Quantitative Biosciences Institute

First “variant of concern” evolved to evade immune system

Researchers found that the Alpha variant produces a protein to stifle infected cells' immune signals, allowing it to evade detection and accelerate transmission. Similar mutations exist in Omicron, suggesting potential strategies for developing drugs to help the immune system fight SARS-CoV-2.

SourceQuantitative Biosciences Institute·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 23, 2021

Serendipitous discovery leads to a new understanding of how cells multitask

Researchers at QBI have discovered a new understanding of how fundamental biological switches regulate processes like cell differentiation and growth. The study highlights the importance of sensitivity in regulating complex tasks and reveals distally located allosteric sites that can affect switch function.

SourceQuantitative Biosciences Institute·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 14, 2021