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Experimental Vaccine Provides Year-long Protection Against Severe Allergy Attacks

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Warning signs of food allergies and intolerances

Innovative vaccines may provide a new approach to combat severe food allergies

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Researchers have developed an experimental vaccine that successfully protects mice from anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction, for at least one year. There is optimism that this vaccine will also be effective in humans.

Anaphylaxis poses a persistent threat to millions worldwide, particularly for individuals allergic to foods like peanuts and shellfish. In the UK alone, around 6% of adults, or about 2.4 million people, are believed to have clinically confirmed food allergies.

Allergic reactions can occur from consuming contaminated food or even from kissing someone who has recently eaten the allergenic food. This triggers a surge of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies, leading to symptoms such as throat swelling, breathing difficulties, and a drop in blood pressure. Despite having an epinephrine auto-injector (like an EpiPen) at hand, many still need emergency treatment, and severe cases may be fatal.

Currently, avoiding allergens is the primary method of prevention, with limited alternatives available. Individuals can consider oral immunotherapy, where the allergen is gradually introduced under supervision to build up tolerance. There is also an anti-IgE monoclonal antibody drug, like omalizumab, which binds to IgE to block allergic responses. However, omalizumab is costly and requires injections every few weeks, sometimes indefinitely.

Recently, Laurent Reber and colleagues at the Toulouse Institute of Infection and Inflammation in France developed a vaccine named IgE-K. This vaccine encourages the immune system to produce antibodies that target IgE, preventing it from attaching to receptors on immune cells and averting severe allergic reactions.

“Our goal was to create a long-term solution, as individuals with food allergies face unintentional exposure at any time, necessitating ongoing protection,” says Reber.

In experiments with mice engineered to produce the human variant of IgE, the team discovered that two doses of the vaccine led to the generation of neutralizing antibodies against IgE.

“It blocks the molecules responsible for allergic reactions,” says Josh Koenig from McMaster University in Ontario, Canada.

Upon exposing the mice to a substance that triggered an allergic reaction, the unvaccinated mice experienced significant reactions, while the vaccinated mice exhibited no symptoms and were shielded from anaphylaxis for up to a year.

“It might last longer, but we have yet to conduct further testing,” noted Reber.

IgE forms part of the immune system, activated in response to toxins and certain intestinal parasites apart from allergens. “This mechanism is likely an evolutionary adaptation to combat toxins,” suggests Lever.

Lever asserts there is strong evidence supporting the long-term safety of targeting this molecule, as many individuals with severe allergies have been on anti-IgE therapy for years without negative effects. To assess if reducing IgE would diminish the body’s protective response to parasites, further tests were conducted on mice. The results indicated that the vaccine did not hinder their immune response to infections involving mouse feline, a parasitic nematode.

Koenig expresses hope regarding the vaccine’s efficacy in humans. “Research shows that the mouse-generated antibodies attach effectively to human IgE molecules. If humans can produce similar antibodies, there’s a promising chance it will be highly effective.”

Despite this optimism, Lever emphasizes that clinical trials are necessary to assess the vaccine’s safety, effectiveness, and duration in humans. If it can be commercialized, it may provide a cost-effective treatment alternative for individuals with severe allergies, requiring far fewer injections than anti-IgE monoclonal antibodies such as omalizumab.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Basilisk Review: A Bold, Experimental Thriller That Thrills Puzzle Enthusiasts

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Can Powerful Ideas Cause Physical Harm Through Exposure?

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Basilisk
Matt Wixey (Titan Books, July 1)

I’m manipulating your thoughts. Just by reading this, I have invaded your mind, as each word travels from my heart to yours. I can even conjure unexpected images in your mind—quickly, don’t think of a pink elephant! Whatever you do, don’t visualize it!

Fortunately, there are limits to the influence of mere words and ideas. But what if those limits could be transcended? Imagine a phrase so potent that it could guide your very thoughts toward your own demise. This is the premise explored in Basilisk, an experimental thriller by Matt Wixey, designed specifically for the minds of readers like those of New Scientist.

