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."
Aw, A Success
November 06, 2009
A Forbes article entitled, “Genomics: No Longer A Failure,” says that Human Genome Sciences and Vertex Pharmaceuticals are finally living up to the hype promised during Human Genome Project. Human Genome saw positive results in a second study of its lupus drug, Benlysta, and Vertex presented mid-stage results of its hepatitis C drug, telaprevir, that indicated it could work as well if taken twice a day as three times a day, which is how it is currently being tested. Forbes notes that Benlysta would be “one of the first [drugs] to emerge from newfangled efforts to decipher the human genome that started in the early 1990s, amid enormous amounts of hype that it would lead to a huge cornucopia of new drugs.”