What’s been going on in the life sciences world this week? Check out Week in Brief for an overview of the biggest news from the last seven days.
Scientists have assessed the impact of a variety of different dietary patterns on the aging process. The study showed that a diet rich in plant-based foods with moderate intake of animal-based foods could contribute to healthier aging (Nature Medicine).
Researchers have discovered a protein that acts as a ‘protector’, stimulating hair follicle stem cells and promoting hair regrowth, offering a potential target for treating hair loss (Nature Communications).
Mutations in a gene involved in harnessing reactive oxygen species can lead to chemotherapy resistance, according to a new study. This finding could assist in predicting treatment response at an earlier stage (Nature).
Scientists have developed a PCR test that can analyse samples from bacterial vaginosis patients, shedding light on the bacteria responsible for infection. This would enable the use of personalised treatments, ensuring that more individuals respond to first-line therapies (Genome Medicine).
A recent study has shown that sex and the environment are the most important factors in shaping hearing sensitivity. Women exhibited up to two decibels higher sensitivity than men across all populations studied (Scientific Reports).
Also in the news this week, researchers have developed an adeno-associated virus vector-mediated approach to base edit mutations in a gene linked to a form of hereditary deafness (JCI Insight).
Is your music taste in your genes? New research says yes, with a twin study showing over half of the variability in music reward sensitivity is heritable. (Nature Communications).
A study has revealed that 9% of adverse drug reaction are associated with known genetic variants, and that in 75% of these cases, only three genes need to be tested to predict a response (PLoS Medicine).
Recent work using a rodent model has identified the Shisa7 gene as a key driver in heroin addiction. This could open new avenues to develop therapies for opioid use disorder (Biological Psychiatry).
Researchers have discovered that H3K36 methylation plays a key role in cellular plasticity in the intestine. This allows the cells to regenerate and turn back into stem cells after injury (Nature Cell Biology).
Finally, the FTL1 gene-involved in the production of foetal haemoglobin-could be targeted to treat sickle cell disease. This recent finding could lead to a wider range of treatments for patients with this blood disorder (Nature Communications).