This novel features a complex narrative structure, reminiscent of House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski. It follows ethical hacker Alex Webster, who works with a computer security firm, attempting to breach her client’s network while aiding in their defense, a professional endeavor shared by debut author Wixey.

However, it’s not merely straightforward. Webster narrates her experiences through two intertwined threads. First, we unravel how she and colleague Jay Morton stumbled into the puzzle leading to his death. Then, she reflects on that tragedy and processes its far-reaching consequences.

The narrative doesn’t end there. Webster’s accounts are supplemented with footnotes from both her and the detective investigating Morton’s death, interspersed with correspondence from a mysterious figure known as Helmsman, who sheds light on the puzzle they aim to solve.

This book feels tailor-made for my brain—that of a New Scientist reader.

If all this sounds overwhelming, Basilisk may not be for you. Personally, piecing together the multifaceted narratives exhilarated me, making my mind race with possibilities.

Helmsman’s correspondences themselves adopt various formats, from bureaucratic emails and scientific reports to conversational dialogues. They tackle numerous topics typically found in New Scientist, covering psychology to artificial intelligence, and I appreciated the precise references to scientific literature. Helmsman details attempts to cultivate a “basilisk,” a concept that can inflict harm merely through exposure, named after the mythical creature said to slay with a glance.

Matt Wixey’s Basilisk centers on “Ethical Hacker” Alex Webster

Basilisks are, as far as we know, fictional, yet the concepts they embody are increasingly compelling. Science fiction author David Langford has explored such ideas in his short stories. Basilisk presents the notion of images that may ‘crash’ the human mind akin to deceptive computer code.

A notable example is Roko’s basilisk—a baffling proposition suggesting that all-powerful future AI will punish those who fail to ensure its creation (a more thorough explanation isn’t wise). The latest series of the anthology Black Mirror also references this concept.

Basilisk represents a subset of broader cognitive hazards, which span topics from nuclear weapons to organized religions.

While reading Basilisk, sleepless nights drove me to read yet another chapter, prompting me to question if the book itself qualifies as a cognitive hazard. I found it difficult to stop thinking about even after finishing. Now that you’ve read this review, perhaps you’re at risk, too.

Please proceed. Dive into the book. Wouldn’t you want to discover what unfolds?

The Art and Science Behind Writing Science Fiction

Embark on a journey into the realm of science fiction writing this weekend, dedicated to creating new worlds and artistic marvels.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

When Trump Halts the Study, the Experimental Animal is Euthanized

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On April 1, the Trump administration initiated its budget cuts, impacting Morgantown, W.Va. Federal scientists were focusing on health and safety concerns for American workers. That morning, hundreds of staff members at the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health learned they had been laid off and would lose building access.

More than 900 lab animals remained on site. The institute managed to transfer approximately two-thirds (mainly mice) to a university lab, as reported by two recently terminated employees. Unfortunately, the remaining 300 animals were euthanized last week.

In recent months, the Trump administration aimed to reformat American research, resulting in mass firings of federal scientists, withdrawal of active research grants, and proposals to fund essential laboratory operations.

These actions have disbanded various research initiatives and significantly affected lab animals, crucial for much of the nation’s biomedical research.

“Many animals will face sacrifice—they will be terminated,” remarked a researcher on the potential use of non-animal alternatives at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Experts indicate that predicting the total impact is challenging, as much of the administration’s actions are embroiled in legal disputes. Furthermore, animal research is often discreet, leaving no clear count of animals in U.S. laboratories.

Numerous scientists are hesitant to discuss the fate of lab animals due to fears of backlash from animal rights activists or retaliation from employers or the administration. Many requests for interviews with research facilities remain unanswered.

“It’s a terrible situation for them,” Dr. Rock stated. “Retaining animals can incur high costs, while sacrificing them can provoke public outrage.”

Some animal rights advocates welcome the uncertainty, even if it leads to euthanasia. However, many researchers feel devastated by the dual loss—many animals could perish without contributing to scientific knowledge.

