One of the most abundant South Asian and Sub-Saharan African legumes is the hardy, nutritional grass pea. However, the vegetable naturally produces a paralyzing neurotoxin, and the exact mechanism has long eluded scientists – until now.
Category: Biological
Detecting SARS-CoV-2 using Lettuce, not the vegetable
With the continued prevalence of Covid-19, development of new and improved detection methods of the virus is an important step forward in simplifying diagnosis and treatment. This article explores the use of DNA aptamers as a viral detection tool.
Non-invasive, low molecular weight, biomarker method for detection of skin cancer.
Development of a new, non-invasive and topical sampling method uses low molecular weight, skin cancer biomarkers for better detection for early stages of skin cancer diagnostics.
How to solve a structure
Combining different data to solve a structure
Novel Fluorogenic Probes Provide Polarity Specific Detection of Cancer Cell Membranes
Development of novel fluorogenic probes provide valuable insights regarding the polarity of cancer cell membranes.
Looking toward nature in the fight against COVID-19
How can we use compounds produced by cannabis as tools against COVID-19? This article discusses the identification of three cannabinoids which decrease the infection rate of SARS-CoV-2.
Unmasking COVID-19 infections
As the global COVID-19 pandemic rolls into its third year many of us wear masks almost all day at work or in the community. Read how these researchers have developed a sensor that can be embedded into your mask, which collects your exhaled breath to act as a COVID-19 test for the end of the day.
Identifying bum knees before injury with laser light
Raman spectroscopy can identify the extent of meniscus damages in knees before serious injury occurs.
Molecular Nanoparticles: Large Molecules to Prevent Oxidative Stress?
Maybe chemistry can save us—in this case, synthetic chemists have developed a family of lanthanide-oxo molecules and investigate their capabilities as radical species scavengers, with a possible future in the clinic to mitigate various diseases onset by oxidative stress (get antioxidants into your diet, people!).
Going to Flavortown: Understanding the terpene content of cannabis
How can using computational and biochemical techniques help us understand the different flavors of cannabis? This paper explores identifying terpenes that make each cannabis strain unique.
Looking into the crystal bubble
Protein crystallisation is an important technique in drug discovery, and storage of proteins in the biopharmaceutical industry but can sometimes be regarded as a dark-art. Read how researchers use air-bubbles to improve protein crystal growth.
Adding fluorines to small molecules
Enzymes incorporating fluorine into compounds
Where is the calcium? First steps toward a new MRI brain-imaging technique
Calcium is important in bones and in brains. But which brain regions have a lot of calcium? Do disease states affect calcium levels? A new tool is being developed to find out.
Outsmarting the cancerous activity of cathepsin B with pH-selective peptides
Scientists showed that by modulating cathepsin B’s cleavage activity with pH-selective peptides, they can irreversibly and selectively stop its cancerous activity.
More than just genes: looking for disease markers in methylated DNA
A tiny methyl group (one carbon bound to three hydrogen atoms) can be a big marker for disease.
Upcycling Plant Matter
Avocado peels and uprooted invasive plants can become a source for anti-inflammatories. I’ll toast to that!
How to distinguish two similar chemical functional groups
Distinguishing sulfation from phosphorylation
MicroRNAs: A New Assay Searches for Targets
If your DNA is a cookbook of “recipes” your cells could make, microRNAs help decide what’s for dinner.
What gives bird feathers such vivid colors?
Birds have a unique way of creating color in their wings and this is how they have become so colorful.
Prioritizing study of novel proteins
How scientists figure out what enzymes to study
Towards enzymatic hydrocarbon remediation
Towards enzymatic bioremediation of oil spills
Another side (product) of synthesising antibiotic, daptomycin
Finding new antibiotics is difficult. Synthesising those new antibiotics can be just as hard, and sometimes is takes a long time to find a good approach. And sometimes the most important step in synthesis optimisation is characterising your side-products.
Looking for Viruses in Wild Bats
Cataloguing viruses in bats and other animals may help predict or trace viral transmission to humans in the future.
Chemical brushes in the fight against bacterial infection
Researchers develop a new two-layer coating for medical devices that dramatically reduces the chance of infection.
More than SPF: Some Common Sunscreen Ingredients to Avoid
Buying sunscreen? Take a look at the ingredients list first.