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Breakthrough in understanding influenza's protective coat opens path to new treatments

To fight the virus that causes influenza, one of the avenues being explored by scientists is the development of drugs capable of destabilizing its genome, made up of eight RNA molecules.

17 Dec 2024

Novel drug holds promise for treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy

A novel drug holds promise for treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a rare genetic disorder that causes severe muscle degeneration.

16 Dec 2024

Yeast proteins show promise as natural emulsifiers in daily products

Mention emulsifiers and many people might be unaware what they are used for, but they are present in many daily products, from food to cosmetics.

16 Dec 2024

The risks of reversed chirality: Study highlights dangers of mirror organisms

The study on mirror bacteria highlights risks of immune evasion and ecological threats, calling for collaboration to ensure safe synthetic biology practices.

16 Dec 2024

New discovery reveals twisting action of molecular motors in the DNA

Scientists from the Kavli Institute of Delft University of Technology and the IMP Vienna Biocenter discovered a new property of the molecular motors that shape our chromosomes.

16 Dec 2024

How brain connectivity and machine learning enhance understanding of human cognition

Researchers provide new insights into human cognition by prioritizing interpretability in predictive modeling of intelligence from brain connectivity

16 Dec 2024

Genetic insights into reproductive health and longevity

Led by researchers from the University of Oxford's Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science and the University of Iceland, the review explores how genetic variations can explain differences in reproductive health and longevity.

14 Dec 2024

Researchers use innovative approach to uncover hidden bioactive compounds in bacteria

In contrast to humans, bacteria have the remarkable ability to exchange genetic material with each other.

14 Dec 2024

Gene variant in Andean populations could help predict blood cancer treatment outcomes

Two researchers from Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah (the U) have discovered a gene variant found in high-altitude Andean populations that they believe could be a new biomarker for predicting the severity of diseases and treatment responses for certain types of blood cancer.

14 Dec 2024

Researchers discover key genetic mechanism behind craniofacial development

An international team of researchers has identified a key genetic mechanism that regulates the formation and migration of cranial neural crest cells, which are essential for developing facial structures.

14 Dec 2024

Understanding viral composition in marine species from the South China Sea

Announcing a new article publication for Zoonoses journal. This study investigates the viral diversity associated with marine organisms in the South China Sea, to improve understanding of the region's viral ecosystems.

14 Dec 2024

CNIC team develops a comprehensive set of genetic tools and mouse lines

A team at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC) has developed a comprehensive set of innovative genetic tools and mouse lines, called iFlpMosaics, designed to enhance the study of gene function and its implications in health and disease.

14 Dec 2024

Study links intermittent fasting to slower hair growth

Intermittent fasting has proven benefits for metabolic health, but a new study shows that it could slow hair growth - at least in mice.

13 Dec 2024

Multi-omic profiling sheds light on chemo-immunotherapy resistance in lung cancer

The study characterizes the lung cancer tumor microenvironment, linking cellular compositions to immunotherapy resistance and potential therapeutic strategies.

13 Dec 2024

New protein platform enhances cancer immunotherapy

Researchers from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and Stanford University have revealed the molecular structure of TRACeR-I, a protein platform for reprogramming immune responses. A better understanding of its structure may help optimize designs for the platform, which can be used to develop cancer treatments by either directly modifying immune cells or by creating proteins that help immune cells locate cancer cells. The findings were published today by the journal Nature Biotechnology.

13 Dec 2024

DTI detects precancerous lesions in the pancreas

Precursor lesions of pancreatic cancer are very difficult to characterize with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). But now, in a new study, researchers led by Noam Shemesh and Carlos Bilreiro – respectively head of the Preclinical MRI lab at Champalimaud Research and a doctor at the Champalimaud Clinical Centre's Radiology Department – have shown, for the first time, that a particular form of MRI, called Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), is capable of robustly detecting pre-malignant lesions in the pancreas.

13 Dec 2024

Disrupting the circadian rhythm of glioblastoma slows tumor growth, study says

Virtually every cell in the human body has an internal clock. These clocks take their cues from a central clock in the brain. In a normal, biological process called synchrony, the central clock coordinates daily rhythms around the body, so that every cell and tissue recognizes the same external time of day.

13 Dec 2024

A genetic variant modulates interferon signaling and disease risk

For years, scientists have looked to a critical piece of immune system machinery - known as the interferon pathway - for answers. There, when our cells sense an infection, they release a protein known as interferon, which warns other cells to fight the virus.

13 Dec 2024