Mikey’s™ Introduces NEW Superfood Gluten and Grain-Free Tortillas
Bethlehem, PA (November, 2020) – Mikey’s, the pioneer in frozen gluten and dairy-free foods, introduces their NEW vegetable-based superfood tortillas which are an innovative, colorful addition to the Mikey’s product line. They are crafted with clean, high-quality ingredients and superfoods like spirulina, turmeric, and hemp protein, redefining the classic flour-based tortilla. The initial launch has three varieties; Mikey’sSweets & Beets Gluten and Grain-Free Tortillas, made with purple sweet potato and beets, Mikey’sGolden Turmeric Gluten and Grain-Free Tortillas, made with turmeric and hemp protein, and Mikey’s Super Greens Gluten and Grain-Free Tortillas, made with spinach, broccoli, and spirulina.
Mikey’s Superfood Tortillas are all vegan, gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and non-GMO Project Verified. These exciting tortillas are perfect for today’s consumer looking to incorporate more vegetables, antioxidants, and immunity-boosting ingredients into their diet, while still enjoying their favorite foods. The Mikey’s Superfood Tortillas are amazing as a base for recipes, for wraps, or for whatever your creativity allows. Mikey’s Superfood Tortillas are an expansion to their already existing line of gluten, grain, and dairy-free products made from nutritious, high-quality ingredients.
Mikey’s was founded in 2014 when Michael Tierney, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and prior chef in several world-renowned restaurants, noticed a growing number of companies using the claim “gluten-free” as a way to convince consumers their products were better for them, when, in reality, they were loaded with artificial ingredients, fillers, and preservatives. When he couldn’t find any clean-ingredient options, he decided to make his own. His first product was the Original English muffin, made out of just eight ingredients found in his home pantry. He began selling them locally at Long Island delis and markets, while continuing to expand his line into pizza crust, tortillas, and sliced bread. Within a year, he had taken the brand national at Whole Foods and Walmart.
“The initial idea was to provide gluten-free consumers products that do not require any compromise made with a few simple, high-quality ingredients that deliver dense nutrition and great taste,” says Michael Tierney, founder of Mikey’s. “Mikey’singredients are an important part of who we are and what they stand for. We strongly believe that superior taste comes from high quality ingredients and that no one, regardless of allergies or dietary restrictions, should ever be forced to compromise on nutrition or taste.”
Mikey’s Superfood Tortillas are sold in packs of 8 at a suggested retail price of $5.99,and can be found exclusively at Sprouts Farmers Market or on their site at EatMikeys.com. In addition to tortillas, Mikey’s offers a complete product line of delicious allergen-friendly frozen foods crafted with high-quality, recognizable ingredients free from gluten, grains, dairy, and soy. The complete product line includes: English muffins, tortillas, pizza pockets, pizza crust, and more available at leading retailers – 7,000 natural, club, and grocery stores across the U.S.
For recipes, more information and to locate a store near you got to www.EatMikeys.com
About Mikey’s LLC
Mikey’s is a labor of love from the kitchen of Michael Tierney, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America who trained in several of the world’s most acclaimed restaurants. Recognized by Forbes as one of its 30-Under-30, Tierney’s commitment is always to deliver products with dense nutrition, free from common allergens, using clean ingredients, while never compromising on taste. Mikey’s products are certified gluten-free, paleo-friendly, and free from dairy, grains and soy. Mikey’s product offerings include English muffins, pizza crust, tortillas and pizza pockets. Mikey’s is available in more than 7,000 stores nationwide in the natural and grocery channels. To learn more about Mikey’s, visit the website at https://eatmikeys.com/ or follow the brand on Instagram (@Mikeys), Twitter (EatMikeys), or Facebook (@EatMikeys).
Gym Closed? How You Can Reach Your Fitness Goals in Your Own Home
As the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the world, thousands of gyms shut down to control the spread of the virus. Though some gyms have started opening up again in recent months, many gyms remain closed. Don't let your closed gym stop you from reaching your fitness goals. Work out from the comfort of your own home and get fit with these tips.
Stream Your Workouts
The internet is filled with free online workouts that you can stream directly to your phone, television, or computer. The most important thing is to pick a workout you enjoy and do it regularly. This is also a great way to try something new without having to commit to a workout class or a gym. Try something that you haven't don't before, such as kickboxing, Zumba, or strength training.
