Press monitoring
First vision of bacteria harpooning DNA to accelerate evolution
15.6.2018 | Press monitoring
Bacteria evolve fast – and that could be bad news for those of us who don't want to see easily-treatable diseases make a roaring comeback. Resistance to antibiotics is a growing concern, but if scientists can see how the microbes evolve, they might be able to intervene. Now researchers at Indiana University have peeked into that tiny world,...
Scientists developed a new vaccine based on spider silk microcapsules
13.6.2018 | Press monitoring
To fight cancer, researchers increasingly use vaccines that stimulate the immune system to identify and destroy tumour cells. However, the desired immune response is not always guaranteed. In order to strengthen the efficacy of vaccines on the immune system - and in particular on T lymphocytes, specialized in the detection of cancer cells -...
Using fungi to produce renewable energy
11.6.2018 | Press monitoring
Ebru Alazi 'hacked' an enzyme-producing system in the fungus Aspergillus niger in order to produce renewable energy more easily. She manipulated the fungus, making it produce more pectinases: enzymes mainly used in the food industry and in the production of renewable energy, such as biofuels. Fungi such as Aspergillus niger feed from plants in...
Scientists Are Developing \'Sexy Plants\' To Protect Crops From Insects
8.6.2018 | Press monitoring
The spread of agricultural intensification has led to a massive increase in the use of pesticides. But this has had hugely damaging effects on the environment, and is thought to be contributing to an insect apocalypse sweeping across the western world. Now scientists may have developed a solution: sexy plants. The project aims to engineer plants...
DNA-spiked nanoparticles could help minimize scarring
6.6.2018 | Press monitoring
Not only are large scars often unsightly, but the stiff scar tissue can also limit a person's range of motion, causing discomfort. And although there are procedures that minimize scarring, it's not always apparent if such measures need to be taken. Newly-developed nanoparticles could help doctors decide. Developed in a collaboration between...
For the first time, scientists 3D-print human corneas
4.6.2018 | Press monitoring
There's a limited supply of donor human corneas, meaning that not everyone who needs an eyesight-saving transplant can get one. As a result, biosynthetic corneas have recently been developed. These could become quicker and easier to produce, as scientists have now successfully 3D-printed the things. Led by Prof. Che Connon, a team at Britain's...
GM golden rice gets approval from food regulators in the US
1.6.2018 | Press monitoring
Golden rice, which has been genetically modified to prevent blindness in undernourished children, was judged safe to eat last week by the US Food and Drug Administration. The rice contains extra genes that make a precursor to vitamin A, which is vital for preventing childhood blindness. A single helping can supply half the recommended daily...
Cell-like nanorobots clear bacteria and toxins from blood
30.5.2018 | Press monitoring
Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed tiny ultrasound-powered robots that can swim through blood, removing harmful bacteria along with the toxins they produce. These proof-of-concept nanorobots could one day offer a safe and efficient way to detoxify and decontaminate biological fluids. Researchers built the...
CRISPR-edited rice plants produce major boost in grain yield
28.5.2018 | Press monitoring
A team of scientists from Purdue University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences has used CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology to develop a variety of rice that produces 25-31 percent more grain and would have been virtually impossible to create through traditional breeding methods. The team, led by Jian-Kang Zhu, a distinguished professor in the...
Genetically engineered bacteria lets ingestible sensor monitor gut health
25.5.2018 | Press monitoring
Team of researchers at MIT has produced a novel "bacteria on a chip" system that combines genetically engineered bacteria that can detect intestinal bleeding with an ingestible electronic circuit that can wirelessly send a signal to a nearby computer. "By combining engineered biological sensors together with low-power wireless electronics, we...
