Researchers in Portugal have developed an innovative open-source platform called DL4MicEverywhere, providing life scientists with easy access to advanced artificial intelligence for the analysis of microscopy images. The platform enables researchers to easily train and use deep learning models on their own data, regardless of their com...
Embryos orchestrate complex tasks by temporarily relocating neurons to create space for incoming progenitor cells, ensuring harmonious organ development. This study's findings have implications beyond retinal development and may shed light on human developmental disorders.
Research reveals high transmission rate of E. coli cells between cohabiting hosts, leading to similar evolutionary events and microbiome species composition. Social interactions play a crucial role in shaping adaptive evolution of new gut bacteria strains.
Researchers studied the response of microalgae to competition, finding that organisms evolved smaller size and more efficient metabolism. This adaptation allowed them to sustain larger population sizes while maintaining growth rates.
Researchers have identified a gene that enables plants to tolerate salinity stress by regulating hormone signaling. This breakthrough could lead to crop improvements with larger seeds that germinate well in adverse environments, solving limitations on productivity due to soil salinization.
Researchers at Gulbenkian and Cornell University will investigate cell size scaling laws in budding yeast to understand evolutionary mechanisms. The three-year project aims to reveal the physical limits of cell size and how cells modulate their size control.
New research from Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia finds that zebrafish use oxytocin to recognize and mimic emotions, mirroring the behavior of humans and other mammals. The study suggests that this social behavior is evolutionarily conserved across species.
Researchers at Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia developed a computational method to simplify the analysis of social contacts, revealing that communities are organized around a small backbone. This approach preserves community structure and is more effective than existing methods in understanding how diseases spread.
A study by Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência reveals that when acute kidney injury and anemia occur simultaneously, they substantially increase a patient's risk of death. The research shows healthy kidneys can alter their genetic program to absorb and store iron, re-establishing the development of red blood cells.
Research by the IGC reveals that anticancer drugs, such as anthracyclines, limit inflammation and may be effective in treating sepsis. The study found that these drugs control inflammatory genes and produce less pro-inflammatory molecules.
Researchers found bacteria can adapt by generating metabolic mutations and integrating genetic material from viruses, leading to increased survival. This study provides insights into bacterial evolution in the mammalian gut for thousands of generations.
A new study found that diet can cause significant changes in the gut microbiota, leading to long-lasting genetic alterations. In mice, a low-fiber Western-style diet led to the emergence of adaptive mutations in a key species of bacteria, shaping its function and increasing host susceptibility to infection.
A new study at Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia founds repulsive forces generated by microtubules scaffold keeping nuclei at a distance. These interactions reorient nuclear divisions towards unoccupied regions, maintaining uniform distribution of nuclei in developing embryos.
Waldan Kwong, a researcher at Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia, has received an EMBO Installation Grant to investigate the mechanisms and ecology of inter-microbial interactions in gut microbiomes. The project aims to understand the genetic factors underlying microbiome organization using a social insect model.
Researchers found that temperature during insect development impacts the protective effect of Wolbachia against viruses. Lower temperatures reduce protection, while higher temperatures enhance it. This discovery has significant implications for initiatives like the World Mosquito Program and understanding Wolbachia biology.
Researchers study mosses and find unique centriole assembly process, with a 'unique symmetry break' that allows for regulation. This discovery provides insights into centriole development across the tree of life and has implications for our understanding of evolution.
Researchers discovered that Wolbachia's growth affects its cost for the host and its transmission efficiency. The team found that protection against viruses depends on the amount of Wolbachia at the moment of infection, while longevity relates to its speed of growth in adult hosts.
Researchers have identified DAF as a receptor that increases damage to the lungs in mice infected with influenza A virus. The study highlights an immune evasion strategy by the virus and stresses the importance of a balanced immune response to viral infections.
Researchers propose a new framework to study coexistence in multi-species systems, showing that global dynamics can be predicted from pairwise interactions. The model uses time-scale separation and replicator equations to capture the essence of competition between multiple strategies.
Researchers discovered that stem cells have smaller and weaker centromeres compared to differentiated cells. This finding highlights a possible mechanism for the errors in cell division that limit the potential of stem cells in regenerative medicine.
Doxycycline, an antibiotic, confers protection against sepsis by inhibiting mitochondrial protein production, reducing cell damage and promoting tissue repair. The study opens new possibilities for therapies targeting disease tolerance mechanisms to combat infections and diseases like sepsis.
The study proposes a mathematical model to understand the interactions between microorganisms within hosts and their transmission ability. The framework allows for the prediction of infection trajectories in single hosts and transmission in host populations, even considering complex interactions and stochasticity.
Researchers identified a group of cells regulating T lymphocyte development, preventing leukemia. Cell competition in the thymus is crucial for immune system development and cancer prevention.
A new mouse lemur species, Microcebus jonahi, has been identified in northeastern Madagascar with a divergent lineage and smallest primate size. The discovery emphasizes the urgent need to address deforestation and habitat loss threatening Madagascar's unique biodiversity.
A team of researchers identified that the intestinal flora (microbiota) of each host determines the maintenance of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the gut. The study found that resistance has different interactions depending on the individual's microbiota, with some individuals showing a high ability to survive without antibiotics.
Researchers found that patients with sepsis had higher levels of GDF15 in their blood, which was correlated with mortality. In mice without the GDF15 gene, the absence of this hormone improved survival rates after bacterial infection.
