Using T cells to target malignant brain tumors
Doctors and scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and from Heidelberg University’s Medical Faculty Mannheim have successfully tested a neoantigen-specific transgenic immune cell therapy for malignant brain tumors for the first time using an experimental model in mice. Cellular immunotherapies that specifically target malignant tumors are thought to be a promising approach in […]
AI helps design the perfect chickpea
A massive international research effort has led to development of a genetic model for the ‘ultimate’ chickpea, with the potential to lift crop yields by up to 12 per cent. The research consortium genetically mapped thousands of chickpea varieties, and the UQ team then used this information to identify the most valuable gene combinations using […]
When macrophages let off steam: Changes in cell metabolism protect macrophages from overloading and thus assist the resolution of inflammatory reactions
New data from a research team at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) shows how inflammatory reactions can be resolved by changes to the metabolism of macrophages. Danger signals released by damaged cells during inflammation play a role during this process. ‘Rewiring’ the mitochondria in the macrophages protects them against overloading and can thus improve the way in […]
Ketone supplement might be a novel therapeutic for boosting brain function in obesity
New research published in The Journal of Physiology has shown that ketone supplements may be a novel therapeutic strategy for protecting and improving brain health in people with obesity. People with obesity are known to be at a higher risk of developing cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative diseases. This new study found that giving a ketone […]
Unprecedented view of a single catalyst nanoparticle at work: X-rays reveal compositional changes on active surface under reaction conditions
A DESY-led research team has been using high-intensity X-rays to observe a single catalyst nanoparticle at work. The experiment has revealed for the first time how the chemical composition of the surface of an individual nanoparticle changes under reaction conditions, making it more active. The team led by DESY’s Andreas Stierle is presenting its findings […]
ADHD and impulsivity: New potential targets to approach the treatment for neuropsychiatric disorders
A study published in the journalPharmacological Research describes the existence of a complex built by dopamine and noradrenergic receptors that could be a therapeutic target of potential interest to tackle the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and impulsivity. The paper, a preclinical study, has been carried out by the Research Group on Molecular Neuropharmacology, under […]
Gut microbiota influences the ability to lose weight
Gut microbiota influences the ability to lose weight in humans, according to new research. The findings were published this week in mSystems, an open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology. “Your gut microbiome can help or cause resistance to weight loss and this opens up the possibility to try to alter the gut microbiome […]
New findings on ambient UVB radiation, vitamin D, and protection against severe COVID-19
New research from Trinity College Dublin and University of Edinburgh has examined the association between vitamin D and COVID-19, and found that ambient ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation (which is key for vitamin D production in the skin) at an individual’s place of residence in the weeks before COVID-19 infection, was strongly protective against severe disease […]
Which Pediatric Research Is Overfunded by NIH?
Some pediatric research areas, such as congenital birth defects and HIV/AIDS, were disproportionately overfunded by the NIH in recent years relative to their disease burden in the U.S., according to a cross-sectional study. NIH funding for disease-specific research largely appeared to correlate with pediatric disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost to that disease in the U.S. […]
Observation of quasi-equilibrium phase coexistence in supercritical fluids
A long-lasting non-equilibrium phase coexistence in supercritical fluids has been observed by a Korean research team. A team of researchers led by Professor Gunsu S. Yun from POSTECH’s Department of Physics and the Division of Advanced Nuclear Engineering and Professor Dong Eon Kim of the Department of Physics and Max Planck POSTECH/Korea Research Initiative (MPK) […]