Articles tagged with Animal Models
Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have identified a protein, ATF4, linked to increased metastasis and recurrence in lung cancer. The study reveals that older individuals' tumors are smaller and grow more slowly, yet more likely to have spread when detected.
A new experimental rat model reproduces creeping fat in Crohn's disease, characterized by mesocolic adipose tissue hyperplasia with macroscopic, histological, immunological, and molecular similarities to human disease. The model supports the hypothesis that intestinal microbiota contributes to remodelling of mesenteric adipose tissue.
Copper metabolism plays a crucial role in inflammatory bone diseases, with copper overload suppressing glycogen synthesis and increasing inflammatory activity. Researchers found that cuproptosis, a form of programmed cell death, can lead to bone weakening and osteoclast formation, providing a potential new therapeutic target.
Research reveals that salivary bacteria from gum disease alter gut metabolism, driving osteoclast activity and systemic bone loss. Microbial metabolites like indole-3-lactic acid inhibit osteoclast differentiation and activity.
A new study reveals that astrocytes actively participate in motor-learning circuit rewiring by eliminating synapses in the striatum. The research identifies MEGF10 as a key molecular mediator of this process, which is regulated by dopamine signaling and neural activity.
A new study by researchers from the University of Southern Denmark has found no evidence of naturally occurring DMT in the adult rat brain, even when its breakdown was inhibited. The study used highly sensitive methods to detect trace substances and examined whether administered DMT could be stored in serotonin neurons.
Researchers used Caenorhabditis elegans to model chemotherapy-induced neurological dysfunction and tested two compounds for improved recovery. Both sildenafil citrate and Resveramorph-3 significantly reduced seizure-like behaviors and duration, suggesting their potential as therapeutic candidates.
Researchers identified ApoE as a systemic inhibitor of bone repair during aging, and showed that blocking its activity can restore bone regeneration and improve fracture healing. The study provides hope for therapies that actively restore regenerative capacity in older patients, reducing nonunion risk and improving recovery.
Rice University scientists create a detailed map of the Alzheimer's brain using hyperspectral Raman imaging and machine learning. The findings show that chemical changes are unevenly distributed across the brain and extend beyond amyloid plaques, revealing broader metabolic differences between healthy and diseased brains.
Researchers found that hormone treatment reduces abnormal nerve invasion and improves chronic back pain by limiting nerve growth inside damaged spinal tissue. The study suggests that parathyroid hormone can reverse the process by activating natural signals.
A study published in Science of The Total Environment found that e-cigarette exposure alters gut microbiota composition and affects neurobehavior in zebrafish. The researchers observed disruptions in the gut microbiome, with reduced microbial network stability and altered community composition, suggesting potential health risks.
Steatotic liver disease can be precisely assessed using three-dimensional ultrafast vascular ultrasound. The technology visualizes subtle microvascular changes, enabling real-time monitoring of disease progression and therapeutic response.
Researchers from Korea University report a breakthrough in reviving an abandoned depression drug target by redesigning the molecular structure of neurokinin-1 receptor antagonists. New compounds exhibiting antidepressant-like effects have been identified, reducing depressive-like behavior and brain inflammation in mice.
Researchers found a neuroendocrine mechanism linking ovarian status to brain signals controlling sexual receptivity in female teleosts. Progesterone analogs restored sexual behavior but not ovulation, suggesting a direct neural pathway for hormone reception.
Early gastric cancer cells become self-sufficient by producing WNT7B, creating a self-sustaining loop and activating WNT signaling internally. This mechanism is triggered by MAPK signaling activation and has been validated in genetically engineered mouse models and human patient-derived organoids.
Growth hormone directly controls behavior of stem cells in growth plate, stimulating growth but also depleting cartilage stem cells. This delicate balance is crucial for long-term bone development and may contribute to refining growth hormone treatments.
Recent genetic advancements have created a biodiversity library, offering untapped opportunities for solving global challenges. Researchers are exploring unconventional models, such as electric eels, octopi, and bacteria, to develop new therapeutics and tackle environmental issues.
A new AI model uses machine learning to predict drug toxicity in humans by identifying biological differences between cells, mice, and humans. The model improved predictive power over existing state-of-the-art models and demonstrated practicality in predicting market withdrawal due to toxicity.
A study by the Gerald P. Murphy Cancer Foundation's Center for Exceptional Longevity Studies found that retaining gonad function can significantly impact frailty mortality risk. Male dogs with shortest testis exposure had high mortality risks, while those with longest gonad exposure showed no consequence of increasing frailty.
Researchers mapped dynamic glycosylation patterns in rat serum proteins, revealing distinct cell-type-specific profiles. Female rats exhibited pronounced daily fluctuations in sugar structures, suggesting regulation by hormonal and circadian cycles.
