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Daily Archives: July 27, 2017
Using CRISPR, scientists efficiently edit genome of viable human embryos – STAT
Posted: July 27, 2017 at 9:47 am
I
n a step that some of the nations leading scientists have long warned against and that has never before been accomplished, biologists in Oregon have edited the DNA of viable human embryos efficiently and apparently with few mistakes, according to a report in Technology Review.
The experiment, using the revolutionary genome-editing technique CRISPR-Cas9, was led by Shoukhrat Mitalipov of Oregon Health and Science University. It went beyond previous experiments using CRISPR to alter the DNA of human embryos, all of which were conducted in China, in that it edited the genomes of many more embryos and targeted a gene associated with a significant human disease.
This is the kind of research that is essential if we are to know if its possible to safely and precisely make corrections in embryos DNA to repair disease-causing genes, legal scholar and bioethicist R. Alta Charo of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, told STAT. While there will be time for the public to decide if they want to get rid of regulatory obstacles to these studies, I do not find them inherently unethical. Those regulatory barriers include a ban on using National Institutes of Health funding for experiments that use genome-editing technologies in human embryos.
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The firstexperiment using CRISPR to alter the DNA of human embryos, in 2015, used embryos obtained from fertility clinics that had such serious genetic defects they could never have developed. In the new work, Technology Review reported, Mitalipov and his colleagues created human embryos using sperm donated by men with the genetic mutation that they planned to try to repair with CRISPR. The embryos are described as clinical quality. A 2017 experiment, also in China, used CRISPR to edit DNA in normal, presumably viable fertilized eggs, or one-cell human embryos.
Also in contrast to the experiments in China, those led by Mitalipov reportedly produced very few off-target effects, or editing of genes that CRISPR was supposed to leave alone. And the experiment avoided what is called mosaicism, in which only some cells of an embryo have the intended DNA changes. The embryos were not allowed to develop beyond a very early stage.
Because changing the DNA of an early embryo results in changes to cells that will eventually produce sperm and eggs, if the embryo is born and grows to adulthood, any children he or she has will inherit the genetic alteration, which is called germline editing. That has led to fears that such manipulations could alter the course of human evolution.
It has also triggered warnings about designer babies, in which parents customize their IVF embryos by adding, removing, or changing genes for certain traits.
A recent report on genome-editing from the National Academies did not call for a moratorium on research into germline editing, arguing that it might one day be a way for some parents to have healthy, biological children, such as when both mother and father carry genetic mutations that cause severe diseases.
But we anticipated that there would need to be a lot of research to see if you could make these changes without any unintentional effects,said Charo, who co-chaired the Academies committee. Mitalipov, who did not respond to requests for comment, has now shown that the answer to that might be yes.
Some scholars questioned how important the new study is, however. Stanford University law professor and bioethicist Hank Greely tweeted that the key point is that no one has tried to implant any edited embryos. Research embryos that are not to be transferred for possible implantation are not a big deal, he argued.
This story has been updated with additional comments by experts and details of similar experiments.
Senior Writer, Science and Discovery
Sharon covers science and discovery.
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Using CRISPR, scientists efficiently edit genome of viable human embryos - STAT
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Plant scientists plan massive effort to sequence 10000 genomes – Science Magazine
Posted: at 9:47 am
Freshwater alga in the genus Zygnema would be one target of sequencing project.
Norbert Hlsmann/Flickr (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
By Dennis NormileJul. 27, 2017 , 8:00 AM
Hopes of sequencing the DNA of every living thing on earth are taking a step forward with the announcement of plans to sequence at least 10,000 genomes representing every major clade of plants and eukaryotic microbes. Chinese sequencing giant BGI and the China National Genebank (CNGB) held a workshop yesterday on the sidelines of the International Botanical Congress, being held this week in BGI's hometown of Shenzhen, to discuss what they are calling the 10KP plan. About 250 plant scientists participated in the discussions and "are raring to go," says Gane Ka-Shu Wong, a genomicist and bioinformaticist at University of Alberta in Edmonton.
The 10KP plan will be a key part of the Earth BioGenome Project (EBP), an ambitious and still evolving scheme to get at least rough sequence data on the 1.5 million eukaryotic species, starting with detailed sequences of one member of each of the 9000 eukaryotic families. The effort to sequence plants is moving ahead a bit faster than other aspects of EBP "because plant scientists are more collaborative," Wong says jokingly.
The 10KP plan is also building on a previous 1,000 plant (1KP) transcriptome project. That effort, launched in 2012 and now nearing completion, was also led by BGI, where Wong is an associate director.
