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there won’t be a placebo group. INTERNAL LIGHT
Although many improvements
have been made in gene therapies Optogenetics controls neurons
in recent years, such trials are with light, but it has been difficult
still closely monitored for adverse to develop the technique for medical
effects, after a US teenager died treatments because most of our
in 1999 when a gene therapy for neurons are not exposed to light.
a liver condition provoked a What if we could create an
massive immune reaction. internal light source? Eric Petersen
Eyes are considered a safer of Central Michigan University and
target, though, as they are his team have been investigating
luciferase, an enzyme that can
“We hope patients will prompt a chemical called luciferin
better be able to see to emit light.
people and recognise The approach involves inserting
large obstacles” two genes into brain cells – one that
makes them send signals in the
relatively isolated from the presence of light, and another that
immune system, and any side makes the enzyme luciferase.
effects are likely to be limited When animals are then injected
to the eye. with luciferin, the modified neurons
Retinitis pigmentosa is rare, glow and then become active – an
affecting only around 1 in 4000 effect that lasts about an hour.
people. But GenSight says the In work presented at the Society
same approach might also help for Neuroscience Meeting in
people with age-related macular Washington DC in November 2017,
degeneration, which is the the team found that this approach
commonest cause of blindness can stimulate nerve growth in rats
useful vision that will allow them yet totally blind – they should in rich nations. with spinal injuries, and help them
to have autonomy, for example be able to count the number Another trial of an optogenetic to begin walking.
recognising objects, detecting of fingers on a hand held treatment for retinitis pigmentosa The team is also investigating a
people and large obstacles, 50 centimetres away. The first began in 2016. The approach is similar approach for turning down
possibly better.” patient will get an injection into similar but people will become overexcitable brain cells in people
For the first trial, the firm is one eye within the next two receptive to blue light, not red, with epilepsy.
recruiting people who are not months, says the company, and and they will not wear goggles. ■

certify the Falcon 9 rocket to carry Largestever “You wouldn’t know what you ate including speakers, cars and objects
crew until the conditions that led to three weeks ago. This is the big as well as a giant toy town complete
the explosion are fully understood. listeriaoutbreak challenge we face in this situation,” with a railway.
An investigation following the said Christian Lindmeier of the The toy town showed how the
incident found that it occurred when THEREhavebeen748confirmedcases World Health Organization on firm thinks its assistant can improve
liquid oxygen leaked between the of listeriosis in South Africa in the 12 January. your life, with examples ranging
rocket’s helium tanks and their outer past year, making it the largest ever Tohelpmonitortheoutbreak,South from voice-activated vacuuming
layer, then ignited. SpaceX has since outbreak. So far, 67 people have died. Africa has made listeriosis a notifiable to ordering a pizza. Google says its
changed its fuel loading process and Listeriosis infections are caused disease, meaning every case must be assistant is now capable of
redesigned its helium tanks. NASA is by Listeria monocytogenes bacteria, reported to its Department of Health. performing a million actions.
now testing them for similar leaks. usually in contaminated food such as Meanwhile, Amazon’s Alexa was
Until these tests are done, ASAP raw meat and poultry, unwashed demoed in everything from mirrors
recommended that humans not be vegetables, and dairy products. It can Voiceassistants to microwaves. Luxury homeware
put aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. lead to meningitis or blood poisoning company Kohler announced a suite of
The report also expressed concerns in newborn infants, older people, and stealtheshow Alexa-powered products, including a
that SpaceX and Boeing, the two people with compromised immune smart shower that learns just how hot
companies developing spacecraft to systems. Infection during pregnancy IT LOOKS like you’d better get you like it and a kitchen sink that can
ferry astronauts to and from the can cause miscarriage. used to talking to computers. give you exactly the amount of water
International Space Station, may not Because symptoms can take At CES, the world’s biggest you ask for. But its pièce de résistance
be able to meet safety requirements between 6 hours and 10 weeks to technology show, in Las Vegas last was a $6000 voice-activated smart
before their scheduled missions, appear, it can be difficult to identify week, Google demonstrated more toilet. It has feet and buttock
which start in November. the contaminated food responsible. than 350 voice-controlled devices warmers, as well as mood lighting.

20 January 2018 | NewScientist | 7