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Researchers link genetic ancestry to severity of dengue fever

For the first time, the extreme variability in dengue fever has been linked to a biological mechanism, potentially opening doors to new treatments and vaccines for the most common mosquito-borne disease worldwide.

30 Jun 2025

Cannabis smoking changes your DNA, leaving epigenetic scars

Long-term, persistent weekly or more frequent cannabis smoking leaves a distinct and partially reversible epigenetic footprint on blood DNA. These methylation changes strongly overlap with those from tobacco and may serve as biomarkers of smoke exposure.

30 Jun 2025

Can a global vault save the world’s threatened microbiomes?

Researchers warn that accelerating human-driven loss of microbial diversity threatens both planetary and human health. The Microbiota Vault Initiative offers a global, equitable framework to safeguard critical microbiomes for future generations.

30 Jun 2025

New tool reveals hidden water patterns in protein structures

Every protein in the body is encased in a water shell that directs protein structure, provides vital stability and steers function.

30 Jun 2025

Ancient DNA sheds light on the origins of leprosy in the Americas

Hansen's Disease, more commonly known as leprosy, is a chronic disease that can lead to physical impairment. Today it exists in over 100 countries, and while the infection is treatable, access to treatment varies widely with socioeconomic conditions.

30 Jun 2025

New yeast model sheds light on proteasome and mitochondrial interaction

A study by the Center for Redox Processes in Biomedicine (Redoxoma) led by Marilene Demasi from the Butantan Institute (São Paulo, Brazil) presents a valuable new experimental model for investigating the interaction between the proteasome and mitochondrial function.

30 Jun 2025

Ionophore use in farming drives global spread of antibiotic resistance genes, study finds

Researchers identified the widespread presence of the ionophore resistance genes narA and narB in over 2,400 bacterial isolates across 51 countries. These genes are often genetically linked to resistance against critically important human antibiotics, raising concerns over agricultural practices and global antimicrobial resistance.

30 Jun 2025

How 50,000 years of ancestry shaped India’s unique disease patterns

Scientists sequenced the genomes of 2,762 individuals across India, revealing the country’s unique ancestral makeup and a wealth of previously undocumented disease-related gene variants. The study highlights how ancient migrations, founder effects, and endogamy have shaped both diversity and disease risk in India.

29 Jun 2025

Discovery of a genetic dimmer switch controlling embryonic development

A team of scientists at the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences (LMS) has uncovered a previously unknown mechanism that controls how genes are switched ‘on’ and ‘off’ during embryonic development.

27 Jun 2025

Expanding the genetic code in mammalian cells using pseudouridine modified codons

To overcome the inherent challenge of translation termination interference caused by stop codon reprogramming in mammalian cells, researchers from Peking University led by Chen Peng from College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering and Yi Chengqi from School of Life Sciences have developed a novel codon expansion strategy that enables precise incorporation of noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) without perturbing natural genetic codes.

27 Jun 2025

Global effort enters an active growth phase to preserve the Earth's microbial heritage

A global effort to create a "microbial Noah's Ark" to preserve the world's diverse collection of healthy microbes before they disappear is now entering an active growth phase.

27 Jun 2025

Proteome imbalance from aneuploidy linked to mitochondrial dysfunction

It has been known for several years that abnormal chromosome numbers lead to protein imbalances in the affected cells. Researchers at RPTU have now investigated the detailed effects of such imbalances.

27 Jun 2025

Investigating the role of ultra-processed foods in the inheritance of autism and ADHD

In a recent publication released by PubMed, American scientist Dr. Renee Dufault at the Food Ingredient and Health Research Institute, provides a peer-reviewed protocol for determining the role ultra-processed foods play in prenatal heavy metal exposures and changes in the expression of the zinc dependent MT-1 (metallothionein) gene that impact child neurodevelopment.

27 Jun 2025

Reconstructing 50,000 thousand years of Indian ancestry using whole-genome data

India's population is genetically one of the most diverse in the world, yet it remains underrepresented in global datasets.

27 Jun 2025

Protein cleavage mechanism sheds light on severe childhood ciliopathies

New research by Sumeda Nandadasa, PhD, reveals how a key protein associated with Meckel-Gruber syndrome, nephronophthisis, Joubert syndrome and other ciliopathies is cut in half to perform two separate functions, both of which are fundamental to the healthy development of children.

27 Jun 2025

New study reveals how diverse brain cells unite to guide decisions

Every decision begins invisibly. Long before someone acts, the brain is already hard at work gathering evidence, weighing options, and gradually committing to a choice.

27 Jun 2025

LMU researchers uncover mechanism for metabolism without cell membranes

LMU researchers have demonstrated a possible mechanism for metabolic processes without cell membranes in water-filled pores.

27 Jun 2025

Deciphering the structure of human protease SENP5 unlocks new therapeutic paths

A research led by the IBB-UAB has managed to decypher the structure of the human protease SENP5, implicated in neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular diseases and the development of cancer.

27 Jun 2025

New study reveals how nymphaeol A interacts with cell membranes

A new study by Professor José Villalaín, Chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH), provides a detailed description of how nymphaeol A - a compound found in propolis - behaves when interacting with cell membranes.

27 Jun 2025

New center in Copenhagen to pioneer the future of protein design

Proteins are the workhorses of biology. They perform virtually every important function in living organisms. They store, copy and protect our DNA, digest food to give us energy, and harness this energy to make our cells and muscles work.

27 Jun 2025