Genetically Modified Fungus Kills Parasites

Metarhizium phinghaense is a green fungus that has the ability to kill insects when they come in contact with it.  This fungus is now undergoing studies to see if it can be used to kill insecticide-resistant mosquitoes that carry the Malaria pathogen and prevent the spread of disease.
Researchers have genetically modified the Metarhizium phinghaense fungus to carry a toxin responsible for killing off the mosquitoes, including those carrying Malaria pathogen, called the spider bite toxin.  It is a hybrid toxin that enters the blood of mosquitoes, called hemolymph.  This toxin not only kills the mosquito and stops the transfer of Malaria, but it kills the pathogen themselves so it can't be picked up within the environment.

Brkina Faso, West Africa

In Burkina Faso, a country in West Africa, a study was done to assay the effectiveness of the Metarhizium phinghaense hybrid fungus.  I was performed here because in 2017, 219 million cases of malaria were reported and 92% of those cases originated in Africa, and 93% of the deaths originated in Africa as well.  To perform the study they secured the area with mosquito nets preventing new mosquitos to enter or case study mosquitos to exit.  In their findings that introduced the hybrid fungus to the mosquitos, the fungus killed off 2 generations of mosquitos.
This genetic modification could be the start of bringing down Malaria cases more than 50% percent if everyone would plant them outside of there homes, villages, etc.  The mortality rate would significantly decrease as well.  Although this discovery has great benefits, what would be the consequence to genetically modifying the Metarhizium phinghaense fungus?

Original Article: Science News

Possible Cure for Ebola

 

     Recently there has been a huge outbreak of the Ebola virus. More than 9,400 people worlwide have died because of this disease. All signs are showing that the disease will not be stopping and possibly spreading to West Africa.
   A group of scientics at Texas Biomed have studied ebola for over 10 years with 5 of those being focused on possible therapy options. Through much research they were able to find that two pore channels (TPCs) must be triggered in an infected cell for the virus to be able to function inside of that cell. With this finding they also were able to find that certain medications would be potential cures for the virus.

    One of the possible cures is medication that is currently used for patients with high blood pressure. The drug is able to turn TPCs on and off. Tetrandrine which is a Chinese herb, was tested on mice and actually proved to stop the Ebola virus from multiplying and protected them from the virus. No side effects seems to come from using this drug on Ebola infected mice. This finding is promising in that potential cures for Ebola can be found soon enough and save thousands of lives.
     I found this article interesting in that the Ebola epidemic has been all over the news recently and a potential cure can save so many lives. Ebola is a terrible virus that causes a hemorrhage fever. If the Chinese herb showed a positive outcome on the lab mice hopefully scientists can make it possible to use on humans. Of course more research would have to be done to see if an even more harmful mutation occurs from the drug, but there is still hope in that it will be successful.

Original Article 

Breakthrough in Ebola Virus Genome Sequencing

An easier method for sequencing Ebola virus genome is being developed by researchers. The main obstacles of tracking Ebola in suspect fever patients are the contaminating human RNA in blood samples and the rapid degradation of viral RNA in the hot climate of West Africa, where Ebola virus is most rampant. By almost completely eliminating human RNA using enzymes and chemical reagent, from 80% to less than 0.5% in samples, this new sequencing technique is cost- effective and accurate. This method was originally developed for the Lassa virus which causes hemorrhagic fever in West Africa. 

The Ebola epidemic has been in the center of attention for many countries. This virus has caused countries to close its door in the face of visitors. Thousands upon thousands have died in West Africa. I found it relieving to see some significant advances in the research of this virus. Studying the genome of this virus will help us to prevent and detect different forms of its sort. 

Main article: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/285717.php

Support article: http://www.voanews.com/content/ebola-ebokon-20noc14/2527839.html

