A new super-resolution system microscopy can assess the pluripotency and differentiation of live stem cells, spearheading a new era in stem-cell research and systems biology. This technology can help in cancer research and development of treatments You might have heard about "stem cells" in the news or in popular science documentaries and wondered if they […]
Apoptosis is an important mediator of pathogenesis in animal coronavirus infection
Apoptosis is a form of programmed cell death, which occurs in cells that are irreparably damaged or in cells infected by some viruses. This mechanism is extremely important in limiting a virus’s replication and its spread to other neighboring cells. A new paper in the journal Life presents an early review of the viral factors […]
FDA issues emergency use authorization for T-Detect COVID Test
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the T-Detect COVID Test developed by Adaptive Biotechnologies. The T-Detect COVID Test is a next generation sequencing based (NGS) test to aid in identifying individuals with an adaptive T cell immune response to SARS-CoV-2, indicating recent or prior infection with SARS-CoV-2. […]
Limiting the release of fat into the bloodstream during heart failure could help improve outcomes
University of Alberta researchers have found that limiting the amount of fat the body releases into the bloodstream from fat cells during heart failure could help improve outcomes for patients. In a recent study published in the American Journal of Physiology, Jason Dyck, professor of pediatrics in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry and director […]
Freiburg immunologists decipher anti-cancer drug's mode of operation
Rituximab, an anti-cancer drug targeting the membrane protein CD20, was the first approved therapeutic antibody against B tumor cells. Immunologists at the University of Freiburg have now solved a mystery about how it works. A team headed by Professor Dr. Michael Reth used cell cultures, healthy cells, and cells from cancer patients to investigate how […]
Types of Electron Microscopes
There are several different types of electron microscopes, including the transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and reflection electron microscope (REM.) Each of these types of the electron microscope will be described in more detail in this article, including the benefits and disadvantages of each. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) The transmission electron microscope […]
Alstrom Syndrome Research
Alstrom syndrome has been the focus of attention, among other ciliopathies, in research on the biological functions of cilia as well as the best mode of treatment of these disorders. The ALMS1 gene has been associated with this condition. Physiological Roles of ALMS1 Protein The ALMS1 gene has been the locus of research because of […]
Developing an Artificial Cell-On-A-Chip
Creating an artificial “cell-on-a chip” that can mimic the function of biological cells is a big goal for synthetic biology. The development of this idea is on-going, and in this piece, three examples will be investigated. Image Credit: Billion Photos / Shutterstock.com How can the exchange of energy and materials be replicated in a cell-on-a-chip? […]
Why Cryo-EM is Gaining Popularity in Structural Biology
By Shelley Farrar, MSc, BSc Cryo-electron microscopy, also known as Cryo-EM, is a technique for visualizing macromolecular structures which has been developed over the last two decades. It is a form of transmission electron microscopy which permits samples to be studied at cryogenic temperatures. Biological structures such as ribosomes and mitochondria from pathogens, ion channels […]
ATR-FTIR for Single Cell Analysis
Skip to: What is ATR-FTIR? Current Single Cell Analysis Methods How is ATR-FTIR Used for Single Cell Analysis? Current Applications of ATR-FTIR Single Cell Analysis Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, FTIR. Image Credit: Ken Stocker / Shutterstock What is ATR-FTIR? An acronym for attenuated total reflection Fourier-Transform infrared spectroscopy, ATF-FTIR is an analysis technique that can be […]