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Parasites Ready To Jump
Transposons are mobile genetic elements found in the hereditary material of humans and other organisms. They can replicate and the new copies can insert at novel sites in the genome. Because this threatens the whole organism, molecular mechanisms have evolved which can repress transposon activity. Professor Klaus Förstemann of the Gene Center of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) in Munich and a team of researchers working with the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster have now uncovered a new type of cellular defence that acts against DNA sequences present in high copy numbers inside the cell, even if they have not integrated into the genome. Small molecules of RNA (a class of nucleic acid closely related to the genetic material DNA) play the central role. "Transposons are genomic parasites, so to speak", says Förstemann. "If they are allowed to proliferate, the genome can become unstable or cancers can develop. We now want to find out whether mammalian cells possess this newly discovered defence mechanism and to elucidate precisely how it works." (EMBO Journal online, 30 July 2009.)
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Male Or Female? Coloring Provides Gender Cues
Our brain is wired to identify gender based on facial cues and coloring, according to a new study published in the Journal of Vision. Psychology Professor Frç©dç©ric Gosselin and his Universitç© de Montrç©al team found the luminescence of the eyebrow and mouth region is vital in rapid gender discrimination.
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FDA Approves VYVANSE CII Label Change To Include Supplementary Clinical Data Supporting Efficacy At 13 Hours Postdose In Children Age 6-12 With ADHD
Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY), the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, today announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a change to the prescribing information for its once-daily Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) treatment VYVANSE® (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) CII, to include supplemental data that demonstrated significant ADHD symptom control in children aged 6 to 12 from the first time point measured (1.5 hours) through 13 hours postdose. VYVANSE is now the first and only oral ADHD stimulant treatment to have 13-hour postdose efficacy data for pediatric patients included in its product labeling.
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Vaccine Manufacturing Facility Opened By John Swinney MSP, Scotland

John Swinney MSP, Finance Secretary officially opened a new vaccine manufacturing facility at Big DNA, Roslin Biocentre, by Edinburgh on 12 May 2009. This major facility takes a completely new method of making vaccines to its next level, to test a variety of methods that will be used in future to manufacture important new vaccines, which have the potential to save millions of lives during major outbreaks of disease worldwide. Conventional vaccines can be difficult and expensive to make, requiring specialist facilities and expertise, and sometimes fail to work for some diseases. The unique process developed by Dr John March and his team at Big DNA Ltd uses self assembling nano-particles (bacterial viruses) called "bacteriophage" to deliver vaccines. These are grown cheaply and simply on special bacterial hosts cells and contain the genetic instructions (or DNA) rather than using the disease organism itself, which all conventional vaccines rely upon. This new way to develop a vaccine is faster, cheaper and can be more effective, bringing great benefits to public health. Dr March, founder of Big DNA Ltd says: "We are proud to be a Scottish-based life sciences company which has taken an exciting early stage technology and have actually developed it to the level where we aim to be entering clinical trials within the next couple of years." John Swinney MSP, Finance Secretary said: "This is excellent news for Scotland"s life sciences sector in a challenging economic climate. Life science is an industry which can boost investment in Scotland, and with Scottish expertise, develop revolutionary technologies. Successful companies such as Big DNA can enhance Scotland"s place on the global stage for life sciences and help position Scotland"s economy for a stronger recovery." Bacteriophage DNA vaccines offer the potential for extremely rapid development and manufacture, using relatively simple processes (weeks rather than months), important for pandemic influenza. In addition they offer the potential to be taken orally, eliminating the need for needles and injections and all their associated hazards. A range of vaccines are currently under development. Big DNA Ltd raised ÷£1.5million of private investment last year to fund the development of its unique patented technology - developing manufacturing processes for vaccines, and to go through the regulatory approvals process to develop the vaccines for clinical trials. "We continue to develop collaborative research ventures with academic and commercial bodies, a process which helps us all get the results we are after much more quickly," continues Dr March. For example, Big DNA has an important collaboration with colleagues in Beijing at the China Agricultural University to produce vaccines against chlamydia in pigs. Lord Freeman, formerly Minister of State for Public Transport and Defence Procurement Minister, is chairman of Big DNA. Nexxus, Scotland


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