MetaFilter posts tagged with apoptosis

Viruses That Make Zombies and Vaccines

Blasdelb — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 01:46:34 -0800

This week the FDA announced that they were approving a new kind of flu vaccine. Nestled in the articles was an odd fact: unlike traditional flu vaccines, the new kind, called Flublok, is produced by the cells of insects. This is the kind of detail that you might skim over without giving it a thought. If you did pause to ponder, you might be puzzled: how could insects possibly make a vaccine against viruses that infect humans? The answer may surprise you. To make vaccines, scientists are tapping into a battle between viruses and insects that’s raging in forests and fields and backyards all around us. It’s an important lesson in how to find new ideas in biotechnology: first, leave biologists free to explore the weirdest corners of nature they can find. How a zombie virus became a big biotech business Also by Zimmer Liquefying virus uses one gene to make caterpillars climb By Ed Yong of Not Exactly Rocket Science

Toward system-level understanding of baculovirus–host cell interactions: from molecular fundamental studies to large-scale proteomics approaches Baculoviruses are insect viruses extensively exploited as eukaryotic protein expression vectors. Molecular biology studies have provided exciting discoveries on virus–host interactions, but the application of omic high-throughput techniques on the baculovirus–insect cell system has been hampered by the lack of host genome sequencing. While a broader, systems-level analysis of biological responses to infection is urgently needed, recent advances on proteomic studies have yielded new insights on the impact of infection on the host cell. These works are reviewed and critically assessed in the light of current biological knowledge of the molecular biology of baculoviruses and insect cells.

St. Quirinus and the Dragon

seanmpuckett — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 06:08:34 -0800

MIT scientist Dr. Todd Rider has developed a viral infection treatment that works by triggering host cell suicide when it finds the cell has been producing double-stranded RNA. Since dsRNA is the mechanism by which all viral infections proceed, but is not part of normal cellular function, the treatment seems both universal and safe. From the abstract:

We have developed a new broad-spectrum antiviral approach, dubbed Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) Activated Caspase Oligomerizer (DRACO) that selectively induces apoptosis in cells containing viral dsRNA, rapidly killing infected cells without harming uninfected cells. We have created DRACOs and shown that they are nontoxic in 11 mammalian cell types and effective against 15 different viruses, including dengue flavivirus, Amapari and Tacaribe arenaviruses, Guama bunyavirus, and H1N1 influenza. We have also demonstrated that DRACOs can rescue mice challenged with H1N1 influenza. DRACOs have the potential to be effective therapeutics or prophylactics for numerous clinical and priority viruses, due to the broad-spectrum sensitivity of the dsRNA detection domain, the potent activity of the apoptosis induction domain, and the novel direct linkage between the two which viruses have never encountered.

Journalled in PLoS One.

The beauty of Molecular, Cell, and Microbiology

Blasdelb — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 16:34:40 -0800

There has been a new discipline developing in molecular biology for some time now, Bioanimation! Projects have ranged in size from WEHI's colossal compilation to Harvard Biovision's magnum opus "Inner Life of the Cell" to commercially produced masterpieces to smaller projects by university PIs and enthusiasts. much Biomedical Animators Drew Berry and Etsuko Uno are supported by WEHI as they create their marvelous films:

An explanation of the DNA replication complex found in Escherichia coli

An explanation of how DNA is packed into chromosomes

A demonstration of bacterial transcription; showing the initiation, elongation and termination of a novel messenger RNA strand (Yellow)

A demonstration of eukaryotic translation showing a ribosome (Blue/Purple) binding to a messenger RNA strand (Yellow) and producing a protein, in this case globin (Red), using transfer RNA (Green)

A demonstration of how a single amino acid change (Green) can produce sickle cell anemia by causing hemoglobin (Red) to polymerize.

An explanation of the malarial life cycle in the human host (Part 2 in the mosquito host)

An explanation of how Clonal Selection was discovered and is used by the adaptive immune system to fight infection

An explanation of how Colony Stimulating Factor helps to activate the adaptive immune system

A demonstration of restriction enzyme EcoRI binding to plasmid DNA, diffusing along the double helix, and finding its palindromic binding sequence before cutting. A piece of DNA then binds to the plasmid and is ligated

A demonstration of a signaling pathway which leads to apoptosis

An explanation of healthy insulin production and the molecular cause of Type 1 diabetes Previously David Bolinsky and his colleagues at Harvard Biovisions have been working slowly, but producing amazing work:

A new sequel to "The Inner Life of the Cell" looking closely at the mitochondria

A 2d animation detailing Leukocyte extravasation shown in "The Inner Life of the Cell" Previously, Previouslier, Previousliest Hybrid Medical commercially produces its films:

Gorgeous promotional reel

An explanation of the use of folic acid in nucleotide metabolism (sponsored by Eli Lilly)

An explanation of the Pathophysiology of Crohn’s disease (sponsored by HUMIRA)

An brief explanation of compliment mediated immunity(sponsored by Biothera)

An explanation of how intestinal micelles contribute to blood cholesterol (Sponsored by Merck & Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals)

A demonstration of influenza infection

A demonstration of the stages of mitosis

A demonstration of T4 binding

A video demonstrating Streptococcus pneumoniae growth

The beating heart with blood flow Gaël McGill at his company digizyme has also been making beautiful films:

An explanation of Dengue virus entry

An explanation of early events in Reovirus entry

An explanation of HIV entry into the cytoplasm He also curates his own collection of some of the best work out there Previously An explanation of embryonic development and Embryonic differentiation sponsored by HHMI T4 infection process commissioned of Seyet by Michael Rossman Productions by Adrian Elcock's lab at the University of Iowa Finally here are two interpretive dance productions

Protein Synthesis: an epic on the cellular level by Robert Alan Weiss for the Department of Chemistry of Stanford University

Dancing DNA by the OSU Biology program Previously Enjoy!

Cancer Causing Viruses

mdpatrick — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:10:56 -0800

Paul Ewald, an evolutionary biologist at University of Louisville in Kentucky states his conviction, in one interview with Discover Magazine that, that by 2050 the human species will have found that between 80% and as high as 95% of cancers are caused by viruses. from Discovery Magazine Article:

Viruses push cells to the brink; additional mutations from genetic defects or the environment are needed for full-blown cancer. Keep in mind that the vast majority of mutating agents provoke cells to stop functioning or to die, meaning there is no chance for those mutations to cause cancer. Without an infection, the few mutated cells that could potentially cause cancer stop proliferating after several divisions. But infected cells can reach such high numbers that the progression to cancer is not terminated by the many mutations that kill the cells or make them nonfunctional. The small percentage that are cancer-causing can continue to proliferate.