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saraeberhardt

Nanosponges used to soak up toxins in the bloodstream - 0 views

www.gizmag.com/...27078

toxins microbiology nanosponges

shared by saraeberhardt on 24 Apr 13 - No Cached
  • the tiny sponges mimic red blood cells, and are able to soak up lethal toxins – including snake venom and bacteria – from the bloodstream.
  • The nanosponges are made up of a biocompatible polymer core, which is coated with segments of the host’s red blood cell membranes.
  • each nanosponge is 3,000 times smaller than a red blood cell
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • So many of the nanosponges are injected that they end up actually outnumbering the real red blood cells in the bloodstream. This results in the majority of the toxins attaching themselves to the sponges, leaving most of the blood cells alone.
  • The project was led by Prof. Liangfang Zhang, and described in a paper recently published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology
  • saraeberhardt on 24 Apr 13
     
    As I'm working on my presentation, I came across this article. I thought it was very interesting considering what I'm presenting on releases two very potent toxins into the bloodstream and ultimately leads to death. 
anonymous

The Role of Clostridial Toxins in the Pathogenesis of Gas Gangrene - 0 views

cid.oxfordjournals.org/...S93.full

shared by anonymous on 30 Apr 13 - No Cached
  • anonymous on 30 Apr 13
     
    Clostridial toxins are the main cause of gas gangrene. The toxins produce PLC and PFO, which lead to shock, vascular dysfunction, acute inflammatory response, and decreases endothelial cell and neutrophil function
anonymous

Clostridium perfringens vaccines - 1 views

www.sciencedirect.com/...S0264410X09010524

shared by anonymous on 30 Apr 13 - No Cached
  • anonymous on 30 Apr 13
     
    The vaccine routes would use non-toxic fragments of alpha toxin or a non-toxic forms of whole toxin as immunogens. The antibodies would protect the alpha-toxins from binding to the C-domain cell membrane allowing for leukocytes to clear the bacteria.
Emma Radzak

First vaccine to help control some autism symptoms - 0 views

www.sciencedaily.com/...130424112309.htm

shared by Emma Radzak on 27 Apr 13 - No Cached
  • Emma Radzak on 27 Apr 13
     
    A vaccine to combat the microorganism C. bolteae may be the solution for alleviating digestion symptoms often associated with autism. Children with autism have been known to have higher levels of this organism than that of a healthy child. It is assumed that toxins produced by the C. bolteae may be associated with severe symptoms that autistic children typically have, such as diarrhea. I found it ironic that many people still think that vaccines cause autism, and here is a vaccine to assist in alleviating the digestive symptoms associated with it.
  • Emma Radzak on 27 Apr 13
     
    A vaccine to combat the microorganism C. bolteae may be the solution for alleviating digestion symptoms often associated with autism. Children with autism have been known to have higher levels of this organism than that of a healthy child. It is assumed that toxins produced by the C. bolteae may be associated with severe symptoms that autistic children typically have, such as diarrhea. I found it ironic that many people still think that vaccines cause autism, and here is a vaccine to assist in alleviating the digestive symptoms associated with it.
Casey Finnerty

The Virus That Learns - Phenomena: The Loom - 0 views

phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/...the-virus-that-learns

microbiology CRISPR

shared by Casey Finnerty on 07 Mar 13 - No Cached
  • Likewise, restriction enzymes are a dangerous defense, because they can chop up the distinctive stretches of DNA in a bacterium’s own genes. It avoids attacking itself by capping those sequences in its own DNA, so that the restriction enzymes can’t reach them.
  • Some species can muck up the production of new viruses, stealing their proteins before they can form shells. Others commit suicide upon infection, so as to avoid becoming an incubator for new viruses that would then kill their nearby relatives.
  • CRISPR genes can produce RNA molecules with a matching sequence. They grab onto the virus’s RNA and prevent them from being turned into proteins. The virus factory grinds to a halt.
  • ...6 more annotations...
  • The bacteria hold onto an invading virus’s DNA, so that they are now prepared for a fresh attack. And over time, bacteria can build up little libraries of these virus barcodes. 
  • Last year, scientists at Indiana University surveyed the bacteria in people’s mouths and discovered 8,000 different viral barcodes–many of them corresponding to viruses scientists have yet to discover.
  • But if you build up a healthy store of antibodies to various strains of flu, smallpox, and other diseases, all that knowledge dies with you.
  • Not so for bacteria. When a microbe reproduces, it passes down its CRISPR genes and all of their viral barcodes to its descendants–including the ones it acquired in its own lifetime.
  • Last fall, for example, University of Cambridge scientists discovered viruses that carry an antidote for the suicide toxin made by their hosts. When the bacteria want to die, the virus forces them to live on. And just last month, University of Toronto scientists even discovered anti-CRISPR genes in viruses, which the viruses use to shut down the production of virus-killing molecules.
  • the scientists demonstrated that the ICP1 virus uses its CRISPR immune system to attack its host’s virus-attacking genes.
Katelyn Madigan

Nanoparticles loaded with bee venom kill HIV - 0 views

www.sciencedaily.com/...130307160325.htm

bee venom hiv virus

shared by Katelyn Madigan on 08 Mar 13 - No Cached
  • ee venom contains a potent toxin called melittin that can poke holes in the protective envelope that surrounds HIV
  • When the nanoparticles come into contact with normal cells, which are much larger in size, the particles simply bounce off
  • an advantage of this approach is that the nanoparticle attacks an essential part of the virus' structure. In contrast, most anti-HIV drugs inhibit the virus's ability to replicate
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  • The nanoparticles could be injected intravenously and, in theory, would be able to clear HIV from the blood stream
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