Reactive oxygen species (ROS), often referred to as free radicals, have a bad reputation – and for good reason. At high levels, these reactive forms of oxygen, which have unpaired electrons in their outer orbits, can cause significant cellular damage. For example, they destabilize cell membranes, render proteins nonfunctional and mutate DNA, which then can
Cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with cancer-related deaths totaling 8.2 million in 2012. In addition, diagnosed cases of cancer are expected to increase from 14.1 million to 22 million new cases annually in the next two decades. The development of cancer is believed to involve a combination of
Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes seizures, sudden surges of electrical activity in the brain. It is the fourth most common neurological disorder, affecting approximately 2.9 million people in the United States, and one challenge for those affected is predicting the onset or progression of chronic seizures. A study from the University of Colorado,
Chemokines are signaling proteins secreted by cells, whose main function is to act as a chemoattractant to guide the migration of nearby cells. Part of the cytokine class of molecules, chemokines are important components of the immune system, forming a complex regulatory network that connects the innate and adaptive immune systems. Chemokines bind G protein-coupled
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells with the ability to divide indefinitely and develop into specialized cells throughout the body. These cells have long been a research and therapeutic focus, with laboratories worldwide working to realize the cells’ potential in treating injury and disease. The field of stem cell research is rapidly progressing. But how well
A team of researchers has shown how a human protein pathway can control Ebola virus gene expression and replication, findings that provide a new therapeutic target for treating Ebola. The study, recently published in the journal mBio, utilized anti-Zaire Ebola virus antibodies made available on the Kerafast platform by the laboratory of Dr. Christopher F.
Stem cells are undifferentiated biological cells that can become specialized cells in various parts of the body and divide to produce more stem cells. The ability of these cells to regenerate tissues and organs of the body have made them a topic of great interest and research. Treatment with stem cells has the promise to treat a wide variety of diseases
Researchers at Oregon State University have used X-ray crystallography to take the first atomic-level images of a peroxiredoxin. These images, recently published in the journal Structure, may possibly contribute to a new approach to antibiotics.”Peroxiredoxins are found in animals, plants, and bacteria, and are proteins that are crucial for cell survival,” explained lead author Arden
Diabetes can be characterized as either type 1, an autoimmune disease where an individual’s immune cells destroy the beta cells of the pancreas, or type 2, where individuals cannot produce enough insulin and use it properly. People that suffer from diabetes experience high blood glucose that can result in blindness, kidney failure, nerve damage, heart
Pressure ulcers, or injuries to the skin and underlying tissue due to prolonged pressure on the body, are a common complication in patients confined to a wheelchair or bed for long periods of time, such as those with a spinal cord injury or elderly and infirm populations. In Dr. Amit Gefen’s Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Lab at