Biotechnology News – Latest Headlines

New therapeutic strategy targets dengue virus using artificial microRNAs

A novel therapeutic approach prevents dengue virus from reproducing in humans by targeting and silencing key regions of the dengue genome essential for viral replication.

July 11, 2013 Read more

Scientists to build a chromosome for the world's first synthetic yeast

Once all parts of the genome are complete, scientists can design new strains of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to make products including chemicals, vaccines and biofuels.

July 11, 2013 Read more

Researchers develop new method for tracking cell signaling

Researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, together with collaborators in Germany, have developed a new method for identifying the cell of origin of intracellular and secreted proteins within multicellular environments.

July 10, 2013 Read more

Optimizing microbe factories

Max Planck and Fraunhofer scientists team up to develop efficient biosynthetic processes for the production of pharmaceutical and industrial ingredients.

July 10, 2013 Read more

Membranes in tight corners

Photosynthesis takes place in specialized membrane systems, made up of stacked disks linked together by unstacked planar leaflets. An LMU team has now identified a protein that tucks the membrane in at the edge of each stack.

July 10, 2013 Read more

Scientists have found a bacterium that stores large amounts of plastic

In Bolivia, in the largest continuous salt desert in the world, researchers from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia have found a bacterium that stores large amounts of PHB, a prized polymer. This biodegradable plastic is used by the food and pharmaceutical industries, for example to produce nanospheres to transport antibiotics.

July 10, 2013 Read more

Chemical/bioengineers use adhesion to combine advantages of silicones and organic materials

Researchers have found a way to strongly adhere hydrogels to hydrophobic silicone substrates, an innovation that provides a valuable new tool for microscale biotechnology.

July 9, 2013 Read more

Tumor-suppressor protein gives up its secrets

Genetic mutations aren't the only thing that can keep a protein called PTEN from doing its tumor-suppressing job. Johns Hopkins researchers have now discovered that four small chemical tags attached (reversibly) to the protein's tail can have the same effect, and they say their finding may offer a novel path for drug design to keep PTEN working.

July 9, 2013 Read more

Scientists synthesize artificial nicotine receptor

Researchers from the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute in Nehru Marg, India have added another piece to the puzzle of how to synthetize an artificial nicotine receptor. One of the most long-lasting goals of biomedical science and technology is to design and synthesize efficient artificial receptors that would point to new avenues in the treatment of addiction.

July 9, 2013 Read more

Scientists make a distinctive step towards the understanding of bacterial resistance to ribosome-targeting antibiotics

Researchers at the London Centre of Nanotechnology and Universities of Bristol and Southampton have made a distinctive step towards the understanding of bacterial resistance to ribosome-targeting antibiotics.

July 8, 2013 Read more

New tissue engineering breakthrough encourages nerve repair

A new combination of tissue engineering techniques could reduce the need for nerve grafts, according to new research.

July 8, 2013 Read more

How quality control works in our cells

A cellular control mechanism prevents the production of defective proteins in our cells. A team of researchers from Bern has now obtained valuable insights into this vital mechanism that could lead to new therapeutic approaches for genetic diseases.

July 7, 2013 Read more

Peering into the protein pathways of a cell

Researchers shed new light on how cellular transport systems harness energy to perform their work inside the cell.

July 7, 2013 Read more

Researchers may be one step closer to a 'recipe' for large-scale production of stem cells

Researchers say they have identified certain proteins that play a key role in controlling pluripotency, which may mean a potential breakthrough in producing these cells.

July 5, 2013 Read more

Research that holds water

There is growing research of hydrogels, the gelatinous substance that, because of its toughness and plasticity, has several biomedical applications, including cartilage repair, implants for minimally invasive surgery and drug delivery.

July 5, 2013 Read more

Perusing the cellular library

A sensitive technique for taking the RNA inventory of individual cells offers researchers a powerful tool for exploring cellular biology and function.

July 5, 2013 Read more

Study challenges long-held assumption of gene expression in embryonic stem cells

Researchers have determined that the transcription factor Nanog, which plays a critical role in the self-renewal of embryonic stem cells, is expressed in a manner similar to other pluripotency markers. This finding contradicts the field's presumptions about this important gene and its role in the differentiation of embryonic stem cells.

July 3, 2013 Read more

Cell membranes: Synthetics save time and cut costs (w/video)

An approach that directly inserts proteins into polymer-based cell membranes improves drug-screening platforms.

July 3, 2013 Read more