Category Biology/Biotechnology

Fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) is used to detect bacteria in the spleen of a normal mouse (left) and the spleen of a mouse with a MAVS deficiency (right). Spleen cells appear in blue; bacteria are stained red.
Credit: Ana Hennino, David Bauché, Emilie Plantamura / CIRI

Over the last few years, scientists have discovered connections between gut microbiota imbalances and various diseases. Now, in a study using mice, biologists from the CNRS, INSERM, and Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University – together with colleagues from the Institut Pasteur de Lille and the NIH (USA) – have revealed a surprising relationship between a viral detection system, the composition of the gut microbiota, and the development of skin allergies.

The number of microorganisms hosted in our digestive tracts is 10 ...

Participant Kelly Thomas, trainer Katie Vogt.
Credit: University of Louisville

Of 4 research participants living with traumatic, motor complete spinal cord injury, 2 are able to walk over ground following epidural stimulation paired with daily locomotor training. In addition, all 4 participants achieved independent standing and trunk stability when using the stimulation and maintaining their mental focus. The study was conducted at the Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center at the University of Louisville (UofL) and is published in this week’s New England Journal of Medicine. The study was funded by the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, University of Louisville Hospital and Medtronic plc.

This ground-breaking progress is the newest development in a string of outcomes at ...

Hypothetical updated Jack model of AD biomarkers to include the role of brain vasculature.

Breakdown of blood vessel lining is seen in multiple neurodegenerative diseases. USC scientists say Alzheimer’s could be diagnosed earlier if scientists focus on an early warning within the brain’s circulation system. That’s important because researchers believe that the earlier Alzheimer’s is spotted, the better chance there is to stop or slow the disease.

“Cognitive impairment, and accumulation in the brain of the abnormal proteins amyloid and tau, are what we currently rely upon to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, but blood-brain barrier breakdown and cerebral blood flow changes can be seen much earlier,” said Berislav Zlokovic, the Mary Hayley and Selim Zilkha Chair in Alzheimer’s Disease Research...

Rectal insulin instillation inhibits inflammation and tumor development in chemically-induced colitis. Journal of Crohn’s and Colitis, 2018; DOI: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjy112

Diabetes is not the only disease on which insulin has an effect, it appears. Chronic bowel inflammation can be treated effectively by injecting insulin into the rectum, it appears from a new study, where researchers have tested the treatment on mice. The study is a collaboration between departments at the University of Copenhagen and Roskilde University.

‘Our new treatment with insulin on mice shows great potential against chronic bowel inflammation in humans like Colitis Ulcerosa, which causes a lot of people great discomfort...