Category Biology/Biotechnology

Our immune system sees Neu5GC as foreign and antibodies are made to attack it. This cancause inflammation and may promote cancer cell growth.

Neu5Gc, a non-human sialic acid sugar molecule common in red meat that increases the risk of tumor formation in humans, is also prevalent in pig organs, with concentrations increasing as the organs are cooked, a study by researchers from the UC Davis School of Medicine and Xiamen University School of Medicine has found. The research suggests that Neu5Gc may pose a significant health hazard among those who regularly consume organ meats from pigs.

Neu5Gc is naturally found on cell surfaces in most mammals but not in humans. It gets incorporated into human cells by eating meats, organs and some dairy products...

Overall structure of human PrimPol ternary complex with template-primer DNA and incoming dATP. The N-helix and modules ModN and ModC are shown in cartoon representation in dark blue, yellow, and cyan, respectively. The DNA is shown as gray sticks, and the Ca2+ ion is shown as a light blue sphere. The templating base T and the incoming dATP are shown in red. Yellow and cyan dashed lines depict unstructured regions in the ModN and ModC, respectively. The side chains of key catalytic active-site residues Asp114, Glu116, and Asp280 are highlighted in red. Secondary structure elements (α helices and β strands) are labeled in black.

A research team led by scientists at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS) has solved the 3D structure of a key protein that helps damaged cellular D...

The chemical structure of glutathione, an antioxidant that may help resist the toxins that are an underlying cause of aging. Credit: Graphic courtesy of Oregon State University

OSU researchers have found that a specific detoxification compound, glutathione, helps resist the toxic stresses of everyday life – but its levels decline with age and this sets the stage for a wide range of age-related health problems. A new study also highlighted a compound – N-acetyl-cysteine, or NAC — that is already used in high doses in medical detoxification emergencies. But the researchers said that at much lower levels NAC might help maintain glutathione levels and prevent the routine metabolic declines associated with aging.

Decline of these detoxification pathways are causally linked to cardiovascular dis...

Under the influence of interferons, chronic viral infections cause strong inflammation. This causes the B cells to initiate an inadequate immune response which first optimizes the production of antibodies for a short period, but then rapidly subsides. (Image: University of Basel)

Scientists at the University of Basel discovered a fundamental new mechanism explaining the inadequate immune defense against chronic viral infection. These results may open up new avenues for vaccine development. In the course of an infection or upon vaccination, B cells, produce antibodies that bind viruses and inactivate them. In the context of chronic viral infections such as HIV or hepatitis C virus, however, antibody production by B cells is quantitatively inadequate and starts too late.

A team of scientists...