​Study found genes linked to happiness, depression and neuroticism
研究發現快樂, 憂鬱, 神經質的相關基因

原文Ana María Rodríguez, Ph.D
譯 Chih-chun J. Lin

研究基因解碼人類行為，將近兩百位研究員組成的大型研究團隊分析了超過三十萬人的基因體資料，發現了與幸福感、憂鬱感、神經質等情緒有關的遺傳變異。由貝勒醫學院與其他機構所組成的團隊將研究成果發表於Nature Genetics期刊。

「在此研究中, 我們應用了進階的統計分析和統合大量的研究資料，來進行最有力的遺傳學研究。」參與計畫的貝勒和德州兒童醫院兒童營養研究中心的小兒科副教授Dr. Alexis Frazier-Wood說。「我負責分析整體數據中的一部份。我們發現當事人的幸福感---對於自己的生命感到快樂的程度---和三個基因的遺傳變異有關連。我們也發現有兩個基因帶有與憂鬱症狀有關連的遺傳變異，以及另外十一個基因的遺傳變異與神經質有關。」

研究者表示，對於此研究結果的解釋要特別謹慎。遺傳變異本身並無法決定該人是否發展出憂鬱症狀、神經質或缺乏幸福感。人們對於自身生活的感受取決於多重的因素，包含基因。「遺傳學只是影響這些心理特徵的因素之一。至少環境因素也是相當重要的一環， 環境會透過交互作用調控基因的影響力。」任職南加大經濟社會研究中心副教授、此研究的通訊作者Dr. Daniel Benjamin說。

此研究所揭露的成果讓科學家思考未來可以如何研究這些情緒。「我們可以開始研究這些基因的功能，來瞭解人類個體之間產生不同情感傾向的生物機制。」Dr. Alexis Frazier-Wood說。
 
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關於更多其他研究作者的名字和單位資料，以及該研究計畫的經費資訊，請見Nature Genetics 2016 Jun;48(6):624-33

Original article:
https://fromthelabs.bcm.edu/2016/06/23/study-found-genes-linked-to-happiness-depression-and-neuroticism/
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Social amoeba cast wide, lethal DNA nets to kill invading bacteria
社會型黏菌撒出致命的DNA網來捕殺細菌
​
原文 Ruth SoRelle, M.P.H.
譯 Cheng-Lin F. Li, Ph.D.

真核黏菌 (學名Dictyostelium discoideum)平時是生活在土裡的單細胞生物，當面臨飢荒的環境，細胞們便會群聚在一起組成一隻蛞蝓般的多細胞變形蟲，然後再進一步型變成子實體(每一根菌柄頂端聳立一顆球狀孢子囊)。科學家利用研究黏菌來了解細胞間訊息傳遞、化學趨向性和疾病的原理。

細菌隨時伺機侵略處於多細胞變形蟲狀的黏菌，而黏菌則早有防備。黏菌能撒出由DNA所組成的網狀陷阱，上面佈有抗菌微粒，細菌會被DNA網所困而死亡，“ 類似的防禦策略也能見於哺乳類體中的免疫細胞(嗜中性白血球)” 。由貝勒醫學院和日內瓦大學組成的跨國研究合作小組，在發表於自然通訊期刊中的文章中說道，“通常，黏菌會吞噬細菌來作為食物來源，然而有些時候細菌能逃脫並引發感染。這時候就需要靠多細胞變形蟲上伴隨的哨兵細胞，哨兵細胞能利用DNA網來獵食捕殺細菌。”

在實驗室中，貝勒醫學院和日內瓦大學的研究員發現哨兵細胞需要非特異性免疫受體(具有辨認微生物表面分子的功能)和NADPH 氧化酶來製造這些細胞外的DNA網。

“在黏菌和人類體中都可發現這精心打造的DNA網” ，任職於貝勒醫學院生化與分子生物學所同時也是共同作者的Adam Kuspa教授說道，“這原始的免疫措施和人體免疫系統如出一徹，對我來說，這顯然是一種趨同演化。” 

這意味者多細胞變形蟲有著類似於人體及其他哺乳類的免疫防衛能力。

“多細胞生物起源的先決條件就是與夠辨認同類/非同類並共同擊退掠食者的能力。所有多細胞演化譜系均是如此” ，Adam Kuspa教授說。

“因此我們發現了原先認為是高等生物中特有的免疫機制，原來早已出現於一億年前便存在的原始生物中” ，日內瓦大學生化所資深講師兼通同作者 Thierry Soldati博士表示。

其他參與這篇研究的作者包括日內瓦大學的Xuezhi Zhang博士和貝勒醫學院Olga Zhuchenko博士。

這項研究由瑞士國家科學基金會、歐洲科技合作組織和美國國家衛生院共同贊助。



原文
​https://fromthelabs.bcm.edu/2016/04/14/social-amoeba-cast-wide-lethal-dna-nets-to-kill-invading-bacteria/
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Reproductive Genetics Pioneer - ​Professor Martin Matzuk
​Professor and Director, Center for Drug Discovery; Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Pathology & Immunology 

By Chih-chun J. Lin 

Dr. Martin M. Matzuk was elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in 2014, for his pioneering contribution in fertility research. Infertility is a problem for more than 10% of couples in the United Sates. For instance, between 2006 and 2010, around 7.3 million women (age 15-44) reported ever having sought out infertility services. Driven by the pressing need to help these people treat their infertility, research scientists at Baylor College of Medicine have been endeavoring to understand the regulation of our reproductive system. Dr. Martin M. Matzuk, one of BCM’s leading professors in this field, also the director of the Center for Drug Discovery (CDD) and vice chair of Pathology & Immunology, has long been recognized for advancing both academic research and clinical patient care in the fields of male and female reproductive health. 

Dr. Matzuk’s research team is looking into the signaling pathways that regulate ovarian development and uterine function. They recently patented their discovery of the function of the heterodimer GDF9:MBP15 in promoting ovarian maturation. This finding holds promise for use in ovarian in vitro maturation (IVM) technology. IVM, compared to the current assisted reproductive technology, does not require the step of hormone injection into patients; therefore, it eliminates the risks of some life-threatening side effects, such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. 

The Matzuk lab is also collaborating with Dr. Masahito Ikawa from Osaka University to develop a pipeline to generate novel mouse models, each harboring a single mutation in one of the testis-specific genes that are potentially infertility-associated. This project will give rise to valuable tools, allowing scientists to study how altering the function of a specific gene affects the development and/or function of the male reproductive tract. 

In the realm of drug discovery, Dr. Matzuk and his research team have used high-throughput platforms in the CDD to identify a promising male contraceptive that targets testes and provides a complete and reversible effect without affecting mating behavior in male mice. The CDD also offers these platforms to all member laboratories for studying diverse research topics and is hence a great asset for the entire BCM community.

In spite of Dr. Matzuk’s busy schedule, he strives to maintain an open-door policy, allowing mentees to discuss research with him freely. In addition, “Martin enjoys doing experiments so much that you can still find him at the bench", says Dr. Jia Peng, a post-doc in the Matzuk lab. “He has always been a true scientist.” 

(Written for Baylor College of Medicine Alumni Newsletter)