Comprehensive AAV capsid fitness landscape reveals a viral gene and enables machine-guided design
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsids can deliver transformative gene therapies, but our understanding of AAV biology remains incomplete. We generated the complete first-order AAV2 capsid fitness landscape, characterizing all single-codon substitutions, insertions, and deletions across multiple functions relevant for in vivo delivery. We discovered a frameshifted gene in the VP1 region that expresses a membrane-associated accessory protein that limits AAV production through competitive exclusion. Mutant biodistribution revealed the importance of both surface-exposed and buried residues, with a few phenotypic profiles charac...
Source: ScienceNOW - November 27, 2019 Category: Science Authors: Ogden, P. J., Kelsic, E. D., Sinai, S., Church, G. M. Tags: Microbiology, Molecular Biology reports Source Type: news
Adenovirus (Adenovirus Type 4 and Type 7 Vaccine, Live, Oral Enteric Coated Tablets for Oral Administration) - updated on RxList
(Source: RxList - New and Updated Drug Monographs)
Source: RxList - New and Updated Drug Monographs - October 1, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
AskBio Acquires Assets from RoverMed BioSciences, Adds Nanotechnology Precision to Delivery of AAV Gene Therapeutics
Expands AAV gene therapy platform from inside the cell for genetic disorders
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Sept. 17, 2019 -- (Healthcare Sales & Marketing Network) -- Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc. (AskBio), a fully integrated Adeno-Associated Virus... Biopharmaceuticals, Drug Delivery, Acquisitions Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, AskBio, RoverMed BioSciences (Source: HSMN NewsFeed)
Source: HSMN NewsFeed - September 17, 2019 Category: Pharmaceuticals Source Type: news
Mesothelioma Clinical Trial Targets Latest Gene Therapy
Pioneering pulmonologists Dr. Steven Albelda and Dr. Daniel Sterman have worked for more than 20 years on developing gene therapy to effectively combat pleural mesothelioma cancer.
The payoff may have finally arrived.
Albelda and Sterman’s long-awaited, phase III clinical trial will open this month to evaluate the efficacy of TR002, a novel gene therapy drug, when used in combination with celecoxib and gemcitabine.
TR002, a form of immunotherapy, is a genetically engineered adenovirus that triggers the anti-tumor effects of interferon, a naturally occurring protein that destroys cancer cells.
“The hope is, if it works ...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - September 4, 2019 Category: Environmental Health Authors: Matt Mauney Source Type: news
Vaping may cost college athlete, 20, his lung, family says
Walker McKnight, 20, from Orlando, Florida, was hospitalized in March with 'severe pneumonia' and deadly adenovirus. He is now back in the hospital after struggling to breathe on his own. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Source: the Mail online | Health - August 29, 2019 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Baylor Opens New Immunotherapy Clinical Trial for Mesothelioma
The Baylor College of Medicine in Houston has opened its latest clinical trial for mesothelioma patients to study the effectiveness of a novel immunotherapy combination.
The nonsurgical, single-center study is looking for a dozen patients whose pleural mesothelioma has progressed after at least one regimen of chemotherapy.
The phase II clinical trial involves Opdivo (nivolumab) and MTG201, a modified adenovirus designed to increase the efficacy of certain types of immunotherapy drugs.
The combination was especially effective in preclinical mouse models.
“We’re excited about the prospects of this combination,” thoraci...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - August 7, 2019 Category: Environmental Health Authors: Walter Pacheco Source Type: news
CRISPR Gene Editing Is Being Tested in Human Patients, and the Results Could Revolutionize Health Care
It’s only been seven years since scientists first learned how to precisely and reliably splice the human genome using a tool called CRISPR, making it possible to think about snipping out disease-causing mutations and actually cure, once and for all, genetic diseases ranging from sickle cell anemia to certain types of cancer and even blindness.
Doctors are plunging ahead in search of ways to use the relatively new technology to start treating patients. In China last November, scientist Jiankui He stunned—and dismayed—the genetic community when he announced he had already used CRISPR, which many believe sti...
