WED AM News: UW study shows potential for method to detect narcotics, other molecules; Gun deer hunt totals up from last year as more hunters participated

December 4, 2024

— Scientists at UW-Madison have created a new method for quickly detecting small molecules, which has possible applications in military, environmental and health fields.

Vatsan Raman, a biochemistry professor at the university, led the team that created the Sensor-seq method. This approach can screen tens of thousands of protein mutations at the same time, identifying those that can bind to target molecules — such as narcotics — to flag them for various purposes.

In a recent study published in the scientific journal Nature Communications, the team demonstrated how the method could find proteins that sensed naltrexone, a drug that’s approved by the FDA to treat addiction to alcohol and opioids.

By using a “biosensor” that made the proteins glow green when they interacted with the naltrexone, they were able to establish a visual indicator for the presence of this molecule.

“Nature is really good at creating proteins that bind to small molecules with exquisite specificity,” Raman said in a statement. “The question for us was, can we redesign nature’s proteins to bind to whatever small molecule we are interested in detecting.”

The Sensor-seq method provides a faster approach to identifying proteins that can bind to the molecules of interest, according to the university, as existing ways for testing the thousands of possible protein mutations is “cost- and time-prohibitive.”

The research behind the study was done in partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory with support from the U.S. Army, according to the release, due to its potential applications in the military.

Stephanie McElhinny, program manager for the Army Research Office, says the DEVCOM Chemical Biological Center is exploring the possibility of using the Sensor-seq system to “rapidly develop biosensors to protect warfighters from chemical and biological threats, drinking water contaminants, and emerging toxins.”

Raman says the team began with naltrexone due to the “strong need for low-cost ways to detect opioid use” in rural areas with limited health care access.

“But, in principle, we can create a biosensor for any small molecule,” he said. “That is exciting because there are so many commercial applications for this with the potential to transform at-home and field-based health care and environmental health.”

Raman has received a provisional patent for his work, and researchers are now creating computer models to “narrow down” other proteins that could be used to identify more molecules of interest.

See the release.

— The number of deer hunters in Wisconsin rose slightly compared to last year as the number of deer harvested during the gun season also saw an increase, according to preliminary DNR data.

The Department of Natural Resources released the numbers yesterday following the conclusion of the Nov. 23-Dec. 1 gun deer season. As of 11:59 p.m. Sunday, license sales — including for gun, archery, crossbow, conservation patron and sports licenses — had reached 791,023. That’s up from the 788,697 in 2023. Of the license sales, 553,652 were for gun hunting only, compared to 553,479 in 2023. Final license sale numbers will be released in January.

Deer Program Specialist Jeff Pritzl during a media briefing said the numbers reflect relative stability in license sales over the last couple of years.

“And that’s really good news given the long-term trend we’ve been describing that we’ve seen over the last couple of decades, of a slow decline for participation,” Pritzl added.

Hunters shot and killed 189,622 deer during the nine-day gun deer season, including 89,787 antlered and 99,835 antlerless deer, according to deer registrations. The gun deer harvest was up 5.2% statewide, a 1.2% increase compared to the 5-year average. The shift includes harvest increases of 3.6% for antlered and 6.6% for antlerless deer compared to 2023.

Pritzl said while snow and cold temperatures may have deterred some, the conditions were an advantage for hunters who decided to brave the weather.

Wisconsin hunters have registered 289,361 deer since the opening of the bow and crossbow seasons in mid-September — 8.7% more than the same time last year.

Pritzl said more antlerless deer still need to be harvested, and that even hunters who were successful during the regular season should consider additional hunting opportunities.

The data also show gun deer hunting in the state’s Northern Zone went down compared to the 5-year average, although the antlerless harvest increased compared to last year.

Compared to the 5-year average, there was a 7.9% decrease in antlered deer harvest compared to a 7.2% decrease in antlerless deer harvest in the zone. The antlered harvest was down 1.8% compared to an 8.7% increase in the antlerless harvest.

Pritzl said DNR has tracked decreased hunting participation in the Northern Zone since the mid-1990s. He attributed the shift to increased opportunities for hunters in the southern half of the state rather than decreased opportunities up north.

See more DNR hunting statistics here.

Watch the video and see the release.

— The Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation has launched a rebranded logo and new organizational pillars.

The WWBIC yesterday announced the change at its annual luncheon event in Brookfield, calling it the “most extensive” re-brand it has done in more than 25 years. The new logo has been rolled out at the organization’s website and on social media.

The economic development group and community development financial institution, founded in Milwaukee in 1987, now has a loan portfolio of more than $25 million.

“Often those who know about WWBIC think of us as just a microlender or an organization that teaches small business owners how to create a business plan, but our services are much more comprehensive,” said WWBIC Vice President of Development and Communication Christina Knudsen.

Those include credit and financial wellness services, entrepreneurship classes, lending and capital, as well as coaching and other technical assistance.

See the release.

— The Wisconsin Wayfinder service has helped more than 2,200 families connect with resources for children with special health needs in its first year, state health officials announced.

The state Department of Health Services says the Wisconsin Wayfinder: Children’s Resource Network has also helped 670 providers and professionals since launching in November 2023. DHS says the service’s website has also gotten more than 755,000 hits and made nearly 3,900 referrals.

The program aims to help families find resources for their children who have delays, disabilities, mental health conditions or other health care needs.

“Our goal is to get families the right help and the right care at the right time … our resource guides bring both compassion and expertise, and they truly understand what a family needs to navigate critical moments in their children’s lives,” said State Health Officer and Division of Public Health Administrator Paula Tran.

See the release.

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