"One thing we focused on (for 1KP) was sampling phylogenetic diversity, not just crops and model organisms," Wong says. That strategy will continue with 10KP. The transcriptome project has resulted in more than 50 papers, with the overall summary publication still to come. A lot of the analysis has focused on plant evolution. One surprise was that important transcription factors previously thought to have evolved as land plants colonized terrestrial habitats can actually be traced back to green algae, says Michael Melkonian, a botanist at the University of Cologne in Germany. Screening green algae also turned up new light-sensitive proteins that neuroscientists now use to study how different neurons interact and better understand neurological functioning.
Whereas the 1KP project only tackled the transcriptome, or all the messenger RNA expressed by an organism, 10KP will produce completely new sequences of the entire genome. And scientists expect an even larger bonanza of fundamental insights and economic spin-offs. The 10KP project "is 1KP on steroids," says Douglas Soltis, a plant biologist at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida in Gainesville. He adds that one "wonderful thing" about the project is that it will provide reference genomes for "the numerous plant researchers studying non-model systems," he says. The project will also present "an unprecedented opportunity to address fundamental questions about plant evolution," says Stephen Smith, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Study targets are expected to include the role of genome duplication, the correlation between genomic and morphological changes, and how rates of evolution changed over time.
We're ready to start sequencing yesterday.
One challenge Smith points to is the need to develop new means of analyzing and synthesizing sequencing information. "Existing tools and methods are unable to handle the extraordinary scale of the data," he says. Wong says another bottleneck will be dealing with the paperwork needed to comply with legal requirements of shipping plant material across borders, as well as complying with the Nagoya Protocol, an international pact that seeks to ensure the fair and equitable sharing of genetic resources. On the other hand, gathering specimens is easier than for other areas of genetics. "You don't have to chase down some animal, you can usually just go to a botanical garden," Wong says.
Xu Xun, who leads technical development for BGI, says the company and CNBG will cover the sequencing costs but "scientists will have to find their own funding for collecting samples and for analysis." As for timing, Wong says they hope to gather the samples in the next two years and "we hope to wrap up the sequencing and analysis in 5 years."
"We're ready to start sequencing yesterday," Wong says. And plant scientists are eager. After the meeting yesterday in Shenzhen, "several people came up people already wanting to send samples," he says.
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Plant scientists plan massive effort to sequence 10000 genomes - Science Magazine
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Researchers conduct sequencing and de novo assembly of 150 genomes in Denmark – Phys.Org
Posted: at 9:47 am
July 27, 2017 by Bob Yirka report A depiction of the double helical structure of DNA. Its four coding units (A, T, C, G) are color-coded in pink, orange, purple and yellow. Credit: NHGRI
(Phys.org)A large international team of researchers has developed a Danish reference genome catalog based on the de novo assembly of 150 genomes sequenced from 50 family trios. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the group describes the multi-year effort, its purpose, and where they believe such efforts are leading.
One of the ways that scientists are learning about diseases, particularly those that are hereditary in nature, is by sequencing the genomes of large groups of peopledoing so enables searching for variants that cause or contribute to a given diseasethe ultimate goal would be to sequence every single person on Earth. In this new effort, the researchers have sequenced the genomes of 150 people in Denmark (from 50 family trios) of Danish descentnative Inuits and immigrants were screened out.
The effort, the researchers report, was carried out partly to create a Danish reference catalog and partly to learn how to conduct large-scale genome sequencing. They note that such a project required the combined efforts of multiple people and organizations working in coordinated fashion. Ultimately, the project cost approximately $10 million.
One major aspect of the project was selecting technology and determining how many people to sequence. The team wound up using samples from 50 families and did the sequencing using both combinations of paired-end and mate-pair libraries with the Illumina HiSeq2000. They note also that de novo assemblies were used because the researchers believed other approaches left out pertinent information. De novo refers to deriving a peptide sequence from a mass spectrum without the use of a sequence database. It is the preferred approach to sequencing when the aim is to identify novel peptides in organisms that have not been previously sequenced. The researchers report very few gaps in the data. They also note that three assemblies were used: Allpaths-LG14, SOAPdenovo2 and SGA. Accuracy was measured by comparing their results with the human reference genome.
The researchers hope that their effort will lead to improved medical interpretation of genetics in Denmark.
