A new study published in eLife finds that the number and types of immune cells in mouse lungs increase rapidly after birth, helping them adapt to breathing and protect against infections. This discovery may lead to new therapies to preserve or enhance lung development in infants and young children.
Despite challenging genetic tradeoffs, bacteria can still evolve antibiotic resistance when exposed to varying antibiotic concentrations. Researchers developed a model that showed bacteria may reverse course and regain susceptibility to antibiotics at lower drug concentrations.
A new computer model developed by scientists can accurately predict brain age using different types of brain scan data, including MRI scans and magnetoencephalography tests. This model has the potential to be used clinically to combine various tests and predict patient outcomes such as cognitive decline or depression.
A study found that ants use cooperative transport to overcome navigational challenges, demonstrating the potential advantages of group living and collective cognition in making certain environments habitable. The team discovered that non-carrying ants played a crucial role in guiding the group and extending their sensing range.
A new tool using machine-learning technology distinguishes the cause of different types of blood clots based on subtle differences in their shape. The intelligent platelet aggregate classifier (iPAC) can help physicians diagnose and select treatments for patients with specific clot types.
Researchers have identified interleukin-4 as a key player in promoting harmful blood-vessel growth in age-related macular degeneration. Elevated levels of the protein were found in patients with AMD and mice with an AMD-like condition, highlighting its potential role as a target for new treatments.
A team of scientists discovered a sensory circuit in worms that allows them to choose between spending energy on self-defence and relying on nearby bacterial protection. The discovery suggests that the presence of E. coli bacteria is crucial for peroxide resistance, which could lead to improved health and longevity in humans.
Researchers have developed synthetic antibodies using bacterial superglue that can neutralize potentially lethal viruses like bunyaviruses. The antibodies were combined to form complexes that efficiently protected mice from the viruses.
A study published in eLife found that rapamycin, an immune-suppressing drug, reduces bone loss, inflammation, and changes to oral bacteria in older mice with gum disease. The treatment also reversed clinical features of periodontal disease, suggesting a potential approach for age-related dental problems.
Scientists have gained new insight into the conditions that control self-assembly in viral protein shells, which could lead to a promising new approach to hindering viral infections. The study highlights factors that can cause incorrect self-assembly and suggests manipulating these factors to induce misassembly could be effective.
Researchers discovered a key mechanism behind eye vessel leakiness in diseases like age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. By targeting this specific step, they hope to develop new treatments that can selectively block leak-inducing effects without harming nerve and blood-vessel cells.
Researchers identified bacterial exchange of genes allowing resistance to antibiotics, highlighting the complex process and potential for frequent sharing in hospital settings. The study's findings have implications for designing new strategies to prevent and control multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.
A new study suggests that rare, damaging inherited mutations can have a significant impact on an individual's healthspan and longevity. Researchers found that people with more ultra-rare protein-truncating variants (PTVs) had shorter lifespans and healthspans, with each additional variant accounting for a six-month reduction in lifespa...
A new study published in eLife found that people who have survived a suicide attempt are less sensitive to bodily signals related to their heart and breath. The researchers suggest that this 'interoceptive numbing' may be linked to lower brain activity in the insular cortex, a region that closely tracks the internal state of the body.
Scientists have discovered intricate structural changes in phytochromes that allow plants and bacteria to perceive light. The findings provide new insights into the function of these protein molecules and could lead to tools controlling their growth patterns.
A new study suggests that the brain uses multiple sources of sensory information, including vision and posture, to control movement. When visual cues are distorted or removed, the intensity of muscle stretch reflexes is reduced.
A study published in eLife found that amyloid plaque formation directly causes brain tissue loss in animals, leading to progressive memory loss and loss of brain matter. However, lithium has been shown to reduce the life-shortening effects of this loss, suggesting a potential strategy to slow Alzheimer's disease progression.
Researchers discovered a crucial DNA repair process in yeast that involves a protein called Rad51 and two helper proteins called Swi5-Sfr1. This finding may help understand why DNA repair processes fail to function properly in humans, leading to diseases like cancer and inherited conditions.
A study published in eLife has identified two strategies used by cancer to survive treatment with immunotherapies, including one that disables energy production in cancer-killing T-cells. Researchers found that some human cancer cells release molecules that inhibit the activity of energy-producing mitochondria in T-cells.
Researchers found that oxytocin levels are increased in groups experiencing conflict and influences the medial prefrontal cortex, leading to a desire for revenge when attacked by an outside group. The study suggests that this process may contribute to conflict contagion among entire groups.
Researchers used 3D imaging to analyze the shape of apes' inner ears, revealing features that support the evolution of hominoids. The study suggests that these structures hold clues to our species' evolutionary relationships with extinct ape species.
A new ion channel in bacteria has been identified, filling a missing link in the evolutionary history of mammalian calcium channels. The discovery provides insight into the universal mechanism of calcium selectivity in both mammals and bacteria.
Researchers have developed a novel technique to isolate individual gut cells from mice infected with intestinal parasites, enabling the study of the immune response to these infections. The technique may help scientists understand how adult parasites evade the immune system and develop ways to boost the immune response.
African satyrid butterfly Bicyclus anynana adjusts its wing eyespot size in response to low temperatures, changing the pattern to resemble a dead leaf. This complex physiological and molecular response is unique among butterfly species, suggesting it evolved gradually over millions of years.
Researchers have developed a live-cell imaging technique that enables the visualization of fundamental processes in flower development and opens up new avenues for research on plant sexual reproduction. The technique, called light sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM), records movies of plant reproductive events for the first time.
