To achieve a holistic understanding of multiple sclerosis, an international team of scientists led by the Department of Medicine and Life Sciences (MELIS) at Pompeu Fabra University, has devised a computational biology instrument. This innovation also holds potential for probing into other intricate illnesses, like various forms of dementia. Understanding multiple sclerosis is not that easy. It’s an autoimmune condition. In such a situation, the immune system mistakenly attacks the brain and spinal cord. Gaining insights as to why it happens is slightly tricky, as it involves everything, from genes…
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Mitochondrial Energy Crisis: Unraveling the Alzheimer’s Puzzle
Brain cells crave immense energy to survive and communicate through connections known as synapses. These cells are like energy enthusiasts, which are busy in making way through synapses. But, in the Alzheimer’s scenario, it’s like they’re facing an energy crisis. This messes up their power production. And so, it leads to crumbling down of the synapses and consequently, our fresh memories slowly slip away.
Read MoreMCJ Breakthrough: New Hope for Pulmonary Hypertension
In a groundbreaking study featured in Science Advances, researchers unveil a potential breakthrough in treating pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary hypertension is a medical condition characterized by elevated blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries. These arteries are the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the lungs for oxygenation.
Read MoreIs Algae the Next Green Protein Alternative?
Discover a green protein alternative – algae. Forget meat, researcher says algae is the new and eco-friendly protein that we’ve been ignoring so far. The University of Exeter just dropped a study in The Journal of Nutrition. The research demonstrates that two everyday algal species are protein powerhouses. And so, ingestion of those can help young as well as healthy adults remodel their muscles.
Read MoreGut Defense: Microbiome Blocks Pathogens’ Nutrient Access
Deep within our stomach, a lively neighborhood thrives. The community is known as the gut microbiome. It is housing hundreds of bacterial species. The fascinating world of the gut microbiome steps up to shield us from nasty invaders called pathogens. Details of its protective powers have been a bit fuzzy until now. Scientists have been tackling and exploring which bacterial players hold the secret to its protective magic.
Read MorePPAP53: A Game-Changer in Tuberculosis Treatment
Recently, Prof. Bernd Plietker and his team at the Organic Chemistry I lab, TUD, came up with this group of natural substances called polyprenylated polycyclic acylphloroglucinols, or simply PPAP. The interesting part is its derivative called PPAP53. Since, it has got some serious potential in the world of medicinal chemistry.
Read MoreWearable Ultrasound Patch for Real-Time Monitoring
Researchers at MIT have developed a wearable ultrasound patch that images organs without requiring an operator or gel. The team has successfully demonstrated that the patch can, not only accurately images, but it can also gauge the fullness of the bladder. This innovation has the potential to assist patients with bladder or kidney disorders. As it can monitor their organ function with greater convenience.
Read MoreLNP Formulation: To Transform Production of mRNA Therapeutics
The mRNA vaccines were made within no time during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, highlighting the importance of tiny fat particles or the lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) in medicine. LNPs are like special cars for delicate RNA treatments and vaccines. They not only shield the RNA (from degradation), but they also make sure it gets to its targeted location.
Read MoreDecoding the Immune System’s GPS: How Cells Find Their Way Through Molecular Mazes
Immune system’s ability to distinguish between infections and inflammation is pretty much fascinating. The combination of mechanisms and signals is quite intrigue. And scientists feel there is much to explore. This clearly shows how sophisticated our body’s defense mechanisms are. Our immune system has been protecting us from a wide range of threats. And yet at the same time evolving over a span of millions of years.
Read MoreCoordinated Gene Expression in Tumor Microenvironment: Cancer Research
Researchers at the Ludwig Cancer Research have surfaced a remarkable discovery in the realm of cancer research. They have identified a specific duo of genes which are involved in shaping the behavior of a particular type of immune cell within tumors. Like a hidden code, the duo genes guide these cells in during the progression of cancer.
Read MoreLactate Enriches Neurogenesis: Neuronal Differentiation
Scientists at Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan made an exciting discovery regarding cellular mechanisms that assist in developing our brains. They discovered that lactate plays an important role in helping neural stem cells become specialized neurons. Lactate happens to be the by-product of exercise and metabolism. Researchers even gave this process a fancy name: neuronal differentiation.
Read MoreMolecular Biology of Insulin: Decoding its Secrets via Fruit Fly Discoveries
As the scientific revelation unfolded, the discovery of insulin became the life-saving elixir to people who were suffering from diabetes, globally. Although, terms like high sugar, glucose, insulin, diabetes, glycaemic index etc are very well known to most of the masses. Yet, the first step of insulin synthesis, has been a tantalizing secret, which is yet to be unravelled even by the researchers. In a similar quest, scientists at the University of Michigan observed the tiny world of fruit flies. They studied how insulin is made in fruit flies by…
Read MoreMinimal Organisms Shape Evolution: The Power of Simplicity
Genomes come in various levels of complexity. Of course, it also depends on the number of genes an organism possesses. A genome is set of genetic material or DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) present in a living entity. It contains all the instructions necessary for an organism’s development, functioning, and reproduction. Not all living entities have equal number of genomes. Some bacteria, for instance, have very few genes, while plant and animal genomes can have tens of thousands.
Read MoreRNA-Guided Endonucleases in Eukaryotes: Genetic Tools found in Nature
An international team of researchers has identified a programmable RNA-guided system in eukaryotes. Eukaryotes encompass plants, animals, fungi, and protists. The newly discovered system is based on a protein called Fanzor. It uses RNA as a guide to precisely target DNA. The researchers demonstrated that Fanzor proteins can be reprogrammed to edit the genome of human cells. Compared to CRISPR/Cas systems, the Fanzor system is more compact and has the potential to be delivered more easily to cells and tissues as therapeutics.
Read MoreBiodegradable Gel shows promise for Cartilage Regeneration: Biomaterial Engineering
One of the biggest challenges that still haunts tissue engineering and regenerative medicine is, how to mimic the properties of articular cartilage in synthetic materials. Articular cartilage possesses a unique combination of stiffness and toughness. These features allow the connective tissues to withstand the mechanical stresses and strains experienced during joint movement.
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