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Category: biotech/medical – Page 55

Antibody mapping chip speeds up vaccine research by revealing hidden binding sites quickly

A new microchip invented by Scripps Research scientists can reveal how a person’s antibodies interact with viruses—using just a drop of blood. The technology offers researchers faster, clearer insights that could help accelerate vaccine development and antibody discovery.

“This lets us take a quick snapshot of antibodies as they are evolving after a vaccine or pathogen exposure,” says Andrew Ward, professor in the Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology at Scripps Research and senior author of the new paper published in Nature Biomedical Engineering on June 3, 2025. “We’ve never been able to do that on this timescale or with such tiny amounts of blood before.”

When someone is infected with a virus, or receives a vaccine, their creates new antibodies to recognize the foreign invader. Some antibodies work well against the pathogen, while others attach to it only weakly. Figuring out exactly which parts of the virus the best antibodies stick to is key information for scientists trying to optimize vaccines, since they want to design vaccines that elicit strong, reliable immune responses.

Key brain protein may hold answers for memory loss and neurodegenerative diseases

Scientists have discovered how a key protein helps maintain strong connections between brain cells that are crucial for learning and memory.

Results of the study, published in the journal Science Advances, could point the way to new treatments for traumatic brain injuries and diseases, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, the scientists said.

Their research, led by a Rutgers University-New Brunswick professor, uncovered a previously unknown role for cypin, a . Members of the research team found that cypin promotes the presence of tags on specific proteins at synapses, namely the tiny gaps where the , known as neurons, communicate. The marking helps ensure that the right proteins are in the right place, allowing the synapses to work properly.

Camel tears might hold the secret to fighting 26 snake venoms; here’s what researchers found

Deep within the arid and rugged terrains of Rajasthan roams a remarkable creature—the camel, often referred to as the “ship of the desert.” Known for their endurance, unique gait, and ability to survive extreme conditions, camels have long fascinated both scientists and locals alike.

Over time, they’ve been subjects of various studies that revealed surprising abilities, from surviving on sparse resources to even consuming snakes as part of traditional practices. Scientists are now exploring camel tears for rare enzymes and medicinal compounds that could revolutionise treatments for infections, inflammation, and eye diseases. But now, a new claim places camel tears in the spotlight for their potential medical value.

According to a study reportedly conducted by the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory in Dubai, camel tears may have the extraordinary ability to neutralise venom from up to 26 snake species. If validated, this could mark a significant turning point in snakebite treatment, especially in countries like India, where venomous snakebites are a major public health challenge. Though the findings have yet to be peer-reviewed or widely published, the potential has generated global attention for its revolutionary implications in antivenom research.

Camel tears may neutralise venom from 26 snake species. A Dubai lab study suggests this. It could help snakebite treatment, especially in India. Camel tears have bioactive compounds. These may neutralise snake venom toxins. This could lead to affordable snakebite drugs. Camel tears also fight desert infections. They contain proteins and lysozyme. This discovery may help toxicology and medicine.

Study shows how brain-to-computer ‘electroceuticals’ can help restore cognition

Research led by Thilo Womelsdorf, professor of psychology and biomedical engineering at the Vanderbilt Brain Institute, could revolutionize how brain-computer interfaces are used to treat disorders of memory and cognition.

The study, “Adaptive reinforcement learning is causally supported by and striatum,” was published June 10, 2025, in the journal Neuron.

According to researchers, neurologists use electrical (BCIs) to help patients with Parkinson’s disease and when drugs and other rehabilitative interventions are not efficient. For these disorders, researchers say brain-computer interfaces have become electroceuticals that substitute pharmaceuticals by directly modulating dysfunctional brain signals.

More misfolded proteins than previously known may contribute to Alzheimer’s and dementia

For decades, the story of Alzheimer’s research has been dominated by a battle between A-beta and tau amyloids, both of which can kill neurons and impact the brain’s ability to function. A new study suggests, however, that these sticky brain plaques may not be operating alone.

Johns Hopkins University researchers have identified more than 200 types of in rats that could be associated with age-related cognitive decline.

The findings could lead the way to finding new therapeutic targets and treatments in humans that could provide relief for the millions of people over 65 who suffer from Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other diseases that rob them of their memories and independence as they age.

Study finds psilocybin extends cellular lifespan and promotes healthy aging

According to researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and Emory University, psilocybin, the active compound in psychedelic mushrooms, may have significant anti-aging properties, extending human cell lifespan by up to 57% in laboratory studies and improving survival rates in aged mice by 30% compared to untreated controls.

Scientists Succeed in Reversing Parkinson’s Symptoms in Mice

In 2017, he led a study that identified for the first time an abnormal form of a protein called SOD1 in Parkinson’s patients. Under normal conditions, this protein acts as an antioxidant enzyme, protecting brain cells from damage caused by free radicals, highly reactive molecules that contain oxygen and can deteriorate cells if not properly neutralized. Free radicals are produced by natural bodily processes as well as by external factors, like diet, smoking, and exposure to pollution.

In people with Parkinson’s disease, SOD1 suffers alterations that prevent it from fulfilling its protective function, with it instead accumulating in the brain and causing neuronal damage, according to the findings of Double’s team.

Based on these results, the team then conducted further research, with results suggesting that copper supplementation in the brain could be an effective way to slow and even reverse the symptoms of Parkinson’s (copper is crucial to SOD1’s function). To test this hypothesis, they evaluated the efficacy of a drug called CuATSM, designed to cross the blood-brain barrier and deliver copper directly to brain tissue.

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