Toxin News and Research

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Tropical sea anemone stings could hold key to new pain-relieving drugs

QUT PhD researcher Lauren Ashwood has studied sea anemones' venom makeup extensively, in particular, Telmatactis stephensoni a reef-based sea anemone that can grow from 8 to 10 cm.

8 Feb 2022

Bacterial-fungal partnership leads to disease in humans

New research discovered that the fungus Rhizopus fights back against soil predators and human immune cells by partnering with a bacteria called Ralstonia in a two-way partnership.

From University of Exeter 8 Feb 2022

Study finds amphipathic peptide that safely opens endosomal membrane

The cell plasma membrane and the derived endosomal membranes are both greasy barriers that prevent the inflow of water-soluble macromolecules like nucleic acids and proteins into cells.

2 Dec 2021

Study reveals the complex architecture of the outer membrane of bacteria

UCL scientists have recorded the sharpest images ever of living bacteria.

From University College London 29 Oct 2021

Genetic markers linked to increased lipopolysaccharide level in blood discovered

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a bacterial component, is a toxin and its increased concentrations in the blood induce sepsis.

29 Oct 2021

Study identifies a novel role for regulatory protein Bach1 in Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the most common neurodegenerative movement disorder, afflicting more than 10 million people worldwide and more than one million Americans. While there is no cure for PD, current therapies focus on treating motor symptoms and fail to reverse, or even address, the underlying neurological damage.

26 Oct 2021

How do large proteins and drugs cross a cell membrane?

Researchers have been wondering for several decades how molecules like proteins travel through cell walls, also called plasma membranes, without any trace.

22 Oct 2021

Research reveals involvement of secretory granules in Parkinson’s disease

Recent research states that the number of secretory granules (SGs) in tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons and the marker proteins secretogranin III substantially lowered in the substantia nigra and striatum regions of mice exposed to 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine.

13 Oct 2021

Exploring sunn hemp and its numerous ecological benefits

Sunn hemp is a superhero in the plant world. And it is a powerful solution to many agricultural challenges related to degradation of natural resources and food security. The October 7th, 2021 Sustainable, Secure Food Blog explores more this plant that can grow in inhospitable environments yet still provide numerous ecological benefits.

11 Oct 2021

Study provides insights on how the human gut microbiota resist cholera bacterium

Cholera is still an enormous problem. An acute diarrheal disease, there have been seven major pandemics in the last two hundred years. According to the WHO, cholera still kills up to 143,000 people each year and infects up to 4 million others, mostly in poor or underdeveloped countries.

4 Oct 2021

Study analyzes the health benefits of time-restricted eating

Time-restricted eating (TRE) is a dietary regimen in which eating is restricted to particular hours. It has received great attention in weight-loss circles.

19 Aug 2021

Study discloses neuroprotective properties of aromatic turmerone and its derivatives

Scientists discovered that aromatic turmerone and its derivatives have a direct effect on the dopaminergic nerves.

16 Jul 2021

A new method to efficiently produce biofuels from discarded plant matter

More corn is grown in the United States than any other crop, but we only use a small part of the plant for food and fuel production; once people have harvested the kernels, the inedible leaves, stalks and cobs are left over.

From Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) 28 Jun 2021

Study shows how specialized cell types cooperate to carry out larger role in the body

As the human body's largest organ, the skin is responsible for protecting against a wide range of possible infections on all fleshy surfaces, from head to toe. So how exactly does the skin organize its defenses against such an array of threats?

7 May 2021

Dopamine-releasing brain cells shed light on Parkinson’s disease

Scientists have found that botulinum toxin—commonly known as Botox—can expose the inner workings of the brain, in addition to smoothing out wrinkles.

From New York University (NYU) 7 Apr 2021

Toxin in potatoes is a divergent of bitter-tasting compound in tomatoes

A multi-institutional collaboration has revealed that α-solanine, a toxic compound found in potato plants, is a divergent of the bitter-tasting α-tomatine, which is found in tomato plants.

26 Mar 2021

Researchers discover rice plant variant that resists arsenic

The agricultural cultivation of the staple food of rice harbors the risk of possible contamination with arsenic that can reach the grains following uptake by the roots.

3 Mar 2021

Interbacterial toxins may contribute to bacterial genetic diversity

A toxin produced by bacteria as a defense mechanism causes mutations in target bacteria that could help them survive, according to a study published today in eLife.

24 Feb 2021

Toxin-antitoxin systems negatively control plasmid replication

According to Thomas Wood, Biotechnology Endowed Chair and Professor of Chemical Engineering at the Penn State College of Engineering., toxin-antitoxin (TA) structures are currently known to adversely regulate the replication of plasmids.

From Penn State University 2 Feb 2021

Study explores why Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infections are so dangerous

E. coli food poisoning is one of the worst food poisonings, causing bloody diarrhea and kidney damage. But all the carnage might be just an unintended side effect, researchers from UConn Health report in the 27 November issue of Science Immunology. Their findings might lead to more effective treatments for this potentially deadly disease.

7 Jan 2021