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.
Researchers have discovered how a critical DNA repair enzyme that is often exploited by cancer cells is recruited to sites of DNA damage and switched on inside cells. The findings answer long-standing questions about cancer cell survival and provide a potential new therapeutic avenue.
Long-term, chronic alcohol misuse impacts gene expression in areas of the brain linked to reward, impulse control and decision making. This is according to a study of the biological mechanisms underpinning alcohol-use disorder, which could reveal novel targets for treatment.
A point-of-care, fingerprick blood test is as effective at diagnosing hepatitis B as traditional lab testing, according to new findings. This test could speed up diagnoses in areas with limited access to laboratory resources, ensuring quicker and more effective treatment.
Researchers have identified two sites that are essential for the degradation of the mutated protein responsible for Huntington’s disease. They demonstrated that blocking ubiquitin tagging at these sites led to worsened symptoms in mice, suggesting that structural changes are responsible for reduced degradation of the Huntingtin protein in patients.
Scientists have reviewed over 40 years of research on dyslexia, revealing that the condition may not be caused by a single gene, but instead by wider vulnerabilities in brain networks. The work suggest broad neurodevelopmental origins for dyslexia, calling into question whether it is truly one distinct condition.
Government ministers in England are set to pledge £2bn towards NHS cancer services, in order to massively increase survival rates. The money will go towards ensuring that three-quarters of patients will be cancer-free or living with their disease under control for five years after treatment by investing in cutting-edge tech, increased access to services, and genomic testing.
Researchers have found that obesity plays a measurable role in shared disease risk, with high BMI partially explaining overlap among some chronic conditions and fully explaining it for others, including type 2 diabetes and osteoarthritis. The findings suggested that weight loss could reduce the likelihood of developing multiple long-term conditions.
Scientists have developed a method to create mini versions of children’s organs to test responses to cystic fibrosis treatments. These organoids help predict which therapies will work best for individual patients, and could potentially transform cystic fibrosis care.
In the largest GWAS of its kind to date, researchers have identified 58 genes that contribute to anxiety disorders. Many of the genes in question were linked to other mental health conditions, explaining why they are often comorbid.
Finally, a DNA marker that is linked to insecticide resistance has been identified in malaria-carrying mosquitoes. The findings could inform new strategies to prevent the spread of this serious disease in areas suffering from insecticide resistance.
Check out last week’s Week in Brief here.
