A wide range of conferences for 2010 is offered by Select Biosciences

Topics include Stem Cells, Synthetic Biology, RNAi and miRNA, Genomics, Lab-on-a-Chip, Microarray Technology, qPCR, Single Cell Analysis, Biodetection, and much more. For a full list of these conferences see: Select Biosciences Conferences

Labels: Select Biosciences, Select Biosciences Conferences, SelectBiosciences

Since its discovery in 1979, p53 has become the focus of intensive cancer-based research in laboratories around the world. The p53 protein mediates critical cellular functions including the response to genotoxic stress, differentiation, senescence, and apoptosis, and has been shown to be mutated in a large proportion of human cancers. These observations led many to speculate that targeting the p53 pathway would result in the development of successful anti-cancer treatments. In spite of this, 30 years later, p53 has yet to fulfill this promise. However, new insights into small molecule combination therapies, microRNA regulation, structuring of clinical trials, and potential involvement in stem cell regulation may help p53 reach its potential.

from Nikolas Desilet, Tessa N. Campbell and Francis Y.M. Choy in Current Issues in Molecular Biology

Further reading: p53-based Anti-cancer Therapies: an Empty Promise?

Labels: Anti-cancer treatment, Apoptosis, Differentiation, Enotoxic stress, microRNA, MicroRNA regulation, p53, p53 pathway, p53 protein, Senescence

Human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV-1 and HIV-2) have evolved from a reservoir of African non-human primate lentiviruses, the simian immunodeficiency viruses. In contrast to the epidemic nature of HIV-1 infections, HIV-2 is restricted in its worldwide distribution, with the lower viral loads established in asymptomatic infection a significant cause of its diminished transmission efficiency. HIV-2 is also much less pathogenic than HIV-1 and results in a reduced rate of progression to AIDS despite a substantial proviral burden. The majority of patients remain asymptomatic and die of causes unrelated to immunodeficiency.

The adoption of "accessory genes" by HIV-2 and its more promiscuous pattern of coreceptor usage (including CD4-independence) may assist the virus in its adaptation to avoid innate restriction factors present in host cells. Adaptation to use normal cellular machinery to enable transmission and productive infection has also aided the establishment of HIV-2 replication in humans. A survival strategy for any infectious agent is not to kill its host but ultimately become a commensal organism. Having achieved a low pathogenicity, over time, variants more successful at transmission will be selected.

from Lentiviruses and Macrophages: Molecular and Cellular Interactions

Labels: HIV-2, Human immunodeficiency virus, Lentiviruses, Simian immunodeficiency virus

Mutualisms are reciprocal exploitations that nonetheless increase the fitness of each interacting partner. Two groups of fungal mutualists of plants, epichloe endophytes of grasses and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, were selected as focal systems to discuss population-level processes that contribute to the establishment and maintenance of mutualistic interactions. These two classes of fungal cooperators of plants are subject to different and often conflicting selective pressures and represent distinct trajectories of mutualism evolution. Yet, in both cases population structure of symbionts is a source of information critical for understanding how these fungi interact with their hosts (Xu, 2010).

References:
Xu, J. (2010) Microbial Population Genetics. Caister Academic Press, Norfolk, UK.

Labels: Epichloe endophytes, Fungal cooperators of plants, Fungal Mutualists, Mutualisms