Category Health/Medical

Black-headed flying fox amongst a grey-headed colony. Credit: Michelle Baker CSIRO

For the 1st time researchers have uncovered a unique ability in bats which allows them to carry but remain unaffected by lethal diseases. Unlike humans, bats keep their immune systems switched on 24/7 and scientists believe this could hold the key to protecting people from deadly diseases like Ebola. Bats are a natural host for more than 100 viruses, some of which are lethal to people, including Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), Ebola and Hendra virus, however, interestingly bats do not get sick or show signs of disease from these viruses.

New research examines the genes and immune system of the Australian black flying fox, with surprising results...

(1) Excessive glutamate activity triggers a strong influx of calcium (Ca2+) into the neuron through NMDA receptors, which leads to cell death. (2) Lactate is transported into the neuron and (3) converted to pyruvate by the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). (4) Pyruvate is then transported into mitochondria by the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) where it generates ATP. (5) ATP is then released through pannexins and activates the receptor P2Y, which (6) activates the PI3K pathway. (7) This triggers the opening of potassium channels (K+), which causes the neuron to hyperpolarize, decreasing the neuron’s excitability, and thus protecting it from excitotoxic damage.

Researchers led by EPFL have found how lactate, a waste product of glucose metabolism can protect neurons from damage follo...

Dartmouth College Professor David Kotz demonstrates a commercial prototype of ‘Wanda’ imparting information such as the network name and password of a WiFi access point onto a blood pressure monitor. Credit: Dartmouth College

Dartmouth College researchers have developed a digital “magic wand” to improve home healthcare and to prevent hackers from stealing your personal data. The system, called “Wanda,” will be presented at the IEEE International Conference on Computer Communications in April. “Wanda” is part of a National Science Foundation-funded project led by Dartmouth called “Trustworthy Health and Wellness...

The T cell receptor on T cells might recognize antigens derived from mutated proteins in cancer cells. Once a foreign “non-self” antigen is detected, the T cell will kill the cancer cell. Credit: Matthias Leisegang.

T cell therapies with less side effects. An international team has successfully modified immune cells to recognize and specifically target tumor cells in mice. Cancer treatments based on the findings would likely have fewer side effects than standard therapies. Although T cells migrate into tumors and recognize antigens, the defense mechanism seems to fail during the formation of tumors. T cells in the tumors are usually inactive and therapeutically almost useless...