Abstract: Noroviruses are the leading cause of foodborne disease outbreaks worldwide, and may soon eclipse rotaviruses as the most common cause of severe pediatric gastroenteritis, as the use of rotavirus vaccines becomes more widespread. Genetic mutations and recombinations contribute to the broad heterogeneity of noroviruses and the emergence of new epidemic strains. Although typically a self-limited disease, norovirus gastroenteritis can cause significant morbidity and mortality among children, the elderly, and the immunocompromised. The lack of a cell culture or small animal model has hindered norovirus research and the development of novel therapeutic and preventative interventions. However, vaccines based on norovirus capsid protein virus-like particles are promising and may one day become widely available through transgenic expression in plants. ... Read more

Abstract: Statins are a class of cholesterol lowering drugs that inhibit 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR), the enzyme which catalyzes the rate limiting step of cholesterol biosynthesis. Although numerous trials have demonstrated statin efficacy in the reduction of cardiovascular disease risk, there is substantial variation between individuals in the magnitude of plasma LDL-cholesterol reduction. Pharmacogenetic studies have identified HMGCR genetic variation associated with this inter-individual variation. Here we describe how these studies lead to the discovery that HMGCR alternative splicing of exon 13 is not only a marker, but also a determinant of statin efficacy; not only for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia, but also as a chemopreventive agent for colorectal cancer. ... Read more

Abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that negatively regulate gene expression. Recent findings indicate that miRNAs are dysregulated in human tumors, suggesting a potential role for these molecules in the pathogenesis of cancer. Thus far, only a limited number of studies have investigated miRNA expression in prostate cancer. Results from these studies indicate that miRNA expression profiles may distinguish carcinoma from non-neoplastic specimens and further classify tumors according to androgen dependence. In addition, a prognostic significance was attributed to specific miRNAs as predictors of clinical recurrence following radical prostatectomy. For a handful of miRNAs, for which a widespread dysregulation in prostate cancer was consistently found, functional investigation has been pursued in prostate cancer experimental models to establish the rationale for the development of miRNA-based therapies. A better understanding of the role exerted by specific miRNAs in the development and progression of prostate cancer is needed, as is a precise definition of their targets relevant to the disease. However, based on available findings, a possible role for miRNAs in the management of prostate cancer as novel biomarkers and new therapeutic targets or intervention tools can be envisioned. ... Read more

Abstract: Certain mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene confer hypersensitivity to the tyrosine kinase inhibitors gefitinib and erlotinib in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Large-scale screening for EGFR mutations in such patients is feasible for predicting response to TKIs and thus guiding treatment. ... Read more

Abstract: The new mantra for delivering optimal cancer treatment is "personalized care." This extends beyond the holistic to using germline and somatic tumoral mutations to link a specific therapy to some prognostic or predictive factor which defines a particularly responsive patient subgroup who might benefit most from treatment. Furthermore, inherited polymorphisms have the potential to greatly modulate the side effects of treatment, especially for chemotherapy which has a notoriously narrow therapeutic window (Walther et al., 2009). ... Read more

Abstract: Early detection of colorectal tumors through the identification of mutant DNA in serum or plasma could have a substantial impact on morbidity and mortality. Somatic mutations are specific biomarkers for neoplastic cells, but their detection requires sensitive assays, as the number of circulating mutant molecules is small compared to the number of normal DNA molecules. A newly developed method can provide this sensitivity and at the same time precisely quantify the fraction of mutant molecules present in the clinical sample. Using this technology, it has been found that more than half of patients with early stage disease contain mutant DNA in their circulation. ... Read more

Abstract: Genetic testing has been complicated by the fact that humans are diploid - we inherit one chromosome from father and one from mother. Hence there are two copies of each gene. Frequently, in inheritable diseases, including certain cancers, only one of the two genes has "gone awry." The best way to achieve clear, interpretable genetic testing results is to analyze one copy of the gene (haploid) without the presence of the other copy. ... Read more

Abstract: Colorectal cancer causes 492,000 deaths worldwide each year. The long transformation and asymptomatic period makes it amenable to early screening and preventive measures. Cells in the stools shed by intestinal mucosa are the ideal source of DNA for genetic screening of cancer genes and cancer stages. ... Read more

Abstract: Authors describe their analysis of 1,056 strains of Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium most well known for hospital-borne infections, and 155,232 genetic markers, in an effort to determine whether genetic makeup contributes to the virulence and antibiotics resistance of certain staphylococcal strains. ... Read more

Abstract: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is primarily caused by smoking, but it does not afflict all smokers. Studies indicate that genes may determine whether or not a smoker will develop COPD. Genetic profiles of smokers who have COPD and those who don't are compared by genomic analysis. ... Read more