Microbiology

TLX, Neurogenesis And Some Progress In Understanding How Adult Neural Stem Cells Modulate Learning

Boosted by physical and mental exercise, neural stem cells continue to sprout new neurons throughout life, but the exact function of these newcomers has been the topic of much debate. Removing a genetic master switch that maintains neural stem cells in the ...

Article - News Staff - Jan 30 2008 - 3:06pm

Microbes And Chronic Disease

In the US, most deaths are attributable to chronic afflictions, such as heart disease and cancer. Typically the medical community has attributed these diseases to accumulated damage, such as plaque formation in arteries or mutations in genes controlling ce ...

Article - John Dennehy - Jan 31 2008 - 4:27pm

TLR4 Gene Mutation Linked To Increased Risk Of Premature Birth

Genetic mutations in the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) gene appear to have significant association with inflammatory injury to the placenta and developing baby according to researchers from the University of Pittsburgh’s department of obstetrics, gynecology ...

Article - News Staff - Feb 2 2008 - 10:24am

Mechanism Of SARS Lung Damage

Researchers have uncovered the mechanism that contributes to the buildup of fibrous lung tissue in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), finding that a SARS viral protein important for replication can enhance pulmonary fibrosis by inhibit ...

Article - News Staff - Feb 3 2008 - 9:43am

How The Heart Takes Shape: Early Development In Vertebrates

For the first time, scientists have described the transition of the flat, disc-shaped heart field into the primary linear heart tube. The investigations on zebrafish embryos were made by Stefan Rohr and Cécile Otten, members of the research group of Dr. Sa ...

Article - News Staff - Feb 5 2008 - 1:54am

Phylogenetically, That Big Mac Is A Lot More Varied Than You Think

A burger and fries may be the quintessential North American meal but it can also be viewed as the perfect example of humanity’s increasingly varied diet, according to researchers who have conducted a unique study of the plants used around the world for foo ...

Article - News Staff - Feb 5 2008 - 10:27am

Deveopment: Fluorescent Proteins For Biosensor Design

Scientists at Carnegie Mellon University’s Molecular Biosensor and Imaging Center have developed new “fluorogen activating proteins” (FAPs) that will become a key component of novel molecular biosensor technology being created at Carnegie Mellon. The FAPs, ...

Article - News Staff - Feb 6 2008 - 10:44am

Identified: New Cellular Receptor For HIV

A cellular protein that helps guide immune cells to the gut has been newly identified as a target of HIV when the virus begins its assault on the body's immune system, according to researchers from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Dise ...

Article - News Staff - Feb 10 2008 - 12:28am

How Do Red Blood Cells Eject Their Nuclei?

Unlike the rest of the cells in your body, your red blood cells lack nuclei. That quirk dates back to the time when mammals began to evolve. Other vertebrates such as fish, reptiles, and birds, have red cells that contain nuclei that are inactive. Losing t ...

Article - News Staff - Feb 10 2008 - 3:48pm

Prenatal Exposure To Maternal Antibodies Linked To Autistic Behaviors In Offspring

New research from the UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute shows that an interaction between fetal brain cells and maternal antibodies could be linked with the repetitive behavior – also called stereotypies – that is characteristic of autism. While additional studi ...

Article - News Staff - Feb 13 2008 - 6:31am