Category Archives: Hawaii Stem Cells

Photo: Hunga-Tonga blast from space, by NASA

Not long ago I consideredthe element phosphorusas a test case for Michael Dentons hypothesis of prior fitness of the environment for complex beings of our size. Phosphorus is a vital element on which lifes genetic and metabolic processes depend every picosecond. And yet P is not as easily cycled through the environment as are other elements like nitrogen and carbon. Phosphorus, therefore, can be considered a limiting factor for a productive biosphere. We left the issue as a work in progress, although ample circumstantial evidence exists that P bioavailability has not been a problem throughout Earths history (consider trilobites in an ancient ocean, sauropods in a tropical rain forest, or tropical fish in a lagoon consuming phosphorus with impunity in different eras).

Phosphorus has been in the news since that article. A paper inNatureadmits that the extent to which phosphorus availability limits tropical forest productivity is highly uncertain because of intertwined effects with other limiting factors such as nitrogen. The authors experimented with adding phosphorus to a small patch of old growth rainforest in Amazonia, where soils are depleted in phosphorus. After two years, they saw increases in primary productivity, but not in stem growth. Disentangling the effects of phosphorus from other factors still seems uncertain.

At Charles University in the Czech Republic, two paleontologists investigated the phosphorus cycle over geological time by investigating the abundance of phosphatic marine shells in the fossil record as a proxy. Innews from the Faculty of Science, they ascribe a transfer of phosphorus from shelly creatures to vertebrates in the Devonian:

M. Mergl laconically remarked that phosphorus was stolen by vertebrates. This remark actually became the starting shot. The question of theradical loss of phosphorusin the environment proved so exciting that both authors set about studying in detail the various corners of the cycle of this element. [Emphasis added.]

Their tale begins with abundant phosphorus supporting the Ediacaran fauna. Then they attribute the Cambrian Explosion in part to still-plentiful phosphorus.

The Early Paleozoic was acritical era of phosphorus cycledue to the intense involvement of biota in its dynamics. At the beginning, phosphorus was easily available in great amount and therefore many groups had the opportunity to build external phosphatic shells.This very likely contributed to the story of the Cambrian explosion, a period when representatives of almost all animal phylaappeared in the fossil record within a relatively short period of time. The Cambrian was thus a golden age for organisms with external phosphatic shells.

Like theoxygen theory, this explanation transfers the explanation for the origin of genetic information to the abundances of blind elements in the periodic table hardly a logical idea. That would be like attributing the origin of books to the availability of movable type in a print shop with no Gutenberg.

In Act Two of their biological opera, phosphorus divorced the shelly creatures and married the vertebrates. Marine shells declined in size because large phosphatic shells became a luxury. This process has been accelerated by the emergence and evolutionary diversification of vertebrates, which, although they need a lot of phosphorus, are better at managing it, the paleontologists surmise. But the plot thickens when anomalies emerge:

The subsequent era from the end of the Paleozoic to the present is characterized bylimited but also selective availability of phosphorusin the seas and oceans.Geological processessuch as the Variscan (400-300 Ma) and the Alpine orogenies (80 Ma to the present)have greatly aided the supply of phosphorus to the oceans.However, the ability of phosphorus to reach the oceans from its main source in the rocks of the denuded continents washampered by the spreading of vegetation on land and other influences such as climateduring this times [sic].

Climate change should not be used as a skeleton key for incomplete answers. In combination with other influences, storytellers can make any plot work. Kraft and Mergl published their ideas in an Opinion article, Struggle for phosphorus and the Devonian overturn, last month inTrends in Ecology & Evolution.

Most instructive is their proposal that geological processes have aided the supply of phosphorus to the oceans and land. The role of volcanoes and orogenic processes in keeping phosphorus plentiful throughout Earths history deserves elaboration by design theorists. Consider what happened on January 14, when one of the most powerful volcanic eruptions ever recorded, theHunga-Tonga volcano, surprised scientists with a massive plume visible from space (see the photo above). A new paper inGeophysical Research Lettersreports a massive phytoplankton bloom that was visible from space as well following the eruption.

Two independent bio-optical approaches confirmed that the phytoplankton bloom was a robust observation and not an optical artifact due to volcanogenic material. Furthermore, the timing, size, and position of the phytoplankton bloom suggest thatplankton growth was primarily stimulated by nutrients released from volcanic ashrather than by nutrients upwelled through submarine volcanic activity. The appearance of a large region withhigh chlorophyll a concentrations less than 48 hours after the largest eruptive phase indicates a fast ecosystem response to nutrient fertilization.However, net phytoplankton growth probably initiated before the main eruption, whenweaker volcanism had already fertilized the ocean.

Although chlorophyll itself does not contain phosphorus, the availability of phosphorus in the ash may have stimulated rapid proliferation of the plankton.

Does phosphorus availability impact predator-prey relationships? In a research article inPNAS, Guilloneauet al.investigated Trade-offs of lipid remodeling in a marine predatorprey interaction in response to phosphorus limitation.

Microbial growth is oftenlimited by key nutrients like phosphorus (P)across the global ocean. A major response to P limitation is thereplacement of membrane phospholipids with non-P lipidsto reduce their cellular P quota. However, thebiological costs of lipid remodelingare largely unknown. Here, we uncover a predatorprey interaction trade-off wherebya lipid-remodeled bacterial prey cell becomes more susceptible to digestion by a protozoan predatorfacilitating its rapid growth. Thus, we highlighta complex interplaybetween adaptation to the abiotic environment and consequences for biotic interactions (grazing), whichmay have important implications for the stability and structuring of microbial communitiesand the performance of the marine food web.

Themagical thinkingin this story becomes evident when the authors opine that marine microbeshave evolved sophisticated strategiesto adapt to P limitation such as replacing phospholipids with non-P lipids. One must imagine microbes holding committee meetings, thinking out strategies as if they were business managers worried about maintaining their products under duress from shortages in the supply chain. But if we do that, one manager worries, we become susceptible to organized crime.

The low availability of key nutrients like Pin marine surface waters representsa grand challenge for microbes, particularly those inhabiting oligotrophic gyres. Although lipid remodeling enables these microbes to survive better in these potentially P-limited environments, as well as facilitating greater avoidance of ingestion by ciliate grazers, once ingested, these lipid-remodeled cells are unable to survive phagolysosomal digestion (Fig. 6). Therefore, these microbes facean unsolvable dilemma.

The managers panic; what to do? Each option is potentially disastrous. Thus, it is clear that adaptation to a specific niche can come with consequences to an organisms viability, the storytellers continue. Stay tuned for the next exciting episode! it remains to be seen what other trade-offs in predatorprey interactions exist following adaptation of cosmopolitan marine microbes to P limitation.

