Infections with two pathogens pose a serious threat in the clinics. Researchers have developed a technique that provides new insights into this process and can be used as an early warning system. When viruses and fungi join forces A team of scientists from several German research institutions and clinics has now developed a new method…

Researchers have described a novel host strategy for combating viruses such as measles virus that affect the mitochondria, structures within the cell. The presence of the RNA genome of the measles virus activates one pathway of innate immunity, and the release of mitochondrial DNA into the cell through the action of the virus also triggers…

Scientists have made a link between muscular dystrophy and a group of bioactive fats, the sphingolipids, which are involved in numerous cell functions and other diseases. Muscular dystrophy Muscular dystrophy is an umbrella term for diseases where gene mutations result in progressive weakness and breakdown of skeletal muscles. About half of all muscular dystrophy cases…

Seven-year-old children performed better on a challenging task requiring sustained attention if their mothers consumed twice the recommended amount of choline during their pregnancy, a new study has found. The study, which compared these children with those whose mothers had consumed the recommended amount of choline, suggests that the recommended choline intake for expectant mothers…

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be used to generate brain organoids containing an eye structure called the optic cup, according to a new study. The organoids spontaneously developed bilaterally symmetric optic cups from the front of the brain-like region, demonstrating the intrinsic self-patterning ability of iPSCs in a highly complex biological process. «Our…

Rapid weight gain in the first and final months of a pregnancy may play a key role in the development of excess fat tissue in children and adolescents — at least if those children are girls, according to a new study. In the study, published today in the journal Obesity, nutritional sciences researchers looked at…

The SARS-CoV-2 virus can infect cells of the inner ear, including hair cells, which are critical for both hearing and balance, a new study suggests. Researchers also found that the pattern of infection seen in human ear tissue is consistent with the symptoms seen in a study of 10 COVID-19 patients who reported a variety…

A new therapy is showing success as a way to prevent COVID-19 symptoms in mice. In a study published in the Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, mouse models with COVID-19 showed positive results when a small peptide was introduced nasally. The peptide proved effective in reducing fever, protecting the lungs, improving heart function and reversing cytokine…

Researchers from the Human Cell Atlas (HCA) consortium are advancing understanding of diseases that have their origin in early human development. In a new report, they mapped cells in the human gut from early development through to adulthood and uncovered potential drug targets for treating Crohn’s and other inflammatory bowel diseases. A new large-scale study…

A new method, developed offers game-changing possibilities for genetic association studies and biomedical research. For less than $1 in computational cost, GLIMPSE is able to statistically infer a complete human genome from a very small amount of data. It offers a first realistic alternative to current approaches, and so allows a wider inclusion of underrepresented…