Researchers at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have built a synthetic gene circuit that allows for the tuning of a gene’s expression within human cells.  The research tool allows researchers to turn a gene completely off or completely on, and any variation in between.  This is particularly useful for cancer research because it supports testing of boundaries of genes known to confer drug resistance to cancer cells as well as slowing for personalized gene therapy.  Nature Communications

Researchers at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver have identified a set of experimental drugs that fight off flu in mice as well as currently available antiviral drugs.  Both compounds, members of a class called 2,3-difluorosialic acids (DFSAs) interferes with the binding to certain acids needed for the flu to spread from cell to cell.  Science

The Eurpoean Centre for Disease Control announced it is examining current evidence for the possible environmental origin of drug resistance in a group of lung diseases known as Aspergillus infection.  Almost 2.5 million patients rely on an antifungal therapy based on triazole fungicides, without which the expected mortality for their conditions is 88%. Results from published studies suggest that triazole resistance has evolved in the environment and could be driven by the selective pressure of triazole fungicides routines sprayed on crops. ECDC

A new documentary film takes aim at drug resistance, making the point that more people in the U.S. die of antibiotic infections than die from HIV/AIDS, breast cancer, emphysema, Parkinson’s disease and homicides combined.  The group is looking to raise money on the growd-funding site “Kickstarter” and has a pitch video that can be viewed Kickstarter

A multinational research group has determined that a the release of a compound of human sweat – dermicidin – is an effective defense against fungi and bacteria seeking entry into the human body through the skin.  The chemical has been shown to be effective against tuberculosis and Staphyloccocus aureus on the dermal surface.  The study unravels the comprehensive mechanism for the membrane-disruptive action of this peptide at atomistic level.  The results may form a foundation for the structure-based design of peptide antibiotics.  PNAS

According to the Wall Street Journal, India’s new treatment program is one of the bigger causes of the spread of multi-drug resistant TB.  In the face of few accredited labs to test for drug resistance TB strains, the Indian government is dispensing a drug cocktail that includes drugs that almost two-thirds of patients are resistant to.  This gives rise to further drug resistance.   WSJ

In a study funded by Novartis, researchers investigated the causes and consequences of  vemurafenib resistance using two human melanoma xenograft models in which drug resistance is selected by continuous use of vemurafenib.  The models showed that the drug resistant tumors became dependent upon the drug for their continued growth, such that cessation of the drug resulted in a shrinking of the tumors.  These data highlight the concept that drug-resistant cells may also display drug dependency, such that altered dosing may prevent the emergence of lethal drug resistance.  Nature

Researchers from the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) and IBM Research today unveiled the first-ever antimicrobial hydrogel that can break apart biofilms and destroy multidrug-resistant superbugs upon contact. Tests have demonstrated the effectiveness of this novel synthetic material in eliminating various types of bacteria and fungi that are leading causes of microbial infections, and preventing them from developing antibiotic resistance. This discovery may be used in wound healing, medical device and contact lens coating, skin infection treatment and dental fillings. IBN

A team of researchers have documented an experiment in which they induced sexual reproduction in P. chrysogenum. Having a sexual fungus would allow them to cross promising strains to create potentially new derivatives of penicillin in the war on antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The researchers have already produced new genetic traits in the offspring of the now-sexual mold. These are traits they say could help in the quest for new medicines.  PNAS

In the search for alternatives to conventional antibiotics, researchers have identified an enzyme that kills the bacteria that causes strep throat.  The enzyme, PlyC, operates by locking onto the surface of a bacteria cell and chewing a hole in the cell wall large enough for the bacteria’s inner membrane to protrude from the cell, ultimately causing the cell to burst and die

While investigating how bacteria develop drug resistance, Vanderbilt University biochemists Brian Bachmann and John McLean discovered that strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria express hundreds of compounds not produced by their progenitors, many of which are potential secondary metabolites. Bacteria have traditionally been the source of important drugs such as antibiotics and anticancer agents. Researchers looking for new bacterially synthesized drugs have long known that bacterial genomes contain a large number of “silent genes” that contain the instructions for making drug-like compounds.  Futurity

Researchers at the University of Southampton in the UK, have published a paper detailing the effects of copper on the spread of drug resistance. According to researchers copper is capable of inhibiting horizontal transmission of genes. The paper goes on to point out that many of the most common horizontal transmission locations in hospitals, are places routinely touch by hands, such as door handles and medical tables, which are currently steel. If the tables, handles and other steel medical equipment were converted to copper, the spread of resistance might be slowed. mBIO

