An Idaho resident was scratched by a rabid skunk, triggering an exceptionally rare and fatal chain of events that resulted in the deaths of two individuals, including the initial bite victim and an organ transplant recipient, as announced by federal authorities.
This incident marks the fourth case of rabies transmission via organ transplant in the U.S. since 1978, according to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC reported, “Our investigation indicates a possible three-step infection chain where a rabid silver bat infected the skunk, which subsequently infected the donor, and then the kidney recipient.”
The agency noted that the Michigan man “underwent a left kidney transplant from an Idaho donor at an Ohio hospital” in December and passed away approximately six weeks later.
The CDC confirmed that “viral RNA was found in the saliva, nuchal skin, and brain tissue samples” of those affected by rabies.
New interviews with the families of Idaho organ donors revealed “information not captured in the DRAI questionnaire,” referring to the “Donor Risk Assessment Interviews.”
Investigators determined that, in late October 2024, a skunk “approached and scratched a donor who was holding a kitten in a rural outbuilding” in Idaho.
The donor died roughly six weeks later, exhibiting symptoms such as “confusion, difficulty swallowing and walking,” along with “hallucinations,” as reported by the CDC.
Officials indicated that the Idaho man’s corneas were extracted and “three patients, one each from California, Idaho, and New Mexico,” received transplants in December and January.
As investigations proceed, three “corneal recipients underwent preventive graft removal,” and “plans for a fourth corneal graft for a patient in Missouri have been halted,” according to the CDC.
All three patients are currently reported to be asymptomatic.
Medical professionals have created an AI tool capable of decreasing wasted efforts in organ transplants by 60%.
Across the globe, thousands of patients await potentially life-saving organ donations, with more individuals on the waiting list than available organs.
Recently, the scope of liver transplants has broadened to include donors who have passed away from cardiac arrest. However, in around half of the cases involving donations after cardiovascular death (DCD), the transplant is ultimately called off.
This occurs because the duration from the removal of life support to the moment of death must not exceed 45 minutes. Surgeons frequently decline to proceed with a liver transplant if the donor does not pass away within the timeframe necessary to maintain organ viability, which increases complications for recipients.
Now, a team of doctors, scientists, and researchers at Stanford University has developed a machine learning model that forecasts whether a donor is likely to pass away before the organ can be transplanted.
This AI tool has surpassed leading surgeons, cutting down the rate of wasted procurements—where preparation for a transplant begins but the donor dies too late—by 60%.
“By pinpointing when an organ is likely to be viable before initiating surgical preparations, this model could enhance the efficiency of the transplant process,” stated Dr. Kazunari Sasaki, a clinical professor of abdominal transplantation and the study’s senior author.
“It also has the capability to make organ transplants accessible to a greater number of candidates in need.”
This advancement could lessen the instances in which organs are prepared for recovery by healthcare workers but are deemed unsuitable for transplantation, imposing financial and operational challenges on transplant centers.
Hospitals primarily estimate this critical period based on the judgment of the surgeons, which varies significantly and can result in unnecessary expenses and wasted resources.
The new AI tool was trained with data from over 2,000 donors from various U.S. transplant centers. It utilizes neurological, respiratory, and cardiovascular data to predict the likelihood of death in potential donors with greater accuracy than previous models or human specialists.
The model was tested both retrospectively and prospectively, successfully reducing procurement waste by 60% compared to surgeon assessments. Notably, the researchers indicated that accuracy was upheld even with some missing donor information.
Reliable, data-driven tools assist medical professionals in making informed decisions, optimizing organ usage, and minimizing wasted efforts and costs.
This method could represent a significant advancement in transplantation, the researchers emphasized, showcasing the “potential for advanced AI techniques to maximize organ utilization from DCD donors.”
In the next phase, they plan to refine the AI tool and test it for heart and lung transplants.
The visible signs of aging, like wrinkles, gray hair, and joint discomfort, are merely surface reflections of more intricate processes happening within our cells. Deep inside your body, every organ experiences its own subtle molecular shifts as you grow older.
