Researchers found that exposure to fungal infections and bacterial products, such as lipopolysaccharides, can drive airway disease in severe asthma. Steroid treatment failed to correct airway dysfunction, highlighting the need for alternative therapies.
A new study published in Science Translational Medicine found that immune responses to urinary tract infections during pregnancy are linked to preterm births. Researchers identified specific immune responses, including cytokines and immune cells, that initiate adverse outcomes. Supplementing pregnant women with interleukin-10 or trappi...
Researchers found the brain continuously blends and adjusts multiple goal-directed strategies at the same time, like a GPS system recalculating a route. The hippocampus plays an active role in tracking possible future strategies and planning upcoming actions, supporting a three-part framework for compositional control.
Researchers found that NF1 loss in ER+ breast cancer cells promotes bone metastasis by inducing osteoclast formation and immunosuppression, leading to a self-reinforcing cycle of cancer growth and bone damage.
A Baylor College of Medicine-led team found that individuals with early signs of type 1 diabetes who moved into a normal weight range had about a 48% lower risk of progressing to clinical type 1 diabetes compared to those who remained overweight or obese. The association was strongest in children and adolescents.
A study led by Dr. Geoffrey Preidis and Dr. Mary K. Estes found that providing isovalerate, a microbiota-derived metabolite, can improve gut barrier function in malnourished mice. This approach shows promise for developing a new treatment to prevent sepsis and death in malnourished children.
Researchers found that astrocyte shape and molecular characteristics vary across brain regions, influencing their distinct roles. The study reveals that the Nfix gene coordinates two parallel pathways involving GABA, which is essential for astrocyte-neuron communication, and its absence impairs memory consolidation.
A BCM-led team will receive a $10 million award over five years to build FORECAST, an integrated system to study the emergence and expansion of deadly pathogens in human populations. The project aims to identify never-before-seen relationships between deadly pathogens and environmental drivers.
The collaboration aims to improve human tolerance to xenogeneic organs and reduce the risk of organ rejection. Researchers will explore immunomodulatory interventions to support patients with high unmet needs who face additional barriers to receiving timely liver transplants.
Researchers developed a new drug called CS18 that targets TopBP1, a biological switchboard controlling multiple cancer-driving pathways. CS18 reduces defenses helping cancer cells survive therapy and increases genes stopping uncontrolled growth.
A likely case of soft tick-borne relapsing fever was reported in an Austin resident, who experienced recurring high fevers and symptoms before finding an infected tick. Researchers confirmed the presence of Borrelia turicatae bacteria and emphasized the need for greater awareness and surveillance of tick populations in urban areas.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and Houston Zoo have developed the world's first mRNA vaccine against elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV), a deadly disease affecting young Asian elephants. The vaccine has shown promising results in clinical trials, providing protection against severe hemorrhagic disease.
The study reveals that different forms and levels of partner proteins involved in the disease lead to distinct molecular interactions and biological outcomes in different tissues. The findings suggest that directing therapies to specific protein forms may improve treatment options for neurological diseases.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine identified a vulnerability in triple-negative breast cancers with LIG1 loss and used it to develop a new therapy for chemotherapy-resistant TNBC tumors. A combination of olaparib and ceralasertib showed significant effectiveness in reducing tumor growth in animal models.
A novel biological pathway has been uncovered that can lead to seizures when disrupted, providing a new approach for improved diagnosis. The study identifies an association between defective genes and increased glutamatergic transmission, which can increase the risk of seizures.
Baylor researchers developed a novel method of somatic gene editing in mice to generate tumor models. The new rat models closely mimic human disease biology, response to therapy and immune microenvironment, offering a powerful way to study cancers not well studied in mouse models.
Researchers discovered that bacteria pool their resources to help dormant cells survive antibiotic attacks. Protein transfer between bacterial populations allows vulnerable members to persist in the face of deadly antibiotic attacks. Understanding this teamwork can lead to new approaches to improve antibiotic effectiveness.
Researchers developed a new approach to monitor HIV in communities by analyzing viral genomes in wastewater. The method strongly coincided with diagnosed HIV cases, suggesting that wastewater signals can track HIV burden.
Researchers find that limiting methionine in the diet destabilizes DNA organization and leads to cancer cell death and increased animal survival. The study proposes a new connection between diet, gene regulation, and cancer growth, opening possibilities for treating aggressive brain tumors.
A study by Baylor College of Medicine researchers identifies a set of dysfunctional genes and specific cell types that are vulnerable early on to genetic changes in Rett syndrome. The research reveals that even healthy cells can be influenced by their environment, contributing to widespread brain dysfunction in the disease.
A new report describes a novel disorder caused by biallelic loss-of-function variants in the TMEM63B gene, resulting in severe lung disease. The study identified five individuals from four unrelated families with similar symptoms of early onset respiratory distress, lung abnormalities, and developmental delay.
Researchers propose reconsidering how histone deacetylase inhibitors work in cancer treatment, identifying genuine molecular targets as a key step to improve treatment. The study suggests that HDAC inhibitors may interfere with other proteins, suppressing cancer growth.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have developed MARRVEL-MCP, a new computational tool that uses artificial intelligence to analyze and interpret genetic data in everyday language. This enables faster and more accessible genetic diagnoses, especially for non-experts.
Researchers developed a new eye drop treatment that significantly reduced dry eye disease characteristics, such as inflammation and loss of goblet cells. The treatment uses a rexinoid compound that boosts the protective role of resident macrophages, promoting debris-clearing and immune balance.
A study published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology detects all known cancer-causing viruses in wastewater across Texas, revealing increased abundance of viruses such as HPV and EBV. The approach enables tracking of vaccine-preventable viruses like HPV-16 and HPV-18, which could inform vaccination programs.
