Single-cell analyses have shown that individual cancer cells can acquire mutations that make them more aggressive and resistant to chemotherapy. Thus, in some cases, even if chemotherapy seems to have been effective, a particularly aggressive cancer cell may survive and then cause a relapse in the future. The specific mutations that drive cancer progression andContinueContinue reading “Fishing for insight into leukemia relapse”
Category Archives: research news
Mutation of MDA5 in autoimmunity
MDA5 is an intracellular viral receptor that detects picornaviruses and other invaders and elicits immune responses accordingly. It has been implicated in autoimmune disorders such as type 1 diabetes, Crohn’s disease, psoriasis and systemic lupus erythematosus, but no mechanistic link has been identified. To learn more about its potential role in autoimmunity, Takashi Fujita (KyotoContinueContinue reading “Mutation of MDA5 in autoimmunity”
Monkeying with monkey genes
Advances in genome-editing techniques have enabled researchers to create specific genetic modifications in laboratory animals such as mice, rats, fruit flies and zebrafish. This is often done to create models of human diseases that can be studied to learn about their etiology, pathology and mechanisms and to test potential therapeutic strategies. But many human diseasesContinueContinue reading “Monkeying with monkey genes”
Mapping the insect brain
An international consortium of neurobiologists called the Insect Brain Name Working Group recently released its magnum opus: a complete atlas of and consensus nomenclature for the structures of the arthropod brain (Neuron 81, 755–765; 2014). The group hopes that this resource will increase efficiency, encourage collaboration and enable comparison of studies among neuroscientists, leading toContinueContinue reading “Mapping the insect brain”
The shape of monitoring to come
Engineers led by John Rogers (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) have created a three-dimensional, electrode-bearing, elastic membrane that can be wrapped directly around a beating heart and used to measure the electrical, mechanical, chemical and physical properties across its entire surface without disrupting cardiac function (Nat. Commun. doi:10.1038/ncomms4329; published online 25 February 2014). Lab Anim.ContinueContinue reading “The shape of monitoring to come”
Dual role of cannabinoid receptors in feeding behavior
Activation of cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptors is known to increase food intake, but the neuronal mechanisms underlying this relationship are not well understood. The receptors are expressed in many brain regions that control food intake, where they govern both excitatory (GABAergic) and inhibitory (glutamatergic) neurotransmission, in turn possibly suppressing or promoting feeding behavior, respectively.ContinueContinue reading “Dual role of cannabinoid receptors in feeding behavior”
Fisetin protects cognitive function in Alzheimer’s
Fisetin is a compound found in food plants that has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and can improve memory and protect neurons from the effects of aging. Pamela Maher (Salk Institute for Biological Sciences, La Jolla, CA) and her colleagues surmised that many of these attributes could potentially be useful in treating Alzheimer’s disease, the mostContinueContinue reading “Fisetin protects cognitive function in Alzheimer’s”
Cancer detection by fruit fly olfaction
Cancer cells and non-cancer cells differ in metabolism and emit distinct volatile compounds, allowing them to be distinguished by their scent. Insect odorant receptors are excellent chemosensors with high sensitivity and a broad receptive range. Putting these two ideas together, collaborating scientists from University of Konstanz (Germany) and University of Rome (Italy) investigated the potentialContinueContinue reading “Cancer detection by fruit fly olfaction”
Interfering with the progression of breast cancer
The most common noninvasive lesion of the breast is ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Only a fraction of DCIS lesions will progress to invasive breast tumors, but it is not currently possible to predict which ones. Therefore, although surveillance may be recommended for early stage lesions, treatment of DCIS is typically aggressive, including options likeContinueContinue reading “Interfering with the progression of breast cancer”
Immunotoxin targets HIV-infected cells
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is normally treated with antiretroviral compounds that suppress virus levels, which can improve quality of life and extend lifespan for affected individuals. But because these compounds do not eliminate the virus from the body, people with HIV must take them throughout their lifetimes in order to maintain their health. Eradication ofContinueContinue reading “Immunotoxin targets HIV-infected cells”
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