Ribonucleic Acid News and Research

RSS

Scientists reveal how RNA could have replicated on early earth

Chemists at UCL and the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology have demonstrated how RNA (ribonucleic acid) might have replicated itself on early Earth – a key process in the origin of life.

28 May 2025

Experts explain how H5 avian influenza adapts to infect more animals

The Gs/Gd lineage of highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza viruses—including H5N1—has rapidly evolved, spreading globally and infecting a growing range of birds, mammals, and occasionally humans. This review highlights the expanding risks, the challenges of cross-species transmission, and urgent needs for surveillance, vaccination, and a unified One Health response.

25 May 2025

Personalized gene editing corrects fatal infant metabolic disorder in world-first treatment

Researchers have used a personalised base-editing gene therapy to successfully treat an infant with carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 1 (CPS1) deficiency, a rare and life-threatening inborn error of metabolism. This pioneering approach chemically corrects the underlying mutation without cutting DNA, showing promise for precision treatment of ultrarare genetic disorders.

20 May 2025

What makes H5N1 a pandemic risk and how can we stop it?

A new PEARLS article in PLoS Pathogens reviews the rapid evolution and pandemic potential of emerging influenza A viruses, with a focus on H5N1. It highlights scientific advances and future strategies to outpace the virus, from next-generation vaccines to AI-driven antiviral discovery.

19 May 2025

Eating only wild foods reshapes your gut microbiome in just weeks, study shows

A new study shows that an eight-week wild-food-only diet in a modern adult leads to dramatic, partially lasting changes in the gut microbiome’s composition and function. While no “ancestral” microbes reappeared, the shift increased fiber-degrading species and reduced dairy-associated bacteria, highlighting the powerful role of diet.

14 May 2025

Scientists link specific gene variants to post-vaccine myocarditis and pericarditis

A genome-wide association study in Sweden identified rare genetic variants near the SCAF11 and LRRC4C genes that may be linked to heart inflammation following COVID-19 mRNA vaccination. The findings shed light on potential biological pathways driving vaccine-associated myocarditis and pericarditis, particularly among younger individuals.

11 May 2025

MicroRNA breakthrough offers hope for dental bone regeneration

Dental caries, or tooth decay, is a common oral health condition that often causes significant pain and discomfort and may even lead to tooth loss.

8 May 2025

Scientists build world's most accessible gut bacteria collection to unlock health and disease clues

Researchers have developed the Human Intestinal Bacteria Collection (HiBC), comprising 340 gut bacterial strains from 198 species, including 29 newly described taxa, made publicly available for functional microbiome research.

7 May 2025

Nasal protein levels may predict COVID-19 risk

Higher nasal expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 proteins can predict future SARS-CoV-2 infection.

16 Apr 2025

AI-driven personalized nutrition shows promise in improving gut health

Researchers examine the impact of AI-based personalized nutrition programs on the gut microbiome of healthy individuals.

10 Apr 2025

High-fat diet fuels cancer spread via rogue platelets

Researchers explore the role of a high-fat diet in promoting the formation of premetastatic niches and platelet activation.

7 Apr 2025

Mpox virus poses rising global epidemic and pandemic threat

Insufficient research on mpox hinders effective control strategies, emphasizing the need to understand its transmission and immune response mechanisms.

7 Apr 2025

Flavonoids help regulate gut hormones and show promise in managing type 2 diabetes

Flavonoids show promise in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus by targeting the enteroendocrine system and regulating key gut hormones. They enhance insulin sensitivity, reduce oxidative stress, and influence appetite, glucose uptake, and hormone secretion.

26 Mar 2025