Protein News and Research

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Proteins are complex molecules that are made up of amino acids. They can be found in every cell in the body, and carry out vital processes that keep human beings alive. Mutations in proteins can lead to a multitude of diseases, the most common being cancer.

CIPHER-seq technology reveals how immune cells communicate during treatment

A new single-cell technology is giving scientists their clearest view yet of immune cell behavior-capturing not just genetic intent but real-time activity.

8 Apr 2026

Xuebijing injection reduces inflammation and ferroptosis in acute lung injury

Using an LPS-induced ALI mouse model and LPS-stimulated alveolar macrophages, they found XBJ reduced inflammatory cytokine surges, preserved alveolar barrier integrity, and limited tissue injury, while probing the molecular pathways and intracellular targets underlying these benefits.

7 Apr 2026

Pol theta enzyme identified as key driver of cancer resilience

A cancer drug target already being investigated in clinical trials turns out to be doing something even more consequential than researchers realized.

7 Apr 2026

TIFR researchers identify protein essential for survival and function of vomeronasal sensory neurons

Researchers at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Hyderabad, have identified a mammalian protein, Cnpy1 (Canopy1), that is essential for the survival and function of vomeronasal sensory neurons in mice.

7 Apr 2026

Review identifies TREM-1 as key amplifier of inflammatory diseases

Published in Current Molecular Pharmacology, a comprehensive review by Eman R. Al Sawy and colleagues from Cairo University consolidates evidence on the triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (TREM-1) as a central amplifier of inflammatory responses.

7 Apr 2026

Analysis reveals long-term male bias in European meat access

Access to nutritious food is a fundamental pillar of human success, but such access has been unequal throughout history. In pre-industrial European societies, meat was a highly sought-after food, and access to it was often related to a higher social status.

7 Apr 2026

Study reveals how Bcl-2 protein blocks cancer cell death

Researchers at Umeå University have contributed new insights into how cancer cells protect themselves from cell death.

7 Apr 2026

Blocking nitric oxide suppresses tumor growth in aggressive pediatric neuroblastoma

The tumor begins before birth. Somewhere in the developing fetus, neural crest cells that should have matured into adrenal tissue or sympathetic ganglia take a wrong turn, and a child is born harboring a malignancy that may not declare itself for months.

7 Apr 2026

Could vitamin D in midlife protect your brain from early Alzheimer’s?

Higher serum vitamin D in midlife is associated with reduced tau burden in the brain, highlighting its potential role in early dementia risk assessment.

7 Apr 2026

Challenging processed meat risks for dry-cured ham consumption

The effects of dry-cured ham on cardiometabolic health are nuanced, with evidence suggesting it may not adversely affect key health markers in moderation.

7 Apr 2026

New blood biomarker improves cancer risk detection in people with Lynch Syndrome

Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have discovered a new blood-based biomarker that can help identify and characterize asymptomatic people with Lynch Syndrome (LS) who are more susceptible to developing cancer based on early immune detection signatures, allowing clinicians to stratify patients based on their personal risk level.

6 Apr 2026

New technique can simultaneously treat lung cancer and muscle-wasting condition

Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a technique for simultaneously treating lung cancer and a serious muscle-wasting condition that often accompanies it.

6 Apr 2026

Novel screening method boosts early diagnosis of leprosy

A new blood test combined with a standardized questionnaire and artificial intelligence may transform the way leprosy is diagnosed in Brazil. Researchers at the University of São Paulo (USP) tested the new test in Brazil using blood samples collected during a COVID-19 population survey.

6 Apr 2026

Scientists create large library of mitochondrial DNA mutant models

Some of your most important life partners are the mitochondria that power all your cells. You and these little cellular powerhouses are in a 1.5-billion-year-old evolutionary relationship-but mitochondria brought some baggage.

6 Apr 2026

New target identified to overcome resistance in neuroendocrine tumors

Neuroendocrine cells are unique in their ability to act both as nerve cells and hormone-making cells.

6 Apr 2026

Prickly pear may pack a surprising punch against metabolic syndrome

This narrative review examines how Opuntia ficus-indica fruit, or prickly pear, may help target multiple features of metabolic syndrome through its fiber, betalains, polyphenols, carotenoids, and other bioactive compounds. The authors conclude that the fruit shows promising mechanistic and preclinical potential, but stronger human trials are still needed before firm clinical claims can be made.

6 Apr 2026

AI helps researchers find antimicrobial peptides in Earth’s harshest habitats

Researchers built the Extreme Environment Microbiome Catalog from 78,213 genomes across global extreme habitats, revealing major taxonomic and biosynthetic novelty, including 32,715 representative species, nearly 4 billion non-redundant genes, and 163,693 biosynthetic gene clusters. They then used protein language models to identify 3,032 candidate non-toxic antimicrobial peptides, with 84 of 100 synthesized peptides showing antibacterial activity and low cytotoxicity in the 50 tested in mammalian cells.

6 Apr 2026

New method identifies key proteins that trigger harmful immune responses

Mayo Clinic researchers have developed a new method to identify which proteins are most likely to trigger an immune response - a discovery that could help improve transplant care, regenerative medicine and other areas where the immune system plays a critical role.

6 Apr 2026

Metformin mimics exercise-related metabolic effects in prostate cancer patients

A new study has found that metformin, a widely prescribed diabetes drug, may mimic one of exercise's core biological effects in men with prostate cancer, raising levels of a molecule tied to energy balance and weight control even when patients are inactive.

6 Apr 2026

Injectable microgels reduce surgical bleeding risk in infants

Biomedical researchers have designed an injectable microgel to help reduce bleeding in infants who require surgical care. In an animal model, the engineered microgel reduced bleeding by at least 50%.

3 Apr 2026