Researchers found that mRNA-vaccinated individuals mounted rapid, broadly reactive immune responses after Omicron breakthrough infection, resulting in mild clinical symptoms. The study suggests that completing the mRNA vaccination series is crucial for protection against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.
HKU Electrical and Electronic Engineering researchers have successfully developed a new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology that can operate from a standard AC wall power outlet, removing the need for radiofrequency shielding. The ultralow field (ULF) 0.055 Tesla brain MRI scanner is estimated to be only a fraction of the cost ...
Researchers at HKUMed have discovered a stepwise upregulation of polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) in circulating extracellular vesicles from liver cancer patients, suggesting its potential as a non-invasive diagnostic marker. The study also found that pIgR-enriched EVs promote cancer stemness and tumorigenesis in mouse models, ...
Researchers found a mussel-derived compound strengthens resin-dentin bond and improves its durability. The compound, N-(3,4-dihydroxyphenethy) methacrylamide (DMA), reduces nanoleakage and increases longevity of dental fillings.
Researchers at the University of Hong Kong found that the Omicron variant is less effective in replicating cells and causing diseases than other COVID-19 variants. The study suggests that mutations in the spike protein may reduce its capacity to use a certain pathway, impairing its entry and replication.
Researchers discovered that a bismuth drug combined with N-acetyl cysteine can suppress SARS-CoV-2 replication and reduce viral loads in the lung. The oral cocktail therapy showed improved uptake of bismuth in tissues and enhanced antiviral potency.
Researchers at HKU have identified the molecular mechanisms activating salt-induced adaptive changes in soybeans, which could provide solutions for saline agriculture. The study found that specific proteins and signaling pathways play a crucial role in helping plants cope with soil salinity.
The HKUMed research team successfully repurposed an approved drug, ifenprodil, in combination with the FDA-approved drug sorafenib to treat liver cancer. The study leveraged CRISPR-Cas9 screening platform to identify a common target known as NMDAR1 and its paired targets, which inhibits HCC cells' growth and self-renewal ability.
Researchers at HKUMed developed a new vaccine regimen that induces robust mucosal immunity, preventing SARS-CoV-2 nasal infection in animal models. The heterologous combination of PD1-RBD-DNA and LAIV-HK68-RBD vaccines demonstrated superior protection against pandemic variants, including Alpha, Beta, and Delta.
A recent study found that the Omicron COVID-19 variant can significantly reduce the virus-neutralizing ability of Pfizer BioNTech vaccines, with a 32-fold reduction observed. However, the study suggests that vaccines may still provide protection against severe disease and death.
Research finds lockdowns led to significant reductions in non-COVID mortality, with a decrease of 12.5% after loosening measures, resulting in the prevention of 293,000 deaths. Improved air quality and increased sanitizing surfaces also contributed to fewer deaths from infectious diseases.
Researchers created anti-COVID-19 stainless steel with alloying elements, inactivating viruses on its surface. The material can replace frequently touched public products to reduce COVID-19 transmission risk.
The HKU team discovers a vast prokaryotic viral diversity in activated sludge, influencing pollutant removal and environmental protection. Phages can curb undesired bacteria, improving wastewater treatment efficiency.
Researchers at HKU have identified a naturally occurring flavone as a potential drug for obesity treatment. The study found that obesity damages skeletal muscle metabolism by reducing brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels, leading to impaired mitochondrial function and insulin resistance.
Researchers have identified genetic risk factors associated with SOX5 and CHST3 genes, key regulators of intervertebral disc development, linked to spine osteoarthritis. The study reveals a strong correlation between degeneration of intervertebral discs and spine OA, as well as links to back pain, knee, hip, and neck/shoulder pain.
A new study reveals pterosaurs had a wing root fairing made of skeletal muscle, improving force generation and wing shape control. The findings suggest pterosaurs were more advanced flyers than previously thought, with significant contributions to their flight anatomy and evolution.
