Neural Cell News Volume 8.25 | Jul 2 2014

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    Neural Cell News 8.25 July 2, 2014

    Neural Cell News

         In this issue: Publications | Reviews | Industry News | Policy News | Events | Jobs
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    TOP STORY
    First Positive Results toward a Therapeutic Vaccine against Brain Cancer
    Cancer researchers developed a mutation-specific vaccine targeting a protein that is mutated in brain cancer. The researchers report that the vaccine arrested tumor growth in mice. [Press release from Heidelberg University Hospital discussing online prepublication in Nature] Press Release | Abstract
    ReLeSRâ„¢, Easy Passaging Through Selective Detachment of hPSCs

     
    PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by impact factor of the journal)
    GABA from Reactive Astrocytes Impairs Memory in Mouse Models of Alzheimer’s Disease
    Scientists show that reactive astrocytes aberrantly and abundantly produce the inhibitory gliotransmitter GABA by monoamine oxidase-B and abnormally release GABA through the bestrophin 1 channel. [Nat Med] Abstract

    Transcription Factor Induction of Human Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Fate and Differentiation
    Using FACS-based isolation and microarray analysis, investigators identified a set of transcription factors expressed by human primary CD140a+O4+ oligodendrocyte progenitor cell relative to CD133+CD140a neural stem/progenitor cells. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Press Release

    Neurons in the Human Amygdala Selective for Perceived Emotion
    The human amygdala plays a key role in recognizing facial emotions and neurons in the monkey and human amygdala respond to the emotional expression of faces. It remains unknown whether these responses are driven primarily by properties of the stimulus or by the perceptual judgments of the perceiver. Researchers investigated these questions by recording from over 200 single neurons in the amygdalae of seven neurosurgical patients with implanted depth electrodes. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Press Release

    Caspase Inhibition in Select Olfactory Neurons Restores Innate Attraction Behavior in Aged Drosophila
    Using a genetic probe for caspase-3-like activity investigators mapped age-dependent neuronal changes in the adult brain throughout the lifespan of Drosophila. [PLoS Genet] Full Article

    Melatonin Reduces Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Preserves Sirtuin 1 Expression in Neuronal Cells of Newborn Rats after Hypoxia-Ischemia
    Scientists assessed if attenuation of endoplasmic reticulum stress is involved in the neuroprotective effect of melatonin after neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI). Melatonin significantly reduced the neuron splicing of XBP-1 mRNA, the increased phosphorylation of eIF2α and elevated expression of chaperone proteins GRP78 and Hsp70 observed after HI in the brain. [J Pineal Res] Abstract

    MicroRNA-34a Modulates Neural Stem Cell Differentiation by Regulating Expression of Synaptic and Autophagic Proteins
    The author investigated the precise role of microRNA-34a (miR-34a) during neural stem cell differentiation. Their results showed that miR-34a expression was markedly downregulated during neurogenesis. [Mol Neurobiol] Abstract

    PSA-NCAM+ Neural Precursor Cells from Human Embryonic Stem Cells Promote Neural Tissue Integrity and Behavioral Performance in a Rat Stroke Model
    Investigators addressed the therapeutic potential of polysialic acid-neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM)-positive neural precursor cells derived from human embryonic stem cells in a rat stroke model with permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion. [Stem Cell Rev] Abstract

    Rostro-Caudal Inhibition of Hindlimb Movements in the Spinal Cord of Mice
    Using optogenetic tools, investigators explored how the same population of inhibitory interneurons globally affects hindlimb movements in the spinal cord of both anesthetized and freely moving mice. [PLoS One]
    Full Article | Press Release

    Inhibition of Notch Signaling Facilitates the Differentiation of Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells into Neural Stem Cells
    The authors successfully generated neural stem cells from human induced pluripotent stem cells using serum-free medium supplemented with retinoic acid in vitro. They then assessed changes in the expression of Notch signaling-related molecules and some miRNAs (9, 34a, 200b), which exert their regulation by targeting Notch signaling. [Mol Cell Biochem] Abstract

