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Science News for December 27, 2018


Researchers discover kidney disease gene affects more populations than previously thought

A team of researchers discovered that APOL1 risk variants, previously known to affect African and African American populations, are also found at appreciable frequencies in Caribbean and Latin American populations. This finding could help physicians tailor treatment more closely to their needs through precision medicine.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateDec 27, 2018

Hybrid qubits solve key hurdle to quantum computing

Researchers have developed a hybrid device combining two types of qubits to solve the speed bottleneck in quantum computing. By integrating different qubit architectures, they achieved rapid initialization and coherent measurements, paving the way for more scalable devices.

SourceRIKEN·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 27, 2018

Contact with monkeys and apes puts populations at risk

Researchers found that Cameroonian adults frequently interact with nonhuman primates through hunting, butchering, and consuming meat. This exposure puts people at risk of infection with new diseases, highlighting the need for improved surveillance and safe handling practices.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateDec 27, 2018

Bacteria found in ancient Irish soil halts growth of superbugs -- new hope for tackling antibiotic resistance

Researchers have discovered a previously unknown strain of bacteria in ancient Irish soil that effectively inhibits the growth of four top-six multi-resistant pathogens. The strain, Streptomyces sp. myrophorea, has shown promise against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, providing new hope for combating antibiotic resistance.

SourceSwansea University·JournalFrontiers in Microbiology·DateDec 27, 2018

How exercise reduces belly fat in humans

A 12-week exercise intervention reduced visceral abdominal fat in obese adults, but tocilizumab treatment abolished this effect and increased cholesterol levels. Exercise promotes better health and reduces the risk of cardio-metabolic diseases by reducing abdominal fat mass.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Metabolism·DateDec 27, 2018

Sleeping sickness parasite uses multiple metabolic pathways

Research reveals that trypanosomes use gluconeogenesis and glycerol metabolism to produce ATP and synthesize glucose, challenging the long-held assumption of exclusive reliance on glycolysis. This metabolic flexibility is essential for adaptation to environmental conditions and survival in mammalian host tissues.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Pathogens·DateDec 27, 2018