Researchers shed new light on how Zika virus hijacks our own cellular machinery to break down an essential protein for neurological development, getting it to ‘eat itself’. By triggering this process known as autophagy, Zika virus is able to degrade an important protein, a process that may contribute to the development of neurological or brain…

Researchers used a variety of advanced drug screening techniques to test out more than 10,000 compounds in search of a cure. To their surprise, they found that the widely used antibiotic methacycline was effective at preventing brain infections and reducing neurological problems associated with the virus in mice. «Around the world, the Zika outbreak produced…

By understanding the epidemiology and population biology of a significant and high-priority pathogen, Enteroccocus faecium (E. faecium) in Irish hospitals, researchers are providing the evidence base for more effective surveillance, and infection and prevention control strategies aimed at minimizing the spread of the antibiotic resistant bacteria. By understanding the epidemiology and population biology of a…

Using cutting-edge genetic engineering, researchers have developed a model to study hereditary kidney disease with the help of tropical frogs. The method allows them to collect large amounts of data on anomalies, which can then be analyzed using artificial intelligence. The research opens up new opportunities in the search for new treatment approaches for the…

Scientists supports a novel theory that the innate immune system can respond differently to specific pathogens. This quality, known as immunological specificity, was previously ascribed only to the adaptive immune system. The study suggests that this innate immune specificity is driven by the nervous system and identifies a neuronal protein as a critical link in…

When crossing the street, which way do you first turn your head to check for oncoming traffic? This decision depends on the context of where you are. A group of scientists has been studying how animals use context when making decisions. And now, their latest findings have tied this ability to an unexpected brain region…

The experimental, lab-made antibody leronlimab can completely prevent nonhuman primates from being infected with the monkey form of HIV, new research shows. The results will inform a future human clinical trial evaluating leronlimab as a potential pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, therapy to prevent human infection from the virus that causes AIDS. The results will inform…

Until now, the immune sensor TLR8 has remained in the shadows of science. A research team has now discovered how this sensor plays an important role in defending human cells against intruders. The enzymes RNaseT2 and RNase2 cut ribonucleic acids (RNAs) of bacteria into small fragments that are as characteristic as a thumbprint. Only then…

Antibiotics cure many bacterial infections. However, some patients suffer a relapse. A research group has now discovered why some bacteria can survive antibiotic therapy. The team uncovered where the bacteria hide in the body and how the body’s own immune system also plays an important role. Infections such as tuberculosis or typhoid fever are caused…

The human brain as we know it today is relatively young. It evolved about 1.7 million years ago when the culture of stone tools in Africa became increasingly complex. A short time later, the new Homo populations spread to Southeast Asia, researchers have now shown using computed tomography analyses of fossilized skulls. CT comparisons of…