“We don’t engage with animals lightly,” said pulmonary toxicologist Kyle Mandler, recently laid off from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, part of the CDC. He was in the midst of research on harmful dust generated in certain construction materials. About 20 of his mice were euthanized last week, leaving his study incomplete and without data.

“Knowing that their lives and sacrifices were completely wasted is both depressing and infuriating,” he expressed.

The Department of Health and Human Services did not directly respond to inquiries regarding the seized Morgantown animals. However, an unnamed HHS official stated via email that changes at NIOSH are part of a “broader reorganization,” integrating multiple programs for a healthier U.S.

“Staffing and operational adjustments occur in phases,” the statement noted. “Animal care operations are ongoing, and HHS is committed to upholding all federal animal welfare standards throughout this transition.”

In recent years, many countries, including the U.S., have shifted away from animal research due to its costs and ethical concerns, often poor relevance to human outcomes. This month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration revealed plans to phase out animal testing requirements for certain drugs, favoring three-dimensional human organ models made from lab-grown cells, like organoids and “organs on a chip.”

Experts agree these emerging technologies show great promise. However, for the time being, lab animals remain vital to biomedical research, with some arguing that certain data can only be gathered through animal studies.

“We aim to exit this realm,” stated Naomi Charalanbakis, director of science policy at a nonprofit advocating for the continuation of animal use in biomedical research. “But we’re not there yet.”

Research involving lab animals requires careful planning over years, stable funding, and skilled veterinarians and technicians for daily care. The Trump administration’s actions jeopardize all of this.

At the NIOSH facility in Morgantown, initial budget cuts encompassed animal care staff. “But they resisted, insisting they couldn’t leave while animals remained on site,” said a former lab technician.

After the Trump administration froze funding at Harvard this month, researchers developing a new tuberculosis vaccine faced the grim prospect of euthanizing rhesus macaques. This study and the monkeys were saved only after private donors stepped in to provide funding.

Animals involved in halted projects might be relocated to different labs, but others may be undergoing experimental treatments or exposure to pathogens or toxins. Many are retained to illustrate specific behavioral or health vulnerabilities, and lab animals, not being wild, cannot simply be released. Experts noted that the sudden influx of surplus lab animals may overwhelm the nation’s animal sanctuaries.

Anne Linder, associate director of the Animal Law and Policy Program at Harvard Law School, expressed concern that the fate of many lab animals would hinge on the “whims and temperament” of individual researchers and lab staff.

“In the absence of oversight, some decisions may be misguided, driven by harsh needs rather than the welfare of the animals involved,” she said in an email.

Many researchers have expressed concerns regarding the National Institutes of Health’s attempts to impose severe caps on “indirect costs” related to scientific research, including those tied to maintaining animal care facilities.

A federal judge halted the NIH from implementing these funding caps, but the agency has appealed. Should these policies pass, the repercussions could be disastrous for institutions utilizing non-human primates in their research.

The Washington National Center for Research on Primates, located at the University of Washington, houses over 800 non-human primates. The indirect funding cap represents a loss of around $5 million annually, forcing the colony’s size to shrink, according to director Deborah Fuller.

“This could shatter the entire infrastructure we’ve established,” she cautioned.

If that occurs, the center will strive to find new homes for the animals, yet other research facilities share similar issues, and primate sanctuaries may struggle to accommodate the influx.

As a last resort, primates may have to be euthanized. “This is the worst-case scenario,” warned Sally Thompson Iritani, assistant deputy director of the university’s research department. “Even if it’s uncomfortable to consider, it’s a possibility.”

For some animal rights advocates, the reduction of federal animal research facilities is a cause for celebration. “For many of these animals, euthanasia before experimentation may be the best scenario,” noted Justin Goodman, senior vice president of the White Coat Waste Project, a nonprofit advocating for the cessation of federally funded animal research. (He did stress that finding new homes for lab animals would be preferable.)

