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Category: genetics – Page 66

Tomato ripening regulated by the same cellular process that slows aging in animals and humans

In research published in New Phytologist, investigators reveal that tomato ripening is regulated by the same mechanism that contributes to humans’ and animals’ life-and health spans.

The mechanism, called autophagy, regulates cellular recycling and operates in all lifeforms apart from bacteria. This latest work shows that autophagy affects tomato fruit ripening by controlling the production of ethylene. Ethylene is the primary hormone that controls ripening in many fruits such as apples, bananas, mangoes, avocados, and tomatoes.

To assess the role of autophagy in ripening, the team of researchers from the Volcani Institute, in Israel, and the University of Tübingen, in Germany, generated tomato plants that allow a temporal genetic repression of autophagy, specifically in mature non-ripe fruits.

Key genetic code identified for ‘displacing’ bacterial antibiotic resistance

Birmingham scientists have identified an essential genetic code for a method called plasmid curing, which aims to “displace” antibiotic-resistance genes from bacteria.

Plasmids, which are small, circular strands of DNA, play a crucial role in allowing to share beneficial genes rapidly in a changing environment, most concerningly when they carry genes conferring resistance to antibiotics.

Professor Chris Thomas from Birmingham’s School of Biosciences has investigated plasmid curing for many years, and engineered useful “multi-copy” (many copies in each bacterium) plasmids for this purpose, resulting in a patented, efficient way to displace unwanted plasmids that carry resistance.

Urban rats spread deadly bacteria as they migrate, study finds

Urban rats spread a deadly bacteria as they migrate within cities that can be the source of a potentially life-threatening disease in humans, according to a six-year study by Tufts University researchers and their collaborators that also discovered a novel technique for testing rat kidneys.

Leptospirosis is a disease caused by a type of bacteria often found in rats. It’s spread through their urine into soil, water, or elsewhere in the environment, where it becomes a source of infection and contamination for humans, dogs, and other species. While it’s prevalent worldwide, it’s more common in tropical regions, though a changing climate means it could become more common in colder regions as they warm.

In Boston, leptospirosis persists in local rat populations, and different strains of the bacteria move around the city as groups of rats migrate, according to a new study by Marieke Rosenbaum, M.P.H., D.V.M., assistant professor in the Department of Infectious Disease and Global Health at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, along with co-authors at Northern Arizona University (NAU), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In addition, their of a 2018 human leptospirosis case in Boston strongly suggests a link to rats as the source.

Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals heterogeneity in fibrotic scars after spinal cord injury

Myofibroblasts generate fibrotic scars after spinal cord injury (SCI). This is typically regarded as an impediment to nerve regeneration. Understanding the heterogeneous characteristics of fibrotic scars might help to develop strategies for remodeling fibrotic scars after SCI. However, the composition, origin and function of fibrotic scars have been a subject of ongoing debate in the field.

A recent study led by Profs. Dai Jianwu and Zhao Yannan from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences employed a combination of lineage tracing and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to demonstrate the heterogeneous distribution, source, and function of meningeal fibroblasts and perivascular fibroblasts in fibrotic scars.

Their research is published in the journal Nature Communications.

Immune System Overactivity May Drive Mental Illness

New research from the University of Bristol has uncovered striking links between immune system proteins and neuropsychiatric conditions, including schizophrenia, depression, and Alzheimer’s disease. By analyzing large genetic datasets using Mendelian randomisation, scientists identified 29 immune-related proteins potentially playing a causal role in these disorders.

The findings suggest that mental health conditions may not be isolated to the brain but involve the entire body, potentially reshaping future treatment strategies. This video explores how inflammation and immune pathways could be the next frontier in neuropsychiatric care.

#mentalhealth #immunesystem #neuroscience #health #psychology #depression

Human Verification

Four children have gained life-changing improvements in sight following treatment with a pioneering new genetic medicine through Moorfields Eye Hospital and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology.

The work was funded by the NIHR Research Professorship, Meira GTx and Moorfields Eye Charity.

The 4 children were born with a severe impairment to their sight due to a rare genetic deficiency that affects the ‘AIPL1’ gene. The defect causes the retinal cells to malfunction and die. Children affected are only able to distinguish between light and darkness. They are legally certified as blind from birth.

The new treatment is designed to enable the retinal cells to work better and to survive longer. The procedure, developed by UCL scientists, consists of injecting healthy copies of the gene into the retina through keyhole surgery. These copies are contained inside a harmless virus, so they can penetrate the retinal cells and replace the defective gene.

The condition is very rare, and the first children identified were from overseas. To mitigate any potential safety issues, the first 4 children received this novel therapy in only one eye.

The eye gene therapy was delivered via keyhole surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital. The children were assessed in the NIHR Moorfields Clinical Research Facility, and the NIHR Moorfields Biomedical Research Centre provided infrastructure support for the research.

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