A team of scientists at the Gladstone Institutes has developed a reliable method to identify potential off-target effects in therapeutically relevant cell types. The DISCOVER-Seq technique uses DNA repair factors to pinpoint exact sites where CRISPR cuts occur, enabling more accurate genome editing.
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes discover that a blood-clotting protein called fibrinogen destroys connections between neurons in the brain, resulting in cognitive decline. This finding offers an alternative explanation for memory loss and cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers discovered that proteins use the DNA's three-dimensional structure as a type of keyhole to select specific binding sites, rather than just patterns in the genome's code. Over 80% of proteins bind to a specific shape pattern in the genome, which helps explain how they avoid confusing different sequences.
A recent study characterizes silent seizures in a mouse model of Dravet syndrome and identifies the thalamus as a potential target to stop them. The researchers developed two new strategies to prevent non-convulsive seizures, which can disrupt consciousness and occur hundreds of times daily in affected children.
A lab study identified key ways the three viruses hijack human cells and found at least one potential drug that can disrupt this process in human cells. Researchers also discovered how the Zika virus might cause microcephaly in infants, a crucial step towards developing a treatment.
A new study reveals that klotho acts as a shield between the brain and immune system, protecting against age-related cognitive decline. The research found that low levels of klotho in the choroid plexus lead to increased brain inflammation, which can impair brain functions.
Scientists have developed an antibody that blocks the inflammatory and oxidative activity of fibrin, a blood protein that contributes to neurodegeneration in the brain. The treatment has shown promise in reducing inflammation and neurodegeneration in both mouse models of multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease.
The NIH has awarded a $3.6 million grant to study the safety of CRISPR-like therapies in human tissues. A team led by Todd McDevitt will assess the safety and toxicity issues of genome editing, developing platforms to detect adverse effects on physiological function.
Researchers at the Gladstone Institutes have developed a new method to study the earliest stages of human development, mimicking how cells self-organize into distinct populations. By silencing specific genes in human pluripotent stem cells, they created ring patterns that influence cell behavior and future identity.
Researchers developed a microtissue model of the heart to study how environmental stress affects normal and abnormal heart tissue. The study found that mutant cells contracted abnormally and arrhythmically under stress, similar to HCM patients.
Researchers found that for 85% of genes, noise magnitude is higher in the last step compared to the first. This discovery challenges the long-held assumption of a streamlined process and may impact disease treatment strategies.
Researchers discovered 137 interactions between HPV proteins and human proteins, revealing common pathways with smoking-related cancers. The study highlights the importance of targeting specific proteins to develop effective treatments for HPV-positive head and neck cancers.
Researchers discovered that cytomegalovirus uses protein IE1 to replicate after PP71 proteins decay, offering potential therapeutic avenues for treatment
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes identify 156 genes affecting ATP levels in cells, shedding light on cellular energy production. The findings could lead to the development of new therapies for diseases such as mitochondrial disorders, heart disease, and neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes discovered how to improve the survival of CD8 T cells, which can combat tumors and chronic infections. The study found that deleting two specific molecules enhances the survival of effector cells and yields more protective memory cells.
Scientists have identified nearly 200 potential drug targets for tuberculosis, a complex disease caused by bacteria made up of 4,000 genes. The research found that specific human proteins, such as CBL, can limit bacterial infections and potentially provide a new approach to combat the disease.
A new computational approach has identified genes that may enable microbes to colonize the human gut and survive in its harsh environment. The researchers found thousands of genes across different species that are prevalent in the gut, including those specific to this environment.
Researchers found that HIV uses alternative splicing to tune random noise, dictating its fate and function. This inefficient process could be targeted to create novel HIV cure strategies.
A groundbreaking study by Gladstone and Google AI uses deep learning to analyze cell images, identifying features that humans can't detect. The method uncovers important information that was previously impossible or problematic for scientists to obtain.
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes have uncovered the role of MYC and LIN41 in reprogramming cells. They found that MYC helps cells overcome a roadblock, while LIN41 blocks another protein that causes the roadblock, allowing adult cells to successfully convert into induced pluripotent stem cells.
Researchers discovered that the apoE4 gene causes damage in human brain cells by altering its main structure and function. They found that adding a small molecule structure corrector eliminates signs of Alzheimer's disease, restores normal cell function, and improves survival in human apoE4 neurons.
Researchers found that genetically improving inhibitory interneurons and transplanting them into the brain of a mouse model with Alzheimer's disease can restore brain rhythms and cognition. This approach could lead to new treatment options for patients with Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers identify four genes that enable adult cardiomyocytes to divide and multiply, regenerating heart tissue in animal models. The technique could also be used to coax other types of adult cells to divide again, potentially treating brain damage, diabetes, hearing loss, and blindness.
A new study by Gladstone Institutes researchers shows that infection sites impact the immune system's response to a virus and its spread through the body. The study found that different routes of sexual transmission trigger distinct immune responses, influencing the virus's dissemination.
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes discovered that fast-spiking interneurons play a fundamental role in brain plasticity, improving procedural learning and potentially linked to psychiatric diseases. The study found that these neurons act like gatekeepers for plasticity, restricting changes in connection strength between neurons.
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes have successfully created induced pluripotent stem cells using CRISPR technology, simplifying a key step in the process. This breakthrough offers new possibilities for treating currently incurable conditions and studying diseases.
