Immunologists at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital have discovered that tumors use a unique mechanism to switch on regulatory T cells to protect themselves from attack by the immune system. Surprisingly, the mechanism does not affect regulatory T cell function outside the tumor and may therefore limit the immune-associated toxicities of targeting regulatory T cells. […]
Maturation of 'mini brain' organoids matches human brain development
A new study from UCLA and Stanford University researchers finds that three-dimensional human stem cell-derived 'mini brain' organoids can mature in a manner that is strikingly similar to human brain development. For the new study, published in Nature Neuroscience February 22, senior authors Dr. Daniel Geschwind of UCLA and Dr. Sergiu Pasca of Stanford University […]
Researchers uncover 'hotspots' on the Spike protein that are critical for SARS-CoV-2 infection
The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted considerable investigation into how the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein attaches to a human cell during the infection process, as this knowledge is useful in designing vaccines and therapeutics. Now, a team of scientists has discovered additional locations on the Spike protein that may not only help to explain how certain mutations […]
Chatter between cell populations drives progression of gastrointestinal tumors
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are a subytpe of cancers known as sarcomas. GIST is the most common type of sarcoma with approximately 5,000 to 6,000 new patient cases annually in the United States. GIST cannot be cured by drugs alone, and targeted therapies are only modestly effective, with a high rate of drug resistance. In […]
Researchers map the mechanism behind cellular communication
Knowledge on how cells communicate is an important key to understanding many biological systems and diseases. A research team led by researchers at the University of Gothenburg has now used a unique combination of methods to map the mechanism behind cellular communication. Their findings can potentially improve understanding of the underlying mechanism behind type 2 […]
Freiburg immunologists decipher anti-cancer drug's mode of operation
Rituximab, an anti-cancer drug targeting the membrane protein CD20, was the first approved therapeutic antibody against B tumor cells. Immunologists at the University of Freiburg have now solved a mystery about how it works. A team headed by Professor Dr. Michael Reth used cell cultures, healthy cells, and cells from cancer patients to investigate how […]
Could a SARS-CoV-2 accessory protein be responsible for certain COVID-19 symptoms?
Some people with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) develop symptoms, while others do not. In high-risk populations, like the elderly and those with underlying health issues, may experience more severe symptoms. A new study by researchers at the Université de Lyon, France, noted that some COVID-19 symptoms like heart arrhythmias, loss of smell, gastrointestinal problem, and […]
Both mRNA vaccines protect against emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2
Researchers in the United States and Canada have conducted a study showing that just a single dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is likely to protect against emerging variants. The SARS-CoV-2 virus is the agent responsible for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that continues […]
Valganciclovir Mylan
NOTICE: This Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) is intended for persons living in Australia. VALGANCICLOVIR MYLAN contains the active ingredient valganciclovir CONSUMER MEDICINE INFORMATION What is in this leaflet This leaflet answers some common questions about VALGANCICLOVIR MYLAN tablets. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to […]
Developing an Artificial Cell-On-A-Chip
Creating an artificial “cell-on-a chip” that can mimic the function of biological cells is a big goal for synthetic biology. The development of this idea is on-going, and in this piece, three examples will be investigated. Image Credit: Billion Photos / Shutterstock.com How can the exchange of energy and materials be replicated in a cell-on-a-chip? […]