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Scientists discover biological barrier that keeps cancer at bay

Activins are proteins involved in a number of important biological functions, including the regulation of the menstrual cycle, cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, metabolism, homeostasis, immune response, wound repair, and endocrine function.

6 May 2019

Study describes new viral molecular evasion mechanism used by cytomegalovirus

A study published in the journal PLOS Pathogens describes a new viral molecular evasion mechanism used by cytomegalovirus to interfere in the immune response of the infected host.

30 Apr 2019

Researchers define role of rare, influential cells in the bone marrow

Researchers have defined the roles of various cells in the bone marrow that are thought to control the fate of the nearly half million blood cells that develop there each day.

23 Apr 2019

Scientists develop technique to clear abnormal tau protein from human neurons

Harnessing a probe used to image the brain in diagnosing Alzheimer's disease and related forms of dementia, scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Massachusetts General Hospital have successfully cleared patient-derived brain cells of an abnormal protein associated with dementia and other neurogenerative disorders.

10 Apr 2019

UTMB receives grant to combat highly-lethal hemorrhagic fever viruses

The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Profectus Biosciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Mapp Biopharmaceutical and Genevant Sciences Corp. have been awarded up to $35 million to advance the development of rapid-acting vaccines and broad-spectrum treatments of the highly-lethal hemorrhagic fever viruses Ebola and Marburg.

9 Apr 2019

Study evaluates effects of unpaired 1 gene overexpression on lifespan in flies

Alexey Moskalev, Ph.D., Head of the Laboratory of Geroprotective and Radioprotective technologies, and co-authors from the Institute of biology of Komi Science Center of RAS announce the publication of a scientific article titled "Effects of unpaired 1 gene overexpression on the lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster" in BMC Systems Biology - an open access journal publishing original peer-reviewed research articles in experimental and theoretical aspects of the function of biological systems at the molecular, cellular or organismal level.

4 Apr 2019

Researchers synthesize nanocluster made of 32 gold atoms

Researchers have synthesized a tiny structure from 32 gold atoms.

2 Apr 2019

Binding affinities of PFASs to Baikal seal PPARα revealed using in vitro and in silico approaches

A team of researchers at Ehime University revealed the binding affinities of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) to Baikal seal peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) using in vitro and in silico approaches.

30 Mar 2019

Radiolabeled protein lights up tumor to reveal where cancer drugs are working

Experimenting with mice, Johns Hopkins researchers report they have successfully used positron emission tomography scans to calculate in real time how much of an immunotherapy drug reaches a tumor and what parts of a cancer remain unaffected.

28 Mar 2019

Researchers unravel biomechanics of Ebola virus-host cell adhesion

It was recently reported that the number of Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo has surpassed 1,000, making it the second-worst outbreak in history after the 2014 outbreak in West Africa in which 29,000 people were infected and more than 11,000 died.

27 Mar 2019

Latest advances and perspectives of all AI types used in pharmaceutical R&D

The advances in Artificial intelligence have successfully propagated into the many areas such as computer vision, speech recognition, and natural language processing.

19 Mar 2019

Preclinical data shows combination immunotherapy could suppress tumor growth in the liver

Even as overall cancer incidence and mortality decrease in the United States, the number of people diagnosed with liver cancer is on the rise.

14 Mar 2019

Study suggests new approach to ameliorating obesity-associated metabolic abnormalities

The search by scientists to find ways to combat obesity continues. Recently, investigators have been exploring whether they can engage the lymphatic system to help regulate obesity-induced inflammation of fat (adipose) tissue and restore systemic metabolic fitness.

14 Mar 2019

New strategy may alleviate motor disorders in Parkinson's patients

Scientists of the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the University Medical Center Goettingen have been able to alleviate motor disorders in mice that resemble those seen in Parkinson's patients.

28 Feb 2019

Castration-resistant metastatic prostate cancer responds to combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors

Some patients with metastatic prostate cancer respond to a combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors after hormonal therapy and chemotherapy have failed, according to early results from a clinical trial led by investigators at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center presented today at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary Cancers Symposium in San Francisco.

15 Feb 2019

Immune checkpoint molecule protects against future development of cancer

A research team at the University of Louisville has discovered that an immune checkpoint molecule they developed for cancer immunotherapy, also protects against future development of multiple types of cancer when administered by itself.

15 Feb 2019

Novel approach uses small amounts of tissue to quantify PD-L1 expression levels in tumors

Immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as the anti-PD-1 antibody pembrolizumab, have become important tools for managing non-small-cell lung cancer.

14 Feb 2019

Newly discovered molecules show potential to treat obesity and fatty liver disease

Amiram Goldblum and his team at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Institute for Drug Research have discovered 27 new molecules. These molecules all activate a special protein called PPAR-delta and have the potential to treat fatty liver disease, obesity, diabetic nephrotoxicity, and to heal wounds.

31 Jan 2019

Researchers create synthetic growth factor that offers comparable biological response

Growth factors are ligands that play important roles in the body - they are responsible for tissue regeneration, wound healing, and the maintenance and growth of cells.

28 Jan 2019

Scientists use integrative approach to study how COQ9 binds and interacts with lipids

The synthesis and transport of biological lipids across the mostly water-filled interior of the cell is a longstanding problem in biology.