Researchers found a phenomenon called 'epigenetic resetting' in plant sperm that erases histone modifications, allowing seeds to forget their environment. This mechanism is similar to data erasure on hard drives and is essential for plants to adapt to changing conditions.
Researchers created a brain-sparing amphetamine, PEGyAMPH, that avoids cardiovascular side effects and addictive properties. It stimulates lipolysis and thermogenesis to promote fat breakdown and weight loss.
A virtual computational cell was built to predict cancer metastasis by analyzing the interaction of numerous molecules and signals within the tumor environment. The research found that hybrid cancer cells can be targeted using specific molecular signals and extracellular matrix proteins, offering new therapeutic strategies against cancer.
Researchers at Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência found that certain bacteria can mutate 1000-fold higher than normal, leading to bursts of diversity in the gut microbiota. A beneficial mutation was identified that increases the ability of the bacteria to eat a specific sugar.
Research at Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência uncovered two new mechanisms in the microbiota's evolution, driven by aging and nutrient competition. In mice, E. coli adapts to inflammation and scarce nutrients in older individuals, leading to potentially pathogenic changes.
The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation has established a €1 million prize to tackle the climate crisis, with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting vulnerable populations. The award will be presented at a ceremony in Lisbon on July 20th, with a jury of international experts selecting the winner.
Researchers identified a highly competitive bacterium in the gut microbiota that protects against enteric pathogens. This discovery offers new avenues for developing antibiotic-free treatments.
Researchers have discovered that blocking the iRhom2 protein increases energy consumption in fat depots, protecting against fat accumulation and inflammation. The study found no deleterious side effects, suggesting iRhom2 blocking may be a promising treatment for obesity.
A pioneer study published in PNAS reveals that bacterial sex plays a pivotal role in the evolution of the mammalian microbiome. Horizontal gene transfer, facilitated by temperate bacteriophages, is the primary mechanism driving bacterial evolution in a healthy gut.
Researchers at Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia have identified a new mechanism for assembling influenza A virus genomes within infected cells. The study reveals that viral-induced compartments called 'viral inclusions' use liquid-liquid phase separation to segregate and assemble the eight distinct parts of the genetic material.
Claudia Bank wins the 2019 SMBE Allan Wilson Junior Award for her innovative research on population genetics of adaptation and speciation. The award recognizes her multidisciplinary basic research at Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência.
A study published in EMBO Journal has discovered the key aspect of regulating telomeres, which are protective caps at the end of chromosomes. The research team found that the protein complex CST is responsible for maintaining telomeres, and a chemical modification regulates its S component, allowing telomere duplication and elongation.
The Merck Family Foundation has donated 350 thousand euros to the Gulbenkian Institute of Science to support two initiatives: Lab-in-a-Box kits for secondary schools and Lab-in-a-Suitcase portable labs for universities. These projects aim to stimulate experimental teaching and research in Portuguese Speaking African Countries.
A new study from Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia shows that leukemia can emerge as a consequence of prolonged precursor cells in the thymus. This blood cancer affects mostly children and is associated with a high risk of developing T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
A new study reveals that CD26/DPP-4 is a key player in the regeneration of acute liver wounds and may serve as a valuable biomarker for detecting hepatic disease. The molecule's enzymatic activity was shown to increase with reduced liver immune cell population, suggesting its potential use in non-invasive diagnosis.
A study by researchers at the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia found that the Spindle Assembly Checkpoint, a mechanism that regulates cell division, can sometimes be counterproductive. This checkpoint can increase genetic errors when cells have irreparable problems with chromosome cohesion.
Researchers discovered that fruit flies have a diverse and stable gut microbiota, with bacteria able to colonize the fly's intestine. This discovery sheds light on how fruit flies 'farm' bacteria, similar to humans using yeast or bacteria in food production.
Researchers found a new protein iTAP that regulates TNF release from immune cells, reducing its levels in circulation. This discovery offers potential for developing improved treatments for inflammatory diseases.
Researchers have identified a protein called dMLL3/4 that helps balance out differences between chromosomes inherited from parents. This discovery may lead to new diagnostic approaches and improved embryo culture media formulations for assisted reproduction techniques.
Researchers have discovered that cells use diverse building materials and proportions to create structurally different antennae with unique functions. This study sheds light on genetic diseases associated with cilia, explaining why some patients exhibit only one type of symptom.
Researchers used Pseudomonas aeruginosa and its mutants to study cheating behavior in bacteria, revealing that manipulating social interactions can prevent population collapse. The team created a mathematical model to predict how to change stable interactions among cheaters and cooperators.
A study led by Diogo Castro discovered a genetic programme that controls the invasiveness of glioblastoma tumors. The researchers found that Zeb1, a previously known molecule involved in glioblastoma invasiveness, plays a crucial role in enabling cancer cells to invade surrounding brain tissue.
Researchers found that cancer cells have extra and longer centrioles, disrupting cell division, in aggressive breast and colon cancers. This discovery may aid in classifying tumors for prognosis and predicting treatment response.
A study led by Lounès Chikhi found that Bornean elephants are likely a natural colonization of the island, dating back around 11,400 to 18,300 years. The research team used genetic data analysis and computational modeling to shed light on the animals' past demographic history.