UCSF researchers develop SunTag technology to precisely turn genes on and off, revolutionizing CRISPR applications. The technique has broad implications for reprogramming cells and understanding diseases.
Israeli scientists developed a method to generate single-sex populations of prawns using gene silencing technology. This can boost commercial farm productivity and control invasive species. Non-reproducing prawns could also be used as sustainable bio-control agents against diseases and pests.
Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai found that mammals do not use RNAi to fight viruses, contrary to previous studies. Instead, they use microRNAs, which are part of a different defense system based on interferons, signaling proteins made by immune cells.
A novel RNAi therapy successfully blocks production of the dysfunctional huntingtin protein, causing Huntington's disease. The treatment reduces mutant Htt levels and disease symptoms in a mouse model without causing neurotoxicity.
Researchers found that western corn rootworm beetles resistant to crop rotation are less vulnerable to RNAi treatment, surviving longer on soybean leaves. The study suggests targeting a single gene may not be the best strategy for controlling pests.
Researchers at Mirimus Inc. developed a new technology to enhance RNA interference efficiency and accuracy, enabling functional gene annotation in normal homeostasis and disease. The new approach uses an optimized microRNA backbone to increase the success rate of RNAi screens and models.
The NIH has made large-scale information on small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules publicly available, increasing the potential for finding new treatments for diseases. Researchers can now access siRNA sequences targeting over 20,000 human genes, facilitating studies of gene function and disease progression.
Researchers used RNA interference to identify dozens of genes that may regulate mitochondrial disposal, opening new drug targets for Parkinson's and related disorders. Four helper genes were found to enhance or inhibit tagging of damaged mitochondria.
A new study found that women experiencing breast cancer often experience positive outcomes, including enhanced interpersonal relationships, increased appreciation for life, and greater spirituality. Increased social support was also linked to more post-traumatic growth in these women.
A team led by Chris Sullivan found that RNA interference does not play a role as an antiviral in most body cells in mammals. Researchers suggest that RNAi may have evolved to regulate the protein-based immune response instead.
Scientists have discovered that mammals use the RNA interference (RNAi) process to destroy viruses within their own cells, similar to plants and invertebrate animals. This finding could lead to the creation of vaccines against deadly infections such as SARS, West Nile, dengue, hepatitis C, and influenza.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have discovered a new antiviral response in mammals, utilizing the RNA interference pathway to combat viral infections. This discovery sheds light on a previously overlooked aspect of innate immunity and highlights the simplicity and universality of this system.
A new study by Harvard Medical School researchers has successfully treated a genetic disorder in mice that causes cardiac muscle thickening, weakening the heart. By reducing production of a mutant protein, the treatment prevented HCM manifestations for about six months, offering significant promise for potential human treatment.
A new class of RNAi drugs has shown promising results in lowering cholesterol levels by up to 57% in healthy volunteers. The treatment, ALN-PCS, works by blocking the production of PCSK9, a protein that destroys low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors.
A new method for producing nootkatone, extracted from grapefruit, could lead to the development of more effective and affordable insect repellents. The ingredient has been shown to repel mosquitoes, ticks, and other insects with a broad-spectrum effect.
New technology for creating pesticides and pest-resistant crops raises concerns about harm to desirable insects and ecological disruption. Researchers suggest designing chemicals that minimize impact on non-target species and evaluating real-life situations.
Researchers discovered a previously unrecognized organelle gatekeeper function in C. elegans, which restricts the flow of Golgi and endosomal organelles into axons. Additionally, two studies identified novel players in meiotic silencing by unpaired DNA in Neurospora, providing insights into genome integrity and transmission.
Scientists at UC San Francisco have developed a more precise way to turn off genes using a protein from bacteria to fight off viruses. The new technology, called CRISPR interference, allows researchers to selectively perturb gene expression on a genome-wide scale and identify key proteins that control cellular events.
A Phase I clinical trial demonstrated the therapeutic effect of RNAi gene silencing in treating advanced cancer patients. The drug, ALN-VSP, presented good evidence for clinical utility and showed significant tumor response in 11 out of 37 patients.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University develop RNA interference therapies to target the faulty gene CCND1, leading to the aggressive over-production of Cyclin D1. The treatment has shown success in human cells and is being tested in a mouse model with MCL.
Researchers identified a mechanism related to RNAi that scans for intruders by comparing foreign sequences to a memory of previously expressed native RNA, creating an 'epigenetic memory' that silences the gene. This memory can be passed on from one generation to the next.