Explore further: Genome sequencing of individual Korean offers opportunity to identify parts of sequence unique to Korean population
More information: Lasse Maretty et al. Sequencing and de novo assembly of 150 genomes from Denmark as a population reference, Nature (2017). DOI: 10.1038/nature23264
Abstract Hundreds of thousands of human genomes are now being sequenced to characterize genetic variation and use this information to augment association mapping studies of complex disorders and other phenotypic traits. Genetic variation is identified mainly by mapping short reads to the reference genome or by performing local assembly. However, these approaches are biased against discovery of structural variants and variation in the more complex parts of the genome. Hence, large-scale de novo assembly is needed. Here we show that it is possible to construct excellent de novo assemblies from high-coverage sequencing with mate-pair libraries extending up to 20 kilobases. We report de novo assemblies of 150 individuals (50 trios) from the GenomeDenmark project. The quality of these assemblies is similar to those obtained using the more expensive long-read technology. We use the assemblies to identify a rich set of structural variants including many novel insertions and demonstrate how this variant catalogue enables further deciphering of known association mapping signals. We leverage the assemblies to provide 100 completely resolved major histocompatibility complex haplotypes and to resolve major parts of the Y chromosome. Our study provides a regional reference genome that we expect will improve the power of future association mapping studies and hence pave the way for precision medicine initiatives, which now are being launched in many countries including Denmark.
Journal reference: Nature
2017 Phys.org
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A team spanning Baylor College of Medicine, Rice University, Texas Children's Hospital and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard has developed a new way to sequence genomes, which can assemble the genome of an organism, ...
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(Phys.org)A large international team of researchers has developed a Danish reference genome catalog based on the de novo assembly of 150 genomes sequenced from 50 family trios. In their paper published in the journal Nature, ...
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Researchers conduct sequencing and de novo assembly of 150 genomes in Denmark - Phys.Org
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Implanting Stem Cells Into The Brain Might Extend Human Lifespan – ScienceAlert
Posted: at 9:46 am
As far as brain regions go, the hypothalamus is something of a multi-tasker: it helps control our temperature, hunger, sleep, emotions, and sex drive.
But that's not all. A new study suggests it's also responsible for keeping us young, thanks to a supply of neural stem cells that regulate our ageing.
Sadly, these disappear with time which could be why we get old but tests with mice show that implanting new cells to replace them can actually extend lifespan.
"Our research shows that the number of hypothalamic neural stem cells naturally declines over the life of the animal, and this decline accelerates ageing," says molecular pharmacologist Dongsheng Cai from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx.
"But we also found that the effects of this loss are not irreversible. By replenishing these stem cells or the molecules they produce, it's possible to slow and even reverse various aspects of ageing throughout the body."
Cai and his team discovered back in 2013 that the hypothalamus plays a role in ageing, and that by reducing inflammation in the brains of mice, the animals were able to live longer lives.
Now, in a follow-up study, the researchers think they've pinpointed the particular cells in the hypothalamus that matter here: neural stem cells, which serve to generate replacements for dead and damaged cells.
In mice, these cells start to disappear when the animals are about 10 months old (mice middle age), and are largely gone by the time they turn two (elderly).
To figure out if this reduction is what helps cause ageing as opposed to just a correlation the researchers disrupted the neural stem cells in a group of mice, using a toxin to destroy around 70 percent of the cells.
Doing so not only caused the mice to live a few months less than naturally ageing control animals, but it also increased the effects of ageing while they still lived.
"There was a decline in learning and memory, coordination, muscle mass, endurance, and skin thickness," Cai explained to Jessica Hamzelou at New Scientist.
To see if an opposite effect was also possible in other words, whether stocking up on neural stem cells could produce youthful vigour and longevity the team injected hypothalamic stem cells taken from newborn mice into the brains of two groups of mice.
One of these groups was made up of normal old mice; the other consisted of animals that had had their hypothalamus disrupted by the toxin.The treated animals lived significantly longer than untreated animals, enjoying a lifespan up to 15 percent longer than the controls.
The team thinks that the longevity provided by these neural stem cells comes down to molecular secretions called microRNAs (miRNAs), which help to regulate gene expression.
Scientists uninvolved with the research have described this ageing mechanism as "totally novel and quite unexpected", although there's no guarantee the same physiological function is at work in people.
Finding out whether it is will be on the horizon for the researchers, who now want to launch clinical trials to see if neural stem cells implanted into human volunteers acts like some kind of elixir of youth.
"Of course humans are more complex," Cai explained to Ian Sample at The Guardian.
"However, if the mechanism is fundamental, you might expect to see effects when an intervention is based on it."
The findings are reported in Nature.
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Implanting Stem Cells Into The Brain Might Extend Human Lifespan - ScienceAlert
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Psoriasis and Eczema: What’s the Difference? – Beliefnet
Posted: at 9:46 am
Orrling and Tomer S/Wikimedia Commons
Dry, itchy, and painful skin can be due to a wide range of skin conditions. Two of the most popular conditions thought are psoriasis and eczema. These two conditions can appear very similar and make it tough to distinguish a difference. Both conditions cause red, itchy skin but have different causes and treatments.
Eczema is a skin condition that can be caused by a number of factors including environmental factors, allergens, family history and bacteria exposure. On the other hand, psoriasis is a condition that occurs when a persons immune system triggers skin cells to grow faster than they should. Instead of the dead skin cells coming off the skin, they build up. In addition, psoriasis can cause joint stiffness as well as swelling.
