https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awac222 Summary: Glioblastomas are incredibly deadly brain tumors. While there have been decades of research on curing these cancers, survival rates haven't increased much. Recently, a study out of Tel Aviv looked at what makes glioblastomas so resistant to treatment. Results showed that glioblastomas are protected and fed by astrocytes. Astrocytes are specialized glial cells… Continue reading Astrocyte immunometabolic regulation of the tumour microenvironment drives glioblastoma pathogenicity
Category: Life Science
Cas4-like Protein in Giant Viruses
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2018.04.001 SUMMARY: Mimiviruses are giant viruses that co-evolved with eukaryotic hosts and virophages. Virophages are tiny viruses that hijack the viral factories giant viruses set up inside the host. Just as the eukaryotic host and virophages have evolved a sort of symbiotic relationship to defend against giant virus attacks, giant viruses have also evolved a… Continue reading Cas4-like Protein in Giant Viruses
Amoebae, Giant Viruses, and Virophages
https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2017.00527 SUMMARY: In 2003, scientists discovered that giant viruses infected amoebas. These giant viruses are so big that they were mistaken for bacteria for the longest time. It wasn’t until scientists realized they contained no ribosomal DNA that these organisms were reclassified as viruses. From there, even more giant viruses were discovered. Some of the… Continue reading Amoebae, Giant Viruses, and Virophages
mRNA vaccines – a new era in vaccinology
https://www.nature.com/articles/nrd.2017.243 SUMMARY: Traditional ways of making vaccines include using antigens and weakened or dead pathogens. While these methods have worked for us in the past, their application is limited. They don’t work against cancers and tumors and they can be expensive to produce. Using mRNA vaccines is a new and versatile way to create vaccines.… Continue reading mRNA vaccines – a new era in vaccinology
The making of natural iron sulfide nanoparticles in a hot vent snail
https://www.pnas.org/content/116/41/20376 SUMMARY: The scaly-foot snail also known as Chrysomallon squamiferum is unique in that it makes iron sulfide nanoparticles. Chemically, most creatures who are only able to make minerals (biomineralization) using oxygen. The scaly-foot snail is able to do this in the absence of oxygen, a method that scientists are keen on understanding as it… Continue reading The making of natural iron sulfide nanoparticles in a hot vent snail
Immune responses in COVID-19
Immune responses in COVID-19 and potential vaccines: Lessons learned from SARS and MERS epidemic SUMMARY: This article review looks at what is already known about SARS and MERS and uses the data and clinical studies to discuss potential vaccines and treatments for the new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. Compared to SARS-CoV and MERS, SARS-CoV-2 has a much… Continue reading Immune responses in COVID-19