Cover Stories
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Monoglycosylated Chimeric Hemagglutinin as Universal Flu Vaccine
Professor Chi-Huey Wong had previously led a group thinking from outside of the box and created a mono-glycan H1N1 flu vaccine that proved effective against multiple flu subtypes. They have outdone themselves again, and this time, they came up with a breakthrough development of a universal anti-influenza vaccine using a designed chimeric hemagglutinin (HA) protein. The resulting immune re-sponses in animal model showed coverages not only on various human influenza strains and subtypes, but also the emerging avian flu. They have published the result online in PNAS on July 15th.
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FRIL Can Grab the Thorny Crown to Fight Off COVID-19
A group of GRC investigators who have put in extensive effort in the study of infectious diseases, glycoproteins, and herbal medicines have collaborated to come up with an easy but effective way to fight off not only most types of influenza viruses, but also the dreaded Covid-19 coronavirus. This study, led by Professor Alex Ma, recently published their findings in the journal Cell Reports.
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A Portable Mass Spectrometer that Writes History
Computer downsizing from mainframes, mini, micro, until now the hand held devices, it happened one after another one so fast yet made major impact to human history. Now, the same kind of evolution may happen again to Mass Spectrometers.
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A Promising Trisaccharide Identified for Damaged Cartilage
“Bad Knees” is not an unfamiliar topic among older folks. Most of the complaints are pains and swellings, accompanying clicking and locking at the joints. Some people believe it’s a sign of ageing when one starts feeling funny at the knees. And it may just be true!
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The Circles: Establishment of Autism-associated Circular RNA Regulatory Networks
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a pervasive neurodevelopmental and heritable complex disorder characterized by limited social communication, restricted and ritualized interests, and repetitive behavior [Mendelian Inheritance in Man (MIM) 209850].
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Novel Nanomaterial Makes Targeted Lung Cancer Cells Evincible On Living Mice
Molecularly targeted therapy can provide cancer patients with treatments targeting cancerous cells and avoid unnecessary damages to non-cancer cells. However, it is a challenge to deliver the drug to just where the cancerous cells are located. When the drug is distributed to our body, the ultimate goal is to not let it go circulated throughout the body, for the sake of efficiency as well as safety. There is another thera-peutic challenge, which is to detect the metastasis as early as possible.
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A Covid-19 Antigen Rapid Test Kit Delivered
Today, Academia Sinica (AS) proudly announced that the first ever monoclonal antibody specifically binding nucleocapsid protein (N protein) of the coronavirus has been successfully generated and tested, a work done by Dr. An-Suei Yang and his team at Genome Research Center in AS. If successfully developed and manufactured, the rapid immune based test kit could prove very useful in detecting coronavirus within 20 minutes just like a rapid influenza test.
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Sandwich-Like Enhanced Iron-platinum Nanoparticle Promising for Liver Cancer Detection and Treatment
Liver cancer, commonly referred to as HCC (the abbreviation of Hepatocellular carci-noma) scientifically, has another nickname – Silent Killer. It is Silent because the majority of patients can feel nothing, it is a “Killer” because oftentimes it is already fatal when detected.
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Maintaining Redox Homeostasis: A Savior for Treating Motor Neuron Diseases and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Reactive Oxygen Species, aka. ROS, are naturally formed as our cells go through metabolism. They are also needed at times when our immune systems use it as weapons while performing duties.
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AS Mystery and Potential Cure Uncovered
Ankylosing Spondylitis, commonly referred to as “AS”, is a kind of disease that usually started with the inflammation in the pelvic area, extending to the vertebral column and eventually leading to “bamboo spine”, when patients cannot keep their backs straight up.
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RNA Editing: A New Angle to Conduct Gene Therapy
This is the first time to explore the association between RNA editing activities and the damaging effect of genetic mutations at a population scale.
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