Fear Not, Science will save Mankind from aging.

A Ray of Hope for Reversing Degenerative Blindness . . . . . . Image Credit: Jenn Turner. Flickr.com . . . A new, engineered light-activated protein holds promise for restoring sight to millions of people blinded by progressive degeneration of light-sensing cells in the outer retina. As reported in research published by PLOS Biology, the method is the first to overcome the obstacles of low light sensitivity and incompatibility with normal signaling mechanisms that exist with other genetic approaches to restore function in these cells. Sonja Kleinlogel’s team at the University of Bern engineered a protein that responds to daylight and subsequently activates a signaling pathway in healthy cells in the inner retina that normally don’t respond to light. The chimeric protein includes components of the photopigment melanopsin and the glutamate receptor mGluR5. The researchers say their approach meets several criteria for a potential gene therapy for patients with photoreceptor degeneration. In mice, it restores light sensitivity at environmental light levels; it is physiologically compatible with no toxic or immunogenic side effects; and with the current state of intravitreal injection, it is a minimally invasive and safe technology. With a globally aging population, the availability of new approaches to treat diseases associated with aging is increasingly important. Congratulations to PLOS Biology corresponding author, Sonja Kleinlogel, whose discovery forming the basis of this research article received the 2013 Euretina Science & Medicine Innovation Award. Read More: Restoring vision with a new optogenetic tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . You are receiving this email because you opted to receive PLOS updates and information. Our mailing address is: Public Library of Science 1160 Battery St Ste 100 San Francisco, CA 94111-1233, US unsubscribe from this list     update subscription preferences .

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