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Variant-resistant COVID-19 vaccines could be effective, cheap to make
April 19, 2021 -- Researchers have collaborated to create a new COVID-19 vaccine platform containing antigens against the fusion protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that could be effective against variants of the virus. The research was published online on April 15 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Read More
How can women overcome challenges to success in life sciences?
April 16, 2021 -- The gender gap is still alive and well in the life sciences, despite the great progress that has been made in recent years. But women can overcome challenges and find success in the life sciences industry, according to Olga Kubassova, PhD, chief executive officer of Image Analysis Group. Read More
AACR 2021: A case study of T-cell modulation for cancer immunotherapies
April 15, 2021 -- During a plenary session at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 2021 virtual meeting held April 9-14, speakers described impressive work that researchers have done to modify and target T cells as a means of treating cancers. Read More
AACR 2021: How machine learning and artificial intelligence are transforming cancer research
April 14, 2021 -- The use of digital tools has been incorporated into many areas of cancer research. However, experts agree that machine learning and artificial intelligence are poised to transform drug discovery efforts even further in the near future. Several scientists discussed case studies of how machine learning can be used in cancer biology and drug discovery efforts during the virtual American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 2021 meeting. Read More
AACR 2021: Single-cell technologies bring new insights to tumor cells
April 13, 2021 -- Single-cell technologies have become important tools for cancer researchers and provide scientists with the ability to make measurements of individual cells to unveil heterogenicity among tissues. Recent developments in single-cell research have been a focus of the virtual American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 2021 meeting held online April 9-14. Read More
A CRISPR on-off switch for genes controls expression without altering DNA
April 12, 2021 -- A new gene silencing tool allows scientists to switch genes on and off without altering genetic sequences. The tool, described in a paper published in Cell on April 9, uses a modified CRISPR-Cas9 system to introduce reversible epigenetic changes that control gene expression. Read More
BioTools Innovator seeks to boost startups developing life science tools
April 9, 2021 -- BioTools Innovator is calling for applications to its inaugural competition to advance innovation by accelerating the growth of startups developing life science tools. Kathryn Zavala, PhD, managing director, recently discussed the program with ScienceBoard.net. Read More
NIH details progress of SCGE consortium
April 8, 2021 -- The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) Somatic Cell Genome Editing (SCGE) consortium has provided a detailed update, published in Nature on April 8, of projects to develop safer and more effective genome editing methods in somatic cells. Read More
Will preprints have a lasting effect on publishing beyond COVID-19?
April 7, 2021 -- During the COVID-19 pandemic, 25% of all COVID-19-related scientific manuscripts were shared on preprint servers, a steep increase from previous usage and relative to traditional peer-review journals. An international team of researchers explored the critical role of preprint servers in disseminating epidemic-related information in an article published in PLOS Biology on April 2. Read More
Improved RNA sequencing method reveals new insights into small RNAs
April 6, 2021 -- Researchers have developed a new RNA sequencing method that can help discover many types of previously undetectable small RNAs. Details of the method, called panoramic RNA display by overcoming RNA modification aborted sequencing (PANDORA-seq), were published in Nature Cell Biology on April 5. Read More
X-ray crystallography identifies drugs to be repurposed for COVID-19
April 5, 2021 -- A new large-scale study indicates x-ray crystallography can be used to find drugs that could be repurposed to target the SARS-CoV-2 main protease. In addition to identifying 37 potential drug candidates, the study, published in Science on April 2, revealed a new binding site on the SARS-CoV-2 main protease to which drugs can bind. Read More
2nd-gen stem cell-derived CAR gene therapy is more durable, effective against HIV
April 2, 2021 -- A novel second-generation chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-based approach targeting HIV infection using the genetic modification of hematopoietic stem cells shows promise in preclinical models. The details of the study were published in PLOS Pathogens on April 1. Read More
New gene therapy could be effective in treating complex polygenic conditions
April 1, 2021 -- Scientists are applying gene therapy approaches in a new way by simultaneously administering a combination of cargos to treat complex polygenic neurodegenerative diseases with no single genetic cause. Details of the combination gene therapy in two animal models were detailed in a March 31 Science Advances article. Read More
Cancer anti-inflammatory drug has potential to treat severe COVID-19
March 31, 2021 -- A new study provides evidence that an inexpensive clinical-grade inhibitor that's already approved to treat cancer, called topotecan, can be used to treat severe COVID-19, even in the late stages of the disease. The findings were published in Cell on March 30. Read More
Prime editing creates desired gene mutations without collateral damage
March 30, 2021 -- A new gene editing tool called prime editing was demonstrated to efficiently create cell-specific knockout mice compared to traditional gene editing techniques. While both platforms successfully created mutations, prime editing did so without measurable on-target indels or off-targeting events, according to a study published in Genome Biology on March 16. Read More
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