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Citizen scientists contribute vital information about 35 seahorse species: their geographic ranges, habitats, and pregnancy seasonality

Researchers from Project Seahorse analyzed 7,794 validated iSeahorse observations from 96 countries, revealing new information on sex ratio and pregnancy seasonality. The study found that many seahorse species have larger geographic ranges, more diverse habitats, and shallower depth ranges than previously known.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalJournal of Fish Biology·TypeObservational study·DateMar 25, 2024

Cool paint coatings help pedestrians feel up to 1.5 degrees Celsius cooler in urban setting, NTU Singapore field study finds

A study by NTU Singapore researchers found that cool paint coatings can reduce city heat by up to 2 degrees Celsius, improving pedestrian thermal comfort levels. The coatings reflected sunlight and absorbed less heat, resulting in cooler temperatures and reduced indoor air-conditioning energy consumption.

SourceNanyang Technological University·JournalSustainable Cities and Society·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 25, 2024

Toronto researchers devise new way to find proteins for targeted treatment of disease

Researchers at the University of Toronto and Sinai Health have created a new platform to identify proteins that can be co-opted to control the stability of other proteins. The study identified over 600 new effector proteins that could be used therapeutically, including those that can efficiently degrade or stabilize target proteins.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 22, 2024

An immunotherapy to overcome resistant leukemia

Researchers have discovered a new immunotherapy approach to overcome resistant leukemia by targeting the mutated TP53 gene. Combining pharmacological therapies with genetically engineered CAR T-cells increases effectiveness against cancer cells, offering promising strategies for patients with resistant disease.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalEMBO Molecular Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 21, 2024

Fast folding for synthetic peptides and microproteins

Researchers at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University developed a new method that enables the efficient production of cysteine-rich peptides and microproteins in their naturally folded 3D structure. The approach uses organic solvents to mimic nature's oxidative folding process, resulting in speeds of over 100,000 times faster than aqueous...

SourceXi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University·JournalAngewandte Chemie·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 21, 2024

Natural molecule found in coffee and human body increases NAD+ levels, improves muscle function during ageing

A recent discovery reveals that the natural molecule trigonelline can increase NAD+ levels and improve muscle function during ageing. Lower levels of trigonelline were found in older people with sarcopenia, a condition where muscles weaken and mass is lost.

SourceNational University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine·JournalNature Metabolism·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 21, 2024

“Tiny, beautiful, and completely unknown animals”: Citizen scientists discover new beetles from the Borneo forest

A team of citizen scientists, including local students, discovered a new beetle species in the Ulu Temburong forest. The newly described Clavicornaltica mataikanensis is one of the largest known relatives among its tiny flea beetle cousins, highlighting the need for further research on their ecology and diversity.

SourcePensoft Publishers·JournalBiodiversity Data Journal·DateMar 20, 2024

Drug candidate may ‘unmask’ latent HIV-infected cells, mark them for destruction

Researchers have identified a potential path to eliminate the viral reservoir that prevents people from being completely cured of HIV. A new drug candidate, called a proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTAC) molecule, triggers the degradation of the Nef protein, which suppresses HIV replication and restores immune system detection. This ...

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalCell Chemical Biology·DateMar 19, 2024

New discovery concerning occurrence of antibiotic resistance

A new study by Uppsala University researchers demonstrates that heteroresistance, a common transient resistance in bacteria, can facilitate the development of antibiotic resistance. The study found that heteroresistant bacteria carrying more resistance gene copies result in slower growth and increased risk of treatment failure.

SourceUppsala University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 18, 2024

Can used coffee grounds help clean up environmental toxins?

New research reveals spent coffee grounds can act as an efficient adsorbent of bentazone, a highly neurotoxic herbicide. Activated carbon from spent coffee grounds showed a 70% efficiency in bentazone removal and high sensitivity to pollutants.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology·DateMar 18, 2024

Overeating and starving both damage the liver: Cavefish provide new insight into fatty liver disease

Researchers have identified a gene responsible for the development of starvation-induced fatty liver in cavefish, which are able to protect their liver due to reduced fat accumulation. This genetic basis has implications for understanding and addressing liver conditions in humans, including Type 2 diabetes and obesity.

SourceStowers Institute for Medical Research·JournalLife Science Alliance·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 18, 2024

Addressing both flu and COVID-19 through a single, multitasking injection

A new multitasking substance has been identified to prevent and treat both flu and COVID-19 infections concurrently. The long-acting recombinant cytokine protein rhIL-7-hyFc demonstrated therapeutic and preventive effects against various respiratory diseases, including COVID-19, influenza virus, and respiratory syncytial virus.

SourcePohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)·JournalCell Reports Medicine·DateMar 18, 2024

A new antibody capture method reveals G-quadruplex landscape and its regulation

Researchers developed an improved method for G4 landscape determination, revealing that sequence property-specific constraints in the nuclear environment mitigate G4 formation. The technique, AbC G4-ChIP, captures G4s efficiently without bias, showing that depletion of a repeat-binding protein enhances net G4 capture at specific sites.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalOncotarget·TypeObservational study·DateMar 18, 2024

Sleep apnea solution could be right under your nose

Researchers at Flinders University have discovered a bedtime nasal spray that can reduce the severity of sleep apnea in people and lower their blood pressure. The study found that the spray, which blocks potassium channels, improved oxygen levels and reduced markers of OSA severity in 7 out of 10 participants.

SourceFlinders University·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 15, 2024

Steroid drugs used for HRT can combat E. coli and MRSA

Researchers from the University of Kent have identified steroid drugs used for hormone replacement therapy that can stop the growth of antibiotic-resistant E. coli and effectively kill MRSA. These findings suggest an alternative to conventional antibiotics, providing a potential solution to the growing threat of antibiotic resistance.

SourceUniversity of Kent·JournalThe Journal of Infectious Diseases·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 13, 2024

Preliminary clinical trial results show ‘dramatic and rapid’ regression of glioblastoma after next generation CAR-T therapy

Researchers at Mass General Cancer Center have achieved dramatic tumor regression in glioblastoma patients after receiving next generation CAR-T therapy. The treatment, known as INCIPIENT, combines two forms of therapy to target mixed cell populations within tumors.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 13, 2024

The ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine presents seven Next Generation fellowship awards at the 2024 ACMG Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting

The ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine has presented seven Next Generation fellowship awards to promising early career professionals in medical genetics and genomics. The recipients include Xueyang Pan, Bianca Seminotti, and Adriel Yejin Kim, who will support their research projects with corporate donations from Pfizer, S...

Exploring the therapeutic potential of natural mushroom compounds to address psychiatric disorders

A new study suggests that mushroom extract containing psilocybin demonstrates superior efficacy in stimulating neuroplasticity and promoting new connections between nerve cells. The research found that the extract had a more potent and prolonged impact on synaptic plasticity compared to chemically synthesized psilocybin.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 11, 2024