A study by Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia found that worldwide peaks of sexual interest coincide with specific religious celebrations, leading to peaks in birth rates. Online searches related to sex display a cyclical nature that correlates with a specific "loving mood" independently detected on Twitter.
A recent study published in Cell Reports found that the protein iRhom2 regulates the release of important molecules triggering the inflammatory response. This mechanism is also crucial for controlling growth factors associated with certain cancers.
Researchers discovered that fish respond emotionally to their environment, with brain areas linked to positive and negative emotions activated. The study suggests a simpler neurologic basis for emotional assessment than expected, potentially evolving around 375 million years ago.
Researchers discovered specialized macrophages called SAMs that interact with sympathetic neurons to affect neuronal activation and fat mass reduction. Blocking SAM-mediated norepinephrine clearance boosts fat breakdown and weight loss in mice.
Researchers discover moss sperm uses glutamate receptors to navigate towards female organs, fertilize eggs and develop spores. The study also shows that glutamate receptors play a crucial role in controlling gene expression essential for spore development.
Researchers from Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia discovered that two genes from baker's yeast can increase plant resistance to a broad range of toxic substances, enabling their growth in contaminated soils. Plants carrying the yeast genes grew significantly better than wild-type plants in contaminated soils.
Researchers at Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência found that controlling iron levels is crucial for maintaining vital organs' function during infection. They discovered ferritin's role in regulating glucose production, which prevents lethal sepsis outcomes.
Researchers found that certain bacteria can trigger the virulence of plant pathogens by eavesdropping on signals from other species. This discovery could lead to new strategies for preventing crop diseases.
A study published on Nature Communications reveals that breast cancer cells undergo a stiffening state prior to acquiring malignant features and becoming invasive. This discovery identifies a new signal in tumor cells that can be further explored when designing cancer-targeting therapies.
Researchers identified a compensatory mechanism in bacteria that can be used as a new therapeutic target against multi-drug resistant bacteria. The study found that the pace of adaptation in multi-drug resistant Escherichia coli strains is faster than for strains with single resistance mutations.
Researchers developed a novel technique to eliminate specific peripheral neurons without affecting the brain, revealing their crucial role in maintaining normal adiposity. The study showed that mice lacking these neurons became fat quickly, opening new avenues for understanding diseases related to the peripheral nervous system.
A new study on zebrafish shows that social support can help individuals overcome adverse circumstances and triggers specific brain patterns similar to those in humans. The research suggests that zebrafish could be an ideal model organism for studying social support and its neural mechanisms.
A new method developed by Joana Goncalves-Sa's group can predict the onset of seasonal flu epidemics with accuracy, allowing health services to prepare and respond more promptly. The method integrates data from various sources, including official influenza incidence rates and Google searches, to identify changes in case numbers.
Researchers found that fruit fly ovules use a molecular 'alarm clock' to track time and turn genes back on when ready for ovulation. This mechanism is critical for female fertility, as defects can lead to infertility.
A research team led by Moisés Mallo discovered the Oct4 gene as a key regulator of vertebrate trunk length diversity. The study found that snakes have an exceptionally long trunk due to changes in their genome during reptile evolution, which keeps the Oct4 gene active for longer periods.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded $400,000 to researchers at Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia to assess the potential of a specific sugar molecule as a target for a malaria vaccine. The goal is to prevent Plasmodium transmission and achieve a world free of malaria.
Research reveals bacteria adaptation influences antibiotic spectrum, leading to increased sensitivity to some antibiotics while resisting others. This study paves the way for targeted treatments.
Researchers at Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia cracked the mystery of centriole elimination in oocytes, showing that losing this structure is crucial for sexual reproduction and female fertility. The study found that centrioles are eliminated step-wise due to a regulator called polo kinase protein.
Researchers discovered that the cell cycle clock inhibits the formation of centrioles, ensuring each daughter inherits a single copy. This mechanism is critical for maintaining homeostasis and preventing infertility and cancer.
Researchers develop a new mathematical framework to compare different treatment therapies, including aggressive and moderate approaches. The model considers the role of the host immune system in infection clearance, suggesting that optimized treatments can minimize drug resistance without compromising patient health.
Researchers found that an impaired immune system alters the composition of gut bacteria and affects its evolutionary pace. The study suggests personalized therapies based on individual gut bacteria composition may be more effective than generalist treatments for inflammatory bowel disease.
A breakthrough study has identified a neural mechanism responsible for fat breakdown, allowing researchers to develop novel anti-obesity therapies. The study found that fat tissue is innervated and direct stimulation of neurons in fat can induce fat breakdown, providing new hopes for treating central leptin resistance.
A European-US consortium led by Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia aims to understand the evolution of plant reproduction, including ancient mechanisms of gamete development and fertilization. The project will identify genes useful to agriculture, increasing crop yield and food security.
A new study published in PNAS shows that social structure is crucial for maintaining genetic diversity within species. Researchers developed a mathematical model that predicts how social groups will impact species evolution and conservation.
The March of Dimes Foundation has funded a Portuguese laboratory to study factors that act in the placenta to protect the fetus from malaria. The research focuses on trophoblast cells, which are crucial for maternal-fetal exchanges of nutrients and gases.
Research finds that bacterial communication through autoinducer-2 can restore balance of gut microbiota after antibiotic treatment. The study suggests using bacteria's own language to control and exploit beneficial microbes in the human gut.