Researchers have now developed the most detailed map to date illustrating how this process unfolds.
For further insights into our findings, which are based on data from over 15,000 samples, please visit this preprint research. The paper, currently awaiting peer review, offers an unprecedented view of how aging modifies our genomic blueprint from head to toe.
A collaborative effort among researchers worldwide has led to the creation of a comprehensive “aging atlas” that maps DNA methylation (chemical tags that regulate gene activity) across 17 different types of human tissues while tracking age-related changes.
“DNA methylation, simply put, is a chemical modification on DNA,” said Dr. Jesse Poganic, co-author of the study and a medical instructor at Harvard Medical School, as reported by BBC Science Focus.
“At a fundamental level, their primary role is to regulate which genes are activated and which are not.”
If you stretched all the DNA in your body, it would span over 300 times the distance from Earth to the sun and back – Photo credit: Getty
Despite a few mutations, each cell shares essentially the same genetic information in the form of its genome. So how do lung cells recognize their identity while stomach cells act as stomach cells? This is where methylation plays a crucial role.
“The methylation or unmethylation status at a specific point on the genome determines whether a particular gene is turned on or off,” Poganik noted.
But what does all this reveal about the aging process?
DNA methylation serves as one of the body’s essential epigenetic mechanisms, acting as a molecular switch that toggles genes on or off without altering the DNA sequence itself. By adding and removing tiny molecules known as methyl groups, cells can adjust which genes are expressed in response to diet, exercise, infections, and other environmental influences.
As time passes, these methylation patterns alter in specific ways, forming the basis of the so-called epigenetic clock, which serves as a molecular measure of biological age. Until now, most of these clocks relied on blood samples, leaving scientists uncertain if other organs followed similar patterns.
“DNA methylation patterns differ from tissue to tissue. They are specific to both the tissue and the cell type,” said Professor Nir Eynon, the study’s senior author and research group leader at Monash University, as reported by BBC Science Focus. “Thus, blood measurements don’t necessarily represent what happens in your liver, muscles, or brain.”
This gap prompted the team to gather all publicly available datasets on methylation within reach, complemented by new data from global collaborators.
The analysis covered nearly 1 million points across the genome, encompassing 17 organs, from the brain and heart to the skin, liver, stomach, and retina.
Atlas of Aging
The researchers discovered that the proportion of genomes with methylation tags varied significantly across tissues, ranging from approximately 38 percent in the cervix to over 60 percent in the retina. Surprisingly, age-related changes were quite uniform, with most tissues becoming increasingly hypermethylated as they age, resulting in more tagged DNA sites and the silencing of certain genes.
However, two organs defied this trend. Both skeletal muscle and lung tissue can experience a loss of methyl tags over time, leading to excessive or irregular gene expression.
“Most tissues show hypermethylation with age,” explained Dr. Max Jack, the study’s lead author. BBC Science Focus via email. “Yet when you refine it down to methylation rates, distinct tissue-specific patterns emerge.”
Different organs age at varying rates. An aging atlas begins to elucidate why – Credit: Getty
For instance, adipose tissue predominantly shifts toward hypermethylation, while changes are more balanced in the brain. These patterns may illuminate how different organs react to common aging stressors, such as inflammation, according to Jacques.
Overall, significantly age-related methylation changes were observed in brain, liver, and lung tissues, with skin and colon tissues also showing marked alterations. Conversely, pancreatic, retinal, and prostate tissues exhibited the least detectable age-related changes, possibly due to limited data or greater resilience to aging.
Correlation, Not Causation (For Now)
At first glance, the data imply that some organs age quicker than others. However, researchers caution that these distinctions cannot yet be interpreted as a direct rate of aging.
This is partly due to statistical factors. Some organs represent thousands of samples, while others are represented by only a handful.
Moreover, “We know that methylation changes occur as we age,” Poganik states. “What we don’t know is the extent to which they contribute to aging.”
In other words, while scientists are aware of the methylation alterations linked to aging, it’s still unclear whether those changes induce aging or whether aging triggers those changes.
