ALSO NOTED: New sequencing project in cancer; Researchers increase potency of antibiotics; Nano-napkin to ID pathogens;

More Research

The NIH has begun a new project to sequence all the genetic changes that occur in brain, ovarian and lung cancer. Their work is intended to highlight new genes that will be the target of a new generation of cancer drugs. Report

By switching sugar molecules using a class of enzymes called glycosyltransferases, researchers at the University of Wisconsin discovered a new process that significantly heightens the impact of antibiotics and anti-tumor drugs. By "pirating" nature's sugars, they were able to create a variant of vancomycin and new versions of a cancer drug that eliminates tumor cells. And other researchers say the approach offers great promise in tackling MRSA and other drug-resistant infections. Article

Scientists at Cornell are developing a napkin that can be used to quickly detect pathogens. The napkin will be made of nanofibers containing antibodies to chemicals and biohazards and will change color on detection. Report

E. coli bacteria that have become resistant to standard therapies could be treated with cranberry juice, according to researchers at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Cranberries contain a group of tannins that work as antibiotics, changing the shape of the bacteria from rods to spheres and altering cell membranes. The transformation prevents the bacteria from latching on to cells. Release

Researchers at Jefferson Medical College say that the protein GRK2 may be an effective biomarker for heart failure. Levels of GRK2 are higher in heart failure patients than in healthy ones, they found. The study was to be presented at the annual scientific meeting of the Heart Failure Society of America. Report

Researchers at the George Institute for International Health have concluded that a prescription for anti-inflammatory drugs following hip surgery could do more damage than good. Increased incidences of bleeding have to be considered alongside the prevention of ectopic bone formations. Report

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis demonstrated that AMD3100 can mobilize angiogenic cells from bone marrow of human patients in a matter of hours, spurring the formation of new blood vessels necessary for spreading oxygen and nutrients to tissue. Release

Resistance to some of the new, frontline therapies for non-small cell lung cancer can be created by tiny genetic mutations that can be detected with standard screening techniques, according to Dana Farber Cancer Research. Release

Cold Spring Harbor Protocols, an online journal that publishes methods used in a wide range of biology laboratories, has added over 40 new peer-reviewed protocols to its archive. The new collection highlights two techniques for characterizing protein interactions, which will aid many cell and molecular biologists--including those who seek to identify the molecular basis of human diseases. Release

An antimicrobial compound found in crustaceans could be used to fight hospital-based infections. Scientists at the Center for Biofilm Engineering at Montana State University say that chitosan protects against the buildup of biofilms. Report

Building on previous work, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have found that deleting an inflammation enzyme in a mouse model of heart disease slowed the development of atherosclerosis. What's more, the composition of the animals' blood vessels showed that the disease process had not only slowed, but also stabilized. This study points to the possibility of a new class of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that work to reduce the risk of heart disease. Release

Vitamin D can significantly reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer. Report

Researchers have determined the precise structure of a protein needed for the replication of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis, a potential bioterrorist weapon. Report

By changing which carbohydrates they attach to, viruses are able to infect cells more efficiently--a finding that may prove valuable to scientists seeking ways to fight cancer or brain diseases, say University of Florida researchers writing in the current Journal of Biological Chemistry. Release

For older adults, anemia's trademark loss of red blood cells has been linked to fatigue, muscle weakness and other physical problems. Now researchers at Johns Hopkins have found a relationship between anemia and impaired thinking, too. Release

Two genes, known as REG1A and EXTL3, are overexpressed in colorectal tumors of patients who are at high risk of recurrence, according to a new study from the Max Delbrueck Center in Berlin, Germany. Release

Researchers say they've discovered two proteins secreted by the placenta that may be entirely responsible for preeclampsia, a potentially lethal condition. Report

A team of researchers at Purdue University has found a protein in the blood that may prove to be more reliable than the standard prostate specific antigen (PSA) test in measuring the extent of prostate cancer. Release

Tools & Technology

Scientists at MIT have developed a "molecular sieve" that they say will speed up the accurate sorting of proteins, work essential in drug discovery. Using a microchip with a standard set of nanopores, the scientists can separate proteins by size and shape. Report

A team of researchers from Arizona State University and Motorola Labs has developed sensors based on carbon nanotubes, microscopically small structures that possess excellent electronic properties. In early tests, the new devices detected the presence of heavy metal ions in water down to parts per trillion levels. Release

Germany's Genomatix Software has announced plans to sell its products to the Chinese market through Beijing ZGZ Science and Technology Development. Release 

Deals & Dollars

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has given a $1.1 million grant to a scientist at St. Louis University to research a family of neurodegenerative diseases. Report

Inscent has received a Small Business Innovative Research grant from the US National Science Foundation to continue the development of novel technologies and products based on insect chemosensory proteins. Release