Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Gut bacteria can process dietary fiber into an anti-allergy weapon, finds new study

Scientists found that short-chain fatty acids produced by gut bacteria suppress allergic reactions by modulating mast cell activation and epigenetic modifications. This study provides new insights into the relationship between diet and immune system regulation, with potential applications in allergy treatment.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalThe Journal of Immunology·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 1, 2024

Challenging the traditional views on how the brain processes movement and sensation

A study by Fujita Health University researchers unveiled novel insights into the brain's processing of movement and sensation. The findings suggest that signals from motor cortices do not primarily modulate sensory responses in primary sensory cortices, but rather pathways from secondary somatosensory cortex (S2) and sensory thalamus (...

SourceFujita Health University·JournalJNeurosci·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 11, 2024

Releasing brakes on biocatalysis

Researchers have elucidated the molecular mechanism of formaldehyde poisoning in a class of efficient hydrogen-producing biocatalysts. The study suggests that modifying the enzyme to resist formaldehyde inhibition could enable its use in bio-based industrial processes and understanding metabolic pathways.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 29, 2023

Cancer's sweet Achilles heel

A team of researchers at Kyoto University has found that a deficiency in the enzyme B4GALT3 inhibits tumor growth in mice. The study shows that reduced glycosylation on T cell surfaces correlates with increased CD8+ immune cells infiltrating tumors.

SourceKyoto University·JournalFrontiers in Immunology·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 25, 2023

How eggs of the Zika-carrying mosquito survive desiccation

A new study reveals that mosquito eggs can tolerate extended desiccation by changing their metabolic pathway. By rewiring their polyamine and lipid metabolism, the eggs become more resistant to dehydration. This finding provides potential new ways to control the spread of Zika virus.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 24, 2023

Esketamine nasal spray effective against depression

A Phase IIIb study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that esketamine nasal spray achieved higher remission rates (27.1%) compared to quetiapine extended-release (17.6%) in patients with treatment-resistant depression, indicating its potential as a targeted therapy for this population.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 5, 2023

Targeting unsuspected protein reverses lymphedema

A Cornell-led collaboration created a 3D in-vitro model of human lymphatic vessels that revealed a surprising mechanism jamming up drainage: the protein ROCK2. Inhibiting ROCK2 reverses lymphedema effects, offering potential treatment for this condition.

SourceCornell University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 3, 2023

Keeping herpes in check

Researchers have developed a new approach to treating herpes by inhibiting an enzyme that releases newly formed virus particles from infected cells. The inhibitors, made of oligosaccharides, significantly reduce the spread of the virus and may also impede cancer metastasis.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 7, 2023

New Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis articles showcase promising therapeutic candidates for treating cancer and hearing loss

Researchers developed innovative techniques to treat challenging cancers and manage therapy side effects. Inhibitors targeting PRMT5, a histone-modifying enzyme, alleviated cisplatin-induced hearing loss, while nano-pills delivered combination drugs to liver cancer cells.

SourceCactus Communications·JournalJournal of Pharmaceutical Analysis·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 8, 2023

Stalking a silent killer

Researchers aim to treat pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma by targeting amino acid transporter SLC6A14 and compensatory nutrient scavenging mechanisms autophagy and macropinocytosis. Using alpha-methyl-L-tryptophan and hydroxychlorquine, the study seeks to improve therapeutic outcomes in patients with pancreatic cancer.

Phyllodulcin could be a potential candidate for treating Alzheimer’s disease, find Sahmyook University researchers

Researchers from Sahmyook University found that phyllodulcin, a natural sweetener found in hydrangeas, can efficiently inhibit amyloid beta (Aβ) aggregation and dissociate its aggregates in an animal model study. The study suggests that phyllodulcin may be useful in delaying the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease.

SourceSahmyook University·JournalBiomedicine & Pharmacotherapy·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 27, 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

Potentiating cancer vulnerability to ferroptosis: Off-targeting effects of DHODH inhibitors

Researchers at Helmholtz Munich discovered that DHODH inhibitors sensitize cancer cells to ferroptosis by inhibiting ferroptosis suppressor protein-1 (FSP1), not DHODH itself. This finding confirms the crucial role of FSP1 in ferroptosis surveillance and opens up new avenues for developing effective cancer therapies.

Malaria: New molecule with therapeutic potential

CNRS scientists have identified a molecule that prevents parasites of Plasmodium from invading blood cells, paving the way for a new class of antimalarials. The discovery is based on the key role of myosin A in malaria infection and its inhibition by KNX-002.

SourceCNRS·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 15, 2023