Press monitoring
Lanpepsy is a novel protein that binds lanthanides with high specificity
1.3.2023 | Press monitoring
Rare-earth elements, also known as lanthanides, are, contrary to what the name suggests, not rare. They are, however, challenging to purify from the environment. Only in the past few years, it became evident that life has found solutions to harness these elements for itself. In a recent paper, the Vorholt lab describes the discovery of lanpepsy,...
Nanosatellite shows the way to RNA medicine of the future
27.2.2023 | Press monitoring
The RNA molecule is commonly recognized as messenger between DNA and protein, but it can also be folded into intricate molecular machines. An example of a naturally occurring RNA machine is the ribosome, that functions as a protein factory in all cells. Inspired by natural RNA machines, researchers at the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center...
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Electrodes grown in the brain: Paving the way for future therapies for neurological disorders
24.2.2023 | Press monitoring
The boundaries between biology and technology are becoming blurred. Researchers at Linköping, Lund and Gothenburg universities in Sweden have successfully grown electrodes in living tissue using the body's molecules as triggers. The result, published in the journal Science, paves the way for the formation of fully integrated electronic circuits...
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Electronic nose built with sustainably sourced microbial nanowires could revolutionize health monitoring
22.2.2023 | Press monitoring
Scientists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst recently announced the invention of a nanowire, 10,000 times thinner than a human hair, which can be cheaply grown by common bacteria and can be tuned to "smell" a vast array of chemical tracers – including those given off by people afflicted with different medical conditions, such as asthma...
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Inhalable powder designed to boost the lungs virus-blocking mucus
20.2.2023 | Press monitoring
Our respiratory system is lined with a mucus-secreting membrane which continuously traps inhaled particles such as pollen, smoke and – to a certain extent – viruses and bacteria. These items are subsequently removed from the airways as the mucus is either swallowed or coughed out. Unfortunately, viruses are often able to make their way through...
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Using CRISPR-Cas9 to knock out asparagine gene in wheat to reduce cancer risk
17.2.2023 | Press monitoring
A team of biologists from Rothamsted Research, the University of Bristol and Curtis Analytics Limited – all in the U.K. – has used the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing system to knock out the asparagine gene in wheat grown in real-world conditions – part of an effort reduce the risk of cancer in people who consume food made from plants that produce the...
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Kangaroo fecal microbes could reduce methane from cows
15.2.2023 | Press monitoring
Baby kangaroo feces might help provide an unlikely solution to the environmental problem of cow-produced methane. A microbial culture developed from the kangaroo feces inhibited methane production in a cow stomach simulator in a Washington State University study. After researchers added the baby kangaroo culture and a known methane inhibitor to...
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Have model organisms evolved too far?
13.2.2023 | Press monitoring
A model organism used in laboratories for the past 100 years has evolved so extensively that it may no longer be fit for purpose. According to a new study, published in Microbial Genomics, the bacterial strain Escherichia coli K-12 has been repeatedly cultured and mutated, resulting in an organism that carries many genetic changes compared to the...
Polymers help protect mice from anaphylactic reaction to peanuts
10.2.2023 | Press monitoring
The gut microbiome plays a significant role in the immune system's tolerance of potential food allergens, such as milk or peanuts. Research has shown that certain bacteria can protect against food allergies by preventing antigens from entering the bloodstream. Now, a group of researchers at the University of Chicago have created a special type...
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Fluorescent nematodes can help monitor indoor air impurities
8.2.2023 | Press monitoring
Good quality indoor air is crucial to our well-being, while impurities in the air can compromise our working capacity and health. Researchers at the University of Turku in Finland have developed a new method for measuring indoor air quality, making use of fluorescent strains of nematodes. Microbial or chemical contaminants in the air can be toxic...
