Mini lungs make major COVID-19 discoveries possible

Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys, UC San Diego and their international collaborators have reported that more types of lung cells can be infected by SARS-CoV-2 than previously thought.

“People used to think that SARS-CoV-2 only infects cells with certain receptors, especially those with the ACE2 receptor known to interact with the infamous SARS-CoV-2 spike protein,” says Evan Snyder, MD, PhD. “We demonstrated that when a direct entry point was unavailable, the virus just punches through the cell membrane instead.”

“Our data suggest that apilimod—a drug currently being studied for treating cancer, ALS, dementia and various viral infections—could be an adjunct therapy given early on to slow down the infection and enhance the effectiveness of other medicines and the innate immune response,” says Snyder.

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Caroline Kumsta awarded $2.9M to study how short-term stress improves health and life expectancy

Caroline Kumsta, PhD, has been awarded a five-year, $2.9 million grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The funding will advance research to better understand how the body’s cellular recycling system (autophagy) needs to be activated to produce long-term health benefits.

“This award will enable us to take a deeper dive into the fascinating concept of hormesis, where mild, sublethal stress leads to improved health and a longer lifespan,” says Kumsta. “Our goal with this grant is to learn more about how this is regulated, which may lead to healthier aging and improved treatments for age-related conditions.”

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Sanford Burnham Prebys announces new faculty recruit and two faculty promotions

Chavez, Commisso and Sheffler (left to right)

Douglas Sheffler, PhD, was named as a new associate professor at Sanford Burnham Prebys. Previously, Sheffler was a research assistant professor working in the Cancer Molecular Therapeutics Program.

Cosimo Commisso, PhD, was promoted to professor in the Institute’s Cancer Metabolism and Microenvironment Program. He also was appointed deputy director of the Institute’s NCI-designated Cancer Center.

Lukas Chavez, PhD, was promoted to associate professor in the Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program. He also is scientific director of the Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Molecular Tumor Board at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego.

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Axolotls are a type of salamander often studied for their extensive regenerative abilities. They can regrow tails, limbs, spinal cords, brains and more. This axolotl has been genetically modified so that its developing nervous system glows purple and its Schwann cell nuclei appear light blue to help illuminate the role of the peripheral nervous system during limb regeneration.

Image courtesy of Marko Pende, Hannover Medical School.

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