Speculation like this is not particularly helpful in science, especially when the story is so evidence-starved as to depend on one single example of a microbe and its predator. Global change is expected to exacerbate P limitation in the surface ocean due to water-column stratification accelerated by global warming, they say at one point. Maybe that was the motivation to ensure their story got funded and published. But what do they know from their observations? And how can they extrapolate one predator-prey interaction to the whole globe?

Moreover, given that the effects of remodeling on predatorprey interactions we report here are ultimately controlled by in situ P concentrations (which controls lipid remodeling), thensuch interaction effects are also likely to be dynamic in their nature, given the often-seasonal nature of P limitation e.g., in the Mediterranean Sea, PlcP-mediated lipid remodeling occurs across an annual cycle, whereby P limitation intensifies during spring and summer, but starts to become alleviated from September.Nonetheless, this work clearly highlights the complex interplay between the abiotic nutrient environment, microbes, and their grazers and how predatorprey dynamics aregoverned by abiotic controlof prey physiology, which hasimportant implications for how we model trophic interactionsin marine ecosystem models,particularly in a future scenariowhere nutrient-deplete gyre regions are set to expand.

Readers should note that both predator and prey have not gone extinct, which would make a stronger case for P limitation in their limited ecological case.

While agriculturalists worry about phosphorus for commercial fertilizers, none of these papers above suggest that the natural biosphere has ever suffered from a deficiency of phosphorus. The plankton bloom after the Tonga eruption shows how volcanoes can fortify marine environments with inorganic nutrients. Another paper inNature Scientific Reports suggests that terrestrial environments, too, can take advantage of volcanic phosphorus. Pioneering plants can absorb phosphorus from volcanic ash and supply it to secondary growth through their leaf litter. This is interesting because many terrestrial soils contain volcanic ash containing insoluble inorganic phosphorus that was thought unavailable to plants. Volcanic islands like Japan and Hawaii, however, seem to have thriving ecosystems.

Despite volcanic ash soil covering about 20% of the land in Japan,and phosphorus deficiency being a serious problem in Japanese agriculture,net primary productionin Japanese forests is primarily isnot lowcompared to other temperate zones of the world.This suggests that natural vegetation on the infertile volcanic ash soil obtain sufficient nutrition including phosphorus.

Geology, therefore, appears to offer a supply chain for elemental nutrients built into our planet by means of plate tectonics coupled with thermodynamics the availability of heat near the surface. Since a planets internal heat decreases over time, there may be temporal constraints on this supply chain. If so, one implication is that cold, dead worlds might not have a functioning biosphere even if they orbit in the habitable zone. Is Earth operating in a Goldilocks time as well as a Goldilocks location? These are good questions for design theorists to investigate. Meanwhile, Earths biosphere seems to be functioning tolerably with its natural phosphorus supply.

See the article here:
Is There Enough Phosphorus for Us? - Discovery Institute

OpenStaxCollege

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

The term tissue is used to describe a group of cells found together in the body. The cells within a tissue share a common embryonic origin. Microscopic observation reveals that the cells in a tissue share morphological features and are arranged in an orderly pattern that achieves the tissues functions. From the evolutionary perspective, tissues appear in more complex organisms. For example, multicellular protists, ancient eukaryotes, do not have cells organized into tissues.

Although there are many types of cells in the human body, they are organized into four broad categories of tissues: epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous. Each of these categories is characterized by specific functions that contribute to the overall health and maintenance of the body. A disruption of the structure is a sign of injury or disease. Such changes can be detected through histology, the microscopic study of tissue appearance, organization, and function.

Epithelial tissue, also referred to as epithelium, refers to the sheets of cells that cover exterior surfaces of the body, lines internal cavities and passageways, and forms certain glands. Connective tissue, as its name implies, binds the cells and organs of the body together and functions in the protection, support, and integration of all parts of the body. Muscle tissue is excitable, responding to stimulation and contracting to provide movement, and occurs as three major types: skeletal (voluntary) muscle, smooth muscle, and cardiac muscle in the heart. Nervous tissue is also excitable, allowing the propagation of electrochemical signals in the form of nerve impulses that communicate between different regions of the body ([link]).

The next level of organization is the organ, where several types of tissues come together to form a working unit. Just as knowing the structure and function of cells helps you in your study of tissues, knowledge of tissues will help you understand how organs function. The epithelial and connective tissues are discussed in detail in this chapter. Muscle and nervous tissues will be discussed only briefly in this chapter.

Four Types of Tissue: Body

The four types of tissues are exemplified in nervous tissue, stratified squamous epithelial tissue, cardiac muscle tissue, and connective tissue in small intestine. Clockwise from nervous tissue, LM 872, LM 282, LM 460, LM 800. (Micrographs provided by the Regents of University of Michigan Medical School 2012)

The zygote, or fertilized egg, is a single cell formed by the fusion of an egg and sperm. After fertilization the zygote gives rise to rapid mitotic cycles, generating many cells to form the embryo. The first embryonic cells generated have the ability to differentiate into any type of cell in the body and, as such, are called totipotent, meaning each has the capacity to divide, differentiate, and develop into a new organism. As cell proliferation progresses, three major cell lineages are established within the embryo. As explained in a later chapter, each of these lineages of embryonic cells forms the distinct germ layers from which all the tissues and organs of the human body eventually form. Each germ layer is identified by its relative position: ectoderm (ecto- = outer), mesoderm (meso- = middle), and endoderm (endo- = inner). [link] shows the types of tissues and organs associated with the each of the three germ layers. Note that epithelial tissue originates in all three layers, whereas nervous tissue derives primarily from the ectoderm and muscle tissue from mesoderm.

Embryonic Origin of Tissues and Major Organs

View this slideshow to learn more about stem cells. How do somatic stem cells differ from embryonic stem cells?

A tissue membrane is a thin layer or sheet of cells that covers the outside of the body (for example, skin), the organs (for example, pericardium), internal passageways that lead to the exterior of the body (for example, abdominal mesenteries), and the lining of the moveable joint cavities. There are two basic types of tissue membranes: connective tissue and epithelial membranes ([link]).

Tissue Membranes

The two broad categories of tissue membranes in the body are (1) connective tissue membranes, which include synovial membranes, and (2) epithelial membranes, which include mucous membranes, serous membranes, and the cutaneous membrane, in other words, the skin.

The connective tissue membrane is formed solely from connective tissue. These membranes encapsulate organs, such as the kidneys, and line our movable joints. A synovial membrane is a type of connective tissue membrane that lines the cavity of a freely movable joint. For example, synovial membranes surround the joints of the shoulder, elbow, and knee. Fibroblasts in the inner layer of the synovial membrane release hyaluronan into the joint cavity. The hyaluronan effectively traps available water to form the synovial fluid, a natural lubricant that enables the bones of a joint to move freely against one another without much friction. This synovial fluid readily exchanges water and nutrients with blood, as do all body fluids.