Patent Awarded for Genetics-Based Nanotechnology Against Mosquitoes

            The Mosquito (Culiseta longiareolata) is arguably the most annoying insect humans interact with on a regular basis. During the mild weather of spring and the sweltering heat of summer, mosquitos swarm their victims in droves, surreptitiously sucking blood from a choice of several animal species. In addition to this grievance, mosquitos are primary carriers of HIV, Malaria and West Nile virus in the Eastern hemisphere. However, these petty creatures may no longer pose such a significant threat to overall health and quality of life in the near future.
            Researchers at Kansas State University have developed a method of keeping mosquitos and even other annoying insects at bay from their victims. It is United States patent number 8,841,272, formally called "Double-stranded RNA Based Nanoparticles for Insect Gene Silencing." This technique uses genetics-based technology to kill these insects with minimal repercussions, especially upon juxtaposing alternative methods such as using pesticides that have detrimental effects on the environment. Kun Yan Zhu, professor of entomology and Xin Zhang, a research associate in the Division of Biology, developed the technology. They said it utilizes nanoparticles comprised of a non-toxic, biodegradable polymer matrix and insect derived double-stranded ribonucleic acid, or dsRNA. The purpose of this process would be to interfere with RNA interference, or RNAi, to destroy the genetic code of an insect in a specific DNA sequence.

            This technology could be the near perfect solution for the inundation of these types of insects, particularly in Africa. Once ingested the nanoparticles act as a "Trojan horse," releasing loosely bound dsRNA into the insect gut. This subsequently triggers a genetic chain reaction, thus destroying messenger RNA and killing the insect. If these studies ultimately come to fruition, this method of killing insects could save hundreds of thousands of lives per year. 

Main article: http://phys.org/news/2014-11-patent-awarded-genetics-based-nanotechnology-mosquitoes.html

More Information: http://phys.org/news/2014-10-protein-insect-blood-power-pests.html#inlRlv

A New Strain of Ebola Discovered

 

     On November 7, 2014, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a new strain of the Ebola virus was found.  Although this strain is not the same strain found previously in Central Africa, it does however display the rapidness this virus can emerge, and ultimately spread.  Researchers incollaboration with WHO experts, such as IRD, the Institut Pasteus, the CRNS, the CIRMF in Gabon and the INRB in the Democratic Republic of Congo.  The CIRMF has performed whole genome sequencing of the virus responsible using a high-throughput sequencerthat is unique to Sub-Saharan Africa.  Ultimately, this finding confimrs that these two strains are not related but however are two strains of Ebola. Moreover, it is said that the Congolese strain is very similar to those that "ravaged" in the DRC and Gabon between 1995-1997.

     These results display that the Congolese outbreak is due to a local viral strain, which has ultimately been controlled.  This epidemic occurred on July 26, 2014 when a woman became ill after encountering a dead monkey in the forest where she then cut the monkey opened.  There have been 70 cases have been confirmed, which included 42 deaths awith a fatality rate of 60%.  Due to the Congolese health authorities isolating patients, protecting the medical staff, instructing the populations to avoid all body contact, the epidemic appears to be contained in Central Africa. 

     I found this article to be interesting and informative.  I was not aware of the finding of a new strain of Ebola, that is unrelated to the strain found in West Africa.  The discovery of a new strain of Ebola is extremely imperative to the health and medical field as well as research because it can be understood the rapid alternation of genes and growth this epidemic may have.  Hopefully, in the near future, this epidemic can be understood and isolated. 

Main article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141107111003.htm

You Are What Your Mom Eats

In an article posted on the NewsMedical website, researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have made some remarkable discoveries that help explain how the diets of pregnant mothers in the days and weeks around the time of conception may affect genetic function in their children, and ultimately their children's health. Lead by molecular geneticist Robert A. Waterland, investigators examined the gene functions of 50 healthy children living in rural villages in the West African nation of The Gambia.

Specifically, Waterland was examining the effects of nutrition on what geneticists refer to as "epigenetic mechanisms" which impact the levels at which DNA methylation, occurs at regions of certain genes. Their studies revealed higher levels of DNA methylation at regions of five genes in children conceived during the peak rainy season months, when food would typically have been less available to mothers.

“We thought that peak rainy season hunger would lower levels of DNA methylation in children conceived at that time, but we found exactly the opposite. We don’t yet know why that happens, but we have more detailed studies under way that may give us the answer.”

Waterland stated that, two of the five elevated genes warrant further study because they are associated with risk of disorders such as Tourette's syndrome and hypothyroidism.

I struggle with Tourette's syndrome myself so this article was of particular interest to me. However, I do not think it had much to do with whether my mother conceived me during the rainy seasons in New Jersey. After reading this article, I am curious though as to whether or not her diet may have had any impact. I also have a hyperthyroid but here they are referring to hypothyroidism. Either way, both are closely related thyroid disorders.