Protoman2050

OK, a bit OT, but if anyone's interested, please see my posts in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology forum here.

Technically, there is a time limit: 10 years. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Philosophy#Time

Here's a new way of making PNA antisense oligonucleotides: Make artificial tRNA synthetases --http://www.cnrs.fr/cw/en/pres/compress/EvolutionCodeGenetique.htm -- that attach to PNA nucleotides, such that the one that hooks up to "A" in the mRNA sequence will place "U" in the PNA sequence. Of course, you'd have to add the 3' and 5' UTRs after the fact --in the 3'...5' format, of course--, so you could prefab those PNA oligonucleotides, and splice them to the oligonucleotide. Automatic antisense oligonucleotide manufacturing!!!

I've got a question about how to do statistical analyses: Let's say a randomized controlled study of the efficacy of a new antiretroviral agent to be used in treating HIV/AIDS --specifically, the one here: http://www.scienceforums.net/forum/showthread.php?t=32796 -- is commenced in HIV+ mice, w/ 20 mice randomly assigned to the treatment group, and 20 mice randomly assigned to the placebo group. 18 mice in the treatment group end up w/ viral loads < 50 copies/ml --which is definied in the literature as clinically insignificant--, and a CD4+ T-cell count of > 500 cells/ul, which is that of a healthy individual --the remaning two succumbed from causes unrelated to HIV--. Those in the placebo group, all died. Now, what can I do with this data, or do I need more data? What data do I need to calclate the mean and standard deviation, so I can calculate the 99% CI --or the 1% p-value; any difference? What CL or p-value would be appropriate in this situation?-- and the effect size? Would the above RCT's results be statistically significant --they sure are clinically significant!--? Thanks!!!

I believe I may have posted this before on a slightly less appropiate subforum, so I'm moving it here. Your expert opinion is greatly needed!!! Synthesize a peptide nucleic acid antisense oligonucleotide for HIV’s gag gene’s mRNA. The reason for using PNA is that it is substantially more resistant to enzyme degradation by nucleases and proteases. The reason for choosing the gag gene is that it’s proteins, p24, p17, p7, and p6, code for the basic physical infrastructure of HIV; w/o these key proteins, there is no HIV. Then, encapsulate the oligonucleotides in liposomes studded w/ anti-CD4mAbs. This will ensure 1) toxicity is limited—cf Ambisome, the liposomal preperation of amphotericin B—2) the biologic goes only where it’s needed, which is the cytoplasm of CD4+ T-cells. Decorating the liposome w/ anti-CD4 mAbs will trigger endocytosis, in my limited knowledge, at least. I predict low toxicity and high efficacy in reducing the patient’s viral load to hopefully 0 copies/ml. Maybe, when I'm doing my PhD or MD dissertation --a long ways off, see below--, I could do it on this, patent the resulting product --ie the PNA oligonucleotide itself--, and license it to Genentech or Hybridon for further development into a marketable biologic. What are your thoughts? Should LNA instead of PNA be used? Cell- penetrating peptides vs. liposomes? Targeting the gag gene vs. targeting the pol gene? anti-CD4 mAbs vs. anti-gp160 mTcRs --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artific...ell_receptor -- as drug targeting devices? Are there any publications about this subject? Here's another possible anti-HIV biologic: synthesize an anti-gp160 mTcR linked to caspase-3 --or something that'll result in an apoptosis signal be transmitted, like DISC, or FasR...cell signalling confuses me--, which should induce the apoptosis of any cell which contains the HIV protein gp160. I'm not so good w/ mTcRs and cell signalling, could you guys help explain more fully exactly what an mTcR does? I know it's an artificial T-cell receptor, and it modifies the responses of T-cells, but beyond that... How effective do you think these two biologics would be in treating HIV/AIDS? And, just for fun, what do you think the USAN names would be for these biologics? Brand names? BTW, if this helps you answer, I'm a 16.5 year old community college freshman who hopes to have a career as a physician-scientist. Thanks!!!!

Hi! I'm a 16.5yr old community college freshman, and I'm hoping for a career as a physician-scientist. I'm currently taking Intermediate Algebra, Macroeconomics, Freshman Composition, and Introduction to Philosophy. This fall, I plan on taking Introduction to Chemistry, College Algebra, and Trigonometry. Next year, I'll take the SAT I and SAT Subject Tests in Level 2 Math, Chemistry, and Molecular Biology. I hope to get into the University of Sussex's Molecular Medicine BSc program --http://www.sussex.ac.uk/Units/publications/ugrad2008/subjects/Molecular%20medicine --. Then, maybe a medical degree, PhD, or both. Is this a good plan to become a physician-scientist?