The epithelial membrane is composed of epithelium attached to a layer of connective tissue, for example, your skin. The mucous membrane is also a composite of connective and epithelial tissues. Sometimes called mucosae, these epithelial membranes line the body cavities and hollow passageways that open to the external environment, and include the digestive, respiratory, excretory, and reproductive tracts. Mucous, produced by the epithelial exocrine glands, covers the epithelial layer. The underlying connective tissue, called the lamina propria (literally own layer), help support the fragile epithelial layer.

A serous membrane is an epithelial membrane composed of mesodermally derived epithelium called the mesothelium that is supported by connective tissue. These membranes line the coelomic cavities of the body, that is, those cavities that do not open to the outside, and they cover the organs located within those cavities. They are essentially membranous bags, with mesothelium lining the inside and connective tissue on the outside. Serous fluid secreted by the cells of the thin squamous mesothelium lubricates the membrane and reduces abrasion and friction between organs. Serous membranes are identified according locations. Three serous membranes line the thoracic cavity; the two pleura that cover the lungs and the pericardium that covers the heart. A fourth, the peritoneum, is the serous membrane in the abdominal cavity that covers abdominal organs and forms double sheets of mesenteries that suspend many of the digestive organs.

The skin is an epithelial membrane also called the cutaneous membrane. It is a stratified squamous epithelial membrane resting on top of connective tissue. The apical surface of this membrane is exposed to the external environment and is covered with dead, keratinized cells that help protect the body from desiccation and pathogens.

The human body contains more than 200 types of cells that can all be classified into four types of tissues: epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous. Epithelial tissues act as coverings controlling the movement of materials across the surface. Connective tissue integrates the various parts of the body and provides support and protection to organs. Muscle tissue allows the body to move. Nervous tissues propagate information.

The study of the shape and arrangement of cells in tissue is called histology. All cells and tissues in the body derive from three germ layers in the embryo: the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm.

Different types of tissues form membranes that enclose organs, provide a friction-free interaction between organs, and keep organs together. Synovial membranes are connective tissue membranes that protect and line the joints. Epithelial membranes are formed from epithelial tissue attached to a layer of connective tissue. There are three types of epithelial membranes: mucous, which contain glands; serous, which secrete fluid; and cutaneous which makes up the skin.

View this slideshow to learn more about stem cells. How do somatic stem cells differ from embryonic stem cells?

Most somatic stem cells give rise to only a few cell types.

Which of the following is not a type of tissue?

The process by which a less specialized cell matures into a more specialized cell is called ________.

Differentiated cells in a developing embryo derive from ________.

Which of the following lines the body cavities exposed to the external environment?

Identify the four types of tissue in the body, and describe the major functions of each tissue.

The four types of tissue in the body are epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous. Epithelial tissue is made of layers of cells that cover the surfaces of the body that come into contact with the exterior world, line internal cavities, and form glands. Connective tissue binds the cells and organs of the body together and performs many functions, especially in the protection, support, and integration of the body. Muscle tissue, which responds to stimulation and contracts to provide movement, is divided into three major types: skeletal (voluntary) muscles, smooth muscles, and the cardiac muscle in the heart. Nervous tissue allows the body to receive signals and transmit information as electric impulses from one region of the body to another.

The zygote is described as totipotent because it ultimately gives rise to all the cells in your body including the highly specialized cells of your nervous system. Describe this transition, discussing the steps and processes that lead to these specialized cells.

The zygote divides into many cells. As these cells become specialized, they lose their ability to differentiate into all tissues. At first they form the three primary germ layers. Following the cells of the ectodermal germ layer, they too become more restricted in what they can form. Ultimately, some of these ectodermal cells become further restricted and differentiate in to nerve cells.

What is the function of synovial membranes?

Synovial membranes are a type of connective tissue membrane that supports mobility in joints. The membrane lines the joint cavity and contains fibroblasts that produce hyaluronan, which leads to the production of synovial fluid, a natural lubricant that enables the bones of a joint to move freely against one another.

Continued here:
Types of Tissues Anatomy & Physiology - University of Hawaii

External Anatomy of Fishes

Anatomy is the study of an organisms structures. Fishes come in a diverse array of forms, many with special modifications. The shape, size, and structure of body parts permit different fishes to live in different environments or in different parts of the same environment. The external anatomy of a fish can reveal a great deal about where and how it lives.

When describing the basic anatomy of an organism, it is useful to have some common terms to help with orientation. Just as a map uses north, south, east, or west to help determine the location, orientation words are useful in describing anatomy. Table 4.3 defines common anatomy terms, Fig. 4.18 shows their orientation on three different animals.

Scientists measure and describe the external features of fishes to identify species, assess age and health, and learn about structure and function. Scientists work with a variety of types of fishes to do this. They might use a fresh fish, or they may use photographs, scientific drawings, or other kinds of detailed imageseven fish fossils.

One way to document details about a fish is gyotaku. Gyotaku (pronounced gee yo TAH koo) is a traditional Japanese method of printmaking, which uses the whole fish. This method can produce an accurate image of a fish (Fig. 4.19).

Gyotaku is a relatively new art form that developed in Japan, probably in the early- to mid-nineteenth century. Gyotaku means fish rubbing. Gyotaku is valued from both a scientific and artistic perspective. The detail captured in gyotaku, especially in historical prints, is an important source of information for scientists who want to know the size and external features of fish in the past. The color and artistic arrangement of gyotaku prints made by skilled artists also make them valuable pieces of art. The oldest known gyotaku print, made in 1862, is owned by the Homma Museum in Sakata, Japan.

Activity

Use your observation and investigation skills to investigate fish form and function by experimenting with ways of making gyotaku fish prints.

Perches are the most common type of bony fishes. As a result, people often use the words perch-like to describe a generic fish shape. (Fig. 4.21 A). Fusiform is the scientific term used to describe the perchs streamlined, torpedo shaped body. Compressiform means laterally flattened (Fig. 4.21 B). Depressiform means dorso-ventrally flattened (Fig. 4.21 C). Anguilliform means eel-like (Fig. 4.21 D). See Table 4.4 for additional descriptions of fish body shapes.

Table 4.4. Fish form and function: body shape

Images by Byron Inouye

The first anatomical structures many people identify on a fish are the fins. In fact, appendages, when present, as fins is part of one of the scientific definitions of a fish. Most fish have two kinds of fins: median and paired.

Median fins are single fins that run down the midline of the body. The dorsal fin is a median fin located on the dorsal side of the fish. The anal fin and caudal fin are also median fins. Paired fins are arranged in pairs, like human arms and legs. The pelvic and pectoral fins are both paired fins. (Table 4.5).

Table 4.5. Fish form and function: dorsal fin features

Images by Byron Inouye

Median Fins

Median fins, like the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins, can function like the keel of a boat and aid in stabilization (Fig. 4.22 A). Median fins can also serve other purposes, like protection in the lion fish (Fig. 4.22 B).

