Category Biology/Biotechnology

In this lab stain, the small orange-spotted cell on the far left shows a nerve cell infected with herpes virus in an animal model. Credit: Image courtesy of Seattle Children’s Hospital

Reseachers estimate 90% of the population have them. These strains, human herpes 6 and human herpes 7, usually do not cause severe symptoms when people acquire them. But researchers know that under certain circumstances, dormant herpes viruses in the body can unexpectedly come roaring back and cause complications not typically associated with herpes virus.”It’s common to find herpes virus in salivary glands of humans and animals,” Barcy said. “But we found herpes 7 in the nervous system of animal models, which was a surprise because that strain of herpes has not been detected in the nervous system before...

Walter and Eliza Hall Institute researchers have generated the first 3-D map of the cancer-associated protein DCLK1, revealing how it functions. Credit: Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Australia

Walter and Eliza Hall Institute researchers have revealed for the first time the three-dimensional molecular ‘map’ of a protein that has been pinpointed as a driver of many types of cancers. The unprecedented view of the protein doublecortin kinase like domain 1 (DCLK1) could provide clues to how it contributes to cancer formation and progression. DCLK1 assembles scaffolds within microtubules. These rope-like structures give cells shape, enable movement and cell division, and are crucial in enabling the growth and spread of cancer cells...

(a) Nephila edulis spider in its web. (b) Schematic drawing of reflection mode silk biosuperlens imaging. The spider silk was placed directly on top of the sample surface by using a soft tape, which magnify underlying nano objects 2-3 times (c) SEM image of Blu-ray disk with 200/100 nm groove and lines (d) Clear magnified image (2.1x) of Blu-ray disk under spider silk superlens. Credit: Bangor University/ University of Oxford

Scientists achieve a world 1st: increasing microscope’s potential using spider-silk as a superlens. Extending the limit of classical microscope’s resolution has been the ‘El Dorado’ or ‘Holy Grail’ of microscopy for over a century...

Highlights •The ER stress sensor IRE-1 has a distinct function in cytoplasmic homeostasis •Local redox signals block IRE-1 ER signaling by sulfenylating a kinase cysteine •This functional switch initiates the p38/SKN-1(Nrf2) antioxidant response at IRE-1 •The IRE-1 paradigm implies broad and versatile functions for signaling at cysteines

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) sometimes can aid in maintaining health – findings now boosted by a surprising discovery from the researchers. In other circumstances, high levels of reactive forms of oxygen can damage proteins and contribute to diabetic complications and many other diseases.

Led by Keith Blackwell, M.D., Ph.D...