A recent study found that taller young men may be less likely to develop dementia later in life. The research adjusted for factors such as education and intelligence, suggesting an association between height and reduced dementia risk.
Researchers discovered that the inferior colliculus in mice integrates sound and movement information, allowing for rapid and accurate responses to external sounds. This integration helps prevent movement-related sounds from interfering with hearing, promoting survival.
Researchers discovered that fruit flies use fly-fly interactions to establish regular spacing in clusters, driven by a balance between congregating and maintaining personal space. Depriving the flies of their senses results in abnormal responses and high failure rates in cluster formation.
Researchers found that cannabinoids can relieve pain caused by endometriosis and improve cognitive function in mice with the condition. THC treatment also reduced endometrial growths, suggesting a potential therapeutic effect.
A recent study published in eLife found that chronic inflammation can turn the skin's protective IgE antibody into a tumor promoter. In mice with cancer-causing mutations, chronic activation of IgE by inflammation supported the growth of precancerous skin cells into tumors.
Researchers have found that MYC and TWIST1, two genes that promote cancer development, work together to recruit immune cells to tumors, creating an environment that facilitates cancer cell spread. Blocking a key step in this process may help prevent metastasis.
Researchers found that energy-producing mitochondria in muscles were abnormal and showed signs of oxidative damage, contributing to chronic muscle weakness. The study suggests the need for antioxidant therapies or other treatments to restore mitochondrial health.
Scientists outline 10 simple rules to ensure responsible use of computational modelling in behavioural sciences, avoiding common pitfalls and misinterpretations. The guidelines cover designing effective experiments, generating and validating models, and reporting on analyses.
A study published in eLife analyzed ancient genetic data to investigate the decline of great auks. The findings suggest that intense hunting by humans likely caused their rapid extinction, even if the birds weren't already under threat from environmental changes. This highlights the potential for industrial-scale exploitation to drive ...
Researchers dissected protein pattern formation into its main functional modules and rebuilt the process from scratch, identifying the minimal ingredients needed for self-organisation. The new system produces less regular patterns than native systems but is still sufficient for reproducing basic biological processes.
Scientists have identified atypical immune B-cells that increase anti-PS antibody production associated with anaemia in malaria patients. These cells also develop and produce antibodies in uninfected individuals when exposed to broken red blood cell fragments.
A study in eLife reveals how respiratory bugs in cystic fibrosis patients interact, influencing disease progression and survival. The research found that one bacterium enhances the movement of another, while others significantly increase its mobility.
Researchers have found that the cerebral cortex can directly control the activities of globus pallidus neurons in a manner that depends on the type of neuron. This discovery could improve our understanding of why certain symptoms occur in movement and learning behavioural disorders, such as Parkinson's disease.
A study published in eLife reveals that an infectious cancer has spread to two different species of mussels on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, likely due to accidental transport on ships. The cancer is believed to have originated from a single mussel with a primary cancer and has since infected multiple species across the globe.
Researchers have discovered a mechanism behind bacterial evolution of drug resistance, exploiting collateral sensitivity for novel and sustainable treatments. The study found that certain drugs can be used in combination to eliminate bacterial populations or prevent the emergence of multidrug resistance.
Researchers discovered that natural loss of foot muscles in rodents shares similarities with skeletal muscle atrophy, a condition typically associated with injury or disease. The study found that cells in the foot muscles disassemble proteins responsible for contraction and increase gene expression degrading these proteins.
Scientists discovered that microscopic droplets on leaf surfaces provide refuge to bacteria, allowing them to survive dry conditions. The study's findings may enable the development of practices supporting healthy plant microbiomes in agricultural and natural settings.
Researchers have discovered a protein that triggers a defense mechanism in plant cells when exposed to excessive light, protecting them from damage. This finding has implications for agriculture, as it could help crops withstand harsh climate conditions and increase the production of proteins used in vaccines.
In a study published in eLife, researchers found that outer hair cells adjust the sensitivity of neighboring inner hair cells to sound levels rather than amplifying them. This discovery could lead to better interventions to protect hearing and develop new ways to prevent hearing loss.
A recent study published in eLife reveals that tapeworm regeneration is dependent on stem cells located near the head. Researchers found that severing the head did not prevent regrowth, but signals from the neck are necessary to activate stem cells.
A key brain circuit has been identified as a critical regulator of reward cue-related behavior in rats. The study found that this circuit reduces the incentive value of food cues by controlling dopamine release, which may help explain why some individuals struggle to resist temptation.
Researchers have discovered that bar-headed geese are able to fly high for long periods of time by reducing their metabolism in low-oxygen conditions. The study found that six out of seven birds could fly in moderately low-oxygen levels and three were willing to fly in severely low-oxygen conditions.
Scientists have identified a molecular mechanism that causes lung cells to lose their identity, promoting tumor growth. The study reveals how genetic mutations coordinate pathways to drive malignancy in lung cancer, shedding light on mechanisms of tumor progression and influencing drug development.
Scientists have developed a retina-on-a-chip technology that recreates the human retina's complex tissue architecture, enabling the efficient study of eye diseases and screening for drug side effects. The tool uses living human cells with an artificial tissue-like system, mimicking the body's environment and blood vessels.
Researchers identified a molecule called DCAF15 that makes cancer cells more susceptible to natural killer cells. Blocking this molecule could lead to better survival rates for patients with acute myeloid leukemia.