Scientists advance efforts to create 'virtual cell lab' as testing ground for future research with live cells

Ritz peanut butter cracker sandwiches are being recalled due to the possible presence of undeclared peanuts, a major allergen.

Keurig K-Cups are being recalled nationwide due to a packaging issue that could cause ink to run into the coffee during brewing.

Faced with a lack of running water, unsanitary conditions and poverty, the Kinshasa neighborhood of Pakadjuma has struggled to end a cholera epidemic that has claimed hundreds of lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) this year.

China is experiencing an outbreak of chikungunya, a mosquito-borne infection, with thousands of cases reported in the south.

Each cell in our bodies carries about two meters of DNA in its nucleus, packed into a tiny volume of just a few hundred cubic micrometers—about a millionth of a milliliter. The cell manages this by winding the strings of DNA around protein spools. The protein-DNA complexes are called nucleosomes, and they ensure that DNA is safely stored.

The origin of some neuropsychiatric diseases, such as autism, bipolar disorder, or depression, and certain neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, can be found in very early stages of brain formation in the fetus. That is, earlier than previously recognized, according to a study by the Hospital del Mar Research Institute and Yale University, published in Nature Communications.

The laminin-411 protein is vital for the formation of the myelin membrane by oligodendrocytes, report researchers from Japan. Furthermore, the A4G47 peptide from the E8 region of laminin-411 was found to be the main active amino acid sequence that drives myelin formation. The research findings have the potential to transform current cell culture practices to study myelination and may enable the development of novel therapeutic agents to treat demyelinating diseases.

Autophagy is essentially the "rubbish collection" of our cells. If there are problems in this process, which is so important for our health, diseases such as Parkinson's can result. In their latest study, leading cell biologists at the Max Perutz Labs at the University of Vienna investigated mitophagy—a form of autophagy—and came to a remarkable conclusion: the researchers have described a new trigger for mitophagy.

People who are gestational carriers (or "surrogates") appear more likely to be diagnosed with a new mental illness during and after pregnancy, according to new research from ICES, McGill University, and the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center.

Thanks to vaccinations against SARS-CoV-2 in the period 2020–2024, 2.533 million deaths were prevented at the global level; one death was avoided for every 5,400 doses of vaccine administered.

Researchers from Columbia Engineering have established a framework for the design of bioactive injectable hydrogels formulated with extracellular vesicles (EVs) for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications.

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is having a significant impact on the mental health and well-being of Australian women who migrated from directly impacted countries, or have family ties to the region, according to researchers from UNSW Sydney and The Australian National University (ANU).

In soccer games, "ball-trapping"—quickly changing direction after receiving a pass to transition into an attack—is a critical maneuver. This action can significantly influence the flow of a match, especially when executed effectively in the space between an opponent's midfield and defensive lines. However, the specific physical techniques used by skilled ball-trappers during actual gameplay have not been well understood.

The number of Americans caring for an older or disabled family member has risen dramatically during the past 10 years, according to a new AARP policy report.

A virus that typically infects black-eyed peas is showing great promise as a low-cost, potent cancer immunotherapy—and researchers are uncovering why.

Researchers at the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health found that certain kinds of long-lasting chemicals firefighters are exposed to may affect the activity of genes linked to cancer and other diseases. The findings appear in the journal Environmental Research.

This week, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised concerns about a surge in the number of cases of a mosquito-borne viral infection called chikungunya.

A study evaluating a pioneering lentivirus (LV)-mediated gene therapy trial for classical Fabry disease showed promising results over five years, indicating a potential breakthrough in treatment for the genetic disorder.