Electron Microscopy News and Research

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Inhibiting cancer-promoting prolactin causes unconventional cell death in preclinical research

Under stress from chemotherapy or radiation, some cancer cells dodge death by consuming a bit of themselves, allowing them to essentially sleep through treatment and later awaken as tougher, resistant disease.

4 Apr 2014

New imaging tool provides fresh insight into origins of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease

Researchers at Lancaster University have invented a new imaging tool inspired by the humble sewing machine which is providing fresh insight into the origins of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

2 Apr 2014

Blood-brain barrier following stoke prevents harmful substances entering brain

Following ischemic stroke, the integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which prevents harmful substances such as inflammatory molecules from entering the brain, can be impaired in cerebral areas distant from initial ischemic insult.

27 Mar 2014

NIH awarded five-year grant of up to $28 million to fight deadly Ebola virus

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded a five-year grant of up to $28 million to establish a new center for excellence to find an antibody "cocktail" to fight the deadly Ebola virus.

21 Mar 2014

University of Chicago/ MBL announce first two recipients of Frank R. Lillie Research Innovation Awards

The University of Chicago and the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) today announced the first two recipients of the Frank R. Lillie Research Innovation Awards.

14 Mar 2014

Scientists uncover bacterial secretion system that allows sharing of genetic material between bacteria

The system that allows the sharing of genetic material between bacteria - and therefore the spread of antibiotic resistance - has been uncovered by a team of scientists at Birkbeck, University of London and UCL.

10 Mar 2014

Right time for NCKU to jump into cryo-electron microscopy

"Now is really the perfect time in history for the university here in Tainan to jump into the field of cryo-EM (cryo-electron microscopy)," said Dr. Robert M. Glaeser, Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Structural Biology, UC Berkeley, USA, at a symposium held at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), Tainan, Taiwan, March 4th.

5 Mar 2014

Berkeley Lab scientists explore bacteria-resistant materials as a line of defense against Staph infection

The bacterium Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a common source of infections that occur after surgeries involving prosthetic joints and artificial heart valves. The grape-shaped microorganism adheres to medical equipment, and if it gets inside the body, it can cause a serious and even life-threatening illness called a Staph infection. The recent discovery of drug-resistant strains of S. aureus makes matters even worse.

5 Mar 2014

Sunburn causes melanoma through direct and indirect processes

Melanoma is particularly dangerous because it can form metastases in vital organs such as the lungs, liver or brain. UV radiation is considered to be the most significant triggering factor.

3 Mar 2014

Scientists discover viruses containing genes for antibiotic resistance in fossilized human feces

A team of French investigators has discovered viruses containing genes for antibiotic resistance in a fossilized fecal sample from 14th century Belgium, long before antibiotics were used in medicine.

28 Feb 2014

New corneal layer important for intraocular pressure maintenance

UK researchers have found that a newly discovered layer of the human eye is an important part of the structural tissue that helps to maintain intraocular pressure and thus may play a role in the development of glaucoma.

27 Feb 2014

Researchers find new ways to elucidate creation of toxic oligomers associated with Alzheimer's disease

Researchers studying peptides using the Gordon supercomputer at the San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) have found new ways to elucidate the creation of the toxic oligomers associated with Alzheimer's disease.

19 Feb 2014

Upstream interventions may provide options to contain emerging pathogens at source

While many endemic infectious diseases of humans have been largely contained, new microbes continue to emerge to threaten human and animal health.

18 Feb 2014

Dua's Layer in the human cornea may be linked to glaucoma

A new layer in the human cornea - discovered by researchers at The University of Nottingham last year - plays a vital role in the structure of the tissue that controls the flow of fluid from the eye, research has shown.

17 Feb 2014

Leicester research reveals how noise damages hearing system

A research team investigating tinnitus, from the University of Leicester, has revealed new insights into the link between the exposure to loud sounds and hearing loss.

17 Feb 2014

TSRI scientists discover unusual protein that probably helps some bacteria evade immune response

A team led by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) has discovered an unusual bacterial protein that attaches to virtually any antibody and prevents it from binding to its target. Protein M, as it is called, probably helps some bacteria evade the immune response and establish long-term infections.

7 Feb 2014

Researchers gain better understanding of HIV infection through electron microscopy

The human intestinal tract, or gut, is best known for its role in digestion. But this collection of organs also plays a prominent role in the immune system. In fact, it is one of the first parts of the body that is attacked in the early stages of an HIV infection. Knowing how the virus infects cells and accumulates in this area is critical to developing new therapies for the over 33 million people worldwide living with HIV. Researchers at the California Institute of Technology are the first to have utilized high-resolution electron microscopy to look at HIV infection within the actual tissue of an infected organism, providing perhaps the most detailed characterization yet of HIV infection in the gut.

30 Jan 2014

Research findings could affect how drugs are developed to treat autoimmune diseases

Researchers at Johns Hopkins have zoomed in on what is going on at the molecular level when the body recognizes and defends against an attack of pathogens, and the findings, they say, could influence how drugs are developed to treat autoimmune diseases.

8 Jan 2014

Researchers explore molecular level changes when body recognizes, defends against pathogens