Poganik believes that alterations in methylation likely account for at least some of the observable phenomena associated with aging. “Even cautious scientists would suggest there’s an element of causation,” he remarks.
The allure of this new atlas lies in its revelation of common molecular themes threading throughout the body, he adds.
“One of the most compelling aspects of this study is that it demonstrates some universality in the aging process. When we analyze various tissues, we encounter numerous similar methylation changes, suggesting a universal quality to aging.”
Nevertheless, he warns that not all alterations are causal. With so many ongoing methylation changes, some are almost certainly part of aging, while others may not hold significance.
Old atlases might not pinpoint which changes are critical and which are not, but they offer an invaluable collection of data for researchers to delve deeper into the issue than ever before. The atlas is now openly accessible through an online portal for other scientists to explore and utilize.
“We have consistently prioritized open-source research,” Jack states. “With this, we aim to make it accessible to everyone, not only to advance research but also to foster collaboration.”
Going forward, the research team plans to examine some universal associations prevalent across all tissues as we age, alongside other biomarkers that may be influencing the aging process.
“Advancements in aging pale in comparison to those in cancer,” Poganik adds. With the assistance of this atlas, scientists may finally bridge that gap.
A single blood test can unveil the biological ages of 11 distinct organs and systems in the body, potentially indicating disease risks in those areas.
“Our objective is to enhance care using one test that reflects not just the overall biological age, but identifies which system is primarily influencing it,” explains Raghav Sehgal from Yale University. “This way, individuals can receive tailored lifestyle or treatment recommendations based on their profiles.”
To evaluate an individual’s lifespan and health risks, biological age serves as an indicator of the rate at which their body ages, contrasting this with chronological age, according to Morgan Levine at Altos Labs in California. Researchers have designed an epigenetic watch to assess DNA methylation, which involves the addition or removal of chemical tags that toggle genes on and off.
While it’s convenient, its accuracy is questioned by Levine. Different organs and systems age at varied rates, heavily influenced by genetics and medical history, she highlights.
“There is a common belief that within an individual, organs and systems can be distinct.” Vadim Gladyshev from Harvard University, who did not partake in the research, notes. “Some brains may exhibit older characteristics, while kidneys may age differently compared to other organs.”
Thus, Sehgal, Levine, and their colleagues embarked on creating methylation tests that target aging states in various body parts. Initially, they assessed physical measurements, including blood tests, medical histories, and grip strength from around 7,500 individuals involved in two major research programs, namely the Health and Retirement Study—a database of U.S. residents over 50 and some U.S. families contributing DNA for genomic research.
Researchers searched for clear connections between age-related conditions, encompassing immune, inflammatory, hematological, musculoskeletal, hormonal, and metabolic systems along with five key organs linked to the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, and brain. They then correlated these findings with DNA methylation patterns, trained computer models to recognize those patterns, calculated the biological age of each system, and generated an overall biological age.
After training their models, the team tested it on blood samples from another 8,125 individuals whose data originated from four other studies. They discovered, for instance, that the model’s heart score could predict heart disease, brain scores were associated with cognitive decline, and musculoskeletal scores indicated whether individuals were likely to have arthritis-like conditions.
Comparing their findings with established epigenetic clocks, the researchers noted that organ-specific scores demonstrated strong accuracy, with many yielding excellent results. “It’s quite remarkable that a single factor measured through a blood test can effectively estimate aging across multiple systems,” remarks Levine.
Daniel Belsky from Columbia University in New York describes the epigenetic clock as representing “significant” advancements in aging research. “This marks the initial foray into developing interpretable measures of biological aging that allow for simultaneous analysis of multiple systems, guiding back to specific tissues or organs,” he explains. “It provides a pathway for reverse-engineering from aggregate measurements to pinpoint where health issues may emerge.”
Nonetheless, he cautions that this method might deviate from the overarching objectives of the field. “The essence of genetic science and the potential of aging biology resides in perceiving humans as coherent systems where we seek to identify the weakest links to bolster and avert failures,” Belsky asserts. “Maintaining this integrated perspective is crucial.”