Get Creative With Equipment
Don't let a lack of equipment at your home stop you from getting a sweat. Get creative with things you have around the house. For example, a gallon of water weighs eight pounds and can be used as a dumbbell substitute, or an old shirt can be cut and tied to make a fitness band. Look around the house to see what you can use, and make what you find work.
Try Virtual Fitness Coaching
Those who prefer working out with a personal trainer may be frustrated that their gym is closed. However, you don’t have to break social distancing guidelines to work with a trainer. You can use a virtual fitness coach to stay fit during this time. Fitness coaches, like those at Plan 7 Coaching, may be available for virtual fitness classes or for individual coaching. Fitness coaches can help you stay motivated and keep you accountable.
Keep on Top of Your Numbers
It's easy to let the stress of life lead to comfort eating and skipping a few workouts. The best way to stay on top of your fitness goals is to watch your numbers. Keep meals within your personalized macros and calorie counts, check your weight or body fat weekly, and keep track of your workouts to motivate you.
Stay Accountable
Having a sense of accountability can help keep you motivated to stay on top of your goals. Connect with friends via social media or text messaging, and challenge each other to work out regularly. Check-in with each other to encourage each other to succeed. A friendly wager over who can work out the most or lose the most weight over a set time can bring out your group's competitive side and make working out more fun.
A closed gym doesn't mean that you have to put your fitness goals on pause. Get creative and use some of these tips to stay fit and healthy during this time.
Ice Bucket Challenge Proceeds Help Fund First Canadian ALS Care and Management Guideline
Best practice recommendations establish national standard and address issues important to care in Canada
TORONTO, Nov. 16, 2020 /CNW/ - The Ice Bucket Challenge continues to make an impact. Proceeds from the highly successful 2014 viral sensation have helped fund a comprehensive new resource to guide efforts to ensure people living with ALS in Canada receive the best possible care no matter where they live.
The first Canadian Best Practice Recommendations for the Management of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, published in the latest issue of the CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal), recommends people living with the disease receive specialized multidisciplinary care, and addresses issues important to caring for people living with ALS in Canada, including timeliness of care, disease-modifying therapies, medical assistance in dying (MAiD) and caregiver support.
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, gradually paralyzes people because the brain and spinal cord are no longer able to communicate with the muscles of the body that we are typically able to move at will. With four out of five people dying within five years of diagnosis in Canada, providing timely, optimal care from coast-to-coast is critical.
"These Best Practice Recommendations are an important step forward for improving the lives of people living with ALS in Canada. We hope they will help enable ALS clinics across the country to meet a common national standard, offering the best possible care to their patients and helping them navigate this complex and devastating progressive disease," says Dr. Christen Shoesmith, Neurologist & Motor Neuron Disease Clinic Director at London Health Sciences Centre and Chair of the ALS Best Practice Recommendations Working Group.
With the new guideline, people living with ALS in Canada, their families and healthcare providers are also now empowered to make informed, collaborative decisions and advocate for optimal care consistent with best available evidence and expert consensus.
Until now, there have been no recommendations explicitly for the care of people living with ALS in Canada. Clinicians and care teams have relied on older guidelines published in the US and Europe, which do not address issues important to care in Canada.
"It's critical that each person living with ALS, along with their family and caregivers – no matter where they live in Canada – have access to the best and most appropriate care for their disease," says Tammy Moore, Chief Executive Officer, ALS Society of Canada. "That's why it's important that these guidelines reflect Canadian experience, values and the healthcare system. We congratulate the Working Group and everyone involved in developing this important resource that will help to improve the standard of care."
A 13-member pan-Canadian Working Group developed the guideline's more than 130 recommendations across 13 areas of focus to provide an update on evolving best practices of care in ALS. In doing so, they assessed hundreds of published peer-reviewed articles, and sought the input of people living with ALS in Canada, ALS Societies across the country, as well as other health providers and organizations.
Funding for the guideline was made possible through donations from the 2014 Ice Bucket Challenge and the Canadian ALS Research Network (CALS), a partnership of clinicians across Canada that specialize in ALS research and clinical care.
"We thank Canadians who enthusiastically supported the ALS community through the Ice Bucket Challenge which helped bring these recommendations to life. We continue to strive to make significant impacts with the ongoing generosity and support of Canadians coast to coast," Moore continues.
To learn more, the guideline can be accessed by visiting ALS Canada's website at www.als.ca.
