How do Microplastic bits affect the heart? A small study from Italy looked into this by checking if these minuscule plastic particles, mostly too small to see (called nanoparticles), were in the artery plaque of the people they studied. The researchers studied 257 individuals who underwent surgery to clear clogged blood vessels. They examined...
HIV is a very complicated virus, and we haven't succeeded in making a vaccine for it yet.Image credit:CanvasSince HIV first appeared, many things have changed. New medicines help people with HIV live well and stop them from spreading the virus. But to truly beat HIV, we need a vaccine.HIV is a big problem worldwide,...
Radiant Snares of the Predatory Fungus Arthrobotrys Oligospora. Credit: Hung-Che Lin CC-BY 4.0Think fungi can't be carnivorous? Think again. Arthrobotrys oligospora, a worm-eating species of fungus discovered in 1850, has proven capable of sensing, trapping, and consuming small animals, shedding light on the molecular changes facilitating predatory behavior.Worms on the MenuWhile A. oligospora isn't the...
Cell Sheets Guided to Form Scaffold-Free Constructs Through Pillar-Based Anchoring for In Vitro Modeling. Credit: Advanced Functional Materials (2023), DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202308552.In the realm of regenerative medicine, Evolved.Bio, a startup, is paving the way with groundbreaking technology that offers hope to individuals who have experienced significant muscle damage. This innovative approach promises effective muscle tissue...
Scientists discover Darwinibacteriales, a game-changing bacteria order, revolutionizing biogas production. Potential to enhance renewable energy globally. Credit: bioRxiv (2023). DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.08.556800In a significant breakthrough, scientists from the European research project Micro4Biogas have identified a new taxonomic order of bacteria known as Darwinibacteriales, which play a crucial role in the decomposition of organic matter and have the...
Credit: phys.orgCattle, now iconic in American lore, were absent from the continent until the Spanish introduced them from Europe via the Canary Islands. A recent study analyzed ancient DNA from Caribbean and Mexican Spanish settlements, revealing that cattle from Africa were imported early in colonization, more than a century before documentation.Although historical records...
Crédito: https://unsplash.com/photos/1NvNQIYToicSperm play a vital role in creating new life, contributing half of the required genetic material for fertilization. Researchers at the University of Michigan are now delving into the molecular-level details of sperm formation, focusing on protamines—a unique group of proteins that package sperm DNA.Understanding the significance of protamines may shed light on...
Credit: Andrea Vierschilling / Pixabay.Ying Gu, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the Penn State Eberly College of Science and leader of the research team, stated that the study identified a protein called calcium-dependent protein kinase 32 (CPK32) responsible for chemically modifying one of the proteins in the cellulose synthase complex, thereby regulating...
Tetraspanin 8 is localized at the plasma membrane of mucin-secreting cells. Credit: Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39277-9.In a recent study, scientists from the Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG) in Barcelona investigated how cells execute the controlled release of mucins and insulin, two vital proteins for human health. Their findings were published in the journal Nature Communications.Mucins: Guardians...
A light micrograph of a section through the thorax of a mouse embryo, which shows left–right asymmetry. RIKEN researchers have discovered how cilia detect fluid flow, which eventually leads to this asymmetry. Credit: Dr. Keith Wheeler/Science Photo LibraryThe process through which small hairs in embryos perceive fluid movement has been identified by biologists from...
