Articles tagged with Gene Transfer
Researchers have successfully introduced a new gene into the unfertilized eggs of rhesus monkeys, resulting in several pregnancies and live births. The breakthrough technology has the potential to develop animal models of diseases with greater resemblance to human conditions.
A new study by UCSF researchers found that delivering the VEGF growth factor into mice with coronary heart disease prompted the growth of blood vessels in damaged heart tissue without causing side effects. This approach could lead to a treatment strategy for severe coronary heart disease that has been met with setbacks.
Researchers have deciphered the gene sequence of Ralstonia metallidurans, a bacterium that thrives in toxic metals, enabling potential bioremediation applications. The draft genome reveals resistance genes to various heavy metals, paving the way for genetic engineering and monitoring tools.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine have developed a gene therapy that effectively treats abnormal rhythms in pig hearts, using genes delivered by routine catheter methods. The treatment showed a 20% decrease in heart rate compared to control animals, and has the potential to be transferred to human heart disease.
Emory researchers discovered that abnormal gene silencing, caused by overexpression of methyltransferase enzymes, can lead to breast cancer progression. The silencing of the TMS-1 gene, responsible for programmed cell death, may contribute to tumor growth and resistance to conventional therapies.
A new gene therapy technique using stents with DNA delivery has shown promise in animal studies for treating coronary artery disease. The method uses a biodegradable film to release genes into cells on the artery wall, inhibiting cell growth and potentially preventing further damage.
The team designed a unique mathematical system for analyzing genetic data based on a computer algorithm that clusters information into relevant categories. The algorithm mimics unassisted learning, categorizing tissue samples into separate clusters according to their gene expression profiles.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science recommends that human trials of inheritable genetic changes should not be initiated until reliable techniques for gene correction or replacement are developed. Serious ethical and religious issues also must be addressed as research policy is formulated, including concerns about ju...
Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University have developed a new gene therapy system that uses DNA and bacterial proteins to deliver genes to specific places in human DNA, avoiding viruses and their associated immune reactions. The technique shows promise for treating genetic diseases such as hemophilia and sickle cell anemia.
A new statistical method, called gene-shaving, identifies distinct sets of genes with similar expression patterns in tumors. This technique allows researchers to predict patient survival and treatment efficacy with greater accuracy.
Researchers at Jefferson Medical College successfully introduced a therapeutic gene into the brain of two children with Canavan disease, showing decreased NAA concentration and increased myelin. The gene transfer demonstrated positive neurological improvements in the patients, offering hope for future use of gene therapy for brain dise...
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill scientists have discovered a receptor molecule that can facilitate the introduction of corrected genes into cell nuclei, paving the way for potential gene therapy treatments. The study uses a G-protein-coupled receptor to enable weakened viruses to enter cells, carrying therapeutic payloads.
French researchers develop gene therapy to treat human severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) X1, a life-threatening disease. Two infants experience 'striking' clinical improvements and return to normal immune system functioning without side effects.
Researchers develop novel method of membrane fusion to transfer infertile woman's nucleus into donor egg, enabling nearly full genetic contribution. The technique could help women with embryo development failures due to cytoplasmic defects in their own eggs.
Researchers at Michigan Tech are transferring altered genes into fungi to facilitate nutrient flow through tree roots, helping trees grow faster and live healthier lives. The fungus provides a protective coating around the tree's roots, preventing insect pests and diseases from attacking.
Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital report that delivering extra copies of the SERCA2a gene to the heart muscle via gene therapy techniques alleviates diastolic dysfunction in aging rats. This study provides a potential target for therapies to prevent progression to heart failure.
Researchers found that genes involved in male reproductive processes, such as sperm production and morphology, have evolved at a faster rate than non-sexual genes in humans. This accelerated evolution is attributed to sexual pressure, including competition for mating success and internal sperm competition.
Researchers at the University of Washington discovered that HIV alters gene function in cells within three days of infection, affecting T-cell signaling and immune system functions. The study used cDNA microarray technology to examine gene expression levels and may lead to new treatments for the disease.
A team of UI researchers has advanced understanding of how gene therapy might effectively treat cystic fibrosis by addressing two fundamental problems: inefficient gene transfer and lack of gene persistence. They demonstrated efficient and lasting gene transfer into airway cells using a new vector from the retrovirus family, feline imm...
