A recent study found that people with active TB have a specific inflammatory response in their airways, dominated by neutrophils that can lead to disease progression. In contrast, those who control the infection have a different immune cell balance, suggesting a way to predict and prevent TB through early intervention.
A 14-protein signature in the blood can predict lung cancer risk more than five years before diagnosis, according to researchers at the Francis Crick Institute. The team used machine learning on plasma data from over 48,000 people to identify the signature, which reflects an altered inflammatory lung environment.
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have developed a new method to enhance anti-cancer immunity by redirecting non-specialized immune cells to present a broader range of tumor antigens. This approach, leveraging understanding of dendritic cell biology, has shown promise in reducing tumour growth and amplifying responses in mice.
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have discovered that sensory nerve signals interfere with the immune system's response to lung cancer. They found that exposure to cigarette smoke further exploits this neuroimmune interaction, accelerating tumour growth in mice.
Researchers found that dogs were domesticated from grey wolves more than 14,000 years ago and contributed substantially to the genetics of modern dogs. The study analyzed DNA from 216 ancient remains, including a 14,200-year-old dog, confirming that European dogs share ancestry with Asian dogs.
Scientists at The Francis Crick Institute have developed a method to characterise and track proteoglycans, complex sugar-protein molecules that sense external messages. This breakthrough allows researchers to study their role in cell growth and response to environmental changes.
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have created a human 'lung-on-chip' model with genetically identical cells from a single donor, simulating breathing motions and lung disease. The device, built by AlveoliX, holds promise for testing treatments for infections like tuberculosis and delivering personalized medicine.
Researchers have developed a new X-ray imaging protocol to capture mouse brain cell connections in precise detail, reaching resolutions of up to 38nm. This technique has the potential to revolutionize the field of neuroscience by enabling scientists to create maps called connectomes of entire brains, first in fruit fly larvae and then ...
A study published in Nature found that hunger can trigger aggression in female mice towards pups, especially when their reproductive cycle is in a certain stage. The researchers discovered that hunger information from the hypothalamus affects the brain's medial preoptic area, stimulating pup-directed aggression.
The study identified chemical compounds that precisely block the interaction between RAS and a key pathway for tumour growth. The treatment has entered its first clinical trial in humans and has shown promising results, with potential to treat many different types of cancers while avoiding effects on healthy cells.
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute discovered that early heartbeats trigger biological signals guiding the formation of a functional beating heart in zebrafish. The study highlights the heart's ability to remodel and adapt, shedding light on congenital heart conditions.
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have identified a new way to treat Cryptosporidium, a parasite that causes severe diarrhoea. They found that shutting down the parasite's metabolic pathways may offer a new treatment option without developing drug resistance.
Researchers sequenced the oldest Egyptian genome from a 4,500-4,800 year-old individual, tracing ancestry to North Africa and the Fertile Crescent. The study provides genetic evidence of population mixing in ancient Egypt during this period.
Researchers have found that the cell nucleus acts as the pacemaker controlling yeast cell division. The 'pacemaker' controlling yeast cell division lies inside the nucleus rather than outside it, keeping the genome stable. This discovery could provide new insights into cell division and DNA replication.
Researchers mapped the evolution of Borrelia recurrentis, a type of bacteria causing relapsing fever, by analyzing ancient DNA. The study found that the species likely diverged from its tick-borne cousin around 6,000 years ago and gained new genes over time, allowing it to spread through human lice.
Gonadotroph cells controlling puberty and reproduction originate from two separate populations, with the majority produced after birth. This finding could aid in understanding and treating disorders impacting puberty and fertility.
Researchers have discovered a family of exported proteins in the malaria-causing parasite Plasmodium falciparum that may hold promise for identifying new drugs. The proteins, known as FIKK kinases, were found to be necessary for the parasite's survival and likely played a key role in its evolution to infect humans.
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute found that mice recognize and compare their own social rank to an unfamiliar opponent's using chemical cues. The study showed that both olfactory and vomeronasal systems are used to process this information, allowing mice to compensate if one system is missing.
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute developed a new stem cell model of the mature human amniotic sac, replicating its development from two to four weeks after fertilization. The model shows that the amnion actively communicates with embryonic cells and promotes growth.
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute investigated epigenetic changes in marsupial embryos, finding that DNA demethylation is not universally required for early mammalian development. Instead, this process may have evolved specifically to help form the placenta.
Researchers found that blood cells carrying age-related mutations can infiltrate tumours, leading to worse cancer outcomes. The presence of these mutations was associated with shorter survival rates in patients with lung and other aggressive cancers.
Research reveals that pregnant mice experience irreversible intestinal growth due to increased nutrient demand during pregnancy. The small intestine remains longer after birth and even more so after a second pregnancy, with changes in villi and crypts contributing to this effect.
Researchers found genetic changes in frequent blood donors that enable them to respond well to blood loss, promoting healthy stem cell growth. In contrast, preleukemic mutations associated with blood cancer were not favored by regular donation.
Researchers found that aggressive lung cancer cells can generate their own electrical activity, building an independent network within the tumour. This property is distinct from most other cancer types and may drive the tumour's ability to grow and spread.
A research team at the Francis Crick Institute has identified critical genes on the Y chromosome that play a role in male fertility in mice. The study found that multiple Y genes work together to regulate sperm production and motility, with some genes having a cumulative effect when removed individually.
