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VRK1 protein may enable cancer cells to colonize new areas of the body during metastasis

Sometimes negative results can point researchers in the right direction. In results published in PLOS ONE on September 4, 2018, scientists at the Medical University of South Carolina examined a protein called vaccinia-related kinase 1 that they hypothesized was important for metastasis. They found that, rather than causing cancer cells to migrate and invade, VRK1 over-expression had the opposite effect.

26 Sep 2018

A non-canonical approach may improve radiation treatment for cancer

Although the success or failure of radiation therapy for cancer has long been associated with the intrinsic radio-resistance or radio-sensitivity of tumor cells, a new approach is demonstrating that radiation can take credit for an additional benefit -; causing highly effective secondary immune responses that can enhance anti-tumor immunity.

28 Aug 2018

Researchers develop 3D model of human placenta

The placenta is the organ connecting mother and embryo. Its main functions are the exchange of nutrients, gases and metabolic products and the production of hormones and other substances essential for embryonic development.

3 Aug 2018

New 3D tissue model of developing heart could be used to test safety of drugs during pregnancy

The heart is the first organ to develop in the womb and the first cause of concern for many parents.

16 Mar 2018

Researchers describe human blood-nerve barrier transcriptome for the first time

Human peripheral nerves -- all the nerves outside of the central nervous system -- are protected by the blood-nerve barrier. This is a tight covering of endothelial cells that maintains the microenvironment within the nerves by restricting the amounts or types of water, ions, solutes and nutrients that can reach the axons, or electric cables within the nerves, from the blood circulation system.

8 Feb 2018

Study reveals how dengue virus replicates without triggering the body's defenses

A new study reveals how dengue virus manages to reproduce itself in an infected person without triggering the body's normal defenses. Duke researchers report that dengue pulls off this hoax by co-opting a specialized structure within host cells for its own purposes, like a lazy roommate sneaking bits of his laundry into the communal wash.

11 Jan 2018

Human cardiac-muscle patches improve recovery from heart attack injury

Large, human cardiac-muscle patches created in the lab have been tested, for the first time, on large animals in a heart attack model. This clinically relevant approach showed that the patches significantly improved recovery from heart attack injury.

11 Jan 2018

Study suggests vitamin C enhances tuberculosis drugs effectiveness

A new study conducted by researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, proposed the use of vitamin C together with tuberculosis drugs for rapid eradication of the disease-causing pathogens. The studies were carried out on mice and in tissue cultures and the results have been published in the journal of American Society for Microbiology, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.

5 Jan 2018

New research reveals possible therapeutic target for controlling inflammation in the brain

New research published online in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology showed for the first time that mature monocytes (a specific type of white blood cell) express the CXCR7 receptor on their surface.

3 Nov 2017

Using AFM to study cell mechanics and function

My lab, broadly speaking, is interested in trying to understand interactions between cells and materials. Those could be materials that are present within living tissue or materials that we use for engineering purposes to try to do something of technological or therapeutic interest.

From Bruker Nano Surfaces and Metrology 17 Oct 2017

Penn study explains how acute viral infections can linger

Infections caused by viruses, such as respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, measles, parainfluenza, and Ebola, are typically considered acute. These viruses cause disease quickly and live within a host for a limited time. But in some cases, the effects of the infection, and presence of the virus itself, can persist.

6 Oct 2017

Researchers identify connections between toxoplasmosis and several brain disorders

More than 2 billion people – nearly one out of every three humans on earth, including about 60 million people in the United States – have a lifelong infection with the brain-dwelling parasite Toxoplasma gondii.

14 Sep 2017

Seeing the full picture, real-time analysis of live-cells

Every cell is a miniature factory taking in raw material (extracellular signals) and processing it to produce something (a biological response). But unlike a factory that can be easily tweaked to run at steady-state and look the same from day to day, cells are dynamic.

From Sartorius 7 Sep 2017

Drug testing assay for Plasmodium vivax infection possible with Porvair Sciences Krystal black microplate

Porvair Sciences reports that the National Center for Biological Sciences (NCBS) in Bangalore, India is using its Krystal 384 black microplate to produce a standard drug testing assay for Plasmodium vivax infection.

From Porvair Sciences Limited 31 Aug 2017

Bacterium S. gallolyticus appears to actively promote development of colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer is fairly treatable when caught early with regular screenings, but it is still the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in American men and the third-leading cause in women.

17 Jul 2017

UIC researchers identify enzyme that triggers corneal inflammation

One of the symptoms of herpes simplex virus-1 infection of the eye is lingering inflammation of the cornea – the clear outer layer of the eyeball.

11 Jul 2017

Novel micro-cubes can efficiently deliver hydrophobic anti-tumor drug to cancer cells

Many potent anti-cancer drugs have major drawbacks -- they fail to mix with water, which means they will have a limited solubility in blood, and they lack selectivity to cancer cells.

29 Jun 2017

Could the mTOR pathway be used to protect against cancer?

The mTOR pathway is probably the main pathway in humans and other animals that drives growth. That is, the accumulation of mass and adding mass to make an organism bigger by both making more cells, and making cells grow and become bigger.

22 Jun 2017

New findings could lead to first broadly effective ebolavirus therapies and vaccines

After analyzing the blood of a survivor of the 2013-16 Ebola outbreak, a team of scientists from academia, industry and the government has discovered the first natural human antibodies that can neutralize and protect animals against all three major disease-causing ebolaviruses.

19 May 2017

Study reveals high-resolution view of Zika viral life cycle within infected cells

New research reveals a high-resolution view of the Zika viral life cycle within infected cells and shows dramatic changes in the cell's architecture throughout the infection process. This novel perspective may lead to the development of new vaccines and treatments.

30 Mar 2017