Nano rod and worm are the best shaped nanoparticles in cancer drug delivery

Image courtesy (Champion JA, Katare YK, Mitragotri S.)

Micrographs of shapes of Nanoparticles (a) Spheres. (b) Rectangular disks. (c) Rods. (d) Worms. (e) Oblate ellipses. (f) Elliptical disks. (g) UFOs. (h) Circular disks. (Scale bars: 2 μm.).

Nanoparticle research is currently an area of intense scientific research, due to a wide variety of potential applications in biomedical, optical, and electronic fields. For the first time, researchers have found that nanoparticles shaped like rods and worms are far more effective at travelling through cells and specific barriers like the nucleus than spherical ones.  The team applied a new fluorescent microscopy method to standard drug delivery, which allowed them to track the movement of nanoparticles of different shapes through a single cancer cell. When the researchers used doxorubicin (a cancer drug) in the different shaped nanoparticles, the rod and worms passively entered the nucleus without any issues. The spherical ones, on the other hand, were stuck outside the nucleus. Getting through the nuclear membrane and into the nucleus is important for increasing the toxicity of cancer cells, so rods and worms came out on top. Now, it can help to reduce some side effects of chemotherapies and it gives the ability to look inside the cell, see what the particles are doing, and design them to do exactly what we want them to do.

Ref: Elizabeth Hinde et al, 2016. Pair correlation microscopy reveals the role of nanoparticle shape in intracellular transport and site of drug release. Nature Nanotechnology.

Doi: 10.1038/nnano.2016.160

How X chromosome is inactivated in female mammals?

One of the X chromosomes is completely and permanently inactivated during a female's early development in the womb. Research into mice has shown that a ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecule called Xist plays a pivotal role in the process. Several hundred copies of this molecule attach themselves to one of the two X chromosomes, these RNA molecules dock onto other molecules which then inactivate the chromosome.  Spen gene is very important for X chromosome inactivation.

Ref: Asun Monfort et al., 2015, Cell Reports. 

DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2015.06.067

India has 3 diabetic friendly rice varieties

The Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRI), Hyderabad which is the part of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) system has identified three rice varieties with low glycemic index (GI) values which are considered suitable for diabetic patients. Any variety of rice with ≤ 55 glycemic index (GI) is considered as diabetic friendly. The 3 rice varieties are: Lalat (GI=53.17), BPT 5204 (GI=51.42) and Sampada (GI=51). Presently, these varieties are under cultivation in different states of India. 

Source: The minister of state for agriculture, Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Balyan in Rajya Sabha (Upper house of Parliament) on July 31, 2015.

Eating carbohydrates made humans smarter

Dr. Karen Hardy and her team bring together archaeological, anthropological, genetic, physiological and anatomical data to argue that carbohydrate consumption, particularly in the form of starch, was critical for the accelerated expansion of the human brain over the last million years. Eating meat may have kick-started the evolution of bigger brains, but cooked starchy foods together with more salivary amylase genes made us smarter still. 

Ref: Karen Hardy, 2015, The Quarterly Review of Biology

DOI:10.1086/682587

VSV-EBOV vaccine is effective in monkeys against Ebola virus

The live-attenuated vaccine, VSV-EBOV, uses genetically engineered Vesicular stomatitis virus to carry an EBOV gene that has safely induced protective immunity in Cynomolgus macaques (monkey) against EBOV-Makona (virus) strain. The experimental vaccine is currently undergoing testing in a global clinical trial in humans. 

Ref: A Marzi et al., 2015, Science.

Horses have similar facial expressions as humans

Horses share some surprisingly similar facial expressions to humans and chimps. Despite the differences in face structure between horses and humans, there are some similar expressions in relation to movements of the lips and eyes. These findings will ultimately provide an important information for veterinary and animal welfare practices.

Ref: Jen Wathan et al., 2015, PLOS ONE.  DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131738

High starch content and low methane emission rice

After carbon dioxide methane is the second important greenhouse gas. Paddies contribute up to 17% of the global methane emission. Warm waterlogged soil and exuded nutrients from roots provide ideal condition for methanogenesis in paddies. Here, the addition of a single transcription factor gene, barley SUSIBA2 conferred a shift of carbon flux t0 SUSIBA2 rice. The altered allocation resulted in an increased biomass and starch content in the seeds and stems, and suppressed methanogenesis, possibly through the reduction in root exudates.