Both of the conditions can keep the skin from appearing smooth and healthy. There is only one type of eczema, and five types of psoriasis. However, the most common form of psoriasis is plaque psoriasis, which is the form that most clearly resembles eczema. While its rare that a person will have both of the conditions at once, it is possible.
Due to the buildup of psoriasis plaques, the skin will have thick, red and scaly patches that are well-defined. These may be silvery in color and are raised up high. The skin will be thicker and more inflamed than if it was eczema.
Eczema is different with the patches being red or brown-gray in color. There will be rough, leathery patches of skin. Sometimes the areas will appear as small raised bumps. These bumps may have a crust-like layer that causes them to leak fluid when broken.
Eczema is known to cause very intense itching that usually worsens at night. When a person scratches the skin, the results can be swollen, sensitive and even raw skin. However, while psoriasis can cause itching it typically is only mild. There instead may be a sting or a burn feeling.
Eczema is more common in children than adults, and tends to subside at about age 5 or 6 according to the Nemours Foundation. However, some young people may have flare-ups during puberty.
Psoriasis typically develops between the ages of 15 and 35, and babies rarely have the condition. The American Academy of Dermatology estimate that 1 percent of children have psoriasis while 10 percent of children have eczema.
Eczema appears most commonly on part of your body that bend, including your inner elbow or behind the knee. Babies will sometimes get it on their chin, cheeks, scalp, and similar.
Psoriasis can appear on the nails, which is rare for eczema. In addition patches of psoriasis can show up on elbows, knees, the scalp, lower back, palms of hands, soles of feet, eyelids, ears, mouth and lips.
Both psoriasis and eczema share some triggers, such as stress and infection. Its important to avoid things that will irritate the skin, such as certain soaps, detergents and disinfectants. Since allergens can set off eczema, its also important to avoid things like dust, pets, pollen and mold if necessary.
Psoriasis can also get flare-ups when the skin is injured, for example by vaccinations, sunburn and scratches. Medications such as lithium or drugs for malaria are also known to bring on psoriasis symptoms. Talk with your doctor about how to avoid these triggers.
Mild-to-moderate psoriasis treatments include over-the-counter corticosteroids that work by reducing inflammation and itching. Moderate-to-severe psoriasis can be treated with stronger medications available by prescription.
Eczema has no cure. Keeping the skin clean, moisturized and dry can help relieve symptoms. If avoidance of triggers and at-home treatments dont work, a doctor can prescribe stronger creams.
Psoriasis and eczema arent the only types of skin conditions that resemble each other. Examples of other skin conditions that are commonly misdiagnosed include athletes foot, contact dermatitis, shingles, hives, rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis. If you are unsure of what is causing your skin issues, monitor the area closely and go see a doctor.
Psoriasis has been linked to serious health conditions including diabetes, heart disease and depression. Eczema doesnt have serious links. However you may have someone else in your family with eczema, or have asthma or hay fever.
Regardless of the skin condition, its important to speak to a doctor about treatment options and ways to find relief for the problem. Keep a log of your symptoms and try to identify the triggers that make it worse. This will help in pinpointing if you have eczema or psoriasis.
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Psoriasis and Eczema: What's the Difference? - Beliefnet
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8 Holistic Ways to Heal Psoriasis – Beliefnet
Posted: at 9:46 am
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Psoriasis is an inflammatory disease that causes raised, red, scaly patches to appear on the skin. It typically affects the outside of elbows, knees or the scalp, thought it can appear anywhere. It can be itchy, burn and sting, which can leave patients in discomfort. There are many treatments out there for psoriasis, however there is no cure.
Those with psoriasis struggle to find treatment plans that work best for them. Finding relief from the skin condition can be hard, but many have found great success in using various at-home, herbal remedies. These natural options provide a way to reduce redness, and relieve pain, itching and burning. Try these different options out to see what could possibly work for you.
To help relieve scalp itch, apple cider vinegar may be a great way to go. You can buy a bottle of apple cider vinegar at your local grocery store and apply it to your scalp several times a week. Some people feel a burning sensation, so try diluting the vinegar with water on a 1-to-1 ratio to prevent this from happening. Others have found rinsing the solution once it has dried also helps to prevent irritation. If this works for you, you will see results within a few weeks. However, if your scalp is cracked or bleeding you will want to skip this remedy. The vinegar will only further irritate your skin.
If you have psoriasis throughout your body, a warm bath filled with Dead Sea salts or Epsom salts will help. Try adding a quarter cup of salt to bathwater and soak for about 15 minutes. Be sure to apply moisturizer once you are done to help keep skin hydrated. The soak should help alleviate the itching and burning of scaly plaques.