Deluciana Winder, director of the Institute for Animal Law and Policy at Vermont Law School, hopes that these cuts could lead to the closure of the National Primate Center. Nevertheless, she expressed concern that reductions at the USDA could weaken already lax oversight of lab animal welfare.

Dr. Locke believes the crisis could serve as a “wake-up call” for the nation to pursue alternatives to animal research, albeit in a thoughtful manner.

“I don’t find it acceptable to cull millions of animals from research,” Dr. Locke stated. “It’s not socially or scientifically acceptable. We need to acknowledge that it’s a likely outcome.”

Source: www.nytimes.com

Experimental Brain Computer Implant Restores Speech for Stroke Survivors

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A device has been created by scientists that can translate speech ideas into spoken words in real time.

Although still in the experimental stage, the goal is to develop a Brain Computer Interface that can give voice to individuals unable to speak.

In a recent study, the device was tested on a 47-year-old woman with quadriplegia who had been speech-impaired for 18 years since experiencing a stroke. The device was implanted in her brain during surgery as part of a clinical trial.

According to Gopala Anumanchipalli, co-author of the study published in Nature Neuroscience, the device “translates the intent to speak into fluent text.”

Most brain computer interfaces for speech experience a delay between thought and speech, which can disrupt conversations and cause misunderstandings. However, this new device is considered a significant advancement in the field.

The device works by recording brain activity using electrodes and generating speech based on this activity. An AI model is then trained to translate this neural activity into spoken words.

The UCSF Clinical Research Coordinator will connect a neural data port to the head of the ANN, a participant in El Cerrito, California, on May 22, 2023.Noah Berger/UCSF, via AP files via UC Berkeley

Anumanchipalli of the University of California, Berkeley, explains that the device operates similarly to existing systems used for transcribing meetings and phone calls in real time.

Located in the brain’s speech center, the implant translates signals into spoken sentences as they are heard. This “streaming approach” ensures a constant flow of audio to the recorder without waiting for the sentence to finish.

Rapid speech decoding enables the device to keep up with natural speech pace, enhancing language naturalness according to Brumberg.

Funded in part by the National Institutes of Health, further research is necessary before the technology can be widely available. Anumanchipalli suggests that with sustained investment, the device could potentially be accessible to patients within the next decade.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Is the future of nuclear fusion at risk? Examining the challenges facing the International Experimental Reactor | Energy

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IIt was a project that promised the Sun: researchers would use some of the most cutting-edge technology in the world to design machines capable of generating atomic fusion, the process that powers stars, to create a cheap, non-polluting source of electricity.

This was originally the purpose of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (Iter). Thirty-five countries, including European countries, China, Russia and the United States, agreed to build the reactor in Saint-Paul-lès-Durance in the south of France at an initial cost of $6 billion. Work began in 2010, with the promise of producing an energy-producing reaction by 2020.

Then reality set in: Cost overruns, the coronavirus, corrosion of key components, last-minute redesigns, and disputes with nuclear safety regulators have caused delays, and it was just announced that ITER won’t be ready for another decade. To make matters worse, the energy-producing fusion reaction won’t occur until 2039, adding another $5 billion to ITER’s already ballooning $20 billion budget.

Other estimates put the final cost much higher, the magazine said, potentially making ITER “the most delayed and costly scientific project in history.” Scientific American On the other hand, the journal Science It said only that ITER was currently facing “major problems”. Nature It noted that the project “has been plagued by a series of delays, cost overruns and management problems.”

Scientists warn that dozens of private companies are now threatening to develop fusion reactors on a shorter timeline, including Oxford-based Tokamak Energy and the US company Commonwealth Fusion Systems.

“The problem is that ITER has been going for so long and suffered so many delays that the rest of the world has moved on,” said Robbie Scott, a nuclear fusion expert at the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council. “A lot of new technology has come along since ITER was planned, and that has left the project with serious problems.”