Cornell University researchers have discovered a gene, called SCR, that determines a plant's ability to accept or reject its own pollen. This gene is expressed in the anther and produces pollen with a specific label that distinguishes it from self-pollen.
A University of Iowa research team found a novel approach to enhance binding between vectors and cells, making gene transfers up to 10 times more efficient. The breakthrough could lead to better methods for treating diseases like cystic fibrosis.
A study found that 80% of colonic bacteria contain a gene resistant to tetracycline, highlighting rapid spread of resistance genes. The discovery suggests that other resistance genes are also moving along with the tetracycline resistance gene.
Researchers have successfully engineered CD4+ T cells to carry a fluorescent marker, allowing for the first time the tracking of autoimmune cells in vivo. The technique enables the study of physiological processes and inflammatory diseases, opening new avenues for therapeutic approaches.
Scientists have discovered that naturally occurring fatty acids can help prevent vascular inflammation, a key component in the development of atherosclerosis. The NIEHS-cloned gene produces an enzyme that makes these fatty acids, which can suppress inflammation and protect against heart disease.
Researchers at Cornell University's Boyce Thompson Institute have developed a novel approach to genetically modifying plants by using chimeraplasty, a method that coats gold particles with short chimeric DNA/RNA molecules. This technique has the potential to improve crop yields and nutritional value without involving foreign DNA.
Researchers at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center successfully controlled incontinence in animal model of diabetes using gene therapy approach. The treatment, involving delivery of nerve growth factor gene via modified herpes virus, showed promising results by repairing damaged bladder nerves and improving bladder function.
New gene therapy study in mice demonstrates a gradual increase in factor VIII levels, stable for 11 months. The goal is one dose, which could be all that's needed to be physiologically cured of future bleeds.
Researchers have found a link between beta-catenin and cyclin D1 in colon cancer cells, leading to uncontrolled cell growth and tumor formation. This discovery may lead to new therapies for colon cancer and potentially other types of cancer.
A study published in Nature Genetics reveals that the transferrin cycle plays a limited role in iron transport, instead focusing on concentrating iron in red blood cells. The research may lead to improved diagnosis and treatment of iron metabolism disorders.
A new human gene has been identified as potentially playing a key role in regulating high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels in the body. The gene's overexpression in mice led to nearly undetectable HDL levels, a condition associated with high cardiovascular disease risk.
Researchers have successfully tested a new gene therapy approach to block certain pain responses in mice. The treatment uses a herpes virus containing a gene that triggers production of a pain-blocking protein, providing long-term potential for pain relief.
A team of UI researchers has found a way to permanently deliver therapeutic genes to the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis. The method uses a retrovirus that integrates into host DNA, allowing the gene to be reproduced in cells. This could lead to a permanent cure for CF and other genetic lung diseases.
University of North Carolina researchers have successfully used an antibiotic-like compound to externally regulate a gene implanted in the brain using AAV technology. This breakthrough suggests that gene therapy may eventually be feasible for human brain disorders such as Parkinson's disease and epilepsy.
Researchers have developed a new method to introduce genes into unfertilized oocytes, increasing the efficiency of producing transgenic cattle. This breakthrough could make traditional methods obsolete and pave the way for applications in agricultural livestock and other mammals.
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine have created a way to create harmless vectors from harmful viruses. They showed that the vectors are efficient couriers of genes and can be used to study gene regulation and functions, as well as deliver DNA vaccines.
Researchers have found that Sulfolobus acidocaldarius exhibits a very high rate of genetic recombination, with 95% of mutations producing recombinants. This suggests an alternative mechanism of DNA repair beyond classical recombination, which may be driven by the microbe's exposure to oxidative stress.
Researchers have identified genes that enable plants to produce epoxy and acetylenic fatty acids, key components in the production of polymers and specialty chemicals. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new, high-value products from plant-based raw materials.
Researchers are utilizing a jellyfish gene to develop more efficient methods for inserting desirable genes into sugarcane plants. The gene, known as green fluorescent protein (GFP), allows scientists to quickly identify the effectiveness of genetic modifications.
Scientists have discovered that Helicobacter pylori resistance to metronidazole is caused by mutation in the rdxA gene. This gene codes for an enzyme that converts metronidazole into hydroxylamine, a mutagen and cancer-causing chemical.