Aloe plant gel is known to be helpful for sunburns, and it can help with psoriasis too. Gel from the plant can be applied to the skin up to three times daily and research shows that it can help reduce redness and scaling associated with psoriasis. If not using an actual aloe plant, look for medicated creams that contain at least 0.5 percent aloe. Please note, however, that taking aloe in tablet form shows no benefit and can be dangerous.
This has been a solution to psoriasis for centuries and many report it has great benefits, despite there not being scientific evidence to support the use of it. Tea tree oil comes from the leaves of the tea tree plant which grows in Australia. When applied to the skin, this treatment is said to help remove dry, dead cells. Many people find using shampoos with tea tree oil helps best. Be careful, though, as many are allergic to it.
One of natures best skin soothers, many individuals with psoriasis report finding relief with the help of oats. Try applying an oat past or taking a bath in oats to relieve itchy skin and reduce redness.
Turmeric is an herb that is frequently studied for its powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. You can take turmeric concentrated in pill or supplement form or if you like curries, adding it liberally to your food. The FDA considers 1.5 to 3.0 grams of turmeric per day to be safe. However, we suggest that you consult with a naturopathic practitioner for help in determining the correct amount for you.
One of the best things you can do for your psoriasis is to modify your diet. Fresh fruit and vegetables are filled with disease-fighting antioxidants. When you have psoriasis, its important to maintain a healthy weight so that your medication will be more effective. In addition, research suggests that psoriasis patients are at an increased risk for heart disease and stroke. Keeping fruits and veggies around will help to lower this risk.
Drinking plenty of water is also an important diet choice for those with psoriasis. Drinking water helps to keep your skin hydrated and prevent it from getting too dry. In addition, using a humidifier is a good home remedy that will keep your skin moist, especially in winter.
Studies have also shown that people who have celiac disease may be at a higher risk for psoriasis, in part because gluten can cause inflammation. Even if you dont have celiac, a gluten-free diet may work for you.
Many find that stress is a huge trigger for their psoriasis symptoms. To help combat this, pick activities you enjoy that are known to have stress-reducing properties. Yoga is a great way to relieve built up anxiety and stress. Devote 20 minutes a day to yoga exercise, which involve some mediation as well as breathing, stretching, and strengthening movements. Yoga also helps to relieve the pain and itch of psoriasis plaques while improving your range of motion if you have psoriatic arthritis. Another stress-reducing activity would be getting a massage. Clinical trials have shown massage therapy may be beneficial in treating chronic pain, which often accompanies psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
It can be tough to find the treatment plan that works for you. Psoriasis can be a stubborn disease, but it does not have to run your life. Try out these natural, at-home remedies to fight the irritation and itchiness of psoriasis.
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First editing of human embryos carried out in United States – Reuters
Posted: at 9:45 am
(Reuters) - Technology that allows alteration of genes in a human embryo has been used for the first time in the United States, according to Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) in Portland, which carried out the research.
The OHSU research is believed to have broken new ground both in the number of embryos experimented upon and by demonstrating it is possible to safely and efficiently correct defective genes that cause inherited diseases, according to Technology Review, which first reported the news.
None of the embryos were allowed to develop for more than a few days, according to the report.
Some countries have signed a convention prohibiting the practice on concerns it could be used to create so-called designer babies.
Results of the peer-reviewed study are expected to be published soon in a scientific journal, according to OHSU spokesman Eric Robinson.
The research, led by Shoukhrat Mitalipov, head of OHSU's Center for Embryonic Cell and Gene Therapy, involves a technology known as CRISPR that has opened up new frontiers in genetic medicine because of its ability to modify genes quickly and efficiently.
CRISPR works as a type of molecular scissors that can selectively trim away unwanted parts of the genome, and replace it with new stretches of DNA.
Scientists in China have published similar studies with mixed results.
In December 2015, scientists and ethicists at an international meeting held at the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in Washington said it would be "irresponsible" to use gene editing technology in human embryos for therapeutic purposes, such as to correct genetic diseases, until safety and efficacy issues are resolved.
But earlier this year, NAS and the National Academy of Medicine said scientific advances make gene editing in human reproductive cells "a realistic possibility that deserves serious consideration.
Reporting By Deena Beasley; Editing by Michael Perry
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First editing of human embryos carried out in United States - Reuters
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Two Gene Therapy Approaches Pending Approval from FDA Bring Hope to Mesothelioma Community – MesotheliomaHelp.org (blog)
Posted: at 9:45 am
Nearly five years ago, MesotheliomaHelp reported about a breakthrough treatment called gene therapy. At the time, it was touted as the next frontier in medicine, and cancer patients from around the world watched closely in the hopes that the treatment could bring a cure to even the rarest of cancers, such as mesothelioma. Now, all eyes are on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as it is poised to approve two types of gene therapy.
The Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) sent its recommendation to the FDA on July 12 for CTL019 (tisagenlecleucel) for the treatment of a form of leukemia. Then, on July 17, the FDA accepted a Biologics Licensing Application from Spark Therapeutics for gene therapy for a rare inherited eye disease that causes blindness, approved the name Luxturna for the treatment, and assigned priority status to the treatment for accelerated review.
To better understand these two pending landmark approvals and the future of gene therapy, MesotheliomaHelp turned to Ricki Lewis, a New York-based geneticist and author.
Its not right for every disease, said Lewis. But it is an approach that can be considered some day along with drugs, surgery and everything else.
Tisagenlecleucel is an investigational chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy from Novartis, developed by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania. The pharmaceutical company wants to use the therapy to treat a rare form of leukemia, B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia affecting children and young adults under the age of 25, according to NPR.
Lewis explains that CAR-T therapy is not conventional gene therapy, which has been in clinical trials to treat single-gene diseases since 1990. However, she notes that CAR T cell technology has had astonishing success in treating a form of leukemia and its being tested for multiple myeloma, brain cancer, breast cancer, and soft tissue cancers.
Although both approaches deliver DNA in viruses, classical gene therapy adds a working copy of a single mutant gene, restoring a specific proteins function, says Lewis. Revving up a not-naturally-occurring immune response isnt the same thing as replacing an enzyme, which is what Luxturna does.
According to the National Cancer Institute, in CAR-T treatment, T cells are removed from the patients blood and genetically altered in a lab to have chimeric antigen receptors on their surface. The T cells are then multiplied, into the billions, in the lab and infused back into the patients blood, where they seek out the cancer cells and launch a precise immune attack against them.
Lewis offers the following explanation of CAR-T:
CAR operates like a drone, targeting and obliterating cancer cells. It introduces a gene manufactured to contain instructions for making two immune system components in one, something that doesnt exist in nature: an antibody and a T cell receptor. When delivered in a virus, the CAR enters the persons T cells, which then manufacture the hybrid (chimeric) protein.
The engineered receptor portion guides the T cells to a specific target such as cancerous B cells where the antibody part binds. The action alerts the immune system to respond and kill the cancer cells.
Ultimately, CAR-T, also described as a process that genetically alters a patients own cells to fight cancer, could be used for many more diseases and cancers, and bring an effective treatment to mesothelioma patients.
In a 2013 article for MesotheliomaHelp, Lewis wrote about CAR-T treatment saying, An ingenious technique that has vanquished leukemia in a handful of patients is also being applied to mesothelioma.
Lewis highlighted the CAR-T process being used in a mesothelioma clinical trial from the University of Pennsylvania that uses the doctored T cells, known as chimeric immune receptor (CIR) instead of CAR, against mesothelin, a protein that is found to be in excess in mesothelioma and other cancers. The idea is that T cells led to the mesothelioma cells will attract an immune response, said Lewis.
Find out more about the mesothelioma clinical trial from the University of Pennsylvania here.
In her book The Forever Fix, Lewis followed the journey of the use of gene therapy to restore the vision of a young boy who was nearly blind from a hereditary disorder. The doctors added a working copy of a single defective gene in the New York boys eyes that prevented his eyes from using vitamin A to send visual signals to his brain. The treatment was a success: the boys vision was restored and no further treatments or surgery were required.
Last weeks FDA advisory committees greenlight for CAR technology overshadowed a milestone for what is likely to be the first approval of classic gene therapy for a form of inherited blindness, Lewis told MesotheliomaHelp. Thats the Leber congenital amaurosis type 2 renamed RPE65-mediated inherited retinal dystrophy that I wrote my book about.
In an interview with Lewis last week, Dr. Katherine High, MD, President, Chief Scientific Officer, and a founder of Spark Therapeutics, said of the future of gene therapy:
I hope we will see continued accumulation of successful clinical results in a range of target tissues and continued progress in bringing gene therapy products to licensing. When gene therapy products are licensed, there will be increased interest in the medical community, and that will help to expand opportunities.
Mesothelioma patients typically show disease symptoms years or even decades after exposure to asbestos, a known carcinogen. The cancer is eventually fatal, but aggressive therapy may prolong the lives of patients who are diagnosed early. Approximately 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with the cancer each year.
Getting at the basis of why one person develops mesothelioma and another person doesnt, that is going to hold a clue to really fighting it, Lewis said, referring to a clinical trial conducted at Wake Forest University in 2013 to determine whether some mesothelioma patients are genetically predisposed to developing mesothelioma. Then we will know what to do the gene therapy on.
The pending FDA approvals could bring groundbreaking treatment to cancer patients and to patients with genetic diseases. Perhaps someday, mesothelioma patients will enjoy long, productive lives through gene therapy.