About the ALS Canada Research Program and Canada's ALS Societies The ALS Canada Research Program funds peer-reviewed research grants and fosters collaboration amongst Canadian researchers, helping to nurture new ideas and build capacity. As the only dedicated source of funding for ALS research in Canada, the ALS Canada Research Program aims to accelerate research impact by providing funding for the best ALS projects focused on translating scientific discoveries into treatments for ALS. Collectively through initiatives like the Walk to End ALS, ALS Societies across Canada support the ALS Canada Research Program. ALS Societies across Canada work together to maximize our collective impact and make the greatest difference for people affected by ALS. Our approach as eight independent organizations working in partnership enables us to respond to the variation that exists between provincial healthcare systems, where we each play a role in filling gaps by providing community-based support. ALS Societies advocate federally, provincially and locally on behalf of people and families living with ALS for policy changes that will have a meaningful impact today and in the future.
Shoesmith C, Abrahao A, Benstead T, et al. Canadian best practice recommendations for the management of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. CMAJ 2020 November 16;192:E1453-68. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.191721
SOURCE ALS Canada
Eosera Solves New-Age Problem: Introducing the EARBUD CLEANING KIT from Eosera, Inc.
After nearly a year in development and testing, ear care experts, Eosera, Inc., releases the EARBUD CLEANING KIT—an all-in-one kit that helps you clean your dirty earbuds in no time. The kit will be launching on www.EARcareMD.com, Amazon, and in select retail stores nationwide. Equipped with sanitizing wipes, cleaning putty, a perfectly sized magnifying glass, and small, delicate brushes, the EARBUD CLEANING KIT has it all in one reusable storage container.
Fort Worth, TX – November 17th, 2020 – Earwax experts Eosera, Inc.finally has a solution for your dirty, expensive earbuds. Introducing the EARBUD CLEANING KIT—a fully equipped kit that cleans and sanitizes your AirPods and earbuds in minutes. Containing 30 squares of cleaning putty, 10 sanitizing alcohol wipes, a magnifying glass, and 2 delicate brush heads, this EARBUD CLEANING KIT has what you need to get your earbuds back into tip-top shape. Eosera's specially designed the storage container to be reusable and durable for easy traveling and storing. The EARBUD CLEANING KIT launched on www.EARcareMD.com November 2nd, 2020, and will launch on Amazon and in select CVS stores across the nation in December 2020.
Buddy up with Eosera’s EARBUD CLEANING KIT—an all-in-one kit that cleans and disinfects your earbuds in minutes.
Since the Pandemic, We Use Earbuds Now More than Ever
With 336 million earbud units sold with an average sales volume increase of 12 million per year(1), the market for this kind of cleaning kit is remarkable. Especially in the age of Zoom and working from home, earbuds are a necessity— everyone needs to clean their earbuds, whether they know it or not. Between online school or work and leisure time, it seems like we’re constantly plugging our ears with plastic earbuds of all kids. That sticky wax that builds up along with dirt, debris, and germs is enough to make anyone squirm.
With the use of earbuds skyrocketing along with screens due to the pandemic, it’s no wonder they’re so dirty. Business Insider recently reported on a study(2) done to see just how dirty your earbuds are. Out of 22 swabbed earbuds, 2 tested for yeast and 1 tested for a type of bacteria associated with dirt. Bacteria can form and grow on earbuds causing ear infections or ear itchiness.
The EARBUD CLEANING KIT contains alcohol towelettes to wipe down the outer plastic portion of the earbud for hygienic purposes. In times of COVID-19, you can’t be too careful about disinfecting items that contact the inside of your ears.
De-gunk your earbuds with Eosera’s EARBUD CLEANING KIT.
Turn Up the Volume
“The EARBUD CLEANING KIT is a game-changer for how you interact with that technology,” says 'Elyse Dickerson', CEO of Eosera, Inc.
The days of using a paperclip or a pencil to scrape off wax from the screen of your earbuds are finally over. Innovation at its finest has changed the way we care for our earbuds. Turn up the volume on your music and videos simply by cleaning the gunk out of your earbuds. See what a difference it can make.
Eosera’s EARBUD CLEANING KIT has everything you need to tune in.
About Eosera Eosera, Inc. is a multi-million-dollar, female-led biotech company committed to developing innovative products that address underserved healthcare needs. Eosera operates by putting purpose before profits and is proud to be one of the pioneering companies in a movement called Conscious Capitalism. Eosera offers a comprehensive line of ear care products addressing earwax impaction, ear itch, and routine ear hygiene. Eosera is a multi-award-winning company with a decorated CEO and impressive growth trends. Eosera’s products are currently available in over 13,000 retail drug stores across the nation. For more information, visit www.EARcareMD.com.
