One challenge in cancer treatment is to balance toxicity with specificity: potential therapies must be toxic enough to damage rapidly dividing cancer cells yet specific enough to not harm other tissues. Cytolytic peptides are small proteins that are drawn to cell membranes and destroy them by creating structural defects that cause the cells to breakContinueContinue reading “Bee toxin takes the sting out of cancer”
Category Archives: research news
How geckos get sticky
The adhesion and locomotion systems of geckos have been of interest in the biological and biotechnological worlds for decades. Research has uncovered the structure of geckos’ feet and the mechanisms underlying their exceptional clinging ability. But until recently, not much was known about when and how geckos activate their traction systems. Now, Anthony P. RussellContinueContinue reading “How geckos get sticky”
Coral compound fights neuropathic pain
Neuropathic pain is chronic pain that can arise from nerve damage resulting from inflammation in the central nervous system (CNS). People worldwide suffer from neuropathic pain, which can include hyperalgesia (heightened pain sensation, such that mildly uncomfortable stimuli are perceived as severely painful) and allodynia (‘misplaced’ pain, such that nonpainful stimuli are perceived as painful).ContinueContinue reading “Coral compound fights neuropathic pain”
How to grow a new limb
Salamanders are commonly used as regeneration models because they can grow new limbs after amputation. At the amputation site, a clump of undifferentiated progenitor cells called the blastema forms and then regenerates the missing tissues. A fully formed limb is comprised of multiple tissue types (including dermis, muscle, nerve and skeletal elements) that must coordinateContinueContinue reading “How to grow a new limb”
If these mice could talk
Although mouse models have clarified the workings of some human diseases, we may not have considered that they could teach us about human evolution. But new research suggests that mice may have something to say about this aspect of ourselves as well. Lab Anim. (NY) 38, 221 (2009). view full text (login required)
Calling all white blood cells
Within a short time after a wound is sustained, white blood cells, or leukocytes, flood the wound area, sometimes traveling from relatively long distances. But the signal that calls them to the wound site has, until recently, been a mystery. Now, Phillip Neithammer (Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA), Clemmens Grabber (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston MA)ContinueContinue reading “Calling all white blood cells”
Captive rooks master tool use
Subverting some popular thoughts on tool use and physical intelligence, a group of captive rooks has shown a remarkable capacity to modify and use various tools. Rooks (Corvus frugilegus) are not known to use tools in the wild, although they are closely related to New Caledonian crows (Corvus moneduloides), which are habitual tool users. LabContinueContinue reading “Captive rooks master tool use”
More funding for large animal research
Scientists are calling attention to the lack of funding for large animal studies in the US and warning that it may compromise both biomedical and agricultural research. The group, led by James Ireland at Michigan State University (East Lansing), pointed out the disparity in total funding for research grants focused on animal agriculture versus humanContinueContinue reading “More funding for large animal research”
Parrots get in the groove
Despite an extensive collection of videos online claiming to show animals dancing, the ability to perceive and synchronize with a musical beat has largely been considered a uniquely human trait. That is, until now: two groups of researchers recently showed that parrots can boogie down with the best of us. Lab Anim. (NY) 38, 180ContinueContinue reading “Parrots get in the groove”
Restoring myelin, restoring nerve function
Loss of myelin underlies several disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) in humans, the most well known of which may be multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis affects roughly 2.5 million people worldwide and can cause a range of symptoms including fatigue, loss of coordination and balance, numbness, blurred vision or blindness and even paralysis. ItContinueContinue reading “Restoring myelin, restoring nerve function”
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