04 Sep, 2013 | by Labroots
Can Bacteria Cause Pain?The common consensus on bacterial infections and pain has traditionally been that it is the bodyâs immune reaction that triggers a pain response, and not the bacteria themselves. But a new research study seems to be turning that idea on its head â stating that bacteria can trigger the bodyâs pain-sensing nerves. The news is causing quite a stir, especially after initial results showed that mice...... Read More
03 Sep, 2013 | by Labroots
An Easier Way to Create Stem Cells?Creating a batch of stem cells may have just gotten a whole lot easier. A new recipe for creating pluripotent stem cells calls for adding just seven molecules to an existing adult stem cell. The method has been used on mature mouse cells, which were converted into the embryonic-type cells. These pluripotent cells can then be developed into virtually any kind of tissue from this stage. Traditionally,...... Read More
30 Aug, 2013 | by Labroots
New Autism Link to DNA EnzymeInhibiting specific enzymes involved with the genetic machinery aiding in brain development could cause Autism. Researchers at the Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina have shown the importance of topoisomerase dysfunction in brain, and specifically synapse, development. Topoisomerases are in all human cells and help to untangle tightly wound or overwound DNA, which can interfere with...... Read More
29 Aug, 2013 | by Labroots
Skin Germs and Immune System Help Each OtherEveryone has a diverse population of microbes living on their skin, known as the skin microbiome. Prior research done by University of Pennsylvania researchers highlighted the diversity of bacteria living on the skin with DNA-based sequence analysis of the bacterial genomes. Now, the group has been able to include the immune system and how it influences the bacterial populations and vice versa. The...... Read More
28 Aug, 2013 | by Labroots
New Neuroscience Findings to Help Improve Drug Treatment for AddictionScripps Research Institute scientists recently published findings that could allow for the future development of more effective drugs for the treatment of addiction. The results of the studies demonstrated that one active compound â known as 6â-GNTI â maintains a strong bias towards a single biological pathway, which is a huge step towards finding an addiction treatment medication without numerous...... Read More
27 Aug, 2013 | by Labroots
Stem Cell Technology Can Mass-Produce Tumor Targeting CellsA new clinical application for existing and future stem cell technologies focuses on creating specialized T cells designed to target and attack tumor cells. While, in theory, cancerous cells can be fought by the white blood cells known as T cells, they often bypass the opportunity to attack a cancerous mass or tumor cells. But new research being led by the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in...... Read More
26 Aug, 2013 | by Labroots
New Cell Biology Findings May Improve Safety and Performance of Reprogrammed CellsRegenerative medicine seems to be comprised of equal parts promise and challenge. But cell biology researchers at New Yorkâs Weill Cornell Medical College might have made a discovery that has the potential to improve both the performance and, even more importantly, the safety of reprogrammed cells. The early results of the researchersâ study point to an enzyme, known as activation-induced cytidine...... Read More
23 Aug, 2013 | by Labroots
Effective Malaria Vaccine May Be on the HorizonVaccine developer Inovio recently announced success with a synthetic vaccine for malaria in clinical trials, reporting strong and enduring antibody and T-cell responses with its vaccine in small animals and non-human primates. The synthetic DNA vaccine was delivered via the companyâs electroporation device and demonstrated strong antibody responses to all four malaria antigens. This, the company...... Read More
22 Aug, 2013 | by Labroots
Fecal Transplants Could Be a Viable Treatment for Childhood DiarrheaWhile antibiotics have dramatically reduced the incidence of illness and death from infectious diseases, overuse of the drugs has been a growing problem for decades, resulting in antibiotic-resistant âsuperbugs.â Prolonged and even short-term use of antibiotics can often be likened to dropping Napalm on healthy gut flora, killing not only harmful bacteria but healthy organisms as well. Enter...... Read More
21 Aug, 2013 | by Labroots
Are we getting closer to being able to prevent cancer?Cancer is caused by genetic mutations. However, the causes and biological processes that lead to these mutations have been somewhat of a mystery. Now, the genetic cause of tumor development in common cancers is becoming evident. This is helping to identify the biological processes that damages the DNA originally and causes cancer. Researchers at University of Queenslandâs Institute for Molecular...... Read More