Category Archives: Science in the News

Promising Lead to a Universal Flu Vaccine

Posted on February 7, 2016 by | 1 comment

It’s flu season. Every year people get vaccinated against the flu, also known as influenza. Now, researchers are looking at a long-lasting flu vaccine that does not need to be given annually.

Tylenol

– Image Source: Dennis S. Hurd, Flickr

A recent study shows that scientists may have found a new potential target to generate new vaccines against certain types of the flu. They focused on a protein called hemagglutinin found on the surface of viral influenza particles. This protein contains a head region, which undergoes constant genetic changes, as well as a stem region that does not change. Although current influenza vaccines are composed of the viral particles from the head region, researchers discovered a way to stabilize the stem region in order to create a vaccine. Their results showed that vaccinated mice and ferrets either had reduced symptoms or complete immunity against certain related influenza viruses.

A vaccine is produced from taking a virus and weakening it so that it is unable to replicate and cause harm within an individual. When the vaccine is injected, the body is tricked into thinking that the virus particles are dangerous, thus initiating an immune response and producing antibodies that destroy that specific virus particle. As a result, these antibodies reside in the body for long periods of time. Therefore, if in the future the real virus enters the body, you will have specific antibodies to protect you from the virus.

– Credit: TED-Ed

Although a new flu vaccine is produced every year, the effectiveness of the vaccine may vary. Each flu season, because the virus is constantly changing, researchers try to determine the specific types of influenza that are currently circulating and those that will be present in the coming year. Based on this information, a vaccine is produced consisting of multiple types of the virus, however, it is impossible for the vaccine to be 100% accurate. With the discovery of this new target area on hemagglutinin, it could lead to the production of one vaccine for a group of related influenza viruses.

– Credit: Discovery News

According to the Government of Canada, approximately 10-20% of the population becomes infected with influenza annually. Flu symptoms typically include fever, cough, and aches. Furthermore, there are 12,200 hospitalizations and 3,500 deaths each year. Individuals at greater risk for complications or hospitalization caused by the flu include people with other diseases and weakened immune systems, residents in chronic care facilities, people aged 65 or older, and pregnant women. Immunize BC emphasizes the importance of everyone getting vaccinated in order to prevent the spread of disease to others. Researchers are hoping that a longer-lasting flu vaccine will encourage more people to get vaccinated, and also reduce the cost associated with producing and administering seasonal flu vaccines.

However, we may still have to get our yearly flu shots for quite some time. Researchers, although very optimistic about the future of creating a new long-lasting vaccine, say that more research needs to be done to determine the efficacy in human models.

– Brian Infanti

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Type 1 Diabetes: A Potential Cure?

Posted on February 1, 2016 by | 5 comments

Type 1 Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus type 1, is a condition characterized by the impaired ability of one’s pancreas to produce insulin. In an individual with type 1 diabetes, the immune system malfunctions and attacks the beta cells of the pancreas, which are responsible for producing insulin. This classifies type 1 diabetes as an autoimmune disease, which is where the immune system attacks the body, thus it is currently incurable. The current treatment for this condition involves daily injections of insulin to allow the individual to regulate their blood sugar levels. Unfortunately, insulin therapy has side effects, such as hypoglycemia (low blood glucose levels) or hyperglycemia (high blood glucose levels) from incorrect dosages, and some individuals may be allergic to the preservatives added to insulin medication. Furthermore, insulin therapy involves precise control of blood sugar levels, and this is very difficult to achieve, often causing patients to face long-term medical problems as a result.

Diagram of the pancreas and beta cells. Via Wikimedia Commons.

Diagram of the pancreas and beta cells. Via Wikimedia Commons.

So what is this new potential cure? It began in 2014, when a team of Harvard University researchers used human stem cells, unspecialized cells that can become cells with a specific function, to create new beta cells in large quantities, as published in Cell. This new technique of creating insulin producing cells from human embryonic stem cells was a big step in diabetes research. In further experiments, these beta cells were transplanted into diabetic mice, as an attempt to replace the destroyed beta cells. Unfortunately, the immune system in the mice destroyed these new beta cells as well.

The experiments were first done on lab mice. Via Wikimedia Commons.

The experiments were first done on lab mice. Via Wikimedia Commons.

A team of researchers from MIT and several other institutions have devised an “invisibility cloak” for the beta cells, so they can hide from the faulty immune system. The cloak is composed of modified alginate, which is a material isolated from brown algae. After testing 800 various derivatives of this alginate capsule, they chose the best capsule from the tests, known as triazole-thiomorpholine dioxide (TMTD). This research was shown in a recently posted article in the Nature Biotechnology journal.

Brown algae that form the alginate used in "invisibility cloak". Via Wikimedia Commons.

Brown algae that form the alginate used in “invisibility cloak”. Via Wikimedia Commons.

The results were incredible! As a study in Nature Medicine showed, the injected mice were able to produce insulin until the implants were removed 174 days later. This has massive implications for diabetes therapy, as not being dependent on insulin injections is the end goal. If these implants were able to function in humans, then the diabetic individuals would not require insulin injections anymore. The next step of research is to move from trials on mice to trials on primates. If the tests on primates show positive results, the step after would be human trials. Researchers are making large strides towards a cure for type 1 diabetes.

– Kush Khanna

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Posted in Biological Sciences, Science in the News

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The Outbreak of the Zika Virus

Although not a new illness, Zika is currently spreading at an alarming rate in Central and South America, a tropical disease that is caused by the Zika virus. Zika is spread primarily by an infected Aedes aegypti female mosquito, where the mosquito becomes infected by biting a person already infected by the virus. The Zika virus is in the same family as yellow fever, dengue fever, and the west nile virus and is known to cause mild symptoms such as a rash, headaches, fever, and pink eye. In fact, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says only 20% of those infected will get sick.

Aedes aegypti mosquito. Credit: James Gathany

So if this illness is mild, then why are we concerned? On top of the fact that more than a million people have already been infected in Brazil, there is now evidence that Zika may be linked to birth defects in unborn infants. Scientists say that pregnant woman who get infected could pass this virus to their child, causing the fetus to develop microcephaly, a small brain and head abnormality. New York Times stated that more than 4,000 cases of microcephaly have been registered in Brazil. Hawaii’s Department of Health has also confirmed USA’s first microcephaly case linked to the Zika virus. Moreover, The Vancouver Sun has reported 2 confirmed cases of Zika in B.C. residents. With no treatment or vaccine available, there have been growing concerns for its appearance in North America.

MRI’s of a normal individual (left) and a patient with microcephaly caused by an ASPM mutation (right). Credit: Public Library of Science (PLOS) Biology

World Health says that the virus will likely spread to regions of Central, South and North America with the exception of Chile and Canada, as the type of mosquitos that spread the Zika virus are not present in these two countries. It is also important to note that the Zika virus isn’t necessarily being transmitted in North America but it is infected people that are returning from Brazil and Mexico for example, who are bringing the disease to Canada and the United States. Researchers are predicting that Zika will likely follow the same pattern as dengue fever in the US, hitting the hardest in the hotter months.

It is important to educate the public about Zika and advise pregnant woman to postpone their travels to these countries where they could possibly become infected.

When trying to prevent getting infected by this virus, the most important prevention methods revolve around mosquito bites, as this is the most common way this virus spreads within a population. The following are therefore critical when you are in a location where this virus is found: wearing long-sleeve clothing, sleeping with a mosquito net, and most importantly, using insect repellant.

The video below by CNN explains the possible spreading of this virus, along with the concerns about pregnant woman with the Zika disease.

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-Daniela Castillo

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Posted on January 31, 2016 by in Science in the News

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Are E-Cigarettes truly harmless?

Posted on January 30, 2016 by | 2 comments
Man using E Cigarette indoors. Credit: Vaping360.com

Man using E Cigarette indoors.
Credit: Vaping360.com

The trend of “vaping” via  E-Cigarettes has exploded over the years. A fad that has quickly spread across a variety of age groups may now be a potential health hazard. An average user of an E-Cigarette may not consider that the vapour they are inhaling is harmful to their body. It can’t possibly be toxic since it’s not real cigarette smoke, right? Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. The lack of data linking E-Cigarettes and heath concerns has been the main reason why the general public deems they are safe and why they aren’t as strictly regulated as regular cigarettes. The way the E-Cigarette has been handled by the government regarding health concerns is quite nostalgic of how normal cigarettes were treated 60 years ago. Cigarettes were thought to be safe until many years later cases of cancer were popping up left and right. The ultimate question raised is, will these E-Cigarettes pose a serious health concern in the future?

