News
COVID-19 antibody ‘cocktail’ discovered at VUMC protects chronically ill: study
Aug. 26, 2021—by Bill Snyder A monoclonal antibody cocktail against the COVID-19 virus discovered at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and developed by AstraZeneca reduced the risk of symptoms in a study of immunocompromised and chronically ill adults later exposed to the virus by 77%, the company announced today. Based on the positive results from the PROVENT Phase...
Development of a new framework and tool for multi-drug synergy and combination
Aug. 24, 2021—The Idea Carlos Lopez (Vanderbilt University) Vito Quaranta (Vanderbilt University) Pioneering research from Vanderbilt scientists identifies a measurement system for how well medications work together to help researchers devise new combinations of drugs. It also develops an open-source analysis tool to help speed such discoveries around the world. This research led by Vito Quaranta, professor...
Potential protection from atherosclerosis
Aug. 20, 2021—Aug. 19, 2021, 11:00 AM by Bill Snyder PON1 (paraoxonase 1), an enzyme associated with high-density lipoprotein (HDL), breaks down lipid peroxides, highly reactive fatty molecules that can damage blood vessels. In this way, PON1 can protect against the development of cardiovascular disease. Numerous studies have observed reduced PON1 enzymatic activity in patients with cardiovascular disease. Reporting...
Team isolates antibodies that target alphaviruses
Aug. 19, 2021—Aug. 19, 2021, 10:12 AM by Bill Snyder A multi-institutional team led by researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center has isolated monoclonal antibodies that in laboratory and animal studies prevented infection by alphaviruses, including the often-lethal Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV). EEEV, which infects the central nervous system of humans, horses and other animals,...
Vega selected as 2021 Vanderbilt Prize Student Scholar
Aug. 12, 2021—Aug. 11, 2021, 4:10 PM by Bill Snyder Paige Vega, a PhD student in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at Vanderbilt University, has been selected as the 2021 Vanderbilt Prize Student Scholar. Paige Vega has been selected as the 2021 Vanderbilt Prize Student Scholar. (photo by Elaine Chen) She will receive a...
Shared antibodies may push COVID-19 variants: VUMC study
Aug. 12, 2021—Aug. 10, 2021, 9:01 AM by Bill Snyder Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have found that people recovering from COVID-19 and those vaccinated against the causative virus, SARS-CoV-2, produce identical clones, or groups, of antibody-producing white blood cells. Their discovery, reported this week in the journal Cell Reports, sheds light on the selection pressures...
Researchers derive new cancer therapies to decrease the risk of heart damage
Jul. 29, 2021—by Skylar Cuevas THE IDEA With modern-day cancer therapeutics presenting adverse side effects to heart health, scientists are studying methods to attack cancer cells without the risk of damaging the heart. Researchers Steven Townsend, associate professor of chemistry, and Neil Osheroff, John Coniglio Professor of Biochemistry and professor of medicine, synthesized the biological compound arimetamycin...
Osheroff elected to AAMC council leadership post
Jul. 23, 2021—Jul. 22, 2021, 9:51 AM by Leigh MacMillan Neil Osheroff, PhD, professor of Biochemistry and Medicine, has been elected to a leadership position for a council of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Osheroff, who holds the John G. Coniglio Chair in Biochemistry, will serve a three-year term on the Administrative Board of the...
Researchers discover that protein switches functions to regulate DNA replication
Jul. 22, 2021—Jul. 22, 2021, 10:20 AM Madison Adolph, PhD, left, David Cortez, PhD, and Archana Krishnamoorthy are studying fundamental processes involved in DNA replication. (photo by Susan Urmy) by Leigh MacMillan One protein. One mechanism of action. Two biologically opposite effects. “It’s conceptually unexpected and interesting for a protein to switch biological functions without actually changing...
Guengerich publication selected as JBC Editor’s Pick
Jul. 14, 2021—Fred Guengerich’s manuscript, “Stepwise binding of inhibitors to human cytochrome P450 17A1 and rapid kinetics of inhibition of androgen biosynthesis,” was selected as one of Journal of Biological Chemistry’s “Editors’ Picks,” a work providing an exceptional contribution to the field. Congratulations! JBC will also run a highlight on co-author Kevin McCarty who is joining QCB this fall as...