Researchers have elucidated the structure of a central cellular inflammatory switch. Their work shows which site of the giant protein called NLRP3 inhibitors can bind to. This opens the way to develop new pharmaceuticals that could target inflammatory diseases such as gout, type 2 diabetes or even Alzheimer’s disease. In their study, the researchers investigated…

The avian influenza virus subtype H16N3 is currently detectable in many countries. To examine the potential threat to humans of H16N3, researchers recently performed an extensive avian influenza surveillance in major wild bird gatherings across China from 2017-2019. The investigators isolated two H16N3 subtype influenza viruses that can bind to both human and avian-type cell…

A new study has shown how cannabis could be an effective treatment option for both pain relief and insomnia, for those looking to avoid prescription and over the counter pain and sleep medications — including opioids. The study, published in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, which looked at 1,000 people taking legalized marijuana in an…

Among adults with a certain type of bleeding stroke, those who used marijuana within the last 3-30 days were more than twice as likely to develop a serious stroke complication that increases the risk of death and disability. The study is the largest to examine the impact of THC, the mood-changing ingredient in marijuana, on…

New research shows that while cannabis users had higher rates of psychotic experiences than non-users across the board, the difference was especially pronounced among those with high genetic predisposition to schizophrenia. «These results are significant because they’re the first evidence we’ve seen that people genetically prone to psychosis might be disproportionately affected by cannabis,» said…

Sigma receptors are proteins found on mainly the surface of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in certain cells. Sigma-1 and sigma-2 are the two main classes of these receptors. The sigma-1 receptor is involved neurological disorders and certain types of cancer. To understand better how the receptor is involved in disease and whether drugs developed to target…

When an organism develops, dividing cells specialize to form the variety of tissues and organs that build up the adult body, while keeping the same genetic material — contained in our DNA. In a process known as transcription, parts of the DNA — the genes — are copied into a messenger molecule -the ribonucleic acid…

Scientists have observed changes to the gene-regulating factors during zebrafish development and discovered that modifications to ‘histone H3’, one of the proteins around which DNA is bound, play an important role in ‘zygotic genome activation’ or transition of control of zebrafish embryonic development from maternal material to the zygote. Their development, however, is a little…

A new study shows that the inflammation caused by Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infection gives the pathogen a two-fold advantage: by both creating an inhospitable environment for competing bacteria and providing nutrients that enable C. diff to thrive. C. diff is a bacterium that causes diarrhea, often with severe or even fatal consequences. As part…

To maximize absorption of nutrients from the diet, the intestinal mucous membrane has a large surface area. However, this also makes it vulnerable to attack from aggressive gut microbes. A new study now shows that the surface layer of the mucosa, known as the epithelium, can rapidly contract when it recognizes a bacterial attack. Every…