Category Health/Medical

African Acacia Vachellia drepanolobium tree houses Tetraponera ant colonies inside hollow domatia. Formicamycins, antibacterial polyketides produced by Streptomyces formicae isolated from the plant-ants can combat MRSA

A new antibiotic, produced by bacteria found on a species of African ant, is very potent against antibiotic-resistant ‘superbugs’ like MRSA. Researchers at the University of East Anglia (UEA) and t

he John Innes Centre (JIC) discovered a new member of the Streptomyces bacteria family, isolated from the African fungus-growing plant-ant Tetraponera penzigi. They have named the new species Streptomyces formicae and the antibiotics formicamycins, after the Latin formica, meaning ant.

Lab tests have shown these new antibiotics are effective against methicillin resistant Staphyloc...

1. Schematic model of miR-29 action in brain aging. During aging an accumulation of iron in neurons occurs. This induces expression of miR-29 that in turn represses expression of IRP-2 thereby limiting iron uptake. This mechanism counteracts aging-related damages. MiR-29 may also counteract effects aging-related phenotypes by additional mechanisms, for example modulation of pro-apoptotic BCL-2 family members
2. MiR-29 is up-regulated with age in neurons. a Genomic organization of miR-29 family in N. furzeri.

The older we get, our brain ages. Cognitive abilities decline and the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases like dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease or having a stroke steadily increases...

Micrograph showing emphysema (left – large empty spaces) and lung tissue with relative preservation of the alveoli (right). Credit: Wikipedia

New research suggests that FPS-ZM1, an antagonist chemical compound that fights RAGE (the receptor for advanced glycation end-products), may treat COPD. In mice it was found this compound reverses the inflammatory response and has a protective role in COPD. “RAGE disturbances in pulmonary disorders are precise and effective strategies with beneficial clinical effects,” said Se-Ran Yang, D.V.M., Ph.D. Kangwon National University, Korea.

In their study, Yang and colleagues investigated the efficacy of RAGE-specific antagonist FPS-ZM1 administration in both in vivo and in vitro COPD models to determine the molecular mechanism by which RAGE influences ...

Ovarian cancer cells under nano-focus (2 micron scale), showing FY26, zinc and calcium.
Credit: University of Warwick

Researchers have witnessed – for the first time – cancer cells being targeted and destroyed from the inside, by an organo-metal compound discovered by the University of Warwick. Professor Peter J. Sadler, and his group in the Department of Chemistry, have demonstrated that Organo-Osmium FY26 kills cancer cells by locating and attacking their weakest part. This is the first time that an Osmium-based compound – which is 50X more active than the current cancer drug cisplatin – has been seen to target the disease...