Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Stem cell therapy for cornea injuries demonstrates remarkable results in clinical trial

An expanded clinical trial that tested a groundbreaking, experimental stem cell treatment for blinding cornea injuries found the treatment was feasible and safe in 14 patients who were treated and followed for 18 months, and there was a high proportion of complete or partial success.

4 Mar 2025

Targeting mitochondrial DNA integrity for cardiac protection after injury

Maintaining mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) integrity is crucial for cardiomyocyte function, and its disruption plays a significant role in ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury.

4 Mar 2025

New CRISPR-based test enhances diagnosis of life-threatening fungal infection

Tulane University researchers have developed a CRISPR-based test that diagnoses Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) - a life-threatening fungal infection primarily affecting children and immunocompromised patients - more quickly and less invasively, according to a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

3 Mar 2025

Cheese isn't just food—it’s a microbiome booster, study confirms

Scientists reveal that cheese-derived bacteria, particularly less abundant strains, can shape gut microbiota and enhance metabolic functions, underscoring the impact of fermented foods on gut health.

3 Mar 2025

Breakthrough research uncovers way to maintain metabolism during calorie restriction

Many people who have tried to lose weight by cutting calories are familiar with this frustrating reality: at some point, the body stops shedding pounds.

3 Mar 2025

Groundbreaking studies reveal how DNA folding guides sperm cell development

Two new landmark studies show how a seeming tangle of DNA is actually organized into a structure that coordinates thousands of genes to form a sperm cell.

3 Mar 2025

Novel mechanism of PDHX acetylation linked to hepatocellular carcinoma progression

Cancer cells are known to favor aerobic glycolysis for energy production, a phenomenon termed the Warburg effect.

3 Mar 2025

Study identifies key role of JMJD1C in acute myeloid leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is one of the most aggressive and genetically complex cancers, marked by the unchecked growth of immature myeloid cells.

3 Mar 2025

Study identifies key genetic markers for SCA6 diagnosis

The Department of Neurology at Niigata University and National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry NCNP has identified pathogenic thresholds for the CAG repeat units (RU) of the CACNA1A gene that causes SCA6.

3 Mar 2025

Pioneering the world’s first CRISPR medicine for sickle cell disease

When Vijay Sankaran was an MD-PhD student at Harvard Medical School in the mid-2000s, one of his first clinical encounters was with a 24-year-old patient whose sickle cell disease left them with almost weekly pain episodes.

3 Mar 2025

Intermittent fasting cuts heart attack risk by preventing dangerous blood clots

Intermittent fasting may reduce the risk of blood clots and cardiovascular disease by inhibiting platelet activation.

2 Mar 2025

Scientists uncover how herpes virus fuels Alzheimer’s disease

Herpesvirus infection may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease through transposable element activation and neuroinflammation.

2 Mar 2025

TFE3 activation shows promise for counteracting Parkinson's disease pathology

This recent study highlights the neuroprotective potential of TFE3, a transcription factor that plays a pivotal role in counteracting key pathological mechanisms associated with Parkinson's disease (PD).

2 Mar 2025

St. Jude scientists discover how retinoic acid selectively kills metastatic neuroblastoma cells

Neuroblastoma is a solid tumor that occurs in children. When high-risk, the disease has a poor prognosis. Decades ago, adding the drug retinoic acid to neuroblastoma treatment increased survival by 10-15%.

2 Mar 2025

Researchers uncover how brain tumors reprogram neutrophils to hinder cancer treatment

The lab of Filippo Veglia, Ph.D., at The Wistar Institute has discovered a previously unknown mechanism for how aggressive brain cancers reprogram immune system cells from fighting cancer to enabling further tumor growth.

2 Mar 2025

Scientists develop fenugreek-based nanoparticles to enhance diabetes drug effectiveness

Researchers explored L-arginine-loaded lipid nanoparticles from fenugreek seed oil, finding they enhance drug stability and bioavailability, showing promise for diabetes treatment.

2 Mar 2025

Sweet potato extracts slow breast and lung cancer growth, study finds

Researchers found that methanolic extracts from sweet potato leaves and stems significantly inhibit breast and lung cancer cell growth, with some effects comparable to tamoxifen.

2 Mar 2025

Study demonstrates successful gene therapy for maple syrup urine disease

A study led by UMass Chan researchers demonstrated that a gene therapy to correct a mutation that causes maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) prevented newborn death, normalized growth, restored coordinated expression of the affected genes and stabilized biomarkers in a calf as well as in mice.

28 Feb 2025

Lactylation in the heart reveals key insights into cardiac regeneration

This study is led by Dr. Xiaodong Luan (Institute of Clinical Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital), Dr. Shuyang Zhang (Department of Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital) and Dr. He Huang (Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences).

28 Feb 2025

European project aims to develop new treatments for rare eye diseases

The Ocular Neurobiology laboratory at the Institute for Neurosciences, a joint center of Miguel Hernández University (UMH) in Elche and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), is participating in the European project RESTORE VISION, an ambitious initiative aimed at developing new treatments for rare eye diseases such as aniridia and neurotrophic keratopathy.

28 Feb 2025