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Majority rule in complex mixtures

Göttingen University researchers develop mathematical model that shows small imbalances in mixture composition can amplify and control phase separation. This discovery offers a potential mechanism for regulating structure formation in living cells, with applications in fields such as market economies and ecological networks.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 13, 2023

From hagfish to membrane: Modeling age-related macular degeneration

A team of researchers at Utah State University has successfully created an in vitro model of Bruch's membrane, a layer in the retina that deteriorates with age. The model uses hagfish slime proteins to replicate the natural aging process and disease progression, providing a valuable tool for studying age-related macular degeneration.

SourceUtah State University·JournalACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 13, 2023

Copy number variation implements pregnancy as an aging model

Researchers found that pregnant mice experiencing copy number variation (CNV) showed similarities to aging, with biomarkers and genetic effects appearing during pregnancy and reversing after delivery. This study aims to revolutionize aging treatment by investigating the mechanisms behind post-labor rejuvenation.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalAging-US·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 6, 2023

New human cell-based 3D model reveals insights into how immune cells contribute to Alzheimer’s disease

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have developed a novel 3D human cellular model that mimics the intricate interactions between brain cells and immune invaders, providing insights into how immune cells contribute to Alzheimer's disease progression. The study identified specific types of immune cells called CT8+ T Cells surg...

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalNature Neuroscience·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 25, 2023

Adding immunity to human kidney-on-a-chip advances cancer drug testing

A new immune-infiltrated human kidney organoid-on-chip model enables the assessment of on-target, off-tumor effects of immunotherapeutic T cell bispecific antibody drugs. The study's findings provide important insights into which cells are targeted by a given TCB and what, if any, off-target damage arises.

SourceWyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 23, 2023

With advances in in vitro models, group proposes refined legal definition of an embryo

A group of biologists and ethicists suggest adding clarity to ongoing research using embryo models to refine the legal definition of human embryos. They propose a new definition that focuses on what an embryo can become rather than how it came to be, allowing for improved evaluation of models and potential future recognition as embryos.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateAug 17, 2023

Like beads on a chain

A team of researchers developed a computational simulation that explains key mechanism of DNA segregation, providing new insights into the distribution of genetic information during bacterial cell division. The study reveals fundamental biochemical principles relevant to synthetic biology and medical applications.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 14, 2023

An escape signal for the nematode: Artificial intelligence helps elucidate structure of a novel light sensor

A team of scientists has successfully elucidated the structure and function of LITE-1, a biomolecule used by Caenorhabditis elegans to detect danger. The researchers used artificial intelligence to predict the structure of LITE-1, which is a channel protein that forms a pore in the cell membrane allowing charged particles to pass through.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 2, 2023

(How) cells talk to each other

Researchers from ISTA and NUS developed a new theoretical model to understand long-range cell-cell communication. The model reveals the interplay between mechanical forces and biochemical signals in cells, shedding light on complex biological phenomena. It has potential applications in wound healing and understanding tissue behavior.

SourceInstitute of Science and Technology Austria·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 20, 2023

A key function for tight junctions in embryo models

A study by Gladstone Institutes researchers found that tight junctions between cells may play a critical role in gastrulation in human embryos. By suppressing tight junction formation, the team was able to create primordial germ cell-like cells, which are stem cells resembling human precursors of sperm and egg cells.

SourceGladstone Institutes·JournalDevelopmental Cell·DateJul 17, 2023

Artificially grown ‘mini-brains’ without animal components bring opportunities for neuroscience

Scientists have created human brain organoids free of animal cells, which could greatly improve the study and treatment of neurodegenerative conditions. The novel method uses an engineered extracellular matrix to support stem cell growth, resulting in more accurate models of brain development.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalAnnals of Clinical and Translational Neurology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 13, 2023

Test animals, hold your breath!

Researchers from Kyoto University developed a microchip using human iPS cells to measure transport capacity of membrane proteins, potentially giving test animals respite. The model simulates glucose reabsorption and drug excretion in renal proximal tubules, enabling patient-specific disease modeling and personalized medicine studies.

