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A new look inside Ebola's 'viral factories'

Researchers at La Jolla Institute for Immunology have discovered the inner workings of Ebola virus replication inside host cells, revealing 'viral factories' that form clusters of viral proteins and genomes. These microscopic structures are formed in host cells and play a crucial role in the virus's life cycle.

SourceLa Jolla Institute for Immunology·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 9, 2023

An escape signal for the nematode: Artificial intelligence helps elucidate structure of a novel light sensor

A team of scientists has successfully elucidated the structure and function of LITE-1, a biomolecule used by Caenorhabditis elegans to detect danger. The researchers used artificial intelligence to predict the structure of LITE-1, which is a channel protein that forms a pore in the cell membrane allowing charged particles to pass through.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 2, 2023

Researchers discover a novel pathway that minimizes liver injury during transplantation

Researchers have discovered a novel pathway that minimizes liver injury during transplantation by activating the protective CEACAM1-S version. This protective characteristic is regulated by HIF-1α and can be enhanced using molecular tools and alternative gene splicing, reducing organ injury and improving post-transplant outcomes.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalScience Translational Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 2, 2023

Decades of research have left knowledge gaps about cells that regulate the immune system: Purdue and NIH

Researchers at Purdue University and NIH have identified 14 understudied T-reg proteins with molecular roles in disease onset, offering new avenues for understanding autoimmune diseases and cancer. Studying these proteins could lead to the development of cell-based therapies to modify their functions.

SourcePurdue University·JournalNature Reviews Immunology·TypeLiterature review·DateAug 1, 2023

Bacteria like cholera may be crucial in the development of new antibiotics

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have discovered how a bacterium called Vibrio alginolyticus moves using sodium ions, which could lead to new targets for antibiotics. The study provides insights into the flagellum's movement and may help develop novel antibiotics to combat antibiotic resistance.

Predicting lifespan-extending chemical compounds for C. elegans with machine learning

A new study uses machine learning to analyze data from DrugAge, a database of chemical compounds modulating lifespan in model organisms. The researchers create four types of datasets to predict whether or not a compound extends the lifespan of C. elegans, using features such as compound-protein interactions and Gene Ontology terms.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalAging-US·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 26, 2023

Study finds new, unexpected mechanism of cancer cell spread

A new study reveals that the cellular chaperone protein GRP78 migrates to the nucleus under stress and alters gene activities, allowing cancer cells to become more mobile and invasive. This discovery offers potential new approaches for cancer treatment, including down-regulating GRP78 activity or preventing it from binding to ID2.

SourceKeck School of Medicine of USC·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 24, 2023

Study sheds light on cellular interactions that lead to liver transplant survival

Researchers identify key protein interactions that control the body's immune response during liver transplantation, leading to improved transplant survival rates. The study found that a specific communication pathway between CEACAM1 and TIM-3 proteins plays a crucial role in controlling the immune response.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalGastroenterology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 19, 2023

This eight-armed octopus-like pore detects taste

Researchers have captured never-before-seen images of the CALHM1 pore, which assembles into a circular channel with flexible arms resembling octopus tentacles. The discovery reveals how fatty molecules stabilize and regulate the channel, offering potential insights into its role in taste perception and Alzheimer's disease.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 14, 2023

Development of new p38 protein inhibitors with therapeutic potential for some heart diseases

Researchers at IRB Barcelona have developed new p38 inhibitors that selectively impair one of the activation pathways of the protein, allowing it to perform many of its normal functions. The inhibitors show therapeutic potential for heart diseases such as cardiac cell death and cardiotoxicity.

SourceInstitute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona)·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 13, 2023

Engineered approach to remove protein aggregates from cells

A new study describes an engineered approach that makes protein aggregates amenable to spatial manipulations in both budding yeast and human cells. This system allows for the export of protein aggregates from cells, potentially protecting mother cells from toxicity and contributing to a better understanding of neurodegenerative diseases.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 30, 2023

New research from the Stowers Institute reveals the start of Huntington’s disease

Scientists at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research have uncovered the structure of the first step in amyloid formation for Huntington's disease. The team proposes a new method for treating not only Huntington's but potentially dozens of other amyloid-associated diseases by preventing the initial, rate-limiting step from occurring.

SourceStowers Institute for Medical Research·JournaleLife·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 13, 2023

Researchers use ‘natural’ system to identify proteins most useful for developing an effective HIV vaccine

A Johns Hopkins Medicine-led team identified protein fragments that stimulate the immune system to recognize and attack HIV. The study's technique, called reductionist cell-free antigen processing, replicates the complex events in the human immune system, enabling the identification of immunodominant epitopes.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine·DateMay 30, 2023

A key biological pathway for multiple sclerosis is uncovered by Mount Sinai researchers

Researchers at Mount Sinai have discovered a previously unknown way in which the brain and immune system interact in multiple sclerosis. They found that the inflammatory protein interleukin-3 (IL-3) coordinates this communication, inciting the recruitment of immune cells to the brain and exacerbating brain inflammation.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalImmunity·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 8, 2023

Wiggly proteins guard the genome

Researchers have discovered that nuclear pore IDPs form a dynamic barrier that allows essential cellular factors to pass while blocking viruses and pathogens. The team used synthetic biology, multidimensional fluorescence microscopy, and computer-based simulations to study IDPs in living cells.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 2, 2023

Luring the virus into a trap

Heidelberg researchers have identified key proteins that can prevent the formation of fusion pores, allowing viruses like influenza A and Ebola to be trapped in a lipid membrane. This breakthrough could lead to new approaches for preventing infections with these highly infectious viruses.

SourceHeidelberg University·JournalThe EMBO Journal·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 25, 2023

Cold is beneficial for healthy aging

Research reveals that cold activates cellular cleansing mechanisms that break down protein clumps, preventing age-related diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. By modulating proteasome activity, scientists have found a potential therapeutic target for aging and related neurodegenerative disorders.

SourceUniversity of Cologne·JournalNature Aging·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 3, 2023

'We're not all that different': Study IDs bacterial weapons that could be harnessed to treat human disease

Researchers discovered a cluster of enzymes in bacteria that can be reprogrammed to edit proteins and potentially treat human diseases such as Parkinson's and Crohn's. The study also identified key components of the bacterial immune system, including two on-off switches, that could be targeted therapeutically.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 8, 2023

Biosensor could lead to new drugs, sensory organs on a chip

A synthetic biosensor created at Cornell University enables the study of proteins in ways previously impossible, leading to potential applications in drug development and environmental sensing. The system uses cell-free synthesis to produce proteins directly into an artificial membrane, allowing for dual optical and electronic readouts.

SourceCornell University·JournalSynthetic Biology·DateFeb 7, 2023