A recent study found that plasticine models, commonly used in ecological experiments, may not accurately capture real-world biotic interactions due to their reliance on visual cues. The research team deployed over 2,400 models across two habitats and found similar attack rates regardless of color, shape, or size.
The VICT3R project is expanding its consortium by adding new beneficiaries and organisations, increasing the project budget to €30 million. This expansion reinforces the mission to transform safety assessment in drug and chemical development, reducing reliance on laboratory animals.
Long-term exposure to fine air pollutants like PM2.5 can impair metabolic health by disrupting the normal function of brown fat through complex epigenetic changes. The study identified two enzymes, HDAC9 and KDM2B, as key drivers of this process.
Scientists at RIKEN Center for Brain Science found that fruit flies use separate circuits to compute pleasant and unpleasant odors, challenging the idea that 'good' is the opposite of 'bad'. The discovery may contribute to a better understanding of human brain's flavor appreciation mechanisms.
Researchers at Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown used machine learning techniques to show that mice's facial movements reflect their hidden thoughts. This discovery could offer unprecedented insight into brain function and potential new research tools.
New research reveals that zebrafish models can help guide clinical decision-making in real-time for challenging pediatric cancer cases. The study shows that pre-clinical zebrafish models accurately predicted responses to 11 of 12 treatment regimens, providing robust and actionable treatment response data.
A new review from the University of Victoria suggests that psilocybin and 5-MeO-DMT may help treat concussions and traumatic brain injuries by increasing neuroplasticity and reducing inflammation. The compounds have shown promise in treating depression, anxiety, and other conditions in clinical research.
Researchers from Weizmann Institute of Science and Sheba Medical Center identified two drugs with the potential to treat KLA, a rare genetic disorder affecting the lymphatic system. The study used transparent zebrafish embryos to decipher the disease mechanism and find effective treatments.
The Kavli Foundation and NSF have announced new grants to explore how nervous systems respond, resist, or recover from the challenges of a changing world. This research aims to uncover fundamental principles of neurobiology and reveal how animals adapt cognitively and behaviorally to a changing world.
Scientists at the University of Alabama at Birmingham created novel mouse models with mutations in the DHDDS gene to study retinitis pigmentosa (RP) 59, a genetic cause of blindness. The studies revealed that both T206A/K42E and K42E/K42E mouse models exhibited changes in retinal structure and function similar to human RP59 disease.
A new study published in Molecular Nutrition and Food Research found that red meat consumption causes an imbalance of bacteria in the intestinal microbiota, leading to exacerbated colonic inflammation. The diets resulted in a decrease in beneficial bacterial strains and an increase in pro-inflammatory cells.
Researchers discovered a multi-faceted mechanism behind ASD, revealing the gut microbiota and host immune system's influence on disease progression. Precision-selected probiotics restored metabolic balance, reduced neuroinflammation, and ameliorated behavioral abnormalities in ASD mouse models.
A study in mice found that high triglyceride levels directly cause abdominal aortic aneurysms, challenging the notion that they are merely biomarkers of vascular disease. Researchers identified specific proteins and lipoproteins as causal drivers of aneurysm development and growth.
The new handbook provides a practical approach to harnessing zebrafish as a model organism for biomedical research, covering drug efficacy evaluation and disease mechanisms. It offers step-by-step experimental protocols and theoretical grounding for researchers of all levels.
Researchers developed a genetically modified mouse model to study osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), a rare genetic bone disorder. The study found that the Sp7 R342C mutation affects bone mineral density, trabecular bone volume fraction, and cortical porosity, leading to impaired bone remodeling.
Researchers used IntelliCage to assess spontaneous behavioral changes in a mouse model of schizophrenia, finding increased hyperactivity and exploratory behavior after treatment with MK-801. However, cognitive flexibility was impaired, suggesting schizophrenia-like behaviors.
Studies have shown that emotional or psychological stress enhances pain responses, but the effects of social pain transmission remain elusive. Researchers found that ultrasonic vocalizations emitted by mice in response to pain stimuli can induce emotional transmission and hyperalgesia in other mice.
Researchers compared prey-capture behaviors in five fish species, revealing distinct strategies that differ from zebrafish. These differences suggest species-specific sensory inputs and motor control, shedding light on how brain circuits support behavior and evolution shapes those circuits.
Researchers have identified a hidden molecular mechanism involving two proteins that allows tumors to resist treatment. A new gelatin-based nanoparticle has been developed to shut down both proteins simultaneously, showing promising results in early studies with mice.
Researchers at the Wyss Institute have identified vorinostat as a promising treatment for Rett Syndrome using an AI-driven drug discovery process and innovative disease modeling. The findings demonstrate disease-modifying abilities across multiple tissues, offering hope for a potentially curative treatment.
