Monoclonal antibodies are specialized bullets that target only specific molecules. Some antibodies recognize proteins expressed by tumor cells, while others bind receptors on the surface of immune cells. What if they can do both? A class of antibody called BiTE (bi-specific T cell engager antibodies) is able to simultaneously bind a T cell and a cancer cell, forming a bridge between the two and thus helping the former destroy the latter.

A 70 years arms race has become “one of the greatest natural experiments in evolution”. The two antagonists are rabbits and myxoma virus, which was intentionally released in Australia and Europe in the 1950s, in an attempt to control European rabbit populations. Researchers from Cambridge University investigated the genetic mechanisms that enabled rabbits to escape the deadly virus… that, in the meantime, has been fighting back!

White shark: their only name inspires fear. Not only are they the most dangerous sharks in the world, but they also got a few tricks up their sleeve: their wounds heal very fast; they are long-lived and rarely get cancer. Now, their genome has been fully decoded for the first time, revealing the molecular secrets of white shark’s extraordinary adaptation. The findings are reported in the journal Pnas.

Credits: Chris Hammang

Genome editing has reached an unprecedented degree of precision and researchers are now thinking about applications. CAR-T based therapy has had an explosive success against cancer, but there is large room for improvement. This is an optimal testing ground for Crispr-Cas9 technology, one of the best tool for genetic manipulation.

Novel influenza A viruses identified in bats in 2012 use a particular, receptor to infect cells, which was unknown until recently. Researchers from University of Zurich have finally discovered its identity. Bad news is that it is not exclusive to bats, but largely diffused among vertebrates. This makes such viruses potentially transmittable to other species and even more likely than other influenza viruses. The research was published in Nature.

There is a link between wildlife and human health, according to Sharon L. Deem, a wildlife veterinarian and epidemiologist of the Saint Louis zoo. Her professional life revolves around diseases shared between domestic animals, wildlife and people. “There is always a person connected to an animal”, she said.

Humans will not be the only beneficiaries of CAR-T therapy for much longer. The School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania is the only institution in the world that is bringing this sophisticated technology into veterinary clinic in order to cure dogs from cancer. Thanks to the passionate work of researchers and veterinaries, our pet friends may soon access the same therapy available for humans and have one more chance against cancer.

In 2012, Chelonoidis abingdonii a species of giant tortoises and a symbol of the Galapagos Islands became extinct. Its last individual, Lonesome George, died at the age of 100. From our perspective, a century is a lot. Yet George was actually in his prime: its species could live up to 200 years old! Which are the secrets of such an extraordinary longevity? The analysis of the genetic sequences of Lonesome George and another species of giant tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea) has shed some light on the characteristics of these animals, including their resistance to cancer and ageing.