Research Connections :: 糖心传媒

During sexual reproduction, chromosomes transmitted via the mother’s and the father糖心传媒檚 gametes (egg and sperm) are shuffled to produce a genetic combination unique to each offspring. In most cases, the chromosomes line up properly in a normal crossover (left panel). The unequal crossover (right panel) occurs because of 糖心传媒渟elfish DNA糖心传媒� sequences known as transposons, represented here as triangles. When abnormal crossovers occur, chromosomes do not line up properly and important genes may be duplicated or deleted. (糖心传媒 illustration / Michael Osadciw)

Scientists discover gene controlling genetic recombination rates

During sexual reproduction, genes from both the mother and the father mix and mingle to produce a genetic combination unique to each offspring. In most cases, the chromosomes line up properly and听 crossover. In some unlucky cases, however, 糖心传媒渟elfish DNA糖心传媒� enters the mix, causing abnormal crossovers with deletions or insertions in chromosomes, which can manifest as birth defects.

Scientists have long recognized that the exchange of genetic material by crossing over糖心传媒攌nown as recombination糖心传媒攊s vital to natural selection. Yet some species display far more crossover than others. Why? Researchers hypothesize that crossover rates have evolved to balance the benefits of crossing over with the risks of selfish DNA.

Daven Presgraves, a dean糖心传媒檚 professor of biology, and PhD candidate Cara Brand recently accomplished an important milestone in learning about these evolutionary dynamics. By studying two species of fruit flies, they discovered a gene, MEI-218, that controls the rate of recombination. In a paper published in听, they explain how MEI-218 controls differences in the rate of crossing over between species and the evolutionary forces at play.

糖心传媒淭his is the first gene I know of that anyone has shown to be responsible for the evolution of recombination rates,糖心传媒� Presgraves says.

The team focused on two closely related species of fruit flies糖心传媒�Drosophila melanogaster听and its sister species,听Drosophila mauritiana糖心传媒�because large differences have evolved in their rates of recombination:听D. mauritiana听does about 1.5 times more crossing over than听D. melanogaster. When they compared genes in the two species, the researchers found that the DNA sequences of MEI-218 were extraordinarily different.

Brand and Presgraves hypothesize that the change in recombination rates between听D. mauritiana听补苍诲听D. melanogaster听may have evolved because the species have different amounts of transposons (repetitive genetic elements that do not seem to have benefits to their hosts) in their genomes. The听D. melanogaster听genome has more transposons than听D. mauritiana, so听D. melanogaster may therefore have evolved a lower rate of crossing over in order to avoid the higher risk of harmful crossovers between transposons.

This means, then, that the MEI-218 gene is constantly evolving to an ever-changing optimum. The evolution of MEI-218 is similar to genes involved in immunity, Presgraves says. 糖心传媒淭hat should make some intuitive sense because genes involved in immunity are constantly adapting to the changing community pathogens that are challenging us all the time.糖心传媒�

Post-surgical 'flush' reduces bladder cancer resurgence

Flushing the bladder with a common chemotherapy drug immediately after surgery significantly reduces the chances of bladder cancer returning, according to a major study led by Edward M. Messing, professor of urology, oncology, and pathology, and an international clinical trials network (SWOG) funded by the National Cancer Institute.

Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), the notes this may be the first phase III trial in the U.S. in two decades to show a benefit from this treatment strategy. European and Canadian urologists have been using the treatment for years, with their own clinical trial data to support the procedure.

糖心传媒淭he real importance of this study is that we now have a readily available drug that糖心传媒檚 fairly inexpensive, well-tolerated, and effective,糖心传媒� said Messing, an investigator with SWOG. 糖心传媒�One of the biggest issues with low-grade bladder cancer is that it frequently returns. I know some patients who have to undergo four surgeries a year, and if we can cut down on these recurrences, we will save a lot of people a lot of pain, money, and time lost to recovery.糖心传媒�

SWOG conducted the randomized, double-blind trial involving 406 eligible patients at 23 cancer centers. JAMA also published an about the trial, which noted that it focused on a problem that糖心传媒檚 meaningful to patients, and concluded that it has 糖心传媒減ractice-changing implications.糖心传媒�

Surgeons removed all cancerous tissue from study participants with a procedure known as TURBT, or transurethral resection of bladder tumor. Then, 201 or roughly half of the patients received the chemotherapy drug, gemcitabine, mixed with saline, administered via catheter to the bladder area within three hours after surgery.

