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Researchers create a healthier form of starch in the cassava plant

Researchers at the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) in Japan have recently created a healthier form of starch in the cassava plant. Published in the scientific journal Plant Molecular Biology, the study shows how reducing levels of starch branching enzymes (SBEs) in cassava plants changes the composition of tapioca starch, making it more resistant to digestion and healthier for us to eat.

17 Dec 2021

Researchers develop novel technique to monitor remote immune mechanisms

The human immune system works hard to maintain an individual’s health and protect against viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi, and cancerous cells.

17 Dec 2021

Novel peptide vaccine alleviates conditions of dyslipidemia

Professor Yuichi Oike and his group of researchers recently produced a peptide vaccine that mitigates conditions of dyslipidemia.

17 Dec 2021

Study targets metabolic pathways to identify sensitivities among cancer cells

Metabolic reprogramming, accepted as a hallmark of cancer, might indicate a vulnerability to be used by targeted cancer therapy.

17 Dec 2021

Study suggests dietary intake of flavan-3-ols could help prevent obesity

In cold conditions, brown adipose tissue (BAT) or brown fat generates heat to keep the body warm. Compared with white adipose tissue, BAT has more mitochondria-;subcellular organelles associated with energy production-;which allows it to burn calories and produce heat by activating the mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (Ucp-1).

14 Dec 2021

Each person has their own unique “fingerprint” of protein activity, says study

A group of international scientists recently generated a new approach to identify the proteins in human cells that are crucial for increasing sugar absorption after exercise.

14 Dec 2021

Genetic makeup of neuroblastoma shows marked spatial and temporal variability

Tumors are heterogeneous, which means that different parts of the same tumor can be genetically distinct. This phenomenon, known as intratumor heterogeneity, is steadily gaining in significance within the field of cancer research.

13 Dec 2021

Research offers alternative cell option for organs-on-chips

Organ-on-a-chip technology has provided a push to discover new drugs for a variety of rare and ignored diseases for which current models either don't exist or lack precision. In particular, these platforms can include the cells of a patient, thus resulting in patient-specific discovery.

13 Dec 2021

Detachable head-mounted photoacoustic microscope images brain activity in mice

Scientists recently generated the first detachable head-mounted photoacoustic microscope for imaging brain activity in freely roaming mice.

13 Dec 2021

Multiple exposure enhances antibody efficacy against COVID-19 variants

Antibodies produced by the immune system against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein help pinpoint and avoid future infections.

13 Dec 2021

Study of people from diverse ancestries provides a powerful tool for predicting heart disease risk

In a large-scale study of people from diverse ancestries, researchers narrowed down the number of genomic variants that are strongly associated with blood lipid levels and generated a polygenic risk score to predict elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, a major risk factor for heart disease.

From National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) 9 Dec 2021

Immune cells utilize the body’s fat stores to combat infection, says study

A recent study carried out by the University of East Anglia and Quadram Institute shows how immune cells utilize the body’s fat stores to combat infection.

9 Dec 2021

World's first metal-organic framework antibody-drug delivery system developed

It sounds like the stuff of science fiction: a man-made crystal that can be attached to antibodies and then supercharge them with potent drugs or imaging agents that can seek out diseased cells with the highest precision, resulting in fewer adverse effects for the patient.

8 Dec 2021

Study reveals mechanism by which infections strengthen the immune system

Over time, the immune system in humans weakens making older adults more prone to infections. This leaves researchers with the puzzling dilemma of retaining health throughout the lifespan.

7 Dec 2021

Massive study on plasma proteome enhances understanding of human diseases

Recent research by investigators from deCODE genetics revealed how proteins drastically enhance the understanding of human diseases.

7 Dec 2021

People previously infected by Chikungunya virus may develop partial immunity to Mayaro virus

A study conducted at the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil suggests people previously infected by Chikungunya virus may develop partial immunity to Mayaro virus.

6 Dec 2021

Duke engineers develop a rapid test to identify antibody effectiveness against COVID-19 variants

Biomedical engineers at Duke University have devised a test to quickly and easily assess how well a person's neutralizing antibodies fight infection from multiple variants of COVID-19 such as Delta and the newly discovered Omicron variant.

6 Dec 2021

Long-term exposure to particulate matter associated with hypertension

According to the WHO, air pollution is the greatest health risk worldwide, accounting for more than 4.2 million deaths annually.

6 Dec 2021

Announcing the Winners of The Scientist’s Top 10 Innovations of 2021

Each year The Scientist seeks to highlight the latest and greatest tools, technologies, and techniques to hit the life science landscape.

From Resolve Biosciences 6 Dec 2021

Daytime eating maintains circadian alignment, prevents glucose intolerance despite mistimed sleep

What are the effects of eating during the nighttime instead of the daytime? New research, focused on a simulation of night shift work, may hold implications for people eating at atypical times -; like those experiencing jet lag, circadian rhythm sleep disorders, or who tend to sleep late during the weekends.

6 Dec 2021