Category Biology/Biotechnology

Tungsten is exceptionally rare in biological systems. Thus, it came as a huge surprise to researchers when they discovered this novel enzyme in hot spring-inhabiting bacterium, Caldicellulosiruptor bescii. This tungstoenzyme plays a key role in C. bescii’s primary metabolism, and its ability to convert plant biomass to simple fermentable sugars which could lead to commercially viable conversion of cellulosic (woody) biomass to fuels and chemical feedstocks, which could substantially reduce greenhouse emissions.

Cellulosic biomass’ advantage as a feedstock for fuel and chemical production is that it need not compete with food production for land. Its big challenge is that cellulose is highly resistant to enzymatic degradation...

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Panel of 5 serum microRNAs could lead to accurate, early diagnosis of NSCLC in ethnically diverse patients

Early-stage Non-small-cell Lung Cancer is asymptomatic and difficult to detect since no blood test for NSCLC is currently available. In a new study, researchers identified a panel of five serum microRNAs as the potential biomarker for NSCLC diagnosis.

MiRNAs are a family of small, single-stranded non-coding RNAs that are critical regulators of numerous diseases, and their expression patterns have the potential to diagnose various types of cancer. This is the first multiethnic, multicentric, single-blind global analysis of miRNA expression patterns of NSCLC patients in four independent cohorts from five centers in both China and America...

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The higher intelligence score, the better physical performance, the study reveals. We would all like to stay independent, as we get older. In order to succeed, we need to be in good physical shape. This includes being able to cope with everyday physical activities such as getting dressed and carrying our own shopping. Scientists employ a number of tests, e.g. handgrip strength, balance and chair-rise, when measuring physical performance.

Researchers at the Center for Healthy Aging and the Department of Public Health at the University of Copenhagen have studied the association between male intelligence in early adulthood and their subsequent physical performance, aged 48-56. The study comprised 2,848 Danish males born in 1953 and in 1959-61.

“Our study clearly shows that the higher intelli...

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Scientists have identified it’s best-known adhesion protein that it uses to attach to stomach sugars and evade the body’s attempts to ‘flush’ it away. It is estimated that 1 in 2 people have got it, though most won’t ever experience any problems. Even so, it is considered one of the most common bacterial infections worldwide and a leading cause of dyspepsia, peptic ulceration and gastric cancer.

Through unique evolutionary adaptations, H. pylori is able to evade the antiseptic effect of our stomach acid by hiding within the thick acid-resistant layer of mucus that coats the stomach wall. Once within the mucus layer, the bacterium latches onto sugars naturally found on the stomach wall using its adhesion proteins...

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