Membrane

New marker identifies the functional maturity and heterogeneity of stem cell–derived islet organoids

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Over 500 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes-a disease that contributes to major complications such as stroke, kidney failure, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease. At the heart of this condition lies the dysfunction of pancreatic islets, the mini-organs called organoids responsible for regulating blood sugar, in both autoimmune type 1 diabetes and stress-induced type 2 diabetes. … Read more

Red blood cells drive blood vessel damage in diabetes by exporting toxic vesicles

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A new study uncovers how diabetic red blood cells release toxic packages that damage blood vessels, revealing a promising path for preventing serious complications. EVs derived from RBCs of patients with T2D are taken up by the endothelium and impair endothelium-dependent relaxation via an EV-mediated transfer of the prooxidant enzyme Arg1. Proteoglycan remodeling is a … Read more

New peptide antibiotic stops bacteria by binding where no drug has before

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Lariocidin hits drug-resistant bacteria where others fail — by hijacking the ribosome at a new site, bypassing defences, and opening the door to a new generation of antibiotics. Lariocidin, a lasso-shaped peptide with promising antibiotic properties. (Graphic: Dmitrii Travin and Yury Polikanov). Research: A broad-spectrum lasso peptide antibiotic targeting the bacterial ribosome Researchers at McMaster University, … Read more

Gasdermin D found to play a crucial role in heart arrhythmias

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Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common form of heart arrhythmia, a serious condition in which the heart beats so fast that its upper chambers, the atria, quiver. This irregular heartbeat can increase the risk of severe conditions, including heart failure, dementia and stroke. My lab has been studying the role of inflammation in the initiation … Read more

Novel microscopy technique reveals dynamic stiffness of E. coli membrane Labmate Online

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Light and electron microscopy each have their distinct limitations – with light it becomes increasingly difficult to resolve smaller and smaller features while electron microscopy can resolve small structures but its samples must be meticulously prepared which will kill any live specimens. And then there is atomic force microscopy (AFM) which is a technique originally … Read more

New mechanism uncovered to combat therapy-resistant cancer cells

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One particular challenge in the treatment of cancer is therapy resistance. An international research team has now discovered a mechanism that opens up new treatment strategies for tumors in which conventional chemotherapeutic agents have reached their limits. “Cytotoxic agents from nature lead to an increased incorporation of polyunsaturated fatty acids into the membrane of cancer … Read more

Study examines hidden toxin delivery systems across life forms

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Venom is not exclusive to animals—plants, fungi, protists, bacteria, and even viruses use venom-like mechanisms for defense, predation, and competition. Dodder – Cuscuta on a potato bush. Review Article: It’s a Small World After All: The Remarkable but Overlooked Diversity of Venomous Organisms, with Candidates Among Plants, Fungi, Protists, Bacteria, and Viruses. Image Credit: EVGEIIA / Shutterstock … Read more

New human antibody shows promise for Ebola virus treatment

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New research led by scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) reveals the workings of a human antibody called mAb 3A6, which may prove to be an important component for Ebola virus therapeutics. This antibody was isolated from blood samples from an Ebola survivor treated at Emory University Hospital during the 2014-2016 Ebola virus … Read more

Researchers identify MLC1 as potential target in multiple sclerosis

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Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system caused by the immune system. B cells, which are a type of white blood cell, play a role in the development of MS and are thus a target for therapies. Researchers at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB), the University of Bonn and … Read more

New discovery links brain and muscle cells in signal transmission

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Our biceps and our brain cells may have more in common than previously thought. New research led by the Lippincott-Schwartz Lab shows that a network of subcellular structures similar to those responsible for propagating molecular signals that make muscles contract are also responsible for transmitting signals in the brain that may facilitate learning and memory. … Read more