Researchers discovered two distinct ways mutation of the FOXA1 gene alters tumor formation and therapy resistance in prostate cancer in mouse models. The findings provide insight into how different classes of FOXA1 mutations operate, shedding light on the complex mechanisms driving prostate cancer progression.
Roundworm C. elegans avoids deceased conspecifics due to olfactory cues from metabolites AMP and histidine, leading to reduced fitness and increased egg laying. The detection of these signals may be an evolutionarily maintained mechanism for detecting cellular death.
Research in rats suggests that Arbutus unedo extract can prevent changes in the colon's lining and reduce colonic lesions. The treatment also caused decreased expression of proteins promoting oxidative stress and inflammation.
A team of researchers used machine learning to analyze changes in astrocyte cells' structure, shedding light on heroin addiction and relapse. The study, published in Science Advances, found that specific subpopulations of astroglia exhibit more pronounced morphological changes during drug use.
Scientists successfully grow chimpanzee naive-type pluripotent stem cells, revealing key mechanisms for self-renewal and differentiation. The study's findings shed light on the evolutionary conservation of these properties, offering a powerful tool for investigating early developmental processes.
Researchers from the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center presented abstracts highlighting contrasting effects of a protein on head and neck, breast, and lung cancers. The study found increased levels of IL-9 in patients with head and neck cancer correlated with decreased survival, while elevated IL-9 was associated with smaller tumo...
A study by Baylor College of Medicine researchers identifies 123 genes associated with increased AD risk in humans, including MTCH2, which shows promise as a potential therapeutic target. The team also found that reversing the alterations in these genes has a neuroprotective effect in living organisms.
A new vaccine platform developed at the University at Buffalo has demonstrated complete protection in mice against a deadly variant of bird flu. The vaccine, which combines key proteins hemagglutinin and neuraminidase, shows promise as a versatile and easy-to-produce vaccine that could be effective against evolving bird flu strains.
A study found that alcohol consumption boosts the production of sex pheromones in male fruit flies, increasing their attractiveness to females and mating success. This effect is mediated by three neural circuits that balance attraction and aversion to avoid intoxication.
Researchers propose a general formula modeling bone adaptation as a function of key loading parameters. The formula provides insights into the relationship between mechanical signals and adaptive bone responses, offering guidance for optimizing exercise regimens and designing medical devices to promote bone health.
A recent study demonstrates gene therapy's potential to restore motor capacity in an ultra-rare disease, Megalencephalic Leukoencephalopathy with Subcortical Cysts (MLC), even after symptom onset. The treatment restored normal protein activity, normalizing physiological brain alterations and reversing motor impairments in treated mice.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine discovered how bacteria protect themselves from certain phage invaders by seizing genetic material from weakened, dormant phages and forming a biological 'memory' that their offspring inherit. This process allows the bacteria to recognize and fight off similar viruses in the future.
Researchers at ELTE have created an online database of snoRNAs in zebrafish, revealing 67 previously unknown snoRNAs and providing a comprehensive analysis of their expression during development and in adult tissues. The findings may help create better zebrafish disease models and aid understanding of complex human diseases.
The Open Brain Institute launches a groundbreaking platform to simulate and study digital brains, empowering researchers to explore brain complexity and diseases. With its virtual neuroscience laboratories, the OBI enables global collaboration and access to cutting-edge virtual labs.
A groundbreaking study from Okayama University reveals that keratinocytes, not fibroblasts, are responsible for dermal collagen formation in humans and other vertebrates. Keratinocytes produce collagen fibers in a structured arrangement before fibroblasts modify them.
Researchers used CRISPR to cut a single gene from cancer cells of head and neck tumors, resulting in the elimination of 50% of the tumors after 84 days. This groundbreaking study demonstrates that some genes are essential for cancer cell survival, making them excellent targets for CRISPR therapy.
Low-dose microplastic exposure leads to abnormal reproduction in females, characterized by oocyte meiotic maturation defect and H4K16 hyperacetylation. HDAC3 insufficiency is proposed as a key mechanism underlying this toxicity.
Researchers developed a novel approach using electrospun poly(Lactic-co-Glycolic Acid) membrane with autologous cells to treat oral mucositis, a painful side effect of chemotherapy. The study showed significant results, with ulcers healed completely within six days and reduced inflammation.
Researchers at University of Florida identify native species similarity as key driver for invasion spread in eastern US, offering insights for conservationists and land managers. The study updates environmental resistance modeling to consider species similarity, soil type, and human activity.
A team of researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University observed wild medaka behavior in their river habitat, discovering that they spawn around midnight. The study also found that males exhibit two types of courtship behaviors: chasing females and a display of making quick circles in front of the opposite sex.