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A novel approach to photosynthetic production of high-value compounds

Using evolution as a guiding principle, researchers have successfully engineered bacteria-yeast hybrids to perform photosynthetic carbon assimilation, generate cellular energy and support yeast growth without traditional carbon feedstocks like glucose or glycerol. By engineering photosynthetic cyanobacteria to live symbiotically inside yeast cells, the bacteria-yeast hybrids can produce important hydrocarbons, paving new biotechnical pathways to non-petroleum-based energy, other synthetic biology applications, and the experimental study of evolution.

27 Aug 2024

Study reveals metabolic switch crucial for memory T cell formation and cancer immunity

A Ludwig Cancer Research study has identified a metabolic switch in the immune system's T cells that is essential to the generation of memory T cells - which confer lasting immunity to previously encountered pathogens - and a T cell subtype found in tumors that drives anti-tumor responses during immunotherapy.

23 Aug 2024

New technique enhances study of complex biological processes at the molecular level

A team of researchers led by Professor Sebastian Deindl at Uppsala University has developed a pioneering method that vastly improves the ability to observe and analyze complex biological processes at the single-molecule level.

23 Aug 2024

T cells influence memory of innate immune cells, research shows

Research from Radboud University Medical Center reveals that T cells from the adaptive immune system can manipulate the memory of innate immune cells.

22 Aug 2024

Kynurenine pathway blockade shows promise for restoring brain metabolism in Alzheimer's

Among the many ways neuroscientists think Alzheimer's disease may strip away brain function is by disrupting the glucose metabolism needed to fuel the healthy brain.

22 Aug 2024

Cancer drug holds promise as a new treatment for neurodegenerative diseases

A type of drug developed for treating cancer holds promise as a new treatment for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, according to a recent study by researchers at Penn State, Stanford University and an international team of collaborators.

22 Aug 2024

Novel drug-carrying molecule slips past the lung's natural defenses to cure disease

A drug-carrying molecule designed to cure disease by slipping past the lung's natural defenses offers new hope for people with chronic or deadly respiratory diseases, say its creators, researchers in assistant professor Liheng Cai's Soft Biomatter Lab at the University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science.

22 Aug 2024

New technique speeds up screening of DNA molecules

Studying how single DNA molecules behave helps us to better understand genetic disorders and design better drugs.

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

Gut molecule blocks fat burning during fasting in C. elegans

In a struggle that probably sounds familiar to dieters everywhere, the less a Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) worm eats, the more slowly it loses fat.

21 Aug 2024

Breakthrough compound targets appetite and tau protein in obesity and Alzheimer's

Scientists on the team of Dr Lenka Maletínská have developed a promising new compound derived from one of the peptides naturally occurring in the brain.

21 Aug 2024

Advancing cancer therapy with small molecule immune checkpoint inhibitors

Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment, with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) playing a pivotal role.

21 Aug 2024

Understanding gluten's role in autoimmunity and inflammation

The interaction between humans and their environment, mediated by nutrition, plays a crucial role in regulating inflammatory responses.

21 Aug 2024

Leukemia cells depend on P-bodies for growth and survival

An international team of scientists has uncovered a mechanism by which acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells sustain their growth.

21 Aug 2024

Study identifies natural molecule that reduces pain sensitivity

Rutgers researchers have found a new way to manage the receptors that control the sense of touch, which could lead to treating chronic pain more effectively.

21 Aug 2024

Study links gut microbe depletion to lifelong respiratory allergies

Researchers at the University of British Columbia have shown for the first time how and why the depletion of microbes in a newborn's gut by antibiotics can lead to lifelong respiratory allergies.

20 Aug 2024

Researchers reveal impact of genetic ancestry on breast cancer risk and cell diversity

Researchers map the diverse cell types present in healthy breast tissue to elucidate the role of genetic ancestry in breast cancer risk.

20 Aug 2024

Study confirms the causal effect of PECAM-1 on cardiovascular diseases

Announcing a new article publication for Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications journal. Platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM-1) is present in the vascular endothelium and plays important roles in various biological processes.

19 Aug 2024

Researchers use XAI to unlock secrets of drug discovery

Artificial intelligence (AI) has exploded in popularity. It powers models that help us drive vehicles, proofread emails and even design new molecules for medications.

18 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