Researchers found strong peaks of local extinction and origination before and after the PETM, indicating a great perturbation of the shallow-marine ecosystem. The ecosystem recovered strongly near the end of the PETM, but the impacts were irreversible, changing faunal composition permanently.
The study reveals step-wise molecular changes in viral polymerase and nucleoprotein that facilitated efficient pig-to-pig transmission. The findings suggest strategic coordination of surveillance and risk assessment activities to identify viruses with pandemic potential.
Researchers at HKU have discovered the cellular proteins used to process foreign DNA fragments into an artificial chromosome. The study provides insights into the mechanisms of DNA assembly and centromere formation, facilitating the engineering of artificial chromosomes for cloning and gene therapy.
Researchers developed a framework to predict effects of marine heatwaves on ecosystems and identify key species for adaptation. The trait-based approach will help managers tailor strategies to enhance community resilience under climate change.
Researchers have discovered an innovative way to navigate liquids on a surface without external force or energy. The breakthrough enables controllability, versatility and performance in delivering and transporting liquids, offering potential solutions for thermal management, desalination and other applications.
The University of Hong Kong researchers have developed a novel quantum chemistry technique to reveal complex electron and energy transfer pathways in photophysical processes. The study reveals that strong electron-electron correlations and electron-vibration couplings govern the efficient singlet fission process in organic materials.
Researchers from the University of Hong Kong have discovered a genuine topological Mott insulator in twisted bilayer graphene models. The system's unique properties lead to exotic behavior, including insulating and superconducting phases.
HKU astrophysicists identify historical supernova of AD 1181 with recent discovery of 'Parker's star' and its surrounding nebula Pa30. The team found the event matches ancient Chinese reports within 3.5 degrees, providing a firm historical basis for the rare Type Iax designation.
Researchers at HKU and CityU have developed a new vaccine targeting Acinetobacter baumannii, a deadly Gram-negative pathogen causing severe infections. The Glycoconjugate vaccine protects against infection by triggering an immune response to kill the bacteria.
A research team led by Dr Chaogu ZHENG discovered that bacteria-derived curli amyloid fibril promotes neurodegeneration in the host. Inhibiting curli production may be a preventative treatment for neurodegenerative diseases.
HKU environmental scientists have developed novel observational methods to overcome limitations in CubeSat observations, enabling more accurate tracking of fine-scale changes on Earth's surface. The research advances the monitoring of atmospheric cloud covers and improves data quality assessments for land-surface monitoring.
A research team at HKU has developed a framework to evaluate the risks of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) based on three factors: human-associated environments, gene mobility, and host pathogenicity. The framework provides a risk hierarchy for ARGs, allowing for informed decision-making on tackling environmental ARGs.
Climate change and metal pollution have substantially altered Hong Kong's marine communities, particularly in eastern waters, according to a recent study published in Anthropocene. The researchers used small fossil shells to reconstruct the ecosystem over the last 50-100 years, revealing significant impacts on rare species.
Researchers observed linked Weyl surfaces in five-dimensional space using metamaterials, introducing a unique platform for studying complex topological phenomena. The experiment revealed a higher-dimensional topological state with exotic optical properties, including negative refraction and invisibility cloaks.
A HKU team has developed a framework to determine the diet of fossil birds, allowing scientists to better understand ancient avian behavior. By combining various techniques, including medicine and materials science, the researchers identified previously unrecognized agreements on the diet of certain species.
HKU researchers found that active intercellular contraction and actin filament alignment trigger cellular anisotropy and plasticity, driving embryo elongation. This breakthrough may lead to new strategies in detecting and treating embryo diseases.
Researchers from the University of Hong Kong propose that sedimentary rocks measured by Curiosity rover represent sand and silt deposited by air-fall and reworked by wind. The discovery suggests a reducing atmosphere on ancient Mars with conditions similar to those found in modern-day deserts.
