths, which are extrasolar planets that have a mass higher than Earths but one well below that of smaller gas giants such as Uranus and Neptune, could support oceans similar to those found on our planets for billions of years once they were established, the CfA researchers said Monday at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS).
When people consider whether a planet is in the habitable zone, they think about its distance from the star and its temperature, lead author Laura Schaefer explained in a statement. However, they should also think about oceans, and look at super-Earths to find a good sailing or surfing destination.
While water covers 70 percent of the planet we call home, it actually makes up a small percentage of the overall bulk of the planet, the CfA researchers explain. The Earth is primarily made of rock and iron, and only about one-tenth of it is water.
However, liquid H2O isnt just found on the Earths surface, as research has shown that there is several oceans worth of water contained in the mantle as well, they noted. That water was pulled underground by plate tectonics and subduction of the seafloor, and if not for the H2O returning to the surface through volcanism, the planets oceans would essentially vanish.
This planet-wide recycling process helps the Earth maintain its oceans, so Schaefer and her colleagues turned to computer simulations to see if similar processes would also take place on super-Earths. They found that planets between two and four times the mass of Earth did an even better job of establishing and maintaining massive bodies of water than our homeworld.
In fact, the CfA research team found that the oceans of super-Earths would persist for a period of at least 10 billion years unless they were boiled away from an evolving red giant star.
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Gamida Cell treatment granted orphan drug status
Stem cell therapy developer Gamida Cell has been awarded orphan drug status by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) for leukemia treatment NiCord. The investigational drug treats acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), Hodgkin lymphoma and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Gamida Cell intends to file for NiCord orphan drug status with the EMA for other indications as well.
Gamida Cell president and CEO Dr. Yael Margolin said, "Receipt of orphan drug status for NiCord in the US and Europe advances Gamida Cell's commercialization plans a major step further, as both afford significant advantages. We very much appreciate the positive feedback and support of the FDA and EMA and look forward to continuing what has been a very positive dialogue with these important agencies."
The FDA and EMA grant an orphan drug designation to promote the development of products that demonstrate promise for the treatment of rare diseases or conditions. Orphan drug designation provides for various regulatory and economic benefits, including seven years of market exclusivity in the US and 10 years in the EU.
NiCord is derived from a single cord blood unit, which has been expanded in culture and enriched with stem cells using Gamida Cell's proprietary NAM technology. It is currently being tested in a Phase I/II study as an investigational therapeutic treatment for hematological malignancies such as leukemia and lymphoma. In this study, NiCord is being used as the sole stem cell source.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - http://www.globes-online.com - on January 6, 2015
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Pioneering method developed to define stages of stem cell reprogramming
In a groundbreaking study that provides scientists with a critical new understanding of stem cell development and its role in disease, UCLA researchers at the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research led by Dr. Kathrin Plath, professor of biological chemistry, have established a first-of-its-kind methodology that defines the unique stages by which specialized cells are reprogrammed into stem cells that resemble those found in the embryo.
The study was published online ahead of print in the journal Cell.
Induced pluripotent stem cells (known as iPSCs) are similar to human embryonic stem cells in that both cell types have the unique ability to self-renew and have the flexibility to become any cell in the human body. iPSC cells, however, are generated by reprogramming skin or blood cells and do not require an embryo.
Reprogramming is a long process (about one to two weeks) and largely inefficient, with typically less than one percent of the primary skin or blood cells successfully completing the journey to becoming an iPSC. The exact stages a cell goes through during the reprogramming process are also not well understood. This knowledge is important, as iPSCs hold great promise in the field of regenerative medicine, as they can provide a single source of patient-specific cells to replace those lost to injury or disease. They can also be used to create novel disease models from which new drugs and therapies can be developed.
"This research has broad impact, because by deepening our understanding of cell reprogramming we have the potential to improve disease modeling and the generation of better sources of patient-specific specialized cells suitable for replacement therapy," said Plath. "This can ultimately benefit patients with new and better treatments for a wide range of diseases.
Drs. Vincent Pasque and Jason Tchieu, postdoctoral fellows in the lab of Dr. Plath and co-first authors of the study, developed a roadmap of the reprogramming process using detailed time-course analyses. They induced the reprogramming of skin cells into iPSC, then observed and analyzed on a daily basis or every other day the process of transformation at the single-cell level. The data were collected and recorded over a period of up to two weeks.
Plath's team found that the changes that happen in cells during reprogramming occur in a sequential stage-by-stage manner, and that importantly, the stages were the same across all the different reprogramming systems and different cell types analyzed.
"The exact stage of reprogramming of any cell can now be determined," said Pasque. "This study signals a big change in thinking, because it provides simple and efficient tools for scientists to study stem cell creation in a stage-by-stage manner. Most studies to date ignore the stages of reprogramming, but we can now seek to better understand the entire process on both a macro and micro level."
Plath's team further discovered that the stages of reprogramming to iPSC are different from what was expected. They found that it is not simply the reversed sequence of stages of embryo development. Some steps are reversed in the expected order; others do not actually happen in the exact reverse order and resist a change until late during reprogramming to iPSCs.
"This reflects how cells do not like to change from one specialized cell type to another and resist a change in cell identity," said Pasque. "Resistance to reprogramming also helps to explain why reprogramming takes place only in a very small proportion of the starting cells."
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Pioneering method developed to define stages of stem cell reprogramming