By James Holloway Phages, viruses that thrive by infecting bacteria, have long been mooted as a potential replacement for antibiotics. But where antibiotics pose the problem of the bacteria they target mutating into dangerous resistant strains, phages pose risks due to their own fast-paced evolution, though those risks are poorly understood. But new research suggests...
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Artificial lifeforms designed by supercomputers are fully programmable
By Michael Irving Robots are made to mimic living creatures, and as smart as they’re becoming, we can still look at them and understand that they aren’t “living” in any real sense. But that line is now beginning to blur. Researchers at the University of Vermont and the Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University have...
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Could some antibiotics help treat early onset dementia?
The symptoms of frontotemporal, or early onset, dementia can appear as early as age 40. Have researchers found a new way to treat this condition using antibiotics? Can some antibiotics help treat frontotemporal dementia? Frontotemporal dementia, or frontotemporal lobar dementia, is an umbrella term that refers to a range of early onset dementias characterized by...
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Long-term skin irritation linked to increased risk of tumor growth
by Kate Wighton, Imperial College London An antibody that usually helps defend the skin against harmful substances or infections may promote tumor growth during chronic tissue inflammation. One of the skin’s defenses against environmental assault can help tumors to grow when skin is exposed to chronic inflammation, finds a study in mice published today in...
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Study finds potential new treatment for preventing PTSD
by Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Research led by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation points to a groundbreaking discovery about a new potential treatment and prevention for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The research team, led by Dr. Fang Liu, Senior Scientist and Head of...
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Long-term memory performance depends upon gating system, study finds
Suppression of genetic switch boosts hardwired memory in Drosophila SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE JUPITER, Fla.–Jan. 13, 2020–Storing and retrieving memories is among the most important tasks our intricate brains must perform, yet how that happens at a molecular level remains incompletely understood. A new study from the lab of Neuroscience Professor Ronald Davis, PhD, at Scripps...
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How might bitter melon help treat cancer?
Bitter melon, or bitter gourd, has served as a traditional Indian remedy for centuries. Recently, bitter melon extract supplements have been gaining popularity as an alternative medication for diabetes. Now, new research in mice seems to suggest that bitter melon extract may help fight cancer. Research in mouse models finds that bitter melon may help...
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Using the Coralberry to Treat Eye Cancer
By Hidaya Aliouche, B.Sc. Reviewed by Dr. Jennifer Logan, MD, MPH The coralberry holds promise as a natural therapeutic adjuvant for combatting uveal melanoma (UM), the most aggressive variant of eye cancer. The berry produces a natural toxin, termed FR900359 – abbreviated FR – that doubles as an insecticide. The FR is able to work...
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Common foods can help ‘landscape’ the jungle of our gut microbiome
by San Diego State University Researchers at San Diego State University have found a new way to harness food as medicine, which has far reaching implications to control harmful microbes in our gut while balancing microbial diversity by fostering the growth of beneficial bacteria. Foods we eat commonly affect our gut microbiota. New research shows...
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New treatment hope for those affected by muscle loss
by Wendy Davidson, University of Aberdeen New research from the University of Aberdeen has identified the genes responsible for muscle mass These findings may identify those most at risk from muscle loss as they get older and identifying these genes may unlock the potential for targeted drug therapies that could prevent further muscle loss. Published...