Researchers discovered small antibodies, sometimes called nanobodies, by accident, through serum original collected to study camel parasites. (Photo: Steven Penton/Flickr Creative Commons)
By Jacob Williamson-Rea
Our weekly round-up compiles stories and news, both from here at Penn and around the world, that highlight the intersection of animal, environmental, and human health.
FEATURED ITEM
Mini-antibodies discovered in sharks and camels could lead to drugs for cancer and other diseases
Science, May 10, 2018
An immunologist at the University of Maryland School of Medicine studies shark blood antibodies. When combined with research on nanobodies from camels and other animals, this work has the potential to treat an array of diseases including brain cancer and lupus.
Anaplasmosis poses growing threat to U.S. cattle
Bovine Veterinarian, May 9, 2018
Anaplasmosis, a parasitical disease spread by infected blacklegged ticks and infected vaccination needles, plagues the U.S. cattle industry and leads to high costs.
G.M.O. foods will soon require labels. What will the labels say?
The New York Times, May 12, 2018
Despite studies that indicate that genetically modified organisms are not a threat to human health, the United States Department of Agriculture aims to establish new guidelines for labeling such foods starting in 2020.
Experimental vaccine will be used against Ebola outbreak in the DRC
Scientific American, May 14, 2018
The Democratic Republic of Congo has received permission to use an experimental Ebola vaccine to treat the latest outbreak, which began officially on May 8 though may have been going on already for five weeks.
Keeping global warming to 1.5 degrees C helps most species hold their ground
Science News, May 17, 2018
Until recently, scientists believed that if the planet warmed no more than 2 degrees Celsius by 2100, we could save our biodiversity. Now a combination of species distribution data and climate simulations suggests that we should really be aiming for 1.5 degrees.
Williamson-Rea is a junior science writer in the University of Pennsylvania’s Office of Communications. He is also an MA candidate in Science/Medical Writing at Johns Hopkins University.