On January 10, Chinese researchers posted the novel coronavirus’ RNA sequence on a preprint server. Immediately, scientists who study genetic vaccines turned their efforts to the emerging pathogen that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). They knew that rapid response genetic platforms could shave precious weeks to months off development, crucial during a pandemic. They were...
Reviewed by Emily Henderson, B.Sc. How do people coordinate their actions with the sounds they hear? This basic ability, which allows people to cross the street safely while hearing oncoming traffic, dance to new music or perform team events such as rowing, has puzzled cognitive neuroscientists for years. A new study led by researchers at...
by University of Melbourne A world first discovery of how a protein works in the liver could lead to a more effective type 2 diabetes drug. The University of Melbourne-led study found that the SMOC1 protein, which is naturally produced by the liver, can decrease blood glucose levels. An engineered form of SMOC1 could therefore...
A light-sensitive receptor protein expressed in neurons deep in the mouse brain has been shown to be stimulated by violet light, and to activate a pathway that reduces heat production in brown fat. Light has profound effects on human behaviour and physiology, from synchronizing sleep–wake cycles to inducing daily fluctuations in body temperature and energy...
By Dr. Liji Thomas, MD The global pandemic of COVID-19 continues to cause thousands of deaths and many hundreds of thousands of new infections every day. New methods are urgently needed to identify severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections and manage them better, including developing criteria for hospitalization. A new study by a...
POHANG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (POSTECH) INNATE T CELLS HAVE ANALOGOUS EFFECTOR SUBSETS. view more CREDIT: YOU JEONG LEE, SANGUK KIM (POSTECH) There are memory cells that remember previously encountered pathogens and help to react quickly and strongly when exposed to them again. The developmental process of strong immune cells that make these memory...
Drugs used to treat initial signs of rheumatoid arthritis also improve the early stages of heart disease, according to new research UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS Drugs used to treat initial signs of rheumatoid arthritis also improve the early stages of heart disease, according to new research. Having rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is known to at least double...
Examining individual molecules to detect the presence of disease in blood UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS ILLUSTRATION SHOWS THE MARRIAGE OF DNA NANOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOELECTRONICS.view more CREDIT: EATFISHDESIGN A new and quicker method of diagnosing diseases in patients has been created by researchers at the University of Leeds. The team has developed a system of examining individual...
A new University of Kentucky College of Medicine study provides insight into how a protein called angiotensinogen (AGT) contributes to blood pressure regulation and atherosclerosis. AGT is a member of the renin-angiotensin system, a hormone system in the human body that regulates blood pressure and fluid balance. AGT produces angiotensin II, which regulates blood pressure...
MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative condition that is characterized by the buildup of clumps of beta-amyloid protein in the brain. Exactly what causes these clumps, known as plaques, and what role they play in disease progression is an active area of research important for developing prevention and treatment strategies. Recent...
