Microbial Sensor Identifies Bacterial Infections and Also Creates Blood Stem Cells
|
By LabMedica International staff writers Posted on 26 Dec 2023 |
|
A new study has revealed that a microbial sensor, known as Nod1, crucial in detecting and combating bacterial infections, also significantly influences the formation of blood stem cells. This discovery could revolutionize the process of generating patient-specific blood stem cells, potentially eliminating the need for bone marrow transplants. Previous research indicated that while inflammatory signals typically trigger immune responses, they serve a different purpose during the early stages of embryonic development, particularly in the formation of vascular systems and blood. The activation of the microbial sensor in embryos prompts the transformation of vascular endothelial cells into blood stem cells, creating the potential for the development of a new method to replicate this process in a laboratory setting using a patient's own blood.
Stem cells are critical for the body's development and repair, continuously dividing to maintain their population and generate specialized cells. Embryonic pluripotent stem cells have the capability to form any cell type required by the body, while adult stem cells are more specialized. Hematopoietic stem cells, or blood stem cells, are responsible for producing all the components of blood. These essential cells are formed before birth within the embryo. Researchers at Iowa State University (Ames, IA, USA) discovered that the immune receptor Nod1 activates in an embryo before endothelial cells begin their transition into becoming stem cells, essentially preparing them for this transformation.
The team focused on Nod1 by examining data from human embryos and conducting studies on zebrafish, which share a significant portion of their genetic makeup with humans. They observed that the formation of blood stem cells corresponded with the levels of Nod1, as they manipulated its activity. Further experiments with human induced pluripotent stem cells, adult cells reprogrammed to an embryonic stem cell-like state, reinforced the importance of Nod1 in blood development. The absence of Nod1 led to reduced blood production, similar to the results observed in zebrafish.
Understanding Nod1's critical role in blood stem cell development is a significant step forward for scientists aiming to create a method to produce blood stem cells from human samples. This breakthrough could lead to a transformative new treatment for patients with blood disorders, allowing them to receive transfusions of blood stem cells derived from their own tissues. This approach could potentially eliminate the risks associated with graft-versus-host disease, a severe complication that occurs when the body's immune system attacks the transplanted cells. The research team continues to unravel the intricate process of blood stem cell development, focusing on the timing and expression of various signals crucial for creating a viable method for generating blood stem cells.
“My group at Iowa State University will continue working towards a life without blood disorders. I believe our investigations will pave the road to finally create therapeutic-grade blood stem cells to cure blood disorder patients,” said Raquel Espin Palazon, an assistant professor of genetics, development and cell biology at Iowa State University who led the research team.
Related Links:
Iowa State University
Latest Microbiology News
- Mouth Bacteria Test Could Predict Colon Cancer Progression
- Unique Metabolic Signature Could Enable Sepsis Diagnosis within One Hour of Blood Collection
- Groundbreaking Diagnostic Platform Provides AST Results With Unprecedented Speed
- Simple Blood Test Combined With Personalized Risk Model Improves Sepsis Diagnosis
- Blood Analysis Predicts Sepsis and Organ Failure in Children
- TB Blood Test Could Detect Millions of Silent Spreaders
- New Blood Test Cuts Diagnosis Time for Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Infections from Months to Hours
- New Tuberculosis Test to Expand Testing Access in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
- Rapid Test Diagnoses Tropical Disease within Hours for Faster Antibiotics Treatment
- Rapid Molecular Testing Enables Faster, More Targeted Antibiotic Treatment for Pneumonia
- Rapid AST Platform Provides Targeted Therapeutic Results Days Faster Than Current Standard of Care
- New Analysis Method Detects Pathogens in Blood Faster and More Accurately by Melting DNA
- Rapid Sepsis Test Delivers Two Days Faster Results
- Portable Rapid PCR Diagnostic to Detect Gonorrhea and Antibiotic Susceptibility
- CRISPR Test Diagnoses Mpox Faster Than Lab-Based PCR Method
- Multiplexed PCR Test for Pathogen Detection and Antibiotic Resistance Helps Deliver Rapid UTI Treatment
Channels
Clinical Chemistry
view channel
3D Printed Point-Of-Care Mass Spectrometer Outperforms State-Of-The-Art Models
Mass spectrometry is a precise technique for identifying the chemical components of a sample and has significant potential for monitoring chronic illness health states, such as measuring hormone levels... Read more.jpg "Image: Reaching speeds up to 6,000 RPM, this centrifuge forms the basis for a new type of inexpensive, POC biomedical test (Photo courtesy of Duke University)")
POC Biomedical Test Spins Water Droplet Using Sound Waves for Cancer Detection
Exosomes, tiny cellular bioparticles carrying a specific set of proteins, lipids, and genetic materials, play a crucial role in cell communication and hold promise for non-invasive diagnostics.... Read more
Highly Reliable Cell-Based Assay Enables Accurate Diagnosis of Endocrine Diseases
The conventional methods for measuring free cortisol, the body's stress hormone, from blood or saliva are quite demanding and require sample processing. The most common method, therefore, involves collecting... Read more
