news archive May 2008

• A Critical Factor For Maintaining Blood Stem Cells
  A gene whose altered expression has previously associated with human leukaemias and Ewing's sarcoma -- a type of malignant bone tumour found in young adults -- is required for the proper functioning of blood stem cells.
  
• A new program for analysis of genomic data
  A paper describes a new program for analysis of chromosomal regions and genome-wide expression data
  
• Genetic Clue To 'Clubbing'
  Scientists have identified a mutation in a gene that causes digital clubbing, a deformity of the fingers and fingernails that is associated with a number of diseases of the heart and lungs.
  
• Genetic Variants Affect Cancer Risk In Alcohol Drinkers
  Variants in certain genes lower the risk of various types of cancers in individuals who consume alcohol.
  
• Searching For Cancer's 'Achilles' Heel'
  A new approach to finding genes important in the onset of cancer is described.
  
• Understanding Cocaine Craving
  After withdrawal from cocaine, the number of certain receptors in the brain linked to cocaine cravings increase over time.
  
• Target Identified For Dengue Therapy
  Scientists have identified a molecule targeted by dengue virus in mice to bring about the haemorrhagic fever associated with lethal disease.
  
• How A Vaccine Enhancer Works
  A paper finally reveals how alum boosts the biological agent's effect in stimulating a protection response by the recipient's immune system for different vaccines.
  
• Getting To Grips With Self-Renewal
  Embryonic stem cell (ESC) renewal does not rely on instructions from outside the cell and can be enabled by eliminating internal factors that induce differentiation.
  
• Molecular Clues To Appetite And Drug Addiction
  Researchers have discovered a new molecular mechanism that underpins the brain's responses to food and drugs of abuse, such as cocaine.
  
• Towards A Model For Huntington's Disease
  Progress towards developing a non-human primate model for Huntington's disease is reported online.
  

• Fat Chance: Brown vs. white fat cell specification
  Discoveries could lead to new treatments for obesity and diabetes
  
• Effect of Mutant p53 Stability on Tumorigenesis and Drug Design
  Targeted drugs could help or hurt depending on the tumor's p53 status
  

• Fighting Glioma-Associated Edema
  Excessive accumulation of fluid in the brain can be prevented by inhibiting glutamate transport to prolong survival.
  
• Strength In Numbers
  A large number of signalling motifs in the receptor complex expressed on the surface of T lymphocytes helps prevent autoimmunity.
  
• Generating Human Autoimmune Cells
  The essential 'ingredients' for producing a type of human immune cell involved in both mucosal immunity and autoimmunity are reported online.
  
• Genetic Susceptibility To Obesity
  Scientists have discovered genetic variants that increase the risk of obesity and insulin resistance in the general population.
  
• Stopping DNA Synthesis Before It Starts
  A small-molecule inhibitor of Cdc7 kinase prevents DNA synthesis and has antitumour activity.
  
• Stem-Cell Regeneration Of The Breast Relies On Adhesion
  Interaction of basal stem cells in the breast with their cellular environment is crucial for their function, and helps towards the regeneration of the mammary glands during pregnancy.
  
• Targeting Dormant Leukaemia Cells
  A new role for a protein involved in leukaemia is described.
  
• Insight Into Devastating Pregnancy Condition
  A paper published online has identified two culprits likely to trigger pre-eclampsia if they are in short supply, opening up the possibilities of early diagnosis and even treatment of the disorder.
  
• Starting Out On The Road To Maleness
  A study of mice now shows how developing gonads start out on the road to maleness.
  
• Why We Are All Different
  A paper takes a close look at the larger DNA variations that influence differences between individual humans and their potential origins and evolutionary history.
  

• New Program For Analysis Of Haplotype Associations
  A paper describes a new program for the analysis of haplotypes in the context of genetic association studies
  

• A Rogue Neighbourhood
  Gene expression changes in the tissue microenvironment in which a tumour arises can be used to predict outcome in patients with breast cancer.
  
• Focus On Natural Killer Cells
  A series of articles explore the behaviour of the enigmatic lymphocytes (natural killer - NK - cells), and reflect on their transition from outcasts of mainstream immunology to prominent players in innate immunity.
  
• Sequencing Sheds Light On The Cancer Genome
  The rearrangement of genomes in people with lung cancer can be identified using an approach called 'massively parallel sequencing.'
  
• Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Share Genetic Risk Factors
  Several genetic risk variants are identified for the common inflammatory bowel disease ulcerative colitis.
  
• Breast Cancer Risk Variants
  Two common genetic variants on chromosome 5 increase susceptibility to certain types of breast cancer breast cancer.
  
• Why We Are All Different
  A paper takes a close look at the larger variations within human DNA and their potential origins and evolutionary history.
  
• Test-Tube Recipe Makes Functioning Heart Cells
  A Canadian, US and British research team has successfully grown three types of human heart cells from cultures derived from embryonic stem cells.
  
• Sequencing Gets Personal
  Two months and less than $1 million is all it takes to sequence an individual genome.
  
• Helping The Immune System
  Researchers identify a protein involved in blood circulation in tumours and demonstrate that deleting it opens up the tumour to the immune system.
  

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