The FDA is not bound to follow the ODACs recommendations, however, the Agency nearly always follows the recommendation. Approval for CTL019 is expected in November. The FDA will decide on Luxturna in January, 2018.
About Ricki Lewis,PhD Ricki Lewis is a science writer with a PhD in genetics. The author of several textbooks and thousands of articles in scientific, medical, and consumer publications, Rickis first narrative nonfiction book, The Forever Fix: Gene Therapy and the Boy Who Saved It, was published by St. Martins Press in March 2012. In addition to writing, Ricki provides genetic counseling for parents-to-be at CareNet Medical Group in Schenectady, NY and teaches Genethics an online course for masters degree students at the Alden March Bioethics Institute of Albany Medical Center.
Read more about gene therapy on Ricki Lewiss DNA Science blog.
Find out more about Ricki Lewis at her website.
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Two Gene Therapy Approaches Pending Approval from FDA Bring Hope to Mesothelioma Community - MesotheliomaHelp.org (blog)
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Far-right ‘trying to ruin the Government’s LGBT survey’ with false submissions – The Independent
Posted: at 9:45 am
Far-right trolls have been trying to distort the results of the Governments first LGBTsurvey.
The initiative, which was launched by the Government Equalities Office, is designed to be an opportunity for LGBT+ people to have their say on the future of the Governments equality policies.
More than 60,000 people have already responded to the consultation, which opened on Sunday and ends in October, but there are fears that it may be derailed by false submissions written by users of internet forum 4chan.
One user posted a link to the survey on the sites /pol/ section, where users post politically incorrect comments, and urged others to troll it with racist and homophobic responses.
Another user said people on the site should make sure to fill this in and f*** it up lads the 'conservative' party wants to bring in more anti freedom pro degenerate policies again [sic].
Another said: What a lot of people did yesterday was identifying as a Muslim transperson and pointing out anti LGBT behaviour in the Muslim community.
Other users said they should attempt to spread Islamophobia through the survey by creating an authentic LGBT person and blame all oppression on Muslims.
Others suggested sending obviously fake responses to the survey.
After being posted to 4chan, where users can post comments to its forums anonymously, the idea appeared to spread to neo-Nazi website Stormfront, PinkNews reported.
One said they had written living as a pedosexual [sic] ferret is rough guys and another said they were a level 28 gender druid.
The Government said it was aware that there were "fake" responses to the survey and is working to delete the false entries.
A spokeswoman for the Equality Office said the best way to combat the problem was for LGBT people to take the survey "so that any erroneous responses only ever make up a small proportion of the total".
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Far-right 'trying to ruin the Government's LGBT survey' with false submissions - The Independent
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Dozens of Venezuelan Journalists Flee Censorship and Violence to Report in Miami – Miami New Times
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Nicols Maduro's regime has cracked down on the free press.
Photo by Marcos Salgado / Shutterstock.com
Alejandro Marcano stared into the camera and read the days news to millions of Venezuelan viewers on Globovisins 24-hour network. Suddenly, the studios windows erupted in a rain of glass. Gunshots ricocheted through the room. A militant colectivo that supported the government circled the lot and threw tear gas into the building. Marcano realized he had two choices: sprint through the gunshots or die of asphyxiation.
On that terrifying morning of January 1, 2009, Marcano chose to run and barely escaped the brazen attack on the TV station. But his career as a journalist in his homeland was over; nearly four months later, Marcano left Caracas for Miami.
His story is far from unusual. As Nicols Maduros repressive regime tries to consolidate power despite rising protests, independent journalists face even more danger than the average Venezuelan. Amid government crackdowns and violent threats, more than 100 reporters have fled to Miami in recent years, according to Sonia Osorio, resident of the Association of Venezuelan Journalists Abroad (APEVEX).
Many like Marcano have now set up shop in South Florida, where they fight from abroad to keep telling the story of their countrys desperate struggle. We need to be participants of history so this doesnt happen again in another country, Marcano says in Spanish.
From the moment he seized power in 1999, Hugo Chvez faced accusations that his Bolivarian Revolution violently stifled dissent. But it wasnt until 2002 that Chvez really began to crack down on the media. As the press reported ever more critically on his governments power grab, Chvez threatened to revoke broadcasting licenses from TV and radio stations. After suppressing a coup in 2002, Chvez blamed adversarial media and launched an all-out assault on the free press.
Technically, Venezuelas 1999 constitution guarantees freedom of expression. But in 2004, Chvez pushed through a law forbidding stories that incite or promote hatred, foment citizens anxiety or alter public order, or disrespect authorities. News organizations could comply or shut their doors. Meanwhile, the government began revoking broadcast licenses and acquiring media outlets, eventually controlling 13 television networks, more than 65 radio stations, one news agency, eight newspapers, and a magazine.
