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Multiplexed ultrasound imaging of gene expression

Great paper from Mikhail Shapiro’s lab where Nyström et al. used directed evolution methods to create protein gas vesicles which respond to distinct acoustic pressures, allowing for ultrasound imaging in two ‘colors’! Of note, Mikhail Shapiro is involved in the extremely exciting Merge Labs, which was publicly announced recently. [ https://www.nature.com/articles/s41592-025-02825-w](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41592-025-02825-w)

Ultrasound imaging with acoustic reporter genes has been limited to a single ‘tone’, restricting the types of experiments that can be achieved. This work introduces two acoustic reporter genes that enable multiplexed imaging in vitro and in mice.

Kawasaki Corleo Robot Debuts at Osaka Expo 2026

In a bold showcase of futuristic design and green innovation, Kawasaki Heavy Industries has unveiled the Kawasaki Corleo robot—a hydrogen-powered, four-legged robotic ride—at the Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025. This revolutionary concept reimagines mobility by blending clean energy, robotics, and artificial intelligence into a rider-ready machine that can walk, adapt, and navigate across rugged terrains.

The Kawasaki Corleo robot walks on four independently powered legs, offering impressive stability and terrain agility that wheels often can’t match. Built with carbon fiber and metal, Corleo echoes the iconic DNA of Kawasaki’s motorcycle lineage—featuring sleek contours, aerodynamic symmetry, and a headlight faceplate that resembles a mechanical creature ready to roam.

At the heart of Corleo lies a 150cc hydrogen engine that generates electricity to drive its limbs—making it a clean energy alternative to gas-powered off-roaders. Ditching the conventional handlebars, the robot interprets a rider’s body movement to move forward, turn, or stop. A built-in heads-up display (HUD) provides live feedback on hydrogen levels, motion stability, and terrain tracking. This unique interface between biomechanics and artificial intelligence makes the Kawasaki Corleo robot one of the most immersive robotic riding experiences developed to date.

Small RNAs in inherited blindness identified!

Proteostasis in the lifespan of hematopoietic stem cells.

The hematopoietic system represents an excellent model to study how proteostasis (protein homeostasis) influences different cell types within the same tissue. This review focuses on mechanisms of proteostasis that preserve the lifespan of rare hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs).

Although most proteostasis network components are expressed in all cells, their activation and utilization are cell type-specific. HSCs maintain low translation rates and a preference for autophagy over proteasomal degradation to minimize protein stress.

To protect the integrity of the stem cell pool, HSCs are thought to respond to damage by clearing defective organelles and proteins or by eliminating compromised cells through differentiation or apoptosis.

A stressed proteome accelerates HSC aging, and the immune system derived from aged HSCs is suspected to contribute to the decline of other tissues. This highlights the importance of maintaining healthy HSCs to preserve organismal wellbeing.

Several experimental treatments in mouse models have been shown to boost HSC activity in older organisms by enhancing proteostasis.

This promising research opens up new possibilities for interventions that could improve aging through regenerative medicine. sciencenewshighlights ScienceMission https://sciencemission.com/longevity-from-blood-stem-cells

Continue reading “Small RNAs in inherited blindness identified!” | >

Cells use dual strategies to fine-tune inflammatory gene activation

Inflammation has to fight pathogens fast—but it can’t get out of control. Researchers at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have now deciphered in more detail how the organism masters this balancing act. Their work shows that cells use two different strategies to precisely control inflammatory genes and thus precisely regulate the inflammatory response.

The work is published in the journal Nature Cell Biology.

Reversing immune suppression in pancreatic cancer could lead to novel therapies

In a unique finding, researchers at Georgetown’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center discovered that when pancreatic cancer cells send out tiny particles that are packed with certain microRNA molecules, nearby immune cells called macrophages are reprogrammed to help the tumor grow instead of engaging in their regular role of fighting the tumor. This insight from cell and mouse experiments helped the scientists outline a potential way to reverse the process and possibly improve outcomes in pancreatic cancer.

“Our approach focuses on blocking adverse outcomes of microRNA-based communication between pancreatic cancer cells and immune cells,” says Amrita Cheema, Ph.D., professor, Departments of Oncology, Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology and Radiation Medicine at Georgetown and senior author of the study. “By disrupting these channels of communication, we could reprogram the immune cells and restore their ability to fight cancer, resulting in meaningful reductions in pancreatic tumor growth.”

The study appears January 16, 2026, in the journal Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy.

The cellular senescence–metabolism axis: emerging insights into T cell dynamics in the context of biological aging

Cell Communication and Signaling — The exponential growth of immunometabolism-related studies in the last 10 years has made it very clear that metabolism is a key player in the effector functions of immune cells. Such is the case in cells with lymphoid origin, as CD4 + and CD8 + T cells undergo a series of metabolic reprogramming steps during their differentiation process, which is associated with a change in their effector characteristics. Only recently have factors such as biological aging and cellular senescence been examined in relation to memory T-cell generation and the metabolic reprogramming that accompanies their differentiation. In this review, we examine the emerging roles of cellular senescence and biological aging in shaping T-cell metabolism and immune function, and how these changes in the T-cell landscape contribute to disease onset. We then discuss recent studies on T-cell metabolic reprogramming to highlight how understanding the impact of senescence on T-cell metabolism may reveal new therapeutic opportunities.

Organic solvents enable chirality control in inorganic crystals

Chirality—often described as “handedness”—is a fundamental property of nature, underlying the behavior of molecules ranging from DNA to pharmaceuticals. While chemists have long known how to separate left- and right-handed forms of organic compounds, achieving the same control in inorganic crystals has remained a major scientific challenge.

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