July 2021 Volume 17, Issue 7

July-August Issue

Volume 17, Issue 7 | July 2021

July/August 2021

In this Issue

Neuroscience

Marina Martinez, associate professor in the department of neuroscience at the University of Montreal at work in the lab.

A new neuroprosthetic may revolutionize spinal cord injury treatment

A neuroprosthetic implanted in the brains of rats with spinal cord injuries helped them learn to walk again, and it may help the brain communicate with the spinal cord.
A see-through brain is lit up white with colored lights behind it on a black background

Light and sound stimulation improves early Alzheimer’s disease symptoms

Spending an hour every day listening to a low-pitched thrum and gazing at blinking lights may help prevent structural changes in the brain and cognitive impairments associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
A brain sits in the middle of a half blue and half pink background.

Activating a brain circuit relieves pain in male mice, but not in female mice

Scientists identified a new sex-specific pain circuit in the brain, laying the groundwork for developing better pain-relieving drugs for both sexes.
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A promising new class of psychotropic drugs

A newly developed drug stabilizes dopamine and serotonin levels using a novel mechanism. It effectively treats psychosis in patients with schizophrenia, and researchers are testing its efficacy for Parkinson’s disease as well.

Clinical Trials

A photo of a baby laughing.

Can a probiotic prevent type 1 diabetes in children?

An upcoming clinical study will test whether a B. infantis probiotic can prevent the development of type 1 diabetes in predisposed infants.
Red antibody structures and blue virus particles intermingle.

COVID-19 may trigger an autoimmune response

Researchers plan to monitor the immune responses of COVID-19 patients for one year to see how they correlate with illness severity and lasting effects. This data will help develop personalized treatments for patients.
Illustration of a strand of DNA breaking with surrounding fragments

A small molecule inhibitor blocks breast cancer's back up plan

Scientists discovered a long sought-after inhibitor for the DNA repair polymerase, Polθ, which may be key to treating drug-resistant BRCA1 and BRCA2-mutant cancers.
Peanuts on a rustic wood table

Peanuts may be the key to treating peanut allergies

Promising results from clinical trials show that allergen tolerization works for many patients.
A person scratches at a red rash on the back of their hand.

Depleting skin immune cells helps treat cutaneous lupus

A new antibody treatment reduced levels of type I interferon-producing cells in patients with cutaneous lupus, improving skin symptoms during phase 1 clinical trials.

Editors Insight

The Apollo landed on the moon in 1969.

The microscopic man on the moon

The moon landing inspired a generation of scientists. Could the COVID-19 pandemic inspire the next generation?

Immunology

A next-generation SARS-CoV-2 vaccine

A naturally occurring nanoparticle yields a new type of vaccine that offers broad-acting protection against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. With further development, the approach may lead to a pan-coronavirus vaccine.
A photo of the International Space Station floating above the Earth.

Space alters an astronaut’s immune system

From microgravity to radiation, space wreaks havoc on astronauts’ immune systems, potentially putting them at risk of infection from microbes onboard.
A drawing of the International Space Station in blue is shown against a background of stars. The words "Hitchhiking Microbes" are written on top of it with drawings of different microbes on the letters.

Hitchhiking microbes

With every launch, spacecraft carrying humans into space bring along a few uninvited guests.
COVID-19 antibody

Designing vaccines with reverse vaccinology

Investigating antibodies produced by infectious diseases yields vaccines with broad-acting protection.
A graphic illustration of the skin microbiome showing hair as brown columns and bacteria as purple spheres and orange rods.

Skin cells use epigenetics to tolerate microorganisms

Unlike other cells in the body that mount a strong immune response against microbial invaders, skin cells use an epigenetic mechanism to ignore most of the microbes they see. These findings reveal a potential new drug target for inflammatory skin diseases.

Computational Tools

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Keolu Fox revises historical narratives with genome data

A native Hawaiian, anthropologist, and genome scientist, Keolu Fox investigates how mutations found in indigenous populations contribute to human health and emphasizes the importance of considering who benefits from research involving indigenous genomes.
A photo of differently shaped and colored oral pills shown on a white background.

AI finds new uses for old drugs

Researchers built a framework to purposefully identify drug candidates for repurposing.
Seeking Intelligence

Special Report: Seeking intelligence

Beyond the buzz, is AI just another research tool?

Milestone

A close up of a mouse crawling in the gloved hands of a researcher

Science Milestone: The first transgenic mice

Transgenic mice play pivotal roles in scientific and therapeutic discovery, but how did they become a staple model system?
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A black mosquito is shown on pink human skin against a blurred green backdrop.

Discovering deeper insights into malaria research

Malaria continues to drive urgent research worldwide, with new therapies and tools emerging to combat the parasite’s complex lifecycle and global burden.
Three burgundy round and linear conformations of oligonucleotides are shown against a black background.

Accelerating RNA therapeutic testing with liver microphysiological platforms

Researchers can now study oligonucleotide delivery and efficacy in a system that models a real human liver.
A 3D-rendered illustration of a eukaryotic cell highlighting organelles such as the nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, and cytoskeletal structures in pink and purple tones.

Shining light on the subcellular proteome

Discover how innovative proteomics tools help researchers peer into once inaccessible organelles, allowing for new targets for drug discovery and development.
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