Weekly reports on international trends of cutting-edge life science development (IX)

In this week’s report, we select the following highlights discoveries: the first creation of synthetic unicellular organism by USA researchers; is aging a kind of disease? ; the malignant melanoma can be cured by vaccination; the discovery of the mechanism of T-cells inhibiting HIV; the successful creation of functional hair cells of internal ear in vitro; MicroRNA-140 may be accelerate the new treatment method for arthritis.

I. Creation of a Bacterial Cell Controlled by a Chemically Synthesized Genome
[Text Abstract]
Published Online May 20, 2010Science DOI: 10.1126/science.1190719
Creation of a Bacterial Cell Controlled by a Chemically Synthesized Genome
Daniel G. Gibson,1 John I. Glass,1 Carole Lartigue,1 Vladimir N. Noskov,1 Ray-Yuan Chuang,1 Mikkel A. Algire,1 Gwynedd A. Benders,2 Michael G. Montague,1 Li Ma,1 Monzia M. Moodie,1 Chuck Merryman,1 Sanjay Vashee,1 Radha Krishnakumar,1 Nacyra Assad-Garcia,1 Cynthia Andrews-Pfannkoch,1 Evgeniya A. Denisova,1 Lei Young,1 Zhi-Qing Qi,1 Thomas H. Segall-Shapiro,1 Christopher H. Calvey,1 Prashanth P. Parmar,1 Clyde A. Hutchison, III,2 Hamilton O. Smith,2 J. Craig Venter1,2,*
We report the design, synthesis, and assembly of the 1.08-Mbp Mycoplasma mycoides JCVI-syn1.0 genome starting from digitized genome sequence information and its transplantation into a Mycoplasma capricolum recipient cell to create new Mycoplasma mycoides cells that are controlled only by the synthetic chromosome. The only DNA in the cells is the designed synthetic DNA sequence, including "watermark" sequences and other designed gene deletions and polymorphisms, and mutations acquired during the building process. The new cells have expected phenotypic properties and are capable of continuous self-replication.
[Comments]
The creation of a bacterial cell controlled by a chemically synthesized genome is really a splendiferous breakthrough and a further important step forward to the fire new synthesized life science. But for its nature, the only DNA in the cells is the designed synthetic DNA sequence and more over it is assembled by simulating the prerequisite life gene synthesis of known bacterial cells to express the vital signs of the known bacterial cell inside the shell of another fast-growing cell. Properly speaking, it is only the stimulation and reformation of the known species. It only can be called synthesized life if the creation of a new species is according to the understanding of life laws. But that will be the invasion of the human into the nature and lose the awe of human to the nature. And possibly the living nature would be destroyed with bad results.

II. Is aging a kind of diseases?
[Text Abstract]
[Comments]
From the report we can see that the western scientists are changing their views and giving new recognition on the problem of aging, from considering that aging is a natural process and should not be interfered in to considering aging is a kind of cause that is affecting human health. While human body regenerative restoration science has already realized that the normal and natural aging is not a kind of disease, it is really a natural process. The only issue is that the aging the human have suffered or are suffering is not normal but the premature aging caused by insufficient human body regenerative restoration. This kind of premature aging can be prevented by the activation of human body regenerative potentiality by regenerative nutrient substances. In that case the incidence of relevant diseases would be also prevented, and this is just the achievement that the human body regenerative restoration science is realizing.

III. 'Holy Grail' cancer vaccine that blasts tumours in weeks hailed as huge leap in fighting disease
[Text Abstract]
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1278836
'Holy Grail' cancer vaccine that blasts tumours in weeks hailed as huge leap in fighting disease By Daniel Martin Last updated at 7:53 AM on 17th May 2010
Scientists have developed a new jab which they hope will be a 'holy grail' cancer cure. The treatment, which will be tested on British patients over the next few months, can reverse and even cure malignant melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer. If it proves successful in large- scale trials, there are hopes that new forms could be developed to fight other forms of cancer, such as breast and prostate. Experts say it may even stop people getting cancer in the first place.
Lead researcher Professor Lindy Durrant, of Nottingham University, said: 'This is huge. We could now have a vaccine that can target a tumour and kill it without damage to surrounding healthy tissues or cells.'In the short term, this could cure some patients with the disease, and in the long term it could be used to prevent people developing it in the first place.'
Professor Karol Sikora, a leading cancer expert, said: 'This is a very clever vaccine and I believe it will increase the cure rate for patients in the future.' More than 10,000 people are diagnosed with malignant melanoma every year in Britain. Numbers have quadrupled over the past 30 years as more people enjoy sunshine holidays abroad or use tanning booths.
The vaccine contains DNA and fragments of tumour. These activate only the specific immune cells which target melanoma. The treatment, developed by the company Scancell, will initially be given both to patients with advanced skin cancer which has spread to other parts of the body, and to those in the earlier stage of the disease. Trials will begin at hospitals in Manchester, Nottingham and Newcastle. If successful, the jab could be available within ten years.
Professor Durrant said previous cancer jabs did not work because they stimulated the body's whole immune system, not just the parts which attack cancer cells. 'This time we believe the immune cells are more potent and will kill cancer cells,' she said. She believes the vaccine could be adapted to fight other tumours.
News of the development comes as another group of scientists unveiled evidence that over-production of breast stem cells could be the cause of most breast cancers, potentially leading to new treatments. The findings, published in the journal Nature, show that hormones released during the menstrual cycle could cause a surge in the number of breast stem cells. Dr Rama Khokha, of the Ontario Cancer Institute in Toronto, said: 'We are convinced that breast stem cells are seeds for breast cancer and that they are the primary cause of breast cancer. 'Even if the cancer has been triggered by other factors such as genetic inheritance or age or density of the breast, we think the cancer is started by the stem cells.
[Comments]
It is difficult to predict that in ten years the new trial of immunotherapy for cancer would be launched into the public. Because of the high incidence of cancer genes mutation, even though the vaccine containing tumour DNA and fragment, it is really a big problem to evaluate how long the kind of vaccine will be welcomed. It is much probable that just as the present popular flu vaccine that fails to play any roles for many times. It is a must to really understand the cancer so that case cancer can be overcome thoroughly. If not, all the efforts would be useless to touch the tender spot.