Spirit of Christmas Shines through in Uplifting, Small-Town Romance
Nashville, TN, November 16, 2020 — Build a crackling fire, pour a cup of cocoa and immerse yourself in the holiday spirit with Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy, a heartwarming, small-town romance from Hallmark Publishing author Janice Lynn.
Set in the charming little town of Pine Hill, Kentucky, Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy introduces readers to quilt shop owner Sophie Davis and former Marine Cole Aaron, whose lives intersect at Pine Hill's Christmas festivities.
The story begins when Sophie finds Cole’s journal among a box of books that had been donated to her church. She can’t help but peruse the personal entries, finding herself drawn to the stranger on the pages. As the daughter of a veteran and a seamstress who sews Quilts of Valor, she feels a deep connection to the former soldier who wrote the emotional entries, and she longs to heal his heart.
As a former Marine, Cole battled to find peace after returning to civilian life, and his journal was the conduit toward a truce with his past. Always needing to protect others, Cole now fights fires and is embracing his new life in Pine Hill. When Sophie shows up at the fire hall with his journal, he fears digging up the demons from his past and tells her to trash it.
Their paths continue to intertwine, with both Sophie and Cole volunteering for their community. But it’s hard for Cole to let down his guard, and he doesn’t need anyone’s pity. After all he’s been through in the past, can he find faith in a more hopeful future — one touched by joy?
Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy is the perfect small-town Christmas romance to warm readers’ hearts during the holiday season. It is the sequel to Janice’s first story, Wrapped Up in Christmas, and can also stand alone.
Janice Lynn is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author. She strives to write characters who evoke strong emotions and make readers want to go along on their journeys.
Her first sweet romance, Wrapped Up in Christmas, was a bestseller on Barnes & Noble, Wal-Mart, Amazon (hit No. 13 overall in paid fiction in Kindle) and ibooks (hit number No. 1 paid ebook fiction); was Hallmark Publishing's first release to hit the USA TODAY and Wall Street Journal's bestseller lists; and was a finalist in the Bookseller's Best Award. Janice also writes contemporary Medical Romances for Harlequin, and her books have won numerous awards, including the National Readers' Choice Award, the Golden Quill for Best Short contemporary Romance and for Best First Book, Romantic Times Magazine's American Title, and the Holt Medallion Award of Merit.
Janice lives in Tennessee with her Prince Charming, their seven kids, her vivid imagination, an adorable Maltese named Halo who's the true princess of the house and a bunch of unnamed dust bunnies who took up permanent residence after Janice started her writing career. In addition to writing romance, Janice is a nurse practitioner, a quilter, an exercise queen, a military mama and a member of and an avid supporter of the Quilts of Valor Foundation. Just kidding on the exercise queen.
The COVID-19 Experience: Canada Health Infoway Finds Canadians Trust and Have Come to Depend on Digital Health
New survey insights released to mark Digital Health Week 2020
TORONTO, Nov. 16, 2020 /CNW/ - Canadians and health care providers have met the unprecedented challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic head-on by embracing change in the way health care is delivered — from in-person to virtual. This week is Digital Health Week and to mark the occasion Canada Health Infoway (Infoway) is sharing research conducted in partnership with Environics that digs into this substantial shift and what Canadians want for their digital health future.
This latest research project, A Healthy Dialogue, is one of the largest public consultations about digital health ever conducted in Canada. The consultation reached more than 58,000 Canadians — including those underserved by the health system — who shared how they thought technology would impact their care experience.
The research revealsi:
An overwhelming majority (92%) of Canadians want technology that makes health care as convenient as other aspects of their lives.
More than half (53%) of Canadians who have used health technology in the past year say it helped them avoid an in-person visit to a provider or an emergency room.
Of those Canadians who received virtual care during the pandemic, 91% were satisfied with the experience, 86% agreed that virtual care tools can be important alternatives to seeing doctors in-person, and more than three-quarters (76%) are willing to use virtual care after the pandemic.
"We've gone from talking about ways to further integrate digital health into everyday health care to living it. The events of the past year have accelerated our digital health progress significantly and have proven to Canadians just how important and helpful digital health can be," says Michael Green, President and CEO of Infoway. "Digital Health Week is an important time to celebrate our progress and acknowledge the hard work of all those who have made it possible."
While technology can help reduce barriers and improve access to health care, the research also found that nearly six in 10 Canadians feel they don't know enough about digital health apps and services. As Canada's digital health agency, Infoway is committed to working with its partners to address these gaps through activities like Digital Health Week.
