704 research outputs found
Defining synonymous codon compression schemes by genome recoding
Synthetic recoding of genomes, to remove targeted sense codons, may facilitate the encoded cellular synthesis of unnatural polymers by orthogonal translation systems. However, our limited understanding of allowed synonymous codon substitutions, and the absence of methods that enable the stepwise replacement of the Escherichia coli genome with long synthetic DNA and provide feedback on allowed and disallowed design features in synthetic genomes, have restricted progress towards this goal. Here we endow E. coli with a system for efficient, programmable replacement of genomic DNA with long (>100-kb) synthetic DNA, through the in vivo excision of double-stranded DNA from an episomal replicon by CRISPR/Cas9, coupled to lambda-red-mediated recombination and simultaneous positive and negative selection. We iterate the approach, providing a basis for stepwise whole-genome replacement. We attempt systematic recoding in an essential operon using eight synonymous recoding schemes. Each scheme systematically replaces target codons with defined synonyms and is compatible with codon reassignment. Our results define allowed and disallowed synonymous recoding schemes, and enable the identification and repair of recoding at idiosyncratic positions in the genome
Approximate probabilistic verification of hybrid systems
Hybrid systems whose mode dynamics are governed by non-linear ordinary
differential equations (ODEs) are often a natural model for biological
processes. However such models are difficult to analyze. To address this, we
develop a probabilistic analysis method by approximating the mode transitions
as stochastic events. We assume that the probability of making a mode
transition is proportional to the measure of the set of pairs of time points
and value states at which the mode transition is enabled. To ensure a sound
mathematical basis, we impose a natural continuity property on the non-linear
ODEs. We also assume that the states of the system are observed at discrete
time points but that the mode transitions may take place at any time between
two successive discrete time points. This leads to a discrete time Markov chain
as a probabilistic approximation of the hybrid system. We then show that for
BLTL (bounded linear time temporal logic) specifications the hybrid system
meets a specification iff its Markov chain approximation meets the same
specification with probability . Based on this, we formulate a sequential
hypothesis testing procedure for verifying -approximately- that the Markov
chain meets a BLTL specification with high probability. Our case studies on
cardiac cell dynamics and the circadian rhythm indicate that our scheme can be
applied in a number of realistic settings
Defining synonymous codon compression schemes by genome recoding
Synthetic recoding of genomes, to remove targeted sense codons, may facilitate the encoded cellular synthesis of unnatural polymers by orthogonal translation systems. However, our limited understanding of allowed synonymous codon substitutions, and the absence of methods that enable the stepwise replacement of the Escherichia coli genome with long synthetic DNA and provide feedback on allowed and disallowed design features in synthetic genomes, have restricted progress towards this goal. Here we endow E. coli with a system for efficient, programmable replacement of genomic DNA with long (>100-kb) synthetic DNA, through the in vivo excision of double-stranded DNA from an episomal replicon by CRISPR/Cas9, coupled to lambda-red-mediated recombination and simultaneous positive and negative selection. We iterate the approach, providing a basis for stepwise whole-genome replacement. We attempt systematic recoding in an essential operon using eight synonymous recoding schemes. Each scheme systematically replaces target codons with defined synonyms and is compatible with codon reassignment. Our results define allowed and disallowed synonymous recoding schemes, and enable the identification and repair of recoding at idiosyncratic positions in the genome
On the Other Side: Manipulating the Immune Checkpoint Landscape of Dendritic Cells to Enhance Cancer Immunotherapy
Monoclonal antibodies targeting co-inhibitory immune checkpoint molecules have been successful in clinical trials of both solid and hematological malignancies as acknowledged by the 2018 Nobel Prize in Medicine, however improving clinical response rates is now key to expanding their efficacy in areas of unmet medical need. Antibodies to checkpoint inhibitors target molecules on either T cells or tumor cells to stimulate T cells or remove tumor mediated immunosuppression, respectively. However, many of the well-characterized T cell immune checkpoint receptors have their ligands on antigen presenting cells or exert direct effects on those cells. Dendritic cells are the most powerful antigen presenting cells; they possess the ability to elicit antigen-specific responses and have important roles in regulation of immune tolerance. Despite their theoretical benefits in cancer immunotherapy, the translation of DC therapies into the clinic is yet to be fully realized and combining DC-based immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors is an attractive strategy. This combination takes advantage of the antigen presenting capability of DC to maximize specific immune responses to tumor antigens whilst removing tumor-associated immune inhibitory mechanisms with immune checkpoint inhibition. Here we review the expression and functional effects of immune checkpoint molecules on DC and identify rational combinations for DC vaccination to enhance antigen-specific T cell responses, cytokine production, and promotion of long-lasting immunological memory
A genetically modified adenoviral vector with a phage display-derived peptide incorporated into fiber fibritin chimera prolongs survival in experimental glioma
The dismal clinical context of advanced-grade glioma demands the development of novel therapeutic strategies with direct patient impact. Adenovirus-mediated virotherapy represents a potentially effective approach for glioma therapy. In this research, we generated a novel glioma-specific adenovirus by instituting more advanced genetic modifications that can maximize the efficiency and safety of therapeutic adenoviral vectors. In this regard, a glioma-specific targeted fiber was developed through the incorporation of previously published glioma-specific, phage-panned peptide (VWT peptide) on a fiber fibritin-based chimeric fiber, designated as “GliomaFF.” We showed that the entry of this virus was highly restricted to glioma cells, supporting the specificity imparted by the phage-panned peptide. In addition, the stability of the targeting moiety presented by fiber fibritin structure permitted greatly enhanced infectivity. Furthermore, the replication of this virus was restricted in glioma cells by controlling expression of the E1 gene under the activity of the tumor-specific survivin promoter. Using this approach, we were able to explore the combinatorial efficacy of various adenoviral modifications that could amplify the specificity, infectivity, and exclusive replication of this therapeutic adenovirus in glioma. Finally, virotherapy with this modified virus resulted in up to 70% extended survival in an in vivo murine glioma model. These data demonstrate that this novel adenoviral vector is a safe and efficient treatment for this difficult malignancy
Search for the decay at Belle
We report a search for the rare charmless decay
using a data sample of
pairs collected at the resonance with
the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy collider. No
statistically significant signal is found and a 90% confidence-level upper
limit is set on the decay branching fraction as .Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, submitted to PRD(RC
Measurement of the CP-violation Parameter sin2 with a New Tagging Method at the Resonance
We report a measurement of the CP-violation parameter sin2 at the
resonance using a new tagging method, called "-
tagging." In decays containing a neutral meson, a charged
, and a charged pion, the neutral is reconstructed in the
CP-eigenstate decay channel. The initial flavor of the neutral meson at the
moment of the decay is opposite to that of the charged and
may thus be inferred from the charge of the pion without reconstructing the
charged . From the asymmetry between - and - tagged
yields, we determine sin2 = 0.57 0.58(stat)
0.06(syst). The results are based on 121 fb of data recorded by the
Belle detector at the KEKB collider.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures (submitted to PRL
Evidence for a new resonance and search for the Y(4140) in
The process \gamma \gamma \to \phi \jpsi is measured for \phi \jpsi
masses between threshold and 5 GeV/, using a data sample of 825
fb collected with the Belle detector. A narrow peak of
events, with a significance of 3.2 standard deviations
including systematic uncertainty, is observed. The mass and natural width of
the structure (named X(4350)) are measured to be
and
, respectively. The
product of its two-photon decay width and branching fraction to \phi\jpsi is
for , or
for . No
signal for the Y(4140)\to \phi \jpsi structure reported by the CDF
Collaboration in B\to K^+ \phi \jpsi decays is observed, and limits of
\Gamma_{\gamma \gamma}(Y(4140)) \BR(Y(4140)\to\phi \jpsi)<41 \hbox{eV} for
or for are determined at the 90% C.L. This
disfavors the scenario in which the Y(4140) is a molecule.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, publication in Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 112004, 201
Search for Lepton Flavor and Lepton Number Violating tau Decays into a Lepton and Two Charged Mesons
We search for lepton flavor and lepton number violating tau decays into a
lepton (ell = electron or muon) and two charged mesons (h,h' = pi^\pm or
K^\pm), tau- -> ell-h+h'- and tau- -> ell+h-h'-, using 671 fb^{-1} of data
collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+e- collider.
We obtain 90% C.L. upper limits on the branching fractions in the range
(4.4-8.8)x10^{-8} for tau -> ehh', and (3.3-16)x10^{-8} for tau -> muhh'
processes. These results improve upon previously published upper limits by
factors between 1.6 to 8.8.Comment: 15 page, 7 figures, submitted to Phys. Lett.
Search for leptonic decays of D0 mesons
We search for the flavor-changing neutral current decays D0\to mu+mu- and
D0\to e+e-, and for the lepton-flavor violating decays D0\to e\pm mu\mp using
660 fb^-1 of data collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB
asymmetric-energy e+e- collider. We find no evidence for any of these decays.
We obtain significantly improved upper limits on the branching fractions:
B(D0\to mu+mu-)<1.4x10-7, B(D0\to e+e-)<7.9x10-8, and B(D0\to e+mu-)+B(D0\to
mu+e-)<2.6x10-7 at 90% confidence level.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure
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