Molecular Diagnostics
view channel
Unique Autoantibody Signature to Help Diagnose Multiple Sclerosis Years before Symptom Onset
Autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) are thought to occur partly due to unusual immune responses to common infections. Early MS symptoms, including dizziness, spasms, and fatigue, often... Read more
Blood Test Could Detect HPV-Associated Cancers 10 Years before Clinical Diagnosis
Human papilloma virus (HPV) is known to cause various cancers, including those of the genitals, anus, mouth, throat, and cervix. HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer (HPV+OPSCC) is the most common HPV-associated... Read more
.jpg "Image: The new urine-based test detects high-grade prostate cancer (Photo courtesy of U-M Rogel Cancer Center)"){kind=small}
Hematology
view channel
Next Generation Instrument Screens for Hemoglobin Disorders in Newborns
Hemoglobinopathies, the most widespread inherited conditions globally, affect about 7% of the population as carriers, with 2.7% of newborns being born with these conditions. The spectrum of clinical manifestations... Read more
First 4-in-1 Nucleic Acid Test for Arbovirus Screening to Reduce Risk of Transfusion-Transmitted Infections
Arboviruses represent an emerging global health threat, exacerbated by climate change and increased international travel that is facilitating their spread across new regions. Chikungunya, dengue, West... Read more
POC Finger-Prick Blood Test Determines Risk of Neutropenic Sepsis in Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy
Neutropenia, a decrease in neutrophils (a type of white blood cell crucial for fighting infections), is a frequent side effect of certain cancer treatments. This condition elevates the risk of infections,... Read more
First Affordable and Rapid Test for Beta Thalassemia Demonstrates 99% Diagnostic Accuracy
Hemoglobin disorders rank as some of the most prevalent monogenic diseases globally. Among various hemoglobin disorders, beta thalassemia, a hereditary blood disorder, affects about 1.5% of the world's... Read moreImmunology
view channel
Diagnostic Blood Test for Cellular Rejection after Organ Transplant Could Replace Surgical Biopsies
Transplanted organs constantly face the risk of being rejected by the recipient's immune system which differentiates self from non-self using T cells and B cells. T cells are commonly associated with acute... Read more
AI Tool Precisely Matches Cancer Drugs to Patients Using Information from Each Tumor Cell
Current strategies for matching cancer patients with specific treatments often depend on bulk sequencing of tumor DNA and RNA, which provides an average profile from all cells within a tumor sample.... Read more
Genetic Testing Combined With Personalized Drug Screening On Tumor Samples to Revolutionize Cancer Treatment
Cancer treatment typically adheres to a standard of care—established, statistically validated regimens that are effective for the majority of patients. However, the disease’s inherent variability means... Read more
Pathology
view channel
Spatial Tissue Analysis Identifies Patterns Associated With Ovarian Cancer Relapse
High-grade serous ovarian carcinoma is the most lethal type of ovarian cancer, and it poses significant detection challenges. Typically, patients initially respond to surgery and chemotherapy, but the... Read more.jpg "Image: Fingertip blood sample collection on the Babson Handwarmer (Photo courtesy of Babson Diagnostics)")
Unique Hand-Warming Technology Supports High-Quality Fingertip Blood Sample Collection
Warming the hand is an effective way to facilitate blood collection from a fingertip, yet off-the-shelf solutions often do not fulfill laboratory requirements. Now, a unique hand-warming technology has... Read more
Technology
view channel
New Diagnostic System Achieves PCR Testing Accuracy
While PCR tests are the gold standard of accuracy for virology testing, they come with limitations such as complexity, the need for skilled lab operators, and longer result times. They also require complex... Read more
DNA Biosensor Enables Early Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer
Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), recognized for its potential to form two-dimensional nanosheets like graphene, is a material that's increasingly catching the eye of the scientific community.... Read more
Self-Heating Microfluidic Devices Can Detect Diseases in Tiny Blood or Fluid Samples
Microfluidics, which are miniature devices that control the flow of liquids and facilitate chemical reactions, play a key role in disease detection from small samples of blood or other fluids.... Read more
Breakthrough in Diagnostic Technology Could Make On-The-Spot Testing Widely Accessible
Home testing gained significant importance during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet the availability of rapid tests is limited, and most of them can only drive one liquid across the strip, leading to continued... Read moreIndustry
view channel
ECCMID Congress Name Changes to ESCMID Global
Over the last few years, the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID, Basel, Switzerland) has evolved remarkably. The society is now stronger and broader than ever before... Read more
Bosch and Randox Partner to Make Strategic Investment in Vivalytic Analysis Platform
Given the presence of so many diseases, determining whether a patient is presenting the symptoms of a simple cold, the flu, or something as severe as life-threatening meningitis is usually only possible... Read more
Siemens to Close Fast Track Diagnostics Business
Siemens Healthineers (Erlangen, Germany) has announced its intention to close its Fast Track Diagnostics unit, a small collection of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing products that is part of the... Read more