Researchers develop new eco repellent that stops mosquitoes from attacking humans

Researchers develop new eco repellent that stops mosquitoes from attacking humans

In the battle against malaria researchers at the University of Neuchâtel (Switzerland) have developed a new eco repellent that stops mosquitoes from attacking humans. A new mixture of extracted essential oils seems to be as effective in keeping off mosquitoes as common repellents like Deet for example. The advantage of the new substance: it is fully biodegradable and therefore comes also with fewer side effects.

The Swiss scientists who were conducting their studies within the European research project “ENAROMaTIC” are convinced that their discovery is just the beginning of a new wave of breakthroughs in this field. In the future, natural extracts of essential oils could play an important role in limiting the number of victims caused by disease-carrying insect vectors.

Research produces strong evidence for new class of antidepressant drugs | The University of Manchester

Galanin is a neuropeptide (a small protein) that was discovered and investigated over 30 years ago by various groups including the Swedish scientist Tomas Hokfelt. He is one of the senior authors of the paper published in the journal PNAS.

Professor Hokfelt and others made the fundamental discovery that neurones can release peptides alongside their classical transmitters and that galanin and noradrenaline are one such pair. Both have long been implicated in pain and stress and therefore depression but in the past it had been difficult to study peptides in humans.

The new research by scientists from Sweden, Hungary and the UK demonstrates that galanin is an important stress mechanism in the human brain that influences how sensitive or resilient people are to psychosocial stress.

Lead author Gabriella Juhasz, who is a Research Fellow at the University of Manchester and the Semmelweis University in Budapest, said: “Our research shows that some versions of the gene coding for galanin protect against the risk of depression and anxiety but only in people who have experienced early life neglect or trauma, or recent adverse events.

“Furthermore, the three genes for the three receptors through which galanin acts also influence the risk of depression in people experiencing early or recent life adversity. Crucially, all the galanin related genes are widely separated on different chromosomes and the odds are stacked against four random genes acting in the same way by chance.”

Results from the research indicate that although the results are statistically reliable, galanin effects modify the substantial effects of stress by only a few percent. Indeed the moderate overall genetic influence (about 35%) on depression is likely to be mediated by many small genetic effects interacting with each other and with psychosocial factors converging on stress mechanism in brain.

Co-author Professor Bill Deakin, from the University of Manchester, said: “The findings provide a strong reason to develop drugs that modify galanin functioning as a new class of antidepressant drug. And new drugs are badly needed as almost all commonly prescribed antidepressants act on serotonin and they are often not very effective.

“Our research confirms what previous reports have shown about the variation in the serotonin ‘transporter’ gene and how it influences the risk of depression. We found that the galanin effects are substantially greater than the effects of serotonin.”

Research produces strong evidence for new class of antidepressant drugs | The University of Manchester

New era of lung cancer therapy close to dawning

New era of lung cancer therapy close to dawning

Researchers develop potentially safer and more cost-effective therapeutics against West Nile virus

An international research group led by Arizona State University professor Qiang "Shawn" Chen has developed a new generation of potentially safer and more cost-effective therapeutics against West Nile virus and other pathogens.

The therapeutics, known as monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), and their derivatives were shown to neutralize and protect mice against a lethal dose challenge of West Nile virus - even as late as four days after the initial infection.

"The overarching goal of our research is to create an innovative, yet sustainable and accessible low-cost solution to combat the global threat of West Nile virus," said Chen, a researcher at Arizona State University's Biodesign Institute.

West Nile virus is spread by infected mosquitoes, and targets the central nervous system. It can be a serious, life-altering and even fatal disease, and currently, there is no cure or drug treatment against West Nile virus, which has been widely spread across the U.S., Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean.

"The goal of this latest research was twofold," said Chen. "First, we wanted to show proof-of-concept, demonstrating that tobacco plants can be used to manufacture large and complex MAb-based therapeutics. Second, we've wanted to improve the delivery of the therapeutic into the brain to combat West Nile virus at the place where it does the greatest harm."

More...

Researchers develop potentially safer and more cost-effective therapeutics against West Nile virus

