Possible Hepatitis C vaccine Hepatitis C virus infects 180 million people worldwide. Infection with the virus can lead to liver cancer, and is the most common reason for liver transplantation in countries like the United Kingdom and the United States. In a collaborative effort with groups across Europe and the United States, scientists from Nottingham University, the United Kingdom, have identified antibodies that can prevent infection with many diverse strains of Hepatitis C virus in laboratory models. “The clinical potential of this work cannot be overstated. Historically, successful vaccines against viruses have required the production of antibodies, and this is likely to be the case for Hepatitis C virus”, says Dr. Alexander Tarr from the Virus Research Group at the University of Nottingham. Identifying regions of the virus that are able to induce broadly reactive neutralizing antibodies is a significant milestone in HCV vaccine development. “We are using the information gained by identifying and characterizing the antibody responses to Hepatitis C virus to design new ways of making vaccine candidates. If the antibodies we have discovered can be reproduced by vaccination, control of the disease might be possible” says Dr. Tarr. Source: www.checkbiotech.org

Cancer cell signalling pathways liked with proliferation of embryonic stem cells In the United States, researchers from Novocell Inc., Invitrogen and the University of Washington collaborated to identify for the first time two prominent cancer cell signalling pathways as vital for the efficient proliferation and self-renewal of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). The researchers studying the self-renewal of hESCs discovered a link with insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1R) and ERBB2/3. Both pathways are highly implicated in cancer and the targets of numerous oncology therapeutics. ERBB2 is often overexpressed in breast cancer and in other malignancies and is the target of the monoclonal antibody Herceptin. “These new findings indicate for the first time that the major signalling pathways driving the self-renewal of human embryonic stem cells are also key pathways that signal inappropriately in a number of different cancers,” said Dr. Allan Robins, Vice President and Chief Technical Officer of Novocell. Such a linkage provides an avenue for potential identification of new targets for oncology therapeutics using hESCs. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com

HIV drug shows cancer promise Dr. Phillip Dennis and colleagues at the National Cancer Institute, the United States, have begun testing HIV drugs on cancer cells after noticing that the toxic effects the virus has on cells are similar to the changes seen in cancerous cells. Three of the drugs significantly slowed the growth of the tumour cells and increased cell death, the researchers reported. Nelfinavir proved the most effective of the three drugs, impeding the activity of protein-degrading enzymes in the cell and blocking tumour growth in mice injected with cancer cells. Cancer scientists said repositioning drugs approved as HIV therapies could help save lives by reducing the wait and cost of getting a cancer drug from the laboratory to the patient. Source: www.sciencedaily.com

Scientists identify stem cells in tendons In the United States, scientists have discovered stem cells in adult tendons can regenerate tissue, a finding that promises new treatments for tendon injury and disease. Led by Dr. Yan-ming Bi of the National Institutes of Health, the scientists identified unique cells within the adult tendon that have stem-cell characteristics, including the ability to proliferate and self-renew. They were able to isolate the cells and regenerate tendon-like tissue in an animal model. “Clinically, tendon injury is a difficult one to treat, not only for athletes, but for patients who suffer from tendinopathy, such as tendon rupture or ectopic ossification,” said Dr. Songtao Shi from the University of Southern California School of Dentistry. “We now know how to collect them from tissue and how to control their formation into tendon cells.” Source: www.sciencedaily.com

Research points to new stroke therapy New research from an international team of scientists has identified a possible new therapy for stroke that is expected to be more effective than current treatments. The team found that administering immunoglobulin (Ig) directly into the veins via intravenous injection protected brain cells from the effects of stroke. Ig is a class of protein produced by the blood to fight off foreign substances in the body. Prof. David Fairlie from the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at the University of Queensland, Australia, explained that a stroke reduced the flow of oxygenated blood to the brain, causing tissue death. “But intravenous immunoglobulin treatment reduced the amount of dead tissue in the brain by 50 to 60 per cent. This finding seriously raises the prospect of using intravenous immunoglobulin treatment as an interventional therapy for stroke,” he added. Current management of stroke consists mainly of prevention and reducing the risk factors associated with stroke, such as high blood pressure, thrombosis and thickening of the main artery that supplies blood to the brain. “Once someone has actually had a stroke, therapy is limited to administering an enzyme designed to break down blood clots,” Prof. Fairlie said. “However, this enzyme must be given to the patient within three hours of the stroke; otherwise, it increases the risk of excessive bleeding, leading to another stroke,” he said. Intravenous Ig treatment does not have this side-effect. The team has suggested clinical trials be considered to further evaluate the use of the treatment in stroke patients. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com

More light on malarial parasite Indian researchers have moved a step further in the fight against malaria by getting a deeper insight on the malarial parasite, belonging to the genus Plasmodium. In a new study, the researchers from the Indian Institute of Science constructed a chaperone interaction network for the parasite which provides, for the first time, a logical basis for the anti-malarial effect of known drugs and highlights new proteins that could be employed. Recent reports from several labs point to a crucial role played by a group of proteins termed molecular chaperones. These chaperones participate in the maintenance and growth of cells and are implicated in parasite survival and growth. Despite the vast body of information available regarding individual chaperones, few studies have tried a systems level analysis of chaperone function. The systems-level approach of Dr. Utpal Tatu and colleagues provides information on 95 different chaperones in the parasite and also gives insights into their business partners and cellular processes that they might regulate. Analysis of the network reveals the broad range of functions regulated by chaperones. The network predicts involvement of chaperones in chromatin remodelling, protein trafficking and cytoadherence. More importantly, it allows making predictions about the functions of hypothetical proteins based on their interactions. Source: www.ebiologynews.com

Orphan drug designation for ALS-357 in metastatic melanoma treatment Advanced Life Sciences Holdings Inc. (ALSH) announced that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug designation to its oncology product, ALS-357, for the topical treatment of metastatic melanoma. ALS-357 is a novel drug entering phase I/II clinical development that has demonstrated potent anti-tumour activity against malignant melanoma. It has shown promise in both in vitro and in vivo pre-clinical studies. Rapid tumour regression has been shown in a mouse model and no toxicity was seen even at high doses. ALS-357 operates by inducing apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in the tumour cells. Source: www.checkbiotech.org