BiotechNews1

     Originally published by Deborah Acheampong, Simon Fraser University, on December 11, 2023 MCS-DETECT captures MERC changes induced by RRBP1 knockdown. In 2014, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry celebrated the breakthroughs in super-resolution microscopy , a technology that allows us to capture highly detailed images of small parts of cells using fluorescent microscopy. Despite its success, the resolution of super-resolution microscopy still can't show tiny distances between organelles in cells.organelles This gap is where Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Biomedical Computer Vision intersect , as researchers from SFU Computing Science and UBC School of Biomedical Engineering and Life Sciences Institute reveal how AI enhances super-resolution microscopy capabilities and contributes to cellular biology advancements. Their mission is clear: to overcome the limitations of hardware (super-resolution microscopy) through innovative algorithms (AI) . Their lates...

Originally published by Nanowerk News on Dec 02, 2023 Peptides , short chains of amino acids and vital components of proteins, are at the forefront of biotechnological innovation . These biological molecules are essential in numerous biological processes, such as oxygen and electron transport . Emulating nature, researchers are pioneering the development of synthetic peptides that form into nanoscale fibers . These fibers are particularly intriguing because they conduct electricity when combined with heme , a natural substance crucial for electron movement in proteins. The findings have been published in Nanoscale ("Designing 1D multiheme peptide amphiphile assemblies reminiscent of natural systems"). The research delves into how the electrical conductivity of these peptide nanofibers is i nfluenced by the amino acid sequence's length and specific compositio n. Understanding these structural parameters is key, as they govern the function of peptides in...

Originally published by Michaela Kane, Duke University, on December 5, 2023   Credit: Nature Chemical Biology (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41589-023-01481-5 A team of engineers at Duke University have developed a method to broaden the reach of CRISPR technologies . While the original CRISPR system could only target 12.5% of the human genome, the new method expands access to nearly every gene to potentially target and treat a broader range of diseases through genome engineering. The research involved collaborators at Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, University of Zurich and McMaster University. This work was published on October 4 in the journal Nature Communications . CRISPR-Cas is a bacterial immune system that allows bacteria to use RNA molecules and CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins to target and destroy the DNA of invading viruses. Since its discovery, researchers have raced to develop an arsenal of...

Originally published by University of Gothenburg, on November 30, 2023 An oil droplet (yellow) stabilized by temperature-sensitive microgels (green) in water (blue). The microgels maintain the stability of the oil droplets at room temperature, but when heated, their shape flattens and the emulsion dissolves. Credit: Marcel Rey Microgels form a thin protective shell around a droplet until the temperature rises above 32°C . Then the microgels shrink and the droplet dissolves in the surrounding liquid . A study by researchers from the University of Gothenburg now reveals the underlying mechanism behind this process. The discovery could revolutionize methods of targeting medicines to specific locations within the body. Emulsions consist of numerous droplets that are present in a liquid without dissolving and mixing with the liquid. For example, milk consists of fat droplets stabilized by milk proteins that are dispersed in water. In many applications such as medicine del...