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Study sheds new light on the mechanism of COVID-19 infection

The spike protein on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus can adopt at least ten distinct structural states, when in contact with the human virus receptor ACE2, according to research from the Francis Crick Institute published in Nature today.

18 Sep 2020

Engineered, high-affinity ACE2 receptors neutralize SARS-CoV-2

In a study published in the preprint server bioRxiv, researchers from the Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine and Osaka University Japan, discuss how they engineered ACE2 to enhance its affinity to RBD in human cells.

17 Sep 2020

Flexibility of glycosylated membrane-bound ACE2 suggests mechanical energy source in opening of SARS-CoV-2 spike

Angiotensin, Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2, Cell, Coronavirus, Enzyme, Glycoprotein, Neck, Protein, Receptor, Respiratory, Severe Acute Respiratory, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, Syndrome, Virus, SARS-CoV-2, Coronavirus Disease COVID-19,

17 Sep 2020

Ceftazidime flagged as a potential inhibitor of the SARS-COV-2 virus

After screening more than 3,500 FDA-approved drugs and small molecules, researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences found that ceftazidime, an antibiotic approved for use in treating pneumonia, binds to the receptors that the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) binds to in human cells.

17 Sep 2020

Researchers develop new strategy to mimic heart-regenerating effects of cardiac cell transplants

Ling Gao and colleagues have developed a strategy that uses exosomes - tiny membrane-bound sacs secreted by cells - to mimic the heart-regenerating effects of cardiac cell transplants, while potentially avoiding risks associated with whole-cell transplants.

17 Sep 2020

A ferry protein in the pancreas safeguards beta-cells from high-fat diet induced stress

Every time we eat, the glucose level in our body goes up. This spurs our pancreatic machinery into action and through intricate physiological mechanisms, appropriate amounts of insulin are produced, our blood glucose levels are controlled, and we remain healthy.

16 Sep 2020

Researchers uncover how vitamin E acetate might cause lung injury in vapers

E-cigarette, or vaping, associated lung injury (EVALI) has sickened thousands of people, most under the age of 35.

16 Sep 2020

SARS-CoV-2 with D614G mutation is prevalent in central India

A team of scientists at the Defence Research and Development Establishment, India, reveals that there are multiple viral introduction events in central India, and SARS-CoV-2 with D614G mutation is the prevalently circulating strain.

16 Sep 2020

New mechanism could explain how immune cancer cells migrate in various fluid-filled niches

Human white blood cells, known as leukocytes, swim using a newly described mechanism called molecular paddling, researchers report in the September 15th issue of Biophysical Journal.

16 Sep 2020

SARS-CoV-2 infection severity linked to superior humoral immunity against the S-protein

In a recent bioRxiv* preprint paper, Jenna J. Guthmiller et al., focus on the acute infection of SARS-CoV-2 and observe that the humoral immunity is distinctive with the infection stage and viral antigens.

16 Sep 2020

SARS-CoV-2 N protein forms biomolecular condensates with viral RNA

Now, a study by researchers from the University of California has shown that the N protein forms biomolecular condensates with the viral RNA in both in vitro and in vivo studies. The research titled, ‘SARS CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein forms condensates with viral genomic RNA’, was published on the preprint server bioRxiv on September 14th, 2020.

15 Sep 2020

New nanomedicine is efficient and less aggressive than conventional prostate cancer therapy

Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer among European men; its incidence surpasses 100 cases per 100,000 people.

15 Sep 2020

Scientists unravel the molecular mechanism underlying the causes of colorectal cancer

A team of scientists has unraveled the molecular mechanism behind one of the causes of colorectal cancer, and a treatment target.

15 Sep 2020

Computational models screen for coronaviruses likely to infect humans

The researchers from Rochester Institute of Technology and the Hauptmann-Woodward Medical Research Institute produced models of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) found on outbreak strains of betacoronaviruses and its interaction with the host cell receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2).

14 Sep 2020

TRESK regulates the brain's circadian clock to differentiate behavior between day and night

Research from the University of Kent has found that TRESK, a calcium regulated two-pore potassium channel, regulates the brain's central circadian clock to differentiate behavior between day and night.

14 Sep 2020

Single-molecule imaging of SARS-CoV-2 spikes on virus particles

Using single-molecule FRET analysis, a team of researchers has revealed how the different conformations of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein are interconnected. Figuring out the different conformations in real-time and which conformations antibodies prefer may help design effective vaccines and drugs. The research is published on the preprint server bioRxiv*.

14 Sep 2020

Antiviral effects of honeysuckle decoction affected in SIDT1poly population

Previously, Chen-Yu Zhang's group have identified SID1 transmembrane family member 1 (SIDT1) as a critical membrane protein mediating dietary miRNAs absorption, which is abolished in SIDT1 deficient mice.

11 Sep 2020

New, rapid test detects ovarian cancer more accurately

The CA125 antigen, a plasma membrane glycoprotein found in the tissues of the female reproductive tract, is commonly used for the detection of ovarian cancer but works poorly on its own in identifying early stage cancers.

11 Sep 2020

Effective, simple, safe self-amplifying RNA vaccines

A recent review paper in the journal Current Opinion in Virology in September 2020 shows how a new generation of RNA vaccines called self-amplifying RNA vaccines are more potent than conventional mRNA vaccines and could hold the key to the global production of cost-effective potent COVID-19 vaccines.

11 Sep 2020

Scientists develop method for producing anti-inflammatory substances with controlled quality

Anti-inflammatory substances based on components of human cells could one day improve treatment in patients. Researchers at the Institute of Pharmacy at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) have developed a method for producing those substances with controlled quality.

10 Sep 2020

Membrane News and Research

Study sheds new light on the mechanism of COVID-19 infection

Engineered, high-affinity ACE2 receptors neutralize SARS-CoV-2

Flexibility of glycosylated membrane-bound ACE2 suggests mechanical energy source in opening of SARS-CoV-2 spike

Ceftazidime flagged as a potential inhibitor of the SARS-COV-2 virus

Researchers develop new strategy to mimic heart-regenerating effects of cardiac cell transplants

A ferry protein in the pancreas safeguards beta-cells from high-fat diet induced stress

Researchers uncover how vitamin E acetate might cause lung injury in vapers

SARS-CoV-2 with D614G mutation is prevalent in central India

New mechanism could explain how immune cancer cells migrate in various fluid-filled niches

SARS-CoV-2 infection severity linked to superior humoral immunity against the S-protein

SARS-CoV-2 N protein forms biomolecular condensates with viral RNA

New nanomedicine is efficient and less aggressive than conventional prostate cancer therapy

Scientists unravel the molecular mechanism underlying the causes of colorectal cancer

Computational models screen for coronaviruses likely to infect humans

TRESK regulates the brain's circadian clock to differentiate behavior between day and night

Single-molecule imaging of SARS-CoV-2 spikes on virus particles

Antiviral effects of honeysuckle decoction affected in SIDT1poly population

New, rapid test detects ovarian cancer more accurately

Effective, simple, safe self-amplifying RNA vaccines

Scientists develop method for producing anti-inflammatory substances with controlled quality

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