Source: TIME: Health - August 6, 2019 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Alice Park Tags: Uncategorized crispr Genetics Source Type: news
Nine-year-old Taekwando fighter dies of the common cold
Just a week after he fell ill, nine-year-old Californian and black belt Tristan Ang's brain swelled out of control and his heart stopped four times before he died of complications from adenovirus. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Source: the Mail online | Health - July 12, 2019 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
A compact synthetic pathway rewires cancer signaling to therapeutic effector release
An important goal in synthetic biology is to engineer biochemical pathways to address unsolved biomedical problems. One long-standing problem in molecular medicine is the specific identification and ablation of cancer cells. Here, we describe a method, named Rewiring of Aberrant Signaling to Effector Release (RASER), in which oncogenic ErbB receptor activity, instead of being targeted for inhibition as in existing treatments, is co-opted to trigger therapeutic programs. RASER integrates ErbB activity to specifically link oncogenic states to the execution of desired outputs. A complete mathematical model of RASER and modula...
Source: ScienceNOW - May 1, 2019 Category: Science Authors: Chung, H. K., Zou, X., Bajar, B. T., Brand, V. R., Huo, Y., Alcudia, J. F., Ferrell, J. E., Lin, M. Z. Tags: Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Online Only r-articles Source Type: news
Gene Therapy Trial for Mesothelioma Opens Internationally
A long-awaited phase III clinical trial of a novel gene therapy could change malignant pleural mesothelioma treatment in the future.
The trial, which will include almost 50 locations around the world, opens this month for mesothelioma patients whose standard treatment has stopped working.
The gene therapy drug, called TR002, is also a form of immunotherapy. It will be used in combination with gemcitabine chemotherapy in a second-line setting.
“We can’t predict what the outcome will be, but we’re very excited about the potential of this treatment, and the fact there may be another drug in the armamentarium for these p...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - April 8, 2019 Category: Environmental Health Authors: Daniel King Source Type: news
Combo of virotherapy and radiotherapy shows early promise in patients with esophageal cancer
(American Association for Cancer Research) The experimental oncolytic adenovirus telomelysin (OBP-301) in combination with radiotherapy was safe and showed early clinical efficacy in vulnerable patients with esophageal cancer, according to results from a phase I clinical trial presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2019, March 29-April 3. (Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer)
Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer - April 2, 2019 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news
How Long Does Fecal Shedding Occur for Oral Vaccines?
Discussion
Vaccination has reduced infectious disease morbidity and mortality since its introduction. Vaccines can be given intramuscularly, subcutaneously or orally. Oral virus vaccines currently used in the US include rotavirus, cholera, typhoid and adenovirus. Adenovirus vaccine is used in military personnel. As these are attenuated viruses there is concern for household contacts who are immunocompromised who may inadvertently be exposed to the virus through fecal shedding. Additionally, there is a concern that the attenuated virus may mutate and revert back to its wild-form and potentially cause disease.
Injectable po...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - March 25, 2019 Category: Pediatrics Authors: pediatriceducationmin Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news
Federal Investigators Find Critical Failings at Health Center Where 11 Children Died in Virus Outbreak
A viral outbreak killed 11 children at a New Jersey health center last year due to a lack of administrative oversight, slow responses from medical staff and a flawed infection-control plan, according to a federal investigation.
Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Haskell, N.J. is strongly contesting investigators’ findings.
The 114-page report, which was compiled by the New York regional office of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and reviewed by TIME, says the pediatric medical director at the Wanaque Center “didn’t understand what medical director meant” when he ass...
Source: TIME: Health - March 4, 2019 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Jamie Ducharme Tags: Uncategorized healthytime Infectious Disease New Jersey onetime Source Type: news
What Is the Most Common Type of Cardiomyopathy?
Discussion
Barth syndrome is characterized by a dilated cardiomyopathy, proximal skeletal muscle weakness, neutropenia and short stature that usually presents at birth or soon after. It is a rare X-linked recessive disease process caused by mutations in the TAZ gene. The TAZ gene codes for tafazzin which alters cardiolipin in mitochondria. Characteristic facies can be seen especially in infancy including a tall and broad forehead, prominent chin and full cheeks, larger ears, and deep-set eyes. Most patients present at birth or soon afterwards but some may not until later in life. Life expectancy is reduced with many childr...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - February 25, 2019 Category: Pediatrics Authors: pediatriceducationmin Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news
Enterovirus associated with risk of coeliac disease
Early childhood infection with enterovirus – but not adenovirus – linked to later coeliac disease Related items fromOnMedica Probiotics in newborns might lower diabetes risk Women less likely than men to achieve CHD targets Send children with suspected diabetes to hospital immediately, GPs urged Scans show severe brain damage in Zika-affected babies Many overweight teens don ’t realise they’re too heavy (Source: OnMedica Latest News)
Source: OnMedica Latest News - February 14, 2019 Category: UK Health Source Type: news
