news archive genetic news - August 13, 2009

August 13, 2009

your information resource in human molecular genetics

-	Antibodies for Strep Throat Linked to OCD in Mice A study in mice gives support to a suspected form of pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) thought to arise from an inappropriate immune response to common throat bacteria.
-	Recovering Movement after Spinal Cord Injury In Rats Forepaw function in rats with severe spinal cord injury can be substantially improved through a combination of specialized exercises and treatment with specific proteins.
-	How Marijuana Causes Memory Deficits Memory loss associated with marijuana use is caused by the drug's interference with the brain's natural protein synthesis machinery.
-	Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury Anatomical reconnection of severed nerves is possible in a rat model of spinal cord injury.
-	Inhibiting Lymphatic Vessel Growth The discovery of the first endogenous inhibitor of lymphatic vessel growth is reported.
-	Immune Cells Worsen Brain Damage after Stroke A class of immune cells has been implicated that have a harmful role in the late phase of ischemic brain injury.
-	A New Progenitor Cell Population in Breast Cancer Published study indicates that luminal cells that line the mammary ducts may also be tumor progenitors.
-	From Gorilla to Human: A New Immunodeficiency Virus Found The existence of a new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) derived from gorillas is reported.
-	Instigator of Type 1 Diabetes? Alterations in the activity of the Deaf1 protein may influence the onset of type 1 diabetes.
-	'Trojan Horse' Deliveries by HIV A report published online sheds light on the processes that allow HIV to disrupt the immune system.
-	Mutations in Rare Human Diseases Mutations in the INPP5E gene lead to defects in the primary cilium-a microscopic antenna-like structure that protrudes from almost every cell in the mammalian body.
-	New Genetic Variants Associated with Cancer Common gene variants are associated with increased risk of 3 different types of cancer.
-	Single-Instrument Human Genome Sequencing The complete genetic makeup of a person has been determined using only a single DNA sequencing machine.
-	p53 as a Barrier to Pluripotency The well known molecule p53 serves not only as a tumour suppressor, but also acts as a barrier to the generation of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells.
-	Mice Generated from Reprogrammed Cells Research team reports the generation of fertile adult mice derived entirely from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells.