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BostonGene to Present Three Abstracts at the 2020 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting – Business Wire

Posted: June 4, 2020 at 9:36 am

WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BostonGene Corporation, a biomedical software company focused on defining optimal precision medicine-based therapies for cancer patients, today announced that three abstracts were selected for poster presentations at the 2020 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Virtual Annual Meeting II, which will be conducted from June 22 - 24, 2020.

The presentations describe findings obtained by using BostonGenes technologies and analytical tools designed to improve diagnosis and treatment decisions for cancer patients. Results include validation of bulk RNAseq utility for accurate reconstruction of tumor microenvironment and identification of four prominent microenvironment types conserved among solid tumors. Application of BostonGene computational tools lead to better understanding of the role of microenvironment compartments in tumor pathogenesis and supporting clinical decision making for the treatment of cancer.

We are excited to present at the 2020 AACR Virtual Annual Meeting to share the clinical utility of the BostonGene solution and demonstrate how it improves diagnosis and treatment decisions for cancer patients, said Andrew Feinberg, President and CEO of BostonGene.

Details of the poster presentations are as follows:

Abstract Number: 6168 Title: Integrated whole exome and transcriptome analyses of the tumor and microenvironment provide new opportunities for rational design of cancer therapy Session: Tumor Heterogeneity and Microenvironment: Next-Generation Sequencing, Single Cell, and ImagingPoster: 4418Presenter: Alexander Bagaev, BostonGene

BostonGene developed and validated a new analytic platform for multi-parametric analyses of malignant and nonmalignant tumor compartments using genomic and transcriptomic sequencing data. Application of BostonGene platform to more than 8,500 patient data sets revealed four types of tumor microenvironment (TME) that are conserved across cancer types and demonstrate high prognostic significance and differential response to immunotherapy. This novel Molecular-Functional (MF) portrait platform, involving analytic and visualization methods, provides a robust tool for prediction of response to immunotherapy and for future tailoring of personalized therapeutic combinations.

Abstract Number: 6997 Title: Novel machine learning based deconvolution algorithm results in accurate description of tumor microenvironment from bulk RNAseq Session: Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence for Omics, Imaging, and Diagnostics Poster: 853Presenter: Alexander Bagaev, BostonGene

BostonGene developed a novel machine learning-based algorithm for cellular deconvolution of tumor microenvironment (TME) from bulk RNAseq data. This tool accurately reconstructs proportions of major immune and stromal cell populations, as well as T cell subtypes and M1 and M2 macrophages. Validation of BostonGene algorithm performance by comparison of flow cytometry, single cell RNAseq and bulk RNAseq analysis performed on samples from different tissues will be presented. The result demonstrates utility of bulk RNAseq for accurate and robust reconstruction of TME composition and paves the road for application of the BostonGene computational tool for support of clinical decision making for the treatment of cancer.

Research conducted with Massachusetts General Hospital

Abstract Number: 7544 Title: HER2 expression and M2-like tumor infiltrating macrophages associated with Cabazitaxel activity in gastric cancer Session: Predictive Biomarkers for Treatment Efficacy 1Poster: 2011Presenter: Sandipto Sarkar, Weill Cornell Medicine

In the clinical study of cabazitaxel efficacy in gastric cancer, comprehensive whole exome sequencing (WES) and RNAseq data analysis identified genetic aberrations and tumor microenvironment signatures associated with favorable response. In particular, this analysis resulted in identification of two novel biomarkers, HER2 overexpression and M2-high tumor macrophage signature, both of which associated with improved outcomes. RNAseq-based deconvolution demonstrating M2 macrophages enrichment in patients with improved PFS, was further validated by immunohistochemistry using M1 and M2 macrophage-specific markers.

Research conducted with Weill Cornell Medicine

The e-poster website will be launched June 22, 2020, the first day of the AACR Virtual Annual Meeting II. All e-posters will be made available for browsing on this date.

Additionally the abstracts will be published in an online-only Proceedings supplement to the AACR journal Cancer Research after the completion of the AACR Virtual Annual Meeting II.

About BostonGene Corporation

BostonGene Corporation is pioneering the use of biomedical software for advanced patient analysis and personalized therapy decision making in the fight against cancer. BostonGenes unique solution performs sophisticated analytics to aid clinicians in their evaluation of viable treatment options for each patient's individual genetics, tumor and tumor microenvironment, clinical characteristics and disease profile. BostonGenes mission is to enable physicians to provide every patient with the highest probability of survival through optimal cancer treatments using advanced, personalized therapies. For more information, visit BostonGene at http://www.BostonGene.com.

