Poisoned Water: Michigan Crisis

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/24/us/flint-michigan-water.html

https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2016/p0624-water-lead.html

Corrosion in the lead and iron pipes that distribute water to city residents plagued Flint, Michigan since summer of 2014. The city decided to begin using the Flint River as its water source however it was not adequately monitored that water has the naturally ability to corrode iron pipes. So when high lead levels, rust-colored tap water, and the growth of pathogenic microbes the CDC stepped in.The Flint River water had a relatively low pH that decreased over time. Reports from the Flint treatment plant, the city’s water had a pH of about 8 in December 2014, but then it slowly dropped to 7.3 by August 2015. Environmental engineers say that if water pH drifts too low in the absence of orthophosphate, the water can start to leach high levels of lead from pipes.

This is still an ongoing crisis in Flint, it is dire that people across the country are aware of the dangerous that could come from your very own faucet. It's important to be updated on any decisions made based on the needs of a town because many people were unaware of the root of the problem.

Genetics has allowed selected a small percentage to have a strong resistance or immunity towards HIV-1.

The HIV-1 virus as is widely known to cause Aids and that lowers the effectiveness of the immune system. In the article it states that the HIV-1 harms the individual, “by invading immune system cells known as Tlymphocytes, hijacking their molecular machinery to make more of themselves,then destroying the host cells.” The immune system is a system that keeps the body in check of sickness and diseases; it is what fights foreign invaders that enter the body. Although the individual that acquires the HIV-1 virus is known to have their immune system weakens and even diminish to barely anything, and the individuals becomes more prone to sickness. This is a major concern for people, and it should since there is no fully effective cure to rid of the virus completely, but yet there are people out there that have a high resistant and could even label it immunity to the HIV-1 virus.  

Image of a HIV-1virus that can attack immune systems cells.

Recent studies from the University of Minnesota suggests that there is a clue as to why these individuals show immunity and the answer lies in the cells that the HIV-1 has impacted. The body immune system has a defense against foreign invaders and HIV-1 is no exception, the body produces proteins titled, APOBEC3, that prevents the virus from replicating, but the virus has a counter of a defense that allows the body to be deceived and destroy the APOBEC3 that stopped replication of the virus. Studies conducted showed that individuals produces different levels of the proteins that fight back the HIV-1 virus, although the people showing immunity lack the ability to prevent the virus if it has a strong ability to produce the protein Vif, which makes the body destroy it own resilience. Overall the individuals showing immunity have to have met certain conditions and even with those conditions met they still have an internal struggle of the virus against their immune system.

This is a large step forward since now that there is a targeted identity now, researchers can targets the Vif of the virus to stop producing it’s counter defense, so the infected individual immune system can hopefully get rid of the virus. Although, personally knowing that there is an internal competition within the infected body, is a large concern since any serious illness or shock to the body can tip the favor to the virus.  

Original Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141120141750.htm

2nd Article:http://discover.umn.edu/news/science-technology/new-study-reveals-why-some-people-may-be-immune-hiv-1

Main Ingredient in Silly Putty Could Promote Stem Cell Growth

A team at University of Michigan, under the direction of Jianping Fu and his team, have been studying the growth of stem cells on different surfaces.  According to this article publshed in Science Daily, It was found in their study that the stem cells are depending on physical signals to initiate differentiation.  Polydimethylsiloxane, the main ingredient in Silly Putty, was used to create small carpets in which the team of scientists grew the stem cells on.  The stem cells had a large amount of differentiation when long fibers of polydimethylsiloxane were used.  The longer fibers made a softer "carpet" for the cells to grow on.  According to Fu this research will change a lot in the medical field.  Scientists will now be able to target when cells begin to differentiate and also produce more vital stem cells.  Many paralyzing diseases such as ALS cause damage to nerve cells in those who are affected.  This research could improve treatment for such diseases by creating a more efficient and reliable way to create more nerve cells in the patient's body.   Overall the research will open many new doors into studying embryonic/stem cells as well as new treatments for awful paralyzing diseases.  

I believe that this research is monumental in the medical world.  Stem cells, which are similar to embryonic cells, are lost as our bodies age.  These cells are extremely vital because they are not yet specified to have just one function.  Stem cells can then differentiate into cells need around the body such as muscle, nerve, etc.  Being able to regenerate those specific cells would be very useful in the medical field especially with diseases such as ASL.  ALS deriates and paralyzes the body, new research into repairing or creating new, pure differentiated cells, will ultimately save lives and further the research into curing such illnesses.