Research on Fanconi anemia reveals its link to aggressive head-and-neck tumors due to gene-copy chaos, increasing the need for new treatments. The study also highlights a connection between smoking and drinking and elevated cancer risk.
A study published in Nature reveals that cancer stem cells' miscommunication with their environment can trigger a self-perpetuating series of events leading to malignancy. Leptin signaling plays a surprising role in this process, which could be blocked to prevent tumor progression.
Researchers discovered that ant pupae secrete a fluid that is consumed by both adults and larvae, highlighting the interconnectedness of different developmental stages within an ant colony. The fluid, derived from molting, is rich in nutrients and psychoactive substances, essential for larval growth and adult metabolism.
Researchers have discovered that targeting a specific mutation in fibrolamellar tumors can reduce tumor growth in mice, offering a promising approach to treating this nearly incurable cancer. The findings highlight the potential for novel therapies against an intractable disease.
Researchers discovered a specific population of brainstem neurons controlling sickness behaviors in mice, including reduced eating and movement. Inhibiting these neurons blunted the effects of inflammation on behavior, highlighting the link between the immune system and neural pathways regulating behavior.
A new study in Nature provides high-resolution structures showing how two key biochemical states of actin work jointly with bending forces to determine how actin can interact with other proteins. The research reveals a model of protein regulation that involves biochemical states and force working in concert.
Fruit flies have evolved to adjust their vision by moving the retinas inside their eyes, similar to human eye movements. This allows them to track moving objects and maintain visual resolution despite having fewer photoreceptors than humans.
Researchers found that individuals with high levels of fatty acids in their sebum are more attractive to mosquitoes. The study, published in Cell, used a round-robin tournament to test the attractiveness of human skin samples to Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
A new study in PNAS suggests that the spread of COVID-19 in US counties followed a hybrid lognormal-Pareto distribution, with 99% of counts conforming to Taylor's Law and the top 1% matching the Pareto distribution with infinite variance.
A new study found that mice with the APOE4 gene variant were more likely to die from COVID-19, while those with APOE2 had increased virus replication and inflammation. The researchers also analyzed 13,000 patients in the UK Biobank and found that individuals with two copies of APOE4 or APOE2 were at higher risk of death from COVID-19.
Research reveals T cells in colorectal cancer have a double-edged function. Initially protective against tumor growth, they later promote cancer progression by altering their receptors and producing pro-inflammatory cytokines. The study offers new insights into the role of T cells in colorectal cancer and potential avenues for therapy.
Research reveals that lymphatic capillaries communicate with intestinal stem cells to regulate their activity and promote regeneration. The findings provide new insights into the role of lymphatics in maintaining the health of the intestine.
A new study suggests that ant colonies behave similarly to networks of neurons in the brain, combining sensory information with group parameters to arrive at a collective response. The findings indicate that ants adjust their decision-making based on the magnitude of heat increase and group size.
A new study found that individual memory details are parsed and stored in the prefrontal cortex, while overall experiences are stored in the hippocampus. This separation enables efficient recall of memories triggered by specific cues.
A new antibiotic, cilagicin, has been synthesized at Rockefeller University using computational models of bacterial gene products. The compound works by binding to both molecules in bacterial cell walls, making it resistant to resistance mechanisms. This novel approach to drug discovery may lead to a new generation of antibiotics.
Researchers discovered a mutated gene, OTULIN, associated with severe staphylococcal infections, which can lead to pneumonia, deep skin infections, and sepsis. Individuals with one functional copy of the gene are susceptible to life-threatening infections, while those without appear healthy.
A recent study demonstrated that fidaxomicin selectively targets Clostridium difficile (C. diff) while sparing other bacterial species. The researchers identified a specific amino acid on the RNAP enzyme as the Achilles heel responsible for fidaxomicin's killing power.
A large international team has revealed the final eight percent of the human genome, containing noncoding DNA with crucial roles in cellular functions and potentially linked to cancer. The completed sequence provides new insights into cell division and disease mechanisms.
A recent study at Rockefeller University reveals that the FMRP protein plays a dual role in regulating synaptic connections between neurons. It controls protein production in dendrites to strengthen connections, while also regulating gene expression in cell bodies to maintain overall neuron state.
A new study reveals that drugs commonly used to treat cystic fibrosis work by aiding protein folding, binding CFTR to ensure proper configuration. This finding may lead to the development of novel medications for diseases caused by misfolded proteins.
Researchers at Rockefeller University have discovered a novel compound called macolacin that is highly potent against multidrug-resistant bacteria, including those resistant to colistin. The compound was discovered using an evolutionary approach to antibiotic discovery and has shown promising results in lab experiments.
A new study reveals that flies have a set of neurons that signal the direction in which the body is traveling, regardless of the head's direction. The fly brain calculates this signal from basic sensory inputs and uses a world-centered reference frame to determine its position.
Researchers have discovered miniature antibodies derived from llamas that can neutralize SARS-CoV-2 and its variants, including Delta and Omicron. The nanobodies' small size allows them to access hard-to-reach spots on the virus, making them a potential treatment against future variants.
Researchers discovered that childhood cancer patients treated with abdominal or total body irradiation exhibit abnormalities in their adipose tissue, similar to those found in obese individuals with cardiometabolic disease. This suggests that strategies to reduce radiation dose to fat may be necessary to prevent long-term dysfunction i...
Researchers at Rockefeller University identified SLC25A39 as a transporter protein that brings glutathione, the body's major antioxidant, into cell mitochondria. This discovery opens new avenues for studying oxidative stress and its role in diseases like cancer and neurodegeneration.
