New pre-clinical model could hold the key to better HIV treatments

Researchers have developed a unique pre-clinical model that enables the study of long-term HIV infection, and the testing of new therapies aimed at curing the disease.

Quelle: Sciencedaily

Researchers hunt for drugs that keep HIV latent

When the human immunodeficiency virus infects cells, it can either exploit the cells to start making more copies of itself or remain dormant — a phenomenon called latency. Keeping these reservoirs latent is a challenge. A new paper has found a way to look for chemicals that can keep the virus suppressed into its dormant state.

Quelle: Sciencedaily

Das therapeutische Potenzial der Peptide

Rund 80 Peptidmedikamente sind weltweit zugelassen und etwa doppelt so viele in klinischer Entwicklung. Bei Erkrankungen wie Diabetes, Krebs, Hormonstörungen, HIV und Multiple Sklerose spielen diese Biomoleküle dank ihrer guten Eigenschaften bereits eine wichtige Rolle in der Behandlung. Biotechnologische Erfolge bei der Entwicklung von Peptidverbindungen und neu entdeckte therapeutische Wirkstoffe in Tiergiften sprechen für den weiteren Aufstieg der Peptide (kleine Proteine) als wichtige Wirkstoffklasse, schreibt ein austro-australisches Team um Medizinchemiker Markus Muttenthaler von der Universität Wien in „Nature Reviews Drug Discovery“.

Quelle: IDW Informationsdienst Wissenschaft

Sixfold increase in risk: study shows link between HIV infection and cervical cancer

A research team at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has quantified the effects of an infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) on the development of cervical cancer. Their results show that the risk of developing cervical cancer is six times higher in women who are infected with HIV. Southern and Eastern Africa are particularly affected.

Quelle: IDW Informationsdienst Wissenschaft

Sechsfach höheres Risiko: Studie zeigt Zusammenhang zwischen HIV-Infektion und Gebärmutterhalskrebs

Ein Forschungsteam der Technischen Universität München (TUM) hat die Effekte einer Infektion mit dem Humanen Immundefizienz-Virus (HIV) auf die Entstehung von Gebärmutterhalskrebs quantifiziert und herausgefunden, dass Frauen, die mit HIV infiziert sind, ein sechsfach höheres Risiko haben, an Gebärmutterhalskrebs zu erkranken. Besonders betroffen sind die Regionen Süd- und Ostafrika.

Quelle: IDW Informationsdienst Wissenschaft

A global assessment of cancer genomic alterations in epigenetic mechanisms

Muhammad A Shah, Emily L Denton, Cheryl H Arrowsmith, Mathieu Lupien and Matthieu Schapira

Abstract

Background

The notion that epigenetic mechanisms may be central to cancer initiation and progression is supported by recent next-generation sequencing efforts revealing that genes involved in chromatin-mediated signaling are recurrently mutated in cancer patients.

Results

Here, we analyze mutational and transcriptional profiles from TCGA and the ICGC across a collection 441 chromatin factors and histones. Chromatin factors essential for rapid replication are frequently overexpressed, and those that maintain genome stability frequently mutated. We identify novel mutation hotspots such as K36M in histone H3.1, and uncover a general trend in which transcriptional profiles and somatic mutations in tumor samples favor increased transcriptionally repressive histone methylation, and defective chromatin remodeling.

Conclusions

This unbiased approach confirms previously published data, uncovers novel cancer-associated aberrations targeting epigenetic mechanisms, and justifies continued monitoring of chromatin-related alterations as a class, as more cancer types and distinct cancer stages are represented in cancer genomics data repositories.

Continue reading „A global assessment of cancer genomic alterations in epigenetic mechanisms“