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Category: biotech/medical – Page 184

Machine learning algorithm rapidly reconstructs 3D images from X-ray data

Soon, researchers may be able to create movies of their favorite protein or virus better and faster than ever before. Researchers at the Department of Energy’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have pioneered a new machine learning method—called X-RAI (X-Ray single particle imaging with Amortized Inference)—that can “look” at millions of X-ray laser-generated images and create a three-dimensional reconstruction of the target particle. The team recently reported their findings in Nature Communications.

X-RAI’s ability to sort through a massive number of images and learn as it goes could unlock limits in data-gathering, allowing researchers to see molecules up close—and perhaps even on the move. “There is really no limit” to the dataset size it can handle, said SLAC staff scientist Frédéric Poitevin, one of the study’s principal investigators.

Oxygen deprivation drives dysfunctional neutrophil immunity

Low oxygen levels in the blood can alter the genetic makeup of key immune cells, weakening the body’s ability to fight infection, new research shows.

Scientists found that oxygen deprivation – known as hypoxia – changes the genetic material of immune cells called neutrophils, reducing their capacity to destroy harmful microbes.

The team discovered that low oxygen appears to leave a lasting mark on the bone marrow cells that produce neutrophils, meaning the impact can persist after oxygen levels return to normal.

Screening of Single-Domain Antibodies to Adeno-Associated Viruses with Cross-Serotype Specificity and a Wide pH Tolerance

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors are the preferred gene delivery tool in gene therapy owing to their safety, long-term gene expression, broad tissue tropism, and low immunogenicity. Affinity ligands that can bind multiple AAV serotypes endure harsh clean-in-place (CIP) conditions and are critical for industrial-scale purification. However, current ligands lack broad serotype recognition and adequate alkaline stability, which limits their reusability in large-scale manufacturing. In this study, we employed a competitive biopanning strategy to isolate a single-domain antibody (VHH) that simultaneously binds AAV2, AAV8, and AAV9. The VHH retained structural integrity and binding activity after exposure to 0.1 M NaOH, demonstrating robust alkaline stability.

Adipokines as Clinically Relevant Therapeutic Targets in Obesity

Adipokines provide an outstanding role in the comprehensive etiology of obesity and may link adipose tissue dysfunction to further metabolic and cardiovascular complications. Although several adipokines have been identified in terms of their physiological roles, many regulatory circuits remain unclear and translation from experimental studies to clinical applications has yet to occur. Nevertheless, due to their complex metabolic properties, adipokines offer immense potential for their use both as obesity-associated biomarkers and as relevant treatment strategies for overweight, obesity and metabolic comorbidities. To provide an overview of the current clinical use of adipokines, this review summarizes clinical studies investigating the potential of various adipokines with respect to diagnostic and therapeutic treatment strategies for obesity and linked metabolic disorders.

Imaging of Skull Base Tumors

The skull base provides a platform for supporting the brain while serving as a conduit for major neurovascular structures. In addition to malignant lesions originating in the skull base, there are many benign entities and developmental variants that may simulate disease. Therefore, a basic understanding of the relevant embryology is essential. Lesions centered in the skull base can extend to the adjacent intracranial and extracranial compartments; conversely, the skull base can be secondarily involved by primary extracranial and intracranial disease. CT and MRI are the mainstay imaging methods and are complementary in the evaluation of skull base lesions. Advances in cross-sectional imaging have been crucial in the management of patients with skull base pathology, as this represents a complex anatomical area that is hidden from direct clinical exam.

How Taiwan’s Giant Genomics Project Is Rewriting the Future of Disease Prediction

A sweeping genomic effort in Taiwan has revealed something that global precision medicine has long overlooked, that the best way to predict disease is to study the people who will be living with its consequences. Researchers at Academia Sinica have now shown that building genetic risk tools tailored to Han Chinese populations can transform how common illnesses are forecast and understood.

In work published in Nature on October 15, 2025, scientists analyzed genomic and clinical data from more than half a million participants in the Taiwan Precision Medicine Initiative. By conducting the largest genome wide association analysis of Han Chinese individuals to date, they developed the first population specific polygenic risk score models for diseases ranging from type 2 diabetes to autoimmune disorders to heart disease, achieving markedly stronger accuracy than tools based on European data. “This project marks a milestone for precision medicine in East Asia,” said Dr. Cathy S. J. Fann, senior corresponding author at Academia Sinica. “By integrating large scale genomic and clinical data, we are building predictive models that truly reflect the real genetic architecture of our population.”

Simple molecule shows remarkable Alzheimer’s reversal in rats

Scientists have developed a new molecule that breaks down beta-amyloid plaques by binding to excess copper in the brain. The treatment restored memory and reduced inflammation in rats, while also proving non-toxic and able to cross the blood–brain barrier. Because it’s far simpler and potentially cheaper than existing drugs, researchers are now pursuing partnerships to begin human trials.

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