The Stem Cell Podcast

Guest: Dr. Karun Singh is a Principal Investigator, Associate Professor and the David Braley Chair in Human Stem Cell Research at McMaster University. The overall goal of Dr. Singh’s research program is to use stem cell-based models to study neurological disorders and devise new therapies for these conditions. His latest paper discusses an iPSC knockout resource for functional studies of autism-risk genes. Resources and Links Microneedles for Eyes – A team of researchers developed a contact lens-like eyepatch that would leave tiny, dissolving microneedles in the eye to slowly deliver drugs over several days. Making Mitochondria – Researchers engineered endosymbiosis between E. coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae to model the endosymbiotic theory of mitochondrial evolution. Obesity Linked to Tumor Growth – Obesity raises the risk of certain tumors and reduces immune activity, but might also amplify the effects of some cancer therapies. People of the Andes Evolved Uniquely – A new study of ancient and modern DNA suggests that the Andean highland people of Peru adapted differently from lowland populations due to environmental and social pressures. The Ubiquitin-Proteasome System Is Indispensable for the Maintenance of Muscle Stem Cells – Researchers found decreased proteasome activity in the satellite cells of mice lacking the crucial proteasomal component, Rpt3. Ablation of Rpt3 in satellite cells resulted in proliferation defects and apoptosis. In Vitro Expansion of Primary Human Hepatocytes with Efficient Liver Repopulation Capacity – Researchers provided a protocol that enables the large-scale expansion of transplantable human hepatocytes, which could be further developed for modeling and treating human liver disease. First Patient Receives Stem Cell Transplant in Parkinson’s Trial – A research team at Kyoto University injected induced pluripotent stem cells, which have the potential to develop into any cell in the body, into the brain of a 50-year old male with Parkinson’s disease. Neural Stem Cells Help Repair Brain Injuries – A study has found that a neural stem cell transplantation into a mouse model of cerebral palsy repaired damaged parts of the brain while restoring motor impairments; however, the cells themselves did not differentiate, suggesting that they promote an indirect mechanism of recovery. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Karun Singh Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Pamela Robey is a senior investigator at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research at the NIH. Dr. Robey’s work focuses on skeletal biology, and the characteristics and biological properties of bone marrow stromal cells, a subset of which are multipotent skeletal stem cells.  In late September, Dr. Robey co-authored a commentary article in Nature discussing the ever famous, but dubious, mesenchymal stem cell. She comes on the show to talk about this and more. Resources and Links Sunbathing Every Other Day for a Darker Tan and Less Damage – Exposure to the sun every other day, rather than daily, can improve a sunbather’s dark tan while minimizing skin damage. First Viable Freeze-Thawed Coral Larvae Reported – A technique called cryopreservation might help save some threatened coral reefs. The first coral larvae to survive being frozen and then thawed by scientists are a kind of a mushroom coral. Mix of Gut Bacteria Allow Pathogens to Flourish – The bacterium Clostridioides difficile, that causes severe diarrhea, takes advantage when antibiotics or other factors disrupt the normal mix of microbes in the gut. Changing Fruit Flies’ Gut Bacteria Makes Them Speed Walk – The authors suggest that microbes in the gut may affect how the brain controls movement. Stem Cell Derived Neural Cells Are Going to Space – Research teams at the Summit for Stem Cell labs in La Jolla, California, and the New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute in New York, NY, will conduct the first long-term cell culture experiment in space focused on neurodegenerative diseases. How Sleeping Mammary Stem Cells Are Awakened in Puberty – Scientists have discovered how the growth of milk-producing mammary glands is triggered during puberty. Testicular Endothelial Cells Are a Critical Population in the Germline Stem Cell Niche – Identifying testicular endothelial cells as a niche population necessary for spermatogonial stem cell self-renewal may facilitate fertility preservation for prepubertal boys diagnosed with cancer. Engineered Anti-CRISPR Proteins for Optogenetic Control of CRISPR–Cas9 – Researchers enabled light-mediated genome and epigenome editing, and revealed rapid Cas9 genome targeting in human cells. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Pamela Robey Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Benjamin Dekel is a leading investigator in the field of human renal stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. He is the Head of the Pediatric Stem Cell Research Institute and the Director of the Division of Pediatric Nephrology at the Edmond and Lily Safra Children’s Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Israel. Resources and Links Gene Editing Creates Mice with Two Dads – Researchers gathered fathers’ stem cells, and used them to produce embryos that were implanted into surrogate mothers. A New Microscope to Visualize Mammalian Development – A new microscope uses laser light to image growing mammal embryos. Scientists used the instrument to track a mouse embryo as it developed over two days. Rising Temperatures and Drought Target Barley Crops Worldwide – Climate change impacts