Omicron Variant Poses Risk
#OmicronMap
Omicron Variant Poses Risk
#OmicronMap
Research Terms
This breakthrough approach to treating cancer is efficacious and has limited side effects. Cancer is a leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for one in four deaths annually, according to the American Cancer Society. An estimated 595,600 Americans will die of cancer-related causes in 2016, and predictions for the future continue to rise. Existing treatments often suffer from a lack of efficacy or lead to debilitating side effects for the patient. Researchers at the University of Florida have developed a distinct therapy to specifically target cancerous cell proliferation and halt the growth of tumors and the spread of cancer. This breakthrough treatment also has minimal side effects, making it a desirable treatment for both the patient and health practitioner.
A therapeutic cancer treatment that inhibits the proliferation of cancer
This technology is a specially designed therapeutic that treats and prevents cell proliferation diseases such as cancer. Small drug-like molecules are used to bind the dichloroacetate (DCA) binding pocket of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase isoform 2 (PDK2) and inhibit cancer cell proliferation. A patient suffering from or susceptible to a PDK2 mediated disorder or disease is administered a therapeutically effective amount of a compound that activates PDK2 activity, thereby receiving treatment.
A compound that binds to sigma receptors can treat and prevent viral infections, such as SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), and their symptoms. COVID-19 was first detected in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. In January 2020, the first cases in the United States (U.S.) were reported. More than a million in the U.S. and six million globally have died due to COVID-19 infections or complications. Developing treatments to fight COVID-19 has been a top priority for medical researchers, academia, and pharmaceutical companies. Currently, a limited number of anti-viral treatments are readily available for treating COVID-19 and the symptoms associated with it.
Researchers at the University of Florida have developed compounds that bind to sigma receptors which can be administered orally, nasally, ophthalmically, or injected to treat and prevent SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). These compounds target surface proteins found in SARS-CoV-2 and many other viruses, such as Hepatitis C. This gives the immune system time to respond to infection. It also provides the ability to treat and prevent respiratory, pulmonary, cardiovascular, or metabolic symptoms or dysfunction associated with COVID-19 infection while slowing down viral effects on the cells.
Sigma receptor binding compounds for treating and preventing COVID-19 and the symptoms associated with infection
These antiviral compounds are sigma receptor ligands and modulates proteins found on the cell surface that mediate the early stages of viral RNA replication. Targeting these receptors interferes with early virus reprogramming of cells and gives the immune system more time to respond, especially in vaccinated individuals. Sigma receptor compounds exhibit antiviral properties against SARS-CoV-2 and could inhibit COVID-19 mediated cell death, intracellular replication, and infectivity.
This peptide derived from the full-length fibroblast growth factor 7 protein can ameliorate chemotherapy and/or radiation-mediated injury or toxicity in many epithelial tissues. Irritation and damage to tissue linings is a common negative side effect of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. In the case of pelvic radiotherapy, 90 percent of patients suffer lasting damage to their bowels. These side effects can be detrimental to a patient’s quality of life by causing a variety of gastrointestinal issues. The lining of the bladder is also very sensitive to injury from chemotherapy, such as cyclophosphamide or external beam radiotherapy, leading to life-threatening bleeding and high risks of future bladder cancer. Fibroblast growth factor 7 is able to relieve the toxic side effects caused by radiation or chemotherapy in bladder, oral, intestinal, retinal, and lung alveolar tissue linings. However, the full-length protein is very expensive and difficult to purify, and it has a short shelf life. Also, because it is a relatively large molecule, it is difficult to optimize for maximum efficacy and consistent results as a therapeutic.
Researchers at the University of Florida have developed a fibroblast growth factor 7 peptide for treating the harmful side effects of radiation and chemotherapy on many types of tissue linings. The amino acid fragment is derived from the full-length fibroblast growth factor 7, but it is significantly smaller, less expensive, more preservable, and easier to synthesize and optimize.
Therapeutic that ameliorates toxic side effects on tissue linings experienced by patients undergoing radiation or chemotherapy
This small peptide fragment derives from the fibroblast growth factor 7 protein that binds to the receptor expressed in many epithelial cells. Administering a therapeutically effective amount of the peptide to patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy will provide the same beneficial effects as the full-length growth factor, treating or preventing tissue lining damage or symptoms caused by tissue lining damage. Researchers have demonstrated the treatment’s efficacy using animal model data. The models tested to date show that the peptide is effective at limiting bladder lining cell injury induced by cyclophosphamide and external beam radiation.
