Tweaking synonymous sites for gene therapy and vaccines
Professor Laurence D Hurst explains why understanding the nucleotide mutations in viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, can have significant implications for vaccine design.
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Articles
Neuropilin-1: a key receptor in SARS-CoV-2 infection
Results of a recent study by researchers at the University of Bristol indicate neuropilin-1 is an important host factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection. The team suggests that blocking neuropilin-1 may be a valuable therapeutic intervention in the treatment of COVID-19. Nikki Withers spoke to one of the study’s lead investigators, Dr…
Development of a physiologically relevant lung model for understanding SARS-CoV-2 infection
COVID-19 is known to infect the lungs; however, the dynamics of viral infection and replication are poorly understood. Alongside the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Professor Lyle Armstrong and colleagues have been working to develop a human lung epithelium model of SARS-CoV-2 infection and replication. In this article, he describes…
Investigating cellular pathways driving severe COVID-19 with proteomics
Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital have studied several thousand circulating proteins within the plasma proteome of symptomatic COVID-19 patients and acutely ill non-COVID-19 controls. Nikki Withers discussed their findings and implications of the study with one of the lead authors, Dr Mike Filbin.
CRISPR: a molecular scissor set to change the world
In October this year, Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna, the two scientists who pioneered the revolutionary gene-editing technology CRISPR, were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Here, Pushpanathan Muthuirulan discusses the potential for this technology and the importance of using it safely, ethically and responsibly.
Upstream Bioprocessing In-Depth Focus 2020
In the upstream bioprocessing in-depth focus experts reveal how CRISPR is being leveraged to enhance productivity in cell line development and why industry is focusing on producing animal-component free glycosaminoglycans.
COVID-19 In-Depth Focus 2020
This in-depth focus features articles on neuropilin-1, a potential new target for COVID-19 drug development, the creation of a lung model to enhance our understanding of SARS-CoV-2 infections and using proteomics to uncover the mechanisms behind COVID-19 symptom severity.
Screening In-Depth Focus 2020
In this in-depth focus find out how genetic screening can be used to customise healthcare and why scientists have turned to machine learning in the fight against antimicrobial resistance.
Drug Target Review – Issue 4 2020
In this journal, find articles discussing antimicrobial resistance, exploring why inhibiting the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and neuropilin-1 could help combat COVID-19, as well as how CRISPR can be used to enhance productivity in cell line development. Also in this issue, features on engineering new biologic drugs and precision medicine.
The latest pre-clinical HIV vaccine developments
This article lists three of the most recent advances in pre-clinical HIV research and vaccine development.
Promising targets for deafness drug discovery
In this article, Janssen Pharmaceuticals’ Global Head of Discovery Neuroscience discusses the findings of their recent study which highlighted new roles for two gene products involved in human deafness which could enable drug discovery for some prevalent auditory disorders.
Developing an effective vaccine for breast cancer
This article summarises the development and testing of a novel vaccine that could be personalised for the treatment of immunotherapy-resistant cancers, such as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).
Acquiring structural data on membrane proteins – a spotlight on GPCRs
Lan Zhu from Arizona State University explains how cryo-EM methods can be used to obtain structural information on membrane proteins such as GPCRs.
Developing nanobodies and sybodies to combat COVID-19
Three separate studies have identified nanobodies – a miniature form of antibodies found in camelid species – that can bind to the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) protein and neutralise the virus in cells.
Treating cytokine storms in COVID-19 patients
Enosi Life Science researchers Sir Marc Feldmann, Dr H Michael Shepard and Dr Fiona McCann explain why anti-TNF therapies may be effective in treating COVID-19 associated cytokine storms and other inflammatory conditions.