Caudal (Tail) Fin

The caudal fin is known commonly as the tail fin (Table 4.6). It is the primary appendage used for locomotion in many fishes. The caudal fin is also a median fin (Fig. 4.22 A).

The caudal peduncle is the base of the caudal fin. Peduncle means stem, and the caudal peduncle is where the strong swimming muscles of the tail are found. Together, the caudal fin acts like a propeller for the fish, and the caudal peduncle acts like a motor.

Table 4.6. Fish form and function: Caudal fin features

Images by Byron Inouye

Paired Fins

Fish have two sets of paired fins: pectoral and pelvic (Fig 4.25). The pectoral fins are vertical and are located on the sides of the fish, usually just past the operculum (Table 4.7). Pectoral fins are similar to human arms, which are found near the pectoral muscles. Many fish, such as reef fish like wrasses (Fig. 4.25 B), use their pectoral fins for locomotion.

Table 4.7. Fish form and function: Pectoral fin features

Images by Byron Inouye

The pelvic fins sit horizontally on the ventral side of the fish, past the pectoral fins (Table 4.8). Pelvic fins are similar to legs. Just like human legs, pelvic fins are associated with the pelvis of the fish.

Table 4.8. Fish form and function: Pelvic Fin Features

Unique and Specialized Fins

Paired fins are most commonly used for maneuvering, like the oars on a rowboat. However, both the pectoral and pelvic fins can also be highly specialized like those of the flying fish (Fig. 4.26 A). Unique combinations of other fins can also help fish to be even more specialized, like the pectoral and anal fins of a box fish (Fig. 4.26 B; see Table 4.9) .

Table 4.9. Fish form and function: Combinations of Fins

Scientists use fins to help identify and classify fish species. In more evolutionarily advanced fish, the fins are supported by bony structures: spines and soft rays. Spines are simple, unbranched, structures. Soft rays are compound, segmented, and branched structures (Fig. 4.27).

The mouth is at the front, or anterior end, of the fish. The mouth can reveal a lot about the fishs feeding habits (Table 4.10). The size, shape, and placement of the mouth, combined with the type of teeth, provide critical information about the feeding habits of a fish (Table 4.11).

For example, a fish with a mouth on the bottom of its head often feeds by digging in the bottom sediment (Fig. 4.28 A). A fish with a mouth oriented upward usually feeds in the water column, or even above the water (Fig. 4.28 B). When a fish has its mouth open, the front lip may slide down and out from the mouth. This sliding action of the mouth can help the fish create a vacuum and quickly suck in a big mouthful of water, which hopefully also includes prey!

Fig. 4.28. (A) A bottom facing mouth indicates bottom feeding preferences in the sturgeon. (B) An upward facing mouth shows the surface feeding adaptation of the arowana.

Table 4.10. Fish form and function: Mouth Features

Table 4.11. Fish form and function: Teeth Features

The eyes of fish resemble human eyes (Fig. 4.29). At the front of each eye is a lens, held in place by a suspensory ligament. The lens focuses images of objects on the retina. To bring near and far objects into focus, the lens retractor muscle moves the lens back and forth.

The retina is a light-sensitive membrane rich in nerves that connect to the optic lobes of the brain by optic nerves. When light shines on the nerves of the retina, the optic nerves send impulses to the optic lobes. Because fish have no eyelids, their eyes are always open.

Some elasmobranchs, and most teleost fishes, have color vision. Some fishes can also see in ultraviolet (UV) light. UV vision is especially useful for reef fishes. UV vision helps fishes in foraging, communication, and mate selection.

Elasmobranchs, and some teleosts, also have a tapetum lucidum. The tapetum lucidum is a shiny, reflective structure that reflects light and helps vision in low light situations. The tapetum lucidum is what makes the eyes of sharks and deep sea fish, as well as land mammals like cats and cows, shine at night.

Fish eyes are usually placed just dorsal of and above the mouth. Just like the mouth of a fish, the size, shape, and position of the eyes can provide information about where a fish lives and what it feeds on. For example, fish predators often have eyes facing forward in order to provide better depth perception. Prey fish, on the other hand, often have eyes on the sides of their bodies. This gives them a larger field of view for avoiding predators. (Table 4.12).

Table 4.12. Fish form and function: Eye Features

The sense of smell is well developed in some fishes. Water circulates through openings in the head called nostrils. Unlike humans, fish nostrils are not connected to any air passages. Fish nostrils serve no role in respiration. They are completely sensory.

The largest part of a fishs brain is the olfactory lobe, which is responsible for the sense of smell. Smell is the response to chemical molecules by nerve endings in the nostrils. Chemoreception is the scientific term for what nerve cells do to help an organism smell (see Table 4.13).

Taste ReceptorsTaste is another form of chemoreception. Fish can taste inside their mouth. Many fishes, like goatfish and catfish, also have fleshy structures called barbels around the chin, mouth, and nostrils (see Table 4.13 and Fig. 4.30). In some fishes, these barbels are used for touch and chemoreception.

Fig. 4.30.

Not all barbels have chemoreception. The barbels of some fish, like catfishes, are not equipped for chemical reception (Fig. 4.30 B). Some fish also have fleshy tabs called cirri on the head (Fig. 4.30 C). Cirri are not sensory organs.

Table 4.13. Fish form and function: Chemosensory Adaptation and Camouflage

Lateral lineMost fish have a structure called the lateral line that runs the length of the bodyfrom just behind the head to the caudal peduncle (Fig. 4.31). The lateral line is used to help fishes sense vibrations in the water. Vibrations can come from prey, predators, other fishes in a school, or environmental obstacles.

Fig. 4.31.

The lateral line is actually a row of small pits that contain special sensory hair cells (Fig. 4.32). These hair cells move in response to motion near the fish. The lateral line sense is useful in hunting prey, escaping predators, and schooling.

Fig. 4.32.

Ampullary receptors are sense organs made of jelly-filled pores that detect electricity. They can detect low frequency alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC). Ampullae detect electricity emitted by prey as well as the small electrical fields generated by a fishs own movement through the earths magnetic fields. Researchers think that this may help fishes use the Earths magnetic field for navigation. Fishes that have ampullae include sharks, sturgeon, lungfish, and elephant fish. The ampullae of sharks are known as Ampullae of Lorenzininamed for Stefano Lorenzini, who first described them in 1678(Fig. 4.33).

Fig 4.33. (A) Ampullae of Lorenzini in a sharks head (B) Ampullae of Lorenzini pores on the snout of a tiger shark

Go here to read the rest:
Structure and Function - Fish | manoa.hawaii.edu/ExploringOurFluidEarth

The Wall Street Journal reported that New York's Peninsula hotel, German medispa Lanserhof, and Four Seasons Resort Maui in Hawaii were among hotels diving into bizarre wellness courses to attract wealthy, increasingly health-conscious guests.