Researchers at Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia discovered that proteins controlling cellular rigidity can induce the activation of factors promoting tumor growth. The study found that changes in the cell's skeleton dynamics lead to rearrangements in filaments, resulting in faster cell proliferation and tissue overgrowth.
A study found that a single genomic change can turn beneficial bacteria into pathogenic bacteria by boosting bacterial density inside the host. The research team identified a region of the Wolbachia genome responsible for regulating bacterial densities in flies.
Research team led by Miguel Soares discovered that specific bacterial components in the human gut microbiota can trigger a natural defense mechanism against malaria. High levels of circulating anti-alpha-gal antibodies induced by vaccination are highly protective against malaria transmission.
Researchers found that immune mechanisms triggered by viruses differ depending on entry route, with Toll pathway activated for feeding-related infections. The study suggests that understanding these differences can help find targets to block human diseases transmitted by insects.
A research team from Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia found that the timing of ecdysone synthesis is sensitive to nutrition in fruit flies, regulating final body size. Environmental conditions such as starvation and temperature control ecdysone production, affecting development and growth.
Researchers discovered that chromosome rearrangements can induce additional errors in cell division, leading to genetic instability. The study found that misplaced DNA segments can lead to the formation of extra cohesion sites, causing abnormal chromosome stretching during cell division.
Researchers at Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia have developed new methodologies to quantify protein molecules in living human cells. They measured approximately 400 CENP-A proteins present on centromeres, essential structures that drive chromosome segregation during cell division.
A recent study published in PLOS Genetics has discovered that the development of wings in fruit flies is coordinated with the whole body at two milestones: moulting and pupariation. This coordination ensures robustness against environmental and physiological perturbations.
Researchers discovered a novel gene, ZIF2, that produces a protein capable of sequestering zinc inside plant cells, protecting against toxicity. The discovery opens new avenues for increasing plant tolerance to zinc and has potential applications in crop biofortification and soil remediation.
Researchers have discovered that the timing and coordination of cell division are crucial for normal development, particularly in early embryonic stages. Fast-dividing cells require genes without introns to efficiently produce proteins.
Researchers have discovered that zebrafish regenerates its caudal fin by a process involving V-ATPase, which pumps hydrogen ions to generate an electrical current. This finding has implications for understanding adult tissue regeneration and developing new therapeutic strategies.
Researchers studied E. coli evolution in mice guts, finding rapid emergence of advantageous mutations and large genetic variation over time. The study demonstrates complexity of gut microbiota and opens room for new strategies to fight disease by manipulating gut microbes.
Researchers found that ants modify their thoracic segments to match the tasks they perform as adults, with worker ants having enlarged neck muscles for strength and maneuverability. Queens have distinct thorax shapes associated with strategies used to found new colonies.
Researchers have identified diverse strains of Wolbachia bacteria that offer strong antiviral protection against diseases like dengue, but may come with a cost to the host's lifespan. The study found that certain strains replicate more quickly and reach higher concentrations in flies, potentially reducing their lifespan.
Researchers followed the evolution of E. coli bacteria in the presence of macrophages, observing the rapid emergence of pathogenic traits. The study reveals that the movement of small DNA fragments drives bacterial adaptation to evade immune defenses.
Researchers from Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia discovered that Polo-like kinase 4 (PLK4) must self-destruct to ensure normal centriole formation. This destruction mechanism controls centriole number and prevents diseases like cancer and infertility in fruit fly model organisms.
Researchers found that certain mice develop IRG proteins, a resistance mechanism that prevents the parasites from killing them. This balance between parasite virulence and host resistance allows the infected mice to survive long enough for the parasites to complete their cycle.
Researchers confirmed Haldane's 90-year-old theory that new genes may get lost from populations but found it cannot predict the ultimate fate of beneficial alleles. Genetic diversity can be maintained indefinitely through complex population dynamics.
Research reveals that chromosomal rearrangements, such as inversions or translocations, can be beneficial in certain environments, leading to improved growth abilities. This discovery sheds light on how natural selection shapes chromosome structure to favor specific conditions.
Researchers at Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia discovered that the leg plays a crucial role in initiating the transition from trunk to tail tissues during embryonic development. The genetic cascade triggered by Gdf11 signaling is coordinated with the formation of legs and the cloaca, leading to changes in the body plan.
Researchers identified a novel mechanism by which the activity of Src is limited by the cell's skeleton, resulting in the development of tumors. The cytoskeleton network, comprising actin proteins and actin-Capping Proteins, plays a crucial role in regulating protein activity.
A study led by Paula Duque discovered a gene ZIFL1 that encodes two proteins with different biological roles in plants. The researchers found that the gene's two proteins are involved in hormone transport and drought tolerance, challenging the long-held notion that each gene can only codify for one protein.
Researchers have discovered that malaria parasites can accumulate in areas of low placental blood flow, triggering an inflammatory response. This study shows that the dynamics of placental circulation can influence parasite behavior and sequestration, highlighting a new potential target for therapeutics.
A research team has identified genetic markers for the Bornean elephant using cutting-edge DNA sequencing methodology. The discovery opens new avenues for conserving other endangered species with limited genetic diversity. The study, published in PLOS ONE, marks a significant breakthrough in conservation efforts.