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OpGen Expands Partnership with New York State Department of Health and IDC to Detect Antimicrobial-Resistant Infections – GuruFocus.com

Posted: June 4, 2020 at 9:35 am

GAITHERSBURG, Md., June 03, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OpGen, Inc. (Nasdaq: OPGN) announced today that its strategic collaboration with the New York State Department of Health (DOH) to develop a state-of-the-art solution to detect, track, and manage antimicrobial-resistant infections at healthcare institutions statewide is entering into its second year expansion phase. Having successfully achieved all of the milestones of the first year pilot phase for the development of an infectious disease digital health and precision medicine platform that connects healthcare institutions to DOH and uses genomic microbiology for statewide surveillance and control of antimicrobial resistance, OpGen will continue to work together with DOHs Wadsworth Center, participating healthcare systems, and collaborators such as Infectious Disease Connect, Inc. (IDC), which recently combined with ILM Health Solutions, to expand the reach of the platform, increase the volume of testing, and enhance data collection.

The DOH, OpGen, IDC and all stakeholders will continue to work collaboratively to demonstrate that a sustainable, flexible infectious diseases reporting, tracking and surveillance tool for antimicrobial resistance can be applied across New York State. The second-year expansion phase will build on the successes and experience of the first year pilot phase while focusing on accomplishing the goal of this visionary effort to improve patient outcomes and save healthcare dollars by integrating real-time epidemiologic surveillance with rapid delivery of antibiotic resistance results to care-givers via web-based and mobile platforms. OpGen is providing its Acuitas AMR Gene Panel for rapid detection of multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens along with its Acuitas Lighthouse Software for high resolution pathogen tracking. The second year contract includes a quarterly retainer-based project fee as well as volume-dependent per test fees for a total contract value of up to $450,000 to OpGen.

We are excited and grateful that despite the continued threat of the COVID-19 pandemic which has hit New York State harder than any other place in the world, the Department of Health of New York State and the Wadsworth Center continue to work with us and have expanded their partnership for a second year, adding up to 3,500 AMR Gene Panel tests to be run, commented Oliver Schacht, CEO of OpGen. The quick spread of antimicrobial resistant superbugs across our healthcare systems is lurking below the current medical crisis. We anticipate that with our innovative diagnostic solutions we will be able to proactively identify such pathogens leading to early intervention and lifesaving treatment. A further project expansion of this nature may include the exploration of ways to achieve SARS-CoV-2 tracking.

Paul Edwards, Chief Strategy Officer at IDC commented, Our collaboration with OpGen allows us to not only identify bacteria and antimicrobial resistance down to the gene level but also to identify new or significant results versus phenotypic results alone. This molecular epidemiology capability in turn is critical in order to rapidly identify new clusters and outbreaks which otherwise would be missed and could potentially lead to outbreaks of hospital superbugs.

The precision medicine solutions provided by OpGen to accomplish the project goals are:

Wadsworth Center Director Dr. Jill Taylor said,"Under Governor Cuomo's leadership, New York State continues to lead the nation in addressing the threat of antimicrobial resistance. Working with our private-sector partners, the Wadsworth Center is able to further advance our mission to improve the public health of all New Yorkers.

About Antimicrobial-resistant InfectionsThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that annually in the United States we face 2.8 million infections with 35,000 deaths and $49 billion in lost productivity all attributable to antibiotic resistant infections. Among the infectious diseases the parties are working to address are carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) bacteria; they are untreatable and hard-to-treat infections on the rise among patients in medical facilities. CREs have become resistant to all or nearly all the antibiotics we have today. Almost half of hospital patients who get bloodstream infections from CRE bacteria die from the infection. The CDC has classified CREs as one of three urgent threats to the public health.

About Wadsworth Center LaboratoriesThe Wadsworth Center laboratories stand at the forefront of biomedical and environmental sciences and their interplay. The Center serves a vital role in the New York State Department of Healths efforts to protect and promote the health of New Yorks citizens. Building on more than a century of excellence as the states public health laboratory, the Center continues as a premier biomedical institute that merges clinical and environmental testing with fundamental, applied and translational research. Today, Wadsworth Center scientists use both classical and contemporary approaches to study environmental and biological questions related to human health and disease. They develop advanced methods to identify microbial or chemical threats; study drug resistance, emerging infections, and environmental exposures; manage the countrys most comprehensive diagnostic and environmental testing laboratory permit program; oversee extramural research programs on stem cells, breast cancer and spinal cord injury; and train the next generation of scientists through undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral and visiting scientist programs.

About OpGen Inc.

