An experimental vaccine has shown promise in protecting against the sexually transmitted disease chlamydia, researchers report. Lab mice given the vaccine were able to rapidly clear subsequent chlamydia infections, and were less likely to develop severe infections compared with unvaccinated mice, researchers reported Nov. 11 in the journal npj Vaccines. The vaccine contains chlamydia whole-cell [...]
MSK researchers discovered that the innate immune system’s chronic activation due to issues in the Mre11 complex can lead to cancer, highlighting new therapeutic targets. In addition to defending against pathogens, the body’s innate immune system plays a surprising role in safeguarding genome stability — a function with significant implications for cancer development, as [...]
Findings suggest that PER3 gene variants prevent adrenal adaptation to winter daylight, leading to serotonin disruption and depression-like behaviors. A recent study in Nature Metabolism used humanized mice with modified PERIOD3 gene variants (P415A and H417R) to explore the genetic role in winter seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Male mice exposed to short, winter-like daylight showed SAD-like [...]
New atomic sensor technology enhances MRI quality control by tracking hyperpolarized molecules in real-time, with potential benefits for various scientific fields. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a fundamental tool in modern medicine, offering detailed views of internal organs and tissues. These large, tube-shaped MRI machines, commonly seen in hospitals, utilize powerful magnets to analyze [...]
By harnessing advanced AI, MethylGPT decodes DNA methylation with unprecedented accuracy, offering new paths for age prediction, disease diagnosis, and personalized health interventions. In a recent study posted to the bioRxiv preprint* server, researchers developed a transformer-based foundation model, MethylGPT, for the DNA methylome. DNA methylation is a type of epigenetic modification that regulates gene expression [...]
Researchers unveil the inner mechanisms of the most intricate and complex molecular machine in human biology. Scientists at the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) in Barcelona have developed the first comprehensive blueprint of the human spliceosome, the most complex and intricate molecular machine found in every cell. This groundbreaking achievement, over a decade in [...]
Scientists have discovered a way to target elusive circular fragments of DNA that drive the survival of some of the most aggressive cancers, paving the way for future treatments. In three groundbreaking papers published today in Nature, scientists from the Cancer Grand Challenges team eDyNAmiC and their international collaborators at the Francis Crick Institute and University [...]
In a recent study published in Nature, scientists used murine models to investigate how certain bacteria, such as Escherichia coli strains that contain a polyketide synthase (pks) island encoding enzymes that produce colibactin genotoxin, could increase the risk of colorectal cancer. The study examined whether blocking the binding mechanisms of the toxin could prevent colorectal cancer. Background [...]
(Nanowerk News) Researchers from the IBB-UAB have developed a new class of nanostructures capable of trapping and neutralising large quantities of the SARS-CoV2 virus particles, both in liquid solutions and on the surface of materials. These novel nanoparticles could be used to manufacture antiviral materials such as wastewater and air filters, and could be exploited to [...]
Nanodiscs are synthetic phospholipid particles with a distinct morphology and size that enhance their efficiency in drug delivery applications.1 First developed by Sligar et al. in the early 2000s, these model membrane systems measure around 10 nm in diameter with a thickness between 4.6 and 5.6 nm.2 Structurally, nanodiscs are similar to high-density lipoproteins. In medical [...]
