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Cool adaptations to the cold

Researchers found that icefish have evolved transparent blood, increased energy production, and specialized proteins to protect against cold damage. These adaptations enable them to thrive in Antarctica's frigid waters.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateFeb 25, 2019

Russian scientists show changes in the erythrocyte nanostructure under stress

Researchers from Lobachevsky University have discovered that erythrocytes undergo changes in their nanostructure when subjected to stress, which can lead to programmed cell death. This finding has significant implications for the development of optimal treatment regimens for patients with atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease.

SourceLobachevsky University·JournalSovremennye tehnologii v medicine·DateFeb 21, 2019

Parasites from patients with cerebral malaria stick preferentially in their brains

Researchers found that infected red blood cells from cerebral malaria patients bind more strongly to brain-derived cells than those from uncomplicated malaria patients. This suggests that specific PfEMP1 proteins on the infected red blood cells allow for efficient binding to brain vessels, a key feature of cerebral malaria.

SourceLiverpool School of Tropical Medicine·JournalEMBO Molecular Medicine·DateJan 11, 2019

Transfusions with older blood linked to adverse events, death, new study finds

A new study found that transfusions of packed red blood cells stored for 22 days or more are associated with a 5% increase in mortality risk in trauma patients. The study suggests that patients who require massive transfusions may benefit from receiving fresh stored packed red blood cells, or those stored for 14 days or less.

SourceAmerican College of Emergency Physicians·JournalAnnals of Emergency Medicine·DateNov 28, 2018

How malaria infection activates natural killer cells

A study published in PLOS Pathogens reveals how malaria infection triggers the immune system's first line of defense by activating natural killer cells through the MDA5 receptor. Treatment with a small molecule that activates MDA5 restores the ability of non-responder natural killer cells to clear infected red blood cells.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Pathogens·DateOct 4, 2018

To be or not to be a white blood cell, that is the question

Researchers discovered a mechanism that determines whether immature blood cells differentiate into red or subtypes of white blood cells. The study found that repression of Bach factors contributes to the development of anemia of infection/inflammation, highlighting potential therapeutic targets for treating bone marrow and blood disord...

SourceTohoku University·JournalNature Immunology·DateSep 25, 2018

Red-blood-cell 'hitchhikers' offer new way to transport drugs to specific targets

A new drug-delivery technology called RBC-hitchhiking has been found to dramatically increase the concentration of drugs in specific organs, potentially decreasing side effects and improving efficacy. The technology uses red blood cells to transport nano-scale drug carriers, achieving a 40-fold increase in drug uptake in the lungs.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 31, 2018

Tailoring blood cells in the laboratory

Scientists have engineered red blood cell lines to express fewer antigens, making them less immunogenic for patients with rare blood types. This breakthrough could lead to the development of more universal blood sources for transfusion patients.

SourceEMBO·JournalEMBO Molecular Medicine·DateApr 26, 2018

The complex journey of red bloods cells through microvascular networks

A team of researchers used a state-of-the-art simulation code to study the behavior of red blood cells flowing through physiologically realistic microvascular networks. They observed that red blood cells frequently jam for brief periods before proceeding downstream, causing temporary increases in vascular resistance. The findings have ...

Make way for hemoglobin

Researchers at Harvard Medical School have identified the mechanism behind red blood cell specialization, controlled by the enzyme UBE2O. The study reveals that UBE2O marks proteins for destruction, allowing precursor red blood cells to become specialized and well-nourished with oxygen.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalScience·DateAug 18, 2017

Anti-malaria drugs: Potential new target identified

A newly described protein, PfAP2-I, regulates a number of genes involved with the parasite's invasion of red blood cells, making it an effective target for new antimalarial drugs. Preventing PfAP2-I from binding to DNA and initiating the expression of invasion genes could stop an infection before it reaches the red blood cell stage.

SourcePenn State·JournalCell Host & Microbe·DateJun 14, 2017