The Iter plant, under construction in Saint-Paul-lès-Durance in the south of France, opened in June. Photo: EJF Riche/Iter Organization

Question marks now hang over the world’s most ambitious technological project, which seeks to understand the process that powers stars, in which two light atomic nuclei combine to form one heavy one, releasing a huge amount of energy – nuclear fusion, which only occurs at very high temperatures.

To generate this heat, doughnut-shaped reactors called tokamaks use magnetic fields to confine a plasma of hydrogen nuclei, then bombard it with particle beams and microwaves. When temperatures reach millions of degrees Celsius, a mixture of two hydrogen isotopes (deuterium and tritium) fuses to form helium, neutrons, and a huge amount of excess energy.

Containing plasma at such high temperatures is extremely difficult. “The original plan was to line the tokamak reactor with beryllium as a protective covering, but this proved extremely difficult and because beryllium is toxic, they ultimately decided to replace it with tungsten,” says David Armstrong, professor of materials science and engineering at the University of Oxford. “This was a major late design change.”

Then, after it was discovered that huge parts of the South Korean-made tokamak had not been fitted together properly, threatening to leak radioactive material, French nuclear regulators ordered construction of the plant halted. Further delays were announced as problems mounted.

Then came COVID-19. “The pandemic caused factories supplying components to close, resulting in related workforce cuts, backlogs in shipments and difficulties in carrying out quality-control inspections,” ITER Secretary General Pietro Barabaschi acknowledged.

So ITER has once again delayed completion until another decade. At the same time, researchers using other approaches to nuclear fusion are making breakthroughs. In 2022, the US National Ignition Facility in California announced that it had used a laser to superheat deuterium and tritium and fuse them to produce helium and surplus energy, which is ITER’s goal.

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Other fusion projects also claim they too could soon achieve breakthroughs. “The past decade has seen a proliferation of private fusion companies promising to do things differently from ITER – faster, cheaper – and, to be fair, some of them have likely overpromised,” said Brian Aperbe, a research physicist at Imperial College London.

It remains to be seen whether ITER will weather these crises and whether backers will continue to fund it. Observer He argued that there was still promising work left to be done.

One example is research into how to produce tritium, a rare hydrogen isotope essential for fusion reactors. It can be made by bombarding lithium samples with neutrons produced in a fusion reactor, producing helium and tritium in the process. “That’s a worthwhile experiment in itself,” Aperbe said.

But it rejected claims ITER was “hugely problematic” and dismissed the notion it was a record-breaking science project in terms of cost overruns and delays – just look at the International Space Station or Britain’s HS2 rail link, a spokesman said.

Some have pointed out that fusion power’s limited carbon emissions could help the fight against climate change. “But fusion will be too slow to reduce carbon emissions in the short term,” says Aneeka Khan, a fusion researcher at the University of Manchester. “Only once fusion power plants are producing significant amounts of electricity later in the century will they help curb carbon emissions, which will be crucial in the fight against climate change.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

New experimental weight loss drug shows greater effectiveness than Ozempic

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Oral weight loss drug may help obese patients who hate needles

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Based on early trial results reported on March 7, it appears the experimental pill may cause greater weight loss than existing injectable treatments such as Ozempic, Wigoby, and Munjaro.

The drug, called amicretin, reduced people’s weight by 13 percent in three months. This is more than double his amount observed at Ozempic and Wegoby specifically. “From the limited data we have, this approach seems a little more exciting,” he says. Daniel Drucker At the University of Toronto, Canada.

The results come from a three-month, placebo-controlled trial, so it’s too early to know how amicretin compares to other drugs in terms of long-term efficacy and safety. said Drucker, who was not involved in the trial but was consulted, as well as manufacturer Novo Nordisk and other drug companies.

The diabetes drug Ozempic and the weight loss drug Wegoby are two brand names for the compound semaglutide. They work by mimicking a gut hormone called GLP-1 that is normally released after meals. This makes a person feel full, reduces appetite, and stimulates the release of the blood sugar-regulating hormone insulin.

