Lab Automation and Bioinformatics News and Research

Latest Lab Automation and Bioinformatics News and Research

Gene Loss and Gain Shaped the Evolution of Relapsing Fever Bacteria

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute and UCL have analyzed ancient DNA from Borrelia recurrentis, a type of bacteria that causes relapsing fever, pinpointing when it evolved to spread through lice rather than ticks, and how it gained and lost genes in the process.

24 May 2025

New Study Hints at Customizable Chili Heat and Pain Relief

A new study identifying molecules that reduce the heat of chili peppers suggests the potential to develop these compounds into an “anti-spice” condiment for excessively spicy foods.

23 May 2025

Scientists Develop Method to Overcome Key Limitations of Cryo-EM

Sample loss has been a persistent problem in cryo-EM, a high-tech method for creating 3D models of molecules that reveals their inner structures.

22 May 2025

New Bacterial Consortium can Inhibit Bacterial Pathogens in Aquaculture

A new study by Danish researchers has demonstrated that it is possible to develop a consortium of bacteria that can inhibit bacterial pathogens in aquaculture.

22 May 2025

New Discovery Explains Increased Infection Risk in Patients with Mitochondrial Diseases

Patients with rare mitochondrial diseases already face a host of serious health issues, from muscle weakness to neurological problems and heart conditions.

21 May 2025

Geisinger Scientists Uncover Genetic Basis for Sex-Based Height Variation

Geisinger's study reveals Y chromosome genes significantly influence height differences between sexes, highlighting genetic factors beyond hormones.

21 May 2025

TEAD Proteins Switch Partners to Drive Neural Cell Maturation

The basic mechanisms that control neural development are intricate, and as research from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital shows, the underlying motivations may even seem contradictory.

21 May 2025

Zebrafish Study Warns of Ecological Risk from Tire-Related Water Contaminants

Emerging contaminants from rubber tires N-(1,3-Dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD) and its oxidation product 6PPD-quinone (6PPDQ)-are raising new red flags for aquatic ecosystems.

20 May 2025

Trace the Evolution of Malaria Parasite Proteins

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute and the Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine (GIMM) have discovered that the evolution of a family of exported proteins in the malaria-causing parasite Plasmodium falciparum allowed it to infect people.

20 May 2025

How LEM-3 Cleaves DNA Bridges During Cell Division Revealed

If DNA bridges remain between chromosomes after cell division, chromosomes become improperly segregated, resulting in genetic instability and cancer.

20 May 2025

Microalgae Offer Eco Friendly Approach to Antibiotic Removal

Microalgae of the species Monoraphidium contortum have the ability to remove antibiotic residues from water, especially sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim.

19 May 2025

Novel Bacterial Immune Weapon that Starves Viral Invaders

The discovery of Cat1 reveals how CARF effectors use complex structures to inhibit viral replication, advancing our understanding of bacterial immune responses.

19 May 2025

Molecular Mechanism Revealed by Stop-Motion Electron Microscopy

Using electron microscopy, researchers illustrate FusB's role in antibiotic resistance, providing a molecular-level understanding of fusidic acid interactions.

19 May 2025

Carriers of Recessive Disorders Face Hidden Health and Reproductive Problems

As a group, carriers of recessive disorders are slightly less healthy and have a reduced chance of having offspring.

16 May 2025

New 3D Stem Cell Model Mimics Human Amniotic Sac Development

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have developed a new stem cell model of the mature human amniotic sac, which replicates development of the tissues supporting the embryo from two to four weeks after fertilization.

16 May 2025

Scientists Develop EvoCAST for Efficient and Accurate Gene Insertion

Ask scientists what gene editing tool is most needed to advance gene therapy, and they'd probably describe a system that's now close to realization in the labs of Samuel Sternberg at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and David Liu at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.

16 May 2025