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Category: biotech/medical – Page 683

Wandering Salamanders Stick to Tree Canopies Thanks to Their Blood-Powered Toes

Wandering salamanders are known for gliding high through the canopies of coastal redwood forests, but how the small amphibians stick their landing and take-off with ease remains something of a mystery.

A new study in the Journal of Morphology reveals the answer may have a lot to do with a surprising mechanism: blood-powered toes. The Washington State University-led research team discovered that wandering salamanders (Aneides vagrans) can rapidly fill, trap and drain the blood in their toe tips to optimize attachment, detachment and general locomotion through their arboreal environment.

The research not only uncovers a previously unknown physiological mechanism in salamanders but also has implications for bioinspired designed. Insights into salamander toe mechanics could ultimately inform the development of adhesives, prosthetics, and even robotic appendages.

Cancer is meeting its match at every turn

Cancer is infamously cunning, expansive and relentless. It has a talent for evading treatment, spreading throughout the body and coming back again and again. Despite a steady decline in U.S. cancer mortality rates thanks to better screening and treatments, the absolute number of deaths from cancer continues to tick up, in part because of an aging population.

In response, scientists and clinicians are taking a page from cancer’s playbook, learning to be just as cunning, expansive and relentless in their efforts to beat back the disease. Cancer is meeting its match.

“The field of oncology has been completely transformed from where it was 15 years ago — many aspects of cancer treatment resemble science fiction now,” said Steven Artandi, MD, PhD, the Laurie Kraus Lacob Director of the Stanford Cancer Institute.

Imaging Reveals Gut-Brain Connection in Alzheimer’s Disease

Summary: Scientists have used advanced X-ray phase-contrast tomography (XPCT) to uncover how gut health may influence Alzheimer’s disease. The study found structural changes in the gut of Alzheimer’s-affected mice, revealing abnormalities in intestinal cells, neurons, and mucus secretion.

This supports the hypothesis that harmful gut bacteria may escape into circulation, triggering brain inflammation and neurodegeneration. The findings highlight the gut-brain connection and provide a new tool for detecting early disease markers.

Researchers aim to further explore how the enteric nervous system communicates with the brain in Alzheimer’s. The study paves the way for potential new therapeutic targets based on gut health.

Complex engineering of human cell lines reveals genome’s unexpected resilience to structural changes

The most complex engineering of human cell lines ever has been achieved by scientists, revealing that our genomes are more resilient to significant structural changes than was previously thought.

Researchers from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, Imperial College London, Harvard University in the US and their collaborators used CRISPR prime editing to create multiple versions of human genomes in cell lines, each with different structural changes. Using genome sequencing, they were able to analyze the genetic effects of these structural variations on .

The research, published in Science, shows that as long as essential genes remain intact, our genomes can tolerate significant structural changes, including large deletions of the genetic code. The work opens the door to studying and predicting the role of structural variation in disease.

Duke professor-led biotech company raises $175 million to advance epigenome editing therapy clinical trials

Tune Therapeutics, a Durham biotechnology startup co-founded by a Duke professor, announced the completion of its Series B fundraising round on Jan. 12, in which it raised $175 million to support clinical trials for its epigenome editor.

The company will use the funding to advance clinical trials for Tune-401, the epigenetic silencing drug for treating chronic Hepatitis B — a viral infection that damages the liver and affects millions globally. The investment will also support the development of various other therapies, including additional gene, cell and regenerative therapy programs.

“The goal is to epigenetically repress the virus to prevent it from being able to replicate and make the viral proteins that it would normally produce,” said Charles Gersbach, John W. Strohbehn distinguished professor of biomedical engineering and cofounder of Tune Therapeutics.

Small plane carrying 6 crashes in Philadelphia neighborhood, several homes catch fire

A small medical jet carrying six people crashed in a Northeast Philadelphia neighborhood Friday evening, officials said, causing an explosion and setting several homes ablaze. It’s unclear if anyone aboard survived. Several people on the ground were injured, Philadelphia police said.

The plane, a Learjet 55, had just departed Northeast Philadelphia Airport bound for Springfield, Missouri, when it went down, according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration.

The plane crashed into a neighborhood near the Roosevelt Mall just moments after leaving the airstrip at approximately 6:07 p.m. The first emergency calls went out about five minutes later, at 6:12 p.m. The crash occurred in the area of Roosevelt Boulevard and Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia police confirmed.

Sam Altman Unveils Unexpected Scientific Breakthroughs Through AI

OpenAI, in partnership with Retro Biosciences, has recently made significant strides in human longevity research with the development of GPT-4b Micro. This advanced artificial intelligence (AI) model could potentially revolutionize cellular reprogramming and open new avenues in the field of biology. Although this innovation is exciting, it still requires thorough scientific validation to establish its true potential.

For decades, scientists have been endeavoring to unlock the secrets of cellular processes. In 2020, Google DeepMind’s AlphaFold marked a significant breakthrough by predicting protein structures with astonishing accuracy. Now, OpenAI has entered the fray with GPT-4b Micro, a model expressly designed to analyze biological data and hasten scientific discoveries.

According to Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, “Hyper-intelligent AI tools could revolutionize science and lead to advancements we could hardly have imagined.” With Retro Biosciences, which specializes in longevity research, the goal is lofty: to extend the average human lifespan by a decade.

Oral Bacteria Linked to Stroke Risk

Summary: A new study finds that the bacteria Streptococcus anginosus is more abundant in the saliva and gut of people who have had a stroke and is associated with a higher risk of death and major cardiovascular events. Researchers compared 189 stroke patients with 55 non-stroke participants, finding that this bacterium increased stroke risk by 20%.

Meanwhile, beneficial bacteria like Anaerostipes hadrus and Bacteroides plebeius were linked to a reduced stroke risk. The findings highlight the importance of oral hygiene in stroke prevention, as Streptococcus anginosus contributes to tooth decay.

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