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New microscopy technique unveils dynamic structure of amyloid-beta

Amyloid-beta (A-beta) aggregates are tangles of proteins most notably associated with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.

19 Jul 2024

Unraveling the rhythmic gene expression in legume-rhizobia symbiosis

Legumes thrive in low-nitrogen environments by partnering with rhizobia, soil bacteria that convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonium, a usable form for the plants.

19 Jul 2024

Study reveals a promising approach to developing universal influenza vaccine

New research led by Oregon Health & Science University reveals a promising approach to developing a universal influenza vaccine - a so-called "one and done" vaccine that confers lifetime immunity against an evolving virus.

19 Jul 2024

Expanding genetic Horizons: GWAS insights from the VA Million Veterans Program

A large-scale genome-wide association study (GWAS) using data from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Million Veterans Program (MVP) – one of the largest US-based biobanks – fills crucial gaps in our knowledge of the relationships between genes, traits, and disease across diverse populations, according to a new study.

19 Jul 2024

Ginseng genome unlocks secrets of medicinal benefits

A landmark study has successfully decoded the complete ginseng genome, unveiling the genetic mechanisms that govern saponin biosynthesis. This detailed genetic map illuminates the evolutionary and metabolic pathways of Panax ginseng, a staple in traditional medicine. This pivotal discovery promises to drive forward breeding initiatives and augment the plant's medicinal qualities, unlocking new possibilities for therapeutic applications.

19 Jul 2024

New insights into modified nucleoside synthesis

The genetic information on DNA is transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA) and translated to the amino acid sequence by transfer RNA (tRNA) on the ribosome. Modified nucleosides within RNA are involved in maintaining and regulating the protein synthesis system.

19 Jul 2024

Museum flies and wild specimens help fill gaps in fruit fly evolution

A multitude of new genomic sequence data fills major gaps in the fruit fly tree of life, Bernard Kim from Stanford University, US, and colleagues report in the open-access journal PLOS Biology, publishing July 18th.

19 Jul 2024

Study examines brain activity and time perception over minutes and hours

Ever hear the old adage that time flies when you're having fun? A new study by a team of UNLV researchers suggests that there's a lot of truth to the trope.

19 Jul 2024

Diverse genetic data illuminates health disparities across populations

The majority of genetic studies focus on people of European descent, which limits the understanding of how genes influence health in other populations.

18 Jul 2024

Blocking IL-11 protein extends lifespan and health in mice by 25%, study shows

Scientists at the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Medical Science and Imperial College London have discovered that 'switching off' a protein called IL-11 can significantly increase the healthy lifespan of mice by almost 25%.

18 Jul 2024

Insights into megakaryopoiesis regulation by plasmacytoid dendritic cells

Platelets play an essential role in wound healing. Underproduction can cause devastating bleeding, while overproduction increases the deadly risk of thromboses.

18 Jul 2024

Porcine study reveals meurotoxic and pro-inflammatory effects of microplastics on enteric nervous system

Researchers investigates the effects of polyethylene terephthalate microplastics on the neuronal population in the porcine jejunum.

18 Jul 2024

Discovery of over 1,000 undetected proteins in metabolite samples

Van Andel Institute scientists have identified more than 1,000 previously undetected proteins in common metabolite samples, which persist despite extraction methods designed to weed them out.

18 Jul 2024

Flu viruses can use a second entry pathway to infect cells

Most influenza viruses enter human or animal cells through specific pathways on the cells' surface. Researchers at the University of Zurich have now discovered that certain human flu viruses and avian flu viruses can also use a second entry pathway, a protein complex of the immune system, to infect cells.

18 Jul 2024

Novel method enables RNA detection with Cas12 nucleases

CRISPR-Cas systems, defense systems in bacteria, have become a plentiful source of technologies for molecular diagnostics.

17 Jul 2024

Harnessing cell's natural delivery system for targeted drug delivery

Each cell in the body has its own unique delivery system that scientists are working on harnessing to move revolutionary biological drugs - molecules like proteins, RNA and combinations of the two - to specific diseased parts of the body.

17 Jul 2024

How your diet shapes your gut microbiome and impacts your health

Review published in Nature Reviews Microbiology highlights how different diets impact gut microbiome health, emphasizing the need for precision nutrition to optimize health outcomes.

16 Jul 2024

Researchers reveal unique characteristics of previously unexplored protein FAM110A

An international research collaboration, led by Prof. Dr. Robert Grosse (Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies and Institute of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Freiburg), Dr. Libor Macurek (Institute of Molecular Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague) and Dr. Zdenek Lansky (Institute of Biotechnology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague) has uncovered a new mechanism of the crosstalk between microtubules and actin cytoskeleton during cell division and revealed unique characteristics of the previously unexplored protein FAM110A.

16 Jul 2024

Immune protein C1q impacts neuronal protein synthesis in the aging brain, study reveals

A groundbreaking study conducted at the lab of Beth Stevens, PhD, at Boston Children's Hospital has revealed that an immune protein impacts neuronal protein synthesis in the aging brain.

15 Jul 2024

Triad of immune cells key to successful cancer immunotherapy, study finds

There's a frustrating fact about today's immunotherapies for cancer. While sometimes they work beautifully - completely eliminating or greatly reducing cancer in particular patients - other times they don't work at all. It's a mystery.

15 Jul 2024