Digital Health Week was created to celebrate how digital health is transforming care across the country and to increase awareness about the value and benefits of digital health for all Canadians. Digital Health Week is supported by 60+ organizations. Join the conversation and share your story. #ThinkDigitalHealth.
About Canada Health Infoway
Infoway helps to improve the health of Canadians by working with partners to accelerate the development, adoption and effective use of digital health across Canada. Through our investments, we help deliver better quality and access to care and more efficient delivery of health services for patients and clinicians. Infoway is an independent, not-for-profit organization funded by the federal government. Visit www.infoway-inforoute.ca.
For more information please contact:
Karen Schmidt Director, Corporate/Internal Communications Canada Health Infoway 416.886.4967 Email Us Follow @Infoway
________________________
i A national survey of about 6,900 Canadians was conducted from December 2019-February 2020, pre-COVID-19; a follow-up survey was conducted in June 2020 with about 2,200 of the original 6,900, to see if their views had shifted since the pandemic began.
SOURCE Canada Health Infoway
Courageous Kids Must Save Santa in Time for Christmas
New York, NY, November 16, 2020 — Amid the backdrop of an overindulgent culture and waning Christmas spirit, one company, Eastern Industries, is uniquely poised to monopolize the attention of children with the launch of its latest video game. But things have gotten way out of hand. Santa is missing, the North Pole is in a state of chaos, and Christmas may not happen at all! With the holiday traditions of the world hanging in the balance, can a team of intrepid youngsters drawn from the Naughty List, some toy soldiers and living snowmen save the day?
Author Thomas Conway sets the stage for worldwide adventure in The Naughty List, his imaginative, modern Christmas tale that blends elements of pop culture with the age-old tradition of Santa Claus. The story begins at a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade without Santa, where toy manufacturer Eastern Industries has just released a new holiday marketing scheme, which keeps kids glued to their devices and drains everyone’s holiday spirit. With Christmas fast approaching and Santa nowhere in sight, a team of daring youngsters recruited from Santa’s Naughty List aim to rescue Santa and save the holiday.
While primarily a Santa tale, The Naughty List cleverly incorporates Winter holiday beliefs from around the world, including the legend of Marduk, a Babylonian god; the Roman feast of Saturnalia; the epic story of Jangar from North Asia; Moravian traditions of animal communication; and the present real-life adventures of Israeli Santa Claus, Nicola Abdou.
Also sprinkled with references to holiday favorites such as Miracle on 34th Street, T’was the Night Before Christmas, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and others, this wonderfully rich tale promotes right over wrong, good over evil and love over fear.
Suitable for all ages, The Naughty List skillfully weaves valuable lessons about overindulgence and society’s tendency to put labels on children, with the overarching theme that when kids misbehave they should not be defined by their bad deeds but rather see it as a learning opportunity, since when we appreciate the best in humanity and combine our talents, we are capable of almost anything.
The Naughty List, winner of the 2020 Indie Book Award in the E-Book Fiction category, is the first release from Thomas Conway. His 30-year career spans various industries. When not at work, he devotes his time to environmental matters and inventing stories for his two children.
Gym Closed? How You Can Reach Your Fitness Goals in Your Own Home
As the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the world, thousands of gyms shut down to control the spread of the virus. Though some gyms have started opening up again in recent months, many gyms remain closed. Don't let your closed gym stop you from reaching your fitness goals. Work out from the comfort of your own home and get fit with these tips.
Stream Your Workouts
The internet is filled with free online workouts that you can stream directly to your phone, television, or computer. The most important thing is to pick a workout you enjoy and do it regularly. This is also a great way to try something new without having to commit to a workout class or a gym. Try something that you haven't don't before, such as kickboxing, Zumba, or strength training.
Get Creative With Equipment
Don't let a lack of equipment at your home stop you from getting a sweat. Get creative with things you have around the house. For example, a gallon of water weighs eight pounds and can be used as a dumbbell substitute, or an old shirt can be cut and tied to make a fitness band. Look around the house to see what you can use, and make what you find work.
Try Virtual Fitness Coaching
Those who prefer working out with a personal trainer may be frustrated that their gym is closed. However, you don’t have to break social distancing guidelines to work with a trainer. You can use a virtual fitness coach to stay fit during this time. Fitness coaches, like those at Plan 7 Coaching, may be available for virtual fitness classes or for individual coaching. Fitness coaches can help you stay motivated and keep you accountable.
