Showing 20 articles starting at article 1021
< Previous 20 articles Next 20 articles >
Categories: Biology: Cell Biology, Environmental: Wildfires
Published Fungus-fighting protein could help overcome severe autoimmune disease and cancer



A protein in the immune system programmed to protect the body from fungal infections is also responsible for exacerbating the severity of certain autoimmune diseases such as irritable bowel disease (IBS), type 1 diabetes, eczema and other chronic disorders, new research has found. The discovery could pave the way for new and more effective drugs, without the nasty side effects of existing treatments. In addition to helping to manage severe autoimmune conditions, the breakthrough could also help treat all types of cancer.
Published Influx of water and salts propel immune cells through the body



Researchers have shown that an influx of water and ions into immune cells allows them to migrate to where they're needed in the body.
Published Reverse metabolomics: New method finds biomarker for inflammatory bowel disease



Scientists' debut 'reverse metabolomics,' a groundbreaking approach to advancing microbiome research. They use the technique to discover hundreds of new human molecules, and a new biomarker and therapeutic target for inflammatory bowel disease.
Published Pregnant women are missing vital nutrients needed for them and their babies



Pregnant women eating modern diets are missing key nutrients needed for them and their babies, and this could get worse with the move to plant-based foods. Scientists surveying more than 1,700 women found most were missing vitamins usually found in meat and dairy, including B12, B6 and D, folic acid and riboflavin which are essential for the development of fetuses in the womb.
Published From infamy to ingenuity: Bacterial hijack mechanisms as advanced genetic tools



Researchers have uncovered the intricate molecular mechanism used by parasitic phytoplasma bacteria, known for inducing 'zombie-like' effects in plants.
Published 'Shocking' discovery: Electricity from electric eels may transfer genetic material to nearby animals



Researchers have discovered that electric eels can alter the genes of tiny fish larvae with their electric shock. Their findings help to better understand electroporation, a method by which genes can be transported using electricity.
Published Sugar permeation discovered in plant aquaporins



Aquaporins, which move water through membranes of plant cells, were not thought to be able to permeate sugar molecules, but researchers have observed sucrose transport in plant aquaporins for the first time, challenging this theory.
Published Wildfires have erased two decades' worth of air quality gains in western United States



A new study concludes that wildfires originating in the western United States and Canada have erased air quality gains over the past two decades and caused an increase of premature deaths in fire-prone areas and downwind regions, primarily in the western U.S.
Published Deep sea sensor reveals that corals produce reactive oxygen species



A new sensor on the submersible Alvin discovered reactive oxygen species for the first time in deep-sea corals, broadening our understanding of fundamental coral physiology.
Published Strange burn: New research identifies unique patterns in Utah wildfires



Utah's variable topography produces a tremendous range of wildfire behavior, according to new research.
Published Macrophages 'eat' insulin-producing cells to regulate insulin after mice have given birth



Pregnancy brings a rise in pancreatic beta cells -- the cells that produce insulin. Shortly after birth, these cells return to their normal levels. The mechanisms behind this process had remained a mystery. But now a research group has revealed that white blood cells called macrophages 'eat' these cells.
Published More than 100 'magic mushroom' genomes point the way to new cultivars



Scientists have amassed genome data for dozens of 'magic mushroom' isolates and cultivars, with the goal to learn more about how their domestication and cultivation has changed them. The findings may point the way to the production of intriguing new cultivars, say the researchers.
Published Researchers have cracked the cellular code on protein folding, offering hope for new therapeutic avenues for many diseases



While we often think of diseases as caused by foreign bodies -- bacteria or viruses -- there are hundreds of diseases affecting humans that result from errors in cellular production of its proteins. A team of researchers recently leveraged the power of cutting-edge technology, including an innovative technique called glycoproteomics, to unlock the carbohydrate-based code that governs how certain classes of proteins form themselves into the complex shapes necessary to keep us healthy.
Published New study maps ketamine's effects on brain



A mouse study found that the drug ketamine can alter the brain's dopamine system, boosting the case for more targeted medical use.
Published New technique efficiently offers insight into gene regulation



Researchers have developed a new technique called MAbID. This allows them to simultaneously study different mechanisms of gene regulation, which plays a major role in development and disease. MAbID offers new insights into how these mechanisms work together or against each other.
Published Pathogens use force to breach immune defenses, study finds



New research has revealed a previously unknown process through which pathogens are able to defeat a cell's defense mechanisms with physical force. The discovery represents a potential game-changer in the fight against intracellular pathogens, which cause infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria and chlamydia.
Published Scientists navigate uncharted waters in fish immunology research



Upon infection or immunization, all jawed vertebrate species generate proteins called antibodies that bind and neutralize pathogens. Strong and long-lasting antibody responses in warm-blooded species such as mammals are produced in secondary lymphoid microstructures (SLMs) among which germinal centers (GCs) are the centerpiece. Despite the apparent absence of GCs or similar SLMs in cold-blooded vertebrates (e.g., fish), these species can mount significant antibody responses that can persist for several months. Thus, for decades, the outstanding question has remained as to how and where antibody responses are generated in species that lack GCs or analogous SLM structures.
Published Unlocking the secret strength of marine mussels



How do you create strong, yet quick-release connections between living and non-living tissues? This is a question that continues to puzzle bioengineers who aim to create materials that bond together for advanced biomedical applications. Looking to nature for inspiration, this research zeroed in on the marine mussel byssus, a fibrous holdfast, which these bivalve mollusks use to anchor themselves in seashore habitats.
Published A patch of protection against Zika virus



A simple-to-apply, needle-free vaccine patch is being developed to protect people from the potentially deadly mosquito-borne Zika virus.
Published Shedding light on the synthesis of sugars before the origin of life



Pentoses are essential carbohydrates in the metabolism of modern lifeforms, but their availability on early Earth is unclear since these molecules are unstable. Now, researchers reveal a chemical pathway compatible with early Earth conditions, by which C6 aldonates could have acted as a source of pentoses without the need for enzymes. Their findings provide clues about primitive biochemistry and bring us closer to understanding life's origin.