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Since the early days of the COVID pandemic, scientists have aggressively pursued the secrets of the mechanisms that allow severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to enter and infect healthy human cells. Early in the pandemic, University of California San Diego’s Rommie Amaro, a computational biophysical chemist, helped develop […]

Researchers report that infantile spasms, a rare but serious seizure disorder in babies, appear to be the result of a molecular pathway gone awry. In their study of a mouse model of the disorder, the researchers discovered that genetic mutations associated with the disease impair a pathway that is involved […]

Cambridge scientists have grown beating heart cells in the lab and shown how they are vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection. In a study published in Communications Biology, they used this system to show that an experimental peptide drug called DX600 can prevent the virus entering the heart cells. The heart is one […]

Hematopoietic stem cells — the precursors to blood cells — have been notoriously difficult to grow in a dish, a critical tool in basic research. Scientists at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have identified the underlying issue and developed a method to keep cultured cells healthy. These […]

IGF-1 is one of the better studied areas of metabolism relevant to determining the pace of aging in a species, involved in the regulation of tradeoffs between growth and sustained function. In the context of the evolution of aging, a mechanism exhibiting antagonistic pleiotropy is beneficial in youth but harmful […]

It is becoming clear that transthyretin amyloid accumulation makes a meaningful contribution to cardiovascular disease and a range of other conditions over the course of normal aging. It remains poorly explored, but that will likely change in the years ahead now that there are treatments capable of reducing the amount […]

A two-arm molecule can effectively deplete cancer-protecting cells inside tumors, allowing the immune system to fight off tumors without becoming overactive. The finding, published online in Science Translational Medicine, could lead to new types of cancer immunotherapies. “By effectively removing these immune-suppressive cells inside tumors instead of in the whole […]

New research shows that the QL1101, structurally similar to an existing cancer drug, is a safe and effective alternative for lung cancer treatment. In 2018, lung cancer caused 1.8 million cancer deaths worldwide. It is the most common type of cancer, with non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) accounting for 85% […]

It is interesting to see the sizable degree to which sufficient physical activity can mitigate many of the effects of aging in muscle tissue. It is well known that exercise programs improve muscle function and reduce mortality in later life. In the study reported here, the intent was to distinguish […]

The immune system has many roles. It doesn't just destroy invading pathogens, but also hunts and kills potentially harmful cells, such as those that have become senescent or potentially cancerous. Further, immune cells are intricately involved in the processes of tissue maintenance. Regeneration from injury is a complicated dance of […]