on barley crops could lead to less beer and skyrocketing prices. Hundreds of Dietary Supplements Are Tainted with Potentially Harmful Drugs – Most of the nearly 800 dietary supplements flagged by the FDA as tainted with potentially harmful drugs from 2007 to 2016 were marketed to improve sex drive, help with weight loss or build muscle. HOPX-Dependent Cardiomyocyte Maturation – Single-cell RNA-seq during cardiac hPSC differentiation reveals cellular heterogeneity. CRISPR Screens to Identify Factors that Drive Neuronal Fate – Researchers activated the expression of all endogenous transcription factors and other regulators via a pooled CRISPRa screen in embryonic stem cells, revealing genes including epigenetic regulators such as Ezh2 that can induce neuronal fate. A Biodegradable Device for Electrical Stimulation of Nerve Regrowth – Researchers have developed an implantable, biodegradable device that delivers regular pulses of electricity to damaged peripheral nerves in rats, helping the animals regrow nerves in their legs and recover their nerve function and muscle strength more quickly. In Utero CRISPR Mediated Therapeutic Editing of Metabolic Genes – For the first time, scientists have performed prenatal gene editing to prevent a lethal metabolic disorder in laboratory animals, offering the potential to treat human congenital diseases before birth. Treatment of a Metabolic Liver Disease by In Vivo Genome Base Editing in Adult Mice – A team of researchers applied a newly developed editing tool to target and correct genetic mutations. By doing so, the researchers healed mice suffering from a genetic metabolic disorder that also affects humans. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Benjamin Dekel Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Tsvee Lapidot is a Professor at the Weizmann Institute of Science. His research investigates the regulation of normal and leukemic hematopoietic stem cells by the brain-bone-blood triad in transplanted mice. In this episode we talk to him about his research and his latest study in Cell Stem Cell looking at the influence of circadian rhythms on regulation of blood stem cells. Resources and Links Nobel Congratulations – This year’s Nobel laureates discovered brakes that keep immune cells called T cells from attacking cancer. The laureates’ innovations remove those brakes, allowing the immune system to fight tumors. Deadly Strain of Bird Flu Can Easily Infect Ducks – Some ducks in China’s Fujian province carry highly pathogenic strains of the H7N9 avian influenza virus. Placing CRISPR Gene Editor into Bacteria Can Kill the Pathogen – A new approach to fighting antibiotic-resistance Staphylococcus aureus bacteria co-opts genes that normally make the bacteria more dangerous. First Lab Test of Gene Drive Wiped Out Mosquito Population – The malaria-carrying mosquito Anopheles gambiae’s days might be numbered. Scientists have devised a gene drive that bottomed out the mosquito’s populations in lab tests. Novel Method for Detecting Human Embryonic Stem Cells – A new method developed by researchers at Singapore University of Technology and Design can potentially ensure patient safety for future stem cell-based therapies by enhancing native stem cell bioelectric signals. Erythro-Myeloid Progenitors Contribute Endothelial Cells to Blood Vessels – This new report shows that a complementary source of endothelial cells is recruited into pre-existing vasculature after differentiation from the earliest precursors of erythrocytes, megakaryocytes and macrophages – the erythro-myeloid progenitors that are born in the yolk sac. Induction of Resistance to Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy – The progeny of a subclone of the parental leukemia generated during the cell manufacturing process can lead to a late relapse of leukemia. Urine Derived Cells Provide Cell Type for Reprogramming – Authors report the reprogramming of multiple patient urine-derived cell lines with mRNA reprogramming, which, to date, is one of the fastest and most faithful reprogramming methods. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Tsvee Lapidot Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Louis Vermeulen is a Principal Investigator at the Center for Experimental Molecular Medicine at the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam, and the New York Stem Cell Foundation, where he is focusing on the role of stem cells in colorectal cancer development and progression. He aims to develop improved preventative strategies and novel therapies for this disease by studying the effects of genetic mutations on the behavior of stem cells in the gut. Resources and Links Recount of the Human Genome – A recount of human genes increases the number to at least 46,831. The new estimate is based on a broader definition a gene. Bias in Studying the Genome – Despite the Human Genome Project having heralded the exploration of previously unknown human genes, the focus of genetic studies remains narrow. Obesity Can Harm Learning and Memory – Obesity may prod immune cells to nibble parts of nerve cell connections called synapses, a mouse study suggests. A New Antibiotic to Kill Superbugs – A new drug can wipe out strains of common bacteria that have resisted treatment to multiple other antibiotics, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which can cause urinary tract or respiratory infections. Glial Cells Prevent Tau Pathology  – By preventing the accumulation of senescent cells in the brain, scientists were able to diminish tau protein aggregation, neuronal death and memory loss. Software for Personalized Leukemia Treatments – Early findings from a new study could help in the development of immune-based treatments personalized to people with acute myeloid leukemia who are undergoing stem cell transplantation. Stem Cells to Save Rhino Species – A second rhino has become pregnant this year through artificial insemination at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Scientists reprogrammed cryopreserved rhino cells and matured them into germ cells to be used for the insemination. Gene Therapy via Skin to Protect from Cocaine Over Dose – A new study shows that epidermal stem cells, modified via CRISPR and transplanted back to donor mice, can protect addicted mice from cocaine-seeking behavior and overdose. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Louis Vermeulen Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Kelly Frazer is the Director of the UC San Diego Institute for Genomic Medicine and Founding Chief of the Division of Genome Information Sciences in the Department of Pediatrics at UC San Diego. Dr. Frazer has spent the past 25 years studying various aspects of functional and structural human genomics. In this episode she talks to us about her recent paper looking at the mutational burden of human induced pluripotent stem cells. Resources and Links New Found Skull Tunnels – Using a micro-CT scan, scientists found that the mouse skull is full of microscopic channels that connect the bone to the brain’s outer membrane. Similar channels were found in human skulls. Microglia Part of Sex-Linked Brain Disorders – Scientists found that male microglia might be less protected against environmental insults and quicker to activate the cellular suicide program. Genes to Help Plants Produce Morphine-Like Molecules – The newly deciphered genome of the opium poppy is helping scientists figure out how the plant evolved the ability to make morphine and other similar painkilling molecules. CRISPR to Help Dog Muscular Dystrophy – Scientists have used CRISPR/Cas9 to repair a genetic mutation in beagle puppies that causes muscular dystrophy. New Cell Fate Determinant Identified in Neural Stem Cells – Lisa Flanagan, PhD, and her research team examined several pathways that add sugars to cells and found one that differed between cells that make neurons and cells that make astrocytes. A New Family Tree of Blood Production Provides Info on Stem Cells – A new study shows that humans have ten times more hematopoietic stem cells than previously thought. Blood Brain Barrier Chip System – Wyss Institute researchers have created organ chips that mimic the brain and the blood-brain barrier and, by linking them together, have discovered how our blood vessels and neurons influence each other. Using Stem Cell Factors in Wounds Could Help Heal Skin Ulcers – Scientists have developed a technique to directly convert the cells in an open wound into new skin cells. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Kelly Frazer Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Joseph C. Wu, MD, PhD is Director of the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute and Simon H. Stertzer Endowed Professor in Department of Medicine (Cardiology) and Department of Radiology at the Stanford School of Medicine. Dr. Wu is a pioneer in using iPS cells in personalized medicine and we talk to him about his work and the state of the field in respect to novel stem cell therapies for cardiovascular disease. Resources and Links First FDA Approved RNAi Therapy – The FDA has approved Alnylam Pharmaceuticals’ Onpattro (patisiran) infusion, a first-of-its-kind RNA-based therapy for treating peripheral nerve disease (polyneuropathy) caused by hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis in adult patients. Cancer Drug to Help Liver Overcome Painkiller Overdose – In mice given a toxic dose of acetaminophen, an anticancer medication kept liver cells alive. Zika Virus Harms Nearly 1 in 7 Babies Exposed to The Virus in the Womb – A CDC study of births in U.S. territories tallies birth defects and later health problems. Scientists Tracked the Speed of Cell Suicide – The study shows that the process of cells’ self-inflicted death, called apoptosis, functions in trigger waves that travel at speeds of 30 micrometers per minute. Why Salamanders Regenerate and Lizards Do Not – By transplanting neural stem cells between species, researchers have discovered that the lizard’s native stem cells are the primary factor hampering tail regeneration. Stem Cell Transplants to Treat Cystic Fibrosis – Researchers believe their breakthrough in stem cell transplantation therapy, developed in mice, could eventually provide a cure for cystic fibrosis. iPS Cells for Platelet Transplant Therapy – A team at Japan’s Kyoto University hopes to conduct the first clinical study of an intractable blood disease using induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. Stem Cells Restore Some Vision in Blind Mice – The procedure is the first of its kind and researchers hope that it will lead to treatments for incurable eye diseases. