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.
The first ever large-scale evolutionary map of E. coli plasmids has been published. This resource could be used to help deploy precision medicine techniques for individuals suffering from antibiotic resistant infections.
Researchers have developed a new method to make spatial transcriptomics easier and less time-consuming by eliminating the need for imaging. The new approach instead uses computational methods to reconstruct spatial barcode locations, leading to higher throughput.
A study has shown that infants who have been exposed to antibiotics early in life may have weakened vaccine responses. This was linked to a reduced abundance of Bifidobacteria; when these species were reintroduced using probiotic supplements, immune responses increased.
Scientists have developed a technique, known as Perturb-multiome, which combines CRISPR editing with single-cell methods to analyse transcription factor networks. Using this tool, the identified regions of the genome that are crucial for blood cell development.
Survivors of obesity-related cancers who follow guidelines on healthy eating and physical activity have lower mortality levels than their counterparts. This is according to new work that demonstrates the impact of the American Cancer Society’s 2022 guidelines.
Research has shown that knocking out one gene in the large intestine can reprogramme it to function like the small intestine. This method could be used to improve outcomes for patients suffering from short bowel syndrome, which can occur after surgery or other trauma, and can lead to malnutrition.
Researchers have discovered a ‘master regulator’ gene that could be used to influence treatment decisions for ovarian cancer. High expression of this gene, ZNFX1, is associated with treatment outcome and survival in the advanced stages of disease.
A recent study has shown that a combination of smoking and alcohol consumption can double the risk of head and neck cancer compared to drinking alone. These new findings could contribute to prevention and treatment strategies.
Scientists have developed a brain-computer interface that uses AI algorithms to translate neural signals into speech in real time. This new technology could allow individuals who cannot use their voice to communicate more efficiently.
A study in mice has shown that pancreatic cells that are transitioning between cancerous and non-cancerous states can ‘remember’ epigenetic changes associated with cancer, even in the absence of oncogenic mutation.
Finally, using a mouse model, scientists have shown that a gene therapy could be used to treat even the advanced stages of a rare neurological disorder. Megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy is characterised by impaired motor function and epilepsy, and the gene therapy led to reversal of these symptoms in the model.
