Researchers have developed a new computational modeling approach to capture the complex shapes that viral proteins can adopt. By applying this approach to a key protein involved in COVID-19 replication, scientists have created a detailed picture of its dynamic behavior.
Marcel P. Goldschen-Ohm wins the 2024 Paper of the Year-Early Career Investigator Award for his study on GABA receptor subunit linkers and their role in pore gating and diazepam modulation, challenging conventional views on receptor function.
A new tool measures how individual phytoplankton cells are using energy, revealing unique ways each species adjusts to light changes. This helps predict and observe ocean responses to climate change and assess phytoplankton health.
Scientists discovered sweet taste receptors on the surface of heart muscle cells, which increase the force of contraction when stimulated with artificial sweeteners. This breakthrough may lead to novel treatments for heart failure and provide insight into arrhythmogenesis.
A new study reveals a specific genetic mutation in the Apennine brown bear population that impairs cellular energy production and increases harmful byproducts. This mutation is linked to reduced overall health and survival in these critically endangered bears.
A new approach enables researchers to generate antibodies against transitory protein targets, providing insights into disease mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Research reveals key differences in immune system response to Alzheimer's and bacterial infections, with larger Aeta clumps triggering more chronic inflammation.
The Biophysical Society has selected 36 winners of its annual Student Research Achievement Awards for their outstanding presentations during the poster competition. The winners are recognized for their research in various fields, including bioenergetics, biophysics, and biomedical engineering.
The Biophysical Society recognized 10 students for their exceptional poster presentations during the annual Undergraduate Poster Award Competition. The winners are from top universities across the US and explored various biophysics topics.
Researchers developed a faster test for mpox using CRISPR and nanopore sensing technology, which can detect the virus in 32-55 minutes, compared to hours of current lab testing. The test is specific to mpox and was confirmed not to detect other viruses.
Researchers created a soft robot mimicking 500-million-year-old pleurocystitids, suggesting a sweeping motion helped them glide through the ocean floor. The design also indicates longer stems enabled faster movement without increased energy expenditure.
Researchers have developed a new urine-based test for early detection of ovarian cancer using nanopore sensing technology. The method can simultaneously identify multiple peptides, including those derived from LRG-1, and shows promise for improving 5-year survival rates by up to 75%.
Carlas S. Smith receives Biophysical Journal's Paper of the Year-Early Career Investigator Award for groundbreaking work on single-molecule localization microscopy precision. His research provides new opportunities to optimize methods for achieving optimal precision in localization microscopy.
Studies have shown that COVID-19 infection increases the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and strokes. The virus causes changes in calcium channels, oxidative stress, and inflammation in the heart, leading to arrhythmias and myocarditis.
Researchers are developing solar panels that use biological molecules like chlorophyll to convert sunlight into chemical energy, making them more efficient and potentially easier to recycle. The goal is to create smaller panels that can generate the same amount of electricity without harming the environment.
Researchers have developed a molecule that sticks to the twisted part of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, preventing it from infecting cells. The longHR2_42 inhibitor has shown promise in blocking infection even with new variants, offering hope for a new type of antiviral therapeutic.
Researchers discovered that shark spirals favor fluid flow in one direction, challenging a physics theorem. By studying the spiral shape and materials, they aim to develop soft robotics and medical devices.
Researchers have developed a tool to predict females' heart response to medications using male data, aiming to prevent deaths from drug-induced complications. The tool uses regression-based models to analyze differences in heart physiology between males and females.
The 2022 Student Research Achievement Awards recognized 31 students for their exceptional contributions to biophysical research. The Biophysical Society selected these students based on their outstanding presentations during the poster competition, with winners coming from various institutions worldwide.
The Biophysical Society has selected 31 student researchers who presented outstanding work at the annual meeting poster competition. These students demonstrated exceptional skills in bioenergetics, bioengineering, biological fluorescence, and other areas of biophysics.
Researchers have developed a new technique using bowl-shaped nanoparticles to study Alzheimer's disease amyloid beta protein aggregates. The findings confirm multiple forms of these aggregates co-exist and not all convert into brain plaques, opening possibilities for diagnostic and treatment applications.
Research reveals how glycans on SARS-CoV-2's surface facilitate activation of the virus by altering spike protein structure. This finding holds potential for identifying treatments to block or prevent viral activation.
Researchers found that SARS-CoV-2's spike protein moves on a different time scale than SARS-CoV-1, giving it more stability and increasing its ability to infect cells. This discovery could lead to the development of therapeutics that alter the protein's dynamics and make it less transmissible.
Researchers have created molecular models to study the critical parts of SARS-CoV-2 that interact with human cell membranes. The simulations reveal how the virus inserts itself into cells and provide new insights into a potential drug target. This discovery could help develop new treatments for COVID-19.
Researchers at California Institute of Technology have discovered how antibodies recognize and block the Zika virus. The study found that antibodies produced in response to Zika virus are effective against other flaviviruses like dengue type 1, but less effective against West Nile and other types of dengue.
Studies directly visualized changing SARS-CoV-2 spike shapes and monitored antibody attachment, finding two targeting strategies: occupying the open position or locking in a closed state. This research informs COVID-19 vaccine and treatment development.
