Author Archives: karen
One for two – one medicine against two diseases
Superficial fungal skin infections belong to the most common infections worldwide. They affect more than 20 – 25 % of the world’s population with an increasing trend due to an increasing life expectancy and decreasing immunity of
An internal granuloma investigated by light and scanning electron microscopy
Caries and Periodontitis are not the only reasons why patients may suffer from problems with their teeth. There are far less frequent occuring phenomena causing dental treatment need, which however are of research interest in respect to
How cancer cells resist the action of microtubule-targeting chemotherapeutic drugs? A study of β-tubulin mutations
Microtubules (MTs) are essential structural components of cells. They are made up of polymers of protein subunits of α,β-tubulin and are highly dynamic, undergoing rapid phases of assembly and disassembly. The dynamic behavior of MTs is essential
Prostate cancer: prognostic impact of adenosine-generating CD73
Traditionally, most cancers were treated with surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy (or a combination of these options). Using the immune system to fight cancer has long been the objective of many researchers, but convincing success in the clinic
Improving the mathematical estimation of the epidemic threshold on networks
Infectious diseases spreading via person-to-person contacts, such as plague, flu, and Ebora, have threatened humanity since the beginning of the recorded history. Societies have long been using the power of sciences to understand and mitigate the impacts
A Tat ménage a trois – when it comes to Tat secretion two Tat’s are essential, but the third one makes it that much better
The membrane is the cellular barrier that keeps the inside of a cell separate from the outside, but in order to survive molecules and proteins do need to cross this barrier. Water and small molecules can do
Post-surgery early aerobic exercise: reduces lung complications and hospital stay
Lung related complications like infections and clots are common after complex abdominal surgery. These have a negative effect on the patient’s recovery, can prolong hospital stay and can even lead to death. We performed a study to
The thinner, the glassier
Polymers are a key component of our technologies. The diversity of uses and forms of these inexpensive materials is impressive: polymers are present in almost all the aspect of everyday life. Polymers are also intensively studied at
Mycotoxin triggered cell suicide in plant
Plants are regularly victims of infections by pathogens, particularly by fungi. Crops as barley could be infected by phytopathogenic Fusarium species (Fig. 1) what triggers a lot of damages and money cost. The Fusarium fungi have the
A link between reduced blood oxygenation and failure in learning and memory in a mouse model of Down syndrome
Down Syndrome (DS) is the most frequent genetic cause of cognitive disability in humans, affecting more than 6 million people worldwide. Triplication of more than 300 genes on chromosome 21 results in gene dosage imbalance that affects
Can we create easy-to-use software to capture the complex behaviors of proteins?
Proteomics is the large-scale study of proteins enabled by mass spectrometry technology. Much like a fingerprint can place someone at a scene despite the lack of an eye witness, a mass spectrometer records protein fingerprints that are
Making a better mouse model to understand the pathogenesis of respiratory syncytial virus infection
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the number one cause of infant hospitalizations in the United States. RSV infection is very common, with all children infected with this virus at least once by two years of age. Severe
Chemesthesis affects taste
The sensations of taste, which are divisible into several distinct qualities: sweet, sour, bitter, salty, umami, and possibly fatty, play an important role for accepting or rejecting food and serve to protect us from ingesting harmful substances,
A small step closer to a save new antibiotic
An important fundament of our so called modern medicine are substances that are save for humans to take but deadly for bacteria. They are known as antibiotics. Interestingly, most of these have their origin in microbes, using
Maternal diabetes negatively affects the development of embryonic heart
Diabetes in pregnancy may negatively affect the developing fetus, neonate, and child. Poorly controlled maternal hyperglycemia before conception and during the first trimester is associated with an increased rate of major birth defects and spontaneous abortion. Cardiovascular
Topical administration of an antimicrobial peptide as a new strategy for improved burn wound healing
Burn wounds represent a major global concern, as more than 100 million people worldwide are estimated to experience burn injuries every year. These may be caused upon exposure to heat, radiation, chemicals or electric shocks, often resulting
How do microorganisms survive in extreme conditions?
You may have taught how extreme regions like glaciers, mountains, and deep oceans are habitats for many organisms including bacteria, archaea, algae, and yeasts as well as glaciers ice worms, plants and animals. These organisms survive in
Septo-hippocampal signal processing
If we are ultimately to uncover how the brain encodes the information about the surrounding environment it is necessary to understand how the spatial signals are being processed and regulated. The hippocampal region plays a crucial role
Detecting anthrax in the palm of your hand: applications of a smartphone microscope
Bacillus anthracis is a bacterial pathogen that causes the disease anthrax. In 2001, B. anthracis was used in a bioterrorism attack in the United States that resulted in 22 individuals becoming infected, 5 of whom died as
How do neurons develop and regenerate?
Identifying how neurons form a functioning network provides the background for knowing how to manage, treat, and prevent neurological disorders, as well as promote healing after injury to the nervous system. NICHD researchers uncovered a new pathway
