Research modeling biology as interacting systems. Covers tumor-response prediction, engineered bacteria, living-matter physics, and behavior in model organisms.
UNIGE researchers developed a new approach combining genetics and cell biology experiments with physical modelling to simulate protein gradients. Their innovative model can explain complex mechanisms and be adapted to other biology systems.
The new laboratory will use microfluidics, AI, and machine learning to conduct thousands of parallel experiments on single-cell eukaryotic yeast and other microbes. This will simplify the study of biology and provide a pathbreaking 'robot scientist' for fundamental research.
A research team has discovered how the Covid virus reproduces itself by taking over the cell's protein factory. The team identified a specific structure in viral mRNA that allows the virus to access the ribosome and produce its own proteins, while blocking cellular production. This discovery opens up new avenues for antiviral treatments.
Researchers developed a new imaging approach called VascuViz to visualize blood vessels at different spatial scales. The method enables detailed mathematical models and complementary images to clarify the role of blood flow in health and disease, advancing our understanding of tissues throughout the body.
Researchers have developed a new model system using Daphnia to study aging, focusing on interventions that extend active life and health rather than just lifespan. This approach addresses existing problems in the field, such as lack of standardized data and misinterpretation of results.
A Providence study confirms COVID vaccines are 94% effective at preventing hospitalization within 50-100 days of vaccination, but protection declines to 80.4% after 200-250 days. The study also identifies key risk factors for severe breakthrough infections, including advanced age, comorbidities, and vaccine type.
A new study found that cashew stem bark extract inhibits abnormal gut motility associated with diarrhea, revealing a potential low-cost remedy for treating and managing the condition. The extract's mechanism of action involves blocking muscarinic acetylcholine receptors responsible for gastrointestinal motility.
A VA research team found increased risks of mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders, in individuals who had COVID-19 infection. The study analyzed medical records of nearly 154,000 patients with COVID-19 and compared them to over 11 million people without COVID-19.
Harris Wang, a synthetic and systems biologist at Columbia University, received the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Biomedical Science for his development of tools to track and engineer microbes. His research aims to improve diagnostic and therapeutic applications using genomic technologies.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have identified hundreds of new proteins associated with cystic fibrosis, including those that interact with the CFTR protein. These discoveries may shed light on why some patients respond better than others to current therapies.
A team of researchers from Shibaura Institute of Technology has developed a transducer powered by electrochemical reactions to drive fluid pumps without cumbersome parts in soft robots. The ECDT enables self-sensing technology, enhancing the multifunctionality of soft robots and allowing for miniaturization.
Scientists from Japan and USA develop a microfluidic device for purification of tuberculosis genomic DNA fragments, enabling accurate diagnosis of diseases. The device uses transient ITP and electrokinetic trapping to detect and purify small cfDNA fragments.
The opioid crisis in the US has reached epidemic levels, with over 100,000 drug overdose deaths reported for the first time. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention attributes the rise to abuse of synthetic opioid fentanyl and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Researchers have designed a nanoparticle system that can deliver fluorescent dyes to diagnose and treat pancreatic cancer tumors. The system overcomes the challenge of reaching cells deep within dense tumor masses, enabling detailed images of tumor structures and potentially targeted therapies.
Researchers studied Bacillus subtilis biofilms using X-ray diffraction and fluorescence, finding that calcium ions accumulate in the matrix while zinc, manganese, and iron ions accumulate along wrinkles. These findings suggest a link between structure, nutrients, water, and bacterial behavior.
Researchers developed a novel multi-organoid system to simulate the human liver-islet axis, enabling 3D co-culture of hiPSC-derived organoids for up to 30 days. The system exhibited cooperative interaction between liver and islet organoids, reflecting the dynamic interplay among organs in type 2 diabetes.
Researchers developed a novel robotic replica of a human spine with an artificial disc implant and soft magnetic sensor array. The system can classify five different postures of the spine with 100% accuracy, providing physiologically relevant data before invasive surgeries.
A team of researchers describes a novel flight style in the smallest free-living insects, beetles of the featherwing family. They found that these insects use a bristled wing style and rowing movements to excel at flight, defying conventional wisdom about insect aerodynamics.
A new framework, iDIRECT, can effectively infer direct relationships in association networks, improving our understanding of complex systems. This approach has been successfully applied to gene regulatory networks in E. coli and microbial communities in response to climate warming.