Researchers have defined and analyzed the crystal structure of a yeast Argonaute protein bound to RNA, shedding light on the RNA interference pathway that silences gene expression. The study reveals a four-component active site, resolving a longstanding mystery in the field.
The John Innes Centre receives Grand Challenges Explorations grant for a groundbreaking research project aimed at developing new ways of protecting crops from insects and associated diseases. The project, led by Dr Saskia Hogenhout, involves generating whitefly-resistant plants using RNAi molecules.
Researchers at MIT have developed a novel RNA interference method that delivers short interfering RNA (siRNA) using microspheres, overcoming the challenge of efficient delivery in the body. The new system shows promise for targeting specific genes in tumors and other diseased cells.
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology have successfully silenced insect genes in a high-throughput manner using plant-mediated RNA interference. By targeting specific genes, such as CYP6B46, the scientists demonstrated that the gene silencing worked with high specificity and no collateral damage.
Elisabetta Ullu has been awarded the inaugural Alice and C.C. Wang award for her discovery of RNA interference (RNAi), a novel mechanism of gene silencing that regulates gene expression in parasites. This breakthrough has significant implications for the understanding of parasitic diseases, including African sleeping sickness.
Scientists have discovered that roundworms can pass on immunity to a virus through small RNA molecules, which were not dependent on the organism's genome. This finding suggests that Lamarckian inheritance may provide adaptive advantages to an animal by allowing them to hold onto beneficial genes until needed.
Researchers from CSHL and St. Jude's Research Hospital have discovered new details of how a protein complex contributes to heterochromatin assembly and gene silencing in fission yeast. The team identified a previously unknown substructure at the end of Chp1, which plays a crucial role in heterochromatin formation at telomeres.
Researchers at Penn's Perelman School of Medicine have made a breakthrough in treating the rare genetic disorder FOP, also known as fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva. By using RNA interference to silence the damaged gene copy and leave the normal copy untouched, they restored cellular function caused by the FOP mutation.
A recent study by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory reveals that RNA interference plays a crucial role in regulating chromosomal replication. The findings show that RNAi mechanism causes the enzyme to release its hold on the DNA and allows the replication fork to progress smoothly, protecting cells from DNA damage.
The La Jolla Institute's new RNAi Center will focus on understanding the genetics behind disease processes and developing new therapies to treat disease. The Center aims to make key discoveries about how the immune system recognizes bacteria and viruses and fights infections.
Rob Martienssen, CSHL professor, joins prestigious HHMI-GBMF initiative to accelerate basic research in fundamental plant sciences. He will receive flexible support to move his research efforts in creative new directions.
A team of scientists flew microscopic worms into space to test the effectiveness of RNA interference (RNAi) as a treatment for muscle degradation caused by space travel. The experiment showed promising results, suggesting that RNAi could be used to prevent muscle loss in astronauts and help people suffering from similar conditions.
Researchers perfect a method to temporarily turn off essential genes in adult mice without killing them, allowing for reversible gene silencing. This breakthrough enables testing of therapeutic targets and evaluation of their efficacy and side effects.
A CSHL-led team developed a powerful method to identify potent RNAi triggers, allowing biologists to fully exploit this natural mechanism. The approach revealed new insights into small RNA biogenesis and improved the recipe for creating potent RNAi triggers.
A gene-silencing pathway in fungi protects their genomes from unwanted genetic mutations during mating, which could be used to develop new treatments for fungal infections. The discovery of this pathway may also provide insights into the mechanisms of fungal disease.
The La Jolla Institute will host research projects throughout the San Diego biomedical community, exploring genetic triggers of disease and developing new therapies for cancer and other diseases. The Center is expected to propel immunology research and catalyze a broad base of basic and clinical investigations.
Researchers at Columbia University have found that ROCK2 may be a good therapeutic target for treating autoimmune disorders, while targeting CD13+ CSCs in liver cancer could provide a new treatment approach. Additionally, scientists at Stanford University developed ways to enhance RNAi efficacy and persistence while decreasing toxicity.
Kansas State University researchers have successfully used gene-silencing nanoparticles to kill mosquito larvae and make them more susceptible to pesticides. This technology has the potential to revolutionize insect control, targeting specific pest species while being environmentally friendly.
Researchers at CSHL discovered new modes of mRNA regulation involving Ago2 and Drosha proteins, highlighting a previously unappreciated complexity in gene expression control. The study found that mRNAs can be targeted for destruction by multiple molecules, expanding our understanding of post-transcriptional events.