IV. Prothymosin-α inhibits HIV-1 via Toll-like receptor 4-mediated type I interferon induction
[Text Abstract]
Published online before print May 17, 2010, doi: 10.1073/pnas.0914870107
Prothymosin-α inhibits HIV-1 via Toll-like receptor 4-mediated type I interferon induction
Arevik Mosoiana,1, Avelino Teixeiraa, Colin S. Burnsb, Leif E. Sandera, G. Luca Gusellaa, Cijiang Hea, J. Magarian Blandera, Paul Klotmana, and Mary E. Klotmana
Induction of type I interferons (IFN) is a central feature of innate immune responses to microbial pathogens and is mediated via Toll-like receptor (TLR)-dependent and -independent pathways. Prothymosin-α (ProTα), a small acidic protein produced and released by CD8+ T cells, inhibits HIV-1, although the mechanism for its antiviral activity was not known. We demonstrate that exogenous ProTα acts as a ligand for TLR4 and stimulates type I IFN production to potently suppress HIV-1 after entry into cells. These activities are induced by native and recombinant ProTα, retained by an acidic peptide derived from ProTα, and lost in the absence of TLR4. Furthermore, we demonstrate that ProTα accounts for some of the soluble postintegration HIV-1 inhibitory activity long ascribed to CD8+ cells. Thus, a protein produced by CD8+ T cells of the adaptive immune system can exert potent viral suppressive activity through an innate immune response. Understanding the mechanism of IFN induction by ProTα may provide therapeutic leads for IFN-sensitive viruses.
[Comments] In human body the host protein stimulates T-cells to produce interferon and kill the virus or other pathogens, reflecting the perfect cooperation of human immunity system. What the researchers should do has to follow the life laws of human body and find out how to maintain this perfect cooperation of human body.

V. Mechanosensitive Hair Cell-like Cells from Embryonic and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
[Text Abstract]
Cell doi:10.1016/j.cell.2010.03.035
Mechanosensitive Hair Cell-like Cells from Embryonic and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Kazuo Oshima, Kunyoo Shin, Marc Diensthuber, Anthony W. Peng, Anthony J. Ricci, Stefan Heller
Mechanosensitive sensory hair cells are the linchpin of our senses of hearing and balance. The inability of the mammalian inner ear to regenerate lost hair cells is the major reason for the permanence of hearing loss and certain balance disorders. Here, we present a stepwise guidance protocol starting with mouse embryonic stem and induced pluripotent stem cells, which were directed toward becoming ectoderm capable of responding to otic-inducing growth factors. The resulting otic progenitor cells were subjected to varying differentiation conditions, one of which promoted the organization of the cells into epithelial clusters displaying hair cell-like cells with stereociliary bundles. Bundle-bearing cells in these clusters responded to mechanical stimulation with currents that were reminiscent of immature hair cell transduction currents.
[Comments] It is expected to in ten years achieve the creation of human internal ear hair cell-like cells with the creation of mechanosensitive hair cell-like cells of mouse internal ear in vitro. In fact it is not important how long the creation of human internal ear hair cell-like cells is realized, but it is important to how to use this kind of hair cell-like cells to treat deafness. It is far from enough for function restoration only with the supply of materials.

VI. MicroRNA-140 plays dual roles in both cartilage development and homeostasis
[Text Abstract]
Gene & Development doi:10.1101/gad.1915510
MicroRNA-140 plays dual roles in both cartilage development and homeostasis
Shigeru Miyaki1,4, Tempei Sato2,4, Atsushi Inoue2, Shuhei Otsuki1, Yoshiaki Ito2, Shigetoshi Yokoyama2, Yoshio Kato3, Fuko Takemoto2, Tomoyuki Nakasa2, Satoshi Yamashita2, Shuji Takada2, Martin K. Lotz1, Hiroe Ueno-Kudo2 and Hiroshi Asahara1,2,5
Osteoarthritis (OA), the most prevalent aging-related joint disease, is characterized by insufficient extracellular matrix synthesis and articular cartilage degradation, mediated by several proteinases, including Adamts-5. miR-140 is one of a very limited number of noncoding microRNAs (miRNAs) specifically expressed in cartilage; however, its role in development and/or tissue maintenance is largely uncharacterized. To examine miR-140 function in tissue development and homeostasis, we generated a mouse line through a targeted deletion of miR-140. miR-140?/? mice manifested a mild skeletal phenotype with a short stature, although the structure of the articular joint cartilage appeared grossly normal in 1-mo-old miR-140?/? mice. Interestingly, miR-140?/? mice showed age-related OA-like changes characterized by proteoglycan loss and fibrillation of articular cartilage. Conversely, transgenic (TG) mice overexpressing miR-140 in cartilage were resistant to antigen-induced arthritis. OA-like changes in miR-140-deficient mice can be attributed, in part, to elevated Adamts-5 expression, regulated directly by miR-140. We show that miR-140 regulates cartilage development and homeostasis, and its loss contributes to the development of age-related OA-like changes.
[Comments] It is so much long that the human have evolved. But why so much useless things have been left? We call them “useless things” just because we have not realized their uses, which has been proved on the junk cells and junk DNA. While at present, the mysteries of human body is once more proved on junk microRNA, indicating that every part of human body has distinct functions.