Ref: Su et al., 2015, Nature

Transforming skin cells into neurons

Chemical treatment transforms skin cells into neuron cells in human and mice. A transcription factor was always necessary to complete the transformation. I-BET151 is the key ingredient, which works to suppress transcription in skin cells. Gene expression, action potentials, and synapse formation were detected in transcription-factor-induced neurons.

Fig-1: Chemical-induced neuron cells in mice

Ref-1: HongKui Deng, 2015, Cell Stem Cell

Fig-2: Chemical-induced neuron cells in human

Ref: Gang Pei and Jian Zhao, 2015, Cell Stem Cell

Biodegradable motorcycle helmet

Throughout the world, biodegradable and recyclable synthetics research is being conducted. Now, a new method has developed to obtain nanofibers of carrot waste from the production of carrot juice, which can be used to strengthen synthetic parts. This might be used for the production of motorcycle helmets, side walls of motorhomes. This fiber production from carrot waste leads many possible applications for the production of other renewable materials.

Source: Fabiano Piccinno, Roland Hischier and Claudia Som, Empa

Researchers turn E.coli into antibiotic producer

Fig. Erythromycin resistant Bacillus subtilis were spread on petridishes , the discs circled in red color hold new forms of erythromycin, and the zone around them indicates that the drug kills the surrounding bacteria.

E. coli is being used for producing human insulin and many pharmaceuticals. Recently, researchers manipulated E.coli for producing a new forms of antibiotic called erythromycin.

Habitual consumption of spicy foods associated with a lower risk of death

This is an observational study so no definitive conclusions can be drawn but the research leads to update diatry food recommondations. Fresh chilli is richer in capsaicin, vitamin C, and other nutrients. Fresh and dried chilli peppers were the most commonly used spices, it reduces risk of death from cancer, ischaemic heart disease, and diabetes.

Ref: Jun Lv et al., 2015, BMJ.

Pupil shape linked to animals' ecological niche

The pupils could also reveal whether one is a hunter or hunted. Species with pupils that are vertical slits are more likely to be ambush predators. In contrast, those with horizontally elongated pupils are extremely likely to be plant-eating prey species with eyes on the sides of their heads.

Ref: Martin S. Banks, 2015, Science Advances

No more biopsies for oral cancer

A device designed to detect oral cancer from a single drop of saliva, proteins that are associated with cancer cells react with dyes on the sensor, emitting fluorescent light that can be detected under microscope. It could be applied to make saliva based diagnostic tests.

Source: University of California, Los Angels

Growing up on a farm provides protection against asthma and allergies

Researchers have successfully established a causal relationship between exposure to farm dust and endotoxin give protection against asthma and allergies. the mechanism behind this: farm dust makes the mucous membrane inside the respiratory tracts react less severely to allergens such as house dust mite. This effect is created by the A20 protein, which the body produces upon contact with farm dust. When we inactivate the A20 protein in the mucous membrane of the lungs, farm dust is no longer able to reduce an allergic or asthmatic reaction. The results showed that people suffering from allergies and asthma have a deficiency in the protective protein A20. This breakthrough discovery is a major step forward towards the development of an asthma vaccine.

Source: VIB (the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology)

Ref: M. J. Schuijs et al., 2015, Science

DOI: 10.1126/science.aac6623

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Animal-eye view revealed with new software

Viewing the world through the eyes of other animals has become easier now with new camera technology. The software, which converts digital photos to animal vision. It is useful for the study of animal and plant signalling, camouflage and animal predation. The software is free to download and is available here

http://www.jolyon.co.uk/myresearch/image-analysis/image-analysis-tools/

Source: Jolyon Troscianko, Martin Stevens, 2015, Methods in Ecology and Evolution

Spinach can cut down on food craving especially in men

A concentrated extract of thylakoids of Spinach stimulates the release of satiety hormone, helps in controlling hunger. It is also useful for people with high blood pressure and associated weight problems.

Ref: L. Frank, 2015, Journal of the American College of Nutrition.