Semaglutide leads to a loss of about 15 percent of body weight when taken for a year, but after that the weight plateaus and the injections need to be continued for a long time or it tends to gradually come back.

Another weight loss injectable called Mounjaro, also known as Tirzepatide or Zepbound, was launched last year. It mimics GLP-1 and an additional intestinal hormone called GIP. Using Mounjaro, you seem to lose about 21 percent of your weight over the first year and five months of her life before your weight loss plateaus.

However, amicletin mimics GLP-1 and another hormone called amylin, and appears to be even more potent, at least during the first three months of treatment. Reuters reports that people who took amicletin lost 13 percent of their weight during this period, Nordisk announced today. Those who took the placebo pill had a 1% decrease. This is higher than Wegovy and Ozempic’s 6 percent and Munjaro’s equivalent figure of around 7.5 percent.

But we can only know for sure how the drugs will fare over the long term if they are compared under exactly the same circumstances in a single study, Drucker said. “This is not a head-to-head trial.”

Another caveat is that while drugs that act by mimicking GLP-1 have been used to treat type 2 diabetes for more than a decade and their safety profile is well understood, amylin mimetics That’s not the case.

Novo Nordisk also said: Amicretin’s side effects were similar to those of Wegoby, and tended to include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, especially when the dose was increased rapidly.

The availability in pill form could be a big advantage for people who don’t like injections, he says. Daniel Chancellor Global Pharmaceutical Business Analyst cytherine. “Oral medications are very attractive.”

In addition to these three drugs, other weight loss drugs that mimic other gut hormones are also in development.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

China successfully sends experimental spacecraft into orbit for the third time in 2020

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BEIJING — China has successfully launched a reusable robotic spacecraft on Thursday for the third time since 2020 in a series of secret orbital test flights aimed at developing reusable technology to reduce the cost of space missions.

The unmanned spacecraft flew atop a Long March 2F rocket, the same rocket series China uses to transport astronauts into space, on Thursday at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China, state media said. It was launched in

The spacecraft will operate in orbit for a “certain period” before returning to a designated landing site in China. State media reported that reusable technology would be “validated” and space experiments carried out during the flight, but gave no other details.

of final launch The spacecraft was launched in August 2022 and returned to Earth after a 276-day orbit. Details such as what technology was tested or how high the plane flew were not disclosed. Images of the spacecraft have never been released to the public.

China’s plans for a reusable spacecraft (referred to by some as Shenlong, or “Shenron” in Chinese) coincide with a similar secret plan by the United States to fly an autonomous spacecraft known as the X-37B.

Thursday’s launch in China came hours after the launch countdown for the new rocket. X-37B SpaceX has canceled its mission for the third time this week due to weather and technical issues at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

A new launch date for the X-37B has not yet been announced. The X-37B was scheduled to launch for its seventh mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket that can carry secret robotic spaceplanes to much higher orbits than ever before.

The Pentagon has provided few details about the mission, which will be overseen by the U.S. Space Command under the military’s National Security Space Launch Program.

But Space Force Gen. B. Chance Saltzman told reporters at an industry conference this week that he expects China to launch Shenron around the same time as the upcoming He said he expected further developments in the growing competition.

“It is no surprise that the Chinese are very interested in our spaceplanes. According to the US aerospace magazine Air & Space Force Magazine, we are very interested in theirs. ,” Saltzman said.

“These are two of the most-watched objects in orbit. It’s probably no coincidence that they’re trying to grab us at this timing and sequence.”

of Made by Boeing(Ban) The X-37B is about the size of a small bus and resembles a small space shuttle ship, and is designed to deploy a variety of payloads and conduct technology experiments on long orbital flights.

On its previous mission, the unmanned X-37B returned to Earth in November 2022 after more than 900 days in orbit.

China successfully launches reusable spacecraft for the first time September 2020 This happened after it had been in orbit for just two days.

The development of reusable spacecraft is considered important to ultimately achieving the goal of increasing the frequency of space flights and lowering the cost per mission.

Source: www.nbcnews.com