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National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Researchers make new insights into bacterial cell cycle

In a recent paper published in the Journal of Bacteriology, the Mera Lab focused on how the bacterium Caulobacter crescentus coordinates the replication and separation of the chromosome simultaneously. The researchers found that the regulators of those two crucial events communicate with each other...

Possible genetic basis and mouse model found for severe nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

The SRSF1 gene acts as a guardian against DNA damage in the liver, School of MCB researchers found. When it is missing or inactivated, severe nonalcoholic fatty liver disease symptoms develop.

Researchers demonstrate new cancer drug development method

Researchers from the School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the University of Illinois Chicago collaborated to highlight lipid-protein interaction as a new avenue for oncology drug development.

Research: Reading for pleasure can strengthen memory in older adults

Researchers at the Beckman Institute, with help from the Champaign Public Library, investigated the potential benefits of reading in improving memory. They found that regular, engaged leisure reading can strengthen memory skills in older adults, laying the groundwork for better practices in...

Experts boost activity of potential therapeutic target in triple-negative breast cancer

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Less than 20% of diagnosed breast cancers are designated “triple-negative,” meaning that the affected tissues lack three types of receptors often found in other breast cancer types, but TNBCs are often aggressive with ...

NIH renews support for computational work that advances biomedical research

Since its launch more than three decades ago, researchers with the Macromolecular Modeling and Bioinformatics Center at the University of Illinois have developed powerful modeling, simulation, and visualization software tools that help researchers better understand...

Researchers explore gene interactions in influenza to help improve accuracy of flu vaccines

The influenza virus, which causes the flu, is a major public health issue, infecting millions of people and estimated to cost $10 billion in direct medical costs in the United States each year. Like most viruses, influenza mutates rapidly as it spreads, making it difficult to vaccinate against...

Lethal damage to the ribosome, arguably the most important machinery in living organisms, can be repaired

New research from University of Illinois biochemistry professor Raven Huang reveals that lethal ribosomal damage in bacteria can be reversed by a pair of bacterial enzymes named PrfH and RtcB. The finding raises the question of whether similar ribosomal damage can also be repaired in humans because...

New therapeutic target identified for triple-negative breast cancer

Breast cancer is categorized into three major subtypes: hormone receptor-positive, HER2-positive, and triple-negative. Although there are targeted therapeutic approaches for the first two, there are limited options for triple negative-breast cancer patients. In a new study, researchers have...

Researchers funded to develop ultrasound imaging tools to study Alzheimer's disease

Interdisciplinary researchers at the Beckman Institute, including Molecular & Integrative Physiology Professor Dan Llano, received federal funding to develop ultrasound imaging methods for studying the neurovascular changes underlying Alzheimer's disease. Their low-cost, widely accessible...