    Characterization of Human Hippocampal Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells and Their Application to Physiologically Relevant Assays for Multiple Ionotropic Glutamate Receptors
    Scientists characterized the functional differentiation of human fetal hippocampus-derived neural stem/progenitor cells-namely, HIP-009 cells. Calcium rise assay demonstrated that, after a 4-week differentiation, the cells responded to N-methyl-D-aspartate, α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate, or kainic acid in a concentration-dependent manner. [J Biomol Screen] Abstract

    Culture primary neurons independent of substrate with NeuroCultâ„¢ SM2

     
    REVIEWS
    Macrophage Subsets and Microglia in Multiple Sclerosis
    The prime focus of this review is on multiple sclerosis, which is characterized by inflammation, demyelination, neurodegeneration, and CNS repair, and in which microglia and macrophages have been extensively scrutinized. [Acta Neuropathol] Abstract

    Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the neuroscience field.

    Cell Culture World Congress Asia 2014

     
    INDUSTRY NEWS
    Agenus Brain Cancer Vaccine Shows Extended Survival in Phase II Final Data Analysis
    Agenus Inc. announced final results from a single-arm, multi-institutional, open-label, Phase II study showing that patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme who received Agenus’ Prophage autologous cancer vaccine added to the standard of care treatment, lived nearly twice as long as expected. [Agenus Inc.]
    Press Release

    PLOS Launches Neuroscience and Synthetic Biology Channels to Support Collaboration and Discussion of Published Research
    PLOS launched an initiative designed to engage the larger scientific community in researcher-led, informal discussions of published articles and timely issues affecting researchers such as data sharing, research ethics and funding. The first two launched in a planned series of discipline-specific channels of content and activity – PLOS Neuroscience Community and PLOS Synthetic Biology Community. [Public Library of Science (PLOS)]
    Press Release

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    POLICY NEWS
    National Institutes of Health (United States)

    Food and Drug Administration (United States)

    Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (United States)

    European Medicines Agency (European Union)

    Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (United Kingdom)

    Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

     
    EVENTS
    NEW Best of American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Chicago
    August 15-16, 2014
    Chicago, United States

    Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the neural cell community.

     
    JOB OPPORTUNITIES
    NEW Research Associate – Generation of Laminated Neural Retinae from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells (Institute of Genetic Medicine)

    Postdoctoral Researcher – Human Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation in Parkinson’s Disease (VIB Center for the Biology of Disease)

    Postdoctoral Fellow – Experimental Neuroscience, Stem Cell Biology, and Neurotransplantation (Johns Hopkins University)

    Postdoctoral Positions – Optics and Bioengineering for Engineering and/or Neuroscientific Applications (Nanyang Technological University)

    Postdoctoral Position – Cellular Neuroscience (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique – CNRS)

    Postdoctoral Scientist – Neural Stem Cells (Texas Biomedical Research Institute)

    Postdoctoral Fellow – Molecular/Cellular Neuroscience (CIMA/University of Navarra)

    Postdoctoral Position – Neurotoxicity and Epigenetics (Thomas Jefferson University)

    Max Planck Research Group Leader – Neuroscience (Center of Advanced European Studies and Research – Caesar)

    Postdoctoral Fellow – Morphogenetic Signaling Pathways in Development and Disease (University of Rochester Medical Center)

    Postdoctoral Fellow – Neurophysiology of Addiction (Medical University of South Carolina)

    Postdoctoral Position – Spinal Cord Adult Neural Stem Cells (INSERM Institute for Neuroscience)

    Scientist – Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Neural Differentiation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

    Scientist – Pluripotent Stem Cell Media Development, High Throughput Screening (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

    Scientist – Cell Culture Support Products (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

    Scientist – Immunology/Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

    Research Associate – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)


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