Researchers followed all patients for four years 糖心传媒� the time period when most bladder cancers return 糖心传媒� seeking to discover which treatment strategy worked better. The results were clear: A 34 percent reduction in the risk of recurrence for patients receiving the gemcitabine infusion. Sixty-seven patients in the gemcitabine group, or 35 percent, experienced a recurrence, compared with 91 patients in the saline group, or 47 percent.

However, further research is needed to compare various chemotherapy agents for their effectiveness. About 80,000 Americans a year are diagnosed with bladder cancer, and the low-grade non-muscle invasive form makes up more than half of the new cases annually.

Researchers partner with moms to overcome breastfeeding obstacles

A new Medical Center project creates a partnership with mothers who are not likely to breastfeed exclusively and tries to improve the rates by first understanding their perspective and obstacles. Although Rochester has various programs to promote the value of breast milk, gaps exist among low-income women, who often face social and financial influences that work against breastfeeding, said Ann Dozier, associate professor of community and preventive medicine and principal investigator for the $2.4 million National Institutes of Health study.

For example, although breast milk is free, low-income women are also eligible to receive free formula through the Women Infants and Children (WIC) government food program. Some mothers report they get mixed messages from health care providers about the benefits of breastfeeding. Others say they find it too difficult to pump and store breast milk after returning to work. Social pressure from the baby糖心传媒檚 father, husbands, boyfriends, female relatives and friends — who may not support their desire to breast feed — also present obstacles for many mothers, who are already concerned their babies won糖心传媒檛 get enough nutrition from breast milk.

糖心传媒淲hat糖心传媒檚 unique about this program is that as researchers, we are first gaining insight into the concerns and issues of these mothers, and then enlisting them to help us come up with ways to increase the likelihood that they will try to breastfeed exclusively,糖心传媒� Dozier said. 糖心传媒�This is much different from the usual route, where the researchers come up with a solution beforehand and then conduct a study to see if it was correct.糖心传媒�

The five-year study is set up to gather additional information about the behaviors and experiences of approximately 3,600 women. Researchers are following initiation rates, duration, and how many women reach the goal of exclusive breast feeding for six months.

Six months is believed to be an optimal length of time to achieve the maximum benefits of breastfeeding, such as protection against asthma, allergies, ear infections, and other childhood illnesses. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that breast milk offers economic, developmental and psychological advantages in addition to the health benefits. Early data show that women respond positively to the message about benefits for the baby, and therefore reinforcing it will be critical, researchers said.

AS&E offers young investigator workshop

An overview, resources, and tips for successful proposal development and submission to multiple funding sources will offered in an AS&E workshop aimed at young investigators. The workshop will be held from noon to 2 p.m., June 7, in Room 403 of the Frederick Douglass Building.

The session will feature a panel of University faculty who recently were awarded young investigator/early career awards, and also those who review for young investigator programs.

Lunch is provided. Space is limited so RSVP by May 31 to Toni Heininger at antonia.heininger@rochester.edu. She can also be notified if you have dietary restrictions.

May 15 deadline for Central New York Humanities Corridor proposals

May 15 is the deadline for proposals to the Central New York Humanities Corridor for Working Group activities to be held in fall 2018 or spring 2019.

The Corridor, a partnership脗听between Rochester, Syracuse University, Cornell University, and six New York State liberal arts colleges, supports collaborative scholarly exploration such as workshops,脗听lectures,脗听symposia, and teaching exchanges.

Visit脗听脗听脗听for proposal forms.脗听 Proposals for new Working Groups are welcome, along with those for existing groups.脗听 This year the corridor has instituted a second deadline (October 15) for additional spring 2019 projects.脗听 For more information, contact Joan Rubin at joan.rubin@rochester.edu

Registration now open for Falling Walls competition

Would you like to take the stage in Berlin, Germany this fall to tell the world about your research?

If so, RSVP for the Falling Walls Lab scheduled for October 2 in the Feldman Ballroom. Presenters will each have three minutes and three slides to summarize their groundbreaking ideas. The winner receives $500 and a trip to the脗听Falling Walls Lab Finale in Berlin, November 7 to 9. Cash prizes will also be awarded to the top two finalists.

