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Chromatin-regulating enzyme found to be a key driver of common lung cancer

A chromatin-regulating enzyme has been shown by in-depth interdisciplinary investigations to be a key driver of a common type of lung cancer. Drugs that target the enzyme could improve treatment and survival rates for this particular cancer.

15 Mar 2021

Researchers identify epigenetic mechanism responsible for lifelong stress susceptibility

An epigenetic modification that occurs in a major cell type in the brain's reward circuitry controls how stress early in life increases susceptibility to additional stress in adulthood, researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have learned.

15 Mar 2021

Empiric Logic collaborates with UCD to develop novel genomics data protection methodology

Empiric Logic, an Irish bioinformatics SaaS (software-as-a-service) start-up, today announced that is has secured €85,000 in grant funding, under Enterprise Ireland's Innovation Partnership Programme, to develop a novel genomics data protection methodology in collaboration with University College Dublin.

15 Mar 2021

New cancer immunotherapy uses engineered T cells to target a common genetic alteration

Researchers developed a prototype for a new cancer immunotherapy that uses engineered T cells to target a genetic alteration common among all cancers.

15 Mar 2021

Scientists discover how novel pathogens promote colorectal cancer development

Do BMMFs, the novel infectious agents found in dairy products and bovine sera, play a role in the development of colorectal cancer? Scientists led by Harald zur Hausen detected the pathogens in colorectal cancer patients in close proximity to tumors.

15 Mar 2021

MGH researchers uncover new clues about X chromosome inactivation

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have uncovered new clues that add to the growing understanding of how female mammals, including humans, "silence" one X chromosome.

15 Mar 2021

SARS-CoV-2 UK variant could be more lethal than others

A new study has assessed the mortality risk of patients infected with the newly emerged UK variant (Lineage B.1.1.7) of SARS-CoV-2. The findings reveal that compared to the previously circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants, the UK variant significantly increases the risk of mortality in a relatively low-risk community population.

15 Mar 2021

Which biomarkers can help predict severe COVID-19?

The ability to detect potentially fatal illness early on in the course of the disease would enable a swift prioritization of these high-risk individuals for treatment. A new preprint on the medRxiv* server presents an array of biomarkers that may help achieve this laudable goal.

15 Mar 2021

Genome-wide CRISPR screening used to identify factors essential for SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans

In a methodologically trailblazing paper published in the journal Nature Genetics, a team of Belgian scientists uncovered an assembly of coronavirus host factors that may be exploited to develop drugs against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), but also potentially forthcoming zoonotic coronaviruses.

14 Mar 2021

Le Bonheur and UTHSC sign agreement to obtain genetic information from 25,000 DNA samples

As research into genetic causes of disease began to grow, Le Bonheur Pediatrician-in- Chief Jon McCullers, MD, knew it was time to start building a pediatric DNA biorepository.

13 Mar 2021

Random cellular changes play vital role in longevity beyond genetics and environment

A new model of aging takes into account not only genetics and environmental exposures but also the tiny changes that randomly arise at the cellular level.

13 Mar 2021

Research provides a new cornerstone of malaria's evolution with humans

New bioarchaeological research shows malaria has threatened human communities for more than 7000 years, earlier than when the onset of farming was thought to have sparked its devastating arrival.

13 Mar 2021

Cancer cells may dodge chemotherapy by going into 'active hibernation'

Cancer cells can dodge chemotherapy by entering a state that bears similarity to certain kinds of senescence, a type of "active hibernation" that enables them to weather the stress induced by aggressive treatments aimed at destroying them, according to a new study by scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine.

13 Mar 2021

SARS-CoV-2 did not change much when it jumped from bats to human hosts

How much did SARS-CoV-2 need to change in order to adapt to its new human host? In a research article published in the open access journal PLOS Biology Oscar MacLean, Spyros Lytras at the University of Glasgow, and colleagues, show that since December 2019 and for the first 11 months of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic there has been very little 'important' genetic change observed in the hundreds of thousands of sequenced virus genomes.

13 Mar 2021

An overview of the BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine by Pfizer-BioNTech

In a study published in the journal Drugs, a researcher tackled the approval of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine, which has now been used in many countries.

12 Mar 2021

Study identifies three novel binding receptors for SARS-CoV-2

A team of scientists from the United Kingdom recently conducted a large-scale screening of several membrane-bound and soluble host cell receptors to identify novel binding partners for SARS-CoV-2. They have identified three novel receptors expressed on the human cell membrane; of which, one binds to SARS-CoV-2 spike with similar affinity as angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2).

12 Mar 2021

Impact of type I interferon (IFN) autoantibodies in critical COVID-19

A new preprint discusses the pathogenesis of this critical COVID-19 with reference to autoimmune phenomena involving the key antiviral type I interferon pathway.

12 Mar 2021

New book explains concept and knowledge maps about biochemical compounds

Mind Maps in Biochemistry presents a series of concept and knowledge maps about biochemical compounds, systems and techniques.

12 Mar 2021

Optimized nano-micelles can induce efficient genome editing in the mouse brain

The research group of Deputy Principal Research Scientist Dr. Satoshi Uchida (Associate Professor, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine) at the Innovation Center of NanoMedicine (Director General: Prof. Kazunori Kataoka, Location: Kawasaki-Japan, Abbreviation: iCONM) reported that optimized nano-micelles can induce efficient genome editing in the mouse brain.

12 Mar 2021

Deforestation in the Amazon increases diversity of antibiotic-resistant bacteria

In Brazil, a study conducted by researchers affiliated with the University of São Paulo (USP) and collaborators showed that deforestation in the Amazon causes an increase in the diversity of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

12 Mar 2021