Marine ecologists found that mangroves have the lowest functional redundancy among resident fauna, indicating a high risk of ecological collapse. The study suggests that even modest local losses of invertebrate diversity could have significant negative consequences for mangrove functionality and resilience.
A novel statistical method revealed the importance of climate change in controlling deep-sea biodiversity, with temperature being the primary driver. The study used long-term fossil records and Convergent Cross Mapping to detect causality, supporting evidence that climate change affects deep-sea ecosystems.
A team of researchers from HKU has developed a transferrable and integrative type I CRISPR-based platform that can efficiently edit Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a superbug capable of infecting various tissues and organs. The technique enables rapid identification of resistance determinants and development of novel anti-resistance strategies.
Researchers found that songbirds can sense sweetness regardless of their primary diets, with the ability emerging early within the songbird radiation. The team identified the molecular basis of this ability and found that it has been conserved in nearly half of all birds living today.
A research team has identified a naturally abundant venom peptide from ants that can initiate an immune response via a pseudo-allergic receptor MRGPRX2. The study reveals a novel pathway for this receptor, showing P17 induces infiltration of monocytes at the injected site by activating MRGPRX2.
Ecologists from HKU have developed a novel forensic tool using stable isotope techniques to determine whether birds in the pet trade are captive or wild-caught. The tool uses carbon and nitrogen values to analyze amino acid isotopes, distinguishing between diets of captive and wild birds.
Researchers at HKU have identified 38 authentic Ag+-binding proteins in Staphylococcus aureus, revealing silver's molecular targets and mode of action. The study shows that silver-based antimicrobials can potentiate the efficacy of antibiotics, resensitize MRSA to antibiotics, and slow down antibiotic resistance evolution.
Researchers have discovered significant smoke aerosols in pre-industrial Southern Hemisphere ice core samples, revealing a much fierier past than previously thought. This finding helps to refine climate predictions by accounting for the cooling effect of smoke particles, which may have been underestimated in current models.
A study found that fish living in CO2 vents with reduced pH have higher gene expression in gonads related to pH homeostasis and metabolism. This suggests an adaptive mechanism for survival in a lower pH environment.
Researchers at The University of Hong Kong have developed synthetic biotherapeutics with anti-tumor, insulin-sensitizing, and hepatoprotective activities, offering potential treatments for obesity-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cancer.
Researchers at The University of Hong Kong have created an atomic-scale ion transistor that can selectively transport ions faster than in bulk water. The device achieves this through electrically gated graphene channels, allowing for highly switchable ultrafast ion transport.
A recent study by researchers at the University of Hong Kong and Lingnan University found that wealth inequality is the key driver of global wildlife trade. Wealthier countries are responsible for the majority of the world's demand, with top importers including the US, France, and Italy.
A novel chemical tool, ADdis-Cys, has been developed to elucidate protein interaction networks in cells. It enables the simultaneous identification of a protein's interacting partners and pinpointing of their binding regions.
Research finds a significant decrease in greenhouse gas emissions from Chinese inland waters over the past three decades, primarily driven by environmental alterations. The study suggests that ignoring these emissions will result in overestimating China's terrestrial carbon sink capability.
Research reveals that legal wildlife trade averages $220 billion per year, but lacks adequate traceability, leading to unnoticed over-exploitation of common species. The study suggests refining the HS Code system to improve tracking of wildlife trade and protect biodiversity.
Researchers from HKU have discovered evidence of a reduced atmosphere on ancient Mars, dating back 3.5 billion years. The team used infrared remote sensing and spectroscopy to analyze mineralogy and geochemistry of ancient rocks, revealing weathered conditions indicative of a reducing environment.
A research team led by Professor Chi-Ming Che and Dr. Jun Yang has resolved a long-standing problem in metal-metal closed-shell interaction, finding strong M-M' Pauli repulsion leads to repulsive metallophilicity. This discovery has profound implications for the fabrication of self-assemblies by transition metal complexes.