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Virus shells use asymmetry to control RNA release and infection

Viruses are typically described as tiny, perfectly geometric shells that pack genetic material with mathematical precision, but new research led by scientists at Penn State reveals a deliberate imbalance in their shape that helps them infect their hosts.

12 Dec 2025

Discovery links human M cells to early steps of celiac disease

The human small intestine absorbs nutrients while protecting us from potentially harmful microbes. One of the cell types that plays a key role in this protection is the microfold cell, or M cell.

10 Dec 2025

SIRT3 deficiency worsens eustachian tube dysfunction during middle-ear infection

Middle-ear infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria remain among the most common pediatric illnesses worldwide.

9 Dec 2025

Study uncovers how the body's bile acids bind to block C. diff's most dangerous toxin

In a major step towards a precision therapy for Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infection, researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) have uncovered how the body's bile acids bind to block C. diff's most dangerous toxin.

9 Dec 2025

Intellicule secures $217,941 SBIR Phase I grant to develop biomolecular modeling software

Intellicule, a software company whose solutions determine the 3D structures of biomolecules imaged with cryogenic-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), has received a $217,941 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I grant from the National Institutes of Health.

8 Dec 2025

New atomic structure reveals how NBCn1 transporter protein aids breast cancer cell survival

UCLA scientists have characterized the structure and function of a key survival protein in breast cancer cells that helps explain how these tumors resist environmental stress and thrive in acidic, low-oxygen environments that would normally be toxic to healthy cells.

5 Dec 2025

Study shines light on how P2X4 receptor can be inhibited

A study carried out by the University of Bonn and the University Hospital Bonn throws light on how an important receptor can be inhibited.

5 Dec 2025

Researchers capture high-resolution footage of flu viruses entering human cells

For the first time, researchers have observed live and in high resolution how influenza viruses infect living cells. This was possible thanks to a new microscopy technique, which could now help to develop antiviral therapies in a more targeted manner.

4 Dec 2025

Exploring electron microscopy for plant and microbial imaging at the John Innes Centre

Discover how electron microscopy advances plant and microbial research with expert insights from the John Innes Centre’s bioimaging facility.

From Leica Microsystems GmbH 2 Dec 2025

New technique overcomes technological barrier in 3D brain imaging

Scientists at the Swiss Light Source SLS have succeeded in mapping a piece of brain tissue in 3D at unprecedented resolution using X-rays, non-destructively. The breakthrough overcomes a long-standing technological barrier that had limited the use of X-rays for such studies.

2 Dec 2025

Mapping SV2A drug binding offers a path to better epilepsy treatments

A multi-institute team led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and UT Southwestern Medical Center investigators established for the first time how certain drugs used to treat epilepsy affect their target.

1 Dec 2025

Researchers capture a ribozyme in motion for the first time

RNA is a central biological macromolecule, now widely harnessed in medicine and nanotechnology. Like proteins, RNA function often depends on its precise three-dimensional structure.

27 Nov 2025

New imaging protocol captures mouse brain cell connections in precise detail

An international team of researchers led by the Francis Crick Institute, working with the Paul Scherrer Institute, have developed a new imaging protocol to capture mouse brain cell connections in precise detail.

27 Nov 2025

Tattoo ink alters immune cells and weakens some vaccine responses

New research shows tattoo pigments migrate to lymph nodes, causing inflammation and altering immune responses to vaccines, with potential health risks.

27 Nov 2025

UBC researchers reveal how statins trigger muscle damage

Statins have transformed heart health, saving millions of lives by lowering cholesterol and reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

26 Nov 2025

Researchers use "zap-and-freeze" technique to watch hard-to-see brain cell communications

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine say they have used a "zap-and-freeze" technology to watch hard-to-see brain cell communications in living brain tissue from mice and humans.

25 Nov 2025

Arginine slows amyloid buildup and improves brain outcomes in Alzheimer’s disease models

Arginine reduced amyloid beta aggregation in vitro and in both Drosophila and AppNL-G-F mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease, leading to fewer dense-core plaques and improved behavior. The study provides preclinical evidence that oral arginine may modulate amyloid pathology, although high dosing requirements and model limitations constrain human translation.

24 Nov 2025

New insights into ribosome collisions and stress response

LMU researchers uncover the mechanism by which ribosomes raise alarms in the cell.

24 Nov 2025

Cryo-EM reveals how proteins are protected during synthesis

Proteins are often called the building blocks of cells, but even those building blocks need to be built. One of the most important steps in the process of building proteins is glycosylation, when sugar molecules (glycans) are attached to the maturing protein.

19 Nov 2025