Lifeboat Foundation: Safeguarding Humanity
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Category: biotech/medical – Page 6

“This indicates that ergothioneine influences the metabolism in a similar way to performance-enhancing agents,” Filipović said. He plans to carry out a study involving healthy human volunteers to evaluate whether the compound can similarly enhance performance in people.

By offering a clearer perspective on how ergothioneine improves muscle health, stress resilience, and cellular defenses, this research sets the stage for new strategies aimed at maintaining good health into advanced age.

As further investigations confirm these findings in humans, the mushroom compound ergothioneine may emerge as a valuable resource for countering age-related diseases and promoting a more robust, active life.

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“Our woolly mouse project drove innovations in areas combining the end to end process from our computational biology analysis tools to our multiplex precision genome engineering technologies,” Lamm told us. “These technologies enable precise and efficient genetic modifications at multiple sites within the genome at the same time, which could help with research focused on addressing the complex multi-genetic age-related diseases in the future.”

By further refining the genetic engineering techniques developed by Colossal, researchers may eventually develop therapies tailored to an individual’s genetic makeup, mitigating the effects of aging at a cellular level.

“Many diseases are multigenic in nature and require deep analysis computationally and being able to edit the genome at multiple sites with high degrees of efficiency to not cause off-target effects,” Lamm told us. “Our end to end process and the further development of our multiplex editing and DNA synthesis capabilities will lead to others being able to use our tools and system to treat these more complicated diseases. Together, these innovations are part of the science focused on developing personalized, targeted therapies to mitigate the effects of aging, accelerate the development of regenerative medicine, and extend both lifespan and healthspan.”

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Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is a rare genetic inborn error of metabolism characterized by recurrent life-threatening neurologic crises and progressive brain injury. The disease is typically caused by biallelic mutations in genes (branched-chain α-ketoacid dehydrogenase E1α (BCKDHA), E1β (BCKDHB), or dihydrolipoamide branched-chain transacylase (DBT)) subunits which interact to form the mitochondrial BCKDH complex that decarboxylates ketoacid derivatives of leucine, isoleucine, and valine. MSUD can be treated by a strictly controlled diet or allogeneic liver transplantation.

Now, new work demonstrates that a gene therapy prevented newborn death, normalized growth, restored coordinated expression of the affected genes, and stabilized biomarkers in a calf as well as in mice.

This work is published in Science Translational Medicine in the paper, “BCKDHA-BCKDHB digenic gene therapy restores metabolic homeostasis in two mouse models and a calf with classic maple syrup urine disease.”

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A plan to revive the mammoth is on track, scientists have said after creating a new species: the woolly mouse.

Scientists at the US biotechnology company Colossal Biosciences plan to “de-extinct” the prehistoric pachyderms by genetically modifying Asian elephants to give them woolly mammoth traits. They hope the first calf will be born by the end of 2028.

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A dietitian has issued a warning that many people are lacking a crucial nutrient that can reduce the risks of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

Dr. Carrie Ruxton has provided insights on the recommended intake, its health benefits, and how to include it in your diet. The medical specialist and advisor to the General Mills fibe r campaign stated that millions of people were “missing out on a vital nutrient which protects us against killer diseases simply because they don’t understand what it does in the body.” That’s the finding of a report about fiber — often called roughage.

Dr. Ruxton said that “adults should eat 30 grams of fiber a day.” But she added: “In reality, people are missing the target by a huge 10 g/day, placing themselves at greater risk of the world’s biggest killers – type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

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Bacteria have started eating our pollution.

A recent study revealed that a bacterial strain, called Labrys portucalensis F11, isolated from contaminated soil, can break down the exceptionally strong carbon-fluorine bonds in forever chemicals (PFAS), including some of the concerning shorter-chain varieties.

PFAS, or per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of man-made chemicals widely used since the 1950s in numerous products, from nonstick cookware to firefighting foam.

Their widespread use and resistance to degradation have led to their ubiquitous presence in the environment and even in human blood, earning them the moniker forever chemicals. While most remediation efforts focus on containment, F11 bacteria can dismantle these chemicals. Within 100 days, the study showed F11 metabolized over 90% of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, a hazardous form of PFAS. It also degraded significant amounts of other PFAS compounds. This research tracked not just the parent PFAS, but also the resulting metabolites, some of which F11 further degraded. This is crucial, as some byproducts are equally or more toxic.

While degradation is currently slow, future research will optimize conditions for faster consumption, even with competing carbon sources.

Continue reading “Bacteria found to eat forever chemicals — and even some of their toxic byproducts” | >

A new stem cell therapy, CALEC, has demonstrated a 92% success rate in regenerating corneas and restoring vision. This breakthrough procedure is still experimental but shows immense promise for those with previously untreatable eye injuries.

An expanded clinical trial that tested a groundbreaking, experimental stem cell treatment for blinding cornea injuries found the treatment was feasible and safe in 14 patients who were treated and followed for 18 months, and there was a high proportion of complete or partial success. The results of this new phase 1/2 trial published March 4, 2025 in Nature Communications.

<em>Nature Communications</em> is an open-access, peer-reviewed journal that publishes high-quality research from all areas of the natural sciences, including physics, chemistry, Earth sciences, and biology. The journal is part of the Nature Publishing Group and was launched in 2010. “Nature Communications” aims to facilitate the rapid dissemination of important research findings and to foster multidisciplinary collaboration and communication among scientists.

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A self-acclaimed “deep tech” company focused on the next generation of computing has unveiled three smart contact lens prototypes at MWC 2025, giving us a glimpse into the technology that could shape vision health of the future.

XPANCEO took the covers off its three prototypes, each one showcasing a unique technology that could feature in future “smart” contact lenses.

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