OpGen, Inc. (Gaithersburg, MD, USA) is a precision medicine company harnessing the power of molecular diagnostics and bioinformatics to help combat infectious disease. Along with our subsidiaries, Curetis GmbH and Ares Genetics GmbH, we are developing and commercializing molecular microbiology solutions helping to guide clinicians with more rapid and actionable information about life threatening infections to improve patient outcomes, and decrease the spread of infections caused by multidrug-resistant microorganisms, or MDROs. OpGens product portfolio includes Unyvero, Acuitas AMR Gene Panel and Acuitas Lighthouse, and the ARES Technology Platform including ARESdb, using NGS technology and AI-powered bioinformatics solutions for antibiotic response prediction.

For more information, please visit http://www.opgen.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes statements regarding OpGens second year project phase with the New York State DOH. These statements and other statements regarding OpGens future plans and goals constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that are often difficult to predict, are beyond our control, and which may cause results to differ materially from expectations. Factors that could cause our results to differ materially from those described include, but are not limited to, our ability to successfully, timely and cost-effectively develop, seek and obtain regulatory clearance for and commercialize our product and services offerings, our ability to successfully complete the second phase of the project with the New York State DOH, the rate of adoption of our products and services by hospitals and other healthcare providers, the realization of expected benefits of our business combination transaction with Curetis GmbH, the success of our commercialization efforts, the impact of COVID-19 on the Companys operations, financial results, and commercialization efforts as well as on capital markets and general economic conditions, the effect on our business of existing and new regulatory requirements, and other economic and competitive factors. For a discussion of the most significant risks and uncertainties associated with OpGen's business, please review our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are based on our expectations as of the date of this press release and speak only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

OpGen:Oliver SchachtPresident and CEO[emailprotected]

OpGen Press Contact:Matthew BretziusFischTank PR[emailprotected]

OpGen Investor Contact:Joe GreenEdison Group[emailprotected]

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Stem Cells Cryopreservation Equipments Market to Witness Sales Slump in 2020 Due to COVID-19| Long-term Outlook Remains Positive | Worthington…

Posted: June 4, 2020 at 9:35 am

Global Stem Cells Cryopreservation Equipments Market

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Worthington IndustriesCharterCesca TherapeuticsShengjie Cryogenic EquipmentSichuan mountain verticalQingdao Beol

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Key Preparations for the Second Wave of Coronavirus – Newsmax

Posted: June 4, 2020 at 9:35 am

A top New York University physician revealed plans to ensure that the four NYU hospitals in Manhattan, Long Island and Brooklyn will be better prepared and equipped to handle the potential recurrence of the coronavirus.

Dr. Fritz Francois, chief medical officer at NYU Langone Health, said hes planning on implementing the seven Ts to protect staff and patients: Tools, Testing, Teams, Triage, Treatments, Trials, and Throughput.

I cant emphasize enough how important it is for us to do research and publish what it is that we find, as opposed to just doing things anecdotally, he told Fox News.

Some experts have forecasted a potential second wave of coronavirus cases and deaths next fall that may be even more devastating than the current crisis.

In my mind, its inevitable that well have a return of the viruswhen it does, how we handle it will determine our fate, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

The second wave could be even more serious said Robert Redfield, M.D., director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), according to Prevention.

Theres a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be more difficult than the one we just went through, he said.

Francois said that hes stocking up on tools such as personal protective equipment (PPE) as well as testing all incoming patients for COVID-19. NYU has developed precision teams to offer state-of-the-art care to patients, and upgrading triage teams by placing equipment outside hospital rooms to minimize the number of times staff needs to enter.

According to Fox News, NYU is conducting plasma and stem cells trials to determine the best treatment to fight the virus.

Throughput is in terms of how we do to ensure that patients can safely transition back home or to a rehab center when they beat the virus, Francois told Fox News.

2020 NewsmaxHealth. All rights reserved.

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Why people are giving up smoking during the COVID-19 lockdown – The Hindu

Posted: June 4, 2020 at 9:34 am

I have two cartons of cigarettes that I had bought at duty-free before the lockdown. Each has about 20 packets. So clearly, I can smoke whenever I want to, despite the lockdown, says Arnab Mitra. Yet, the Delhi-based advertising professional, in his 30s, has not had one for over 70 days now. I decided to quit, and have so far just never felt the urge to smoke.

With the lockdowns restricted supply of cigarettes, smokers went into withdrawal. In many families, people would not smoke at home out of a sense of respect for their elders, or because of the absence of social cues of parties and post-lunch tea breaks with colleagues.