Nasal spray delivers new type of depression treatment -- ScienceDaily

Nasal spray delivers new type of depression treatment

New drug multiplies analgesic effect of opioids without increasing constipation

Systemic (subcutaneous) or local (intraplantar) treatment of wild-type mice with the selective σ₁ antagonists BD-1063 [1-[2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)ethyl]-4-methylpiperazine dihydrochloride] or S1RA [4-[2-[[5-methyl-1-(2-naphthalenyl)1H-pyrazol-3-yl]oxy]ethyl] morpholine hydrochloride] potentiated μ-opioid antinociception; these effects were fully reversed by the σ₁agonist PRE-084 [2-(4-morpholinethyl)1-phenylcyclohexanecarboxylate) hydrochloride], showing the selectivity of the pharmacological approach. The μ-opioid antinociception potentiated by σ₁ inhibition (by σ₁-receptor knockout orσ₁-pharmacological antagonism) was more sensitive to the peripherally restricted opioid antagonist naloxone methiodide than opioid antinociception under normal conditions, indicating a key role for peripheral opioid receptors in the enhanced antinociception. Direct interaction between the opioid drugs and σ₁ receptor cannot account for our results, since the former lacked affinity for σ₁ receptors (labeled with [³H](+)-pentazocine). A peripheral role for σ₁ receptors was also supported by their higher density (Western blot results) in peripheral nervous tissue (dorsal root ganglia) than in several central areas involved in opioid antinociception (dorsal spinal cord, basolateral amygdala, periaqueductal gray, and rostroventral medulla). In contrast to its effects on nociception, σ₁-receptor inhibition did not alter fentanyl- or loperamide-induced constipation, a peripherally mediated nonanalgesic opioid effect. Therefore, σ₁-receptor inhibition may be used as a systemic or local adjuvant to enhance peripheral μ-opioid analgesia without affecting opioid-induced constipation.

Ref : http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/348/1/32.abstract?sid=60aaa64d-fb66-459c-aded-4e971ab39aac


New drug multiplies analgesic effect of opioids without increasing constipation

New research raises hopes of new class of drugs to combat antibiotic resistant infections

New research raises hopes of new class of drugs to combat antibiotic resistant infections

Rotaxanes make symmetry history | Chemistry World

A UK team has stumbled upon an efficient way to separately produce each member of an unusual mirror image pair of chemical systemsthat has eluded scientists for over four decades.1Stephen Goldup and Robert Bordoli at Queen Mary University of London have made planar mechanically chiral rotaxanes, which trap macrocyclic rings along the shaft of dumbbell molecules. Goldup now wants to apply these newly accessible asymmetric assemblies in catalysis, sensing and materials. ‘We think it’s time that the advantages of mechanical chirality are properly investigated and begin to play a role,’ he tells Chemistry World....

Rotaxanes make symmetry history | Chemistry World

Caffeine-based compound with small amount of gold could be used as anticancer agent

The side effects of ingesting too much caffeine - restlessness, increased heart rate, having trouble sleeping - are well known, but recent research has shown that the stimulant also has a good side. It can kill cancer cells. Now, researchers report in the ACS journal Inorganic Chemistry that combining a caffeine-based compound with a small amount of gold could someday be used as an anticancer agent.

Angela Casini, Michel Picquet and colleagues note that caffeine and certain caffeine-based compounds have recently been in the spotlight as possible anticancer treatments. But drinking gallons of coffee, sodas and energy drinks isn't the solution. And the regular caffeine in these drinks would start to have negative effects on healthy cells, too, at the levels necessary to kill cancerous ones. Gold also can wipe out cancer cells, but, like caffeine, it can harm healthy cells. So, the research team put the two together into certain configurations to see whether the new caffeine-based gold compounds could selectively stop cancer cells from growing without hurting other cells.

They made a series of seven new compounds, called caffeine-based gold (I) N-heterocyclic carbenes, in the laboratory and studied them. The scientists found that, at certain concentrations, one of the compounds of the series selectively killed human ovarian cancer cells without harming healthy cells. In addition, the compound targeted a type of DNA architecture, called "G-quadruplex," that is associated with cancer.

Ref : http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ic403011h?prevSearch=Angela%2BCasini&searchHistoryKey=

Caffeine-based compound with small amount of gold could be used as anticancer agent

Triphase's marizomib receives FDA orphan drug designation for treatment of multiple myeloma

Salinosporamide A (Marizomib) is a potent proteasome inhibitor used as an anticancer agent that recently entered phase I human clinical trials for the treatment of multiple myeloma only three years after its discovery. This novel marine natural product is produced by the recently described obligate marine bacteria Salinispora tropica and Salinispora arenicola, which are found in ocean sediment. Salinosporamide A belongs to a family of compounds, known collectively as salinosporamides, which possess a densely functionalized γ-lactam-β-lactone bicyclic core.

Triphase Accelerator Corporation recentlyannounced that marizomib, its novel, potent proteasome inhibitor, has been granted orphan drug designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s Office of Orphan Products Development for the treatment of multiple myeloma. The orphan drug designation will provide Triphase with 7-year marketing exclusivity for marizomib and other benefits upon FDA approval.

"We are pleased that the FDA has granted orphan drug designation for the development of marizomib to benefit patients with multiple myeloma," said Frank Stonebanks, founder, president and CEO of Triphase. "While patients with refractory multiple myeloma are living longer and better lives as a result of medical innovation, there is still a need for new treatment options. We are excited to move forward with the development of marizomib, a potential best-in-class agent, and hope to advance the treatment paradigm that will turn this once acute disease into a long-term manageable disease."

Triphase's marizomib receives FDA orphan drug designation for treatment of multiple myeloma