Researchers from the IBB-UAB have developed a new class of nanostructures capable of trapping and neutralising large quantities of the SARS-CoV2 virus particles, both in liquid solutions and on the surface of materials. These novel nanoparticles could be used to manufacture antiviral materials such as wastewater and air filters, and could be exploited to develop new tests for the early detection of Covid-19. Moreover, the nanoparticles could be redesigned to target other pathogens.

The study was led by researchers from the Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (IBB-UAB), who highlight the potential of the developed nanostructures for the manufacturing of new antiviral materials. The study was recently published in the journal Advanced Healthcare Materials.

Once cells’ quality control mechanism is activated, IRGQ (red) accumulates in special cell organelles, the lsysosomes (green). This is also where the degradation of the non-functional MHC-I molecules takes place. Photo: Dr. Lina Herhaus, Goethe University Frankfurt

FRANKFURT. It is comparatively easy to tell a cell’s state of health: On their surface, cells present fragments of almost all the proteins they contain inside. This means the immune system can directly recognize whether a cell has been infected by a virus or has been dangerously altered by a mutation.

Countless molecular “radio masts” – the MHC-I molecules – are responsible for presenting these fragments. They are assembled inside the cell and then transported to the membrane, the lipid layer surrounding the cell. Here, the masts are anchored such that the cargo faces outside and can be detected by troops of the immune system constantly patrolling the body. If these troops detect harmful molecules being presented on the MHC-I radio masts, they kill the relevant cell. A requirement, however, is that the masts themselves are fully functional; otherwise, there is a risk that this mechanism will not work and harmful cells escape the immune system. “We have now discovered a sensor inside the cell that ensures that only functional MHC-I molecules are transported to the plasma membrane, while the defective units are eliminated,” explains Dr. Lina Herhaus, who until recently conducted research on this topic at Goethe University’s Institute of Biochemistry II and is now leading an independent research group at Braunschweig-based Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research.

I motivi presenti su cilindri in pietra risalenti a seimila anni fa corrispondono ad alcuni segni della scrittura proto-cuneiforme emersa nella città di Uruk, nel sud dell’attuale Iraq, attorno al 3.350-3.000 avanti Cristo. La scoperta, realizzata da un gruppo di ricerca dell’Università di Bologna, offre un punto di collegamento diretto nella transizione dalla preistoria alla storia

All’origine della scrittura in Mesopotamia ci sono le immagini impresse da antichi sigilli cilindrici su tavolette e altri manufatti d’argilla.
La scoperta arriva da un gruppo di ricerca dell’Università di Bologna che ha individuato una serie di corrispondenze tra i motivi incisi su questi cilindri, risalenti a circa seimila anni fa, e alcuni segni della scrittura proto-cuneiforme emersa nella città di Uruk, nel sud dell’attuale Iraq, attorno al 3.000 avanti Cristo.

Uno studio condotto dal Cnr in collaborazione con l’Università di Firenze e l’Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi, propone un approccio innovativo basato su metodi di apprendimento automatico topologico per supportare l’individuazione della malattia di Alzheimer. Il lavoro è stato pubblicato sulla rivista scientifica Journal of the Franklin Institute.

L’uso di metodi avanzati di machine learning applicati ai dati di spettroscopia Raman acquisiti su campioni biologici permette di rilevare alterazioni biochimiche associate alla malattia di Alzheimer, facilitando così un’individuazione più accurata. È quanto emerge da uno studio condotto dall’Istituto di scienza e tecnologie dell’informazione del Consiglio nazionale delle ricerche di Pisa (Cnr-Isti) in collaborazione con l’Istituto di fisica applicata del Cnr di Firenze (Cnr-Ifac), l’Università di Firenze e l’Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi (Firenze). La ricerca mirava a distinguere i soggetti affetti da Alzheimer da altre patologie del sistema nervoso centrale mediante la classificazione dei dati ricavati dalla spettroscopia Raman, una tecnica che analizza le interazioni della luce con le molecole del campione, rilevando così le alterazioni biochimiche che possono indicare la presenza della malattia. Il lavoro è stato pubblicato sulla rivista scientifica Journal of the Franklin Institute.

Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is currently largely based on the presence of biomarkers. This may lead to a problematic over-diagnosis if this is incorrectly interpreted.
To counter this problem, a global expert panel led by Hôpitaux universitaires de Genève (HUG), the University of Geneva and the Salpêtrière Hospital have drawn up recommendations. Based on a review of the scientific literature, they advocate that clinical signs as well as biomarkers must be taken into account.
This new approach avoids diagnosing AD in people with abnormal biomarkers who will never develop memory disorders and sets out a monitoring process tailored to each individual. These recommendations have been published in the Journal of the American Medical Association – Neurology (JAMA Neurology).

New findings reported in Biological Psychiatry show that mindfulness meditation engages separate neural pathways from the well documented “placebo effect”.

Philadelphia, October 31, 2024 – Mindfulness meditation, which has been used for centuries for pain management in various cultures, has long been speculated to work by activating processes supporting the placebo response. However, scientists have now shown that this is not the case. A new study in Biological Psychiatry, published by Elsevier, has revealed that mindfulness meditation engages distinct brain mechanisms to reduce pain, compared to those of the placebo response.

John Krystal, MD, Editor of Biological Psychiatry, says, “Pain is a complex, multifaceted experience shaped by various factors beyond physical sensation, such as a person’s mindset and their expectations of pain. This study highlights the complexity of psychological modulation of pain. The placebo effect, the tendency for a person’s symptoms to improve in response to inactive treatment, is a well-known example of how expectations can significantly alter a person’s experience."

I neuroni della corteccia entorinale laterale che si attivano al richiamo della memoria episodica sono colorati in rosso, in verde i nuclei degli altri neuroni

Una ricerca condotta da un team di ricerca dell’Istituto di neuroscienze del Cnr e del laboratorio di biologia Bio@sns della Scuola normale superiore, pubblicata di recente sulla rivista Cell Reports, indaga il ruolo della corteccia entorinale laterale nella memoria episodica. Comprendere questi meccanismi neurobiologici potrà fornire nuove prospettive nella lotta contro le patologie che coinvolgono il deterioramento cognitivo, come l’ Alzheimer.

As artificial intelligence (AI) technology progresses, the energy demands of training complex models have surged, raising widespread concerns about associated carbon emissions. This rapid growth is fueled by global demand across industries and academia, leading to exponential increases in compute power that carry significant environmental consequences. Given these challenges, in-depth research is essential to fully understand AI's carbon footprint and develop strategies for mitigating its environmental impact.