Researchers have developed a new vaccine strategy using the Giardia parasite's surface proteins to prevent or mitigate future infections. The engineered parasites work as effective vaccines when given orally to gerbils, offering a promising approach for delivering oral vaccinations in developing countries.
A CSHL team discovered rules governing the processing and sorting of small RNAs in the RNAi pathway. The rules determine which strand of a duplex is chosen to interact with the Argonaute protein, affecting gene regulation and potential therapeutic applications.
Researchers at MIT have developed a novel RNA interference technique that can silence multiple genes in the liver, offering potential new treatments for diseases such as cancer. The breakthrough delivery method uses lipid-like molecules to improve efficacy and reduce dosage requirements.
Bacteria have a novel RNA repair system that adds a methyl group to damaged RNA, making it impossible to cleave the site again. This discovery has implications for protecting cells against ribotoxins and understanding RNA interference in eukaryotes.
Researchers have found RNA interference (RNAi) in budding yeast species, including Saccharomyces castellii and Candida albicans. The discovery opens up new possibilities for studying RNAi and its potential applications in human diseases, research, industry, and pharmaceuticals. This breakthrough also highlights the importance of collab...
A DNA vector-based approach silences STAT3, inhibiting HCC cell growth and inducing apoptosis. This study demonstrates RNAi's therapeutic potential in treating HCC by targeting the STAT3 gene.
Researchers at UMass Chan Medical School describe a potent method to deliver therapeutic siRNA molecules orally, silencing genes in mice and showing promise for treating human diseases. The method uses yeast particles as a delivery shell, targeting specific cells and achieving gene silencing with minimal immune response.
Researchers used RNA interference to suppress MMP-2 expression in pancreatic cancer cells, leading to reduced adhesion and invasion without affecting cell proliferation and apoptosis. This finding suggests that inhibiting MMP-2 via RNA interference could be an effective therapeutic strategy for managing pancreatic tumors.
Researchers at Rutgers University have created a novel gene silencing platform called U1 Adaptor that targets RNA biosynthesis. The platform has the potential to treat diseases resistant to current RNAi approaches and can inhibit genes that do not respond to existing methods.
Researchers discovered that mosquitoes use RNA interference to combat dengue virus, allowing the virus to multiply and be transmitted to humans. Genetic manipulation of this response could help stop dengue virus transmission by Aedes aegypti.
A study by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine found a topical microbicide using RNA interference to protect against genital herpes infection for up to a week. The microbicide combines two siRNAs to offer both immediate and sustained protection, providing hope for a cost-effective therapy in developing countries.
A topical treatment using RNA interference (RNAi) has been shown to effectively prevent herpes virus transmission in mice, disabling key genes necessary for the virus's replication and host cell infection. The treatment can be applied up to a week before or after exposure, making it a promising approach for preventing sexually transmit...
Nucleolar dominance is a phenomenon where an entire parental set of ribosomal RNA genes are silenced in hybrid plants or animals. Researchers have made a breakthrough in understanding this process, which may have important implications for cancer research.
A team of researchers at Harvard Medical School used RNAi to systematically knockdown pairs of genes in fruit fly cells, revealing interactions between genes and accelerating the pace of discovery in systems biology. This approach overcomes limitations of traditional single-gene knockout studies by capturing redundant gene functions.
A study has identified the first gene associated with severe dry macular degeneration, a condition that can lead to blindness. The researchers found that individuals with a specific genetic variant may be at risk if treated with an experimental therapy called RNA interference.
Emory University researchers have discovered that fluoroquinolone antibiotics can enhance the effectiveness of RNA interference, a gene-silencing technique, in laboratory settings. The most powerful enhancer was enoxacin, which has been used to treat bacterial infections.
A genetic tool called RNA interference may help remove harmful microbes and viruses from drinking water. The approach, which targets a specific gene in a fungus found in water, has promise for solving safe drinking water issues in underdeveloped countries.
A team of scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory solved a puzzle about how genes are expressed by studying the way DNA is packed in yeast. They found that RNA interference plays a crucial role in transmitting epigenetic information across generations, providing specificity to histone modifications.
RNA interference represents an innovative strategy for silencing specific genes associated with disease processes, and a series of review articles will focus on its potential therapeutic applications. The technology has been approved for at least six clinical trials and is considered to be here to stay.
Researchers from MIT and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals have shown that siRNA does not interfere with the microRNA pathway, achieving 80% silencing of target genes in mice and hamster liver cells. This approach could lead to treatments for a wide range of diseases.