Crucially, Levine clarifies that this test is not intended for diagnostic purposes but for risk assessment. “All assessments, including those in our studies, aim to provide estimates and insights into the inner workings of our bodies,” she emphasizes. “Future research should yield stronger and more precise estimates of aging by integrating various approaches, capturing the complexity and diversity of the aging process.”
Gladyshev envisions that this research could lead to personalized disease prevention strategies. “This represents the core implication of this series of studies,” Belsky adds, while emphasizing the need for further investigation. “We’re not quite there yet.”
An Alabama woman achieved a significant milestone on Saturday by becoming the longest surviving recipient of a pig organ transplant. After receiving a new kidney, she has been healthy and full of energy for 61 days.
Twana Rooney, who jokingly referred to herself as a “superwoman,” shared with The Associated Press her excitement about her recovery as she took a long walk through New York City. She expressed that the transplant has given her a fresh perspective on life.
Rooney’s remarkable progress following the transplant has provided hope in the advancement of animal-to-human organ transplants. While only four other individuals in the United States have received experimental pig organ transplants (including two hearts and two kidneys), none of them survived for over two months.
Dr. Robert Montgomery of Langone Health, who led Rooney’s transplant, expressed that her kidney function is now “absolutely normal.” The medical team is optimistic about her continued progress, enabling her to eventually return to her home in Gadsden, Alabama.
There is ongoing research involving genetically modified pigs to create more human-like organs to address the critical shortage of transplantable human organs in the US. With over 100,000 people on the US transplant waiting list, most in need of a kidney, and thousands dying while waiting, pig organ transplants have been implemented as acts of compassion.
Hospitals conducting these transplants are collaborating to share insights on the outcomes, paving the way for an upcoming formal study. United Therapeutics, the provider of Rooney’s kidney, has recently sought FDA approval to commence a trial.
Rooney’s experience of donating a kidney to her mother in 1999, subsequent pregnancy complications, and eight years on dialysis led her to explore pig organ transplants. Her journey has been closely monitored by medical professionals, demonstrating the possibility of successful long-term pig organ functionality in humans.
As an advocate and source of support for those navigating the transplant process, Rooney aims to inspire and educate others through her unique story. While the longevity of her new kidney remains uncertain, her resilience and determination offer hope for the future of organ transplantation.
David Bennett Jr. knelt at his bedside, phone in hand, anxiously waiting for the call he’d never received before: The hospital was supposed to update him on whether his father, who had received a new heart transplanted from a pig, was still alive.
It was the first time a living human had received a pig organ transplant.
“I don’t know what the news is, but my dad opened his eyes, he was awake and he was OK. It was unbelievable,” Bennett Jr. said.
Bennett’s father, David Bennett Sr., had severe congestive heart failure and was not a candidate for a transplant. He knew he would likely die soon. There was nothing else he could do but take a chance on a novel, cutting-edge procedure. Bennett Sr. and his son agreed it was worth the risk.
The achievement made headlines around the world following the transplant in January 2022. Initially, the results looked promising, with some family members beginning to entertain the idea that Bennett Sr. might eventually be released from the hospital.
“There were definitely future-oriented conversations about the home environment, who was going to care for him and what that was going to look like,” Bennett Jr. said. “Everyone was very optimistic and hopeful.”
David Bennett Jr. and his family. Jesse Barber, NBC News
But two months later, Bennett Sr.’s body rejected the heart and he died at age 57. paperDoctors at the University of Maryland Medical Center said his body likely produced too many antibodies to fight the new organ. The drugs he was given may have also increased the chance of rejection, and a virus in the pig’s heart further complicates things.
Three other patients have followed in Bennett Sr.’s footsteps and received pig organs, most recently a pig kidney transplant in April. Together, they are pioneers in the burgeoning field of xenotransplantation. For them, the journey has been a roller coaster of emotions, from anxiety to blind hope and ultimately praise for their loved one’s decision, three family members told NBC News.
“Obviously, I wish my dad was still here, but I know his sacrifice was not in vain,” Bennett Jr. said.
