Prions are abnormal proteins whose accumulation in brain tissues can cause disease in their hosts. Prion diseases occur in many different species, and some can be transmitted between species. For example, variant Creutzfeld-Jakob disease occurs in humans after exposure to the cow prion disease bovine spongiform encephalopathy (or mad cow disease). Generally, such inter-species transmissionContinueContinue reading “Prions cross the species barrier”
Category Archives: research news
How do fruit flies smell?
Fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) rely heavily on their sense of smell, and a large portion of their brain is dedicated to processing olfactory information. Recently, a group directed by Grace Boekhoff-Falk (University of Wisconsin, Madison) determined that the gene distal-less (dll) is essential for correct development of this olfactory system in fruit flies (Proc. Natl.ContinueContinue reading “How do fruit flies smell?”
Synchronicity belies simplicity in short-term memory
Most of us draw on our visual recognition and short-term memory abilities many times a day and with relatively little fanfare, but these seemingly mundane activities have rather complex underpinnings within our brains. The tasks involve different, non-adjacent brain regions: short-term memory formation occurs in the lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC), and visual information processing primarilyContinueContinue reading “Synchronicity belies simplicity in short-term memory”
Appetite of a sea slug
Appetite can be defined as a craving that is fulfilled via consumption, such as hunger. A new report from Keiko Hirayama and Rhanor Gillette (University of Illinois, Urbana) describes appetite at the neural-network level and shows how it controls a decision-making circuit in the sea slug Pleurobranchaea californica. Lab Anim. (NY) 41, 54 (2012). viewContinueContinue reading “Appetite of a sea slug”
Whole lotta squeakin’ goin’ on
Like many rodents, male mice (Mus musculus) produce ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) when they encounter females or the scent of females. The squeaks are attractive to female mice, which can discriminate between calls of siblings and those of unrelated males. These characteristics suggest that the ‘songs’ play a part in courtship and mating, but their contentContinueContinue reading “Whole lotta squeakin’ goin’ on”
Keeping the cornea clear
To preserve its transparency so that we can see clearly, the cornea of the eye normally does not contain blood vessels. The mechanism that prevents vessel growth (angiogenesis) in the cornea to maintain this transparency was previously unknown. But Tsutomu Kume (Feinberg Cardiovascular Research Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL), Ordan Lehmann (University of Alberta, Edmonton,ContinueContinue reading “Keeping the cornea clear”
Rats helping rats
Empathy is not among the traits commonly attributed to rats, but a report from scientists at the University of Chicago (IL) suggests that rats are indeed capable of empathic behavior. The study, led by Peggy Mason, is the first to demonstrate this behavior in non-primates. Lab Anim. (NY) 41, 32 (2012). view full text (loginContinueContinue reading “Rats helping rats”
Specific melatonin receptor promotes a deeper sleep
Insomnia or insufficient sleep is a common malady, affecting millions of people worldwide. Mammalian sleep normally progresses from wakefulness to non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREMS) before transitioning to rapid eye movement sleep (REMS). NREMS is also called slow-wave, deep or restorative sleep because important functions such as memory consolidation and metabolic regulation occur during thisContinueContinue reading “Specific melatonin receptor promotes a deeper sleep”
One vaccine to fight them all?
Several influenza virus strains infect humans, including some that are highly pathogenic and potential pandemic agents. Influenza vaccines are used to reduce exposure, illness and health care costs. Hemagglutinin, the most common vaccine target, is highly mutable, however, so vaccines must be reformulated each year to address emerging influenza strains. A ‘universal’ vaccine that protectsContinueContinue reading “One vaccine to fight them all?”
Missteps in animal behavioral models of anxiety
Animal models of human disorders are often used for testing therapeutic drugs, but in some cases, the results fail to translate into clinically relevant treatments, a growing concern for biomedical research. Scientists are working hard to identify and address the causes underlying such clinical failures. Among them are Ehud Fonio (Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot,ContinueContinue reading “Missteps in animal behavioral models of anxiety”
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