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Target identified in treatment of neuroHIV

A new study by UC Riverside scientists has identified MAPK14, a brain protein, as the driving force behind neuroHIV damage, which causes dementia, neuropathy, and memory problems. By targeting this protein, researchers hope to develop a treatment for neuroHIV, a condition affecting millions worldwide.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalBrain Behavior and Immunity·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 22, 2026

New synaptic formation in adolescence challenges conventional views of brain development

Researchers from Kyushu University found that the brain forms new, high-density clusters of synapses on specific segments of dendrites during adolescence, challenging the 'adolescent synaptic pruning' hypothesis. This discovery may offer new hope for understanding the biological basis of schizophrenia and other neurodevelopmental condi...

SourceKyushu University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 14, 2026

Breakthrough in materials science: AI reveals secrets of dendritic growth in thin films

A new AI model developed by Tokyo University of Science's researchers predicts dendritic growth in thin films, offering a powerful pathway for optimizing thin-film fabrication. The model analyzes morphology using persistent homology and machine learning with energy analysis, revealing conditions that drive branching behavior.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalScience and Technology of Advanced Materials Methods·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 19, 2025

From muscle to memory: new research uses clues from the body to understand signaling in the brain

Researchers discovered that a network of subcellular structures similar to those responsible for muscle contraction are also present in brain cells. These structures, called contact sites, play a crucial role in transmitting calcium signals that regulate neuronal signaling. The study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms ...

Fuelling nerve cell function and plasticity

Researchers at University of Cologne's CECAD Cluster of Excellence discovered that mitochondrial fusion boosts new neuron plasticity. The study found that as new neurons mature, their mitochondria fuse to acquire elongated shapes, sustaining synaptic plasticity and refining brain circuits.

SourceUniversity of Cologne·JournalNeuron·DateApr 5, 2024

Intestinal bacteria metabolite promotes capture of antigens by dendritic cells

A team of researchers from Okayama University found that short-chain fatty acids produced by intestinal bacteria trigger elongation of dendrites in dendritic cells, capturing intestinal pathogens and enhancing immune responses. This discovery may lead to the development of new treatments targeting dendritic cells to prevent diseases.

SourceOkayama University·JournalFEBS Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 30, 2023

Complex brain cell connections in the cerebellum more common than believed

Researchers found that nearly all Purkinje cells in the human cerebellum have multiple primary dendrites, which contradicts the traditional understanding of a one-to-one relationship between climbing fibers and Purkinje cells. This discovery was made possible by analyzing thousands of cells from both human and mouse tissue using immuno...

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 27, 2023

How neurons compete to lose their link

The study reveals that spontaneous waves of neurotransmitter glutamate facilitate dendrite pruning, while a unique protection/punishment machinery strengthens certain connections and eliminates others. Proper pruning is critical for neural development, with insufficient or excessive connections linked to neurophysiological disorders.

SourceKyushu University·JournalDevelopmental Cell·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 7, 2023

Mechanical forces in the nervous system play a corrective role

In a breakthrough study, researchers at Münster University revealed that mechanical tearing is the primary mechanism behind neurite pruning in sensory nerve cells of fruit flies. This process, which occurs during development, involves strong body contractions causing stress on fragile neurites, leading to their severance and removal.

SourceUniversity of Münster·JournalJournal of Cell Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 25, 2023

Fruit flies grow brainy on a poor diet

Researchers at Kyoto University found that a poor, low-yeast diet causes fruit flies' larvae to grow dendrites in an unexpected way. The hyperarborization phenotype is triggered by a simultaneous deficiency in vitamins, metal ions, and cholesterol, which increases the production of Wingless signaling molecules from body wall muscle.

SourceKyoto University·JournaleLife·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 17, 2023

New findings on memory impairment in epilepsy

Researchers at the University of Bonn discovered that people with chronic epilepsy may have impaired dendritic integration, leading to less specific place cell firing and reduced ability to distinguish familiar from unfamiliar places. Administering a sodium ion channel inhibitor improved memory in animal models.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalBrain·DateDec 19, 2022

How sleep helps to process emotions

Researchers at the University of Bern have identified how the brain processes emotions during dream sleep. During REM sleep, the brain favors the discrimination of safety versus danger in the dendrites, but blocks the over-reaction to emotion, particularly danger. This decoupling is essential for optimizing survival and stability.

SourceUniversity of Bern·JournalScience·DateMay 13, 2022

Taking time with sound

Nagoya University researchers have discovered how bird brains compute time differences between sounds reaching each ear to determine their location. This process relies on the clustering of nerve junctions in specialized dendrites dedicated to low-frequency sounds.

SourceNagoya University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 1, 2022

Living retina achieves sensitivity and efficiency engineers can only dream about

The living retina achieves sensitivity and efficiency that human engineers can only dream about, with optimized mosaics of different sensitivities parsing 40 visual features. The retinas adapt to current conditions and conserve energy by tuning out noise, making them orders of magnitude less power-hungry than smartphone sensors.

SourceDuke University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 28, 2021

New world record in materials research - X-ray microscopy with 1000 tomograms per second

Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin have achieved a new world record in materials research by using X-ray microscopy to create 1000 three-dimensional images per second. This allows for the non-destructive study of fast processes in materials, enabling researchers to gain insights into material properties and behavior.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie·JournalAdvanced Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 27, 2021

Shortcut for dendritic cells

Researchers at ETH Zurich have discovered that dendritic cells can migrate more quickly to lymph nodes via a newly found pathway during inflammation. This route allows them to bypass the slow and energy-intensive process of entering capillary vessels, enabling faster immune activation and response.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine·DateMay 17, 2021

A protein has been identified as a potential therapeutic target for leishmaniasis vaccines

A study published in Cell Reports identified a protein called SHP-1 as a key player in the Leishmania parasite's evasion of the human immune system. By activating SHP-1, the parasite can limit the capacity of dendritic cells to present antigens, thereby preventing autoimmune disorders and protecting itself from an immune response.

SourceUniversidad Complutense de Madrid·JournalCell Reports·DateDec 11, 2020

Proteins in motion

Scientists have found that surface diffusion of proteins is more effective at providing proteins to distal dendritic sites, reducing the need for protein production. By optimizing dendritic radii, neurons can reduce their protein synthesis cost by several orders of magnitude.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalCell·DateNov 21, 2020