Scientists have developed Rhobo6, a light microscopy probe that reveals extracellular matrix structures in live tissues, advancing biological research and disease diagnostics.
Rhobo6 is a light microscopy probe that selectively binds to extracellular matrix glycans, increasing its fluorescence and allowing clear visualization of these structures in live tissues. This innovative tool enables researchers to study the extracellular matrix in detail without disrupting native biological processes, offering new insights into tissue biology and disease.
Before arriving at Janelia three years ago, Postdoctoral Scientist Antonio Fiore was designing and building optical instruments like microscopes and spectrometers.
In a phase 1 trial, patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who were treated with surgery and bespoke neoantigen mRNA vaccines combined with anti-PD-L1 and chemotherapy exhibited marked long-lived persistence of neoantigen-specific CD8+ T cell clones, which correlated with prolonged recurrence-free survival at a 3.2-year follow-up.
Explore More Humanities on UCTV (https://www.uctv.tv/humanities) The humanities encourage us to think creatively and explore questions about our world. UCTV explores human culture through literature, history, ethics, philosophy, cinema and religion so we can better understand the human experience.
Explore More Science & Technology on UCTV (https://www.uctv.tv/science) Science and technology continue to change our lives. University of California scientists are tackling the important questions like climate change, evolution, oceanography, neuroscience and the potential of stem cells.
UCTV is the broadcast and online media platform of the University of California, featuring programming from its ten campuses, three national labs and affiliated research institutions. UCTV explores a broad spectrum of subjects for a general audience, including science, health and medicine, public affairs, humanities, arts and music, business, education, and agriculture. Launched in January 2000, UCTV embraces the core missions of the University of California — teaching, research, and public service – by providing quality, in-depth television far beyond the campus borders to inquisitive viewers around the world.
🔍 Overview: Join Robert Plomin and me as we dive deep into the fascinating world of behavioural genetics, exploring how our DNA shapes who we are, the power of environment, and whether we can rewrite our genetic destiny.
🗣️ Highlights. [Highlight 1]: How Does Genetics Shape Who We Are? [Highlight 2]: What Role Does the Environment Truly Play in Defining Us? [Highlight 3]: Are We Hardwired by Our DNA, or Can We Rewrite Our Destiny?
🕒 Timestamps. 0:00 — Introduction. 1:57 — Robert Plomin, Philosophy and Psychology. 4:12 — Why Behavioural Genetics? 8:21 — Publishing Blueprint. 14:51 — Heritability. 30:15 — The Basics of DNA 34:34 — Genetic Variances and Binary Myths. 41:21 — Labels and Certificates. 45:33 — Nonshared Environments and The Nature of Nurture. 1:00:51 — Self-Selecting Within Environments. 1:07:04 — Group Difference and Heritability. 1:13:03 — Academic Success: DNA vs. Schooling. 1:21:17 — Ethical Considerations. 1:27:01 — Moral Responsibility and Accountability. 1:31:23 — The Future of Genetics. 1:42:38 — Genetic Trajectories and Random Events. 1:45:17 — The DNA Revolution. 1:48:21 — Closing Remarks.
It’s true that Japanese scientists have made a significant breakthrough concerning hydrogels and cancer cells. Here’s a breakdown of what the research entails:
* The Breakthrough:
* Researchers at Hokkaido University and the National Cancer Center Research Institute developed a novel hydrogel, a “double-network (DN) gel,” that can rapidly revert differentiated cancer cells back into cancer stem cells (CSCs).
Research shows a high-magnesium diet could slow brain aging and lower dementia risk.
A study from the Australian National University shows that increased magnesium intake may help protect against age-related brain decline, particularly benefiting women.
Researchers analyzed data from over 6,000 participants aged 40–73, tracking their dietary magnesium consumption and its effects on brain volume and white matter lesions. Those consuming more than 550 mg of magnesium daily had brains appearing nearly a year younger by age 55 compared to those with lower intake.
The study also found that postmenopausal women experienced the greatest neuroprotective benefits, possibly due to magnesium’s anti-inflammatory properties.
Magnesium, found in foods like leafy greens, nuts, seeds, legumes, and whole grains, has long been known for its health benefits, but this research highlights its potential role in dementia prevention. With no cure for dementia, experts stress the importance of dietary strategies for brain health.
Study co-author Dr. Erin Walsh emphasizes the need for further research to confirm these findings and inform public health recommendations. Given the rising global prevalence of dementia, this study underscores the importance of modifiable lifestyle factors in reducing cognitive decline and promoting long-term brain health.
Forever chemicals affect your genes, according to a recent study.
Scientists have identified 11 genes that are consistently impacted by exposure to harmful chemicals that are found in everything from drinking water to food packaging.
Forever chemicals, also known as PFAS, are a global health concern. PFAS or “per-and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances” are also found in common household objects such as non-stick pans, stain or water-resistant materials as well as paints, carpets and clothes.
They are persistent in the environment and can accumulate in our bodies over time. They have been linked to a range of negative health outcomes, including impacting our genes. Some of the 11 genes that were impacted by PFAS are vital for neuronal health, and they showed altered expression levels after exposure to PFAS compounds. This discovery suggests these genes could serve as potential markers for detecting and monitoring PFAS-induced neurotoxicity.
However, the study also revealed that hundreds of other genes responded differently depending on the exact PFAS compound. While PFAS are known to accumulate in the brain due to their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, this research provides new insights into the intricate ways these chemicals can interfere with gene expression and potentially disrupt our health. Concerns about PFAS stem from their potential health effects, which may include immune deficiency, liver cancer, and thyroid abnormalities. Due to their persistence and potential health risks, many governments are taking steps to regulate or ban the use of PFAS in various products.
These toxic chemicals are so common in consumer products and manufacturing that they’re everywhere—including inside our bodies.
Meet BioEmu-1 from Microsoft Research. This deep learning model can generate thousands of protein structures per hour, unlocking new possibilities for protein scientists and drug discovery and research.
A cancer therapy that uses genetically engineered immune cells, called CAR T-cells, has kept a person free of a potentially fatal nerve tumour for a record-breaking 18 years. “This is, to my knowledge, the longest-lasting complete remission in a patient who received CAR T-cell therapy,” says Karin Straathof at University College London, who wasn’t involved in the treatment. “This patient is cured,” she says. Doctors use CAR T-cell therapy to treat some kinds of blood cancer, like leukaemia. To do this, they collect a sample of T-cells, which form part of the immune system, from a patient’s blood and genetically engineer them to target and kill cancer cells. They then infuse the modified cells back into the body. In 2022, a follow-up study found that this approach had put two people with leukaemia into remission for around 11 years, a record at the time.
In a study published in Science Advances, Mayo Clinic researchers found a new immunotherapy target called a cryptic antigen that may be key in helping the immune system fight tumors in ovarian cancer.
Cryptic antigens are part of a protein — known as epitopes — that are usually hidden or inaccessible to the immune system and may be present in tumor cells.
“These findings underscore the need to look at alternate sources of target antigens for ovarian cancer,” says Marion R. Curtis, Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic senior associate consultant in immunology and senior author of the study.