None of the patients survived more than three months. To the public, it may have seemed a failure. But to their families, the transplants had accomplished a goal: to buy their loved ones more time and to advance research that may one day save their lives.
“Larry thought: He’s going to die. It’s inevitable, it’s coming,” says Anne Fawcett, whose husband of nearly 38 years, Laurence Fawcett, is the second person to receive a pig heart transplant. “So to gather as much data as we can, to do as much research as we can, why not use Larry’s body as a test subject, to give people in the future who need a transplant another option?”
The potential of xenotransplantation lies in the shortage of available human organs. 17 people die every day in the United States while waiting for an organ transplantBecause pig organs are more readily available, doctors expect such surgeries to become as common as hip replacements in the future, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration.
Mapping how interactions between different organs change during pregnancy could help us better understand conditions such as pre-eclampsia.
Tetra Images, LLC / Alamy
Scientists have mapped for the first time the metabolic changes that different parts of a primate's body undergo during pregnancy. The results suggest that pregnancy-related conditions such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes may be due to “rewiring” errors when these changes occur.
Outside of pregnancy, different body systems normally “supply” each other with molecular nutrients, known as metabolites, in relatively equal exchange.
However, during pregnancy, major changes occur in tissues throughout the body. for example, Heart pumps up to 40% more. However, the thymus gland, which is involved in the immune system, “shrinks very quickly” to prevent rejection of the fetus. See Chan Ng at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing.
After studying Effects of metabolites on stem cells, Ng was curious about the role they play during pregnancy. During this period, “a lot of things are growing and regenerating…It's something you only see in comic books and superhero movies where people transform,” he says.
To learn more, Ng et al. collected 273 tissue samples from 12 cynomolgus monkeys (cynomolgus monkey), including when the monkey was in each trimester of pregnancy and when it was not pregnant. Samples were taken from 23 body parts, including five areas of her body: uterus, liver, spinal cord, skin, blood and heart.
The researchers analyzed the samples for metabolites and compared each site during non-pregnancy to the equivalent site during the third trimester.
As expected, when the macaques were not pregnant, Ng said, the metabolites were distributed fairly evenly across the body. But to her surprise, pregnancy caused her interactions to be “dramatically reprogrammed.”
For example, during the first trimester, the uterus reduced communication with the heart and skeletal muscles and instead “coupled” with the developing placenta. During the second trimester of pregnancy, the fully formed placenta began pumping “large amounts of metabolites” to the heart, ovaries, and liver. On the other hand, the uterus gradually migrated towards union with the scalp by the third trimester of pregnancy.
Also, during the third trimester, important exchanges between skeletal muscles and the spinal cord took place. Researchers have not investigated why these coupling changes occur.
When the flow of “reprogrammed” metabolites deviates from what is considered normal during pregnancy, certain conditions can occur, Ng says.
In a separate experiment, researchers took serum samples from 32 pregnant women and found that levels of the metabolite corticosterone were “significantly reduced” in patients with preeclampsia, Ng said. He states: Then, when they removed corticosterone from human placental cells in the lab, they caused pre-eclampsia-like inflammation. “Corticosterone is an important steroid in human pregnancy,” says Ng. “It’s been undervalued.”
The second important metabolite is thought to be palmitoylcarnitine, which helps process fatty acids and regulate immunity. Ongoing human stem cell research led by Ng suggests that human stem cells may be involved in gestational diabetes, he says.
Based on their findings, the researchers developed an “atlas” of 91 metabolites that consistently change in the tissues of pregnant cynomolgus monkeys. This provides a framework for the involvement of metabolites in regulating health during human pregnancy, Ng said. “There is a treasure trove of small molecules and metabolites that we have discovered. [which] I hope this will further encourage research into new treatments,” he says.
Previous studies have investigated metabolic changes such as: While pregnant rats and mice do, cynomolgus monkeys have reproductive systems much more similar to humans, Ng said. Even though macaques have a shorter gestation period than humans (about 26 weeks compared to the average 40 weeks), they still serve as a reliable model for human reproduction, especially pregnancy-related conditions, he said.
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