Arnab is hoping to turn this period of temporary abstinence into something permanent. So far, so good. I have been meaning to quit smoking for quite some time now. It was always one of those stop and start affairs. What the lockdown did was to bring things into perspective for him: a moment of quiet reflection in the middle of a pandemic, on how much he prioritises his health. I had never spent so much time at home. It gave me enough time to think: if not now, then when?

Arnab picked up smoking like any rebellious, curious teenager. You are always attracted to the things you are forbidden to do, you know? he says, laughing. But I am not a chain smoker. Until March, Arnab was smoking 10 cigarettes a day. You have to understand, people around me knock off two or three packets a day, he explains.

It is not the normal 9-to-5 job in the creative industry; you always have to be ideating. After crazy meetings and brainstorming, you could leave all of it aside for a little while, to have a smoke.

It is a sentiment that Delhi-bred, now Nigeria-based Louv Kumar can relate to. After moving to Asaba for a job as regional sales manager, his stress levels increased, as did his smoking. On an average, I would smoke four-five a day. My job is a high-stress one, and the month-closing is especially stressful. In that last week, 14-15 cigarettes a day was not that uncommon.

Yet, he has been completely clean for the past month. It was a more gradual curve; the lockdown in his city started only on April 1, but his attempts to give up smoking lasted through March. At first, I tried smoking only when I would drink. But since May, I gave it up entirely.

Full length profile shot of a young man running on a treadmill at home

This is not his first attempt at quitting; he tried during his MBA days as well. The lockdown did help in the sense that the brands I like were not available easily, and so I was less likely to buy smokes. That may have changed with the restrictions being lifted now, but the wish to quit remains.

I am at the other end of my 20s now, and cigarettes do contribute to a lot of things that you would not want to happen to you. Bad skin, hairfall, testosterone (levels fall in the long-term). I wanted to avoid these instant shots of dopamine, and a little control over these impulsive desires will go a long way, he says. Now, whenever the urge strikes, he instead works out, or speaks to his friends and watches movies (online) with them.

In Bengaluru, psychiatrist Dr Venkatesh Babu, who consults for Fortis Hospital, has been speaking with people who have been looking to quit during lockdown. For the first week, the questions were mostly around dealing with withdrawal symptoms and sourcing nicotine patches. Eight weeks down the line, a couple of them tell him they have not relapsed.

The reason you quit is very important. If it is just because cigarettes are not available at this point of time, or there is a compulsion to be at home, it is never going to last. But if they were meaning to quit before this, and see the lockdown as an opportunity, then giving up will be easier, he says.

The thing with smoking is that you either have an excuse to smoke or you dont. That is not really dependent on whether there is a lockdown, says Mitali. The Delhi-based columnist quit on January 28. Soon after, the stressors of the pandemic and lockdown hit. She got over them by giving herself the option of an out. I told myself that if I really, really want one, I can have one. Saying that to myself actually made it easier to not have one at that point.

She will apply the same philosophy once life returns to normal. There are a lot of social cues that are bound to change once physical distancing ends. You go looking for a lighter, and the first person to offer you one will be a smoker and the two of you bond over a smoke, explains Arnab, adding, But really, if people want to smoke, they will smoke anyway.

Dr Babu adds that the reasons for relapsing remain the same irrespective of circumstances: relationship issues, lack of a work-life balance and new challenges or fears. You have to dig further to understand the factors causing you stress. Smoking is a poor coping mechanism, because over the long term, it will just become another stressor.

Instead, he says, try to appreciate the positive changes you have brought on. Focus on the ease with which you are able to breathe in, every morning, he says. Not just improved health, there will be other positive reinforcements, like improved relationships that will make sure your decision to quit stays.

If alcohol is a cue for you, Dr Babu suggests partying over video-conferencing, and chilling with friends online, without cigarettes. It will remind you that you can still connect socially, and will ease you into readapting to those settings.

In the absence of smoking, Mitali has taken to snacking like a machine. But breathing better is worth putting on weight (temporarily, I hope), she says. Ultimately, the biggest motivating factor, Dr Babu says, is the confidence you get after abstaining for this long a period of time.

I will tell you a strange thing that happened to me, says Arnab. The other day, I was coming back from a grocery run, and somebody was smoking outside the building. The smell of cigarettes actually repulsed me. And Ive been a smoker for 15 years.

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Base Genomics Announces Company Launch and Raises $11 Million USD to Commercialize Epigenetic Technology for Early and Sensitive Detection of Cancer…

Posted: June 4, 2020 at 9:33 am

OXFORD, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Epigenetics company Base Genomics has launched with a team of leading scientists and clinicians to set a new gold standard in DNA methylation detection. The company has closed an oversubscribed seed funding round of $11 million USD (9 million GBP) to progress development of its TAPS technology, initially focusing on developing a blood test for early-stage cancer and minimal residual disease. The funding round was led by Oxford Sciences Innovation and also included investors with industry expertise in genomics and oncology.

DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism involved in gene regulation and has been shown to be one of the most promising biomarkers for detecting cancer through liquid biopsy. The existing industry standard for mapping DNA methylation degrades DNA and reduces sequence complexity, however, limiting scientific discovery and clinical sensitivity. Base Genomics new technology, TAPS, overcomes these issues and generates significantly more information from a given sample, creating new opportunities in research and the clinic.

"In order to realize the potential of liquid biopsies for clinically meaningful diagnosis and monitoring, sensitive detection and precise quantification of circulating tumour DNA is paramount, said Base Genomics CMO Anna Schuh. Current approaches are not fit for purpose to achieve this, but Base Genomics has developed a game-changing technology which has the potential to make the sensitivity of liquid biopsies a problem of the past."

First developed at Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Branch at the University of Oxford, TAPS is a novel chemical reaction that converts methylated cytosine to thymine under mild conditions. Unlike the industry standard technology, bisulfite sequencing, TAPS does not degrade DNA, meaning that significantly more DNA is available for sequencing. TAPS also better retains sequence complexity, cutting sequencing costs in half and enabling simultaneous epigenetic and genetic analysis.

Genomic technologies with the power, simplicity and broad applicability of TAPS come along very infrequently, said Base Genomics CTO Vincent Smith. It has the potential to have an impact on epigenetics similar to that which Illumina's SBS chemistry had on Next Generation Sequencing.

Base Genomics is led by a highly experienced team of scientists and clinicians, including Dr Vincent Smith, a world-leader in genomic product development and former Illumina VP; Dr Anna Schuh, Head of Molecular Diagnostics at the University of Oxford and Principal Investigator on over 30 clinical trials; Drs Chunxiao Song and Yibin Liu, co-inventors of TAPS at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Oxford; and Oliver Waterhouse, previously an Entrepreneur in Residence at Oxford Sciences Innovation and founding team member at Zinc VC.

The ability to sequence a large amount of high-quality epigenetic information from a simple blood test could unlock a new era of preventative medicine, said Base Genomics founder and CEO Oliver Waterhouse. In the future, individuals will not just be sequenced once to determine their largely static genetic code, but will be sequenced repeatedly over time to track dynamic epigenetic changes caused by age, lifestyle, and disease.

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Lisen Imprinting Diagnostics Inc. Announces a New Innovative and Highly Accurate Epigenetic Solution for Early Cancer Detection – Benzinga

Posted: June 4, 2020 at 9:33 am

WUXI, CHINA / ACCESSWIRE / June 3, 2020 / Lisen Imprinting Diagnostics Inc. ("Lisen" or "the company"), a US company headquartered with main operations in Wuxi, China which specializes on tumor epigenetics research for advancing early-stage cancer detection, announces a new epigenetic-based cancer diagnostic method. The technology which innovatively applied visualized epigenetic imprinting biomarkers has been published in the open access journal Clinical Epigenetics on May 24.

Lisen developed and patented the QCIGISH (Quantitative Chromogenic Imprinted Gene In-Situ Hybridization) technology - a novel approach in identifying, visualizing, and quantifying the biallelic and multiallelic expressions of an imprinted gene panel associated with cancer status. In a 1013-case clinical study involving ten different cancer types including bladder, breast, colorectal, esophageal, gastric, lung, pancreatic, prostate, skin and thyroid cancers, QCIGISH achieved 94% overall sensitivity and 92% overall specificity.

Dr. Chunxue Bai, chief physician and professor of Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, one of the corresponding authors said, "Epigenetic alterations which occur prior to morphological changes are involved in most cancers, but its application in cancer diagnosis is still limited. More practical and intuitive methods to detect the aberrant expressions from clinical samples using highly sensitive biomarkers are needed."

Using the QCIGISH technology, Dr. Bai and a group of researchers from Ohio State University, Johns Hopkins University, University of Texas, Fudan University, Tongji University, Chinese Navy Medical University, Jiangsu Jiangyuan Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, evaluated the normal and aberrant expressions measured using the imprinted gene panel to formulate diagnostic models, which could accurately distinguish the imprinting differences of normal and benign cases from cancerous tissues. The new method proved effective for many different cancer types.

"We believe that QCIGISH will become a practically useful and powerful clinical tool by effectively supplementing standard cytologic and histopathologic diagnosis for early-stage cancer detection", the paper's primary author Dr. Rulong Shen, a pathologist of Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center remarked.

