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Emory Health Sciences


Chimpanzees choose cooperation over competition

Researchers found that chimpanzees choose to cooperate five times more frequently than compete, using various strategies to overcome competition. The study suggests shared roots of human cooperation with other primates and provides insight into human evolution.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 22, 2016

Babies' spatial reasoning predicts later math skills

A longitudinal study found that infants' spatial reasoning abilities measured as young as six months predict their math skills at four years of age. The researchers also discovered that individual differences in spatial aptitude are present earlier than previously thought, highlighting the potential for early intervention to improve ma...

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalPsychological Science·DateAug 17, 2016

Antibodies to dengue may alter course of Zika virus infection

Scientists have found that antibodies developed in response to dengue virus can cross-react with and neutralize Zika virus, but also enhance its infection in laboratory experiments. These findings suggest a complex relationship between the two viruses and offer potential insights for vaccine design and treatment.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 27, 2016

How Zika infects the placenta

Scientists have discovered that Zika virus can infect and replicate in immune cells from the placenta without killing them. This finding may explain how the virus passes through the placenta of a pregnant woman to infect developing brain cells in her fetus.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalCell Host & Microbe·DateMay 27, 2016

T cells use 'handshakes' to sort friends from foes

Researchers developed DNA-based tension sensors to study T cell interactions. They found that T cells use precise mechanical tugs to test whether a cell is a friend or foe, with stronger tugs indicating a foreign invader. This discovery could aid in the development of immune therapies for cancer and treatments for autoimmune diseases.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 5, 2016

Nanoparticles deliver anticancer cluster bombs

Scientists developed triple-stage nanoparticles that improve tumor penetration and release cisplatin in acidic conditions, enhancing its efficacy while reducing toxic side effects. The delivery system demonstrated significant improvements in anti-tumor activity against various cancer models.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 29, 2016

Conspicuous consumption may drive fertility down

A new mathematical model suggests that competition for social status is a key driver of declining fertility rates worldwide. As the cost of achieving social status increases, people invest more in material goods and less in children, leading to lower family sizes.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (B )·DateMar 28, 2016

Huntington's disease gene dispensable in adult mice

Researchers found that deleting the huntingtin gene in adult mice does not lead to lethal consequences, offering hope for treatment strategies involving gene silencing. The study suggests that gene suppression or editing strategies may be safe for adults, but further research is needed to understand the long-term effects.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 7, 2016

Singing in the brain: Songbirds sing like humans

A recent study published in the Journal of Neuroscience found that songbirds' vocal muscles can change their function to produce different sound parameters, similar to a trained opera singer. The research, led by Samuel Sober, shows that the bird's brain directs complex changes in muscle combinations to create complex songs.

Winship multiple myeloma study in The Lancet

A landmark Phase II study by Winship Cancer Institute led to the approval of daratumumab for multiple myeloma patients who have received at least three prior treatments. The drug showed an overall response rate of nearly 30% and demonstrated single-agent activity in a novel monoclonal antibody treatment.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalThe Lancet·DateJan 6, 2016

Persistence toxin promotes antibiotic resistance

A recent study published in PNAS has shed light on the mechanism of action of HigB, a bacterial toxin that contributes to antibiotic resistance. The researchers found that HigB selectively degrades specific mRNAs, leading to the formation of persister cells that are tolerant to antibiotics.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 26, 2015