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Sound waves could provide 'liquid biopsies'

Researchers at Duke University have developed a sound wave-based platform that can separate circulating tumor cells from blood samples with high efficiency, making it suitable for clinical use. The technology uses acoustic force to push larger cancer cells into a separate channel, preserving the functions and native states of the cells.

SourceDuke University·JournalSmall·DateJul 3, 2018

The search for the origin of mast cells

Researchers from CNRS and INSERM identify 'primitive mast cells' generated in yolk sac during embryonic development. These cells play a crucial role in shaping the body's immune response, contradicting previous theories on mast cell origin.

SourceCNRS·JournalImmunity·DateJun 4, 2018

Who am I? How cells find their identity

A team of scientists led by Alex Schier has developed a new method to trace the entire history of individual cell differentiation. They discovered that cells can leave their initial path and change their identity, leading to a more flexible developmental program than previously thought.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalScience·DateApr 26, 2018

Unpacking asymmetric cell division

Researchers at Duke-NUS Medical School investigated the role of phosphatidylinositol lipids and proteins in asymmetric cell division, a process vital for producing mature brain cells. They discovered a new protein called Vibrator, which plays a key role in this complex process.

Creating brain cells to detect Tourette's

Researchers at Rutgers University created brain cells from blood samples of individuals in a three-generation family with Tourette syndrome. The study found that a mutation in the PNKD gene is likely the cause of the disorder, which affects one in every 100-150 people in the US.

SourceRutgers University·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·DateSep 25, 2017

Life-long blood production depends on hundreds of cells that form prior to birth

Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital found that hundreds of precursor cells, not just a handful, are involved in establishing the blood system before birth. This discovery has clinical implications, as understanding how the blood system emerges can help unravel the origins of disease and identify susceptible cells.

SourceSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital·JournalNature Cell Biology·DateSep 18, 2017

Which type of cell to become: Decision through indecision

Researchers found that cell fate decision is not a unique programmed event, but rather the outcome of a dynamic process where cells explore different molecular possibilities before reaching a stable state. This process is reminiscent of trial-and-error learning and highlights the complexity of human hematopoietic cell fate commitment.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateJul 27, 2017

A rising star

Researchers at UCSB used star ascidian to study the interaction between cells and their physical environment, finding a mechanism that allows blood vessels to shrink without impeding blood flow. This discovery has implications for understanding cellular development and metastasis in cancer.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalMolecular Biology of the Cell·DateJun 22, 2017

Optical tractor beam traps bacteria

Bielefeld University physicists develop new method to study biological cells using optical tractor beams, allowing for superresolution images of DNA in single bacteria. The technique enables researchers to rotate and move bacterial cells at will, enabling the study of three-dimensional cellular structures.

SourceBielefeld University·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 14, 2016

Stem cells also rust

A Lund University research team identified high levels of reactive oxygen species in newly generated blood stem cells from pluripotent stem cells, damaging their function. The researchers developed a cocktail to reduce oxidative damage, resulting in over twenty times more blood stem cells that could grow.

SourceLund University·JournalStem Cells·DateOct 25, 2016

No blood vessels without cloche

Researchers identify Cloche, a bHLH-PAS transcription factor, as the key gene controlling blood vessel and blood cell development in embryos. The discovery, made after 20 years of searching, has significant implications for regenerative medicine and personalized stem cell therapy.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature·DateJul 18, 2016

Turn up the heat to increase altitude tolerance

New research suggests that heat-based exercise is a more efficient means of improving altitude tolerance than normobaric altitude training. Heat-based training reduced physical strain and improved time-trial performance in cyclists, with similar effects on blood cells as low-oxygen training.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Physiology·DateMay 3, 2016