Articles tagged with Drug Targets
Researchers at Washington University have characterized a protein crucial to the life of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. The enzyme, phosphoethanolamine methyltransferase (PMT), is an ideal target for new antimalarial drugs due to its unique characteristics and lack of homologues in humans.
A new gene called RGS9-2 has been found to regulate body weight by modulating metabolism. The discovery was made by a University of Rhode Island researcher who initially studied the gene's role in brain protein dyskinesia, a side effect of certain medications.
Researchers identify PDHK enzyme as a key player in cancer cell metabolism, enabling targeted anti-cancer therapy. Inhibiting PDHK activity slows tumor growth and reduces glucose uptake by cancer cells.
Researchers at Salk Institute find connection between cryptochromes and glucocorticoid receptors to regulate sugar metabolism, potentially avoiding side effects of asthma, allergies, and arthritis drugs. The discovery may lead to new therapies targeting the biological clock.
Researchers from the University of Leicester and UCLA have made a major breakthrough in developing targeted drugs to lower 'bad' cholesterol levels. By targeting the enzyme IDOL, scientists aim to increase LDL receptor production, thereby lowering circulating cholesterol levels in humans.
A team of scientists has identified the 'key' that HIV uses to enter cells' nuclei, allowing it to disable the immune system and cause AIDS. By targeting proteins in the host rather than the virus itself, researchers hope to develop more effective anti-AIDS drugs against drug-resistant strains.
Researchers validate preclinical effectiveness of TB drug target DNA gyrase B, killing bacteria in both replicating and dormant states. This could lead to a shorter treatment length, improving patient compliance and reducing drug resistance.
Researchers discovered a unique metabolic pathway in some tumors, potentially targeting for drug development. The reverse Krebs cycle pathway was found to run counter-clockwise in tumors, providing a new therapeutic target. This breakthrough could lead to effective treatments for certain types of cancer.
A new therapeutic target, EGFR, has been identified for treating Cushing disease. Clinical trials are necessary to investigate the effects of gefitinib in patients with this condition.
Researchers discovered that cancer drug cisplatin binds up to 20-fold more to RNA than DNA, suggesting a new approach for reducing toxic side effects. The study found platinum was retained on RNA and bound quickly, with specific locations targeted.
Researchers found that silibinin from milk thistle prevents lung cancer growth by inhibiting COX2 and iNOS production. This natural compound may be as effective as current treatments for lung cancer, targeting promising therapeutic targets STAT1 and STAT3.
Researchers at UC San Diego have identified a new class of drugs that can arrest division in virtually all tumor cells by altering the structure of the RAF enzyme. The discovery offers an effective alternative to current therapies and has shown promising results in tests on cancer cell lines, animal models, and human tissue biopsies.
Researchers have developed a method to design drugs that can target specific areas of the brain by selectively blocking subtype SK channels. This breakthrough could lead to more effective treatments for dementia and depression by enhancing nerve activity in specific nerves.
A new study by Johns Hopkins researchers reveals that US FDA testing of imported seafood is inadequate, with only 2% of imports tested, compared to 15-50% in EU, Japan, and Canada. This lack of inspection may lead to adverse health consequences due to antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Researchers at Brown University have created an unprecedentedly detailed description of a kinase complex, which could lead to new therapeutic drugs for diseases such as Alzheimer's and cancer. The team discovered a unique binding site, called KIS, that plays a crucial role in the complex's formation.
A potential new drug target has been discovered to stop debilitating effects of MS by preventing brain cell death caused by granzyme B. The target is the M6PR receptor, which allows granzyme B to enter neurons and wreak havoc.
Researchers create entirely new platform for developing antimalarial drugs, focusing on quirk in plasmodium infection process. The goal is to design 'tailored inhibitors' that block crystal surface growth and prevent malaria spread.
Researchers found that altering a specific site on the NMDA receptor subunits reduced activity and calcium overload in neurons, potentially leading to new therapies for Alzheimer's and stroke. The discovery offers a promising opportunity for rationally designing drugs with more precise effects.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have identified a rare genetic alteration responsible for a severe form of hypoglycemia. This discovery offers an explanation for the condition and suggests a potential target for new drugs.
Three international teams describe in unprecedented detail the workings of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), a major molecular target for drugs. GPCRs are essential to human life, involved in almost every physiological function, and malfunctions have been linked to dozens of diseases.
