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."
One Step Down
November 24, 2009
IBM has developed lab-on-a-chip diagnostic tool, reports Technology Review. In the prototype, a small amount of blood flows through the chips' capillaries — as small as 30 micrometers. There, antibodies bind to disease markers in the blood, to diagnose a disease in 15 minutes, according to Emmanuel Delamarche who worked on the device at IBM Zurich Research Laboratory. Those compounds are then detected by another set of antibodies and measured with a fluoresce reader. "The next step is to develop a pilot series of maybe a thousand devices and test them on samples from hospitals," Delamarche says.