A recent study conducted by Harvard T.H School of Public Health tested 51 E-Cigarette refill liquids for diacetyl, 2,3-pentanedione, and acetoin. Diacetyl  has been linked to causing “popcorn lung“, a serious lung disease that is commonly treated by a lung transplant. Furthermore, the other 2 chemicals acetoin and 2,3-pentanedione have both been recognized as respiratory hazards in a public workplace. The researchers of the study found that 47 of the 51 liquids tested contained one of these compounds. These results don’t necessarily mean that all refill liquids possess these compounds, but a majority of them do.

Another article posted by Heather Buschman of University of California discusses a study conducted that focuses on how E-Cigarette vapour kills cells in the airway of mice and makes bacteria more virulent. In the study, two groups of mice were treated with an antibiotic-resistant bacteria with one group exposed to E-Cigarette vapour while the other group was not. The results indicated that 25% of the mice that had been exposed to the E-Cigarette vapour and the antibiotic-resistant drug had died due to the bacteria being more virulent. The researchers of the study show that E-Cigarette vapour can also potentially have negative indirect effects on subjects other than just causing lung disease, such as making bacteria more virulent and thus creating multiple concerns that weren’t present before.

Both studies mentioned have come to a conclusion one way or another that E-Cigarette vapour is not completely harmless. Hopefully in the future more research will be conducted resulting in conclusive evidence that changes the stigma of “harmless vaping”.

The video below by AsapSCIENCE compares traditional smoking and E-Cigarettes. By comparing the harms associated with both, the video explains how due to the lack of current data we won’t know the extent of the harm caused by E-Cigarettes until the future, although studies being conducted don’t indicate a bright future for these technological fads.

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Credit: AsapSCIENCE

 

Posted by Harsh Bhatt

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Will Human Head Transplant Work?

Posted on January 25, 2016 by | 2 comments

Science has advanced very much in the field of medicine with discoveries that give people another chance to live. In the past century, there have been many new inventions including new medicines, vaccinations and organ transplant in humans. However, the idea of a head transplant was only a mystery which was only seen in movies such as Frankenstein. Surprisingly, that fiction is about to become a reality in the near future. In the next year or two, Italian neurosurgeon Sergio Canavero is to perform the first ever human head transplant which will evolve science to new echelons.  According to Canavero, the surgery is intended for those who have a fully functioning head, but endure a paralyzed body from the neck down due to some type of incurable disease or injuries suffered from accidents. The healthy head will be placed onto a healthy body of someone who is brain dead, and there is “90 percent” chance for the surgery to succeed.  Similar to other complications, “of course there is a marginal risk” according to Sergio Canavero.

The surgery of head transplant never performed before, and with the risks being higher than any other normal standard operation, Valery Spiridonov, a Russian computer scientist is willing to be the first patient. Spiridonov suffers from a motor neuron disease called Werdnig-Hoffmann Disease, which leads to the shrinking of the muscles every day and can cause difficulties breathing and swallowing. Currently, there is no cure for the disease and the head transplant can be a potential cure in the near future. Head transplant can also be a cure for those suffering from spinal cord injuries due to accidents, such as car crushes, falling from heights and others. 

valery spiridonov

Valery Spiridonov, first to be patient of head transplant

Photo Credit: Huffingtonpost, UK

The estimated time for the operation is about 36 – 72 hours, with about 80 surgeons involved, and the estimated cost to be about 11 million British Pounds which is $15 – 16 million US dollars.  The procedure of the operation will involve, first cutting the head of the patient with a really sharp blade, then using special surgical glue called polyethylene glycol, to attach the head into the new body and then stitching up the blood supplies. Afterwards, the patient will be put into coma for about four weeks to allow the head to heal with the new body, and small electric shocks given in order to improve the flow of connection. After the patient wakes up, everything is expected to be normal such as the functioning of the senses and movement coordinations. If this operation succeeds, more people could experience a second chance at survival and a new life. For a detailed procedure, please read this.

Blood vessel connection

Photo credit: The Telepgraph, UK

In conclusion, I think head transplant operation is another step towards expanding science and with its success, it can give lots of people hope and perhaps a new life to look forward too.

For detailed information watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmGm_VVklvo

Video credit: Juanker52

  • Hamed Hussaini, January 25th 2016

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There is Hope: Body Fat Transplant May Be Effective in Treating Rare Metabolic Diseases?

