This October, the Festival of Genomics was held in Boston just down the street from our Kerafast office. Scientific researchers, clinicians, pharmaceutical company representatives and other stakeholders gathered to discuss the current state of genomics, which is the study of genes and their functions. Topics discussed included the basic science of genomics, its translation to
Organ donation and transplantation are critical in saving the lives of thousands of people annually, with one organ donor able to save up to eight lives. Currently, more than 100,000 people are on an organ donation list waiting for a lifesaving transplant, with an average of one person being added to the wait list every
Antibiotics are incredibly important due to their ability to prevent and treat bacterial infections, such as strep throat, sinus infections and pneumonia. However, the misuse of antibiotics has reduced their efficacy, with an increasing number of bacteria species becoming antibiotic-resistant. According to the World Health Organization, “Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to
CRISPR (pronounced crisp-er) has been generating a lot of excitement in scientific research lately. Read below to check out what all the buzz is about! What is CRISPR? Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) were first discovered and characterized in archaea through the work of Francisco Mojica in the 1990s and early 2000s. Mojica
Researchers from all over the world gathered in Boston recently to discuss advances in the bioprocessing and manufacture of cell therapies such as CAR-T and TCR therapies. New therapies require new manufacturing methods CAR-T (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T cell) and TCR (T cell Receptor) therapies are autologous therapies, meaning that they are tailored specifically for
With more than 300,000 species identified to date, plants represent a rich diversity with distinct morphology and physiology. Humans have used plants for thousands of years for a variety of purposes, including food and medicine (see figure). Top Documented Use of Plant Species Like other species, plants have evolved mechanisms to thrive in their environment,
Humans possess a number of mechanisms that provide protection against a multitude of pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria and parasites. Unfortunately, there are instances when the immune system that monitors and disposes of pathogens can react to an individual’s own cells. This aberrant response is known as autoimmunity and can lead to the development of
Researchers from several institutions recently collaborated to study the evolution of pesticide tolerance in amphibians. Their research, published in Evolutionary Applications, continues the work of Dr. Jessica Hua and others who demonstrated that there are two different mechanisms by which pesticide tolerance may evolve. Constitutive vs. inducing tolerance The use of pesticides in agriculture can
Ever wonder how fish survive beneath inches of ice during the winter? A new study published in Scientific Reports has shed some light on this mystery. The research was led by a team from the University of Oslo, an institution which became a Kerafast provider last year by making available the Rac/Cdc42 Isolation Kit. Most
Scientists from the University of Queensland in Australia have demonstrated that adult brains produce new cells within the amygdala, an almond-shaped region of the brain involved in emotional processing. The research may have applications for treating disorders such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The paper was published this August in Molecular Psychiatry