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Huck Institutes seeks new director for Center of Excellence in Industrial Biotechnology

The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences is seeking nominations, including self-nominations, for director of the Center of Excellence in Industrial Biotechnology (CoEIB). Consideration will begin on January 18 and will continue until the position is filled.

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Genomics Core Unveils New Capabilities

A new machine and set of reagents recently acquired by the Genomics Core Facility will enable researchers to go beyond bulk gene expression.

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Schematic illustrating three ways that standard samples from COVID-19 clinical trials can be repurposed to assess the risk that vaccine resistance will evolve. 1. The complexity of B-cell and T-cell responses can be measured using blood samples. Different neutralizing antibodies are depicted above in different colors. More complex responses indicate more evolutionarily robust immunity. 2. The effect of vaccination on transmission potential can be assessed by collecting viral titer data using routine nasal swabs. Plaque assays from multiple vaccinated and control individuals are compiled into a histogram. Undetectable viral titers suggest little or no transmission potential, due to either complete immune protection or the absence of exposure. High viral titers suggest high transmission potential due to the absence of a protective immune response. Intermediate viral titers, marked above with an asterisk, suggest moderate transmission potential due to partial vaccine protection. Intermediate titers indicate an increased risk for resistance evolution since pathogen diversity can be generated within hosts and selection can act during transmission between hosts. 3. Pre-existing variation for vaccine resistance can be assessed by recovering genome sequences from nasopharyngeal swabs of symptomatic COVID-19 cases included in the study. In a placebo controlled, double blind study, any significant differences in the genome sequences of samples from vaccinated and control individuals would suggest at least partial vaccine resistance.

Could SARS-CoV-2 evolve resistance to COVID-19 vaccines?

Similar to bacteria evolving resistance to antibiotics, viruses can evolve resistance to vaccines, and the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 could undermine the effectiveness of vaccines that are currently under development, according to a paper published Nov. 9 in the open-access journal PLOS Biology by David Kennedy and Andrew Read from Penn State.

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Jan 19, 2021

Arts and Architecture appoints interim head of landscape architecture

Charles Andrew “Andy” Cole, associate professor of landscape architecture and ecology and the director of the E+D: Ecology plus Design research initiative, has been appointed the interim head of the Department of Landscape Architecture by Penn State College of Arts and Architecture Dean B. Stephen Carpenter II.

The synthesis of the potent antibiotic thiostrepton uses a radical SAM protein TsrM, whose crystal structure is shown at left while bound to an iron-sulfur cluster and cobalamin. New images of this crystal structure allowed researchers from Penn State to infer the chemical steps during the antibiotic’s synthesis (right), as a methyl group moves from a molecule called S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) to the cobalamin in TsrM to the substrate tryptophan. IMAGE: BOOKER LAB, PENN STATE

Jan 18, 2021

Synthesis of potent antibiotic follows unusual chemical pathway

Images of a protein involved in creating a potent antibiotic reveal the unusual first steps of the antibiotic’s synthesis. The improved understanding of the chemistry behind this process, detailed in a new study led by Penn State chemists, could allow researchers to adapt this and similar compounds for use in human medicine.

Blood flow and neural activity greatly increase during both non-rapid eye movement sleep and rapid eye movement sleep stages, according to Penn State researchers. IMAGE: ISTOCK/@HANK GREBE

Jan 18, 2021

Increased blood flow during sleep tied to critical brain function

Our brains experience significant changes in blood flow and neural activity during sleep, according to Penn State researchers. Such changes may help to clean out metabolic brain waste that builds up during the day.

Events

Tuesday Jan

IPPM virtual seminar: "Case study: apple IPPM in US versus Germany"

Insect Biodiversity Center

Wednesday Jan

Virtual Series: Mainstreaming Biodiversity in the Decade of Action - Section 1, value of biodiversity (week 1)

Insect Biodiversity Center

Friday Jan

Causes and consequences of human gut microbiome composition

Microbiome Center