Amino Acid News and Research

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Amino Acid is one of several molecules that join together to form proteins. There are 20 common amino acids found in proteins.

Gut microbial metabolites may shape vulnerability to stress-related mental disorders

Gut microbiome-derived metabolites may influence stress-related mental disorders through neural, immune, endocrine, and epigenetic pathways. Evidence is strongest for depression and preclinical models, while larger longitudinal human studies are needed to establish causality and clinical value.

20 Jul 2026

Study links gut microbes to stronger cancer immunotherapy responses

A new study from a team including University of Nebraska–Lincoln researchers is the first to show metabolites produced by certain bacteria in the gut can positively impact the body's immune response to cancer.

14 Jul 2026

Distinct gut microbiome signatures identify frailty in older women

Research reveals gut microbiome signatures linked to frailty in older women, highlighting microbial changes associated with mortality and physical decline.

13 Jul 2026

Scientists discover molecular mechanism behind anesthesia-induced unconsciousness

Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine and Birkbeck, University of London, have identified a site where a commonly used anesthetic binds to sodium ion channels, revealing a molecular mechanism that may explain how these drugs dampen communication between neurons.

9 Jul 2026

Researchers uncover unexpected bacterial strategy for surviving antibiotic stress

Escherichia coli (E. coli) are mostly harmless bacteria that live in the intestines of animals and humans. They are the most well-studied bacteria and, often, when scientists discover something about E. coli, they extrapolate that discovery across all bacteria.

3 Jul 2026

Dutch study shows why plant-based eating can miss key nutrients

A Dutch dietary modeling study found that replacing major animal-based protein sources with plant-based substitutes reduced protein, EAA, vitamin, and mineral intake across age groups. Older adults, adolescents, children, and women were especially vulnerable to shortfalls, highlighting the need for planned substitutions, fortified foods, and age-specific dietary guidance.

3 Jul 2026

Plant-based diets offer heart benefits but may require supplements

A study reveals unsupplemented vegan diets in Northeast China lead to micronutrient deficiencies, despite benefits for body composition and cholesterol levels.

2 Jul 2026

Reversing macrophage metabolism may improve cancer immunotherapy outcomes

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are among the most abundant immune cells in the tumor microenvironment.

1 Jul 2026

Fatty liver disease fuels aggressive metastatic colorectal cancer spread

Researchers at VIB and KU Leuven, with international partners, have uncovered how fatty liver disease can fuel the most aggressive form of metastatic colorectal cancer.

1 Jul 2026

Scientists map how chronic stress alters somatostatin levels in the brain

Consider the brake. Not the engine, which gets all the attention, but the brake, the quiet thing that decides how fast a system is allowed to go.

1 Jul 2026

New bacterial enzyme blueprint could accelerate cancer treatment development

A team of researchers at the University of Warwick and Monash University has solved a puzzle that's stumped drug developers for decades: how bacteria naturally create multiple versions of powerful cancer therapies.

1 Jul 2026

Blood metabolism maps how lifestyle tracks function in cognitive aging

A new study used pathway-level blood metabolomics to identify lifestyle-associated metabolic patterns linked to physical, cognitive, and daily functional performance across CN, MCI, and AD. The findings suggest that diet- and activity-linked pathway signals span energy, amino acid, lipid, inflammatory, oxidative stress, and microbiome-related metabolism, but require independent and longitudinal validation.

29 Jun 2026

Breastfeeding linked to longer sleep duration in one year old infants

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life because of its many proven benefits, including protection against infections and support for healthy long-term development.

26 Jun 2026

Scientists find a universal gut microbiome pattern linked to colorectal cancer

Researchers analyzed 6,779 stool microbiome profiles and 906 tissue samples to identify a colorectal cancer microbial signature that remained consistent across age groups, populations, and sequencing methods. The signature aligned with tumor-resident microbes, showed weaker detection for adenomas, and was inversely associated with dietary fiber intake.

25 Jun 2026

Preoperative HMB supplement improves liver regeneration quality after major surgery

Taking a supplement before a hepatectomy, a surgery in which part of the liver is removed, may help the organ recover more quickly and become more resistant to further damage.

25 Jun 2026

Scientists map genetic changes controlling the immune sensor STING

The immune system depends on molecular alarms that detect danger inside cells. One of these alarms is STING, short for "stimulator of interferon genes".

24 Jun 2026

USC study links modified Mediterranean diet to longer lifespan

A plant- and fish-based, low-protein diet paired with small amounts of an amino acid commonly found in eggs, meat and dairy increased healthy lifespan and decreased frailty and fat mass in mice, according to a new USC study published today in the journal Cell Metabolism.

23 Jun 2026

Synthetic gut communities reveal how diet rewires the microbiome

Synthetic microbial communities give researchers controlled models for testing how diet reshapes gut microbial ecology, metabolism, and host-relevant responses. The review highlights how SynComs can strengthen causal inference, improve intervention testing, and support future precision nutrition, while noting major challenges in stability, standardization, and ecological realism.

21 Jun 2026

Zebrafish study links altered neuronal genes to hyperarousal states

The altered presence of tiny fragments of neuronal genes, called microexons, causes hyperarousal in zebrafish. This is the main conclusion of an international study led by the Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) and the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG).

19 Jun 2026

AI discovers hidden antibiotic candidates inside disease-causing prions

New antibiotic candidates for drug-resistant bacteria may reside inside prions, mis-folded protein in the brain best known for rare and fatal degenerative brain diseases.

19 Jun 2026