Cells that provide structural support to the intestine’s interior lining also have special defenses against toxins DUKE-NUS MEDICAL SCHOOL The master regulators of gut stem cells, called intestinal myofibroblasts, have pumps that protect them, and thus the gut, from the toxic effects of a wide range of compounds, including the anticancer drug tamoxifen, according to...
Category: <span>biological sciences</span>
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Research brief: Researchers 3D print prototype for ‘bionic eye’
A team of researchers at the University of Minnesota have, for the first time, fully 3D printed an array of light receptors on a hemispherical surface. This discovery marks a significant step toward creating a “bionic eye” that could someday help blind people see or sighted people see better. The research is published today in Advanced Materials, a peer-reviewed scientific...
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Synthetic peptide helps repair myelin damaged by MS
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks myelin, the sheaths protecting neurons in the nervous system. Like exposed electrical wires, this effectively short-circuits the nerves, disrupting communication between the brain and the body that leads to impaired motor skills and cognition. Now, researchers at Melbourne University have developed a synthetic peptide...
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Scientists find a new way to attack herpesviruses
New study uncovers how the viruses bypass your body’s defense mechanisms SAN FRANCISCO, CA–August 28, 2018–Human cytomegalovirus is a leading cause of birth defects and transplant failures. As it’s evolved over time, this virus from the herpes family has found a way to bypass the body’s defense mechanisms that usually guards against viral infections. Until...
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Researchers develop ‘cytological ruler’ to build 3D map of human genome
It has been almost 20 years since the human genome was first sequenced, but researchers still know little about how the genome is folded up and organized within cells. In a paper to be published August 28 in the Journal of Cell Biology, researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign describe a new technique...
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Diseased heart muscle cells have abnormally shortened telomeres, researchers find
People with a form of heart disease called cardiomyopathy have abnormally short telomeres in heart muscle cells responsible for contraction, according to a new study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine. Human chromosomes (grey) capped by telomeres (white). Credit: PD-NASA; PD-USGOV-NASA A telomere is a DNA sequence that serves as a protective cap on the ends...
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Revolutions: The gut microbiome
Revolutions are our new series that brings together a hand-picked selection of recent articles canvassing cutting-edge insights into major scientific advances. This first rundown brings you up to date with the ground-breaking science surrounding our gut microbiome. It’s striking to realize, but living inside all of us are trillions of micro-organisms. The vast majority of...
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The molecular changes caused by sleep loss, and how that leads to weight gain
A great number of observational studies have suggested that sleep loss or disrupted circadian rhythms due to shift work are associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes and a variety of other dysfunctional metabolic conditions. A study from Uppsala University is now offering evidence that helps better explain how tissue-level molecular changes are brought on by...
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Enzymes team up with light-activated catalysts
Catalysts working in pairs can promote more-effective reactions than can the same catalysts used sequentially. The coupling of an enzyme with a light-activated catalyst offers great potential for organic synthesis. Nicholas J. Turner The development of catalytic reactions is a dominant theme in chemistry, especially in industry, where major efforts are underway to develop large-scale...
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Oxygen: bacteria killer
A new technique to kill bacteria by utilizing oxygen is on the horizon. A team of researchers has reported its latest developments in the fight to kill methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at the 256th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (19-23 Aug, MA, USA). The technique utilizes light to activate oxygen, which can kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria. It...