Researchers found that SIRT1 stabilizes a mechanism preventing immune cell toxic effects, but its loss accelerates glycolysis and cytokine production. This understanding led to potential new drug targets to strengthen or weaken SIRT1, potentially countering age-related diseases.
Researchers discovered that a blood-clotting protein, fibrinogen, stops adult stem cells from producing myelin, preventing brain cell repair. The study's findings may lead to new treatments for diseases such as MS and other conditions affecting the nervous system.
Researchers have developed a new, simplified technique to produce homogeneous human brain cells in the lab, accelerating drug screening and disease study. This breakthrough allows for cost-effective production of large quantities of brain cells within weeks, enabling wider adoption in basic science and industry.
Scientists have identified an early predictor of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) through a groundbreaking collaboration. By analyzing the microbiome, researchers found parallel changes in gut bacteria that may indicate disease onset.
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes have discovered that a cancer drug called JQ1 can reactivate latent HIV, a critical barrier to a cure. By targeting the BRD4 protein, JQ1 allows the virus to make copies of itself, providing new insights into an 'old' cellular defense mechanism against invading viruses.
Scientists at the Gladstone Institutes have discovered a method to reprogram specific T cells, turning pro-inflammatory cells into anti-inflammatory ones. This breakthrough could lead to improved treatments for autoimmune diseases and therapies using stem cells.
Lorenz Studer, a renowned stem cell biologist, has been awarded the prestigious Ogawa-Yamanaka Stem Cell Prize for his groundbreaking research on cellular reprogramming and human induced pluripotent stem cells. His work has advanced the therapeutic potential of stem cell-based therapies in Parkinson's disease.
Researchers discovered that semen amyloids help dispose of excess and defective sperm, facilitating immune cell removal and quality control. This process may favor the survival of fittest sperm and contribute to successful reproduction.
Scientists at Gladstone Institutes discover distinct neurons in the reticular thalamus, a region involved in attention, perception, and consciousness. The study reveals that targeting specific cell types can disrupt seizures or affect cognition and emotion.
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes have discovered the key protein CTCF plays a crucial role in controlling DNA organization, reevaluating the cause of certain cancers and developmental defects. The study sheds new light on gene regulation and provides insights into fundamental genome organization processes.
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes have identified a potential new therapeutic approach to treat heart failure by targeting inflammation and fibrosis. The study found that a cancer drug called JQ1 can effectively treat severe, pre-established heart failure in both small animal and human cell models.
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes found that inhibiting SMYD2 enzyme can reactivate latent HIV, offering a potential therapeutic target for the 'shock and kill' approach. This breakthrough could lead to new strategies for eliminating HIV latency and developing more effective treatments.
Mutations in progranulin protein result in obsessive-like behaviors and immune system alterations, implicating TNF as a potential therapeutic target for FTD. Targeting NF-B activity in microglia may also prevent excessive grooming and improve social behavior.
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes create stem cell-derived V2a interneurons that transmit signals in the spinal cord, potentially repairing spinal cord injuries. These cells integrate with existing cells and restore movement in mice, offering new hope for spinal cord injury treatment.
Scientists identify a common mechanism in two forms of neurodegeneration affecting young adults and the elderly, linked to progranulin protein mutations. The discovery advances efforts to find better treatments and cures for these diseases, including frontotemporal dementia and neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis.
Researchers found shorter telomeres in mice with a human genetic mutation linked to heart disease leads to deadly buildup of calcium in heart valves and vessels. The study provides a potential solution to studying other human disorders of aging in mice.
Scientists discovered that fibroblasts, a type of connective tissue cell, increase HIV infection in immune cells through trans-infection and make them more prone to infection. Epithelial cells, on the other hand, secrete high levels of antiviral proteins that inhibit infection.
Scientists discovered an FDA-approved drug that increases 'good' fat mass and function, preventing weight gain and burning more calories. The drug, bexarotene, converts white fat cells into brown fat-like cells through cellular reprogramming.
Researchers have found that activating the protein Nrf2 can restore normal levels of disease-causing proteins in cells, preventing cell death. In models of Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases, Nrf2 was shown to protect cells against the disease better than any other treatment.
Researchers discovered a single gene mutation causing two types of heart disease: one causes holes in infants' hearts, and the other leads to heart failure. The study revealed how the GATA4 gene's disruption affects cardiac development and muscle contraction.
Scientists discovered that women are more susceptible to Zika infection due to a suppressed vaginal immune response. The delayed antiviral immune response allows the virus to remain undetected in the vagina, increasing the risk of fetal exposure during pregnancy.
Gladstone scientists identified two chemicals that improved cardiac reprogramming, increasing cell production and quality. The discovery brings the technology closer to regenerating damaged hearts and treating heart failure.
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes identify a gene mutation that enhances the efficiency of stem cell reprogramming, improving the number of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) generated from skin cells. This breakthrough could have significant implications for regenerative medicine and drug discovery.
Katerina Akassoglou, a Gladstone Senior Investigator, has been awarded a $5.8M NINDS grant to advance her research on the role of brain's vascular and immune systems in neurological diseases. The grant will enable her lab to pursue innovative solutions for devastating conditions like multiple sclerosis.