What’s been going on in the life sciences world this week? Check out Week in Brief for an overview of the biggest news from the last seven days.
New announcements have taken the sequencing world by storm this week as several companies announced the launch of new products, and provided updates on their technology:
- Element Biosciences announced the launch of the VITARI system, a high-throughput benchtop sequencer capable of sequencing a whole genome for $100.
- Ultima Genomics launched the UG200 series, which features two configurations, UG200 and UG200 Ultra, designed to deliver up to 30,000 and 60,000 genomes a year respectively.
- Illumina published an 18 month roadmap for the NovaSeq X platform, which aims to improve accuracy, throughput and turnaround time, and expand the applications of the platform.
A study has found that many genetic variants that increase the risk of autoimmune hypothyroidism also tend to lower the risk of skin cancer. The findings suggest a shared genetic basis where heightened immune activity can protect against cancer but promote autoimmunity.
Scientists have used a high-throughput method to test over 220,000 DNA variants and create detailed maps showing which specific genetic changes affect gene activity in different cell types. The work has clarified how variants influence traits like blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar, helping to narrow down actionable mutations.
A phase I clinical trial for a prostate cancer treatment has shown that a ‘cloaking device’ helped to keep an immunotherapy drug hidden and inactive until it reached tumour cells. This mechanism meant that side effects were minimised, and nearly half of the patients involved in the trial saw tumour shrinkage.
In another prostate cancer drug trial, a novel targeted radiotherapy injection delivered radioactive therapy directly to cancer cells, shrinking or halting growth of tumours in over 80% of participants. The drug uses a ‘homing device’ to identify a specific antigen on the surface of the tumour cells.
A new study has found that exposure to cigarette smoke causes epigenetic changes in key retinal cells, accelerating aging. These findings explain why smokers are more likely to develop age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness.
Researchers have discovered that getting ‘chills’ or tingles when listening to music or engaging with art or literature is partly heritable. Some of the genes linked to this response were associated with other personality traits, and some had an impact across music, poetry and visual arts.
A new study has found that ‘jumping’ segments of human DNA known as genetic parasites can destabilise the genome early in tumour development, creating mutations that fuel cancer evolution. These mobile DNA elements may play a critical role in the initial stages of cancer formation by promoting genomic instability.
Scientists have discovered that high‑dose vitamin B3 supplements dramatically extended survival and reversed symptoms in a mouse model of NAXD deficiency, a fatal childhood genetic disorder. This approach also identified other genetic conditions that might respond to B‑vitamin therapy.
Check out last week’s Week in Brief here.