The report said a cornerstone of Lanserhof's program was the Mayr Cure, which involves a multiday fast, lessons in proper chewing - with more than 30 chews per mouthful recommended - and abdominal massages. The hotel is expected to introduce MRI machines and CT scanners for preventive diagnostic sessions. If that isn't enough to satisfy guests, there's also an on-site psychologist.

Lanserhof is not alone in offering an array of expensive alternative treatments, according to the WSJ.

The Four Seasons in Wailea, Hawaii, where rooms can cost $20,000 a night, offers guests a selection of intravenous (IV) Drips and Ozone Therapy alongside Los Angelesbased preventive and diagnostic health care center Next Health. The hotel also offers guests 60-minute stem cell therapy sessions, costing $12,000 each.

"According to research, [stem cells] can help orchestrate and improve cell communication, optimizing the efficiency of a variety of bodily processes, which may improve overall vitality," Next Health president and co-founder Kevin Peake told the WSJ.

But the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released warnings about regenerative medicine therapies including stem cells in the past. It had received reports of blindness, tumor formation, and infections due to the use of unapproved products.

High net worth individuals are spending more on alternative treatments, according to a report by the Global Wellness Institute.

The report found the global wellness economy was worth $4.4 trillion in 2021, with wellness tourism accounting for $436 billion. The study expected wellness tourism to grow by more than 20% per year between 2020 and 2025 after a pandemic-induced slowdown last year.

Alex Glasscock, CEO and co-founder of Ranch, told the WSJ that bookings at the group's Rome-based spa, where guests engage in four-hour hikes and deep tissue treatment, were starting to fill up six months in advance in a sign of resurgent demand.

The hotels and medispas mentioned in the article didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Read the original post:
Hotels are offering guests $12,000 stem cell therapies, chewing lessons, and IV drips in luxury wellness kick - Business Insider Africa

Today, teens from around the globe claimed big prizes at the 2022 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair. The competition, known as ISEF for short, is an annual event hosted by the Society for Science (which also publishes Science News for Students). More than 1,700 high schoolers gathered online and in Atlanta, Ga., this week to vie for nearly $8 million in scholarships and other awards. Top winners were honored for projects such as a new and improved motor for electric vehicles and a new material to make and store hydrogen fuel. (See box below.)

This years ISEF winners and indeed, all ISEF competitors join the ranks of thousands of alumni who have competed in the science fair since 1950. Some of those alumni have gone on to win Nobel Prizes or other scientific honors. Others have founded nonprofits, directed documentaries or written books. And many look back on ISEF as a formative experience.

To get a bit of insight into that experience, Science News for Students sat down with three scientists who competed in ISEF as teens. All three have gone on to win MacArthur Genius Grants. Heres what they had to say about the worlds premier high-school science fair and how it impacted their lives.

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Newman competed in ISEF in 1987 and 1988. Her physics projects examined vibrations in different rigid materials. She is now a microbiologist at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.

How would you describe ISEF?

A totally formative experience that changed my life, Newman says. It gave me a taste of how much fun research can be, and how much joy there is to be able to share your research with others. She adds, Being able to talk to judges and be taken seriously as a young person about the science I was doing was very inspiring and helped me realize that a scientific career might be one that I could succeed at.

What was most memorable about ISEF?

Newman traveled to ISEF with two directors of the Virginia state science fair, Nancy Aiello and Sally Wrenn. By far the most memorable experiences I had were with them and becoming good friends with them, Newman says. One night, for instance, Aiello dragged her mattress out onto the balcony to sleep. In the middle of the night, Newman recalls, laughing, there was this incredible wind storm, and her mattress almost flew away. Aiello and Wrenn would later attend Newmans wedding and she invited them to her induction into the National Academy of Sciences. I really thank them for helping me launch as a young scientist, she says.

Any advice for science fair newbies?

Try to find a project that stimulates you. That youre genuinely curious about. And then, push yourself to explore it as rigorously as you can, Newman says. Its a wonderful process to feel like youre becoming a little bit of an expert in some small piece of the scientific world. Its very fulfilling, and you have a lot that you gain from that no matter what. Its really the process of the investigative design and the creativity that comes with doing a project that is the big win.

Chetty was an ISEF finalist in 1997. His project focused on methods to stain cells. Chetty did the work in a cell biology lab at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. Today, hes an economist at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass.

Any advice for getting involved in a research lab?

Its worth just reaching out to folks. I think lots of people want to help the next generation, Chetty says. If youve got an idea, if youve got a passion try to contact people who might be able to help you. And dont feel intimidated by, How is anyone going to want to talk to me as a high-school student? I think if you reach out to enough folks, there are often people who are interested.

How would you describe ISEF?

An incredible opportunity to really showcase some work youve been passionate about, and meet lots of other high school students who are interested in science, Chetty says. Its also a sneak peek at the next generation of leading scientists and other change-makers, he adds. I know many people who competed in ISEF at the same time as me, he says, who I see now in my professional career as professors at Harvard or leading scientists. Its kind of cool to see high-school students who you knew in a very different context being people who have really changed the world.

How did ISEF impact your life?

I pursued a career in social science, rather than the natural sciences, Chetty says. So, part of what I figured out is that I was very interested in science, but maybe more interested in the mathematical and statistical aspects of what I was doing than the biological aspects. His experience doing biology research has shaped the way he thinks about social science, too. I would say, at a broader level, my approach to social science is to make it more scientific, in a way, he says. To Chetty, that has meant building an economics lab modeled after scientific laboratories with many people working on empirical research together. I would trace the roots of some of that back to the experience I had working on that ISEF project and having the experience in a lab environment, he says.

For her 1994 ISEF project, Benoit-Bird studied sounds produced by bottlenose dolphins. She did the research while working at an aquarium near her home in Connecticut. Today, Benoit-Bird still studies marine biology through sound at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. Thats in Moss Landing, Calif.

What challenges did you face in doing your project?

I didnt come from a family background that understood research opportunities at all, Benoit-Bird says. I was the first person in my family to go to college. When she started studying dolphins for fun, Benoit-Bird didnt even know that ISEF existed. There was no internet back then! You couldnt Google these things, she says. I was so fortunate to have some really strong mentors in my high-school biology and physics instructors. When it comes to finding mentors, Benoit-Bird says, following your curiosity is really the best advice. I think people in general are really excited to support students when they are following their passions.

What was most memorable about ISEF?

Just meeting people from all over the country and all over the world, Benoit-Bird says. At ISEF, students get to know each other through icebreaker activities such as a pin exchange, where people swap pins that represent their cities, countries or cultures. Im not, by nature, an extrovert, Benoit-Bird says. But doing those icebreakers makes it a lot easier to put yourself out there and get a chance to meet people. Since Benoit-Bird knew where she would be attending college in the fall, she also got to meet some of her future classmates. It helped make that transition a little bit less scary, she says.

Any advice for science fair newbies?