A new study reveals that mice infected with bacteria or parasites develop a unique tolerance mechanism to shield their enteric neurons from death. This finding has potential clinical implications for conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, where neuronal loss can lead to severe gastrointestinal disease.
A new study by Vanessa Ruta and her team found that dopamine neurons in fruit flies correlate strongly with ongoing behavior, reflecting motivation or goal underlying actions. The activity of these neurons not only encode mechanics of movement but also provide moment-to-moment reinforcement, guiding beneficial actions.
Researchers created noninfectious SARS-CoV-2 replicons that mimic the viral life cycle and can be used to test drugs and neutralizing antibodies. The replicons can also identify human proteins necessary for viral replication and screen chemical libraries for antiviral compounds.
A new study suggests that natural infection can produce highly potent and broadly neutralizing memory B cells, which may provide longer-term protection against severe disease. In contrast, vaccines primarily stimulate circulating antibodies that fade over time.
A new study reveals a small molecule, RGX-202, that targets and prevents metastasis in colorectal cancer by blocking the uptake of phosphocreatine into cancer cells. The findings have led to a clinical trial in humans and may eventually increase survival rates for multiple gastrointestinal cancers.
Researchers have detected the earliest effects of Huntington's disease in the first two weeks of human embryonic development. The findings suggest that the disease process starts decades earlier than previously thought, and point to new approaches for finding treatments.
Linker histones play a crucial role in controlling the number of chromatin loops and ultimately the shape of chromosomes. By regulating loop formation, linker histones allow cells to fine-tune chromosome size for optimal growth and reproduction.
A new study confirms that Rockefeller University's saliva test is as sensitive, if not more so, than FDA-authorized nasal and oral swab tests. The test has been used tens of thousands of times to identify and isolate infected individuals on campus and has the potential to improve safety in communities.
Researchers capture detailed images of ribosome assembly using a novel gene-editing platform, providing insights into the role of 70 assembly factors and their impact on rare human diseases. The study reveals three stages of the small subunit formation process.
Researchers have developed a new microscopy technique, light beads microscopy, that captures detailed images of activity from one million neurons across the mouse brain at high speed and single-cell resolution. This innovation allows scientists to investigate biological questions in a way that was not possible before.
Researchers found that tardigrades move with a strategy similar to that of larger insects, walking in a manner that is 500,000 times more efficient. This discovery raises possibilities for understanding evolutionary biology and designing soft robots.
A study found that isolated fruit flies exhibit changes in gene expression, neural activity, and behavior, including increased eating and reduced sleep. The research suggests that P2 neurons play a crucial role in the perception of social isolation and its effects on behavior.
Olfactory receptors respond to a variety of odors by binding to large numbers of different molecules, rather than specific chemical features. The team discovered that the amino acids lining the pocket don't form strong chemical bonds with odorants, but instead recognize their general chemical nature.
Scientists at Rockefeller University have discovered that essential gene targets in TB bacteria can be ranked by their degree of vulnerability to antibiotics. The study found that ideal targets are highly susceptible to inhibition, while invulnerable genes can withstand nearly total inhibition. This research provides new insights into ...
A recent study in Cell Stem Cell describes how cells remember past inflammation and use this memory to respond more efficiently to new threats. The phenomenon, known as trained immunity, allows cells to draw on general memories of inflammation to respond broadly.
Researchers have identified a population of neurons in the brain's temporal pole region that collectively remembers familiar faces, including those of loved ones. This discovery sheds new light on how our brains process and remember faces, with potential implications for understanding conditions like prosopagnosia.
Scientists at Rockefeller University have identified a new class of therapeutics that destroy fibrolamellar tumor cells growing in mice. The team tested over 5,000 compounds to find these effective treatments, which could potentially transform the landscape of precision medicine by tailoring treatment options for individual patients
A new study reveals that a specific antibody molecule, missing fucose, can indicate when dengue virus infection will become deadly. Patients with severe disease have unusually high levels of these antibodies, which bind too strongly to white blood cells, leading to inflammation and platelet destruction.
Researchers Constantina Theofanopoulou and Erich Jarvis demonstrate that the human hormone oxytocin is the same gene across all major vertebrate lineages, finding synteny in the hormone's receptor. They advocate for a new standard nomenclature to make life easier for scientists studying oxytocin and other hormones.
Scientists have assembled high-quality reference genomes for 16 endangered species, including the kakapo and vaquita, revealing that even small populations can survive if humans do not kill off remaining animals. The 'kitchen sink approach' combined multiple biotech tools to produce error-free genome assemblies.
The Vertebrate Genomes Project has produced 16 diploid high-quality vertebrate reference genome assemblies, showcasing technological improvements and standardization for genomics. These assemblies enable unprecedented novel discoveries in biodiversity, conservation, and human health and disease.
A study from Rockefeller University suggests that breakthrough COVID cases may be driven by rapid evolution of the virus. Ongoing testing of immunized individuals is crucial to mitigate future outbreaks.
Researchers at Rockefeller University have developed a novel method to activate and visualize protein channels in bacteria, shedding light on their function. The findings offer potential new avenues for designing antibiotic drugs that target these channels, which are essential for bacterial survival.
A new study describes broadly neutralizing antibodies that can prevent and potentially treat tick-borne encephalitis. These antibodies, known as VH3-48, have shown promise in preventing the disease and even treating it, as well as other tick-borne viruses.
A new study suggests that those who recover from COVID-19 retain immunity for at least six months due to a lasting defense mounted by the immune system. The researchers found that memory B cells continued to evolve and improve the quality of antibodies even after infection had waned.