OCT News and Research

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Necroptosis Emerges as a Key Target in Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by a progressive loss of nerve cells leading to a decline in memory and cognition. A team of researchers at KU Leuven and VIB explored the molecular sequence of events in this cellular demise and identified specific inhibitors that could prevent the loss of nerve cells in different mouse models of the disease.

1 Nov 2024

Integrating Multiple Scales to Understand Brain Function

A long-standing goal of neuroscience is to understand how molecules and cellular structures on a microscale give rise to communication between brain regions at the macroscale. A study published in Nature Neuroscience now identifies, for the first time, hundreds of brain proteins that explain inter-individual differences in functional connectivity and structural covariation in the human brain.

1 Nov 2024

Study Links Archaic Gene Variant to Health Risks in First Nations Oceanians

An ancient gene mutation among First Nations inhabitants of Oceania may make them more susceptible to infectious diseases like influenza, according to a new study by scientists at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

30 Oct 2024

New Insights into Protein Transport in Plants and Nutrient Uptake

Botanists have come to understand the channels and transporters involved in the uptake and transport of nutrients, yet how are they positioned where they need to be?

30 Oct 2024

Invasive Plants Transform Soil Microbial Communities Across the U.S.

Invasive plants are doing more than just taking over landscapes -; they're also changing the soil beneath them.

29 Oct 2024

Groundbreaking Study Reveals New Insights into Fruit Fly Reproduction

You have likely not spent much time thinking about the uterus of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster.

28 Oct 2024

Stem-Like CD4 T Cells Could Transform Cancer Treatment Strategies

Researchers at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University have identified a novel type of immune cell, called the stem-like CD4 T cell, that plays a pivotal role in anti-tumor immunity.

28 Oct 2024

Zebrahub Offers Unprecedented Insight into Embryonic Development

When early cartographers undertook perilous expeditions to map unknown corners of the world with sextants, compasses, and hand-drawn diagrams, it's unlikely they imagined that someday anyone with an internet connection would have access to a seamless view of the entire planet from the comfort of their own home.

25 Oct 2024

Mobile Genetic Elements Alter Antagonistic Strategies of Gut Bacteria

Bacteria evolve rapidly in the human gut by sharing genetic elements with each other. Bacteriodales is a prolific order of gut bacteria that trade hundreds of genetic elements.

25 Oct 2024

Study Reveals Role of Gut Microbes in Enhancing Children's Health

To address childhood malnutrition -; which affects 200 million children globally -; researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis developed a therapeutic food that nourishes the collections of beneficial microbes that reside in the gut, and improves children's growth and other measures of their health.

25 Oct 2024

Common Plastic Ingredient Linked to DNA Damage in Roundworms

A new study conducted in roundworms finds that a common plastic ingredient causes breaks in DNA strands, resulting in egg cells with the wrong number of chromosomes.

25 Oct 2024

Light-Activated Immune Therapy Shows Promise Against Solid Tumors

Immunotherapies that mobilize a patient's own immune system to fight cancer have become a treatment pillar.

25 Oct 2024

AI Model Predicts Active Ingredients with Dual Target Properties

Researchers from the University of Bonn have trained an AI process to predict potential active ingredients with special properties.

25 Oct 2024

Simple Neural Circuit Controls Chewing and Appetite

Speaking, singing, coughing, laughing, yelling, yawning, chewing-;we use our jaws for many purposes. Each action requires a complex coordination of muscles whose activity is managed by neurons in the brain.

24 Oct 2024

Discovery of RNA Brake Offers Insights into Neurodevelopmental Disorders

When a gene produces too much protein, it can have devastating consequences on brain development and function.

24 Oct 2024

Study Uncovers Mechanism Behind B-Cell Maturation in Leukemia

Over four hundred people, 80% of them being children under 14 years old, will be diagnosed with B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (B-ALL) next year in Spain, according to the latest projections from the Spanish network of cancer registries (REDECAN).

23 Oct 2024

New Bacterial Toxins Discovered as Potential Weapons Against Infections

Researchers have discovered a new group of bacterial toxins that can kill harmful bacteria and fungi, opening the door to potential new treatments for infections.

23 Oct 2024

Structural Insights into Bacteriophages Open Doors for New Therapeutics

The viruses that infect bacteria are the most abundant biological entities on the planet. For example, a recent simple study of 92 showerheads and 36 toothbrushes from American bathrooms found more than 600 types of bacterial viruses, commonly called bacteriophages or phages.

23 Oct 2024

Researchers Discover How Guard Cells Control Stomata Movement

Plants control their water consumption via adjustable pores (stomata), which are formed from pairs of guard cells.

22 Oct 2024

Genetic Study Offers Hope for the Endangered Oriental Stork

A new genomic study of the endangered Oriental Stork reveals that the population's genetic health is still surprisingly strong, with high genetic diversity and low levels of inbreeding.

22 Oct 2024