After Chvez died in 2013 and his acolyte Maduro took power, violence against journalists became commonplace. Instituto de Prensa y Sociedad, a Venezuelan organization that fights for freedom of speech and the press, reports 279 journalists have been attacked for their work between March and June of this year alone. Five journalists have been killed since the Bolivarian Revolution.
Marcano lived through that bloody history firsthand. A native of Carpano, an eastern coastal city of 200,000, the TV reporter joined Globovisin, a station that had long been a critical check on the government, in 1995. But after Chvez grabbed power, the network began practicing a degree of self-censorship.
The directors started putting on lighter programming, Marcano says. They started lowering the tone.
Still, Globovisin didnt stop critiquing the regime. Thats why the colectivo attacked the station in 2009 an assault that Marcano and his colleagues were certain was authorized by Chvezs government.
Alejandro Marcano, left, now reports on Venezuela from Miami
Courtesy of Alejandro Marcano
In recent years, journalists who buck the party line can face violent backlash. Orian Brito, an online and TV reporter, was visiting Miami in January of 2012 when he found a photo of children back in Caracas armed with heavy machine guns. He discovered the children were given the weapons by colectivos, with support of the government, and published his findings in Reportero 24, an online paper. Suddenly he faced the worst week of his life.
First, a state TV network, Venezolana de Televisin, began attacking him and airing his personal information. His bank accounts, Facebook and Twitter accounts, email, and phones were all hacked. His family received threats and was interrogated about where Brito got his information and photos.
Brito decided he couldnt risk returning to Venezuela. My family told me, Dont come back,? he says in Spanish. ?Dont come, because theres no guarantees. Something happens to you, and who responds? Who cares??
Other reporters say their families became targets when the government didnt like their work. Miguel Mundo was a reporter at Las Noticias de Cojedes, a Caracas newspaper, when he began writing about ties between a group of narcotraffickers and the government. After several stories, Mundos paper was bombed with Molotov cocktails. Then, in January 2012, Mundos wife was kidnapped from a gas station, beaten, and tortured until Mundo agreed to leave the paper. A few weeks later, he and his wife hopped a late-night flight to Miami with their children and applied for asylum.
There are still many professional Venezuelan journalists that maintain the will and the disposition to keep working amid everything thats happening in Venezuela, Mundo says in Spanish. Meanwhile the regime does everything to try to violate and force the journalists that try to do an ethical job in the country.
As mass protests have shaken Venezuela this year, the reporters who remain say the threat of violence is omnipresent. Miguelangel Caballero, a freelance journalist, says all journalists there take a risk.
Your life and physical integrity are in danger before the attacks of the government, the security officials, and the paramilitaries, called collectivos, that attack and rob the professionals of the press, Caballero says in Spanish.
Jos Ral Gerere, a 21-year-old journalist, has been producing stories through social media channels while working as a salesman at a mall. Gerere says it isnt always easy to get accurate information with all the commotion of the protests.
It is complicated and difficult, but in spite of everything, one must be extremely firm in the face of constant criticism, threats, or whatever they wish to do, Gerere says in Spanish.
Back in Miami, the journalists who have left say they feel an obligation to keep reporting. APEVEX, founded by Osorio and two other colleagues in 2013, helps reporters like Brito get back on their feet when they arrive. Osorio says they have 50 official members in Miami today.
Some have found work at ex-pat publications, like Mundo, who became a reporter at El Venezolano in Orlando. But that paper recently closed, so hes looking for work in Miami.
I came here a little reluctant to work in journalism, says Mundo in Spanish. I was stressed with what had just happened.
As for Marcano, hes made a new career in Miami out of reporting on the daily crisis unfolding in Caracas on Mart Noticias, the U.S.-government funded station that broadcasts into Cuba.
On a recent Thursday at the Mart studios in Doral, Marcano stands in a dressing room in a lilac button-down, patting the sweat from his shaved head under vanity lights. The makeup artist makes casual conversation with the two interviewees getting prepped for their time on camera.
How long have you been here? he asks. Theyre both from Venezuela. In this dressing room, Miami becomes a cemetery for the lives and professions left behind.
Once in the studio, Marcano can barely stay still as he directs his crew at lightning speed. He recounts stories before the recording begins, making his guests comfortable under the glare of a dozen white lights and three cameras.
The producer counts down in his earpiece, loud enough to emanate throughout the quiet room: Three, two, one. Marcano does the sign of the cross before he begins recounting the latest protests and crackdowns in his homeland.
Bienvenidos a Venezuela en crisis, he says.
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Dozens of Venezuelan Journalists Flee Censorship and Violence to Report in Miami - Miami New Times
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