Why Alzheimer’s Hits Women Harder Than Men
Dr. Céline Bellenguez's team scanned the X chromosome in a large Alzheimer's genetic study and found candidate regions near genes such as FRMPD4 and DMD, though no conclusive risk factors.
Field
Life Sciences
Molecular biology, genetics, microbiology, ecology and animal health.
Breathe Easy: Non-Invasive Gene Therapy for Anxiety and Memory Boosting
Dr. Troy Rohn's team found that a nasal spray delivering gene-silencing material to lower a serotonin receptor in brain cells reduced anxiety-like behavior and improved memory in rodents.
Chronic Heart Failure Has an Unexpected Effect on Your Muscles
Dr. Sofia Gitler's team found that in rats with chronic heart failure, skeletal muscle kept its strength while proteins handling calcium and glucose rose sharply in muscle membranes.
The structure of an algal toxin that killed a 3-foot shark solved
Professor Allen Place's team showed that sterolysin, a toxin from a decades-old culture of the alga Karlodinium veneficum, kills cells by binding membrane sterols and punching holes.
The Complex Nutrient-Gathering Machine That Keeps Bacteria Alive
Dr. Nadia Izadi-Pruneyre's team found that the bacterial protein ExbD switches between open and closed shapes to power nutrient uptake by the Ton system, aided by the cell wall.
New RNA Tool Could Offer Opportunities on How We Tackle Deadly Illnesses
Dr. Gang Chen's team designed dual-affinity peptide nucleic acids that bind where paired and unpaired RNA regions meet, letting them block microRNA processing and boost ribosomal frameshifting.
Researchers find a surprising way bacteria fight and regulate genes
Professor Patrick Pausch's team mapped the structures of type IV-A CRISPR systems, showing how they lock onto DNA and recruit a helicase to block gene activity without cutting.
A Breakthrough Approach for Muscle Health in Dogs
Dr. Celine Nicolas's team found that an ursolic acid supplement shifted muscle markers towards growth and repair in older dogs with muscle loss and made them more willing to exercise.
Bread That Stays Fresh Longer Thanks to Breakthrough Innovations
Professor Alane Beatriz Vermelho's team reviews how microbes shape baking and argues that beneficial bacteria, enzymes and plant-based preservatives could keep bread fresh without artificial additives.
Humpback Whale Talks Back to Scientists in Stunning Ocean Experiment
Professor Brenda McCowan's team found that an Alaskan humpback whale answered played-back contact calls, closely matching their timing in a conversation-like exchange before gradually disengaging.
New Discovery Shows Parasites Manipulating the Body’s Natural Defense System
Dr. Qijun Chen's team found that parasites exploit the host protein SOD3, released by neutrophils, which binds T cells and blunts their early immune response to infection.
Can’t Describe Your Feelings? Scientists Found the Possible Genetic Cause of Alexithymia
Professor Yazmín Hernández-Díaz's review of candidate gene studies links alexithymia, difficulty identifying and describing emotions, mainly to variants in serotonin-pathway and other brain-chemical genes.