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Symbiosis and horizontal gene transfer shape leaf beetle evolution

With more than 50,000 described species, the leaf beetle family is distributed worldwide and represents about a quarter of the species diversity of all herbivores.

20 Jan 2025

Breakthrough study maps critical structure of Nipah virus polymerase

Scientists at Harvard Medical School and Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine have mapped a critical component of the Nipah virus, a highly lethal bat-borne pathogen that has caused outbreaks in humans almost every year since it was identified in 1999.

20 Jan 2025

Ancient viral DNA plays crucial role in early embryo development

Over half of our genomes consists of thousands of remnants of ancient viral DNA, known as transposable elements, which are widespread across the tree of life.

20 Jan 2025

New approach combines two methods to study disordered proteins

Researchers of Mainz University and EMBL Hamburg present a new approach to determine the form of disordered proteins by using two different methods simultaneously in a single sample.

20 Jan 2025

New study uncovers brain neurons driving fat and sugar consumption

Researchers identify distinct neuronal populations within the dorsal HPC that respond to certain nutrients and influence obesity.

20 Jan 2025

Antihistamines offer new hope for erythropoietic protoporphyria-related liver disease

Chlorcyclizine shows promise in reducing protoporphyrin-IX accumulation and liver damage in erythropoietic protoporphyria, targeting histamine pathways.

20 Jan 2025

Scientists reveal Homo erectus mastered desert survival one million years ago

Researchers discovered that Homo erectus adapted to hyperarid conditions in Tanzania one million years ago, challenging previous beliefs about early human ecological limitations.

19 Jan 2025

COMET model enhances disease prediction with deep learning

Researchers developed COMET, a deep learning framework that leverages electronic health records and omics data to improve predictive modeling and uncover biological insights.

19 Jan 2025

Manuka vs. Ohia Lehua honey: Study reveals key antioxidant differences and health benefits

Study compares the antioxidant properties of Manuka honey (MH) and Ohia Lehua honey (OLH), revealing that MH contains ten times more phenolic content, while OLH demonstrates superior in vivo antioxidant activity by reducing oxidative stress and enhancing antioxidant capacity.

19 Jan 2025

Breakthrough reveals how DNA and RNA epigenetics work together to control genes

Our genes contain all the instructions our body needs to function, but their expression must be finely regulated to guarantee that each cell performs its role optimally.

17 Jan 2025

The diverse immunological functions of megakaryocytes

Megakaryocytes (MKs), known for their role in platelet production, have emerged as critical players in immune responses, showcasing versatility in both physiological and pathological contexts.

17 Jan 2025

New probes offer insight into cholesterol's role in Alzheimer's disease

The search for answers to Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders remains one of the most pressing goals in brain research. Maciej J. Stawikowski, Ph.D., an assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Florida Atlantic University's Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, believes the key may lie in understanding how cholesterol and other lipids move through cells and affect their communication.

17 Jan 2025

RNA damage plays key role in sunburn reaction

Sunburn has traditionally been attributed to UV-induced DNA damage. However, a new study by the University of Copenhagen and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, reveals that RNA, another vital cellular molecule, plays a major role in triggering acute sunburn reactions.

17 Jan 2025

Granzyme K+ CD8+ T-cells identified as key drivers of recurrent airway inflammation

Researchers identify a pathogenic subset of CD8+ memory T-cells that promote airway tissue inflammation and recurrent respiratory diseases.

17 Jan 2025

Over 500 European patients diagnosed through groundbreaking genetic research

More than 500 European patients with unknown conditions have received a diagnosis through new genetic research.

17 Jan 2025

New research identifies metabolic targets to combat antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections

Targeting unique metabolic pathways in pathogens offers a novel approach to precision antibiotics, addressing the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance.

17 Jan 2025

Unveiling the metabolic pathways of Fusobacterium nucleatum in OSCC

A recent study has made significant strides in uncovering how the oral microbiome, particularly the bacterium Fusobacterium nucleatum, plays a crucial role in the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). By identifying key interactions between this common oral bacterium and host cells, the research has unveiled important metabolic pathways and mechanisms that may serve as potential therapeutic targets.

17 Jan 2025

Bidirectional movement drives DNA loop formation

Scientists from Delft, Vienna, and Lausanne discovered that the protein machines that shape our DNA can switch direction. Until now, researchers believed that these so-called SMC motors that make loops into DNA could move in one direction only. The discovery, which is published in Cell, is key to understanding how these motors shape our genome and regulate our genes.

17 Jan 2025

Immune cells orchestrate glucagon production during fasting

When we think about the immune system, we usually associate it with fighting infections. However, a study published in Science by the Champalimaud Foundation reveals a surprising new role.

17 Jan 2025

Protein CD74 could predict immunotherapy response in bowel cancer

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute and Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, have shown that the amount of a protein called CD74 can indicate which people with bowel cancer may respond best to immunotherapy.

16 Jan 2025