Health officials in the European Union have announced their concerns about the conditions of Greek hospitals. The Greek economy is overburdened with debt; as such the government is making cutbacks across the board, including hospitals. Increasing staff cuts and supply budgets being slashed means that doctors are scrambling just to deal with the most minor patients. There is a growing fear that the Greek healthcare system will allow an outbreak of multi-drug resistant TB. Chicago tribune

Researchers at the Netherlands Cancer Institute have published a study showing that biomarker MED12 on cancer cells is a prediction of how they will react to cancer drugs. The biomarker has been linked to a wide range of cancer drug resistance. The study found that by inhibiting MED12, which is commonly mutated in resistant cancer cells, they were able to create resistance in the cancer cells. Furthermore, the researchers found that when inhibiting MED12, the cancer cell activated a receptor called TGF-betaR, and when the researchers suppressed TGF-betaR, the cancer drugs worked again. CELL

A FDA advisory panel recently approved a new TB drug created by Johnson and Johnson. The drug, bedaquiline has been shown in clinical trial to combat drug-resistant TB in adult patients when used in combination with other TB medication.  The panel’s approval is not binding for the FDA but it is common for the FDA to approve what its advisory panel approves. Vaccine

Researchers at the North Ontario School of Medicine have published a study in the journal of Ovarian Research, suggesting that the mechanism for dual-agent chemotherapy resistance is created from multiple novel changes in the cell instead of a combination of the individual agent-resistance mutations. They did this by examining the mechanisms of resistance to two cancer drugs, first carboplatin alone, and then docetaxel alone, and then examined the mechanism of resistance to both carboplatin and docetaxel together. The dual agent resistance was not simply a combination of single agent mutations. Science codex

Johnson and Johnson has announced that they will not enforce their patent on Prezista, their new HIV/AIDs drugs, in Africa. J&J has said that this patent move is conditional on the quality of the generic drugs produced for Africa. Many generic drugs sold in Africa are produced by Indian Drug companies and can be sold at a drastically reduced price. This move comes in the face of increasing international pressure for pharmaceutical companies to provide cheaper drugs to regions where patients can’t afford the current prices. Yahoo

EU health officials stated that doctors are being forced to use last-ditch drugs to combat the growing number of anti-biotic resistant infections in Europe. In several countries in the EU, 25-60% of bloodstream infections are caused by pneumonia bacteria with multidrug resistance. Chicago Tribune

Researchers from Washington State University have published a study suggesting that Antibiotic resistant bacteria are developing in farm soil. Antibiotic laced Cow urine kills the E. coli in animal dung, but leaves resistant E. coli with less completion. Thus resistance is developing outside the animals themselves. PLOS one

Researchers at Harvard University recently published a study demonstrating the use of their new Xpert test for TB. The test, approved by the WHO, uses a DNA test to identify multi-drug-resistant TB in 2 hours.  The test is also considered to be cost effective enough for implementation in Africa. PLOS medicine

Researchers at the University of British Columbia have published a study showing that the avermectin family of drugs are effective against multi-drug resistant TB. The avermectin family has been used for the last 40 years to treat parasitic worms; however the study shows that avermectin drugs can kill TB bacteria in addition to worms.  AAC

Researchers from the Netherlands Cancer Institute have discovered a new mechanism for developing drug resistance in cancer. Their study shows a gene called MED12 can become deactivated in response to anti-cancer drugs. By deactivating MED12 the TGF-beta signaling pathway is activated which causes the cancer to continue to divide even in the presence of anti-cancer drugs which inhibit cell division. Cell

Consumer reports, a nonprofit watchdog organization, have announced that its testing of US pork has revealed the presence of yersinia enterocolitica in 69 percent of pork chops and ground pork samples. Yesinia is a bacteria which causes food poisoning and is estimated to cause 100,000 cases of food poisoning a year. Much of the Yersinia found in the pork samples were shown to be resistant to first line antibiotics. Consumer report

Researchers at Galapagos, a Belgian biotech company, claim to have discovered a new class of antibiotics that are effective against multi-drug-resistant infections. They claim that these new antibiotics are capable of treating 100% drug resistant MRSA. These antibiotics are supposed to work by attacking DNA pol llla- an enzyme found in bacteria but not humans. Examiner