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Australian Biochemist the Magazine of the Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Inc ISSN 1443-0193 Australian Biochemist The Magazine of the Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Inc. Volume 48 APRIL 2017 No.1 SHOWCASE ON RESEARCH Figure 1 Lactation Stem cell Common progenitor Luminal Myoepithelial progenitor progenitor Myoepithelial Alveolar Ductal THIS ISSUE INCLUDES Showcase on Research Other Features Appetite Control Great Expectations Science Talent Search Hormones in Human Milk SDS (Students) Page Honours for Members Cells in Human Milk – Competition Special Interest Groups What Do They Tell Us Travel Report Our Sustaining Members Human Milk Bioactivity FAOBMB Forthcoming Meetings Pesticides in Human Milk Intellectual Property Directory INSIDE Profiles of ASBMB Medallists and Awardees Vol 48 No 1 April 2017 AUSTRALIAN BIOCHEMIST Page 1 ‘Chemical Cryptogram’ Competition We have another competition for the readers of the Australian Biochemist. All correct entries received by the Editor (email [email protected]) before 14 May 2017 will enter the draw to receive a gift voucher. With thanks to Rebecca Lew. Solve the coded words below to reveal a special list, described in the underlined title. Each letter codes for another letter – to get you started, the coded letters RPAUMS = BLONDE. The dates are hints. DAYSU RBAFQSYBJEJ DQA DAU UARSP KCBLSJ 1. VSCET FACB (1947) 2. MACAEQT QAMVGBU (1964) 3. VSCECXMS SPBAU (1988) 4. SPBLIRSEQ RPIFGRXCU (2009) 5. IMI TAUIEQ (2009) Showcase on Research Great Expectations Technical Features SDS (Students) Page Coverage of all issues from 2000 to the present Page 2 AUSTRALIAN BIOCHEMIST Vol 48 No 1 April 2017 From the Editor’s Desk As we head towards Autumn, it isn’t just the leaves and the weather that are changing; change is also coming to the Australian Biochemist, in the form of a new editorial team. Beginning with the next issue, Suresh Mathivanan and Tatiana Soares da Costa will be taking over the reins from me. As you well know, the Australian Biochemist has already undergone some changes, most notably the transition to an electronic only format. Under the guidance of Suresh and Tatiana, I have no doubt that the magazine will improve by leaps and bounds, as they take the magazine further forward into the digital era. Suresh’s expertise with technology (evident from his leadership in revamping the ASBMB website) combined with Tatiana’s fresh perspective (having written our Short Discussions for Students Page for the last few years) will ensure that the magazine remains a relevant and an effective tool to meet the communication needs of our membership. As part of these changes, this issue will feature our very last Showcase on Research, a feature that has been running in the magazine for at least 19 years. Thankfully, we will be finishing on a high note, with a fascinating feature on human breastmilk. Put together by Donna Geddes and her team of authors, the Showcase will explore several topics surrounding this powerhouse solution of nutrients, cells and bioactive Chu Kong Liew molecules, which has effects not only on the developing infant but also on its life Editor Australian Biochemist further down the track. One feature that isn’t going anywhere (at least for now) is Great Expectations, with this issue’s feature written by Rebecca Lew. As a former Editor of the Australian Biochemist, Rebecca is certainly used to organising and editing Great Expectations but in this issue, she proves herself equally adept at writing an interesting piece too! In her feature, Becky takes us on her journey from biology-loving child in the US to senior lecturer at Monash University and now a senior medical writer. Following on from her article on the considerations behind filing a patent, Sarah Hennebry describes the sequence of events that take place once a patent been filed. Tatiana Soares da Costa shares some valuable advice on writing and publishing a manuscript. Rounding off this issue are the profiles of the ASBMB award winners, travel award and Special Interest Group reports, and Australia Day Honours for ASBMB members. As I step down from my role, I’d like to acknowledge all the wonderful help that I’ve received from the Editorial Committee during my time as editor. First and foremost, I’d like to thank Liana Friedman, our Editorial Officer, for her skill, patience and dedication to putting out the highest quality publication with every issue. It is difficult to overstate her contribution to the success of the magazine but I know that with Liana committed to staying on, the Australian Biochemist is in great hands! Thanks go to Rebecca Lew, who introduced me to the job and has provided valuable guidance over the years. I’d also like to thank the other members of the Editorial Committee, both