Researchers predict numerous human proteins required by HIV to replicate, discovering potential new targets for controlling the spread of HIV. The study also identifies prognostic markers to determine pathological outcome and AIDS development.
Dr. Douglas A. Mitchell, an Illinois professor, has been awarded the $1.5 million NIH Director's New Innovator Award to develop a generalized toxin-disabling strategy against bacterial pathogens. His approach aims to create drugs that combat pathogenic microbes without promoting antibiotic resistance.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute discovered that fetal brain damage from oxygen deprivation is linked to the action of a fatty molecule called LPA, which can be targeted with drugs. This finding provides a new strategy to limit or prevent serious developmental brain diseases.
Scientists at UCSF have identified a crucial chemical that the malaria parasite produces internally, allowing it to survive in human blood. This insight provides a powerful tool for discovering and designing new treatments.
UBC researchers identified the mechanism that leads T-cells to spring into action, providing a new target for future or existing drugs to bolster the immune systems of people with HIV or cancer. Such drugs could also be used to stop the rejection of transplanted organs or inhibit the immune system from attacking normal tissues.
A new class of drugs called cardiac myosin activators targets the motor proteins in heart failure patients, prolonging contraction duration and improving blood pumped per stroke. Omecamtiv mercabil shows promise as a safe and effective treatment option with minimal increased energy expenditure.
Researchers have devised a new technique that simplifies the improvement of drugs and other products by adding a CF3 molecule. This method reduces the need for high-heat equipment and metal catalysts, making it safer and more accessible to chemists.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have decoded the workings of Pyrazinamide (PZA), a critical TB drug. PZA inhibits trans-translation, a process essential for cell survival under stress conditions, making it effective against non-growing bacteria called persisters.
Dimitrios Morikis and Lincoln Johnson aim to create new inhibitors of the complement system to treat the disease, which affects over 1.75 million Americans. The researchers will use computational modeling and virtual screening to identify potential treatments.
A USC scientist has created a lentiviral vector that targets and destroys HIV-infected cells using 'suicide gene therapy', depleting about 35% of existing HIV cells in culture dishes. The treatment approach is an important step towards curing HIV and will be tested in mice next.
Researchers used human hearts to replicate a mouse study on KATP ion channel drug targets, finding one target ineffective in humans. The findings underscore the importance of translating results from animal models to clinical trials in cardiovascular research.
Scientists at Joslin Diabetes Center have discovered a new connection between obesity and insulin resistance through altered protein splicing. The study suggests that changes in RNA splicing proteins may contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes, offering potential targets for novel diabetes drugs.
Researchers from the University of Melbourne have developed a new cold electron source that enables enhanced nanoimaging at the atomic or nanoscale. This technology will aid in designing better drugs and understanding material vulnerabilities, leading to advancements in health and advanced technology industries.
Researchers at UC Riverside have made a breakthrough discovery in understanding epileptic seizures by developing a computational model that simulates the cortical network. The model shows that restricting chloride increase can lead to faster seizure termination and even make seizures impossible, offering new hope for treating epilepsy.
Researchers are developing a new class of drugs targeting protein structures within cell membranes to treat autoimmune diseases. The 'membrane mimic' technology could provide a direct view of mechanical movements that take place during cell signalling.
A team of scientists has discovered that nicotine suppresses appetite by activating a specific set of neurons in the hypothalamus. The researchers believe this could lead to the development of a drug that helps smokers stay thin and potentially aids non-smokers struggling with obesity.
A clinical trial revealed crizotinib's effectiveness in shrinking tumors and improving responses in over 60% of ALK-positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients. The treatment has shown dramatic benefits with minimal side effects, opening new avenues for targeted therapy.
Researchers identified a key role for hedgehog in breast cancer cellular cross-talk, finding that silencing the molecule slows tumour growth and spread. The discovery applies to all breast cancers, particularly basal breast cancer, which has no current targeted therapy.
Researchers at McMaster University have discovered a new drug target that may prevent the onset of Huntington's disease by restoring a critical chemical change in the huntingtin protein. The kinase inhibitor drugs work similarly to those used for heart diseases, and could potentially delay symptom onset.
Yale researchers have found that a decoy receptor called serum sEGFR might limit the effectiveness of cancer 'smart drugs' like Cetuximab. This could explain why some patients do not respond to these treatments, even though the drug is supposed to target specific cancer cell growth drivers.