Scientists discovered that ancient protocells, which emerged around 3.8 billion years ago, can form bubble-like compartments without added energy or molecular machines. These spontaneous compartments can encapsulate small molecules and divide into smaller 'daughter' bubbles, similar to simple cell division.
A new study reveals that reducing body temperature improves surfactant activity, making it easier for oxygen to enter the lungs. Therapeutic hypothermia could be a potential treatment for ARDS, affecting critical patients worldwide.
Researchers used DNA origami to analyze ultra-fast movements of CRISPR enzymes, enabling them to understand how they recognize target sequences. This technique will help optimize CRISPR for fewer off-target matches and improve gene editing processes.
Researchers identify nsp13 as a key helicase enzyme in coronaviruses, which could be targeted for COVID-19 treatment and prevention. The study found that nsp13 is a relatively weak helicase requiring assistance to function, providing a potential first line of defense against future coronavirus outbreaks.
The new journal features short contributions and rapid turnarounds, covering all disciplines of biophysics with an emphasis on methods and techniques. The inaugural Editor-in-Chief, Jörg Enderlein, expects significant potential for the journal to offer transparent and rapid editorial decisions.
The Biophysical Society has selected 31 students for their outstanding presentations at the 64th Annual Meeting Awards Ceremony. The winners were recognized for their contributions to bioenergetics, biopolymers, and other scientific disciplines.
Researchers have successfully solved the structure of Parkinson's disease-related protein LRRK2 inside cells using a pioneering technique. The study reveals that pathogenic LRRK2 forms exquisitely-organized double-helices around microtubules, suggesting a potential target for therapies.
Researchers developed SABER, a method to multiplex imaging of specific molecules, allowing visualization of rare and low-abundance molecules. The technique enables detection of multiple proteins, DNAs, or RNAs in a single tissue sample, advancing basic biology, biomarker discovery, and clinical diagnostics.
Researchers have engineered immune cells to target solid tumors using a new cancer immunotherapies approach. They found that T cells can be reprogrammed to turn on tumor cells when exposed to high concentrations of transforming growth factor beta, a protein that suppresses the activity of T cells in the tumor environment.
Researchers discover how Ebola virus interacts with human lipids and how disrupting this interaction can inhibit infection in cell culture. Two FDA-approved drugs show promise in blocking virus replication and spread.
Researchers developed a new high-throughput technique to study gene splicing, tracking thousands of genes in real-time. The results show that splicing occurs far more often than previously thought, with significant variability in gene expression timing.
Fruit fly sleep is driven by oxidative stress, an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants. This discovery may explain why chronic lack of sleep shortens life expectancy. By sleeping, cells may mitigate damage from accumulated oxidative stress.
Scientists have resolved the structure of an essential protein for insect smell, suggesting that millions of odor receptors evolved to suit different lifestyles and habitats. The protein Orco forms a common channel with many odor receptors, allowing for diverse adaptations.
Researchers create molecular 'fishing' technology using customized receptors to detect specific proteins in blood, offering a precise diagnostic tool for diseases and drug discovery applications.
Researchers developed a hydrogel that changes color with radiation exposure, allowing for painless dose monitoring on the skin. The gel is relatively inexpensive and can be used directly on the skin without complex handling.
A new microscopy technique allows researchers to follow individual proteins over long periods of time as they move along and inside live cells. The technique, called interferometric scattering (iSCAT) microscopy, can track proteins with microsecond speeds for extended periods.
Researchers developed a new blood test that can identify individual molecules in human blood samples with minimal detection errors, including rare cancer-associated proteins like mutant p53 and PD-L1. This breakthrough enables accurate disease diagnosis and novel insights into cancer mechanisms.
Researchers created a bioreactor to study heart tissue's mechanics in sync with the body's beats, revealing changes in force similar to those observed in living hearts. The device allows for adjustment of contraction parameters to mimic normal or disease conditions, enabling studies on high blood pressure's effects on heart cells.
A high-fat diet causes thickening of arteries at the cellular level, according to researchers. The study found that even small amounts of oxidized LDL can dramatically change the structure of the cell membrane, leading to increased tension and stiffness.
Researchers identified protocadherin 15 as a key protein responsible for converting bending forces from sound waves into electrical signals. This discovery sheds new light on the causes of hearing loss and how sound is transmitted to the brain.
Research by Eleonora Zakharian and colleagues reveals that the absence of TRPM8 leads to increased aggression and hypersexuality in mice. The team found that males with TRPM8 knockout exhibit violent behavior, while females show increased sexual appetite and sniffing behaviors.
Scientists have developed techniques to track the global changes in gene activation caused by MYC, a potent cancer gene. The new toolkit reveals subtle differences in gene expression between individual cells, which may lead to cancer.
Researchers at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory developed methods to study protein structures under force, revealing a protein 'strain absorber' that stretches up to 2.5 times its original length. This discovery opens new avenues for understanding molecular elasticity in proteins and their response to small forces.
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder studied Burmese pythons' rapid heart growth in response to fasting and feeding, which could aid humans with diseased heart growth. The study reveals ways to isolate python heart cells, allowing for a better understanding of their mechanics and potential applications in human heart health.