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Hard to swallow: Coral cells seen engulfing algae for first time

Scientists have observed individual stony coral cells engulfing single-celled photosynthetic algae, crucial for keeping corals healthy. Around 40% of coral cells incorporated the algae in 30 minutes and remained healthy for a month, providing insights into the partnership between corals and dinoflagellates.

Scientists find small molecule cocktail to improve stem cell use in research, medicine

Researchers at NIH have devised a four-part small-molecule cocktail, CEPT, that protects induced pluripotent stem cells from stress and maintains normal stem cell structure and function. The cocktail enhances the potential therapeutic uses of stem cells in treating diseases like diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and spinal cord injury.

Cell culture engineering webinars

The Cell Culture Engineering XVII Conference has been postponed due to COVID-19, prompting two webinars to be held instead. The first webinar focuses on vaccines, highlighting their safety, efficacy, and global distribution. The second webinar explores therapeutic approaches using antibodies and biologics to neutralize the virus.

UM scientists achieve breakthrough in culturing corals and sea anemones cells

Researchers at the University of Miami have successfully cultured cells from coral and sea anemones for up to 12 days, opening new avenues for studying evolutionary biology and human health. The breakthrough uses antibiotic treatment to prime tissues before culture, allowing for longer and more robust cell cultures.

Seeing progress

Scientists have created a model that replicates the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a disease with no current treatment. By understanding how RPE cells respond to stress and changes in gene expression, researchers can now test potential therapeutics for dry AMD.

Silicones may lead to cell death

A recent study published in Scientific Reports found that silicone molecules from breast implants can initiate processes leading to cell death in human cells. The researchers used cultured cells and observed similarities with programmed cell death, which may have implications for the health effects of silicone breast implants.

SourceRadboud University Nijmegen·JournalScientific Reports·DateJun 12, 2020

Testing corneal cell quality? Apply physics

Researchers in Kyoto have developed a 'quantitative biomarker' to assess the quality of corneal cells, allowing for prediction of their long-term efficacy through simple observation. This breakthrough has potential applications in preemptive medicine, enabling clinicians to intervene before severe symptoms appear.

SourceKyoto University·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·DateJul 22, 2019

SLAS Discovery announces its July feature article, '3D Cell-Based Assays for Drug Screens: Challenges in Imaging, Image Analysis, and High-Content Analysis'

The switch from 2D to 3D cell cultures in drug discovery improves the accuracy of human physiological conditions and increases the success rates of drugs. High-content analysis with 3D cell cultures is expected to increase the quality of compounds progressing to preclinical stages.

Establishment of the immortalized cell line derived from Okinawa rail (endangered species)

Researchers successfully established an immortalized cell line derived from the critically endangered Okinawa rail. The use of the K4DT method, which involves co-expressing mutant CDK4, Cyclin D, and TERT genes, significantly extended cellular division and immortalization in avian cells. This breakthrough paves the way for further func...

SourceNational Institute for Environmental Studies·JournalJournal of Cellular Physiology·DateNov 16, 2018

Stem cell research: (Re)-acquiring the potential to become everything

Researchers at Helmholtz Munich have discovered a specific subset of pluripotent embryonic stem cells that can transform into totipotent-like cells in culture. This breakthrough could pave the way for new treatments and therapies for various diseases, including diabetes and lung conditions.

Cell tissue must not freeze!

Researchers have introduced polyproline as an effective cryoprotectant for monolayers of cells, doubling cell recovery after freezing compared to dimethyl sulfoxide. The proline/polyproline combination minimizes solvent exposure and retains cell functions.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateDec 6, 2017

In vitro tissue microarrays for quick and efficient spheroid characterization

A new technology bridges clinical pathology assessment, high-content analysis, and 3D cell cultures, allowing rapid, automatable, and multiplex readouts. This technique is applied to mixed arrays made up of spheroid models from various cell lines, demonstrating its potential for safety and efficacy testing and model optimization.

How much does life weigh?

Researchers have created a novel cell scale that enables measuring the mass of living cells with high resolution and monitoring their weight changes over time. This allows tracking of fluctuations during the cell cycle, substance influence on cell mass, and viral infection effects.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature·DateOct 26, 2017

Brain tissue from a petri dish

Researchers at the University of Luxembourg have successfully grown brain-like cultures from human stem cells, mirroring the structure and function of the midbrain. This breakthrough allows for the study of Parkinson's disease mechanisms and potential treatments, as well as reducing animal testing in brain research.

SourceUniversity of Luxembourg·JournalStem Cell Reports·DateApr 13, 2017

Are tumor cells glutamine addicts?

Researchers found that tumor cells entering a reversible state of proliferation arrest when glutamine is depleted, rather than dying. c-MYC levels are down-regulated upon glutamine deprivation, suggesting it couples transcription to nucleotide availability.

SourceEMBO·JournalThe EMBO Journal·DateApr 13, 2017

Tissue engineers recruit cells to make their own strong matrix

Scientists at Brown University have successfully cultured cells to produce extracellular matrix with strength comparable to natural tissues. By using specialized molds to guide cell growth and alignment, the researchers created ECMs with specific mechanical properties, such as collagen fibers aligned along a tendon-like structure.

SourceBrown University·JournalBiomaterials·DateNov 9, 2015

An accessible approach to making a mini-brain

The researchers created mini-brains using living tissue from a single rodent, which can form complex neural connections and produce electrical signals within two weeks. The approach is expected to reduce animal use in neuroscience research and make it more accessible to labs without advanced equipment.

Researchers add a new wrinkle to cell culture

Brown University researchers developed new textured surfaces using graphene to better mimic the complex surroundings in which cells grow. The wrinkled surfaces influenced cell growth, with cells being elongated and aligned along the wrinkles, resembling a biologically relevant phenotype.

SourceBrown University·JournalCarbon·DateApr 23, 2015