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Neurogenesis in the adult brain has been an active topic of recent research. On page 439, Nunes et al. show that the subcortical white matter of the adult human brain harbors multipotential neural progenitor cells. These cells, selected with the A2B5 marker, are known to give rise to oligodendrocytes, but the new work suggests that multiple fates can be elicited under defined culture conditions. The cover depicts a white-matter progenitor-derived neurosphere giving rise in culture to multiple cell types, including ßIII-tubulin+ neurons (red), GFAP+ astrocytes (blue) and O4+ oligodendrocytes (green). Original magnification, x200.
In HIV vaccine research—where the stakes are high both scientifically and financially—it is rare to find a scientist as universally liked as Dennis Burton. Tempering deep ambition with a deeper sense of integrity, Burton walks the fine line between competition and collaboration.
Chromosomal translocations occur in leukemias, lymphomas, sarcomas and some epithelial tumors and some generate unique fusion proteins. These translocation products may provide tumor-specific targets for the development of new therapeutic strategies tailored to a malignant cell.
The first examination of a brain from a patient enrolled in a halted clinical trial for an Alzheimer disease (AD) vaccine reveals striking—and potentially dangerous—effects.
A new model addresses the evolutionary mechanisms for antibiotic resistance and comes up with some grim forecasts. In the United States, resistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae to two commonly prescribed antibiotics is predicted to reach 41% by 2004 (pages 424–430).
HIV-1 readily mutates to escape the immune response, evolving in ways that allow it to persist in the host. New findings reveal that HIV-1 protects itself from antibodies by putting up a shield of constantly shifting sugar moieties. This shield may be contributing to the poor performance of candidate HIV-1 vaccines.