past and present for kindly giving up their time to the magazine. Many thanks also to Sally and Chris Jay, particularly to Sally for her tireless efforts in serving as the nexus between the magazine and our Sustaining Members. Thanks also to the ASBMB Executive Council for their continual help and advice. Last but not least, a big thank you to all our contributors, who generously provide the wonderful content that fills these pages. Chu Kong Liew Would you like to help out with the Australian Biochemist? Then please join our Editorial Committee! If you have an interest in being part of the magazine, we warmly welcome your involvement. To volunteer or to find out more about what is involved, please contact the Editor at [email protected]. Australian Biochemist - Editor Chu Kong Liew, Editorial Officer Liana Friedman © 2017 Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Inc. All rights reserved. Vol 48 No 1 April 2017 AUSTRALIAN BIOCHEMIST Page 3 SHOWCASE ON RESEARCH EDITORIAL Lactation in the Limelight Recently, there has been widespread recognition infants self-regulate their milk intake and that human among the scientific community of the programming of milk contains bioactive appetite control factors, it is long-term health outcomes during pregnancy and the compelling to deduce that both the composition of milk early years of life. Indeed, it is believed that the first and the volume consumed may be related to infant 1000 days of life is the most sensitive window of human growth and body composition. Gridneva and Geddes development. Epidemiologic and interventional animal explore this scenario with a complex analysis of human models provide compelling evidence that nutrition milk composition, carried out with respect to gastric profoundly affects organ development and metabolism, emptying (a key appetite regulator), infant growth and with consequences extending into adult life. body composition over the first year of life. In a landmark series recently published in The Lancet, Often overlooked is the fact that human milk is an extensive meta analysis confirms the significant a ‘live potion’ that contains amongst its bioactive advantages of breastfeeding, which include decreased components, live cells. Most recently, immune cells in childhood infections and malocclusion, likely milk have been shown to increase in response to both reductions in overweight and diabetes later in life infant and maternal infection, highlighting the intimate along, as well as increased intelligence (1). However, relationship between the mother and infant. Further, the mechanisms by which breastfeeding confer a full cellular hierarchy has also been identified, with advantages remain to be elucidated. human milk stem cells being shown to be pluripotent Further, whilst the benefits to the infant are often cited and able to develop into numerous cells types when to encourage breastfeeding, the lactating woman also placed in stimulating environments. Twigger and reaps substantial health benefits, such as decreased Hartmann discuss the potential of these cells in helping risk of breast and ovarian cancer and type 2 diabetes to elucidate the development of the human mammary (1). It has been predicted that if breastfeeding were to gland during lactation as well as the possibile discovery be scaled up to near universal levels, 823,000 deaths of of biomarkers for dysfunction and disease. children under five years of age would be prevented, Sharp et al. discuss the fascinating evolution of the along with 20,000 deaths from breast cancer per year (1). mammary gland and development of the young with Finally, human milk and breastfeeding are moving into respect to the bioactive components of milk. Further, the spotlight as researchers try to uncover aspects of they explore gene expression in the milk of women breastfeeding that confer benefits; these aspects include with mastitis, which is one of the major causes of early milk components and the very act of feeding and weaning in breastfeeding women. whether these are affected by maternal characteristics. Unfortunately, not all components of milk are Such knowledge may potentially provide windows of considered beneficial for the infant, in particular opportunity to improve nutrition and development of contaminants present in our environment. Gay et al. our infants. articulate the development of a highly sensitive assay This Showcase on Research will explore human milk to detect persistent organic pesticides in human milk. to a much greater extent than previously documented, Further, they calculate rather than estimate the actual due to recent research using cutting edge technology, dose ingested by the infant over the first year of life and allowing greater insight into the intriguing intricacies determine if this is related
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