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Researchers investigate immune molecule that helps protect transplanted kidneys

Looking to improve organ transplant success, researchers are working to learn more about how an immune molecule, which also protects a fetus, helps protect some transplanted kidneys, and to develop a synthetic version of that molecule that could help more patients.

18 May 2021

Nanopore analysis identifies pseudouridine modifications in SARS-CoV-2

In a paper recently uploaded to the preprint server bioRxiv* by Fleming, Mathewson & Burrows (May 10th, 2021), nanopore devices are developed that allow identification of the passage of pseudouridine through a protein sensor. This further allowed the group to identify five conserved pseudouridine sites on the 3’ end of SARS-CoV-2 sub-genomic RNAs, which could potentially be beneficial to the virus in immune evasion.

17 May 2021

Researchers identify new compound that may prevent cardiac arrhythmia risk from common drugs

Dozens of commonly used drugs, including antibiotics, antinausea and anticancer medications, have a potential side effect of lengthening the electrical event that triggers contraction, creating an irregular heartbeat, or cardiac arrhythmia called acquired Long QT syndrome.

14 May 2021

A SARS-CoV-2 ferritin nanoparticle vaccine elicits broad immunity

In a recent bioRxiv* preprint research paper, M. Gordon Joyce et al. designed engineered nanoparticle immunogens that recapitulate the structural and antigenic properties of prefusion Spike (S), S1 and receptor-binding domain (RBD). They demonstrated that these immunogens induced robust S-binding, ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme)-inhibition, and authentic and pseudovirus neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in mice.

13 May 2021

Phosphatidic acid is a key common substrate for hepatitis C and SARS-CoV-2 replication

A new study, released as a preprint on the bioRxiv* server, focuses on the lipid molecule called phosphatidic acid (PA), showing its crucial role in the replication of this virus, and thus its potential as a target for therapeutic intervention.

13 May 2021

Research provides new insight into anesthesia-associated tau spreading in the brain

During the development and progression of Alzheimer's disease, a protein called tau accumulates and spreads in the brain.

12 May 2021

New method to efficiently deliver drugs into cells

A new, patented method called Progressive Mechanoporation makes it possible to mechanically disrupt the membranes of cells for a short time period and let drugs or genes inside cells.

12 May 2021

Simple sugar could play a key role in the development of progressive MS

Multiple sclerosis, or MS for short, manifests itself slightly differently in each person - which is why some call it "the disease of a thousand faces."

12 May 2021

New class of anti-cancer compounds effectively kills liver and breast cancer cells

A team of Oregon State University scientists has discovered a new class of anti-cancer compounds that effectively kill liver and breast cancer cells.

12 May 2021

Cerebral organoids provide new insight into role of key enzyme in natural brain development

Like many around the world, the lab of Professor Mriganka Sur in The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory at MIT has embraced the young technology of cerebral organoids, or "minibrains," for studying human brain development in health and disease.

11 May 2021

New approach targeting viral RNA could lead to broad spectrum anti-viral drugs

A new approach to tackling viruses by targeting the 'control center' in viral RNA could lead to broad spectrum anti-viral drugs and provide a first line of defense against future pandemics, according to new research at the University of Birmingham.

11 May 2021

Natural products a rich source for novel antiviral compounds

In a recent review in the journal Viruses, researchers look at natural products that can be identified as potential alternative antiviral agents. The reviewers discussed the antiviral activities of several natural products towards DNA and RNA viruses with an analytical approach. The researchers detailed the cellular/viral targets of the active molecules and their impact on the infection and viral replication cycle.

10 May 2021

Key protein helps bacteria that causes Legionnaires' disease to set up house in host cells

Scientists at UT Southwestern have discovered a key protein that helps the bacteria that causes Legionnaires' disease to set up house in the cells of humans and other hosts.

10 May 2021

Researchers study how cancer cells re-organize 3D structure of DNA to ramp up oncogene activity

In cancer, a lot of biology goes awry: Genes mutate, molecular processes change dramatically, and cells proliferate uncontrollably to form entirely new tissues that we call tumors.

10 May 2021

New vaccine shows potential to protect from a variety of coronavirus infections

A potential new vaccine developed by members of the Duke Human Vaccine Institute has proven effective in protecting monkeys and mice from a variety of coronavirus infections -- including SARS-CoV-2 as well as the original SARS-CoV-1 and related bat coronaviruses that could potentially cause the next pandemic.

10 May 2021

Researchers improve method to inhibit viruses that cause childhood respiratory infections

By engineering a short chunk of protein, or peptide, that can prevent the attachment of human parainfluenza viruses to cells, researchers have improved a method in rodent models intended to help keep children healthy.

10 May 2021

SARS-CoV-2 main protease conformations are temperature-dependent

New research led by Daniel A Keedy of City University of New York, USA, shows the structure of the main protease (Mpro) of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the causative pathogen of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) – reacts to being heated and cooled. The temperature-dependent conformations could act as potential therapeutic targets to neutralize the virus.

9 May 2021

Compound from tropical ginger plant can help in the treatment of inflammatory diseases

Many natural compounds have various anti-inflammatory and other beneficial properties that humans have been utilizing for medicinal purposes for hundreds of years.

7 May 2021

Researchers report encouraging results from experimental antiviral targeting Marburg virus

The Marburg virus, a relative of the Ebola virus, causes a serious, often-fatal hemorrhagic fever. Transmitted by the African fruit bat and by direct human-to-human contact, Marburg virus disease currently has no approved vaccine or antivirals to prevent or treat it.

7 May 2021

Researchers discover new binding sites for active agents on cell cytoskeleton

Through a unique combination of computer simulations and laboratory experiments, researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have discovered new binding sites for active agents - against cancer, for example - on a vital protein of the cell cytoskeleton. Eleven of the sites hadn't been known before. The study appears today in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition.

7 May 2021

Molecule News and Research

Researchers investigate immune molecule that helps protect transplanted kidneys

Nanopore analysis identifies pseudouridine modifications in SARS-CoV-2

Researchers identify new compound that may prevent cardiac arrhythmia risk from common drugs

A SARS-CoV-2 ferritin nanoparticle vaccine elicits broad immunity

Phosphatidic acid is a key common substrate for hepatitis C and SARS-CoV-2 replication

Research provides new insight into anesthesia-associated tau spreading in the brain

New method to efficiently deliver drugs into cells

Simple sugar could play a key role in the development of progressive MS

New class of anti-cancer compounds effectively kills liver and breast cancer cells

Cerebral organoids provide new insight into role of key enzyme in natural brain development

New approach targeting viral RNA could lead to broad spectrum anti-viral drugs

Natural products a rich source for novel antiviral compounds

Key protein helps bacteria that causes Legionnaires' disease to set up house in host cells

Researchers study how cancer cells re-organize 3D structure of DNA to ramp up oncogene activity

New vaccine shows potential to protect from a variety of coronavirus infections

Researchers improve method to inhibit viruses that cause childhood respiratory infections

SARS-CoV-2 main protease conformations are temperature-dependent

Compound from tropical ginger plant can help in the treatment of inflammatory diseases

Researchers report encouraging results from experimental antiviral targeting Marburg virus

Researchers discover new binding sites for active agents on cell cytoskeleton

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

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