This can occur through the selective methylation of DNA bases and modification of histones. There are wide-ranging implications for the gene-environment debate and epigenetic mechanisms are causing a reevaluation of many traditional concepts such as heritability. The reversible nature of epigenetics also provides plausible treatment or prevention prospects for diseases previously thought hard-coded into the genome. Here, we consider how growing knowledge of epigenetics is altering our understanding of biology and medicine,

and its implications for future research.”
“Neural stem cells (NSCs) are highly susceptible to DNA double-strand breaks; however, little is known about the effects of radiation in cells surviving radiation. Although the nestin-positive NSCs predominantly became glial fibrillary acidic selleck screening library protein (GFAP)-positive in differentiation-permissive Z-VAD-FMK clinical trial medium, little or no cells were GFAP positive in proliferation-permissive medium. We found that more than half of the cells surviving X-rays became GFAP positive in proliferation-permissive medium. Moreover, localized irradiation stimulated differentiation of cells outside the irradiated area. These results indicate for the

first time that ionizing radiation is able to stimulate astrocyte-specific differentiation of surviving NSCs, whose process

is mediated both by the direct activation of nuclear factor-kappa B and by the indirect bystander effect Sclareol induced by X-irradiation. NeuroReport 23: 290-293 (C) 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.”
“Enterovirus 71 (EV71). the etiologic agent causes outbreaks with significant mortality in young children in Asia and currently there is no vaccine available. In this study, we report a quantitative enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (Q-ELISA) to determine the concentration of the EV71 VP2 antigen. EV71 virus-like particles (VLPs) were produced in the baculovirus expression system and used as the EV71 antigen reference standard. Antisera from both EV71-immunized chickens and rabbits were very efficient and useful as capture antibodies to bind various forms of EV71 antigens, whereas a commercial VP2-specific virus neutralizing monoclonal antibody MAB979 was found to be suitable for quantifying the amount of VP2 antigen. This Q-ELISA was used successfully to determine VP2 content at each stage of EV71 vaccine manufacturing process, particularly during the upstream harvest. downstream purification and viral inactivation steps. The amount of VP2 antigen and the magnitude of neutralizing titers were found to be dose-dependent in mice immunized with vaccine candidates.