Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular
Published

New method Ebola virus uses to infect cells      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists recently published findings indicating that Ebola virus creates and uses intercellular tunnels to move from cell to cell and evade treatments.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Developmental Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular
Published

Genetic atlas detailing early stages of zebrafish development      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have published an atlas of zebrafish development, detailing the gene expression programs that are activated within nearly every cell type during the first five days of development, a period in which embryos mature from a single cell into distinct cell types.

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Published

Scientists measure the distance to stars by their music      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A team of astronomers has used asteroseismology, or the study of stellar oscillations, to accurately measure the distance of stars from the Earth. Their research examined thousands of stars and checked the measurements taken during the Gaia mission to study the near Universe.

Space: Astronomy Space: Astrophysics Space: Cosmology Space: Exploration Space: General Space: Structures and Features
Published

New red galaxies turn out to be already known blue galaxies      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Not all discoveries turn out to be actual new discoveries. This was the case for the extremely red objects (EROs) found in James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) data. Analysis shows that they are very similar to blue-excess dust obscured galaxies (BluDOGs) already reported in Subaru Telescope data.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Biology: Microbiology Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Ancient DNA reveals how a chicken virus evolved to become more deadly      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

An international team of scientists led by geneticists and disease biologists has used ancient DNA to trace the evolution of Marek's Disease Virus (MDV). This global pathogen causes fatal infections in unvaccinated chickens and costs the poultry industry over $1 billion per year. The findings show how viruses evolve to become more virulent and could lead to the development of better ways to treat viral infections.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Microbiology
Published

Diverse gut bacteria communities protect against harmful pathogens by nutrient blocking      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

New study demonstrates that diverse communities of resident bacteria can protect the human gut from disease-causing microorganisms. However, this protective effect is lost when only single species of gut bacteria are present. The researchers found that protective communities block the growth of harmful pathogens by consuming nutrients that the pathogen needs.

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Published

Astronomers discover first population of binary stripped stars      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Astronomers have discovered a population of massive stars that have been stripped of their hydrogen envelopes by their companions in binary systems. The findings shed light on the hot helium stars that are believed to be the origins of hydrogen-poor core-collapse supernovae and neutron star mergers.

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Published

Reaching for the (invisible) stars      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Supernovae -- stellar explosions as bright as an entire galaxy -- have fascinated us since time immemorial. Yet, there are more hydrogen-poor supernovae than astrophysicists can explain. Now, scientists may have found the missing precursor star population.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular
Published

Opportunities to improve future HIV vaccine candidates      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

An effective HIV vaccine may need to prompt strong responses from immune cells called CD8+ T cells to protect people from acquiring HIV, according to a new study. The study findings draw comparisons between the immune system activity of past HIV vaccine study participants and people with HIV who naturally keep the virus from replicating even in the absence of antiretroviral therapy (ART). The latter individuals are often called 'long-term non-progressors' or 'elite controllers' (LTNPs/ECs).

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Developmental Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular
Published

How the immune system fights to keep herpes at bay      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

In a study of lab-engineered cells, researchers identify how the immune system neutralizes the herpesvirus. The research maps, for the first time, the maneuvers used by virus and host in the cell nucleus, a poorly understood terrain of host-pathogen interaction. The findings could inform the design of new treatments for herpes and other viruses that replicate in the same way.  

Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Evolutionary Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular
Published

New understanding of ancient genetic parasite may spur medical breakthroughs      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have determined the structure of the most common material in our genomes. New treatments for autoimmune diseases, cancer and neurodegeneration may follow.

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Published

Unexpected chemistry reveals cosmic star factories' secrets      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Two galaxies in the early universe, which contain extremely productive star factories, have been studied by a team of scientists. Using powerful telescopes to split the galaxies' light into individual colors, the scientists were amazed to discover light from many different molecules -- more than ever before at such distances. Studies like this could revolutionize our understanding of the lives of the most active galaxies when the universe was young, the researchers believe.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Microbiology
Published

Gut bacteria of malnourished children benefit from key elements in therapeutic food      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

New research has identified key, naturally occurring biochemical components of a novel therapeutic food that is aimed at repairing malnourished children's underdeveloped gut microbiomes. The study also has identified the important bacterial strains that process these biochemical components. The findings may help guide treatment with a current food formulation and enable creation of new, more effective formulations in the future.

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Published

Tiniest free-floating brown dwarf      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Brown dwarfs are objects that straddle the dividing line between stars and planets. They form like stars, growing dense enough to collapse under their own gravity, but they never become dense and hot enough to begin fusing hydrogen and turn into a star. At the low end of the scale, some brown dwarfs are comparable with giant planets, weighing just a few times the mass of Jupiter.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Microbiology Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Engineering: Nanotechnology
Published

Nanoprobe with a barcode      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Protein-splitting enzymes play an important role in many physiological processes. Such proteases are generally present in an inactive state, only becoming activated under certain conditions. Some are linked to diseases like infections or cancer, making it important to have methods that can selectively detect active proteases. Scientists have introduced a new class of protease-activity sensors: gold nanoparticles equipped with peptide DNA.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Microbiology
Published

Infection with stomach bacteria may increase risk of Alzheimer's disease      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Infection with the stomach bacterium Helicobacter pylori could increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease: In people over the age of 50, the risk following a symptomatic infection can be an average of 11 percent higher, and even more about ten years after the infection, at 24 percent greater risk.