Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Mutated ciliary genes tied to heart valve birth defect

The heart pumps blood throughout the body to provide the needed oxygen and nutrients. In the heart, blood flows to get oxygen from the lungs to deliver to the cells. Some of the most important structures in the heart are the valves, because they prevent the backflow of blood, avoiding the mixture of oxygenated blood with the ones that still need to be oxygenated.

17 Sep 2019

New method developed to address failures in promising anti-cancer drug

Biomedical engineers at Duke University have developed a method to address failures in a promising anti-cancer drug, bringing together tools from genome engineering, protein engineering and biomaterials science to improve the efficacy, accuracy and longevity of certain cancer therapies.

17 Sep 2019

Cure for Rett Syndrome a step closer as scientists successfully reactivate 'back-up’ genes

A team headed by Vincent Pasque at his Lab at KU Leuven alongside researchers from the Jean-Christophe Marine lab and the Edith Heard lab have made a significant step towards developing a treatment for Rett syndrome and other X chromosome linked disorders.

17 Sep 2019

PSA testing can help detect prostate cancer in men with BRCA2 gene fault

Men with the BRCA2 gene fault have an increased risk of prostate cancer and could benefit from PSA (prostate specific antigen) testing to help detect the disease earlier, according to researchers funded by Cancer Research UK.

17 Sep 2019

Stopping cold viruses dead by blocking replication

The common cold virus (and its more deadly cousins, the viruses that cause polio and acute flaccid myelitis) may just have met its nemesis. In a recent study published in the journal Nature Microbiology on September 16, 2019, scientists reported a potentially successful new approach to stop cold viruses from replicating inside human cells – by blocking the formation of a protein that is vital to this process.

17 Sep 2019

Uncovering new T cell regulatory processes could help treat autoimmune disease

One of the important cells involved in the immune response is the T follicular helper (Tfh) cell. These are important in the normal process of antibody production following immunization, for instance. However, they are also abnormally increased in number in patients with autoimmune disease, such as systemic lupus erythematosus.

16 Sep 2019

Stanford-UCSF researchers report new cure for common cold in human cells and mice

Temporarily disabling a single protein inside our cells might be able to protect us from the common cold and other viral diseases, according to a study led by researchers at Stanford University and University of California-San Francisco.

16 Sep 2019

Brain activity intensity appears to increase our need for sleep

The intensity of brain activity during the day, notwithstanding how long we've been awake, appears to increase our need for sleep, according to a new UCL study in zebrafish.

16 Sep 2019

New platform uses nanoparticles to deliver anti-cancer agent to cells

Scientists from the University of Cambridge have developed a platform that uses nanoparticles known as metal-organic frameworks to deliver a promising anti-cancer agent to cells.

16 Sep 2019

Experts offer insights into new class of migraine medications

As research continues to show progress towards minimizing the effects of headache disorders on patients' lives, Practical Neurology gathered insights from experts in the field at The American Headache Society 61st Annual Scientific Meeting this year, where new data looking at a range of approaches from nerve stimulation to monoclonal antibodies and neuromodulation devices revealed advancements in migraine treatment.

16 Sep 2019

Scientists to study how cellular circuits recycle proteins

Human cells break down excess or unusable proteins into amino acids they can use, but scientists do not understand the process.

16 Sep 2019

Developing a highly predictive genetic risk score for type 1 diabetes

Paul Tran is working to develop a highly predictive genetic risk score that will tell parents whether their baby is at significant risk for type 1 diabetes.

16 Sep 2019

Study shows how the interplay of two cytokines affects development of Tfh cells

The body's immune response fights against infectious disease, and it safeguards against future infections through vaccination.

15 Sep 2019

Study shows how the immune system achieves antibody diversity

Diversity is good, especially when it comes to antibodies. It's long been known that a gene assembly process called V(D)J recombination allows our immune system to mix and match bits of genetic code, generating new antibodies to conquer newly encountered threats.

15 Sep 2019