Dr. Ning Zhou, Lisen's CEO and co-founder, and the paper's other corresponding author added, "We have barely scratched the surface. Our current research conceptually opens a new diagnostic area in epigenetics-based cancer detection and demonstrates strong potential for high throughput clinical application. We expect that this technology may go beyond a diagnostic technique to also provide information on prognostic and predictive markers of treatment response. We are excited to discover more imprinted gene cancer biomarkers, proceed with an even larger prospective validation and extend the capabilities of our technology to foster hope to cancer patients around the world."

About Cancer Early Detection and Epigenetics

The incidence of cancer is 18.1 million and the mortality is 9.6 million every year (GLOBOCAN 2018). The survival rate of cancer patients decreases dramatically from early to advanced stages. Therefore, early cancer detection plays a vital role in improving patients' long-term survival. However, this remains a huge clinical challenge due to the absence of sufficient morphological evidences to enable a definitive diagnosis. Epigenetic changes such as DNA methylation, histone methylation and acetylation, and expression status of imprinting genes which all occur at precancerous stages and promote carcinogenesis, could serve as sensitive biomarkers for early cancer detection.

About Lisen Imprinting Diagnostics, Inc.

Lisen Imprinting Diagnostics, Inc. is a US company registered in Delaware dedicated to the accurate and early identification of cancers at their most curable stages. By developing advanced cancer detection technology, Lisen hopes to provide a personalized pathway for patients towards effective therapies while avoiding unnecessary, costly and potentially futile treatment. Collaborating with various medical centers from Shanghai, Nanjing, Dalian, Hangzhou, Zhengzhou and Wuxi, China, Lisen has studied 6500+ clinical cases involving 12 different cancer types. The company holds 20 Chinese and international intellectual properties on early cancer detection.

For further information, contact:

Ning Zhou | 001-8016990666| zhou.ning@lisenid.comLisen, CEOLisen Imprinting Diagnostics Inc.66 Jinghui East Boulevard #5601Wuxi, Jiangsu 214135China

SOURCE: Lisen Imprinting Diagnostics Inc.

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Lisen Imprinting Diagnostics Inc. Announces a New Innovative and Highly Accurate Epigenetic Solution for Early Cancer Detection - Benzinga

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Professor Wolf Reik FRS appointed Acting Director of the Babraham Institute – Cambridge Network

Posted: June 4, 2020 at 9:32 am

Professor Reik is an internationally renowned expert in the field of epigenetics and has led the Institutes Epigenetics research programme since 2008. He has been the Institutes Associate Director since 2004.

Professor Peter Rigby, FRS, Chair of the Institutes Board of Trustees, said: I am delighted to announce that the Institute Board has appointed Professor Wolf Reik FRS as the Acting Director of the Babraham Institute. Professor Reik is a world-class scientist, internationally renowned for his work in epigenetics, who has been at the Institute for over 30 years. The BBSRC fully support the Board's appointment, which will ensure the Institute continues to be strongly led, building on the excellent work of Professor Michael Wakelam. I know that Wolf will provide much needed leadership and stability during the uncertain times that we all face.

Professor Reik commented: I am really honoured by this appointment; I look forward to working with everyone at the Institute, the Campus and with BBSRC. After Michaels sad death, my primary aim is to bring us back to our labs in a safe and considerate fashion, and to jointly tackle the opportunities and challenges for the science of the Institute going forward strongly into the future.

Professor Reiks research centres on understanding the role of epigenetics (non-sequence altering modifications to DNA or chromatin that regulate gene expression) in establishing cell fate and identity during mammalian development and also the process of epigenetic reprogramming. The research interests of his lab span understanding the epigenetic processes governing the earliest steps of development, how pluripotency is maintained in stem cells and conversely how cell identity is established during differentiation. More recently the lab is interested in how the epigenome degrades during ageing, and whether there are ways of reversing this decay. They have developed new technologies for single cell multi-omics sequencing which allows unprecedented insights into cell fate changes during development or ageing. Professor Reik enjoys collaborating with scientists in the Institute and outside, and leads a Wellcome-funded consortium that studies cell fate decisions during mouse gastrulation and organ development.

Professor Reik is honorary Professor of Epigenetics and Affiliate Faculty at the Stem Cell Institute at the University of Cambridge and Associate Faculty at the Wellcome Sanger Institute. He is a member of EMBO and the Academia Europaea (elected in 2003 and 2011, respectively), and a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences (2003) and of the Royal Society (2010). Professor Reik has been a member of funding committees of several of the UKs key research funders such as UKRI-Medical Research Council, Cancer Research UK and Wellcome Trust.

