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Repurposed potential drug for MRSA

Researchers have identified a repurposed compound, bithionol, with selective membrane-targeting properties that effectively kill MRSA persister cells without harming mammalian cell membranes. This breakthrough suggests potential therapeutic applications for bithionol in treating recalcitrant MRSA persister-caused infections.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 29, 2019

How to equip the brake of immunity

Researchers at Toho University found that mice lacking JunB develop severe autoimmune disorders due to reduced Treg cell number. Injecting high doses of IL-2 can mitigate colitis by expanding Treg cells, suggesting a potential novel strategy for treating inflammatory diseases.

SourceToho University·JournalMucosal Immunology·DateJul 9, 2019

Finding a cell's true identity

Researchers developed two AI methods that decipher complex gene activity controlling cell fate decisions in retina development, relating this gene activity to other tissues and across different species. The findings provide key insights into human disease and highlight the potential for AI to shed light on cancer treatment.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalCell Systems·DateMay 28, 2019

A new genetic tool to modify and understand gene function

Scientists have developed a new genetic tool called iSuRe-Cre that provides certainty in Cre-inducible genetic modifications. This innovation increases the efficiency and reliability of gene function analysis in mice, allowing for precise investigation of gene role during organ development, physiology, and disease.

Cellular rivalry promotes healthy skin development

In a recent study, Rockefeller scientists found that skin cells in mice engage in two forms of competition, one during early embryonic development and the other before birth. Loser cells are eliminated by winners, promoting healthy tissue development. Disrupting this process leads to slower skin development and reduced barrier function.

SourceRockefeller University·JournalNature·DateMay 15, 2019

Nanotubes enable travel of Huntington's protein

Scientists at Scripps Research have discovered that the Rhes protein creates tunnel-like nanotubes that enable the toxic Huntington's protein to travel between neurons, contributing to brain cell destruction and disease progression. This finding improves understanding of how Huntington's disease attacks certain brain cells.

SourceScripps Research Institute·JournalJournal of Cell Biology·DateMay 10, 2019

Bringing information into the cell

Researchers at PSI have produced the most detailed image to date of a type of membrane protein involved in signal transmission. They discovered that this protein inhibits itself, preventing overproduction of cAMP, an important secondary messenger in cell signaling.

SourcePaul Scherrer Institute·JournalScience·DateApr 25, 2019

New cell subtypes classified in mouse brain

Scientists from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have developed a novel platform to classify neurons in a mouse brain based on shape, connectivity, and location. This comprehensive approach enables precise identification of neuronal subtypes, such as axo-axonic cells, and sheds light on their unique characteristics.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalCell Reports·DateMar 13, 2019

Figuring out the fovea

A team of researchers led by Joshua Sanes created the first cellular atlas of the primate retina, identifying 65-70 separate cell types and their expressed genes. The study sheds light on the mechanisms that give rise to differences in foveal cells and offers a foundation for understanding vision-related diseases.

SourceHarvard University·JournalCell·DateFeb 21, 2019

What happens to magnetic nanoparticles once in cells?

Magnetic nanoparticles break down within stem cells, releasing iron that's stored in non-magnetic form or used to create new magnetic particles. This phenomenon may help explain the presence of natural magnetism in human cells.

SourceCNRS·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 14, 2019

Bad brakes

Researchers at Harvard Medical School have identified a faulty molecular brake that interferes with the heart muscle's ability to contract and relax. The study found that a mutation in the MyBPC3 gene leads to an overactive motor that propels abnormal muscle contractions, causing the heart to beat too much and relax poorly.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJan 28, 2019

The immune system's fountain of youth

Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science found that clearing senescent cells, which contribute to inflammation and aging, improves health outcomes in mice. The study, led by Prof. Valery Krizhanovsky and Dr. Yossi Ovadya, offers hope for potential anti-aging therapies.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 31, 2018

Simple method rescues stressed liver cells

Scientists from Uppsala University have devised a simple method to rescue stressed liver cells by temporarily reducing cellular stress. This approach allows suboptimal human hepatocytes to be revived with restored functionality, increasing the availability of high-quality cells for laboratory experiments.

SourceUppsala University·JournalArchives of Toxicology·DateDec 21, 2018

Molecular inhibition gets cells on the move

A team of researchers at Osaka University has identified the molecular mechanism that enables cells to move in a specific direction. By analyzing the interaction between PTEN and PIP3 molecules, they found that these molecules mutually suppress each other, preventing cells from forming pseudopodia at different ends.

SourceOsaka University·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 8, 2018

Decoding how brain circuits control behavior

Researchers have made a major breakthrough in understanding how brain circuits control behavior by identifying two types of intermingled nerve cells with distinct roles. The study used extensive analyses of neurons' shapes, gene activity, and function to tease out which cells are responsible for planning and initiating movements.