A breakthrough discovery identifies a new gene called Insulin Receptor Substrate 1 (IRS1) that affects how the body responds to insulin, leading to insulin resistance. The study found a single-nucleotide polymorphism in the IRS1 gene that reduces its activity by 40%, making it harder for insulin to work effectively.
Scientists have recovered uranium from polluted waters using bacteria and inositol phosphate, a cheap waste material. The process is economically viable, especially as the world price of uranium is likely to increase, offering an environmental protection benefit.
Scientists have discovered a genetic variation that impairs the body's muscle cells ability to use insulin effectively, leading to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. The study highlights a potential new target for scientists developing treatments for this disease.
A harmless shard from a childhood virus's shell may halt the complement response, a primordial part of the immune system that kills oxygen-deprived victims. This discovery could help save soldiers' lives and reduce brain damage caused by reperfusion injury.
Researchers have discovered a strain of bacteria with pilin proteins that can conduct electricity, leading to increased power output in microbial fuel cells. This breakthrough could enable the use of microbial fuel cells in remote environments and monitoring devices, such as ocean floor sensors, to convert waste into electricity.
UCSF researchers have successfully restored the missing protein calpain degrades LIS1 protein to near-normal levels in mice with the mouse-model of this defect. The team gave daily injections of a calpain inhibitor to pregnant mice whose fetuses had the mouse-model, resulting in more normal brains and no sign of mental retardation.
Researchers have identified novel bacterial strains capable of breaking down microcystins, a toxin produced by blue-green algae. These bacteria can be used to create a reliable and cost-effective purification system for removing microcystins from contaminated water.
Manuka honey kills MRSA by destroying key bacterial proteins, including FabI essential for fatty acid biosynthesis. The study suggests manuka honey could be used as a first-line treatment for resistant bacteria infections.
Research uses bacteria to produce biofilm layers containing biopolymers that act as strong adhesives, resulting in better mechanical strength and surface coverage. The biocoating method could lead to improved bone implant materials with enhanced properties.
British scientists have discovered two new genes associated with Alzheimer's disease, CLU and PICALM. These findings provide valuable new leads in the race to find treatments and possibly cures for the common form of Alzheimer's disease.
A team of international scientists has identified two more genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's disease, which appear to be involved in elevated risk and confirmed the importance of APOE4. The new genes, APOJ and PICALM, are linked to smaller but still significant effects on Alzheimer's disease risk.
A team of researchers has identified a molecular signature that can predict which patients with aggressive cancers, such as pancreatic and breast cancer, are likely to respond to therapy with the anti-cancer drug dasatinib. The discovery could lead to personalized treatment approaches for solid tumors currently resistant to therapies.
A $1.1 million grant from CIHR will support John MacDonald's research on preventing nerve cell death in Alzheimer's and stroke. The study aims to develop a peptide that can prevent toxic interactions between ion channels, which may lead to breakthroughs in treatment.
Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center found that a cancer drug can restore memory deficits in patients with Alzheimer's disease by targeting a previously unknown defect in the brain. The drug works by increasing DNA spool acetylation and gene transcription, leading to improved memory performance.
Researchers at the University of British Columbia have developed a system that turns harmless bacterium Caulobacter crescentus into a protein production factory, making useful proteins for vaccines and therapeutic purposes. The technology could be used to manufacture HIV-blocking agents cheaply and with minimal expertise.