Professor Reik obtained his MD from the University of Hamburg in 1985. He undertook his thesis work with Rudolf Jaenisch in Hamburg, followed by postdoctoral work with Azim Surani at the Institute of Animal Physiology, now the Babraham Institute. During this time, he became a Fellow of the Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine which provided funding to start his own independent research group (in 1987).

Image: Professor Wolf Reik. Courtesy of Keith Heppell and the Cambridge Independent.

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Professor Wolf Reik FRS appointed Acting Director of the Babraham Institute - Cambridge Network

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The Science Behind Reliving Memories: Animus from Assassins Creed – Fiction Talk

Posted: June 4, 2020 at 9:32 am

Memories, nature, and instincts are some of the few things that make us. Where do these come from? From us, parents, grandparents, and so on. In Assassins Creed games, you visit your ancestors memories with the help of a machine named Animus. With this fascinating concept in mind, it makes us wonder how close or far are we from this science-fiction.

Do we have ancestral memories? Do memories pass along? Is there technology to process these memories? Lets see.

As far asAssassins Creedgoes, memories of ancestors are passed down from their bloodline. So, Desmond (present-day hero) can relive Altairs (1000 AD Assassin) memories because of this. Similarly, you could relive memories of ancestors in your bloodline, for instance. Youd simply lay down on the Animus and let it play memories like a VR game.

In our world, memories are said to be stored in our brains exclusively. It is accurate but there is still more to it. You see, since time immemorial scientists have suggested that ancestors pass down traits, impulses, etc. as part of evolution. These traits stemming from certain memories. Also, this applies to animals as well. Darwin, for instance, had the theory of pangenesis. Basically, it entailed that a body emits tiny particles called gemmules which pass on to offsprings. This theory was similar to Lamarckism. Both theories were dismissed in those days.

However, more recent experiments led to a new field of study called epigenetics which makes the earlier theories credible. In simple terms, epigenetics means the working of DNA instead of DNA itself. Consider meta-data. If you have songs, thats DNA. Adding shuffle, repeats, skips, playlists, etc to it is epigenetics.

Carl Jung, a famous psychologist, invented a theory named collective unconscious. It suggests that certain aspects such as fears, instincts, memories, etc. encompass all of our species. Also, it says that we inherit certain traits in our genes. Freud believed this to be due to personal experiences. That said, Jungl believed humans could tap into this unconscious only when necessary. The word Animus, also means memory.

Here, epigenetics prove helpful. Research has found genetically mutated roundworms to live 30% more than expected. Furthermore, the offsprings of those worms had a greater life-span as well. We already know our DNA indicates life-span. Epigenetics goes ahead and makes the changes by on and off switches in our genes. Genes are nothing but instructions in DNA. Through epigenetic methods, research shows potential ways of determining if a young bee (or larva) will become a queen bee. Roundworms and bees are more direct examples of epigenetics. The Aplysia experiment too.

Environmental and external factors also take part in epigenetics. Descendants of slaves, refugees, war prisoners, calamity survivors, etc. are a few types of people said to have altered genes. The Dutch Famine is an example. The people who went through the famine had smaller than average children. Also, they had a higher risk of diabetes and other health issues. The same was seen for later generations.

Desmond, inAssassins Creed,learns his ancestors traits and abilities. Considering the above two paragraphs, maybe thats how Ubisoft got the idea. InAssassins Creed, it is called bleeding effect.

Epigenetics might show us that memories, traits, and such do reside in our genes or DNA. However, it wouldnt mean much if there was no technology to bring those memories in front of us.

Various scientific bodies, including Microsoft, have looked into the idea of DNA-based storage devices. In recent years, teams have automated the read-and-write process of data onto DNA. How does it work? In simple terms, genetic bases are represented by chemical letters A, C, G, and T. Now, these letters can be converted to binary, 1s and 0s. Computers deal with binaries and not the letters.

DNA-based data storage has a better density (grams of DNA capable of holding thousands of GB), can last millennia, and can be replicated easily. Although, this is expensive and slow. So, right now companies are making efforts to speed up this process and make it accessible to many people. For instance, Microsofts Purple Drop project.

Intel, Catalog, etc are also finding ways of making DNA-based storage the mainstream storage of tomorrow. In other words, you might one day store your life memories into a pen-drive for your children to see. An advanced version of a photo album, you could say.

Till then, well just wait forAssassins Creed: Valhalla!

Here at FictionTalk, we look into the science that goes behind interesting stories all around us! If you want more, visit our take on Science Behind Time Perception Drugs and Science Behind Frankenstein.

