Results from computer simulations show that it is energetically less expensive to bend mismatch-containing, defective DNA (G:T, C:C, C:T, G:A, G:G, T:T, A:A, A+:C) vs. non-defective DNA (containing A:T or G:C base pairs). DNA repair mechanisms likely take advantage of this feature to detect defective DNA based on an increased bending propensity.

http://www.tacc.utexas.edu/news/feature-stories/2013/how-dna-repair-helps-prevent-cancer

http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jp403127a

The blind mole rat (Spalax) is an intriguing creature worthy of study. This was animal research examining the resistance subterranean blind mole rats (Spalax) have to cancers. Blind mole rats are one of a unique group of animals that spend their lives underground, are tolerant of very low oxygen levels (down to only 3% concentration – levels that would kill a human), have a long lifespan of more than 20 years, which is exceptional for a small rodent, and show no clear signs of ageing or age-related diseases.

This research has demonstrated the unique abilities of the blind mole rat to resist cancer, even when directly given potent cancer-causing chemicals. In this study researchers gave blind mole rats potent cancer-causing chemicals either through injections or applied directly to the skin, but the animals didn't develop cancer.

Remarkably, connective tissue cells (fibroblasts) taken from the blind mole rat even prevented the growth of human cancer cells when they were grown together in the laboratory.

In the laboratory, the researchers also demonstrated how connective tissue cells called fibroblasts taken from the animal seem to play an important role in this cancer resistance. These cells prevented the growth of human cancer cells when the two types of cells were grown together in the laboratory.

The researchers concluded that, "This report provides pioneering evidence that Spalax [the blind mole rat] is not only resistant to spontaneous cancer, but also to experimentally induced cancer, and shows the unique ability of Spalax fibroblasts to inhibit growth and kill cancer cells, but not normal cells, either through direct fibroblast-cancer cell interaction or via soluble factors."

Nonetheless, there remains optimism that understanding the anti-cancer mechanisms of mole rats may one day help inform further cancer treatments for humans, but a lot more research – and probably a significant amount of time – is needed before this can be considered.

Reference:

Image: telegraph.co.uk

http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7007/11/91

Manov, Irena, et al. "Pronounced cancer resistance in a subterranean rodent, the blind mole-rat, Spalax: in vivo and in vitro evidence." BMC biology 11.1 (2013): 91.

http://www.nhs.uk/news/2014/01January/Pages/Claims-of-a-universal-cure-for-cancer-misleading.aspx

http://www.express.co.uk/news/health/454188/EXCLUSIVE-Cure-for-ALL-cancers-is-on-the-way-as-scientists-discover-major-breakthrough

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2540321/Could-mole-rats-hold-key-cure-cancer-Scientists-hail-potentially-life-changing-breakthrough.html

C. Titus Brown http://video.open-bio.org/video/1/a-history-of-bioinformatics-in-the-year-2039

Place of employment and work

The candidate will be located at the Department of Experimental Oncology of the European Institute of Oncology in Milan (Italy), one of Europe’s leading research institutes in biomedical research, where he/she will also interact with one of the largest computational biology communities in Italy

Requirements:

The candidate should have a good knowledge of the UNIX system and good programming skills (bash, R, python, java). Background in bioinformatics would be appreciated but is not mandatory. Additional experience with containers (docker, singularity), grid computing, web frameworks, continuous integrations will be appreciated.

For further info or to arrange an informal interview, please write to arnaud.ceol@ieo.it

The Indian scientists working in Bangalore, along with their American counterparts, have mapped more than 17,000 proteins in 30 organs of the human body. Just like the human genome was sequenced around the turn of the millennium, this is an equivalent mapping of the human proteome.

The researcher estimated there are around 20,500 proteins in the human body. These scientists have profiled around 17,294, which account for around 84% of the total proteins. Apart from this, the team also traced around 2,500 of 3,000 proteins that had been categorised as "missing proteins".

The work, done by group of Indian scientists, and Johns Hopkins University, published in the renowned journal Nature ( http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v509/n7502/full/nature13302.html ). Of the 72 people who worked on the project, 46 are Indians.

Reference:

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v509/n7502/full/nature13302.html

http://www.proteinatlas.org/ -The antibody-based Human Protein Atlas programme

http://www.humanproteomemap.org/ -Proteogenomic analysis by identifying translated proteins from annotated pseudogenes, non-coding RNAs and untranslated regions.

https://www.proteomicsdb.org/ -Assembled protein evidence for 18,097 genes in ProteomicsDB

More at https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-22671-6

Address of the bookmark: https://github.com/dmcblab/InfoGenomeR

No.NITW/BT/2014/adhoc

APPLICATIONS ARE INVITED FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF ADHOC FACULTY ON CONTRACT BASIS IN THE DEAPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

Period of Contract: Initially the appointment is for one semester i.e., from July 2014 up to December 2014 only.

Essential Qualifications:

i) B. Tech or equivalent in Biotechnology/ Industrial Biotechnology/ Biochemical Engineering / Chemical Engg. Or M. Sc in Microbiology/ Botany/ Zoology/ Biochemistry/Biotechnology and ii) M. Tech or equivalent in Biotechnology/Industrial Biotechnology/Bioinformatics

Or

Integrated M. Tech in Biotechnology/Industrial Biotechnology/ Bioinformatics

Candidates must possess First class (60% aggregate marks or 6.5 CGPA) at B. Tech/ M. Sc and M. Tech.

Desirable: Ph. D Pay Package: All selected candidates shall be eligible for a consolidated pay of Rs.30, 000/- per month. Candidates with Ph. D shall be eligible for an additional amount of Rs.5, 000/- per month.

How to apply : Applications on plain paper with attested photocopies of certificate and bio data along with justification for eligibility should reach to the Head, Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology, Warangal AP 506004 in the form of soft or hard copy on or before 21st June 2014 email : biotech_hod@nitw.ac.in

Intimation: No separate call letters will be sent to the candidates. All the eligible candidates will be notified in the institute web site on 23rd June 2014. All the eligible candidates are requested to report for the interview to the Head, Department of Biotechnology at 9:00 AM on 27th June 2014

Joining: Selected candidates will be informed and they are expected to join immediately.

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http://www.nitw.ac.in/nitw/announcements/2014/Bio-Adhoc%20Advt.%20May-2014.pdf