Keep on Top of Your Numbers
It's easy to let the stress of life lead to comfort eating and skipping a few workouts. The best way to stay on top of your fitness goals is to watch your numbers. Keep meals within your personalized macros and calorie counts, check your weight or body fat weekly, and keep track of your workouts to motivate you.
Stay Accountable
Having a sense of accountability can help keep you motivated to stay on top of your goals. Connect with friends via social media or text messaging, and challenge each other to work out regularly. Check-in with each other to encourage each other to succeed. A friendly wager over who can work out the most or lose the most weight over a set time can bring out your group's competitive side and make working out more fun.
A closed gym doesn't mean that you have to put your fitness goals on pause. Get creative and use some of these tips to stay fit and healthy during this time.
Once-discounted binding mechanism may be key to targeting viruses Rice, MD Anderson team models complex that immune system uses to recognize virusesHOUSTON – (Nov. 12, 2020) – “Position 4” didn’t seem important until researchers took a long look at a particular peptide. That part of the peptide drawn from a SARS-CoV virus turned out to have an unexpected but significant influence on how it stably binds with a receptor central to the immune system’s ability to attack diseased cells. In a study published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers at Rice University’s Brown School of Engineering and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center revealed models at atomic resolution that detail not only the binding but also, for the first time, the unbinding mechanisms that underlie a key component of the immune system. They say better understanding of the entire mechanism could lead to advancements in immunotherapy that boosts the body’s ability to fight disease. Rice computer scientist Lydia Kavraki, alumnus Jayvee Abella and postdoctoral researcher Dinler Antunes, led the study.“Finding good targets to trigger a protective immune response is very challenging, especially in cancer research,” Antunes said. “The fact that this particular peptide was predicted not to bind to HLAs (human leukocyte antigens) by sequence-based methods highlights a blind spot in our current prediction capacity.“By incorporating structural analysis, we can detect the contribution of these secondary interactions to peptide binding and stability, hopefully enabling us to find better targets for antiviral vaccine development and T-cell-based cancer immunotherapy,” he said.The researchers used their simulations to illuminate details of how the intracellular SARS peptide, QFKDNVILL, binds to an MHC receptor protein known as HLA-A∗24:02, primarily at dominant anchors on both ends of the peptide (at positions 2 and 9) and presents them for inspection to the immune system’s T cells. Stable binding of a peptide and MHC is a prerequisite to the activation of T cells, which look for peptides not normally found in healthy cells. If the peptide and protein don’t bind, the T cell is not prompted to attack. “That much was known from previous studies of the bound and unbound states of many such complexes,” Kavraki said. “What they didn’t capture was the intermediate states and the transitions that lead from one state to another, especially the unbinding.“I think this is the only analysis that shows the unbinding of peptides from the MHC with atomic resolution,” Kavraki said. “Other peptides have similar characteristics and we think they would have similar behaviors.”All of these interactions were revealed in great detail through Markov state models that analyze how systems change over time. In this case, the models revealed the importance of secondary sites that support the peptide’s primary anchors. That’s where position 4 stood out.“There are the main, canonical anchors that people know, but there are these secondary interactions that contribute to the binding and the stability,” Antunes said. “These are harder to capture, but in this study, it seems that position 4 plays a very important role. When you mutate it, it affects the behavior of the peptide as it unbinds from the molecule.”The researchers modeled mutations of the MHC to see how they would influence binding and found they supported the importance of position 4 to the stability of the complex.“Our computational approach was able to make predictions on the effect of mutations that are then experimentally verified,” said co-author Cecilia Clementi, a former Rice professor who recently became Einstein Professor of Physics at the Free University of Berlin. The researchers developed a two-stage process to simplify the computational complexity of atom-scale analysis of large molecules. The first stage used a technique called umbrella sampling to accelerate the initial exploration of the molecules. The second, exploratory stage used adaptive sampling, in which simulations are driven to accelerate the construction of the Markov model. “The challenge is that these MHCs are pretty large systems for computational chemists to simulate,” said Abella, whose research on the topic formed much of his doctoral thesis. “We had to make some approximations and leverage advances in these classes of methods to move forward.