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Australian study uncovers first potential prophylactic treatment against HTLV-1

Around 10 million people globally live with the life-threatening virus HTLV-1. Yet it remains a poorly understood disease that currently has no preventative treatments and no cure.

21 Jul 2025

New genetic discovery could change how Friedreich's ataxia is diagnosed

A University of Oklahoma researcher is the first to discover that the sequence of the genetic defect in the neuromuscular disease Friedreich's ataxia isn't always as uniform as previously thought, a breakthrough finding that could spark changes in how the condition is diagnosed and studied.

21 Jul 2025

AI and wastewater surveillance unite to detect emerging viruses

Wastewater surveillance became a popular choice among public health officials looking to track rapid virus mutations and spread patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic.

21 Jul 2025

UC Riverside scientists develop tool to preserve mitochondrial DNA

When environmental stress harms DNA, it can set off a cascade of failures linked to heart conditions, neurodegeneration, and chronic inflammation.

21 Jul 2025

Blocking a single gene disrupts vitamin D metabolism and cancer pathways in new cell study

Researchers identified SDR42E1 as a key regulator of vitamin D absorption and sterol metabolism in colorectal cancer cells. Disruption of this enzyme altered cancer-related pathways and cell viability, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target.

21 Jul 2025

APOE ε4 variant reveals hidden risk factors beyond Alzheimer’s

Researchers discovered that people carrying the APOE ε4 gene variant share a unique immune-related protein signature across their blood, brain, and cerebrospinal fluid—regardless of neurodegenerative disease diagnosis. This signature reveals a fundamental, disease-independent vulnerability linked to APOE ε4, reframing our understanding of genetic risk in conditions like Alzheimer's, Parkinson’s, ALS, and FTD.

21 Jul 2025

Prime editing reverses symptoms of severe childhood neurological disease

Scientists use a precise form of gene editing called prime editing to correct the most common genetic mutations that cause alternating hemiplegia of childhood, a rare and severe neurological disorder that begins in infancy.

21 Jul 2025

Gene editing in the brain offers hope for ultra-rare neurological disease

Scientists have corrected gene mutations in mice causing an ultra-rare disease by editing DNA directly in the brain with a single injection, a feat with profound implications for patients with neurological diseases.

21 Jul 2025

Combination of two cancer drugs could treat the most common form of dementia

A study comparing the gene expression signature of Alzheimer's disease with those elicited by 1,300 approved drugs found a combination of two cancer medications that could treat the most common form of dementia.

21 Jul 2025

Myeloid cells play central role in immune response after polytrauma

Gaining insights into the complex pathways and key cell populations involved in immune dysregulation can aid the development of therapeutic approaches to treat polytrauma, which is associated with poor patient outcomes.

21 Jul 2025

Genetic analysis reveals early childhood markers for obesity risk

A new genetic analysis using data from over five million people has provided a clearer understanding of the risk of going on to live with obesity.

21 Jul 2025

Sperm RNA profiles could identify the best embryos for IVF

Findings on sperm RNA suggest new biomarkers for IVF success, potentially improving embryo selection and reducing cycles needed for desired fertility outcomes.

21 Jul 2025

Blocking GAPDH aggregation protects brain cells and opens new path for stroke therapy

In a mouse model of acute ischemic stroke, researchers showed that inhibiting the aggregation of GAPDH, either genetically or with a novel peptide, significantly reduced brain damage and improved neurological function. The findings highlight GAPDH aggregation as a promising therapeutic target for stroke intervention.

20 Jul 2025

Zebrafish reveal how two genes independently drive sensory organ regeneration

Researchers identified that two cyclin D genes, ccndx and ccnd2a, independently regulate distinct stem and progenitor cell populations during zebrafish sensory organ regeneration. The findings reveal that regeneration can proceed via alternative pathways even when one gene is disrupted, providing new insight into tissue repair mechanisms.

20 Jul 2025