Autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes are the third largest cause of morbidity and mortality in the US. In these and other autoimmune diseases, immune cells mistakenly attack and destroy healthy tissue; in the case of multiple sclerosis, the target is myelin, which creates the protective sheath around nerve cells. AsContinueContinue reading “Using nanoparticles to teach immune tolerance”
Category Archives: research news
Bringing home the bacon genome
The recent publication of the assembly, analysis and annotation of the genome sequence of a female Duroc pig (Sus scrofa) may pay off big for medical research as well as for agricultural production. Although pigs are larger, more expensive to house and slower to reproduce than other common lab animals such as rodents, they shareContinueContinue reading “Bringing home the bacon genome”
It takes TALEN to edit zebrafish DNA
The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is an increasingly popular model for research on vertebrate biology and human disease, thanks in part to its short generation time and transparent, externally fertilized eggs, which facilitate studies of embryonic development. An array of molecular tools has been applied to zebrafish studies, including various genome modification techniques. For example, zincContinueContinue reading “It takes TALEN to edit zebrafish DNA”
Reptiles at heart
To support the high rates of oxygen consumption associated with being warm-blooded, the hearts of birds and mammals must pump rapidly and frequently. These high heart rates are made possible by a network of conductive tissue that spreads across the heart, controlling its contraction. The evolutionary origin of this conductive tissue has long been aContinueContinue reading “Reptiles at heart”
‘Transient’ devices from silk, silicon and magnesium
A cross-disciplinary collaboration between Fiorenzo Omenetto, a biomedical engineer at Tufts University, Medford, MA, and John Rogers, a materials scientist at University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, has yielded tiny new electronic devices that completely dissolve when they are no longer needed (Science 337, 1640–1644; 2012). These ‘physically transient’ electronics are built from silicon, the preferredContinueContinue reading “‘Transient’ devices from silk, silicon and magnesium”
Dangers of BPA exposure confirmed in rhesus macaques
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic chemical with endocrine-disrupting properties that is present in many consumer items: the linings of aluminum cans, heat-activated or pressure-printed cash register receipts, dental sealants and polycarbonate plastic products such as food and drink containers. Because of its prevalence, many people are exposed to BPA on a recurring basis. DataContinueContinue reading “Dangers of BPA exposure confirmed in rhesus macaques”
In working horses, a behavioral model of depression?
A key challenge in research on depression and other mood-related disorders is the availability of appropriate animal models. In addition to the difficulties inherent in assessing mood in animals, the fact that most studies are done in a controlled environment rather than a natural environment may confound interpretation of the results. Hence, some researchers haveContinueContinue reading “In working horses, a behavioral model of depression?”
Molecular link between sodium and calcium transport
Calcium homeostasis in the body is maintained through coordination between renal, intestinal and bone tissues. Ingested calcium in the intestine is first absorbed into the blood and then is either deposited into bone or filtered in the kidney and then reabsorbed or excreted in urine. Excretion of large amounts of calcium in the urine, orContinueContinue reading “Molecular link between sodium and calcium transport”
Is caloric restriction a ‘fountain of youth’ for primates?
Since European explorers first probed the New World’s resources, humans have sought a simple but universally effective defense against aging and death. Countless experiments have evaluated the life-extending effects of myriad molecules and manipulations, be they genetic or lifestyle, in animal models. When studies in species from flies to worms to rodents suggested that reducedContinueContinue reading “Is caloric restriction a ‘fountain of youth’ for primates?”
Grb10 grabs control of muscle growth
Studies have shown that deletion of the protein Grb10, which is a negative regulator of receptors for insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1, results in excessive muscle growth in mice. Lowenna J. Holt and her colleagues at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research (Sydney, Australia) investigated this phenotype more closely to determine whether it mightContinueContinue reading “Grb10 grabs control of muscle growth”
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