Prime- and base-editing mouse models advance cancer research
The landscape of cancer research is being transformed by the introduction of new mouse models using prime- and base-editing techniques. The prime-editing mouse model stands out for its high editing efficiencies, particularly in lung and pancreatic organoids. This model facilitates in-depth exploration of drug-resistance mutations, a critical aspect in cancer treatment. Similarly, the base-editing model […]
CAR-T cell therapy remains viable for patients in lymphoma remission, study finds
For some patients who receive cell therapy such as CAR-T cells, this comes after many other treatments have failed. Researchers noticed that their patients who received the cells while in remission tended to do well after their infusion. They proposed a research study to follow patients who had received a transplant and/or cell therapy. The […]
CRISPR screening unveils ATXN3 as a new cancer treatment target
Using CRISPR screening, the deubiquitinase ATXN3 was identified as a key regulator of PD-L1 transcription in tumor cells, a critical factor in tumor immune evasion. In this study, researchers transfected a targeted library of all 96 members of the mammalian deubiquitinase family into melanoma cells, then sorted the cells according to low and high PD-L1 […]
Self-copying RNA vaccine wins first full approval: what’s next? – Nature
The approval of yet another RNA-based vaccine for COVID-19 might not seem momentous. But the endorsement last week by Japanese authorities of a jab against SARS-CoV-2 constructed using a form of RNA that can make copies of itself inside cells — the first ‘self-amplifying’ RNA (saRNA) granted full regulatory approval anywhere in the world — marks a […]
St. Jude scientists discover potential CAR T cell therapy target for brain and solid tumors
L’une des difficultés qui a entravé le succès des cellules CAR-T dans les tumeurs cérébrales et solides est la difficulté d’identifier une bonne cible pour ces cancers. Cependant, les chercheurs ont découvert que GRP78 est une excellente cible pour les cellules CAR-T. Les chercheurs ont ensuite créé des cellules CAR-T ciblant GRP78 qui ont réussi […]
New approach to CAR T cell therapy may extend treatment effectiveness
La tendance des cellules CAR-T à perdre leur fonction au fil du temps, un phénomène connu sous le nom d’épuisement des cellules T, a été un obstacle majeur au traitement. Même lorsque les cellules CAR-T sont efficaces à court terme, le cancer réapparaît souvent. Ce problème explique en partie pourquoi la thérapie par cellules CAR-T […]
Gamma delta T cells engineered to be more potent and long-lasting against cancer
Scientists have developed a new method for engineering more potent immune cells that can potentially be used for “off-the-shelf” cell therapy to treat challenging cancers. The team focused on gamma delta T cells, an immune cell known for its ability to target a wide range of cancers, including solid tumors, without causing graft-versus-host disease, a […]
mRNA trans-splicing dual AAV vectors for (epi)genome editing and gene therapy | Nature Communications
Despite the significant advances made in recent years, there are still a number of obstacles standing in the way of wider application of gene therapies. These include the efficient delivery of genetic material to target cells with minimal side effects using adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors. AAV carriers have an advantageous safety profile and high gene […]
Partnership to develop gene editing therapies for neurological, muscular diseases
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Intellia Therapeutics Inc. have announced an expanded research collaboration aimed at developing further CRISPR-based gene-editing therapies focused on neurological and muscular diseases. According to an Intellia press release, the expanded partnership aims to combine Regeneron’s proprietary adeno-associated viral vectors and antibody-targeted delivery systems with Intellia’s proprietary Nme2 CRISPR/Cas9 systems tailored to […]
Small and precise CRISPR-Cas13bt3 system can be used to shred viruses
There are different types of CRISPR system, and the one on which researchers have focused to describe the three-dimensional structure in detail is called CRISPR-Cas13bt3. What’s unique about it is that it’s very small. Usually, these types of molecules contain around 1,200 amino acids, whereas this one only contains around 700. Smaller size is a […]