Posted on January 25, 2016 by | 4 comments

People who have rare metabolic diseases, such as Maple syrup urine disease depend highly on donor transplantation. But is there an alternative treatment if donors are low? Not to mention the high expenses of a transplant?

But… you might be wondering… what exactly is maple syrup urine disease and where does it get its name?

Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is a rare disease because it follows an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance, one of the ways a disease can be passed down through families. This means patients inherit MSUD if both their parents have an abnormal gene.  MSUD  causes a defect in the way our body breaks down the three essential amino acids: leucine, isoleucine, and valine.

Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) follows a autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. Source: Wikipedia Commons

Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) follows a autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. Source: Wikipedia Commons

It is characterized by the distinctive maple-syrup scent found early on in urine samples of infants. They are important because essential amino acids cannot be made from the body, so they must come directly from our diet. The defect causes these three amino acids and their by-products to build up in the body. As a result, MSUD patients need precisely monitored diets (measured to the very milligram!) to avoid consumption of these amino acids, while still obtaining the other essential amino acids the body needs.

If MSUD conditions are left untreated, they can lead to coma, seizures and even death before reaching three months in age.

Liver transplantation is shown to be effective in treating MSUD because the liver is composed of an abundance of enzymes which appear to normalize amino acid levels, sometimes even allowing patients to fully adopt their normal diets again.

So organ transplantation is usually the solution to metabolic diseases but because of the high demand, is there a more accessible alternative?

Noting the high activity of fat tissue relative to muscle tissue in the body, researchers from Penn State College of Medicine tested the effect of body fat transplantation with genetically engineered mice with MSUD. They transplanted two grams of fat into the mices’ back or abdomen and found that when they implanted fat into the mices’ back, the amino acid levels dropped greatly in the transplanted MSUD mice compared to non-transplanted MSUD mice.

Transplanting fat into the abdomen of the mice did more harm than good and caused inflammation in the process. The results of this study were recently published in the journal Molecular Genetics and Metabolism.

Their study concluded that the amount of fat injected had no effect on the results. So this must mean that there will be further experimentation with fat transplantation. Fat transplant can be an alternative to liver transplant because it may be a more efficient approach as it is relatively inexpensive and it may be easier to find donors.

Wayne and Chad’s personal account on their child living with MSUD: YouTube Preview Image
Posted on January 25, 2016 By Jenny U

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Posted in Biological Sciences, Issues in Science, Science Communication, Science Communicators, Science in the News

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Can adding native pollinators increase small-farm yields in under-developed countries?

Posted on January 24, 2016 by | Leave a comment

Small-farms in developing countries from Africa, Asian and Latin America that are struggling with their amount of crop production need a little boost to help get them back to their normal yield. Could the addition of native pollinators be what small-farms need to increase their yield gap?

Before I get into this, let’s refresh our knowledge about pollination.

Pollinators such as honey bees, beetles, and wasps help plants reproduce, which means they play a crucial role in agriculture.

How do they do this?

The main function of pollen is to produce male sperm cells. Pollination basically occurs when pollen is transferred to female reproductive organs of plants which allows fertilization and reproduction to occur. Native pollinators such as the few listed above are able to enhance pollination which helps out farmers with their crops.

"Meliponin bee, covered with pollen, visiting a flower of the Vegetable Sponge Gourd" By Leonardo Ré-Jorge.

“Honey bee, covered with pollen, visiting a flower of the Vegetable Sponge Gourd” By Leonardo Ré-Jorge.

Here is a video by Laura Klahre on TEDx Talks that discusses the different types of bees that are effective pollinators.

If pollinators are able to do this, then could these native pollinators effectively help struggling farmers with their yield?

A recent study discusses the effectiveness of implementing new pollinators to help small-farms that are struggling with crop production. It was done on “344 fields from 33 pollinator-dependant crop systems in small and large farms from Africa, Asia, and Latin America”. This study greatly affects under-developed countries that are reliant on their small-farms for food.

The study found that incorporating the new pollinators could potentially close the yield gap of farms by about a quarter; the yield gap being closed by a quarter was found on small fields that were less than 2 hectares.

The study suggests that ecological intensification or a “biodiversity of pollinators” will improve yield outcomes for the farms of these under-developed countries. Biodiversity of pollinators are just means to incorporate a diversity of different pollinators into the farms.

Introducing pollinators has shown to have a positive effect on these farms. It could be the method that struggling small-farms use to help get their farms a higher yield, so why not give it a chance?

Post by Karanvir Gill.

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