A study found that gut microbes exacerbate motor symptoms in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease, but antibiotic treatment and germ-free environments reduced motor deficits. The research could lead to new treatments for the neurodegenerative disease.
Research in mice reveals that gut microbe movements can influence a host animal's circadian rhythms by exposing different microbes and their metabolites as the day goes by. The study shows profound effects on host physiology, including changes in liver function and gene expression.
French researchers have discovered that Streptomyces bacteria can be used as an environmentally friendly alternative to pesticides. The bacteria promotes plant growth and controls pests in the soil. This study could lead to sustainable agricultural practices and reduce harm to human health and the environment.
Researchers found that dogs can recall a person's complex actions, even when they don't expect to be tested. The study used the 'Do as I Do' training method to demonstrate this ability.
Researchers found that jet lag increases both obesity-related liver disease and liver cancer risk by disrupting the body's internal homeostasis. The study suggests that lifestyle changes leading to chronic jet lag can also increase liver cancer risk in humans.
Research in mice shows that microbes communicate with hosts by sending metabolites that act on histones, influencing gene transcription. Diet composition impacts microbiome and epigenetic changes, with healthy diets promoting beneficial metabolite production.
Norovirus can shed for months or years, especially in immunocompromised individuals, and triggers other gut problems like IBS and IBD. Researchers discuss strategies to slow down the virus, including new vaccine approaches.
Research reveals that over 68% of individuals with different types of autism share a common set of epigenetic modifications in the brain. This finding suggests that a single global epigenetic pattern could underlie diverse manifestations of the psychiatric disease. Epigenetic drugs may hold potential as novel treatments for ASD.
Researchers at UCLA discovered that cardiac fibroblasts, which give rise to scar tissue after injury, can also produce bone-like cells. By blocking an enzyme involved in bone mineralization, they prevented calcification in mice, offering a potential new approach for treating abnormal calcium deposits in the heart.
Researchers sequenced the genome of a 5,310-year-old corn cob and found it was genetically more similar to modern maize than its wild ancestor. The study provides insights into the early stages of maize domestication and its dispersal across the Americas.
A recent study suggests that high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol may not always protect against heart disease as previously thought. HDL can actually enhance the inflammatory response of immune cells called macrophages, which counteracts its established anti-inflammatory effect in other cell types.
Researchers found that regulatory T cells in tumors have distinct features and differences compared to normal tissue, making them potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets. The study aims to improve cancer immunotherapies by targeting specific molecules expressed by these immune cells.
Researchers found that older adults can outperform younger counterparts on certain problem-solving tasks by broadening their attention more easily. This study challenges the common assumption that aging brains require high cognitive control and highlights the potential benefits of reduced focus.
Researchers have discovered a new lagerpetid and saurischian dinosaur together, providing insights into the evolution of dinosaurs. The findings suggest that dinosaurs and their precursors coexisted during the earliest stages of dinosaurs' rise, contradicting previous theories.
Researchers at Osaka University have created rigid self-healing materials that can recover up to 99% of their strength in semi-dry conditions. The materials use a combination of physical and chemical approaches to facilitate self-healing, utilizing polyrotaxane structures and reversible bonds.
Scientists have created stable qubits using supramolecular chemistry, enabling the connection of individual qubits into structures called two-qubit gates. This approach has potential for creating multi-qubit gates and advancing quantum computing.
Recent studies identify 126 places in human genomes where archaic DNA sequences exist at high frequencies, including regions related to skin and immunity. This inheritance helped humans adapt to new environments as they dispersed throughout the world.
Researchers found that older bonobos have a decline in refractive power, leading to increased grooming distance and potential social challenges. Long-sightedness may hinder their social lives and daily activities, similar to humans.
Researchers found that costly ecological impact assessments failed to protect bats from fatal collisions with spinning blades. The study highlights the challenge of establishing with certainty the effect of major developments before they occur.
Scientists have developed multicolor electron microscopy, enabling up to three colors (green, red, yellow) to be used in an image. The new method has potential applications in biology, distinguishing cellular compartments and tracking proteins.
Researchers found mutations in Ebola virus that increased its ability to infect human cells, potentially contributing to the outbreak's spread. The mutations did not affect the virus's ability to infect other mammalian species, including fruit bats.
The Cell Press has partnered with The American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) to publish its four journals, including Molecular Therapy, starting January 2017. This partnership aims to improve the dissemination of research breakthroughs in gene and cell therapies.
Researchers attached data loggers to common swifts to track their flight activity, confirming they spend over 99% of their non-breeding period in the air. The birds likely save energy during the day by soaring on upward currents and ascend at dawn and dusk.
Scientists created an airway-on-a-chip that simulates the effects of smoking on human lungs, revealing changes in gene expression and cilia beat patterns. The technology also showed promise for testing e-cigarettes and identifying potential therapies for COPD.
Psychobiotics examines emerging strategies for planting brain-altering bacteria in the gut to provide mental benefits. Researchers agree that key players, including the nervous system and immune system, are involved in the gut-brian axis.
Researchers explore why human oocytes frequently have abnormal numbers of chromosomes, which can cause genetic disorders such as Down syndrome. Studies found that age-related deterioration of chromosome structure contributes to these errors.
Researchers have successfully engineered tobacco plants to manufacture therapeutic levels of artemisinin, a plant-derived compound used to treat malaria. The breakthrough could lead to cost-effective delivery methods, such as freeze-dried lettuce powder, to make the drug more accessible to those in need.
