“Limited only by the Imagination” - Emmanuelle Charpentier awarded the Tang Prize 2016

[2016-06-20] The 2016’s Tang Prize in Biopharmaceutical Science recognizes Emmanuelle Charpentier together with Jennifer Doudna and Feng Zhang “for the development of CRISPR/Cas9 as a breakthrough genome editing platform that promises to revolutionize biomedical research and disease treatment”.

Dr. Charpentier’s research focuses on mechanisms of regulation in infection and immunity. Her laboratory strives to understand how RNA and protein molecules work together to control gene expression and biological processes in bacterial pathogens. To identify new molecules and decipher their origins, functions and modes of action at the molecular and cellular level, Dr. Charpentier applies a combination of a wide range of methods, including -omics, genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, physiology as well as cell infection approaches.

Read more: “Limited only by the Imagination” - Emmanuelle Charpentier awarded the Tang Prize 2016

Cpf1: CRISPR-enzyme scissors cutting both RNA and DNA

[2016-04-20] Scientists delineate molecular details of a new bacterial CRISPR-Cpf1 system and open possible avenue for alternative gene editing uses like targeting several genes in parallel. (Nature 20 April 2016)

Only a few years after its discovery, it is difficult to conceive of genetics without the CRISPR-Cas9 enzyme scissors, which allow for a very simple, versatile and reliable modification of DNA of various organisms. Since its discovery, scientists throughout the world have been working on ways of further improving or adjusting the CRISPR-Cas9 system to their specific needs. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin, the Umeå University in Sweden and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research in Braunschweig have now discovered a feature of the CRISPR-associated protein Cpf1 that has previously not been observed in this family of enzymes: Cpf1 exhibits dual, RNA and DNA, cleavage activity. In contrast to CRISPR-Cas9, Cpf1 is able to process the pre-crRNA on its own, and then using the processed RNA to specifically target and cut DNA. Not requiring a host derived RNase and the tracrRNA makes this the most minimalistic CRISPR immune system known to date. The mechanism of combining two separate catalytic moieties in one allows for possible new avenues for sequence specific genome engineering, most importantly facilitation of targeting multiple sites at once, the so-called multiplexing.

Read more: Cpf1: CRISPR-enzyme scissors cutting both RNA and DNA

Nelson Gekara awarded Fernström Prize 2016

[2016-06-08] The Fernström Committee at the Faculty of Medicine has awarded the Erik K. Fernström prize for 2016 to Nelson Gekara, Group Leader at MIMS and the Department of Molecular Biology. Gekara’s research focuses on the regulation of the innate immune system and the connection to infection and DNA damage.

Since 2010, Nelson Gekara has been Group leader at MIMS in Umeå. He has worked with several model organisms to study how microbes interact with their host and how innate immune responses are generated and regulated.

Nelson Gekara’s team recently demonstrated the importance of DNA damage in the innate immune system. Further they have identified new signalling molecules that control the innate immune system and are involved in the protection against responses from inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatism.

Read more: Nelson Gekara awarded Fernström Prize 2016

Postdoctoral Research Opportunities in Infection Biology and Molecular Infection Medicine available at MIMS and UCMR !

Up to nine positions are open for postdoctoral candidates interested to do research in the highly interactive and multidisciplinary research environment UCMR – Umeå Centre for Microbial Research at Umeå University, Sweden.
We aim to recruit new postdoctoral scientists with competence and ideas that will strengthen the research environment and contribute to its renewal.

The programme is open to all nationalities and features of the positions include:
• Development of a project proposal forms the basis for recruitment
• Funding for research within a multidisciplinary environment
• Two years of secure funding
• Access to UCMR-MIMS-affiliated core facilities and technical platforms.
The positions are full-time for 24 months.

Read the complete announcement (deadline for registration: 15 August 2016)

Targeting metals to fight pathogenic bacteria

Felipe Cava and Akbar Espaillat at the MIMS participated in the discovery of a unique system of acquisition of essential metals in the pathogenic bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. This research was led by scientists at the CEA in France, in collaboration with researchers at the University of Pau, the INRA and the CNRS. It represents a new potential target for the design of antibiotics. These results are being published in the journal Science on Friday 27th May.

Metals are necessary for life and pathogenic bacteria have developed elaborate systems to compensate for the low concentration of these essential metals in their environment, in particular within a host. The case of iron is particularly well documented with, in some bacteria, the production of molecules called siderophores that specifically capture iron in the medium. Researchers have now identified a new metal scavenging molecule produced in the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus and baptized it staphylopine.

