Colossal Biosciences, a Dallas-based biotechnology company, says it has developed the technology necessary to bring the woolly mammoth back from extinction. NBC News’ Morgan Chesky reports on the opportunities this new technology could bring as well as the concerns some scientists are raising.
Stanford and McMaster University researchers created an artificial intelligence (AI) model to design molecules that inhibit the growth of Acinetobacter baumannii, a common drug-resistant bacteria. They synthesized and validated six structurally novel molecules that demonstrated antibacterial activity against A. baumannii and other phylogenetically diverse bacterial pathogens. This study represents a significant step toward the practical application of generative AI approaches for antibiotic discovery and drug discovery in general.
The research article, “Generative AI for designing and validating easily synthesizable and structurally novel antibiotics,” was published in Nature Machine Intelligence.
Among the most critical issues in contemporary medicine is the worldwide spread of factors contributing to antibiotic resistance. In 2019, drug-resistant infections were responsible for an estimated 4.95 million deaths. As new antibiotics are being developed slower than the spread of antimicrobial resistance determinants, this figure is expected to reach 10 million annually by 2050.
A collaborative project to bring the promise of cell therapy to patients with a deadly form of brain cancer has shown dramatic results among the first patients to receive the novel treatment. In a paper published today in The New England Journal of Medicine, researchers from the Mass General Cancer Center, a member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, shared the results for the first three patient cases from a phase 1 clinical trial evaluating a new approach to CAR-T therapy for glioblastoma (GBM). The trial, known as INCIPIENT, is designed to evaluate the safety of CARv3-TEAM-E T cells in patients with recurrent GBM. Just days after a single treatment, patients experienced dramatic reductions in their tumors, with one patient achieving near-complete tumor regression. In time, the researchers observed tumor progression in these patients, but given the strategy’s promising preliminary results, the team will pursue strategies to extend the durability of response.
“This is a story of bench-to-bedside therapy, with a novel cell therapy designed in the laboratories of Massachusetts General Hospital and translated for patient use within five years, to meet an urgent need,” said Bryan Choi, MD, PhD, neurosurgeon and associate director of the Center for Brain Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Mass General Cancer Center and Department of Neurosurgery. “The CAR-T platform has revolutionized how we think about treating patients with cancer, but solid tumors like glioblastoma have remained challenging to treat because not all cancer cells are exactly alike and cells within the tumor vary. Our approach combines two forms of therapy, allowing us to treat glioblastoma in a broader, potentially more effective way.”
AI technology developed by Johns Hopkins University to detect COVID-19 in lung ultrasound images, revolutionizing medical diagnostics.
In a potentially game-changing development, scientists with the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC have revealed a new understanding of sometimes fatal viral infections that affect the heart.
Traditionally, the focus has been on heart inflammation known as myocarditis, which is often triggered by the body’s immune response to a viral infection.
However, a new study led by James Smyth, associate professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, sheds new light on this notion, revealing that the virus itself creates potentially dangerous conditions in the heart before inflammation sets in.
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Recent advancements in artificial intelligence make it increasingly harder to detect deepfake voices, and the solution might actually come from AI itself.
Scientists at Klick Labs were inspired by their clinical studies using vocal biomarkers to help enhance health outcomes and created an audio deepfake detection method that taps into signs of life like breathing patterns and micropauses in speech.
Diving into the complexities of Seronegative Autoimmune Encephalitis — a journey through diagnostic hurdles and treatment paths. Discover more: 👉 https://bit.ly/3TwTulh ✨
Seronegative autoimmune encephalitis (AE) is a rare, immune-mediated inflammatory syndrome that presents with a wide spectrum of neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as cognitive impairment, seizures, psychosis, focal neurological defects, and altered consciousness. This disease process presents with no identifiable autoimmune antibodies, which leads to uncertain diagnosis, delayed treatment, and prolonged hospital admissions. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment of AE should not be delayed, as early recognition and treatment leads to improved outcomes and disease reversibility for these patients. In this study, we present a case report of a 77-year-old male who presented with acutely altered mental status. This patient underwent an extensive workup and demonstrated no signs of clinical improvement throughout a prolonged hospital admission.
The future is going to be so lazy, yet so cut.
As next-generation weight-loss treatments like Wegovy and Zepbound continue to fly off the shelves, scientists are busy working on a medicine that could mimic the effects of exercise.
As explained in an American Chemical Society press release, trials thus far on SLU-PP-332, the potentially groundbreaking compound in question, show that it seems “capable of mimicking the physical boost of working out.”
Continue reading “Scientists Working on Pill You Can Take Instead of Exercising” »
Scientists discovered that a common type of bacteria has two distinct subspecies. One of them shields tumor cells from cancer treatment.
A recent study published in Nature reveals a potential link between a type of bacteria associated with dental plaque and treatment-resistant colorectal cancer. The Gram-negative, anaerobic bacterium, Fusobacterium nucleatum, was found in 50% of tumors tested, suggesting it may protect tumor cells from cancer-fighting drugs. This discovery opens avenues for new treatments and screening methods. Colorectal cancer, a leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, is increasingly affecting younger demographics, with cases doubling among those younger than age 55 between 1995 and 2019. While the study doesn’t directly tie the bacterium to this trend, its implications raise questions about its role in rising cases among younger individuals. F. nucleatum has been suspected in colorectal cancer growth. It possesses two subspecies, one of which is capable of evading immune response and promoting tumor formation. These findings suggest a potential mechanism for its journey from the oral cavity to the colon, defying stomach acid’s toxic effects. Future research may explore developing antibiotics targeting specific bacterial subtypes or using genetically modified bacteria for targeted drug delivery into tumors. Understanding the microbiome’s role in cancer risk represents a crucial frontier in cancer research. Click here to read more.