Deadline to apply is Sept. 17. Click to register. Contact Adele Coelho, faculty outreach coordinator, at adele.coelho@rochester.edu for additional information.

PhD dissertation defenses

Xixi Wang, Biomedical Engineering, 糖心传媒淎pplication of Pattern Analysis in Understanding Brain Aging-associated Symptoms and Alzheimer糖心传媒檚 Disease using functional MRI.糖心传媒� 2 p.m. May 14, 2018. 101 Goergen Hall. Advisors: Rajeev Raizada and Edmund Lalor.

Zhiqiu (Qiuqiu) Ye, Health Services Research & Policy, 糖心传媒淭he Impact of Hospital Share of Nursing Home-originating Hospitalizations and Nursing Home Quality on 30-day Readmission Rates.糖心传媒� 11 a.m. May 25, 2018. Saunders Research Building/1416. Advisor: Orna Intrator.

Mark your calendar

May 12: Public showing of 糖心传媒淯nrest,糖心传媒� a Sundance award-winning film by Jennifer Brea on the realities of living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome). Followed by a panel discussion. 2-5 p.m., Genrich-Rusling Room, LeChase Hall, River Campus. Free and open to the public. Read more .

May 14: Deadline to apply for Community Health Mini-Grants from the Center for Community Health and Prevention. Applications are welcome from the Medical Center and community partners. Application directions can be found听. Contact Gail Hamilton via听email听or at 224-3062听for additional information.

May 14: 5 p.m. deadline to apply for pilot funding from the Center for AIDS Research for projects in collaboration with the University at Buffalo. See the page and the specific for additional information.

May 15: Respiratory Pathogens Research Center Scientific Symposium. Featured speakers, lectures by RPRC investigators, poster session. Lunch and refreshments provided. 7:45 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Saunders Research Building. Registration is free, but pre-registration is required by April 27 at

May 15: Deadline to apply to the Central New York Humanities Corridor for Working Group activities to be held in fall 2018 or spring 2019.听 Visit听听听for proposal forms.听 For more information, contact Joan Rubin at joan.rubin@rochester.edu.

May 18: Hypoxia and Stroke. Discussion of听current听stroke research at the University with expert faculty panelists Marc Halterman, G. Edward Vates, and Ania Busza.听 Noon, Med Center听Specialty Room (2-7544). Refreshments provided.听PONS Luncheon Roundtable Series. 听 For more information on upcoming neuro-related events, go to

May 21: Mini-symposium sponsored by the UCIS Cluster in Epigenetics and Genome Stability, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Medical Center糖心传媒檚 Whipple Auditorium (2-6424). Short talks by University researchers, and two invited speakers: Benjamin Garcia (University of Pennsylvania) and Yingming Zhao (University of Chicago), who use cutting-edge proteomics to investigate epigenetics. Open to all.

May 25: 5 p.m. deadline to apply for pilot projects from the Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Institute. 听 Email applications to听Chelsea Costanzo.

May 25: 5 p.m. deadline to apply for a grant from the Spinal Cord Injury Research Program promoting recovery from chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). . Email applications to听Chelsea Costanzo.

June 1: Deadline to submit applications as supplements to the Clinical and Translational Science Institute’s听. To learn more, contact the Research Help Desk.

June 1: Deadline to apply for pilot funding (up to $50,000 per award) from the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience for basic science and translational projects that advance understanding of both normal and abnormal brain functioning and for basic, clinical and translational projects that specifically support research on Autism Spectrum Disorder. For more information and to download the RFA, click .

June 1-3: “Frontiers in Virtual Reality,” the 31st Center for Visual Science Symposium. Memorial Art Gallery.听Click for a list of speakers, and details about registration.

June 2: “An ‘Un-Meeting’: Addressing the Opioid Crisis through Translational Science.” 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saunders Research Building Atrium. Hosted by the Clinical and Translational Science Institute and the Center for Leading Innovation and Collaboration. There is no cost to attend. 听by Wednesday, May 23.

June 7: AS&E workshop for young investigators. Overview, resources, and tips for successful proposal development and submission to multiple funding sources. Panel discussion with University faculty who were recently awarded young investigator/early career awards or served on panels. 听Noon to 2 p.m. Room 403 Frederick Douglass Building. Lunch provided. Space is limited. RSVP by May 31 to Toni Heininger at antonia.heininger@rochester.edu

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