Crowd-sourcing efforts identified key disease-causing genes in the E. coli O104:H4 strain, which carries a high number of genes involved in disease. The outbreak, affecting over 16 countries, has been linked to contaminated beansprouts and resulted in thousands of cases and multiple deaths.
Researchers have developed a gene for an improved bacterial enzyme that targets tumour cells while leaving healthy tissue unscathed. This therapy uses Clostridium sporogenes to deliver anti-cancer drugs directly to the site of solid tumours.
Scientists at Berkeley Lab have demonstrated a microscale device made of graphene that can tune its response to light at terahertz frequencies with exquisite precision. The device uses an array of graphene ribbons to control collective oscillations of electrons, or plasmons, which absorb different frequencies of light.
A potential vaccine against tuberculosis has been found to completely eliminate the disease-causing bacteria from infected tissues in mice. The vaccine uses a modified strain of bacteria that triggers a specific immune response, providing longer protection and bactericidal immunity.
Teenagers frequently take medications without targeted information about risks and benefits. Pharmacists need to enhance communication to address anxiety, confusion, and misconceptions. Effective communication can also promote family well-being in vulnerable populations.
Scientists have created a new class of materials that exhibit both magnetic and superconducting properties, revolutionizing the field of electronics. By sandwiching two nonmagnetic insulators together, researchers discovered a material where the interface between the two has both magnetic and superconducting regions.
Researchers at Kyoto University have designed an inexpensive new material capable of quick and accurate detection of carbon dioxide gas. The compound gives off variable degrees of visible light in correspondence with different gas concentrations, enabling the development of easy-to-use monitoring devices.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute have successfully produced stem cells from two endangered species, a drill and the northern white rhinoceros. These cells could enable lifesaving medical therapies or offer the potential to preserve or expand genetic diversity by offering new reproduction possibilities.
A group of mutations in the interleukin-7 receptor gene have been identified in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients, leading to uncontrolled cell proliferation. Researchers found that certain pharmaceutical drugs already in clinical use can eliminate these cells, providing a potential therapeutic approach against leukemia.
Researchers have solved the debate on which bird digits exist, finding that precursor cells in pb can form a thumb despite pa cells dying off during development. The study, published in Nature, reveals new insights into embryonic development and vertebrate evolution.
A new TB vaccine candidate has shown promising results in animal studies, inducing a robust T-cell response that could protect against the disease. The vaccine, developed using a closely related species of bacteria, proved both potent and safe, with vaccinated mice living up to 135 days versus 54 days for control mice.
Flushing out antibodies in people with E. coli infection improves symptoms significantly, according to The Lancet article. Immunoadsorption technique removes circulating immunoglobulins, improving neurological and renal function recovery in patients with severe complications.
Researchers at IRB Barcelona have identified human colon stem cells and developed a method to grow them in lab-plates. This breakthrough could lead to significant advances in regenerative medicine, potentially treating diseases such as colorectal cancer and Crohn's disease.
Bipolar disorder affects 3% of the general population, with significant functional limitations and high rates of psychiatric hospitalization in children and adolescents. The diagnostic criteria for bipolar I disorder in adolescents include mania, euphoria, and irritability, while mixed episodes are common in this age group.
Chemists at Tufts University have developed a single molecule electric motor, measuring 1 nanometer across and controlled by electricity. The motor's operation depends on temperatures around 5 Kelvin, which could lead to real-world applications in sensing devices and medical equipment.
Researchers have discovered a new class of anti-diabetic compounds that target a unique molecular switch, potentially offering fewer side effects than existing drugs. The new compound, SR1664, blocks Cdk5's action on PPARG and shows improved blood sugar levels without weight gain or fluid retention.
Researchers found that two proteins activated by inflammation are crucial for maintaining good blood sugar levels and boosting their activity can normalize blood sugar. The study suggests a new paradigm for understanding type 2 diabetes, where obesity interferes with cells' response to inflammatory signals.
Researchers found a genetic defect in the GATA2 gene that predisposes people to acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplasia. The mutation affects the production of healthy white blood cells, increasing the risk of severe infections.