Curated News: Cell (journal)

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A species of bacteria that infect corn crops compel their hosts to produce a feast of nutrients that keeps the pathogens alive and thriving long before they start to kill the plant’s cells, new research shows.

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The findings suggest these single-celled organisms have programmed or regulated cell-death mechanisms like those that are known to work in animals and other complex organisms.

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How do the lungs develop after taking their first breaths outside the womb? What cellular events and changes early in life give rise to lung malfunction and disease? To help answer these questions, scientists have constructed the first single-cell atlas of postnatal lung development in humans and mice. The research could help provide a more detailed understanding—at the level of individual cells—of which genetic and epigenetic factors affect lung health across the human lifespan, starting from birth.

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Metabolic syndrome increases a person’s risk for diabetes, heart disease, and stroke, and includes conditions such as obesity, high blood pressure and high blood sugar. In a recent mouse-model study, published in Cell Metabolism, researchers at University Hospitals (UH), Harrington Discovery Institute at UH, and Case Western Reserve University have furthered their progress to develop a drug to treat metabolic syndrome by identifying a receptor that controls appetite and body weight.

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UTSW scientists identify key molecule produced by male parasitic worms that affects sexual maturity in females and leads to schistosomiasis

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Scientists have created a battery designed for the electric grid that locks in energy for months without losing much storage capacity. It’s a step toward batteries that can be used for seasonal storage: saving renewable energy in one season, such as the spring, and spending it in another, like autumn.

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The poor function of microglia, the brain’s immune cells in individuals exposed to early life adversity (ELA) promotes aberrant responses to stress in adulthood that may be linked to mental illness, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of California, Irvine. During brain development, microglia prune unnecessary synapses resulting in the formation of refined, functional circuits. Disruption of that process leaves too many synapses, changing the behavioral and hormonal responses to further stresses later in life.

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UT Southwestern researchers have identified a four-protein complex that appears to play a key role in generating ribosomes – organelles that serve as protein factories for cells – as well as a surprising part in neurodevelopmental disorders. These findings, published in Cell Reports, could lead to new ways to manipulate ribosome production, which could impact a variety of conditions that affect human health.

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Researchers have found that dysfunction in an important cell subtype in the brain’s neuronal network contribute to chronic symptoms in the neurodevelopmental disorder Dravet syndrome.

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University of Notre Dame researchers have discovered another way tumor cells transfer genetic material to other cells in their microenvironment, causing cancer to spread.

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People who consume sugar and other carbohydrates in excess over a long period of time have an increased risk of developing an autoimmune disease.

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Ebola virus polymerase hijacks a cellular protein called GSPT1. An experimental drug that targets GSPT1 for degradation can also halt Ebola virus infection in human cells.

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A laboratory study at the Miller School of Medicine’s Desai Sethi Urology Institute has uncovered new clues about the cellular processes that can lead to deficiencies of androgens (male hormones) such as testosterone.

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New study provides insights into how the microbiome processes seaweed, consumed around the world in various forms, including sushi and as a processed food additive.

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When we are stressed or excited, it can be difficult for us to fall asleep—and finding ways to wind down prior to sleep is a habit of many.

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For the first time, scientists used entire human GI tracts from three organ donors to show how cell types differ across all regions of the intestines, to shed light on cellular functions, and to show gene expression differences between these cells and between individuals.

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Scientists at McMaster University who have developed an inhaled form of COVID vaccine have confirmed it can provide broad, long-lasting protection against the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 and variants of concern. The research, recently published in the journal Cell, reveals the immune mechanisms and significant benefits of vaccines being delivered directly into the respiratory tract, rather than by traditional injection.

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An international team led by the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine has discovered novel properties of the protein Gasdermin B that promotes repair of cells lining the gastrointestinal tract in people with chronic inflammatory disorders like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

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A new study from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) provides important insights into cancer metastasis.

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The first generation of COVID-19 vaccines have been highly effective, but also have limitations. Now Wistar scientists have developed a more targeted vaccine that, in animal studies, shows stronger, broader, and more durable protection in a single, low dose.

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Neuroscientists at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA in collaboration with scientists at UC Berkeley have discovered that visual stimulation not only guides the way brain cells connect, but actually influences the types of cells that form in the first place – something that was thought to be genetically programmed.

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For more than a century, scientists have known that while the commands that initiate movement come from the brain, the neurons that control locomotion once movement is underway reside within the spinal cord.

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Studies since the start of the pandemic have noted that pigs exposed to the coronavirus don’t show clinical signs of disease nor do they transmit the virus to other animals. Iowa State University scientists have uncovered important clues that shed light on why pigs don’t get sick, and the discovery could lead to better treatments for COVID-19 in humans.

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An investigational cancer drug that starves tumors of their energy supply also shows evidence of improving whole body metabolism, leading to improved weight control, according to a new study in mice from researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

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Researchers discover how a gene mutation in gliomas leads to cell cycle dysregulation and heightened sensitivity to a class of inhibitors.

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The giant panda feeds exclusively on fibrous bamboo, yet they still manage to stay chubby and healthy.

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Metabolic differences could explain why some metastatic breast cancer cells rapidly generate tumors after migrating from primary tumors to the brain, while others linger for months or years before forming these secondary tumors, UT Southwestern scientists report in a new study. The findings, published in Cell Metabolism, highlight metabolic vulnerabilities in malignant cells that could eventually lead to new cancer therapies.