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Joseph Wu Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Charles Murry is the Woods Professor of Pathology, Bioengineering and Medicine/Cardiology at the University of Washington. He also serves as Director of the UW’s Heart Regeneration Program, with the goal of achieving stem cell-based heart regeneration in patients. He has recently published a paper that used stem cell derived heart cells to treat heart damage in monkeys. Featured Resource: CloneR™ Defined Supplement for Single-Cell Cloning of Human ES and iPS Cells Resources and Links Leeches And Drug Resistance – Medicinal leeches contain bacteria in their guts that can be transferred to humans. In some cases, it only takes a small exposure to antibiotics for those bacteria to become drug resistant. Soccer Headers Affect Women More – A head-to-head comparison finds that heading a soccer ball may damage white matter in women’s brains more than men’s. A New Ebola Species Identified – A new species of Ebola virus was found in two bat species in Sierra Leone, the Angolan free-tailed bat and the little free-tailed bat and experts fear it could spread to humans. CRISPR Conversation – The researcher behind the world’s largest effort to edit human embryos with CRISPR is vowing to continue his efforts to develop what he calls “IVF gene therapy”. Generation of Human Spinal Cord Neural Stem Cells – Scientists report the derivation of spinal cord neural stem cells from human pluripotent stem cells. Japan Launches First Clinical Trial Using Stem Cells for Parkinson’s  – A much-anticipated induced pluripotent stem cell trial for Parkinson’s Disease reportedly will soon launch led by Professor Jun Takahashi. Stem Cell Formation in Plants – A Purdue University study has uncovered mechanisms that led to stem cell formation and maintenance in plants. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Charles Murry Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. David Knapp is a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Oxford. Colin Hammond is a graduate student in Dr. Connie Eaves’ lab at the BC Cancer Agency. Dr. David Knapp and Colin Hammond talk about their recent publication in Nature Cell Biology regarding stem cell populations in cord blood cells. Featured Resource: Webinar: Re-Creating Disease with Kidney Organoids and CRISPR Resources and Links Anti-CRISP Protein Production – Phages produce Anti-CRISPR proteins (Acr-proteins) that battle the bacterial defense system. Evidence of Oldest Life On Land – Scientists found evidence of terrestrial microbial life that they estimate is about 3.22 billion years old. Hybrid Embryos of Endangered White Rhinos – Scientists are using artificial reproductive technology to inject a northern white rhino sperm cell into a southern white rhino egg, creating one of the first rhino embryos in a lab. The Most Complete Look at a Fruit Fly’s Brain Cells – Using high-speed electron microscopy, scientists took 21 million nanoscale-resolution images of the brain of Drosophila melanogaster to capture every one of the 100,000 nerve cells that it contains. Mutational Burden’ of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells – Researchers have scrutinized the whole genome sequences of 18 induced pluripotent stem cell lines derived from skin cells that they had reprogrammed to identify and characterize somatic mutations. Creating Artificial Embryos – An international team of scientists have revealed that they used cells from mice to develop an embryo-like structure without the act of fertilization. Bioreactor-Based Method to Generate Kidney Organoids  – New treatments for kidney diseases and inherited kidney disorders could result from new research that is revolutionizing the way human kidney tissue is grown from stem cells. Functional Dissection of The Enhancer Repertoire – Scientists combined chromatin immunoprecipitation with a massively parallel reporter assay (ChIP-STARR-seq) to identify functional enhancers in human embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. David Knapp  Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Samantha is an enthusiastic Science Communicator completing her PhD at the University of Toronto. Her doctoral research focuses on brain development and stem cell biology, under the supervision of renowned scientist Dr. Derek van der Kooy. We talk with Sam about her research and also about how she embraces science communication, using it to tell her science story! Featured Resource: STEMdiff™ Cerebral Organoid Kit Resources and Links Most Americans Believe Funding Science Pays Off – A new survey shows that government funding of basic science enjoys widespread support among U.S. adults, but most people have no idea how much or how little government money goes to scientific research. Gene Edited Monkeys Offer Hope for Heart Disease Patients – Researchers have used gene-editing tools in adult monkeys to lower animals’ blood cholesterol levels, suggesting a treatment for heart disease. Gene Drive Passes First Test in Mammals – A controversial technology capable of altering the genomes of entire species has been applied to mammals for the first time. Nerve Cells That Help Control Hunger Identified – Scientists found that somatostatin neurons in the tuberal nucleus, which is known to exhibit pathological or cytological changes in human neurodegenerative diseases, plays a crucial role in regulating feeding in mice. Stem Cells Repair Muscle After Heart Attack in Monkeys – According to a new study, injecting stem-cell-derived cardiac cells after a heart attack may help repair damaged tissue. New iPSC Reprogramming Method – Scientists succeeded in converting human skin cells into pluripotent stem cells by activating the cell’s own genes. Muscle Stem Cells Derived from Teratomas – Researchers have developed a process to regenerate skeletal muscle cells in mice with muscular dystrophy. Human iPSC-Derived Natural Killer Cells – In a new study, researchers report that similarly modified natural killer (NK) cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) also displayed heightened activity against a mouse model of ovarian cancer. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Samantha Yammine Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe