ESC & iPSC News Volume 15.20 | May 27 2020

TOP STORY

Modeling Neural Tube Development by Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells in a Microfluidic WNT Gradient

Scientists modeled early human neural tube development using human ESCs cultured in a microfluidic device. The approach, named microfluidic-controlled stem cell regionalization, exposed PSCs to signaling gradients that mimicked developmental patterning. [Nat Biotechnol] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

A Non-Coding Disease Modifier of Pancreatic Agenesis Identified by Genetic Correction in a Patient-Derived iPSC Line

The authors highlighted a possible genetic modifier contributing to pancreatic agenesis and demonstrated the usefulness of using patient-induced PSCs for targeted discovery and validation of non-coding gene variants affecting gene expression and disease penetrance. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Human-iPSC-Derived Cardiac Stromal Cells Enhance Maturation in 3D Cardiac Microtissues and Reveal Non-Cardiomyocyte Contributions to Heart Disease

Researchers showed that tri-cellular combinations of human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes, cardiac fibroblasts, and cardiac endothelial cells enhanced maturation in easily constructed, scaffold-free, 3D microtissues. [Cell Stem Cell] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Single Cell Transcriptomics Identifies Stem Cell-Derived Graft Composition in a Model of Parkinson’s Disease

Investigators report analysis by single-cell RNA sequencing combined with comprehensive histological analyses to characterize intracerebral grafts from human ESCs and fetal tissue after functional maturation in a pre-clinical rat Parkinsonʼs disease model. [Nat Commun] Full Article

A CX3CR1 Reporter hESC Line Facilitates Integrative Analysis of In-Vitro-Derived Microglia and Improved Microglia Identity upon Neuron-Glia Co-Culture

The authors demonstrated that co-culture of iMGL precursors with human glia and neurons enhanced transcriptional resemblance of iMGLs to ex vivo microglia. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

A Novel Chemically Differentiated Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell-Based Model to Study Liver Stages of Plasmodium berghei

Investigators presented a chemically differentiated mouse ESC-based liver stage model, which supported complete development of Plasmodium berghei exoerythrocytic forms and could be used to define new host-parasite interactions. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

TATA Box-Binding Protein-Related Factor 3 Drives the Mesendoderm Specification of Human Embryonic Stem Cells by Globally Interacting with the TATA Box of Key Mesendodermal Genes

Researchers used an in vitro mesendodermal differentiation system of human ESCs, combining with the microarray and qPCR analysis, loss of function and gain of function to determine the function of TATA box-binding protein-related factor 3. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article

Generation and Characterization of HLA-Universal Platelets Derived from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Scientists successfully generated functional iPSC-derived platelets in vitro without HLA class I expression by knocking out the β2-microglobulin gene using paired CRISPR/Cas9 nickases. [Sci Rep] Full Article

The Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzyme UBE2K Determines Neurogenic Potential through Histone H3 in Human Embryonic Stem Cells

Investigators assessed the link between the intrinsic epigenetic landscape and ubiquitin-proteasome system of human ESCs. They found that human ESCs exhibited high expression of the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme UBE2K. [Commun Biol] Full Article

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Progress in Modeling and Targeting Inner Ear Disorders with Pluripotent Stem Cells

The authors review the progress of in vitro derivation of PSC-derived inner ear hair cells, neurons, and organoids. They highlight the use of these PSC-derived tissues to understand the mechanisms of inner ear diseases and to restore inner ear function in early therapeutic trials. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the ESC & iPSC research field.

Takara Bio Announces the Completion of a New GMP Facility for Manufacturing Gene and Cell Therapy Products

Takara Bio USA, Inc. have announced that its parent company, Takara Bio Inc., has completed the construction of a new facility, the Center for Gene and Cell Therapy Processing II (CGCPII) in Shiga, Japan. The CGCPII has been operational since January 2020. [Takara Bio USA, Inc.] Press Release

US Lawmakers Unveil Bold $100 Billion Plan to Remake NSF

The National Science Foundation (NSF) would get a sweeping remake-including a new name, a huge infusion of cash, and responsibility for maintaining US global leadership in innovation-under bipartisan bills that have been introduced in both houses of Congress. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

They Redesigned PubMed, a Beloved Website. It Hasn’t Gone Over Well

Unfortunately for PubMed’s caretakers, a sweeping redesign unveiled this week has left many PubMed users fuming-and airing their sometimes curse-laden complaints on social media. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

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NEW Scientist – CAR Engineering and Protein Sciences (Century Therapeutics)

Research Scientist – Stem Cells (Evotec SE)

Fellowship Position – Genome Stem Cell Research (Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research)

Postdoctoral Position – Human iPS Models (The Jackson Laboratory)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Bioinformatics of Stem Cell Epigenetics (Albert Einstein College of Medicine)

PhD Candidate – Cardiovascular Diseases (University Medical Center Göttingen)

Senior Scientist – Human iPSC Gene Engineering (Empyrean Therapeutics Ltd)

Postdoctoral Fellow – ALS (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine)

Research Specialist – Stem Cells for Regenerative Medicine (University of Illinois at Chicago)

Postdoctoral Position – Human Pluripotent Stem Cells to Hepatobiliary Tissues (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine)

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