Electron Microscopy News and Research

RSS

Cryo-EM microscopy uncovers structure of bacteria behind gum disease

Periodontal (gum) disease is one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide, caused by the bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis). In Japan alone, approximately 80% of adults over 30 years old are affected or considered at risk.

30 Jun 2026

Researchers map structural changes of viruses during the dehydration process

Abhishek Mall from the Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter in Hamburg (MPSD) and his colleagues explored the structural dynamics of the protein shells - called capsids - that enclose the genetic material of viruses.

30 Jun 2026

Scientists capture atomic images to improve RNA interference drug design

RNA interference is a natural mechanism for living cells to control whether specific genes are being used or not.

29 Jun 2026

Cone opsin structures offer insights into vision loss

The retina of the human eye contains six to seven million cone cells. These cells contain light-sensitive proteins known as cone opsins.

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

Duke researchers discover molecules that target vital cell signaling proteins

To function normally, nearly every cell in the human body relies on G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) to receive and send signals. That's why GPCRs are targeted by roughly one-third of all FDA‑approved drugs.

24 Jun 2026

Zebrafish model unlocks new insights into hereditary brain disease

CADASIL, an inherited disease caused by mutations in the NOTCH3 gene, damages the brain’s small blood vessels, leading to strokes, cognitive decline, and early dementia.

24 Jun 2026

Advanced chip-based sensor identifies traumatic brain injury markers

Researchers have developed a chip-based metasurface biosensor that can detect traumatic brain injury (TBI) biomarkers at extremely low levels.

23 Jun 2026

Scientists design artificial protein structures using advanced AI tools

An international research team led by a Korean scientist has succeeded in designing large-scale protein structures that faithfully replicate the self-assembly principles found in naturally occurring viruses, using artificial intelligence (AI).

18 Jun 2026

WashU study identifies shared target for a new diarrhea vaccine

The bacteria enterotoxigenic E. coli and Shigella together cause hundreds of millions of infections each year and are among the leading causes of diarrheal death, especially in children.

17 Jun 2026

Age-related muscle loss linked to increased tumor growth

Duke-NUS scientists have discovered that aging muscle may contribute to cancer growth by releasing fewer extracellular vesicles, tiny particles that cells use to communicate with one another.

16 Jun 2026

Laser phase plate dramatically expands cryo-EM imaging capabilities

In a landmark achievement in biological imaging, researchers at the University of California, Berkeley and Biohub today announced the successful demonstration of the laser phase plate, a novel device that dramatically improves the contrast of images produced by cryo-electron microscopes, opening up an entirely new view of human biology.

11 Jun 2026

Structure of the Argonaute maturation complex guides RNA therapeutic design

RNA therapeutics have emerged as one of the most promising new classes of medicines. Eight small interfering RNA (siRNA) drugs have already been approved worldwide for the treatment of genetic diseases, yet scientists have not fully understood one of the most fundamental steps underlying their function: how Argonaute, the core protein responsible for gene silencing, becomes activated.

11 Jun 2026

Realistic cellular conditions revive previously dismissed drug candidates

A drug once dismissed as ineffective suddenly worked - when scientists tested it under more realistic conditions that mimic the human body.

9 Jun 2026

How dysregulated collagen IV homeostasis causes cerebral microbleeds

Millions of older adults have tiny brain hemorrhages called cerebral microbleeds, which are strongly associated with dementia, cognitive decline, and stroke.

2 Jun 2026

Understanding mitochondrial biology in alcohol-associated liver disease and cancer

For decades, giant mitochondria-known as megamitochondria-have been recognized in liver biopsies from patients with alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD).

1 Jun 2026

Experimental vaccine triggers broadly neutralizing HIV antibodies in macaques

For years, researchers have been hoping for vaccines that protect people against not just one strain of HIV, but every strain of the quickly mutating virus.

28 May 2026

Scientists uncover how two proteins essential for immune cell development work together

Researchers at VIB, Ghent University, and VUB have uncovered how two proteins essential for immune cell development work together at the molecular level.

27 May 2026

Ohio State study unlocks the long-standing mystery of RNA interference

While scientists have known for over two decades that all cells use a strategy called RNA interference to regulate gene expression, a new study is the first to describe how a specific protein manages the step-by-step process of assembling the molecular complex that performs the regulatory job.

26 May 2026

Silica nanoparticles dampen early allergy signals in mouse mast cells

This in vitro study found that negatively charged SiO2 nanoparticles suppressed antigen-induced degranulation and activation-marker changes in IgE-sensitized mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells. By contrast, mTiO2 nanoparticles showed cytotoxic and pro-inflammatory effects, including enhanced DNP-induced IL-6 release, suggesting nanoparticle composition can shape early allergic immune responses.

24 May 2026