Lifeboat Foundation: Safeguarding Humanity
Toggle light / dark theme

Blog

Category: biotech/medical – Page 254

Scientists witness living plant cells generate cellulose and form cell walls for the first time

In a groundbreaking study on the synthesis of cellulose—a major constituent of all plant cell walls—a team of Rutgers University-New Brunswick researchers have captured images of the microscopic process of cell-wall building continuously over 24 hours with living plant cells, providing critical insights that may lead to the development of more robust plants for increased food and lower-cost biofuels production.

The discovery, published in the journal Science Advances, reveals a never seen before and may provide practical applications for everyday products derived from plants, including enhanced textiles, biofuels, biodegradable plastics, and new medical products.

The research is also expected to contribute to the fundamental knowledge while providing a new understanding of the formation of cell walls, the scientists said.

Neura Robotics bets on 4NE-1 humanoid robot to compete with China

Neura Robotics has built a diverse portfolio of robots, including MAiRA, the world’s first cognitive cobot. MAiRA uses artificial intelligence for autonomous operation and safe human interaction. The company also offers the MAV, a mobile robot for heavy load transport, and MiPA, a humanoid robot designed for tasks like serving trays in hospitals.

Through its cloud-based Neuraverse platform, Neura also creates cutting-edge software, in contrast to many robotics companies that only concentrate on hardware. Known as an “ecosystem for cognitive robotics,” the Neuraverse is a marketplace for robotic abilities and an operating system designed to spur innovation.

Many businesses displayed humanoid robots at CES 2025, demonstrating the momentum of the robotics sector. The humanoid robot “Melody,” created by Realbotix, is simple to assemble and disassemble. In the meantime, the full-size bipedal humanoid robot known as the “CASBOT 01” was introduced by China’s Lingbao CASBOT.

New Monoclonal Antibodies Specific for Different Epitopes of the Spike Protein of SARS-CoV-2 and Its Major Variants: Additional Tools for a More Specific COVID-19 Diagnosis

The emergence of the new pathogen SARS-CoV-2 determined a rapid need for monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to detect the virus in biological fluids as a rapid tool to identify infected individuals to be treated or quarantined. The majority of commercially available antigenic tests for SARS-CoV-2 rely on the detection of N antigen in biologic fluid using anti-N antibodies, and their capacity to specifically identify subjects infected by SARS-CoV-2 is questionable due to several structural analogies among the N proteins of different coronaviruses. In order to produce new specific antibodies, BALB/c mice were immunized three times at 20-day intervals with a recombinant spike (S) protein. The procedure used was highly efficient, and 40 different specific mAbs were isolated, purified and characterized, with 13 ultimately being selected for their specificity and lack of cross reactivity with other human coronaviruses. The specific epitopes recognized by the selected mAbs were identified through a peptide library and/or by recombinant fragments of the S protein. In particular, the selected mAbs recognized different linear epitopes along the S1, excluding the receptor binding domain, and along the S2 subunits of the S protein of SARS-CoV-2 and its major variants of concern. We identified combinations of anti-S mAbs suitable for use in ELISA or rapid diagnostic tests, with the highest sensitivity and specificity coming from proof-of-concept tests using recombinant antigens, SARS-CoV-2 or biological fluids from infected individuals, that represent important additional tools for the diagnosis of COVID-19.

Ligand-induced ubiquitination unleashes LAG3 immune checkpoint function by hindering membrane sequestration of signaling motifs

Now online!This study uncovers the molecular mechanism of LAG3 activation upon ligand engagement and its regulation by non-degradative polyubiquitination within the tumor microenvironment. The findings highlight LAG3/CBL coexpression as a promising biomarker for selecting suitable patients for LAG3-targeted immunotherapy.

Boosting brain’s waste removal system improves memory in old mice

As aging bodies decline, the brain loses the ability to cleanse itself of waste, a scenario that scientists think could be contributing to neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, among others.

Now, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis report they have found a way around that problem by targeting the network of vessels that drain waste from the brain. Rejuvenating those vessels, they have shown, improves memory in .

The study, published online in the journal Cell, lays the groundwork to develop therapies for age-related that overcome the challenges faced by conventional medications that struggle to pass through the to reach the brain.

Impact of physical activity on physical function, mitochondrial energetics, ROS production, and Ca2+ handling across the adult lifespan in men

Cefis et al. show that mitochondrial respiration and ROS production are not affected during healthy muscle aging but identify altered mitochondrial calcium handling as a potential key driving mechanism. They also highlight physical activity as a powerful stimulus to enhance physical performance and mitochondrial energetics throughout the human adult lifespan.

Researchers Discover Longevity-Boosting Compounds in Traditional Rice Wine Waste

Filipino researchers have optimized the traditional method of producing Philippine rice wine, known as tapuy, to enhance its nutritional value, potentially making it a superfood rich in antioxidants and anti-aging compounds.

Edward Kevin B. Bragais of Ateneo de Manila University and Paul Mark B. Medina of the University of the Philippines investigated how different starter cultures, specific microorganisms used to initiate fermentation, locally called bubod, affect the solid byproducts of winemaking. These byproducts, known as lees, consist mainly of rice residues, yeast, and other microbial compounds and are typically discarded.

The researchers found that by optimizing the fermentation process with a well-defined microbial culture, tapuy lees could become a valuable source of natural compounds with potential medical and nutritional benefits.

/* */