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Study reveals deadly bacteria's attraction to human blood

Some of the world's deadliest bacteria seek out and feed on human blood, a newly-discovered phenomenon researchers are calling "bacterial vampirism."

16 Apr 2024

Modeled human embryo produces a membrane that surrounds the developing embryo

A MedUni Vienna study team led by geneticist Markus Hengstschläger has used a stem cell model to model the earliest stages of embryonic development and to characterize the membrane that surrounds the embryo, conferring shape and stability.

5 Apr 2024

Researchers develop handheld device for rapid bacterial detection

Hear the words E. coli or salmonella and food poisoning comes to mind. Rapid detection of such bacteria is crucial in preventing outbreaks of foodborne illness.

5 Apr 2024

JAX researchers develop a powerful platform to study human health conditions

In humans, the exact same mutation in a specific gene can produce widely different outcomes. It's a bit like adding the same amount of salt to different recipes-;the effect on the finished dish can be quite different, depending on the mix of other ingredients.

3 Apr 2024

Breakthrough nanopipette enables real-time observation of cancer cell reactions to treatment

The high-tech double-barrel nanopipette, developed by University of Leeds scientists, and applied to the global medical challenge of cancer, has - for the first time - enabled researchers to see how individual living cancer cells react to treatment and change over time – providing vital understanding that could help doctors develop more effective cancer medication.

6 Mar 2024

Breakthrough CRISPR technique unlocks insights about cancer immunology

Over the past two decades, the immune system has attracted increasing attention for its role in fighting cancer.

29 Feb 2024

Dietary protein overload linked to increased atherosclerosis risk

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers discovered a molecular mechanism by which excessive dietary protein could increase atherosclerosis risk.

19 Feb 2024

Glioblastoma tumor cells mimic neurons to evade treatment

Certain cancers are more difficult to treat because they contain cells that are highly skilled at evading drugs or our immune systems by disguising themselves as healthy cells.

11 Jan 2024

Fruit fly research solves human disease and fuels new cancer immunotherapy approach

Scientists have solved a cellular murder mystery nearly 25 years after the case went cold. Following a trail of evidence from fruit flies to mice to humans revealed that cannibalistic cells likely cause a rare human immunodeficiency.

5 Jan 2024

Study sheds light on enzyme's role in advanced prostate cancer progression

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men other than skin cancer, and more than 288,000 new cases are diagnosed every year, according to the American Cancer Society.

21 Dec 2023

Explosive Desantis-Newsom debate reflects nation’s culture wars

Fox News officially titled it "The Great Red vs. Blue State Debate." But the faceoff quickly turned into a full-out political brawl between Gavin Newsom, California's Democratic governor who isn't running for president; and Ron DeSantis, the Florida Republican governor who is, and is not gaining ground against former President Donald Trump in voter polls.

1 Dec 2023

Engineering approach reveals surprising macrophage phenotype with best tumor-targeting ability

Macrophages, a type of white blood cell that can destroy invading pathogens, have an innate ability to infiltrate tumor cells, making them a potentially important tool in treatments that use transplanted cells to fight disease, known as cell therapy.

15 Nov 2023

Genomic surveillance could help detect and slow the spread of deadly 'superbugs'

Harnessing new advances in genomic surveillance technology could help detect the rise of deadly 'superbugs' and slow their evolution and spread, improving global health outcomes, a new Australian study suggests.

24 Oct 2023

New method uses magnets to align muscle cells

Stimulating muscle fibers with magnets causes them to grow in the same direction, aligning muscle cells within tissue, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Boston University investigators report October 20 in the journal Device.

20 Oct 2023

Researchers develop novel ultrasound imaging technique to view macrophages in real time

Macrophages are little cells vital to the immune system and could possibly inform cell-based therapies for a variety of medical conditions.

22 Sep 2023

New device can help test treatments in patients with gliomas

The shape and size of a grain of rice, the new device can conduct dozens of experiments at once to study the effects of new treatments on some of the hardest-to-treat brain cancers.

7 Sep 2023

Students starting school and college in September are at increased risk of serious illnesses

A leading testing expert fears a perfect storm of infections in September as students start at schools and colleges. School closures during Covid lockdowns mean 1-in-8 students starting university this year remains unprotected against meningitis. Concern is growing early symptoms may be confused with freshers’ flu.

4 Sep 2023

Water quality may play a role in NTM pulmonary infections in people with cystic fibrosis

High levels of some minerals and metals in environmental water supplies may increase the risk of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) pulmonary infections in people with cystic fibrosis, according to a new study from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health.

25 Aug 2023

Understanding how the body regulates circadian rhythms using mathematical models

Researchers are using mathematical models to better understand the effects of disruptions like daylight savings time, working night shifts, jet lag or even late-night phone scrolling on the body's circadian rhythms.

18 Aug 2023

Study finds way to reverse gene silencing in inner ear cells

A deafened adult cannot recover the ability to hear, because the sensory hearing cells of the inner ear don't regenerate after damage.

14 Aug 2023