Researchers successfully engineered mice to see colors beyond the normal range by introducing a single human gene that codes for a light sensor. This breakthrough demonstrates the flexibility of the mammalian brain in processing sensory information, opening new avenues for understanding the evolution of color vision.
Scientists have detailed images of a bacterial cell wall target that could aid in designing new antibiotics to treat deadly infections. The images, published in the journal Science, show an antibiotic called moenomycin binding to the enzyme, providing a new understanding of its structure and function.
Plant researchers Sigal Savaldi-Goldstein and Joanne Chory have uncovered the mechanism behind plant growth, showing that the epidermis is the driving force behind cell expansion. The study, published in Nature, reveals a previously unknown mode of communication between shoot tissues.
Researchers discovered a rare genetic mutation that causes early onset coronary artery disease in an Iranian family. The mutation, in the LRP6 gene, leads to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, all risk factors for heart disease.
Researchers at Rockefeller University have cloned healthy mice from adult stem cells, a breakthrough that could lead to new therapies and treatments. The successful cloning rate was 1.6% when using female skin stem cells, but higher when using male stem cells, opening up potential for future human applications.
Researchers have constructed a protein out of amino acids not found in natural proteins, discovering they can form a complex, stable structure resembling a natural protein. This finding could help scientists design effective drugs that won't be degraded by enzymes or targeted by the immune system.
Researchers successfully reactivate p53 in mice, causing tumors to self-destruct through senescence and apoptosis. This breakthrough offers potential new strategies for cancer treatment.
Researchers identified a new genetic risk factor associated with late-onset Alzheimer's, implicating the SORL1 gene. Variants of this gene are linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer's, particularly in Caucasians, and may play a role in the production of toxic amyloid-beta fragments.
Two research teams discovered detailed views of the toxin plugged into its neuronal receptor, providing new information on how it shuts down neurons. The findings could aid efforts to engineer specialized versions of the neurotoxin used to treat various medical conditions.
A five-year study has shown that Gleevec's potency against chronic myeloid leukemia, with only 5% of patients dying from the disease during the study period. The drug produced few significant side effects, particularly after the initial two years of treatment.
New research reveals that at least 10% of human genes have variations in the number of DNA copies, influencing gene activity and function. This discovery changes the way scientists think about genetic diseases and human evolution.
Thirty-nine outstanding scientists from Latin America and Canada have been awarded a total of nearly $500,000 by HHMI for five-year international research scholar awards. This marks the fourth round of awards to Canadian and Latin American researchers, supporting their research capacity and linking them with global investigators.
A newly identified gene mutation in the CRTAP gene helps explain a subset of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) cases, where bones break easily due to abnormal collagen protein modification. The finding may also offer clues to as-yet-undescribed connective tissue diseases and provide insight into collagen formation.
Researchers have identified Tcf3, a transcription factor that regulates skin stem cells, as a key repressor switch. Activating this gene can prevent skin stem cells from maturing into adult skin cells, potentially providing insights for lab-grown stem cells and therapies.
Two large clinical trials show ranibizumab's effectiveness in treating neovascular macular degeneration, but its high cost raises questions about the value of comparing it to bevacizumab, a cheaper alternative. Bevacizumab, originally designed for cancer treatment, also appears to be effective in treating this eye disease.
A team of researchers led by Emanuel Hanski discovered a protein called SilCR that blocks the immune system's distress calls, making Group A Streptococcus bacteria more virulent. The findings could lead to new strategies for treating necrotizing fasciitis and halting its rapid destruction of tissue.
Researchers have identified a single gene mutation that predisposes individuals to herpes simplex encephalitis, an infectious disease that can cause mental retardation and death. A new treatment strategy involving type I interferon may accelerate recovery and limit brain damage.
Researchers identified the cells and receptor responsible for sour taste, a primary gateway in all mammals for detecting spoiled food sources. The PKD2L1 receptor is found in a subpopulation of taste receptor cells on the tongue that do not function for sweet, bitter, or umami taste.
American and South African scientists discovered how HIV exhausts killer T cells, which attack the virus. By blocking a molecular switch called programmed death-1 (PD-1), they can reinvigorate these T cells.
A team of researchers discovered a novel RNA gene in the human genome that is rapidly evolving and plays a crucial role in brain development. The gene is transcribed into RNA in the brain and its changes are associated with schizophrenia and other mental disorders.
Researchers found that genetic instructions are not executed properly, leading to a buildup of malformed proteins in brain cells. This defect is caused by a subtle mistake in the loading of amino acids onto transfer RNAs.
Scientists have developed a new light microscope that can image cellular proteins with near-molecular resolution, surpassing conventional optical microscopes. This technique, called photoactivated localization microscopy (PALM), allows researchers to discriminate molecules separated by as little as two to 25 nanometers apart.
Researchers used real-time imaging to track malaria infections in live mice, discovering that the parasite uses dead liver cells to cloak and transport itself back into the bloodstream. The study provides insights into the parasite's complex life cycle and potential ways to treat malaria.
Scientists identified a genetic element that the dengue virus uses to replicate, triggering the potentially fatal illness known as dengue hemorrhagic fever. The discovery provides a model for RNA replication in flaviviruses, which cause millions of cases of human illness each year.
Researchers discovered a mutation in the MPL gene that activates the JAK-STAT pathway, leading to uncontrolled cell growth and leukemia. The new finding offers potential targets for drugs targeting the JAK-STAT pathway, which may be effective against leukemias caused by either the MPL or JAK2 mutations.