A study published in Cell Metabolism found that varying oxygen levels can reset the circadian clock of mice, which could inform how airlines moderate cabin air pressure. The research also suggests potential benefits for humans, including alleviating jetlag and improving air travel comfort.
The study provides a three-dimensional image of cannabinoid receptor 1, which is found to be embedded in the surface of many nerve cells. This discovery could explain how pain medications meant to mimic cannabis use without the 'high' can cause unintended side effects.
Researchers found a genetic mutation responsible for the loss of limb formation instructions in snakes, which are unable to form limbs. By restoring the missing DNA sequence in mice, scientists demonstrated that snakes' inability to form limbs is due to a critical stretch of DNA involved in limb growth.
Research finds that people of African ancestry generally show stronger immune responses than Europeans, who display reduced immune responses due to selective pressure. The discovery suggests that European populations were partly shaped by the introduction of new genetic variants through interbreeding with Neanderthals.
A study found that corneal cells' softness indicates their potential for stem-like activity, enabling rapid and cost-effective enrichment of limbal stem cells. This biomarker could improve clinical success rates for corneal transplant patients with naturally low limbal stem cell percentages.
Researchers propose a new model predicting voter choice that prioritizes identity over policy issues. This approach aims to improve election outcomes predictions by considering how voters' personal identities influence their voting decisions.
Researchers have designed metal-free phosphorescent molecules that glow persistently at room temperature, overcoming challenges of organic compounds emitting light only at low temperatures. The molecules can be tuned to emit different colors and are potentially three times more efficient than fluorescent LEDs.
A recent virtual reality study has found that our perception of space and our bodies plays a crucial role in regulating emotional experience and exploratory behavior. By manipulating sensory input on gait and spatial context, researchers have shown that this interplay can intensify or reduce fear and enhance exploration.
Researchers studied a single-celled amoeba called Capsaspora owczarzaki and found it uses the same protein-regulating tools as multicellular animals to control cell differentiation over time. This suggests that the single-celled ancestor of all animals likely possessed these systems and was more complex than previously thought.
Researchers discovered that jumping spiders can detect sounds at distances of over three meters, a finding that changes scientists' understanding of the world spiders live in. The spiders' hearing is most sensitive to frequencies associated with the wingbeats of parasitoid wasp enemies, prompting a startle response.
New research reveals that a small change in the naked mole rat's TrkA receptor makes it less sensitive to pain signals, allowing them to survive in crowded underground colonies. This adaptation may help conserve energy and aid in thermoregulation.
A study published in Cell Reports reveals that astroglial cells play a crucial role in forming the corpus callosum, a bridge-like structure connecting the two hemispheres of the brain. Without this cellular support, callosal agenesis occurs, affecting 1 in 4,000 people and leading to developmental disorders.
A recent genome study reveals that beer yeasts exhibit a surprisingly high level of genetic diversity, forming multiple groups beyond the main subgroup. The research sheds light on the complex history of beer production, suggesting separate domestication events for beer and wine/sake yeasts.
Researchers found that Giant Ceropegia flowers mimic the scent of honeybees under attack to fool freeloading flies into pollinating them. The study reveals a complex reproductive strategy where plants use alarm pheromones to lure in insects.
A newly discovered protozoan parasite, Tritrichomonas musculis, has been found to protect mice from intestinal bacterial infections by activating the inflammasome in gut epithelial cells. This discovery highlights the importance of considering non-bacterial microorganisms in studying the microbiome.
New research suggests that teenagers' sensitivity to reward is an evolutionary adaptation to learn from their environment. The study found that adolescents outperformed adults in a picture-based game requiring learning from positive and negative reinforcement cues.
Researchers identify two gut bacteria that activate cancer-fighting T cell immune responses, enhancing the effects of cyclophosphamide. These microbial-driven immune responses predicted longer progression-free survival in advanced lung and ovarian cancer patients treated with chemo-immunotherapy.
Researchers found that vitamin D influences inflammatory signals controlling blood stem cell formation and multiplication. Vitamin D exposure led to an increase in blood stem cells, while deficiency resulted in fewer cells being formed.
Researchers found that a specific strain of Bifidobacterium longum AH1206 can establish itself in the human gut and remain there for up to 6 months. The study suggests that individualized features of the resident microbiome play a crucial role in the persistence of this strain, enabling personalized probiotic treatments.
Researchers discovered that Zika virus infects cranial neural crest cells, which form the bones of the skull, without killing them. Instead, it causes these cells to produce signaling molecules promoting new neural cell formation, potentially leading to smaller-than-average skulls and disproportionate facial features.
Researchers develop a portable biological factory platform that can produce pharmaceuticals, specialized therapies, and experimental biomolecules using freeze-dried molecular components. The technology is applied in various fields, including vaccine production and designer antibody development.
Researchers discover that inflammatory signaling in bone marrow tumor environment drives malignancy and predicts leukemia development. The study reveals that mesenchymal stem cells under stress release inflammatory molecules causing DNA damage in hematopoietic stem cells, increasing leukemia risk.
A 200-million-year-old reptile named Drepanosaurus has been found to have unusually shaped forelimb bones with a massive hooked claw. The discovery sheds light on the evolution of four-footed animals and challenges current understanding of tetrapod limb evolution.