Researchers discovered that bacterial biofilms employ a developmental patterning mechanism similar to plants and animals. The 'clock and wavefront' mechanism creates intricate composite patterns of repeating segments of distinct cell types.
A Tel Aviv University study found a significant link between changes in G-protein-coupled receptors and brain adaptability. Disabling the voltage sensor of these proteins caused uncontrolled brain flexibility, leading to excessive habituation to odors.
Researchers have developed a CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system to enhance the effectiveness of sonodynamic therapy, allowing tumors to be effectively shrunk in a mouse model of liver cancer. The technology reduces antioxidant defense systems, increasing cancer cell death from the treatment.
A prospective study found that MRI outperformed conventional tests and FDG PET/CT for various staging endpoints in SCLC. Whole-body MRI and FDG PET/MRI were more accurate than FDG PET/CT for assessing local invasion extent.
Researchers found that urinary incontinence can distract from balance and stability, increasing the risk of falling in older adults. The study showed that the feeling of having to pee acts as a distracting factor, leading to changes in gait patterns similar to those caused by other distracting tasks.
Researchers developed an AI program that accurately identified patients at risk of serious illness due to blood infections, with an accuracy rate of 82%. The technology has the potential to serve as an early warning system for doctors, enabling them to rank patients based on their risk level.
A study by FAU Harbor Branch reveals that even properly functioning septic systems contribute to nitrogen pollution in the Indian River Lagoon. Groundwater samples showed higher dissolved nutrient concentrations than surface waters, indicating contaminated groundwater as a major source of nutrient loading.
Researchers at Hospital Gregorio Marañón and UC3M developed a navigation system combining surgical navigation, three-dimensional photography, and augmented reality to estimate bone fragment positions during surgery. This system has been used on 7 patients with optimal results, reducing dependency on surgeons' experience.
Researchers created a single-cell map of corn's root, identifying key regulators of cellular diversity that help crops tolerate drought and flooding. The study found that the genetic regulator SHORT ROOT (SHR) plays a crucial role in expanding cortex tissue, leading to increased tolerance of climate stressors.
A new approach for identifying shared patterns in immune cell receptor sequences may help determine if a person has previously been infected or vaccinated against a given pathogen. Researchers have developed software called tcrdist3 to facilitate this process.
A study by the Technical University of Munich discovered that pungent substances from chili, ginger, and pepper are transferred to breast milk after consumption. These substances can be detectable in breast milk for several hours, with maximum concentrations being 70- to 350-fold below the taste perception threshold of an adult.
Researchers have developed a new AI technique, MuSIC, which combines microscopy, biochemistry techniques and artificial intelligence to reveal approximately 70 components contained within a human kidney cell line, half of which had never been seen before.
Researchers developed a novel model to identify specific genes and genetic alterations in multiple myeloma, stratifying the cancer's severity via DNA and RNA sequencing. This model revealed diverse subtypes and high-risk patients beyond current classifications.
A study using machine learning techniques found that maintaining an optimal range of blood pressure control during surgical repair of spinal injuries improves patient outcomes. The results suggest that precise upper and lower blood pressure targets, between 76-117mmHg, may help patients recover motor function after a spinal cord injury.
Researchers have developed a 3D cell culturing platform that allows study of lung fibroblasts and their microenvironment, enabling measurement of cell behaviors and microenvironment changes involved in IPF disease progression. The system's versatility enables personalized medicine and potential applications in studying other diseases.
The American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) has awarded the 2021 Sagol Network GerOmic Award to Junyue Cao, PhD, Assistant Professor at The Rockefeller University. Dr. Cao's project aims to profile single-cell molecular dynamics in aging tissues using high-throughput techniques.
A new computer program called Codetta can analyze the genome sequences of over 250,000 bacteria and archaea to identify alternative genetic codes. This could help scientists understand how genetic codes evolve and change.
A study by Veronika Somoza's team found that gallic acid stimulates gastric cells to secrete acid via the bitter receptor TAS2R4. The plant substance affects acid secretion regardless of whether it is added to water or red wine. This discovery provides new insights into the functions of bitter receptors in food ingredients.
Researchers at MIT develop a method to decode images of cells in a tissue to determine its phase, which can indicate its developmental stage or cancer progression. The technique uses triangular order parameters to characterize tissue states, allowing for quicker and less invasive diagnoses.