Researchers successfully incorporated and reprogrammed genes from adult cells of various animal species into bovine eggs. The study's findings suggest a conserved molecular mechanism in mammals for embryonic reprogramming, enabling the use of cow eggs as a 'universal recipient' for genetic material from other species.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have constructed a novel delivery system for gene therapy of liver disorders, using a reconstituted chylomicron remnant (RCR) that can safely transport genes to target cells. The system has resulted in extended production of therapeutic proteins in animal models.
Scientists have discovered a new bacterium, Photorhabdus luminescens, with a toxin effective against a broad range of insect pests. The bacteria can be used as a spray or fed directly to insects, and its genetic material has been licensed for use in crop plants.
A new method using tiny Micro-Tom tomatoes enables scientists to identify and use commercially valuable genes in plants, cutting the time necessary for mutations by half. This allows for large-scale analysis of plant genomes and customization of fruits and vegetables.
A new delivery system may allow for more precise control over where new genes are inserted into an organism's chromosomes, improving gene therapy. The approach uses parvoviruses to target specific locations on the chromosomes, reducing the risk of genes causing harm or functioning poorly.
Purdue University researchers isolate plant genes that enable efficient phosphate uptake, a key finding in addressing global phosphorus scarcity. The discovery may lead to the creation of more efficient phosphorus users and alternative sources of phosphorus.
Researchers successfully transferred a normal human beta globin gene into mice bone marrow cells, achieving long-term expression and high levels of production. This breakthrough holds promise for the treatment of sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia.
Scientists discovered 12 novel genes on the Y chromosome that enhance male fertility and are functionally interchangeable with X genes. The study also found that the Y chromosome evolved to preserve housekeeping functions, leading to new insights into Turner syndrome and male infertility.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have successfully revived flagging heart cells in laboratory vials using gene therapy. The treatment, which targets a protein kinase involved in heart muscle contraction, shows promise as a potential new drug target for treating congestive heart failure.
Researchers have created an efficient method to study Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) using transposon mutagenesis, allowing them to examine the effect of individual gene mutations on the bacteria's ability to grow or cause disease. This breakthrough enables the development of new drug targets and potential vaccine candidates.
The E. coli genome, consisting of 4,639,221 base pairs, has been fully sequenced, revealing 1,333 known genes and 1,000 unknown functions. The completion of the genome paves the way for a similar analysis of human DNA.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have successfully delivered genes to nearly 100% of muscle cells in a rabbit heart using a disabled adenovirus as a carrier. This breakthrough could pave the way for gene therapy to treat various heart diseases, including congestive heart failure and familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Scientists have found that the fragile X protein is produced in synapse junctions, essential for normal brain development. The discovery reveals a new understanding of the disorder's mechanisms, which may lead to better treatments and therapies.
Researchers at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center have made significant progress in treating rheumatoid arthritis using gene therapy. They successfully expressed the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) gene in synovial cells within joints treated with the approach.
Researchers have created genetically modified nematodes with human genes linked to Alzheimer's disease, sparking the accumulation of abnormal protein deposits in their muscle cells. The study aims to speed up the search for drugs to treat the disease by identifying potential treatments using these unique 'dual-transgenic' worms.
Researchers have found a way to reduce guesswork and errors in genetic engineering by eliminating unwanted or 'junk' genes from plant chromosomes. This new method allows for targeted gene insertion and excision, enabling more precise control over genetic transformations.
Researchers found two production-boosting genes, YLD1 and YLD2, in wild rice O. rufipogon that improved crop yields by 15-17% when combined with domesticated varieties. The study aims to reverse genetic erosion and selectively enrich the genetic base of crop plants.
Researchers successfully used a harmless virus to deliver a normal gene into muscle cells in animals and humans, producing the enzyme for at least three months. This breakthrough could lead to a single treatment for children with Pompe's disease, an inherited fatal heart condition.
Researchers have identified a genetic marker linked to the callipyge trait, which results in larger buttocks and leaner, less expensive meat. The discovery of the marker will aid efforts to breed sheep with heftier hindquarters using a blood test, and may also be applied to other species.
Researchers found that the cholera pathogen acquired its deadly factors by picking up genes from a virus, CTX phage. The virus instructs the bacterium to introduce the cholera toxin gene, allowing it to become a pathogen.
Biologists at Cornell and Washington universities have genetically engineered rice plants to resist some of the most destructive insects as well as salt and drought damage. The technology will be given to developing countries under a Rockefeller Foundation grant.