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DNA scavengers break down antibiotic-resistant genes

For nearly a century, scientists have waged war on antibiotic-resistant microbes. Michigan State University researchers say they've found a new way to prevent it – by unleashing "DNA scavengers" in wastewater treatment plants.

22 Aug 2024

mRNA therapy shows promise for maple syrup urine disease

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Gene Therapy Program, and Moderna, have shown that repeated administration of lipid nanoparticle-encapsulated mRNA therapy significantly extended survival and reduced serum leucine levels in a mouse model of maple syrup urine disease (MSUD).

22 Aug 2024

The surprising role of RNA in immune interactions

In a groundbreaking exploration of cell surface biology, Ryan Flynn has uncovered a surprising role for RNA outside the confines of the cell. Flynn's research, which focuses on the biology of cell surface RNA, led to the discovery that certain RNAs are chemically linked to glycans - complex carbohydrate polymers found on the cell surface.

22 Aug 2024

The critical role of PGK1 in Parkinson's disease

An enzyme called PGK1 has an unexpectedly critical role in the production of chemical energy in brain cells, according to a preclinical study led by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine. The investigators found that boosting its activity may help the brain resist the energy deficits that can lead to Parkinson's disease.

21 Aug 2024

Aceneuramic acid drug receives approval for treatment of patients with GNE myopathy

In order to treat an underserved population of patients with a rare condition whose muscles gradually become weaker until they can no longer walk, a team of researchers across Japan have completed a clinical study to confirm the safety of long-term administration of a therapeutic drug.

20 Aug 2024

Study uncovers oleic acid's role in restoring vaginal microbial balance in bacterial vaginosis

More than half of women globally experience bacterial vaginosis (BV) - an imbalance of naturally occurring microbes in the female genital tract - at least once in their life.

19 Aug 2024

Study reveals how avian flu adapts to mammalian cells

In recent years, public health measures, surveillance, and vaccination have helped bring about significant progress in reducing the impact of seasonal flu epidemics, caused by human influenza viruses A and B.

19 Aug 2024

Lexogen Launches RiboCop rRNA Depletion Kit for Fish Species

Lexogen, a leader in RNA sequencing technologies, is thrilled to announce the launch of the RiboCop rRNA Depletion Kit for Fish, a dedicated solution to facilitate transcriptome analysis of fish species by effectively removing unwanted ribosomal RNA (rRNA) from total RNA samples.

From Lexogen 19 Aug 2024

New insights into COVID-19 spike protein offer hope for universal vaccines

A team led by Jose Onuchic at Rice University and Paul Whitford at Northeastern University, both researchers at the National Science Foundation Physics Frontiers Center at the Center for Theoretical Biological Physics (CTBP) at Rice, has made a discovery in the fight against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus responsible for COVID-19.

16 Aug 2024

Study reveals new insights into urea cycle's role in fatty liver disease

An Indiana University School of Medicine physician scientist is making strides in understanding the molecular origins of fatty liver disease, a leading cause of liver failure in the United States.

16 Aug 2024

Uncovering the mechanisms behind bacterial cell shape and potential antibiotic targets

In what they labeled a "surprising" finding, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers studying bacteria from freshwater lakes and soil say they have determined a protein's essential role in maintaining the germ's shape.

16 Aug 2024

IU research sheds light on urea cycle defects and fatty liver disease

An Indiana University School of Medicine physician scientist is making strides in understanding the molecular origins of fatty liver disease, a leading cause of liver failure in the United States.

13 Aug 2024

Study reveals role of parvalbumin neurons in deep rebound sleep after sleep deprivation

Professor Hiroki R. Ueda (RIKEN Center for Functional Biology, concurrently team lead), Dr. Kazuhiro Kon (at the time of the research, currently a postdoctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins University) and their colleagues at Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, have elucidated the importance of proper regulation of the activity of parvalbumin (PV)-expressing neurons, the major inhibitory neurons in the cerebral cortex, in the long, deep sleep (rebound sleep) that occurs after prolonged wakefulness.

13 Aug 2024

Researchers develop new method to study critical type of protein modification process

Human proteins undergo a variety of chemical modifications following their synthesis. These modifications regulate their structure, function, and stability.

12 Aug 2024

New research identifies key protein complex in cellular quality control

Anyone who's tried to neatly gather a fitted sheet can tell you: folding is hard. Get it wrong with your laundry and the result can be a crumpled, wrinkled mess of fabric, but when folding fails among the approximately 7,000 proteins with an origami-like complexity that regulate essential cellular functions, the result can lead to one of a multitude of serious diseases ranging from emphysema and cystic fibrosis to Alzheimer's disease.

12 Aug 2024