Body | Page 669 | Science Codex

Gene amplification -- the fast track to infection

Researchers at Umeå University in Sweden are first to discover that bacteria can multiply disease-inducing genes which are needed to rapidly cause infection. The results were published in Science on June 30, 2016.

More than 22 years ago, researchers at Umeå University were first to discover an infection strategy of human pathogenic Yersinia bacteria -- a protein structure in bacterial cell-walls that resembled a syringe. The structure, named "Type III secretion system" or T3SS, makes it possible to transfer bacterial proteins into the host cell and destroy its metabolism.

Fetal surgery stands to advance from new glues inspired by mussels

University of California, Berkeley engineer Phillip Messersmith is happy to be learning lessons from a lowly mollusk, with the expectation that the knowledge gained will enable him and fellow physicians to prevent deaths among their youngest patients -- those who haven't been born yet.

Unsilencing silenced genes by CRISPR/Cas9

The ability to control gene expression in cells allows scientists to understand gene function and manipulate cell fate. Recently, scientists have developed a revolutionary gene-editing tool, called CRIPSR/Cas9, which employs a system naturally used by bacteria as protection against viruses. The tool allows scientists to precisely add, remove or replace specific parts of DNA. CRISPR/Cas9 is the most efficient, inexpensive and easiest gene-editing tool available to date. However, scientists have not yet managed to effectively use it to activate genes in the cells.

Pyridine based antitumor compounds acting at the colchicine site

Tubulin inhibitors are amongst the most successful anti-cancer, anti-parasitic and herbicidal agents. Their vascular disrupting activity has recently attracted research focus as it elicits anti-cancer effects at doses well below that of other toxic agents. The colchicine site of tubulin is located in a hydrophobic region at the interface of the tubulin α,β-dimer. Ligands binding at the colchicine site occupy different pockets and make different types of interactions with the protein.

Twisting and turning to target antibiotic resistance

Researchers are getting closer to understanding how some natural antibiotics work so they can develop drugs that mimic them.

A recent review commissioned by the British government reported that, "without policies to stop the worrying spread of antimicrobial resistance, today's already large 700,000 deaths every year would become an extremely disturbing 10 million every year by 2050, more people than currently die from cancer."

Treating diseases at their origin

The protein STAT3 plays an important role in cell proliferation, survival and migration, making it an important modulator in inflammatory and malignant diseases. Mutations to the gene that signals its production can lead to a variety of diseases, including cancers and autoimmune disorders such as lymphoma, leukaemia, and childhood-onset autoimmunity. Understanding how STAT3 works is important to finding drugs that can treat these diseases.

Seaweeds get sick too when they're stressed

A variety of normally harmless bacteria can cause bleaching disease in seaweeds when the seaweeds become stressed by high water temperatures, UNSW Australia researchers have discovered.

Seaweeds are the "trees" of the ocean, providing vital habitat, food and shelter for many species of fish and other coastal marine organism, such as crayfish and abalone.

"A lot of attention has been paid to coral bleaching, but seaweeds are also affected by temperature-related diseases," says study senior author UNSW's Dr Suhelen Egan.

Researchers identify human fingerprint on Indo-Pacific warm pool growth

The Indo-Pacific warm pool (IPWP), Earth's largest region of warm sea surface temperatures (SSTs), has the highest rainfall and is fundamental to global atmospheric circulation and the hydrological cycle. The IPWP has experienced substantial warming and growth during the past century. The region also experienced the highest rates of sea-level rise over the world, indicating large increases in ocean heat content and leading to substantial impacts on small island states in the region.

Iowa State researchers describe copper-induced misfolding of prion proteins

AMES, Iowa - Iowa State University researchers have described with single-molecule precision how copper ions cause prion proteins to misfold and seed the misfolding and clumping of nearby prion proteins.

The researchers also found the copper-induced misfolding and clumping is associated with inflammation and damage to nerve cells in brain tissue from a mouse model.

E. coli: The ideal transport for next-gen vaccines?

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Most people recoil at the thought of ingesting E. coli. But what if the headline-grabbing bacteria could be used to fight disease?

Researchers experimenting with harmless strains of E. coli - yes, the majority of E. coli are safe and important to healthy human digestion - are working toward that goal. Specifically, they have developed an E. coli-based transport capsule designed to help next-generation vaccines do a more efficient and effective job than today's immunizations.

When suppressing immunity is a good thing

A receptor, first known for its role in mediating the harmful effects of the environmental pollutant dioxin in our body, is now understood to play other important roles in modulating the innate immune response.

Our immune system is vital as a protective mechanism against foreign agents, including viruses and bacteria. However, an exaggerated immune response can have damaging effects on the body, as is the case in autoimmune diseases, for example. The regulation of this system is thus important.

The discovery of a totally new kind of 'mark' in human cell nucleus

A Japanese research group verified the presence of a protein modification that is a unique mark in human cell nucleus. This protein modification, Histone H4 lysine 20 acetylation (H4K20ac), was only discovered in plant cells and its existence in mammalian cells has been indirectly proven. Their study suggests that H4K20ac is associated with gene repression. This new discovery of H4K20ac may lead to further clarification of the mechanisms in disease progression.

New method provides better information on gene expression

Scientists at Karolinska Institutet and the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Sweden have devised a new high-resolution method for studying which genes are active in a tissue. The method can be used on all types of tissue and is valuable to both preclinical research and cancer diagnostics. The results are published in the journal Science.

Key difference in immune cells may explain children's increased susceptibility to illness

Schools are commonly known as breeding grounds for viruses and bacteria, but this may not necessarily be linked to hygiene. New research in mice shows that because their immune systems do not operate at the same efficiency as adults, children may not only be more likely to contract a viral infection, but they also take to longer clear it.

Googling 'liposuction'? Study shows low quality of online information

July 1, 2016 - Patients doing Internet searches to learn about liposuction will find overall "very poor" quality of information, reports a study in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery--Global Open®, the official open-access medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).