Researchers have discovered that a protein called CD74 can predict which people with bowel cancer may respond best to immunotherapy. This finding could lead to the development of a test to identify eligible patients and widen access to this treatment, benefiting hundreds of previously ineligible individuals.
A new test detecting tiny fragments of DNA in blood plasma can predict lung cancer relapse and overall survival. Patients with low levels of tumor DNA before surgery have improved survival rates, while those with high levels are more likely to relapse.
A new test called ORACLE can predict lung cancer survival at the point of diagnosis better than currently used clinical risk factors. This could help doctors make more informed treatment decisions for people with stage 1 lung cancer, potentially improving patient outcomes.
Researchers used a new data analysis method called Twigstats to analyze over 1500 European genomes from the first millennium AD, revealing waves of migration across Europe. The study found that Germanic-speaking people moved south into southern Germany, Italy, and Britain, while also showing northward waves of migration into Scandinavi...
Researchers created human stem cell models containing notochord, a tissue guiding spine and nervous system formation. The model's chemical signals organize surrounding tissue similarly to natural development, enabling studies of developmental conditions and disorders.
Scientists at the Francis Crick Institute discovered that the balance of bacteria in the gut influences symptoms of hypopituitarism in mice. Treating mice with aspirin reversed symptoms by increasing NG2 glia, a type of brain cell involved in hormone production.
Researchers have tested a combination of treatments in mice with lung cancer and shown that these allow immunotherapies to target non-responsive tumours. The combination therapy allows 'immune cold' tumours to respond to the body's own defences.
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have mapped all possible outcomes of changes to the tumour-suppressing VHL gene, enabling clinicians to predict cancer-causing variants with 100% accuracy. The study also found that faulty VHL mutations can increase the risk of kidney cancer and may benefit from belutifan treatment.
Researchers at Francis Crick Institute develop a new genetic therapy that silences mutated NRAS gene in cells with congenital melanocytic naevus syndrome (CMN), potentially reversing debilitating giant moles. The treatment has shown promising results in mice and could be used to reduce cancer risk in affected children and adults.
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have identified a key biological pathway that contributes to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other autoimmune conditions. The discovery provides a potential treatment target for IBD, with existing drugs showing promise in reducing inflammation in macrophages and gut samples from patients.
Researchers discovered that protein softness near nuclear-localisation sequence influences entry speed. Softer proteins cross into the nucleus quicker than stiffer ones.
Researchers found that vitamin D encourages the growth of a type of gut bacteria in mice which improves immunity to cancer. Mice given a diet rich in vitamin D had better immune resistance to experimentally transplanted cancers and improved responses to immunotherapy treatment.
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have made significant discoveries about the proteins controlling fertility in female mice. By identifying a crucial protein called USP7, they found that it plays a vital role in maintaining ovarian function after birth.
Cancer cells can adapt to low oxygen levels by increasing glycolysis, a process controlled by enzymes LDHA and GOT1. Inhibiting these enzymes could target hard-to-reach cancer cells without affecting healthy cells.
A recent study found that newer monovalent COVID vaccines generated higher levels of antibodies against a range of Omicron variants, including the XBB and BQ.1.1 strains. The researchers also discovered that these vaccines increased mucosal antibody production, but not neutralizing antibody levels in the nasal cavity.
Scientists have found a new treatment target for CDKL5 deficiency disorder, one of the most common types of genetic epilepsy. By boosting another enzyme's activity, they may be able to compensate for the loss of CDKL5 and potentially treat some effects on the brain in early development.
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute and UCL have identified a gene that causes heart defects in Down syndrome, a condition resulting from an extra copy of chromosome 21. Reducing the overactivity of this gene partially reversed these defects in mice, setting the scene for potential future therapies.
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have identified the first prehistoric person with mosaic Turner syndrome, characterized by one X chromosome instead of two. The study also found the earliest known incidence of Jacob's syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome, and an infant with Down Syndrome in ancient DNA samples.
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have identified Cav2.3, a calcium channel, as a potential treatment target for CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD), a genetic form of epilepsy that affects early childhood development. The study suggests that inhibiting Cav2.3 could help alleviate symptoms like seizures.
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have discovered that immune cells use an influx of water and ions to propel themselves forward, a process regulated by the WNK1 protein. This mechanism is essential for T cell migration and has implications for understanding cancer spread.
Researchers discovered that dietary indoles, such as those found in broccoli, can activate the immune system to fight off Cryptosporidium infection. This protection was seen in mice, including those with weakened immune systems and newborns, suggesting a potential way to prevent recurring infections in children.
Researchers found that breast cancer cells rely on vitamin B5 to grow and survive. In a study published in Nature Metabolism, scientists discovered that limiting vitamin B5 intake slowed the growth of breast cancer tumours in mice.
Researchers discovered subtle changes in minerals, cells, and inflammation markers in people with inflammatory bowel disease up to 8 years before diagnosis. These findings suggest an opportunity for preventative action or early treatment to improve quality of life.
A new study has found that sex differences emerge gradually during organ development, increasing sharply around sexual maturity. The researchers discovered that different genes are 'sex-biased' across species, with only a few shared across all mammalian species.
A team of researchers has identified a key gene responsible for ovarian development in mice, shedding light on the early stages of sex determination. The -KTS variant of WT1 is essential for female gonad formation, regardless of XX or XY chromosomes, and may hold clues to understanding disorders of sex development.