Follow something that youre passionate about. Dont put too much emphasis on how it will be judged, says Benoit-Bird, who has judged the Hawaii state science fair. As a judge, I want to see your passion for your project. Benoit-Bird remembers how nerve-wracking it can be to face the judges. But she says not to stress about it. Theyre not asking you questions because they want to trip you up. Theyre there to ask you questions because they really want to know the answers, she says. They want to know what you found. They want to know why youre excited about it.

Editors note: Dianne Newman serves on the board of trustees for the Society for Science, which publishes Science News for Students.

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A major science fair set these scientists on the path to STEM success - Science News for Students

The role of the immune system a collection of structures and processes within the body is to protect against disease or other potentially damaging foreign bodies. When functioning properly, the immune system identifies a variety of threats, including viruses, bacteria and parasites, and distinguishes them from the body's own healthy tissue, according to Merck Manuals.

The immune system can be broadly sorted into categories: innate immunity and adaptive immunity.

Innate immunity is the immune system you're born with, and mainly consists of barriers on and in the body that keep foreign threats out, according to the National Library of Medicine (NLM). Components of innate immunity include skin, stomach acid, enzymes found in tears and skin oils, mucus and the cough reflex. There are also chemical components of innate immunity, including substances called interferon and interleukin-1.

Innate immunity is non-specific, meaning it doesn't protect against any specific threats.

Adaptive, or acquired, immunity targets specific threats to the body, according to the NLM. Adaptive immunity is more complex than innate immunity, according to The Biology Project at The University of Arizona. In adaptive immunity, the threat must be processed and recognized by the body, and then the immune system creates antibodies specifically designed to the threat. After the threat is neutralized, the adaptive immune system "remembers" it, which makes future responses to the same germ more efficient.

Lymph nodes:Small, bean-shaped structures that produce and store cells that fight infection and disease and are part of the lymphatic system which consists of bone marrow, spleen, thymus and lymph nodes, according to "A Practical Guide To Clinical Medicine" from theUniversity of California San Diego(UCSD). Lymph nodes also contain lymph, the clear fluid that carries those cells to different parts of the body. When the body is fighting infection, lymph nodes can become enlarged and feel sore.

Spleen:The largest lymphatic organ in the body, which is on your left side, under your ribs and above your stomach, contains white blood cells that fight infection or disease. According to theNational Institutes of Health(NIH), the spleen also helps control the amount of blood in the body and disposes of old or damaged blood cells.

Bone marrow:The yellow tissue in the center of the bones produces white blood cells. This spongy tissue inside some bones, such as the hip and thigh bones, contains immature cells, called stem cells, according to the NIH. Stem cells, especiallyembryonic stem cells, which are derived from eggs fertilized in vitro (outside of the body), are prized for their flexibility in being able to morph into any human cell.

Lymphocytes:These small white blood cells play a large role in defending the body against disease, according to theMayo Clinic. The two types of lymphocytes are B-cells, which make antibodies that attack bacteria and toxins, and T-cells, which help destroy infected or cancerous cells. Killer T-cells are a subgroup of T-cells that kill cells that are infected with viruses and other pathogens or are otherwise damaged. Helper T-cells help determine which immune responses the body makes to a particular pathogen.

Thymus:This small organ is where T-cells mature. This often-overlooked part of the immune system, which is situated beneath the breastbone (and is shaped like a thyme leaf, hence the name), can trigger or maintain the production of antibodies that can result in muscle weakness, the Mayo Clinic said. Interestingly, the thymus is somewhat large in infants, grows until puberty, then starts to slowly shrink and become replaced by fat with age, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Leukocytes:These disease-fighting white blood cells identify and eliminate pathogens and are the second arm of the innate immune system. A high white blood cell count is referred to as leukocytosis, according to the Mayo Clinic. The innate leukocytes include phagocytes (macrophages, neutrophils and dendritic cells), mast cells, eosinophils and basophils.

If immune system-related diseases are defined very broadly, then allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis, asthma and eczema are very common. However, these actually represent a hyper-response to external allergens, according to Dr. Matthew Lau, chief, department of allergy and immunology atKaiser Permanente Hawaii. Asthma and allergies also involve the immune system. A normally harmless material, such as grass pollen, food particles, mold or pet dander, is mistaken for a severe threat and attacked.

Other dysregulation of the immune system includes autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

"Finally, some less common disease related to deficient immune system conditions are antibody deficiencies and cell mediated conditions that may show up congenitally," Lau told Live Science.

Disorders of the immune system can result in autoimmune diseases, inflammatory diseases and cancer, according to the NIH.

Immunodeficiency occurs when the immune system is not as strong as normal, resulting in recurring and life-threatening infections, according to theUniversity of Rochester Medical Center. In humans, immunodeficiency can either be the result of a genetic disease such as severe combined immunodeficiency, acquired conditions such as HIV/AIDS, or through the use of immunosuppressive medication.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, autoimmunity results from a hyperactive immune system attacking normal tissues as if they were foreign bodies, according to the University of Rochester Medical Center. Common autoimmune diseases include Hashimoto's thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus type 1 and systemic lupus erythematosus. Another disease considered to be an autoimmune disorder is myasthenia gravis (pronounced my-us-THEE-nee-uh GRAY-vis).

Even though symptoms of immune diseases vary, fever and fatigue are common signs that the immune system is not functioning properly, the Mayo Clinic noted.

Most of the time, immune deficiencies are diagnosed with blood tests that either measure the level of immune elements or their functional activity, Lau said.

Allergic conditions may be evaluated using either blood tests or allergy skin testing to identify what allergens trigger symptoms.

In overactive or autoimmune conditions, medications that reduce the immune response, such as corticosteroids or other immune suppressive agents, can be very helpful.

"In some immune deficiency conditions, the treatment may be replacement of missing or deficiency elements," Lau said. "This may be infusions of antibodies to fight infections."

Treatment may also include monoclonal antibodies, Lau said. A monoclonal antibody is a type of protein made in a lab that can bind to substances in the body. They can be used to regulate parts of the immune response that are causing inflammation, Lau said. According to the National Cancer Institute, monoclonal antibodies are being used to treat cancer. They can carry drugs, toxins or radioactive substances directly to cancer cells.

1718: Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, the wife of the British ambassador to Constantinople, observed the positive effects of variolation the deliberate infection with the smallpox disease on the native population and had the technique performed on her own children.

1796: Edward Jenner was the first to demonstrate the smallpox vaccine.

1840: Jakob Henle put forth the first modern proposal of the germ theory of disease.

1857-1870: The role of microbes in fermentation was confirmed by Louis Pasteur.

1880-1881: The theory that bacterial virulence could be used as vaccines was developed. Pasteur put this theory into practice by experimenting with chicken cholera and anthrax vaccines. On May 5, 1881, Pasteur vaccinated 24 sheep, one goat, and six cows with five drops of live attenuated anthrax bacillus.

1885: Joseph Meister, 9 years old, was injected with the attenuated rabies vaccine by Pasteur after being bitten by a rabid dog. He is the first known human to survive rabies.