The Kunming Institute of Botany, part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Springer are launching a new fully sponsored open access journal called Natural Products and Bioprospecting. This journal aims to serve as an international forum for essential research on natural products and their applications.
Researchers discovered that anti-HIV inhibitors can kill Leishmania parasites by targeting the Ddi 1 protein. This finding suggests a potential new class of drugs for treating parasitic diseases like leishmaniasis and malaria, which could one day become lifesaving treatments.
The Tissue Organization Field Theory (TOFT) of cancer origin proposes cells as the primary cause, contradicting the widely accepted Somatic Mutation Theory (SMT). The authors argue that current SMT technologies are untestable and fail to explain observable cancer phenomena.
Researchers at Emory University School of Medicine have discovered a potential mechanism that may contribute to the link between epilepsy and fragile X syndrome. The protein FMRP controls the production of a protein called Kv4.2, which regulates electrical signals in brain cells.
Researchers discovered Camel-raised Nanobody agents that target breast cancer cells, offering a new approach to identifying effective treatments for individual patients. The 'Nanobodies' are robust, small, and easy to produce at low cost, making them a promising tool in the fight against breast cancer.
Researchers identify protein TLE3 as a key regulator of fat cell development, which can be targeted to improve adipose tissue function and alleviate symptoms of diabetes. By understanding how fat cells form, scientists aim to develop better treatments for obesity and related disorders.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute found that an E. coli enzyme must move to function properly, and blocking these movements renders it defective. The study may lead to the development of more specific and effective drugs targeting enzymes.
A Purdue University biochemist has created a nanopolymer that can be coated with drugs and then removed to determine which proteins the drug has entered. This development may help reduce side effects associated with cancer drugs by allowing for more targeted drug delivery.
The article discusses the resurgence of covalent drugs, which have made a major positive impact on human health, and highlights the potential of rational covalent drug design to expand their use. Several rationally designed covalent inhibitors are advancing in clinical development, addressing problems of drug-resistance mutations.
Researchers found that HIV requires base excision repair proteins to integrate its DNA into the host genome, identifying novel targets for anti-HIV drugs. The study suggests that drugs targeting these cellular proteins may avoid resistance and have fewer side effects.
A clinical trial found that adding omalizumab to standard therapy reduced asthma symptoms in children and young people with moderate to severe disease. The study showed a 25% reduction in days with symptoms and a 30% reduction in asthma attacks, as well as a significant decrease in hospitalizations.
Professor Sylvain Martel's team at Polytechnique Montréal successfully guided microcarriers loaded with an anti-cancer drug to a targeted area in the liver, where it was administered. This breakthrough improves chemoembolization treatment for liver cancer by precisely targeting cancerous cells without harming surrounding tissue.
Scientists at Scripps Research Institute and University of Pennsylvania discovered over 400 receptors in warm sensitive neurons, which regulate body temperature. The new method, sequencing single neurons, identified these receptors, revealing their role in diseases like schizophrenia and Parkinson
Researchers at Harvard School of Dental Medicine found that blocking the Klotho protein function in obese mice with high blood sugar levels led to lean mice with reduced blood sugar levels. Additionally, mice without Klotho function gained no body weight after eating a high-fat diet.
A team of researchers has discovered a new enzyme, squalene mono-oxygenase (SM), that plays a key role in cholesterol production. Inhibiting SM may lead to more effective treatments with fewer side effects than current medications.
Researchers at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center found that combining rituximab with fludarabine can produce long-term remissions in CLL patients. After nearly 10 years of follow-up, 13% of patients achieved remissions lasting more than seven years.
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center have created a new molecule from curcumin, a key spice in Indian and Southeast Asian cuisine, that affects mechanisms protecting and helping regenerate brain cells after stroke. The compound, CNB-001, crosses the blood-brain barrier and moderates critical pathways involved in neuronal survival.
Researchers have developed a 3D model of Human 5-Lipoxygenase, the molecule responsible for creating inflammatory compounds that provoke asthma. This breakthrough could lead to more effective and targeted asthma medications with fewer side effects.
A new study reveals that estrogen receptors in the liver are critical for maintaining fertility, with dietary protein playing a crucial role. The researchers found that mice on calorie-restricted diets showed reduced reproductive cycles, but those given more protein restored normal function.
Researchers at National Jewish Health have discovered a critical signaling pathway involved in acute lung injury (ALI), which causes 40% mortality with no approved therapy. The study identified HER2 as a promising target for therapy, building on existing breast-cancer medications.