Category Biology/Biotechnology

Wu et al. combine gnotobiotic mice colonized with defined collections of sequenced human gut bacteria with a method for performing whole genome transposon (Tn) mutagenesis to simultaneously identify bacterial genes required for the survival/success of different community members under different dietary conditions. Their analysis yielded a prebiotic that was used to deliberately change the representation of a prominent community member. Their approach has general utility for defining the resource requirements (niches) of microbial citizens of complex communities and for developing new ways for manipulating the properties of these communities. Credit: Laura Kyro

An international team of researchers working at the Washington University School of Medicine in Missouri has identified several g...

The hippocampus is a region of the brain largely responsible for memory formation. Credit: Salk Institute

A combined team of researchers have found 3 types of repressive regulations in the hippocampus of mice that impact memory retention. To gain a better idea of how genes are involved in the memory making process, the researchers trained several mice to fear being put into a cage, by administering electric shocks. They then killed the mice after differing amounts of time had passed (five minutes, ten minutes , a half hour and at four hours) and performed RNA sequencing and ribosome profiling on the hippocampus. Doing so led to the identification of 104 genes that deviated from a control group, each with either translation or transcription differences.

In studying the data, the researchers...

UBC researchers have created the first self-propelled particles capable of delivering coagulants against the flow of blood to treat severe bleeding. Credit: Christian Kastrup and James Baylis

Researchers have created the 1st self-propelled particles capable of delivering coagulants against the flow of blood to treat severe bleeding, a potentially huge advancement in trauma care. “Bleeding is the number one killer of young people, and maternal death from postpartum hemorrhage can be as high as one in 50 births in low resource settings so these are extreme problems,” explains Christian Kastrup.

Traditional methods of halting severe bleeding are not very effective when the blood loss originates inside the body like the uterus, sinus or abdomen...

This is an illustration of a single cellulose nanocrystal and a cross-section. Credit: Robert Sinko

Theoretically, nanocellulose could be the next hot supermaterial. A new computational approach allows researchers to design cellulose nanocomposites with optimal properties. A class of biomaterials in many natural systems like trees, cellulose nanocrystals have captured researchers’ attention for their extreme strength, toughness, light weight, and elasticity. The materials are so strong and tough, in fact, that many people think they could replace Kevlar in ballistic vests and combat helmets for military. Unlike their source material (wood), cellulose nanocrystals are transparent, making them exciting candidates for protective eyewear, windows, or displays.

Although there is a lot of excite...