Researchers developed a new strategy to identify genetic mutations that drive cancerous growth by analyzing proteins instead of genes. This approach allows for rapid identification of molecular abnormalities vulnerable to specific drug treatments, enabling personalized medicine and potential targeted therapies.
Researchers found that brittle prion particles can spread infection quickly by breaking into new seeds. This discovery boosts basic understanding of prion infections and could lead to new ideas for designing drugs to prevent or discourage prion seeding.
The HHMI Physician-Scientist Early Career Award program provides flexible funding and time for young physicians to pursue research careers. Thirteen awardees have made impressive contributions to various fields, including genomics, proteomics, and cancer research.
Researchers have identified a key defect in ER-to-Golgi trafficking that contributes to alpha-synuclein toxicity, a hallmark of Parkinson's disease. Enhancing this pathway may suppress alpha-synuclein toxicity and protect dopamine-producing neurons.
New neurons sprout robust, persistent connections after long-term changes in sensory experience, enabling efficient adaptation and learning. The discovery sheds light on the biological mechanisms of procedural learning and has implications for understanding implicit memory.
Dasatinib successfully circumvents Gleevec resistance in 68 of 84 patients, providing new options for CML treatment. The drug works in advanced stages of the disease and shows durable responses with no serious side effects.
Researchers found that scyllo-inositol prevented the accumulation of amyloid â deposits, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, and improved cognitive abilities in mice. The study suggests that scyllo-inositol may be an effective experimental therapy for Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers catalogued and characterized 30 mycobacteriophages, finding 3,357 genes in 1,536 'phamilies' with significant genetic diversity. This discovery has implications for understanding diseases like tuberculosis and leprosy.
Researchers found that slightly increasing NFATc1 activity leads to massive bone accumulation in mice, suggesting potential new targets for treating osteoporosis. The study's findings may enable the development of drugs that promote bone formation without causing undesirable side effects.
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) has awarded $86.4 million to 50 US universities to enhance undergraduate science education and promote diversity in the sciences. The grants will support programs that develop novel courses, provide hands-on research experiences, and increase science literacy among non-science majors.
A team of scientists has discovered the crucial role of phosphorylation and recombination in the step-wise loss of cohesins during meiosis. This process is essential for accurate chromosome segregation into separate cells. The findings provide significant insights into the intricate mechanisms governing cohesin function.
Researchers deciphered the signaling pathway for a key class of steroid hormones that regulates growth and development in plants, enabling potential manipulation of plant stature. This breakthrough could lead to broader implications for urban forestry, crop development, and agricultural practices.
Scientists have found that the same DNA sequence is present in both humans and an ancient fish thought to be extinct for millions of years, indicating that mobile DNA elements can be adapted to regulate genes. This discovery suggests that mobile DNA may play a role in evolution's toolbox.
Researchers found that T cells responding to Epstein-Barr virus-encoded nuclear antigen1 (EBNA1) are hyper-reactive and produce interferon-gamma, which shapes immune responses. This hyper-reactivity may trigger the destruction of myelin sheathing in nerve cells, leading to MS.
Researchers at Howard Hughes Medical Institute have identified a crucial protein called TMP21 that regulates amyloid-beta production. By controlling the specific cleavage of APP, TMP21 helps keep amyloid-beta levels in check, preventing the formation of toxic plaques. This discovery may lead to new treatments for Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers at Howard Hughes Medical Institute have created a mouse model of medulloblastoma, a common childhood brain cancer. The study found that mice lacking the XRCC4 gene or both XRCC4 and p53 died early from tumors, which displayed genetic abnormalities characteristic of human medulloblastomas. This new model will help understand...
HHMI's Janelia Farm Research Campus aims to promote high-risk, high-reward research by providing internal funding and a flexible environment. The campus will feature small research groups, active bench scientists, and excellent support facilities.
Research suggests that a genetic mutation in the Arf gene can cause leukemias to resist Gleevec treatment, leading to aggressive disease progression. This finding may lead to new treatments that re-sensitize tumor cells to Gleevec therapies.
Researchers discovered that fruitfly wing spots evolved through mutations in cis-regulatory elements controlling the yellow gene, demonstrating how evolution uses existing genetic material to create new traits. The study also highlights the importance of pleiotropic genes in evolution.
A team of scientists has discovered a new hantavirus in an African wood mouse, which is related to viruses causing severe disease in humans in Central and Eastern Europe. The virus was found to have similarities with other hantaviruses, including the Dobrava virus, and can infect humans, according to preliminary evidence.
Researchers have discovered that losartan can prevent the development of aortic aneurysms in mice with Marfan syndrome, suggesting a potential new treatment. The drug works by lowering transforming growth factor beta activity, which is responsible for the syndrome's catastrophic developmental defects.
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) has named 20 new million-dollar professors to improve undergraduate science education. These educators, selected for their teaching talent and research expertise, will receive grants to design engaging programs that promote diversity and hands-on learning experiences.
A new human retrovirus, XMRV, has been found in patients with a rare type of prostate cancer, suggesting a possible link between the virus and cancer development. The discovery was made using a microarray-based screening method and found that prostate cancers with specific genetic mutations were more likely to harbor XMRV infection.
A team from Harvard Medical School found that matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) helps remodel brain tissue seven to 14 days after a stroke, potentially aiding recovery. High levels of MMPs were detected in the peri-infarct cortex, an area involved in stroke recovery.
A recent study found that low levels of LDL cholesterol, even in individuals with high-risk factors, can dramatically reduce the incidence of coronary events. The analysis identified three forms of a gene known as PCSK9 associated with significant reductions in plasma levels of LDL cholesterol.