Human Genetic Variation Alters Anthrax Toxin Sensitivity
Martchenko, Candille et al., PNAS
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine show that genetic variation affecting capillary morphogenesis gene 2, or CMG2, dramatically alters toxin sensitivity in humans. In its analysis, the team reports on "a CMG2 single-nucleotide polymorphism occurring frequently in African and European populations [that they found] independently altered toxin uptake." The group goes on to suggest "testing of genomically characterized human cell populations may offer a broadly useful strategy for elucidating effects of genetic variation on infectious disease susceptibility."
Another argument for the cloudy future of life sciences HPC
January 28, 2010
Cloud computing whiz kid Jason Stowe, founder and CEO of Cycle Computing, a cloud management solutions company, puts forth a a pitch about why bioinformaticists and pharma IT folk should be looking towards cloud computing as the future of life sciences HPC. Stowe cites examples such as Schrödinger's virtual screening program Glide, which is available on the cloud. Recently, the company demonstrated how "on-demand availability of large, secure, and trouble-free cloud computational resources can fill this gap. As test data, it screened 1.8 million candidate compounds against a target site to find potential matches. Using a 600-processor cloud HPC cluster, 18 months of screening was completed in 36 hours." Not too shabby. As with any pro-cloud argument, the main point is the elasticity and cost reductions when compared to fixed-sized clusters where the growing needs of its users result in more servers, networking equipment, and additional IT personnel (i.e. money, money, and more money).