news

Psychologists at the University of Würzburg have investigated the extent to which neuromodulation of the brain with ultrasound waves influences people's behavior. The results can also be used as a basis for therapeutic purposes. When a new opportunity opens up for people, there are some who tend to take the pessimistic view: "It's no good anyway!".

Researchers from Bonn and Munich also find "thermostat" in the animals' brains Zebrafish are smaller than your little finger, with a brain no more than half the size of a pinhead. Yet these animals possess an efficient navigation system that enables them to find their way back to spots in the water where the temperature suits them.

A precursor of cholesterol, previously categorised as harmful, can protect cancer cells from cell death. This finding, published in Nature, opens new doors for cancer research. In a groundbreaking study, a team led by Würzburg Professor José Pedro Friedmann Angeli has shown that the cholesterol precursor 7-dehydrocholesterol (7-DHC) plays a crucial role as an antioxidant: it integrates into the cell membranes and protects the cells by preventing a certain type of cell death, known as ferroptosis.

Bonn researchers identify novel risk locus in the genome for ACE inhibitor-induced angioedema Angioedema is a rare but potentially life-threatening adverse reaction to ACE inhibitors. In a joint analysis of eight European study collectives, researchers from the University Hospital Bonn (UKB), the University of Bonn and the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) for the first time conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) with more than 1,000 affected individuals.

Max Planck researchers from Dortmund reveal the first-ever detailed structure of the bacterial toxin Mcf1   During infection insect-killing bacteria typically release toxins to slay their hosts. The bacterium Photorhabdus luminescens , for example, pumps insect larvae full of the lethal 'Makes caterpillars floppy 1' (Mcf1) toxin, leading them to first become droopy and then dead.

Bonn researchers discover that a protein from fatty tissue precursors is the cause of treatment failure and develop a solution strategy Urothelial carcinomas are malignant tumors that originate from the epithelium that lines the bladder and ureters, for example. They are still one of the most common types of cancer in Europe, especially in men.

Research team identifies protective switch in SARS-CoV-2 virus protein . With over 700 million people infected and almost seven million dead, the global spread of Covid-19 has been the most devastating pandemic of the 21st century to date. Vaccines and medication against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus have been able to mitigate the course of the disease in many people and contain the pandemic.

A combination therapy with multiple drugs is more effective than just one active compound. To begin with, at least. Hepatitis E affects over 20 million people worldwide. It clears up without any consequences in most cases, but it can pose a risk to pregnant women and immunocompromised patients. There are no specific active substances against the virus.

Bacteria have an immune system that protects them against viruses known as bacteriophages. A research team from the Universities of and Würzburg has now shown how this immune system enhances the effect of specific antibiotics against the cholera pathogen Vibrio cholerae . The immune system is the reason why this bacterium is particularly sensitive to one of the oldest known classes of antibiotics - the antifolates.

A simple blood test could perform better than a complex test thanks to mathematical modeling. Diabetes often remains undetected until it has already damaged organs or nerves. This is partly due to the fact that diagnosis at an early stage is time-consuming and difficult.

"Soldier" bacteria filled with toxins sacrifice themselves for the benefit of their conspecifics, giving them pathogenic properties For their invasion pathogenic bacteria target the host's defense mechanisms and vital cell functions with toxins. Before these deadly substances can attack host cells, bacteria must first export them from their production site - the cytoplasm - using dedicated secretion systems.

Further TOSYMA analysis underpins advantages of DBT+SM use compared to the previous screening standard In diagnostics, finding more is not automatically better. Rather, it is about finding the right thing - especially in the case of such dangerous diseases as cancer. This is where early detection comes into play, but it can also have unwanted side effects: For example, there is a risk of also discovering non-aggressive tumors that lead to treatment - but would not have substantively impaired quality of life or become life-threatening in the course of the disease.

Technologies that pave the way for our well-being - in numerous interdisciplinary research projects, scientists at TU Ilmenau are developing innovative technological solutions that improve our quality of life. At the kick-off of the new Scientific Year Environment and Health, researchers spoke about their pioneering work.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. The development of breast cancer often originates from epithelial cells in the mammary gland - the very cells that specialise in milk production during and after pregnancy. A team of researchers from Friedrich Schiller University Jena , the university in Shenzhen (China) and Jena University Hospital has taken a closer look at this specialisation process and deciphered a molecular mechanism that also appears to play an important role in cancer development.

Researchers at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Freiburg discover key factor in the development of immune cells / New approaches for the treatment of ALPS In the case of an autoimmune disease, the immune system not only attacks pathogens, but also the body's own cells.

Researchers were able to trace a form of the autoimmune disease lupus back to a single mutation   Sometimes a single mutation in our genetic make-up is enough to cause disease. This is also the case with the autoimmune disease lupus. Lupus causes severe inflammation throughout the body and can have a serious impact on the lives of those affected.

It has long been assumed that it is necessary to use different exposure therapies to treat different fears. A new study from Bochum challenges this view. Exposure therapy for a specific fear can also help reduce other fears. This is the conclusion reached by psychologists at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, who studied 50 people with a fear of spiders and heights.

Natural killer cells of the innate immune system can permanently remain in infected tissue and thus contribute to immunological memory. Researchers at the University of Würzburg have now discovered this. A team of the Max Planck Research Group for Systems Immunology led by Würzburg immunologist Georg Gasteiger has published surprising findings about cells of the innate immune system, the natural killer cells, in the journal Immunity: During local infections in the skin, these cells can migrate into the tissue and remain there long-term.

Brown fat cells convert energy into heat - a key to eliminating unwanted fat deposits. In addition, they also protect against cardiovascular diseases. Researchers from the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) and the Transdisciplinary Research Area "Life & Health" at the University of Bonn have now identified the protein EPAC1 as a new pharmacological target to increase brown fat mass and activity.

IT specialists and physicians develop new method for recognising genetic aberrations Decisions on treatment for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) - a highly aggressive form of leukemia - are based, among other things, on a series of certain genetic features of the disease; but at the time when a diagnosis is made, this information is not available.