“We're not the first one to study unbinding, but what characterizes our work over others is that we keep full atomic resolution in our simulations,” he said. “Other works use a technique known as a Markov chain Monte Carlo, whereas we use molecular dynamics, which lets us incorporate time into our computation to capture the kinetics.”Their methods can be applied to other peptide-MHC complexes with existing 3D models. “This was, in some sense, a feasibility study to show we can use molecular dynamics and build a Markov state model of a system this size,” Abella said. The researchers also noted the study’s relevance to the current fight against COVID-19, as the SARS peptide they viewed, QFKDNVILL, is highly similar to the NFKDQVILL peptide in SARS-CoV-2, with the same binding pockets in positions 2, 4 and 9.“These results suggest that both peptides can bind to HLA-A*2402 and provide targets for anti-viral T-cell responses, which are of great interest in light of the current pandemic,” said co-author Gregory Lizée, a professor in the Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology at MD Anderson. “But these results also shed light on many other potential immune targets, including those of other viruses and even human cancers.”Kavraki noted that experimental work by longterm collaborator Lizée and Kyle Jackson, a graduate research assistant at Lizée’s lab who produced the mutant proteins, were critical to validate their simulations. Kavraki’s own lab won a National Science Foundation (NSF) Rapid Response Research grant to help identify fragments of SARS-CoV-2 viral proteins as possible targets for vaccine development. Kavraki is the Noah Harding Professor of Computer Science and a professor of bioengineering, mechanical engineering and electrical and computer engineering. The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, the Gulf Coast Consortia, the NSF, the Einstein Foundation Berlin and the Welch Foundation supported the research.-30-Read the abstract at www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.2007246117This news release can be found online at https://news.rice.edu/2020/11/12/once-discounted-binding-mechanism-may-be-key-to-targeting-viruses/Follow Rice News and Media Relations via Twitter @RiceUNewsRelated materials:Kavraki Lab: http://www.kavrakilab.orgClementi Research Group: https://www.physik.fu-berlin.de/en/einrichtungen/ag/ag-clementiGregory A. Lizée: https://faculty.mdanderson.org/profiles/gregory_lizee.htmlGeorge R. Brown School of Engineering: https://engineering.rice.eduNSF RAPID grant supports COVID-19 ‘computational pipeline’: http://news.rice.edu/2020/06/16/nsf-rapid-grant-supports-covid-19-computational-pipeline/Images for download:https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2020/11/1109_MHC-1-web.jpgAn illustration shows a major histocompatibility (grey) protein encompassing a peptide drawn from a SARS-CoV virus (pink). The complex helps trigger the activation of T cells that are part of the immune system. Rice University researchers discovered a non-anchor binding residue in the peptide that could both contribute to binding and to the T-cell activation needed to defeat the virus. (Credit: Kavraki Lab/Rice University)https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2020/11/1109_MHC-2-web.jpgAn illustration shows the electrostatic charges (blue is positive, red negative) in a major histocompatibility protein bound to a peptide drawn from a SARS-CoV virus. The complex helps trigger the infection of T cells that are part of the immune system. Rice University researchers discovered a non-anchor binding residue in the peptide that could both contribute to binding and to the T-cell activation needed to defeat the virus. (Credit: Kavraki Lab/Rice University)https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2020/11/1109_MHC-3-web.jpgElectrostatic potential maps created from models by Rice University show a major histocompatibility protein bound to a peptide drawn from SARS-CoV viruses. Such dynamic complexes can trigger the activation of T cells that are part of the immune system. The Rice team discovered the stabilizing influence of an alternative binding residue (at position 4) common to both the peptide they studied, at top, and one associated with SARS-CoV-2, at bottom, responsible for COVID-19 disease. (Credit: Kavraki Lab/Rice University)Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy. With 3,978 undergraduates and 3,192 graduate students, Rice’s undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is just under 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice is ranked No. 1 for lots of race/class interaction and No. 1 for quality of life by the Princeton Review. Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.
SKYMINT BRANDS™ BRINGS MICHIGAN’S LARGEST SUNGROWN CANNABIS FARM TO HARVEST WITH THE LAUNCH OF SKYMINT FARMS™
Located on 200 acres, SKYMINT Farms™ aspires to become Michigan’s largest purveyor of regeneratively and sustainably cultivated, sungrown cannabis; its launch supports Forgotten Harvest, Metro Detroit’s only food rescue organization
DIMONDALE, MICH., November 12, 2020 — SKYMINT Brands™, Michigan’s largest vertically integrated cannabis company, today announced its establishment of SKYMINT Farms™, a 200-acre sungrown cannabis farm nestled in the Huron-Manistee National Forest and focused on the values of regenerative farming, sustainable agriculture, premium cannabis cultivation, and community enrichment.
