The reason why many people are allergic to birch pollen has not been fully clarified yet. It is known that a specific birch pollen protein causes the immune system to overreact. What makes it an allergen has now been discovered by scientists at the Vetmeduni Vienna. The pollen protein can bind iron. Without iron load the protein becomes an allergen. Environmental factors are possibly the reason for low iron loads in plants.
Jun 5th, 2014
Read more
Researchers have investigated the interaction between the plant's barrier, plant protection products and adjuvants that are added to increase the effect of the plant protection product. The results of this research can be applied to minimise the use of plant protection products in agriculture.
Jun 5th, 2014
Read more
A new protein engineering technique developed at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute gives researchers a powerful new tool for fighting potentially harmful toxins and pathogens.
Jun 4th, 2014
Read more
Researchers have shown that a new line of genetically modified pigs will host transplanted cells without the risk of rejection, opening the door for future stem cell therapy research.
Jun 4th, 2014
Read more
Scientists have been able to reproduce, for the first time in human cells, chromosomal translocations associated with two types of cancer: acute myeloid leukemia and Ewing's sarcoma. The discovery opens the door to the development of new therapeutic targets to fight these types of cancer.
Jun 3rd, 2014
Read more
Scientists have discovered how a molecular 'scaffold' which allows key parts of cells to interact, comes apart in dementia and motor neuron disease, revealing a potential new target for drug discovery.
Jun 3rd, 2014
Read more
Like exploring the inner workings of a clock, a team of researchers is digging into the inner workings of the tiny cellular machines called spliceosomes, which help make all of the proteins our bodies need to function. In a recent study, they have captured images of this machine, revealing details never seen before.
Jun 2nd, 2014
Read more
The impact of the environment on our genetic makeup has long been a topic of discussion among researchers. Now a European consortium (EURATRANS) has taken the opposite approach. The scientists have investigated for the first time to what extent specific genetic predispositions influence the processes of gene regulation.
Jun 2nd, 2014
Read more
Next time you spot an earthworm sliding through fresh dirt, take a closer look. What you're seeing is an organic movement called peristaltic locomotion that has been meticulously refined by nature.
May 30th, 2014
Read more
The gap between stem cell research and regenerative medicine just became a lot narrower, thanks to a new technique that coaxes stem cells to take the first step to specialization for the first time in a laboratory. Researchers demonstrated that not only is it possible for mouse embryonic stem cells to form three distinct germ layers in the lab, but also that it requires correct timing, chemical factors and mechanical environment.
May 30th, 2014
Read more
Pioneering 'tweezers' that use ultrasound beams to grip and manipulate tiny clusters of cells under electronic, push-button control could lead to life-changing medical advances, such as better cartilage implants that reduce the need for knee replacement operations.
May 30th, 2014
Read more
Environmental scientists and synthetic biologists have for the first time developed a set of key research areas to study the potential ecological impacts of synthetic biology.
May 29th, 2014
Read more
A new technology under development at the Georgia Institute of Technology could one day provide more efficient delivery of the bone regenerating growth factors with greater accuracy and at a lower cost.
May 29th, 2014
Read more
Researchers have developed the first mobile application for Android phones that analyses ab1 DNA sequencing files, which enables science professionals and amateur enthusiasts to engage in scientific analysis on the go, from the convenience of their mobile phones.
May 29th, 2014
Read more
Substantial progress has been made in decoding the human proteome. Researchers have now mapped more than 18,000 human proteins - 92 percent of the entire proteome.
May 28th, 2014
Read more
A Harvard-led team is the first to demonstrate the ability to use low-power light to trigger stem cells inside the body to regenerate tissue.
May 28th, 2014
Read more
How many types of proteins are there in a cell? How many of each type are there and where are they at any given time? New methods may shed light on these fundamental biological questions.
May 28th, 2014
Read more
Researchers demonstrate that the technique may be used to visualise 3D specimens up to 34 tomographic sections in depth. These new results compare well with sectioned images collected from a confocal microscope but have the added advantage of strong phase contrast, which removes the need for sample labelling or staining.
May 28th, 2014
Read more
Subscribe to our Biotechnology News feed