Researchers published safety and efficacy data for a novel nusinersen drug delivery method via subcutaneous intrathecal catheter system (SIC) for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) patients. The study found improvements in arm and hand function, but no significant changes in motor scales or muscle force.
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has significant growth potential across various medical applications, including cardiology and dermatology. Miniaturized OCT systems are expected to revolutionize healthcare with compact, mobile, and cost-effective devices.
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.
Researchers study entangled blackworm blobs that show 'intelligent' collective movement when conditions are just right. The model suggests a fine balance between individual movement and clinginess is needed for sustained collective movement.
Researchers at the Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology have identified the 'caramel receptor', which recognizes furaneol, a natural odorant found in fruits and coffee. This discovery contributes to a better understanding of molecular coding of food flavors.
Researchers have developed Mass-Sensitive Particle Tracking (MSPT) to analyze proteins on biological membranes in real-time. The method enables the determination of protein location and size changes without labeling, providing valuable insights into dynamic processes at the membrane.
Research highlights the importance of normal insulin cycles for metabolic health, including better response to fed and fasted insulin inputs. It also uncovers mechanisms regulating robustness of insulin signaling, identifying potential novel regulatory components for therapeutic interventions.
Researchers analyzed protein-protein interaction data from head and neck squamous cells, breast cancer, and combined them to generate a map of protein pathways driving tumor growth. The studies identify potential new therapeutic targets and provide a resource for interpreting cancer genomic data.
Researchers at the University of Göttingen have discovered a novel type of ordering effect generated and sustained by steady shear deformation. They found that under sufficient driving force, an interesting ordering effect emerges, revealing a hidden order in the force directions.
Bioengineer Kevin McHugh is developing a platform to improve the performance of injectable drugs, which often release diminishing amounts of medication over time. The goal is to create predictable, long-lasting delivery systems for better patient outcomes and reduced dosing frequency.
Researchers at Rice University have been awarded a four-year, $1.2 million National Institutes of Health grant to advance the art and science of creating custom-designed microbial colonies. The grant will enable the development of technologies like synthetic tissues that enhance soils or gut microbiomes.
Scientists at TUM and LSB developed a new methodology to quantify the flavor profile of cocoa samples. The method provides quantitative data on 66 taste-decisive substances using a single mass spectrometric platform, allowing analysis of 200 samples per week.
Researchers have found that certain peptides can target the internal mechanisms of bacteria, making them effective against antibiotic-resistant microbes. The study suggests that these peptides could be used to design therapeutic agents that succeed where standard antibiotics fail.
Research reveals how genetic mutations in aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases cause CMT by halting protein production and inducing integrated stress response. The study's findings provide new avenues for therapies against the disease.
Researchers built a robot that mimics the movement of mantis shrimp, which can deliver impressive forces. The study sheds light on the biology of mantis shrimp and reveals how they control their movements using geometry.
The Vilcek Foundation has awarded four prizes worth $250,000 to foreign-born scientists in the United States. The prizes recognize outstanding career contributions to biomedical science and innovative research. This year's recipients include Vishva M. Dixit, Markita del Carpio Landry, Hani Goodarzi, and Harris Wang.
Researchers analyzed plasma and single immune cells from nearly 200 COVID-19 patients and found metabolic changes associated with disease severity. The study's findings could lead to better therapies targeting immune-metabolic changes in severe disease cases.
A new algorithm, Phe2vec, accurately identified patients with certain diseases, outperforming traditional methods in classifying diagnoses. The study suggests that this automation will facilitate further research in clinical informatics.
Researchers developed an AI tool that can quickly and accurately identify suspicious proteins in the body by analyzing their movements. The method, known as diffusional fingerprinting, uses machine learning algorithms to predict protein behavior with over 90% accuracy.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed optimized yeast extracts for cell-free biosynthesis, enabling faster and more efficient chemical production. This breakthrough integrates cellular engineering with cell-free systems, paving the way for sustainable alternatives to current petrochemical processes.
The New Roots for Restoration Biology Integration Institute aims to integrate plant traits, communities, and the soil ecosphere to advance restoration of natural and agricultural ecosystems. The project seeks to understand how root traits influence plant interactions with each other and with the soil.
Scientists create a cell culture system where blood vessels can grow within a framework made of synthetic materials. The team investigates material properties that promote blood vessel formation and refines the model to improve its performance, paving the way for growing implantable tissues.