PLOS

• The study titled, “ Discovery of a potent, selective, and tumor-suppressing antibody antagonist of adenosine A2A receptor ”, was published in the journal PLOS ONE.
• A2AR is an emerging immune checkpoint that plays a role in the immunosuppression of the tumor microenvironment.
• “Using the ability to create large antibody libraries enabling discovery of novel and highly specific therapeutics, Twist has discovered an antibody that blocks A2AR, a promising checkpoint target and demonstrated its activity in preclinical models.
• The antibody could be further developed as a standalone therapy, bispecific or combination therapy to bring potential therapeutic benefit to patients.”

• WINCHESTER, ENGLAND, Apr 24, 2024 - (ACN Newswire) - The longest, most comprehensive peer-reviewed study so far has demonstrated that dogs fed nutritionally-sound vegan diets maintain health outcomes as well as dogs fed meat.
• The study was particularly interesting, given recent suggestions that peas might contribute to heart disease in dogs in the US.
• In the current study, dogs were fed pea-based vegan pet food, for one year.
• Our study offers new evidence on outcomes in clinically healthy dogs who thrive without consumption of animal-derived ingredients.

• MMM was established by the International Society of Hypertension in 2017, and since then the Company has participated in this global campaign.
• May 17 is set to be the World Hypertension Day, and there are diverse events organized by regional societies and committees worldwide.
• Blood pressure fluctuates throughout the day in response to a variety of factors such as temperature, humidity, and physical factors including stress.
• Therefore, it is essential to monitor blood pressure at home in addition to regular health checkups at medical facilities.

• In recent years, the global trade in elephant ivory has faced significant restrictions in an effort to protect dwindling elephant populations.
• The sale of mammoth ivory, sourced primarily from long-extinct species, however, remains unregulated.
• But it’s a significant challenge for customs and law enforcement agencies to distinguish between ivory from extinct mammoths and living elephants.
• Now our new study, published in PLOS ONE, presents a major breakthrough – using a well known laser technique to tell mammoth and elephant ivory apart.

This activity not only has commercial implications. It also raises significant ethical and environmental concerns. That’s because it disturbs preserved ecosystems and involves the extraction of resources that have great value to paleontological science.

Laser insights

• We use a non-invasive laser technique known as Raman spectroscopy to identify the origin of a piece of ivory.
• The technique works by directing a laser light onto the ivory sample.
• This released light scatters back with more or less energy than the initial laser light sent to the sample.

Important implications

• This makes it an ideal tool for customs officials who need to make rapid decisions.
• Our study was conducted on a benchtop spectrometer (a device which breaks up light by wavelength) within a laboratory.
• We are working with Worldwide Wildlife Hong Kong and the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office to develop this technique.

Rebecca Shepherd receives funding from EPSRC and the FCDO.