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Medicine in the time of corona: Fundamental molecular research is essential – Science Advances

Posted: June 4, 2020 at 9:31 am

Ali Shilatifard

A pandemicespecially one caused by a mysterious or newly discovered infectious agentengenders a stark reminder that supporting fundamental research has been a prudent investment of public funds. Fundamental molecular research plays an essential role in the clinic to decipher infectious processes, develop therapeutic strategies, and guide physicians, nurses, and other hospital employees in implementing the most effective application of new knowledge. As the world begins the process of healing from the medical, social, and economic effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), public health is at the forefront of decision-making by lawmakers at both the federal and state levels. Daily news conferences and press releases illustrate the importance of scientists and physicians as major partners in pandemic task forces, guiding politicians in health policy decision-making. Basic molecular research plays a crucial role in helping the world overcome the current pandemic and prepare for the next one.

The first application of fundamental molecular research to COVID-19 was rapid sequencing of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome using a process known as next-generation sequencing (NGS). These data immediately delivered the scientific and clinical communities with insight into the singular properties of this coronavirus strain. NGS can provide billions of DNA reads in a single day, a process that was unfathomable only 15 years ago. Now an essential and nearly ubiquitous technology, NGS evolved through the research of biochemists, molecular biologists, and engineers who were supported by grants from publicly funded institutions such as the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), and their counterparts across the globe. The second major application of fundamental molecular research to COVID-19 was the development of an assay to identify infected individuals. The method of choice for high-sensitivity detection of the virus in people is reverse transcription followed by polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), which takes advantage of the viral genome sequence provided by NGS. A key component of this assay is the reverse transcriptase RNA-dependent DNA polymerase, which converts the viral RNA genome into a DNA molecule that can be amplified and detected. This enzyme was a Nobel prize winning discovery by NIH/NCI-supported researchers Howard Temin and David Baltimore. Although the PCR amplification methods and instruments were finalized in the private sector, much of the enzymology and nucleic acid chemistry that spurred PCR development was based on publicly funded fundamental molecular research.

Developing COVID-19 therapeutics requires an in-depth understanding of molecular processes involved in the viral life cycle. Antiviral therapies are needed to treat patients with mild to moderate symptoms. Additional therapies are needed for COVID-19 patients who suffer cytokine storm, which progresses to critical stages of respiratory failure, septic shock, and multiorgan dysfunction. Given that COVID-19 is within the family of RNA viruses, researchers are well positioned to begin development of antiviral therapies, as biochemists already have generated a plethora of molecular information about the atomic structures for the main enzyme required for viral replication, the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, an enzyme which has no known host counterpart. In this case, biochemists and transcription biologists have already identified Remdesivir, an adenosine nucleotide analog that interferes with the action of viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity. Clinical trials of the drug are currently underway, and early results are encouraging. As for the treatment of cytokine storm, again, basic biochemical research in immunology has paved the way for the development of several therapies, including interleukin-6 (IL-6) inhibitors that function by blocking the IL-6 receptor and ameliorate unwanted damage to tissues and organs caused by cytokine release as the result of viral infection.

The ultimate aim for the treatment of all viral infections, including COVID-19, is the development of host and herd immunity, which can be accomplished either through host infection or vaccination. To manage potential pandemics with the least number of casualties, researchers must develop vaccines that can be mass produced on a scale of hundreds of millions of doses within in a few months after a virus appears and that can be rapidly distributed across the globe. Traditional vaccines use either active or weakened virus or destroyed forms of viral particles as the immune responsegenerating agent. The use of attenuated and destroyed viral particles as vaccines is highly effective, but the manufacturing process is arduous and time-consuming. Recombinant RNA and DNA vaccines circumvent these shortcomings of traditional vaccine generation and are in clinical trial for COVID-19. In this case, humankind owes biochemists Paul Berg, Walter Gilbert, Frederick Sanger, and their colleagues a debt of gratitude for their Nobel prize winning fundamental research in developing recombinant DNA technologies. This work resulted from decades-long funding by U.S. and U.K. governmental agencies and, today, allows the design of recombinant RNA and DNA vaccines and many other life-saving medicines that take advantage of this revolutionary technology.

Once the dust from the COVID-19 pandemic settles and the U.S. Congress is back in session, I hope that lawmakers will recognize our societys dependence on thorough, methodical, mechanistic science and the medicines it provides and ask themselves how many more people might have perished from COVID-19 without the modern methods that arose from the basic molecular research described above. This catastrophe should be a reminder that a healthy investment in all institutes of the NIH and NCI and other federal science agencies will be life-saving when future pandemics arise.

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial license, which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, so long as the resultant use is not for commercial advantage and provided the original work is properly cited.

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