Inner ear gene discoveries offer clues about hearing and balance

Normal development on the left, absence of Sox11 and Sox4 leading to malformation of the inner ear structures on the right.

A new study from the Rockefeller University in New York may show researchers ways to regrow hair cells and restore lost hearing and balance. The study was lead by senior author and professor, A. James Hudspeth, and the lab work was done by Dr. Ksenia Gnedeva. They examined mice before and after birth, and discovered that two genes control the process of generating hair cells. By switching the genes on, new hair cells were observed in mature utricles. The utricle, a small sac or bag-like organ lined with hair cells that detects motion, is highly controlled by the transcription Sox4 and Sox11. Even in older mice, when the genes are turned on, Gnedeva found new hair cells developing. However, if both genes are turned off in developing mice, it leads to the entire inner ear developing abnormally.
This study was done in hopes to find a way to "restore hair cells later in life".
A study in a similar field was done recently, and it is the development of a genetic blueprint of inner ear cell development. This was found with a new technology called single-cell RNA-seq. This sequencing provides a' foundation for the potential development of cell-based therapies for treating hearing loss and balance disorders. The adaptation from the original media release can be found here.
I find this so interesting that such a small factor can have such an expansive outcome.

Viruses show promising results in the fight against antibiotic resistant bacteria

Researchers at Rockefeller University have discovered a new way to fight antibiotic resistant bacteria; they are doing this with the use of viruses. Vincent Fischetti, a microbiologist who is head of Rockefeller University Laboratory of Bacterial Pathogenesis and Immunology, states that it has been a long time goal of scientists to find a way to fight bacteria without them developing a resistance to the aggressor; in particular, a bacteria of specific concern, is MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). He and other researchers are already proficient at determining what will kill bacteria, although they were originally unable to determine what they can use that the bacteria will not be able to adapt to over time. They now have finally developed an antibiotic named Epimerox that is capable of doing exactly what they hoped for, which is currently under production.

The researchers were able to pinpoint a specific spot on the bacteria in that acts as a weak spot in its armor; they used nature against itself by allowing viruses to invade and kill bacteria at these specific weak points. By use of the evolution of viruses, the researchers were able to produce a compound phage-encoded molecule which targets the bacterial enzyme 2-epimerase. Which targeting this specific bacterial enzyme, the virus also completely protects animals from anthrax and MRSA in lab results. Hopefully this drug is able to pass human trials and greatly reduce the number of hospital acquired MRSA infections that currently plagues our American healthcare system. With the eradication of MRSA, various antibiotics such as Bactrim and Vancomycin may ultimately be used less, thus resulting in a decrease of antibiotic resistance in patients. The results of this results sound promising and it's great to hear that the overuse of antibiotics is being acknowledged on a national level by way of new and innovative drug research.