Baylor College of Medicine researchers found that the brain can process sound and language without conscious awareness, even under general anesthesia. Neural signals predicted upcoming words in a sentence, mirroring predictive behavior in artificial intelligence.
Researchers developed a new method to identify cellular features supporting metastatic cancer growth, revealing an unexpected driver of immune suppression in bone metastasis. Estrogen receptor alpha-activated macrophages play a key role in immunosuppression and tumor progression.
A study published in PNAS reveals that endothelial cells can repair DNA damage caused by disturbed flow, slowing atherosclerosis progression. Supplementing purines reverts these effects, suggesting future therapies targeting endothelial DNA repair could complement cholesterol-lowering drugs.
A study has identified novel risk factors and therapeutic targets for Parkinson's disease, offering hope for future treatments. The researchers used a combination of computational and experimental approaches to distinguish between gene function changes that promote or protect against the disease.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine developed new methods to study DNA management in bacteria, revealing that DNA shape and flexibility play critical roles in gyrase activity. The study identifies specific DNA sequences that guide gyrase binding and interaction with the enzyme.
Researchers developed a new method to identify intricate RNA structures that are likely to have significant biological functions. The multi-site DMS-MaP approach allows for direct measurement of RNA folding in cells, revealing key 3D structures and protein binding sites.
The study found that cardiac manifestations, primarily electric conduction abnormalities, affect most DM1 patients, leading to life-threatening arrhythmias. However, the researchers discovered that turning off toxic RNA molecules can reverse some physical changes in the heart, but not all, particularly in male mice.
Researchers discovered that inherited calcium channel mutations in children with epilepsy increase thalamic excitability and drive excessive proliferation of thalamic relay neurons before birth. This finding highlights a prenatal developmental window of vulnerability for childhood epilepsy.
The study reveals that chief cells transform into repair cells through three stages, involving self-digestion, gene expression changes, and cell proliferation. The researchers discovered that the enzyme STK38 plays a crucial role in regulating YAP1 activity during paligenosis.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have discovered a new approach to cancer treatment by eliminating the gene SRC-3 in regulatory T cells. This eliminates the immunosuppressive action of SRC-3, enabling these cells to trigger an anti-cancer response that eradicates tumors without side effects.
A team of researchers found a mechanism that taps into normal brain development to drive tumor growth in pediatric supratentorial ependymoma. The ZR fusion protein interacts with genetic material, altering expression and creating a heterogeneous tumor.
A team of researchers has discovered that androgens promote the growth of Posterior Fossa Type A (PFA) ependymoma, a lethal pediatric brain tumor. Blocking androgen signaling reduces tumor proliferation, suggesting anti-androgen therapies as a promising treatment option.
Researchers found that cancer cells lose MHC I expression, making them vulnerable to CD4+ T cell attack and ferroptosis triggered by iron and oxidative stress. This discovery challenges long-held assumptions in immunology and has implications for cancer immunotherapy and bone marrow transplantation.
A study published in Nature Microbiology reveals that weaning from milk to solid food in early life reshapes the gut microbiome, training intestinal stem cells to respond better to microbes later in life. This process, known as epithelial immune memory, creates a lasting impression on gut health.
A study at Baylor College of Medicine reveals the cellular composition of rare pediatric liver cancer and its response to treatment. Researchers found that these tumors contain three types of cancer cells and that they originate from hepatic stem cells.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine discover tubulin's role in preventing toxic protein clumps in brain cells, potentially fighting Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Tubulin steers Tau and alpha synuclein proteins towards their healthy roles, reducing toxic aggregation.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have identified a potential therapeutic strategy for Rett syndrome by guiding brain cells to produce more functional MeCP2 protein. The approach, which involves deleting a specific ingredient from the gene that produces the protein, has shown promise in mice and cells derived from patients with...
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have identified two mutually exclusive mechanisms that enable triple-negative breast cancer to resist therapy. By analyzing tumor cellular composition, the team found that chemotherapy can reprogram macrophages, transforming them into suppressive cells that aid in tumor escape. Removing macroph...
A study revealed a path of molecular events that can lead to Alzheimer's disease, including the formation of amyloid plaques and tau tangles. Researchers identified genes involved in immune and synaptic regulatory mechanisms as potential therapeutic targets.
A recent study published in the American Journal of Human Genetics has established a connection between the ASTN1 gene and undiagnosed human neurodevelopmental disorders. Researchers found that loss-of-function variants of the gene cause a range of developmental delays, intellectual disabilities, autism, ADHD, and epilepsy in children.
Researchers have identified a chain of events connecting genetic alterations, lipid metabolism disruptions, and Parkinson's disease manifestation. The study found that a specific gene variant increases the risk of developing Parkinson's by altering lipid functions in the brain.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have found that triple negative breast cancer cells produce a 'sticky coat' made of hyaluronan and CD44, which helps them form clusters and spread to other organs. The discovery opens new possibilities for developing clinical interventions to treat metastatic TNBC patients.
Scientists have successfully grown human norovirus in the lab for up to 15 consecutive passages, enabling comprehensive studies of viral structure, antiviral drug screening, and vaccine development. The breakthrough uses a drug called TAK 779 to overcome host restrictions, allowing researchers to produce stable virus stocks.
Researchers found that carrying one mutant copy of ATP13A2 and GBA1 drives a slow, progressive neurodegeneration in flies, leading to movement problems, neuron loss, and disruption in neural communication. Accumulation of glucosylceramide in glial cells is linked to the disease process.
Overactive valosin-containing protein (VCP) disrupts the nuclear pore complex, leading to abnormal TDP-43 trafficking and neuronal damage in neurodegenerative diseases. Inhibiting VCP activity may offer new therapeutic strategies for treating these conditions.