Category Health/Medical

Surprise COVID Discovery Helps Explain How Coronaviruses Jump Species

DNA-tethering and fusion of SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviruses and virus-like particles (VLP). The experiment design is schematized in panel (a), where DNA-functionalized viral particles are added to a microfluidic flow cell and allowed to bind to protein-free liposomes functionalized with complementary DNA. After unbound particles are washed away, fusion is initiated by addition of a soluble protease and monitored via lipid mixing, detected as fluorescence dequenching of Texas Red dye in the VLP or pseudoviral envelope. Representative images of a 10.1 × 9.6 μm sub-micrograph before and after lipid mixing are shown in panel (b) with a fusing particle outlined in magenta. The corresponding fluorescence intensity trace is plotted in panel (c).

Unexpected new insights into how COVID-19 infects ce...

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Scientists Identify Genes linked to High Production of Key Antibody

A rendering of a nanovial, a microscopic bowl-shaped container that the scientists used to capture individual cells and their secretions. The dark, donut-shaped object to the right is a cell; the blue-and-yellow objects to the left are secreted immunoglobulin G antibodies. (Image courtesy: Rene Chang/University of Washington)

A collaboration led by UCLA and the Seattle Children’s Research Institute has yielded new knowledge about the genes responsible for the production and release of immunoglobulin G, the most common type of antibody in the human body.

The finding has the potential to advance manufacturing of antibody-based therapies for diseases such as cancer and arthritis, as well as the development of medical treatments that rely on the production of antibodies.

Antibodies a...

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Common Cold Virus Linked to Potentially Fatal Blood Clotting Disorder

Image: Red-colored region depicts region on platelet factor 4 (PF4) molecule recognized by VITT-like antibodies obtained from patient 2 (adult). Credit: Mercy Daka (co-author) and Dr. Ishac Nazy (co-author)

A new observation suggests that a life-threatening blood clotting disorder can be caused by an infection with adenovirus, one of the most common respiratory viruses in pediatric and adult patients.

Platelets, or thrombocytes, are specialized cellular fragments that form blood clots when we get scrapes and traumatic injuries. Viral infections, autoimmune disease, and other conditions can cause platelet levels to drop throughout the body, termed thrombocytopenia.

After a robust clinical and research collaboration, Stephan Moll, MD, and Jacquelyn Baskin-Miller, MD, both in the UN...

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Tubular Tissue Advance could pave way for Lab-grown Blood Vessels

Human cells in red, green or blue are arranged in layers to create a microscopic cell rainbow against a black background

Innovative technology that creates ultra-thin layers of human cells in tube-like structures could spur development of lifelike blood vessels and intestines in the lab.

The technique, known as RIFLE – rotational internal flow layer engineering – enables the construction of separate layers as delicate as one cell thick.

Such versatility is crucial to developing accurate human models of layered tubular tissue for use in research, offering an important alternative to animal models, experts say.

Scientists have been able to demonstrate the technology by manufacturing cells into super-thin layers that mirror those seen in a human blood vessel.

Layered tubular tissue is found throughout the body — in blood vessels, the digestive tract and other organs...

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