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New CRISPR-based diagnostic test detects COVID-19 variants from saliva samples

With the Delta variant wreaking havoc on unvaccinated populations and COVID-19 cases spiking around the world, the pandemic is far from over.

6 Aug 2021

Researchers reveal how pneumonia-causing bacteria obtain essential nutrient from our bodies

Australian researchers have revealed how the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) obtains the essential nutrient, manganese, from our bodies, which could lead to better therapies to target what is a life-threatening, antibiotic-resistant pathogen.

6 Aug 2021

Could a plant metabolite in liverworts be a potent antiviral against SARS-CoV-2 and other RNA viruses?

A new study from the National Centre for Biotechnology and Medicinal Chemistry Institute suggests Mother Nature delivered — in the form of liverworts. They found that the bryophyte Marchantia polymorpha, also known as umbrella liverworts, could work as a potential antiviral treatment.

5 Aug 2021

Bacteriophages named after Norfolk village of Colney could help combat C. difficile infections

Viruses have a menacing reputation for causing disease but some that target bacteria could actually benefit human health.

5 Aug 2021

Study offers genetic insights into the underlying biology of reproductive aging

The age at which women go through menopause is critical for fertility and impacts healthy ageing in women, but reproductive ageing has been difficult for scientists to study and insights into the underlying biology are limited.

4 Aug 2021

Next-Generation Sequencing and the Diagnosis of Disease

In this interview, Professor John Rossen talks about next-generation sequencing and it's implications for the diagnosis of disease.

From Tecan 4 Aug 2021

Next-generation CRISPR tools and therapies improved by modified RNA guides

A new type of gene-editing tool, CRISPR-Cas13, has shown promise in RNA targeting. Previous studies have shown the tool as a potential treatment method for viral diseases, including coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

3 Aug 2021

Open-access database could speed up repurposing of old drugs as new treatments

Researchers have created a new open-access database of information on drug candidates and how they are metabolized by the body, which could help speed up the repurposing of old drugs as new treatments.

3 Aug 2021

NSF awards $441,028 to address the workforce needs of regenerative medicine

Regenerative medicine is a cross-disciplinary field that aims to repair or replace abnormal organs by growing tissues in the laboratory or cells for therapy.

3 Aug 2021

Cancer vaccine reduces tumor burden, improves survival in animal model of Lynch syndrome

A new strategy for developing vaccines against cancer showed promise in a proof-of-concept study led by scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian and Heidelberg University Hospital.

2 Aug 2021

Latin American and Caribbean research contributions to tackle challenges posed by brain diseases

Every year there are nearly ten million new cases of dementia globally, of which Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the most common form, accounting for around 60-70% of cases.

2 Aug 2021

Existing drug may be effective in treating SARS-CoV-2

Scientists from the University of Chicago have found that the drug masitinib may be effective in treating COVID-19.

2 Aug 2021

New collaboration aims to boost vaccines manufacturing capability in South Africa

The Medicines Patent Pool and the World Health Organization, Afrigen Biologics Limited, the Biologicals and Vaccines Institute of Southern Africa, the South African Medical Research Council and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention have signed a letter of intent to address the global imbalance of manufacturing capacity for COVID-19 vaccines.

30 Jul 2021

Large nanodiscs simulate viral entry into host cells

In a paper recently uploaded to the journal Frontiers in Biotechnology by Padmanabha Das et al. (June 12th, 2020), a method of producing significantly larger homogenous nanodiscs up to 90 nm in diameter is described, and the advantages and applications of such nanodiscs are explored: better replicating the actual curvature and membrane symmetry of a real cell membrane, and allowing much larger or multiple membrane proteins to be loaded simultaneously.

30 Jul 2021

Phase 1/2 trial results for Nanocovax, protein subunit SARS-CoV-2 vaccine from Vietnam

Nanocovax is a protein subunit vaccine that contains the full-length spike stabilized by the addition of two prolines

29 Jul 2021

Scientists uncover the early assembly of gamma-secretase involved in plaque production

A research team led by Wim Annaert (VIB-KU Leuven) uncovered the early assembly of gamma-secretase, a protein complex linked to numerous cellular processes including the development of Alzheimer's disease.

23 Jul 2021

Artificial intelligence tool enriches a gold-mine in cancer genomics

The fragments of cancer DNA analysed by the authors of this new study originate from the human genome, the sequence of which results from millions of years of evolution, and has been shaped by "copy-paste-edit" processes and co-evolution with parasitic elements.

22 Jul 2021

Biotechnology News and Research

New CRISPR-based diagnostic test detects COVID-19 variants from saliva samples

Researchers reveal how pneumonia-causing bacteria obtain essential nutrient from our bodies

Could a plant metabolite in liverworts be a potent antiviral against SARS-CoV-2 and other RNA viruses?

Bacteriophages named after Norfolk village of Colney could help combat C. difficile infections

Study offers genetic insights into the underlying biology of reproductive aging

Next-Generation Sequencing and the Diagnosis of Disease

Next-generation CRISPR tools and therapies improved by modified RNA guides

Open-access database could speed up repurposing of old drugs as new treatments

NSF awards $441,028 to address the workforce needs of regenerative medicine

Cancer vaccine reduces tumor burden, improves survival in animal model of Lynch syndrome

Latin American and Caribbean research contributions to tackle challenges posed by brain diseases

Existing drug may be effective in treating SARS-CoV-2

New collaboration aims to boost vaccines manufacturing capability in South Africa

Large nanodiscs simulate viral entry into host cells

Phase 1/2 trial results for Nanocovax, protein subunit SARS-CoV-2 vaccine from Vietnam

Scientists uncover the early assembly of gamma-secretase involved in plaque production

Artificial intelligence tool enriches a gold-mine in cancer genomics

Innovative testing platform could enable more precise, personalized immunotherapy

New substance derived from Saussurea controversa exhibits osteoprotective properties

Maternal fecal transplant may help restore gut microbiota in newborns with diabetes risk

Industry Focus eBook - Biotechnology (4th edition) eBook

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

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