“Michigan is known for its 3,000 acres of wine grape vineyards and nearly 10 million acres of farmland that give our state a dynamic food and agriculture industry. With SKYMINT Farms, we are on a mission to additionally put Michigan on the map for cultivating some of our nation’s best sungrown cannabis,” says SKYMINT Brands’ CEO and co-founder Jeff Radway.
Joining SKYMINT Brands’ two state-of-the-art, sustainable cultivation facilities, SKYMINT Farms aims to receive Sun+Earth status within the next two years. The coveted seal certifies cannabis brands that farm using beyond organic methods, holistically, responsibly, and regeneratively for the well-being of all people, farmers, and the planet.
SKYMINT Farms ensures that its cannabis is grown using the sun as the primary source of power, rain water as the primary source of irrigation as well as crop rotation, intercropping, and cover crops to create a nutrient-rich living soil. Within the next two years, SKYMINT Farms will additionally include grazing animals to make the farm truly biodynamic.
“Elon Musk once said in a TED Talk, ‘We have this handy fusion reactor in the sky called the sun. You don’t have to do anything. It just works,” says James Barr, SKYMINT Farms’ Head of Operations. “Even the best indoor grow lighting can’t compare to the natural light spectrum. Cannabis loves the sun and expresses itself very differently when farmed outdoors. Cannabinoid and terpene production is greater, and the plant is more resilient.”
SKYMINT Farms reflects the three pillars that inspire the work at SKYMINT Brands: To elevate the production of cannabis; to cultivate a stellar collection of premium brands; and to leverage its resources and position within the industry to change our world and communities for the better. Not only does SKYMINT Farms aspire to do right by the land and the environment but it also aspires to do right by Michiganders by cultivating community. Its cultivation site is in Lake County, one of the poorest counties in Michigan, and SKYMINT Farms provides nearly 30 year-round farm jobs on its beautiful rural oasis.
Adds Radway, “Community is at the core of our company ethos. At SKYMINT, we wholeheartedly believe that cannabis has a meaningful role to play in bettering people’s lives, hence our motto that happy plants make happy people. But foundational to the pursuit of happiness is food security, and in Detroit, 1 in 6 remain hungry. There’s no better way to nurture and grow community than to literally help feed it, which is why we’re proud to partner SKYMINT Farms with Forgotten Harvest this holiday season.”
To immediately address the food deserts surrounding Metro Detroit, SKYMINT Farms has joined forces with Forgotten Harvest, a food rescue organization that distributes 45 million pounds of food to Detroiters each year. SKYMINT FARMS will sponsor Forgotten Harvest’s annual Hope for the Holidays event to provide holiday meal boxes to 2,000 Michigan families — some 6,000 individuals — over the course of just three days in December.
Since its inception in 2018 — originally under the name Green Peak Innovations — SKYMINT BRANDS has dedicated itself to creating and curating premium-crafted cannabis brands, hand-grown to perfection and available to Michigan adult-use consumers at 11 SKYMINT retail locations throughout the state. Its growing brand portfolio includes flower, pre-rolls, edibles, beverages, and concentrates, with SKYMINT Farms sungrown flower slated to power up to 50% of SKYMINT Brands products over the next 10 years.
SKYMINT X DNA GENETICS™ is the newest imprint under the SKYMINT Brands umbrella, joining SKYMINT™, North Cannabis™, Jolly Edibles™, and the socially responsible Two Joints™ label which supports the critical efforts of Last Prisoner Project.
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About SKYMINT BRANDS™
Beginning operations in Fall 2018, Skymint (formerly known as Green Peak Innovations) is Michigan's leading vertically integrated cannabis company and the state's largest medical and recreational license holder. With two state-of-the-art indoor grow facilities, the company cultivates, processes, markets, distributes and sells a full range of branded cannabis products, including SKYMINT™, North Cannabis™, Jolly Edibles™, the Two Joints™ brand, which benefits the Last Prisoner Project, and SKYMINT X DNA GENETICS.™ Just as SKYMINT treats its plants like people - tending to and caring for them by hand, and even playing them music - each and every product is handcrafted to ensure the safest, cleanest, highest quality products at the best value. SKYMINT™ products can be found at the company's SKYMINT™ provisioning centers and via retailers around Michigan through a robust wholesale network. As purveyors of premium-crafted cannabis, SKYMINT™ has developed a portfolio of the finest cannabis brands available for daily wellness, healing, or just getting high on life. SKYMINT™ inspires people everywhere to feel better, live better and do better.
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