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Articles by Ayala Ochert
Gene identified that plays a key role in severity of colon cancer
Gene identified that plays a key role in severity of colon cancer 13 September 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1112 A lack of a specific gene in immune cells of patients with colon cancer has been linked with a much more dangerous form of the disease. Regulatory T cells (Treg cells) are specialised white blood cells that function to down-regulate immune responses, playing an important role in preventing autoimmunity.
Gene carried by one in 3000 men increases risk of type 2 diabetes
Gene carried by one in 3000 men increases risk of type 2 diabetes 12 July 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1103 Rare genetic variants in the GIGYF1 gene that increase an man's risk of developing type 2 diabetes by six-fold, have been identified by researchers at the University of Cambridge. The GIGYF1 gene is already known to be associated with cell growth factor signalling and the regulation of insulin, which could partly explain the role of variants in the development of type 2 diabetes.
CRISPR gene therapy for sickle cell disease approved by the FDA
CRISPR gene therapy for sickle cell disease approved by the FDA 12 April 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1090 A clinical trial for a new gene therapy approach to treat sickle cell disease has been approved to proceed by the US Food and Drug Administration.
Gene that guides egg points to cause of ectopic pregnancy
Gene that guides egg points to cause of ectopic pregnancy 1 March 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1085 The risk of ectopic pregnancy may be influenced by regulation of a specific gene, according to new research. Ectopic pregnancies – where the fertilised egg implants and develops outside the uterus – are among the most common prenatal complications, yet the causes are poorly understood.
UK national sperm bank has only nine donors
UK national sperm bank has only nine donors 7 September 2015 Appeared in BioNews 818 A year after it opened, the UK's national sperm bank has only nine registered donors, says its chief executive Laura Witjens, who is planning a major new recruitment drive at the end of this month. Borrowing from successful campaigns in Denmark, which is one of the biggest exporters of donated sperm, Witjens is planning a 'superman' advertising campaign, appealing to male vanity.
CRISPR used to uncover new drug targets for cancer
New potential drug targets have been identified for cancers associated with KRAS gene mutations, which are thought to drive around 20-30 percent of all human cancers. Researchers used CRISPR genome editing to identify two genes, NADK and KHK, which markedly reduced the growth of human colorectal cancer cells with KRAS mutations when inactivated in a mouse model. The team also found new 'tumour suppressor' genes – those involved in keeping cancers at bay.
Dozens of new gene targets for cancer immunotherapy found with CRISPR
Over a 100 new genes that may be essential for cancer immunotherapy to work have been identified using a new CRISPR-based screen. Immunotherapy is a mode of treatment which uses a patient's own immune system to destroy cancer cells, which can be highly effective for some, but not all, patients.
Two blood cancers treated successfully with immunotherapy
Two trials of a new gene therapy have successfully treated blood cancers in patients who were unresponsive to standard treatment. The therapy, known as CAR-T cell therapy, involves taking a blood sample from a patient, extracting immune system cells called T-cells from it, genetically modifying them in the laboratory so they can detect and kill cancer cells better, then injecting them back into the patient.
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