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Life Sciences - Health - 20.04.2021

Chickens and pigs with built-in genetic scissors
Genome editing in farm animals Genetically engineered animals provide important insights into the molecular basis of health and disease. Research has focused mainly on genetically modified mice, although other species, such as pigs, are more similar to human physiology. Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have now generated chickens and pigs in which target genes in desired organs can be efficiently altered.

Life Sciences - Health - 13.04.2021

Is it Possible to Slow Down Age-Related Memory Loss?
A team of researchers from Berlin, Dortmund, and Graz are investigating how the substance spermidine can protect aging brain cells. No 062/2021 from Apr 13, 2021 According to a recent study, age-related memory loss may be preventable. Researchers from Freie Universität Berlin, the NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, the Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften (ISAS) in Dortmund, and the University of Graz found that the substance spermidine - something that is present in all human cells - can protect the mitochondria found in aging brain cells.

Health - Life Sciences - 12.04.2021

A multidimensional view of the coronavirus
Covid-19: analysis of protein interactions as a route to new drugs a team from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry paints a comprehensive picture of the viral infection process. For the first time, the interaction between the coronavirus and a cell is documented at five distinct proteomics levels.

Health - Pharmacology - 06.04.2021

Small cell lung cancer: scientists identify two new approaches for therapy
Iron-dependent cell death ferroptosis and cell death by oxidative stress can be activated in small cell lung cancer, and induced by two drugs / publication in 'Nature Communications' Using samples of small cell lung tumours, a research team led by biologist Dr Silvia von Karstedt has discovered two new ways to induce tumour cell death.

Health - Life Sciences - 29.03.2021

A more effective production of therapeutic antibodies
Immunoglobulins are antibodies that are generated by the immune system in answer to the sudden emergence of macromolecules. For example, these might be on the cell surface of bacteria that have infiltrated the body, or they are found in abnormal somatic cells. These play an important role in the identification and suppression of infections, such as Hepatitis A/B or Rabies, and in controlling cancer cells.

Health - Life Sciences - 24.03.2021

How activated T cells destroy the liver
Auto-aggressive immune cells cause fatty liver hepatitis Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), often called 'fatty liver hepatitis', can lead to serious liver damage and liver cancer. A team of researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has discovered that this condition is caused by cells that attack healthy tissue - a phenomenon known as auto-aggression.

Pharmacology - Health - 24.03.2021

Hypnosis is beneficial for surgical patients
Meta-analysis reveals: Hypnosis relieves pain, reduces mental distress and promotes recovery after surgery Hypnosis relieves pain, reduces mental distress and promotes recovery after surgical interventions - this has been shown in a meta-analysis recently published in Clinical Psychology Review. By evaluating 50 individual studies with over 4000 patients, scientists from Jena and Leipzig examined the efficacy of hypnosis in the context of surgical interventions.

Health - Life Sciences - 17.03.2021

Cancer therapy: How our cells are becoming resistant to medication
New study gives hope for more effective therapies Human cells are constantly changing shape. Biologists know that these morphological changes reflect changes in a cell's function but our ability to understand the meaning behind a cell's shape has, to date, been limited. In their new study Rune Linding from Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU) and his colleagues have utilized artificial intelligence to learn, and interpret, changes in the morphology of cancer cells in order to understand how these cells are becoming resistant to cancer medication.

Life Sciences - Health - 16.03.2021

The astonishing self-organization skills of the brain
A team of researchers from Tübingen and Israel uncovers how brain structures can maintain function and stable dynamics even in unusual conditions. Their results might lay the foundations for better understanding and treating conditions like epilepsy and autism. The neurons in our brains are connected with each other, forming small functional units called neural circuits.

Life Sciences - Health - 08.03.2021

Hybrid microbes: Model study explores genome transfer between different strains of bacteria
Study at University of Cologne shows that the exchange of genes drives functional changes in bacteria very rapidly / Publication in PNAS Bacteria integrate genetic material from other bacterial strains more easily than previously thought, which can lead to improved fitness and accelerated evolution.

Health - 08.03.2021

Covid-19 risk increases with airborne pollen
Increased pollen concentrations correlate with higher SARS-CoV-2 infection rates When airborne pollen levels are higher, increased SARS-CoV-2 infection rates can be observed. These results were determined by a large-scale study conducted by an international team headed by researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the Helmholtz Zentrum München.

Life Sciences - Health - 03.03.2021

New, highly precise ’clock’ can measure biological age
Two scientists at the CECAD Cluster of Excellence in Aging Research have developed a method that can determine an organism's biological age with unprecedented precision / researchers expect new insights into how the environment, nutrition, and therapies influence the aging process Using the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans , researchers at the University of Cologne have developed an 'aging clock' that reads the biological age of an organism directly from its gene expression, the transcriptome.

Health - Life Sciences - 19.02.2021

Coronavirus Origin Study Released
The coronavirus has led to a worldwide crisis for over a year. In a new study, nanoscientist Roland Wiesendanger illuminates the origins of the virus. His findings conclude there are a number of quality sources indicating a laboratory accident at the Wuhan Institute of Virology as the cause of the current pandemic.

Health - Life Sciences - 17.02.2021

New Coronavirus Gargling Test Introduced at the University
Heidelberg researchers develop test procedure that is being used for on-campus examinations and classes For approved on-campus events such as laboratory practicals or on-campus examinations which are strictly necessary for continuing or completing a degree course, Heidelberg University is offering an additional measure besides the required hygiene routines and mandatory distancing arrangements.

Health - 16.02.2021

Researchers solve riddle of plant immune system
Team led by the University of Göttingen describes influence of molecular mechanisms How do plants build resilience? An international research team led by the University of Göttingen studied the molecular mechanisms of the plant immune system. They were able to show a connection between a relatively unknown gene and resistance to pathogens.

Life Sciences - Health - 16.02.2021

Cloudy eyes caused by protein imbalance
Cataracts: new model explains origins of the eye condition Cataracts are the most common eye ailment in humans. However, the exact processes leading to this condition are not fully understood. A team of researchers headed by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has now discovered that the composition of the protein solution plays a decisive role.

Health - Pharmacology - 12.02.2021

Medication-based starvation of cancer cells
Findings on cancer medication reveal protein regulation mechanism Immunomodulatory drugs, including the Contergan derivatives lenalidomide and pomalidomide have significantly improved the therapy of hematologic malignancies such as multiple myeloma. Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have now further decoded the mode of action in this class of medications.

Health - Economics / Business - 12.02.2021

More COVID-19 infections after "Querdenken" demonstrations
The "Querdenken" ("Lateral thinking") demonstrations in November 2020 contributed to the heavy spread of the coronavirus within Germany. This is shown by a recent study by authors Dr Martin Lange from the Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) in Mannheim and Dr Monscheuer from the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration at the HU.

Health - Pharmacology - 12.02.2021

Synthetic -mini- receptors block atherosclerosis
New synthetic peptides could attenuate atherosclerosis Atherosclerosis, a lipid-triggered chronic inflammatory disease of our arteries, is the main cause of strokes and heart attacks. An international team of researchers led by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the LMU University Hospital has developed novel synthetic peptides that can help to prevent atherosclerosis in vitro, that is in the test tube, as well as in animal models.

Health - Life Sciences - 28.01.2021

When hyperactive proteins trigger illnesses
Researchers find trigger for autoimmune diseases and cancer of the lymph node Autoimmune diseases, in which the body's own immune system attacks healthy tissue, can be life-threatening and can impact all organs. A research team at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has now found a possible cause for these self-destructive immune system attacks: a hyperactive RANK protein on the surface of B cells.