1886: American microbiologist Theobold Smith demonstrated that heat-killed cultures of chicken cholera bacillus were effective in protecting against cholera.

1903: Maurice Arthus described the localizing allergic reaction that is now known as the Arthus response.

1949: John Enders, Thomas Weller and Frederick Robbins experimented with the growth of polio virus in tissue culture, neutralization with immune sera, and demonstration of attenuation of neurovirulence with repetitive passage.

1951: Vaccine against yellow fever was developed.

1983: HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) was discovered by French virologist Luc Montagnier.

1986: Hepatitis B vaccine was produced by genetic engineering.

2005: Ian Frazer developed the human papillomavirus vaccine.

Additional resources:

This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to offer medical advice. This article was updated Oct. 17, 2018 by Live Science Health Editor, Sarah Miller.

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Immune System: Diseases, Disorders & Function - Live Science

Published: Oct. 15, 2021 at 2:50 AM HST|Updated: 17 hours ago

HANGZHOU, China, Oct. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On Oct. 11th, 2021, CellOrigin Inc. released data about its second generation of iPSC-CAR-Macrophage which has a genetically integrated secondary signal to confer controlled CAR-iMac polarization, in the 5th International Conference of IGC China, 2021, Beijing.

Recently, CellOrigin Biotech, a company committed to iPSC-derived innate immune cell therapeutics, has announced a new round of investment by Kunlun Capital. The investment will be used for the CMC development for its current pipeline of iPSC-derived innate immune cells such as iPSC-CAR-Macrophage and rationlly designed iPSC-NK cells. Before, CellOrigin have also acquired investment from Shulan Health and Nest. Bio Ventures.

CellOrigin Biotech has a long term focus on iPSC-derived innate immune cells and its applications in new cancer immune cells. Dr. Jin Zhang, the scientific co-founder of CellOrigin used to be trained as a research fellow at the Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Now, his team worked closely with clinicians at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, and for the first time his team reported the induced pluripotent stem cell or iPSC-derived CAR-macrophages (CAR-iMac), and its applications in cancer immunotherapies.

CellOrigin Biotech holds the domestic and global patents for iPSC-derived CAR-Macrophage, and the engineering for polarization. With this proprietary platform, they are collaborating with research groups in genome engineering and synthetic biology worldwide to fully unleash the potential of iPSC-derived immune cells, which are highly editable, expandable and clonal. Eventually, they would like to achieve a goal of bring more effective, universal and safe immune cell products to cancer patients, especially for those with solid tumors. The investigator initiated trials has been initiated at the First Hospital of Zhejiang University. The core proprietary technology platform and the core patents including the engineered macrophages from pluripotent stem cells has been authorized and is in the process of entering different countries worldwide.

To support the CMC of its pipeline products, on Oct 1st, CellOriginhas announced the launch of its 3000 square feet GMP facility at Hangzhou, China.

About Kunlun Capital

Founded in 2015, Kunlun capital is committed to long-term value investment, establishing long-term partnership with entrepreneurs, and focusing on investing in enterprises with high technical barriers, excellent founding team and explosive growth potential. In recent years, Kunlun capital has successively invested in KEYA Medical, EdiGene, Cytek (NASDAQ:CTKB), Hui-Gene Therapeutics, OBiO, Okeanos, Ucell Biotech, CellOrigin, Soonsolid, Inke (HK:03700), Dada (NASDAQ:DADA), Dreame, Bamboocloud, Pony.ai, PingCAP, Leyan Technologies.

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CellOrigin secured a new round of investment for developing its globally proprietary iPSC-CAR-Macrophage technology platform - Hawaii News Now

Published: Oct. 4, 2021 at 12:00 AM HST

NEW YORK, Oct. 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: BCLI), a leading developer of cellular therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, announced today that Stacy Lindborg, Ph.D., Executive Vice President and Head of Global Clinical Research, will deliver a presentation at the2021 Cell & Gene Meeting on the Mesa, being held as a hybrid conferenceOctober 12-14, and October 19-20, 2021.

Dr. Lindborg's presentation highlights the expansion of Brainstorm's technology portfolio to include autologous and allogeneic product candidates, covering multiple neurological diseases. The most progressed clinical development program, which includes a completed phase 3 trial of NurOwn in ALS patients, remains the highest priority for Brainstorm. Brainstorm is committed to pursuing the best and most expeditious path forward to enable patients to access NurOwn.

Dr. Lindborg's presentation will be in the form of an on-demand webinar that will be available beginning October 12. Those who wish to listen to the presentation are required to registerhere. At the conclusion of the 2021 Cell & Gene Meeting on the Mesa, a copy of the presentation will also be available in the "Investors and Media" section of the BrainStorm website underEvents and Presentations.

About the 2021 Cell & Gene Meeting on the Mesa

The meeting will feature sessions and workshops covering a mix of commercialization topics related to the cell and gene therapy sector including the latest updates on market access and reimbursement schemes, international regulation harmonization, manufacturing and CMC challenges, investment opportunities for the sector, among others. There will be over 135 presentations by leading public and private companies, highlighting technical and clinical achievements over the past 12 months in the areas of cell therapy, gene therapy, gene editing, tissue engineering and broader regenerative medicine technologies.

The conference will be delivered in a hybrid format to allow for an in-person experience as well as a virtual participation option. The in-person conference will take place October 12-14 in Carlsbad, CA. Virtual registrants will have access to all content via livestream during program dates. Additionally, all content will be available on-demand within 24 hours of the live program time. Virtual partnering meetings will take place October 19-20 via Zoom.

About NurOwn

The NurOwntechnology platform (autologous MSC-NTF cells) represents a promising investigational therapeutic approach to targeting disease pathways important in neurodegenerative disorders. MSC-NTF cells are produced from autologous, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that have been expanded and differentiated ex vivo. MSCs are converted into MSC-NTF cells by growing them under patented conditions that induce the cells to secrete high levels of neurotrophic factors (NTFs). Autologous MSC-NTF cells are designed to effectively deliver multiple NTFs and immunomodulatory cytokines directly to the site of damage to elicit a desired biological effect and ultimately slow or stabilize disease progression.

About BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.

BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. is a leading developer of innovative autologous adult stem cell therapeutics for debilitating neurodegenerative diseases. The Company holds the rights to clinical development and commercialization of the NurOwntechnology platform used to produce autologous MSC-NTF cells through an exclusive, worldwide licensing agreement. Autologous MSC-NTF cells have received Orphan Drug designation status from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). BrainStorm has completed a Phase 3 pivotal trial in ALS (NCT03280056); this trial investigated the safety and efficacy of repeat-administration of autologous MSC-NTF cells and was supported by a grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM CLIN2-0989). BrainStorm completed under an investigational new drug application a Phase 2 open-label multicenter trial (NCT03799718) of autologous MSC-NTF cells in progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) and was supported by a grant from the National MS Society (NMSS).

