European researchers tackle mitosis
...testing whether they can still divide afterwards," notes Jan Ellenberg, EMBL Group Leader and co-initiator of the MitoCheck project. To achieve this, EMBL scientists use a method called "RNA interference," where RNA molecules can target and silence specific genes involved in mitosis. Another MitoCheck par...Asian bird flu became highly pathogenic through continued circulation and gene swapping
... or genes it acquired. The report in Nature also notes other indications that H5N1 could evolve into a worldwide threat to humans: the outbreak of H5N1 in poultry in Asia in 2003 and 2004 was unprecedented in its geographical range, which showed the wide reach this virus already has. "The transmission ...Cancer gene MYC emerging as key research target
...ssue-specific controls related to MYC binding." He notes that perhaps MYC binds to a given gene in all cell types but only activates that gene in a specific organ. Another question is whether this phenomenon of binding without activating may occur with other transcription factors besides MYC. "These kinds...Bacterial protein recycling factor possible key to new class of antibiotics
...RF may influence mitochondrial protein synthesis," notes Kaji. However, commonly used antibiotics such as erythromycin and tetracycline kill bacteria but are virtually harmless to humans, showing little side effect despite their influence on mitochondrial protein synthesis. "With rational drug design it is...Brightness discrimination in the dog
...iminate brightness, says Griebel. Furthermore, she notes that there is relatively little information on how well other animals discriminate brightness. The researchers tested three police dogs--two Belgian shepherds and a German shepherd. The dogs faced a series of pairs of grey squares, which differed in ...A fly's taste experience is much like our own
...aste receptors send the brain only the basic taste notes of food. Odor receptors provide the fine discrimin...ent to the back of the ganglion. Similarly, bitter notes played out in one area of the brain, while sweet notes lit up a separate area. As Scott continues he...Newly grown kidneys can sustain life in rats
...e host as they grow into a mature organ. Hammerman notes that recipients of embryonic xenotransplants will still have to take immune suppression drugs to prevent acute rejection, a third type of immune response that directly attacks transplanted tissues. But recipients of human kidney transplants also must...Japanese researchers develop novel method of introducing transgenes into animals
...journal Biology of Reproduction, the Japanese team notes that other methods have been described for introducing transgenes into animals, including techniques based on eggs or embryos from female animals. The rate of success for these methods, however, is generally less than 1 percent. The new method of u...Existing drug may prevent brain injury and seizures in newborns
...t brain injury and long-term brain abnormalities," notes Jensen. Animal studies have suggested that seizures in the immature brain can cause permanent changes making the brain more prone to seizures. "In a rat model, we have shown that early life seizures induced by hypoxic encephalopathy increase sus...UCLA researchers recreate patterns formed by mammalian cells
...nize into specific, evenly spaced patterns." Demer notes that similar mechanisms may explain how an embryo ... tissue in desired shapes and patterns. Demer also notes that the research may offer a greater understanding of how artery cells calcify and turn to bone in ......ting to obesity in susceptible populations." Teff notes that this pattern of hormonal responses is similar to that observed after consuming a high-fat meal, and continues, "Based on our previously published work, this metabolic profile resembles that of fat consumption. Thus, despite the fact that fructos...Researchers report major advance in gene therapy technique
... and the DNA stayed in muscle cells indefinitely," notes Wolff. In addition, the scientists were able to ...unlike veins, only one artery feeds a whole limb," notes Wolff. In a related procedure, they experienced excellent results with high-pressure injection of g...Biologists discover nerve activity, not just genetics controls kinds of neurotransmitters produced
...ulation of the whole brain with electric current," notes Spitzer. "These treatments work for many patients, but both treat the entire brain in an imprecise way and have side effects." The first author on the paper, Laura Borodinsky, a postdoctoral fellow in Spitzer's laboratory, is now studying how the...When blood can't get to brain, special CT scan helps
...g contrast agent that absorbs the X-rays. Hoeffner notes that commercially available computer software can ...r just blood-starved (ischemic). The U-M team also notes that perfusion CT may be useful in patients who have survived a type of stroke known as a subarachno...Temple virologist receives NIH grant to continue investigation of HIV dementia complex
...virus goes way down to often undetectable levels," notes Rappaport. "But when you take them off the drugs, the infection comes back. It may very well be these macrophages where the infected cells are hiding." Rappaport believes the researchers' findings will be important not only for patients with HIV d...After natural disasters, the risk of infection, epidemics from dead bodies is negligible
... will result from contact with a cadaver. Instead, notes the article, it is far more likely that survivors will be a source of disease outbreaks. For the review article, Morgan conducted a thorough search for previous articles relating to natural disasters, the possibility of dangers to survivors and to p...Articles on remote sensing in ecology published in BioScience
...f the Special Section, surveys the articles. Cohen notes that increasing numbers of biophysical data products are being created through the use of remote sensing techniques. Journalists may obtain advance copies of the articles in the Special Section and Cohen's editorial by contacting Donna Royston, AIBS ...Clue found on breast tumors distinguishes patients with better survival odds
...tment in patients with excellent prognosis." Rui notes that the majority of promising breast cancer markers that have been identified over the last decade have failed to become useful in the clinical setting after follow-up studies. However, the design and results of this study give Rui and his colleagu...Floods, bugs and Hollywood disasters
...ure of grandmother. They're precious." But Drewes notes memorabilia often is stored in basements. A flood — or even dampness — can warp paper and photos, and break books apart. Dampness also can breed mold and mildew, which can be dangerous to inhale. Suddenly, reminiscing over old pictures can ......e the predictive capabilities of the models. Isard notes that the model already has been used to track the ...sources available for the scouting efforts." Isard notes that the scenario will continue to change as the researchers add more biological information about r...