SourceKyoto University·JournalCommunications Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 28, 2023

Towards rapid tissue regeneration

Researchers at DTU Health Tech created a multi-levelled scaffold that enables near-perfect bone healing in just eight weeks, without using growth factors or endocrine factors and cells. The scaffold combines essential bone minerals with mechanical properties matching human bone compressive strength.

SourceTechnical University of Denmark·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateJun 27, 2023

Data driven model discovery and interpretation for CAR T-cell killing using sparse identification and latent variables

Researchers applied sparse identification and latent variables (SINDy) to analyze experimental CAR T-cell killing assay data for glioblastoma cancer cells. The study aimed to extend the CARRGO model by capturing more precise interactions between CAR T-cells and glioma cells.

SourceCollege of Charleston·JournalFrontiers in Immunology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 27, 2023

Human embryo-like models created from stem cells to understand earliest stages of human development

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a stem cell-derived model of the human embryo, allowing for the experimental modeling of embryonic development during the second week of pregnancy. This breakthrough could help understand why and how pregnancies fail, and potentially lead to new treatments for genetic disorders.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 27, 2023

New understanding of why kidney cancers become metastatic discovered by MD Anderson researchers

Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center have engineered a new model of aggressive renal cell carcinoma, highlighting molecular targets and genomic events that trigger chromosomal instability. The loss of interferon receptor genes plays a pivotal role in allowing cancer cells to become tolerant of chromosomal instability.

Stem cell model of human brain development suggests embryonic origins of Alzheimer’s disease

Researchers used a stem cell model to study the effects of Alzheimer's disease-associated mutations on early human brain development, finding that mutant spheres were larger and contained fewer mature neurons. The study highlights the need for tailored therapies and paves the way for studying Alzheimer's in its early stages.

SourceInternational Society for Stem Cell Research·JournalStem Cell Reports·DateJun 22, 2023

Mutant KRAS regulates Y chromosome gene in colorectal cancer, driving metastasis and inhibiting anti-tumor immunity

A preclinical study has uncovered the role of Y chromosome gene KDM5D in regulating anti-tumor immune responses and promoting metastasis in male patients with KRAS-mutated colorectal cancer. The study reveals that mutant KRAS drives upregulation of KDM5D, leading to reduced cell adhesion and immune recognition by the immune system.

Precious1GPT: multimodal transfer learning for aging clock development and target discovery

Researchers developed Precious1GPT, a multimodal transformer-based approach for aging clock development and feature importance analysis. The model utilizes methylation and transcriptomic data to predict biological age and identify disease-related genes, providing a pathway for therapeutic drug discovery.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalAging-US·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 20, 2023

Fruit fly's complex symphony of vision

A unique microcircuit in fruit flies' visual system transforms a single type of neuronal input to compute direction selectivity, with no inhibitory neurons present. The discovery reveals a striking example of the multilayered mechanisms of inhibition and excitation in the brain.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 29, 2023

Automated, accurate reporting for NGS-based clonality testing

Researchers have developed an automated calling algorithm for determining B and T cell clonality from NGS data with greater sensitivity than previous models. The new model increases the assay's sensitivity in detecting clonality, allowing for more accurate diagnosis and monitoring of lymphoproliferative disorders.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalOncotarget·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 16, 2023

Next-generation statistical simulator gives medical and biological researchers a benchmarking tool capable of closely mimicking single-cell and spatial genomics data

A new computer-modeling system, scDesign3, has been developed to generate realistic synthetic data for analyzing genetic makeup of cells. The system can help researchers evaluate and validate computational methods for tasks such as gene expression analysis and cell trajectory modeling.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalNature Biotechnology·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 11, 2023

Scientists create powerful, most-accurate tools to research deadliest blood cancer, study says

Researchers at The Mount Sinai Hospital have created versatile disease models of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), allowing for accurate study of the cancer's progression and response to drugs. These models, derived from induced pluripotent stem cells, can mimic different stages of AML and are nearly identical to those found in patients.

Stay CALM when the heart skips a beat

Researchers at Kyoto University have discovered a genetic mutation that causes lethal arrhythmia in humans. The study found that a novel variant of the CALM2 gene produces robust arrhythmogenicity in human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes.

SourceKyoto University·JournalCirculation Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 13, 2023