Finding The ZIP-code For Gene Therapy: Scientists Imitate Viruses To Deliver Therapeutic Genes

ScienceDaily (Aug. 31, 2009) — A research report featured on the cover of the September 2009 print issue of The FASEB Journal describes how Australian scientists developed a new gene therapy vector that uses the same machinery that viruses use to transport their cargo into our cells. As a result of this achievement, therapeutic DNA can be transferred to a cell's nucleus far more efficiently than in the past, raising hopes for more effective treatment of genetic disorders and some types of cancers. Read more ....

Original scientific source: Multifunctional protein nanocarriers for targeted nuclear gene delivery in nondividing cells. Dominic J. Glover, Su May Ng, Adam Mechler, Lisandra L. Martin, and David A. Jans

Nicotinic receptors: allosteric transitions and therapeutic targets in the nervous system

Nature Reviews Drug Discovery 8, 733-750 (September 2009) doi:10.1038/nrd2927
Antoine Taly1, Pierre-Jean Corringer2, Denis Guedin3, Pierre Lestage3 & Jean-Pierre Changeux


Laboratoire de Chimie Biophysique, Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires, UMR 7006 (CNRS-Université de Strasbourg), 8 Allée Gaspard Monge, 67000 Strasbourg, France. Email: a.taly@isis.u-strasbg.fr
Channel Receptors, CNRS URA 2182, Institut Pasteur, 25 rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France. Email: pjcorrin@pasteur.fr
Institut de Recherches Servier, 125 Chemin de Ronde, 78290 Croissy-sur-Seine. Email: denis.guedin@fr.netgrs.com; Email: pierre.lestage@fr.netgrs.com
CNRS URA 2182, Institut Pasteur, 25 rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France. Email: changeux@pasteur.fr

Highlight: "Varenicline (Chantix or Champix) is a nicotinic receptor partial agonist"