For more information, visit the company's website atwww.brainstorm-cell.com.

Safe-Harbor Statement

Statements in this announcement other than historical data and information, including statements regarding future NurOwnmanufacturing and clinical development plans, constitute "forward-looking statements" and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.'s actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements. Terms and phrases such as "may," "should," "would," "could," "will," "expect,""likely," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "predict," "potential," and similar terms and phrases are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, BrainStorm's need to raise additional capital, BrainStorm's ability to continue as a going concern, the prospects for regulatory approval of BrainStorm's NurOwntreatment candidate, the initiation, completion, and success of BrainStorm's product development programs and research, regulatory and personnel issues, development of a global market for our services, the ability to secure and maintain research institutions to conduct our clinical trials, the ability to generate significant revenue, the ability of BrainStorm's NurOwntreatment candidate to achieve broad acceptance as a treatment option for ALS or other neurodegenerative diseases, BrainStorm's ability to manufacture, or to use third parties to manufacture, and commercialize the NurOwntreatment candidate, obtaining patents that provide meaningful protection, competition and market developments, BrainStorm's ability to protect our intellectual property from infringement by third parties, heath reform legislation, demand for our services, currency exchange rates and product liability claims and litigation; and other factors detailed in BrainStorm's annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q available athttp://www.sec.gov. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on BrainStorm's forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of management as of the date of this press release. We do not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or assumptions if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, unless otherwise required by law. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements.

ContactsInvestor Relations:Eric GoldsteinLifeSci Advisors, LLCPhone: +1 646.791.9729egoldstein@lifesciadvisors.com

Media:Paul TyahlaSmithSolvePhone: + 1.973.713.3768Paul.tyahla@smithsolve.com

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BrainStorm to Present at the 2021 Cell & Gene Meeting on the Mesa - Hawaii News Now

Marine biologists based out of Kneohe Bay are working to save the world's coral species using cryopreservation, a technique that involves storing coral genetic material.

"We started thinking about cryopreservation about 17 years ago when we first came to Coconut Island. The goal was really to protect the genetic diversity and species diversity of coral reefs," said Mary Hagedorn, a marine biologist at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology.

Using procedures similar to those used in human sperm banks, Hagedorn and her team have developed techniques that allow them to freeze and store coral sperm, stem cells and, in the future, possibly even adult coral fragments.

Coral genetic material frozen in this way can be kept for hundreds of years and then used to generate new corals and add genetic diversity.

"There were so many areas, so many steps along the way where we could have failed, and we didnt and it was just completely surprising. But I think in this whole journey of doing the cryopreservation, the science has just proved right every single time. If we get the right combination of variables and we put them together, it just works. And its magic," Hagedorn told Hawaii Public Radio.

Hagedorn Lab created the first frozen Hawaiian coral repository with sperm and stem cells from two species of corals from Kneohe Bay.

"So today, now with our colleagues around the world, we have frozen 48 species. We have some from the Great Barrier Reef, the Caribbean, Hawaii, French Polynesia and the Gulf of Mexico. And there are about 1,000 or so species of corals in the world, so we have a ways to go in terms of sperm cryopreservation," Hagedorn said.

The Conversation team traveled to the Hagedorn Lab on Moku o Loe, or Coconut Island, in Kneohe to see the process for themselves. Jessica Bouwmeester, a post-doctoral scholar in the lab, and intern Mariko Quinn demonstrated how the genetic material is stored and researched.

"Everything is stored at minus 185 degrees Celsius. So we can keep it like that for years, decades, for as long as we need it," Bouwmeester said.

That coral bank can hold hundreds of samples at a time. At some point, it will get shipped off to a more secure facility in Colorado.

While the lab's efforts are groundbreaking, Hagedorn said sometimes she feels depressed about the damaging effects of pollution and climate change on the world's coral reefs.

"There are days where Im just like, 'Why am I doing this.' But I think technology can help," she said. "The great thing about this is we can stick them away in a tank and maybe 1,000 years from now, people will say, 'Yeah, that was a good idea back then, lets bring those out.'"

"Im happy that there are options for the future," Hagedorn said. "I think of my nieces and nephews, and I want them to see a coral reef at some point. And thats what drives me more than anything else. Its the most magical place on Earth, a coral reef, and every person on Earth should be able to see one if they want."

Click here to learn more about the Reef Recovery Initiative. This segment aired on The Conversation on July 15, 2021.

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Marine Biologists Are Using Cryopreservation to Save the World's Coral Reefs - Hawaiipublicradio

Leslie Mansfield, a California resident who enjoys running a Napa Valley winery and writing cookbooks filed a lawsuit against the Outrigger Canoe Club in Waikiki after her foot was allegedly attacked by a cat. Eventually, the bite marks caused a rare, incurable condition known as host versus graft disease, prompting Mansfield to file the suit.

The incident occurred in September 2015 when Leslie and her husband were visiting the Outrigger Canoe Club to celebrate the end of her leukemia treatments. In the middle of having lunch at the clubs Hau Terrace restaurant, a cat suddenly jumped from a nearby bush and attacked her foot. Mansfield said, all of a sudden I felt this unbelievable sharp, excruciating biteWithin a week it was worse and the bite marks were black and it was really frightening.

According to the lawsuit, the infection from the bite continued to worsen and eventually she began to develop lesions in her mouth, on her skin, and throughout her body. She said, the lesions in my mouth are so swollen around my tongue and cheeks I have deep crevasse-like cuts in the roof of my mouth.

How did a simple cat bite get so infected, though? Well, because Mansfield had recently undergone a stem cell transplant, the bite compromised her immune system. According to Mansfield, who had stem cells donated from her brother, doctors told her that when she got bit by the cat, those cells not only began attacking the pathogens introduced by the cat but they also started to attack her system.

As a result, Mansfield experiences regular painful flares that leave her exhausted and unable to do much of anything. Her quality of life has been diminished and she blames the Outrigger Canoe club that harbored the cat.

When commenting on the matter, attorney Jim Bickerton who is representing Mansfield said, the cat spent its entire existence on those premises. It wasnt a stray that lived somewhere else and came visiting. This was home for this cat. He added that under Hawaii law, the club is not only responsible for the cat bite but its also responsible for the subsequent damage to his clients immune system. He said, if someone has very brittle bones, for example, and they take a small fallYou or I might just fracture a bone or not even have a fracture but they have fractures in 20 places. The person who caused that fall owns all of the damage.

In response to the lawsuit, a spokesperson for the club said, The health, safety, and well-being of all of our members, guests and staff are of primary importance to the Outrigger.

The suit is expected to go to trial next August.

Lawsuit: Cat bite at Outrigger Canoe Club caused womans rare disease

GRAFT-VERSUS-HOST DISEASE

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Woman Who Was Attacked By Cat Sues the Outrigger Canoe Club in Waikiki - Legal Reader