Read more: Targeting metals to fight pathogenic bacteria

Watch Anna Överby-Wernstedt talking about her research on TBE

[2016-05-11] The Swedih Foundation for Strategic Research published a movie about one of their Future Research Leaders.

Anna Överby Wernstedt was awarded in 2015 with the SEK 10 million grant by SSF for her research on tick borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), important emerging human pathogen.

More about Anna Överby Wernstedt's research

Movie on www.stratresearch.se (in Swedish with English subtitle)

"The quiet revolutionary" - Emmanuelle Charpentier in Nature Feature

[2016-04-27] Nature’s senior European correspondent Alison Abbott visited the Max-Planck-director and UCMR guest professor in her new office in Berlin and talked to her about how the CRISPR findings changed her life. Emmanuelle  Charpentier speaks also about her life before CRISPR-Cas9 and how her lab performed the first key experiments in Austria and Sweden. Statements from former colleagues, supervisors, collaborators and co-funders complete the nice portrait of a scientist who "always seems to be moving while keeping science on the go".

Read the News Feature in Nature 522 (28 April 2016)

Cpf1: CRISPR-enzyme scissors cutting both RNA and DNA

[2016-04-20] Scientists delineate molecular details of a new bacterial CRISPR-Cpf1 system and open possible avenue for alternative gene editing uses like targeting several genes in parallel. (Nature 20 April 2016)

Only a few years after its discovery, it is difficult to conceive of genetics without the CRISPR-Cas9 enzyme scissors, which allow for a very simple, versatile and reliable modification of DNA of various organisms. Since its discovery, scientists throughout the world have been working on ways of further improving or adjusting the CRISPR-Cas9 system to their specific needs. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin, the Umeå University in Sweden and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research in Braunschweig have now discovered a feature of the CRISPR-associated protein Cpf1 that has previously not been observed in this family of enzymes: Cpf1 exhibits dual, RNA and DNA, cleavage activity. In contrast to CRISPR-Cas9, Cpf1 is able to process the pre-crRNA on its own, and then using the processed RNA to specifically target and cut DNA. Not requiring a host derived RNase and the tracrRNA makes this the most minimalistic CRISPR immune system known to date. The mechanism of combining two separate catalytic moieties in one allows for possible new avenues for sequence specific genome engineering, most importantly facilitation of targeting multiple sites at once, the so-called multiplexing.

Read more: Cpf1: CRISPR-enzyme scissors cutting both RNA and DNA

France celebrates Emmanuelle Charpentier during the L'Oreal-UNESCO week in Paris

[2016-03-24] The L'Oréal Foundation and UNESCO organise a week with media and scientific meetings for the five laureates of the 2016 L'Oréal- UNESCO For Women in Science Awards in the field of Life Sciences. The French woman Emmanuelle Charpentier is a quested person by the French media, giving TV and radio interviews, meeting the press, and also the scientists and students ath the Académie des Sciences. The L'Oreal organised a media marathon for the laureates which represent five continents: From Latin America, Andrea Gmarnik is honored for her discoveries on mosquito-borne viruses, particularly Dengue Fever. From Asia/Pacific the awardee is Hualan Chen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China, honored for her research about the bird flu virus, which lead to development of vaccine. Abdool Karim, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, represents Africa and the Arab states and is honored for her "remarkable contribution to the prevention and treatment of HIV and associated infections".

Emmanuelle Charpentier, representing Europe, is awarded "for her game-changing discovery,(...), of a versatile DNA editing technique to “rewrite” flawed genes in people and other living organisms, opening tremendous new possibilities for treating, even curing, diseases." Which is the same motivation as for Jennifer Doudna, who is the fifth women representing North-America. Nominated by more than 2600 leading scientists, a jury, chaired by Nobel Laureate Elizabeth Blackburn, selected this year's laureates. The Prize Ceremony is held on Thursday, 24 March at the Sorbonne in Paris.

More information about the 2016 L'Oreal-UNESCO For Women in Science Award in Life Science

Canadian Gairdner Award to Emmanuelle Charpentier

[2016-03-23] The Gairdner Foundation is awarding Emmanuelle Charpentier and four other scientists with the Gairdner International Award 2016, Canada's most prestigious medical award.

The laureates will be awarded in October during a visit in Canada to speak with faculty and students at 20 universities in the country. The Canada Gairdner International Award is given to "biomedical scientists who have made original contributions to medicine resulting in increased understanding of human biology and disease". Each award is valued $ 100,000 CDN, supported by the Canadian government. Emmanuelle Charpentier is honored "for development of CRISPR-CAS as a genome editing tool for eukaryotic cells".

Read more on the webpage of  the Gairdner Foundation