Stories about recent journal articles featuring work by MCB faculty and students.

Microbiologists uncover novel proteins essential for maintaining magnesium homeostasis in Salmonella

In a newly published research, scientists from the School of Molecular & Cellular Biology have reported the discovery of novel proteins that keep Salmonella’s magnesium levels in balance.Yumi Iwadate, postdoctoral research...

High-volume antibody testing platform could accelerate disease research and treatment development

Antibodies are the critical targeting agents of the immune system and the crux of immune therapy and vaccine development, but studying them is slow, expensive and labor-intensive. Now, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have developed a new high-volume method that can...

Map-making neurons change even in familiar settings, study finds

Neurobiologists at Northwestern University and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, including Jason Climer in the School of Molecular & Cellular Biology, found the brain’s internal GPS changes each time mice navigate a...

To overcome antibiotic resistance, new research says to let it flow

Some notoriously difficult to treat infections may not be as resistant to antibiotics as has been thought, according to new research using a microfluidic device that more closely duplicates the fluid flow found in the body than standard cultures. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign...

Genome map of yerba mate reveals insights into caffeine biosynthesis, paves way for new varieties 

A recent biochemistry PhD graduate was part of the team of researchers to generate the first genome assembly of Yerba mate, a plant species and herbal tea native to South America. The resulting structural data, published in eLife, provides...

Cholesterol and cancer: Q&A with the Nelson Lab

Cholesterol is an essential lipid that plays a critical role in hormone production, digestion, and immune function. The ability to maintain a balanced level of cholesterol — known as cholesterol homeostasis — can influence tumor growth, progression, and immune response. High cholesterol levels have...

RNA binding protein implicated in brain development, fear memory

Researchers from the University of Illinois have identified an RNA binding protein called MOV10 as a critical factor in memory formation and learning. Their findings, published this month in BMC Biology, will...

New study sheds light on liver maturation, specialization

Researchers from the University of Illinois have identified a key process coordinating liver maturation and polyploidization, a state in which cells carry more than two sets of chromosomes. Their findings, published in Genes and Development,...

MCB researchers investigate ways to weaponize bacterial viruses to combat superbugs

Researchers from the University of Illinois have reported complementary discoveries that will improve scientists’ understanding of immune systems in bacteria and equip clinicians with more effective options for treating antibiotic-resistant infections. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria known as...

Can bacteria handle stress? Study reveals how combined stressors overwhelm harmful bacteria

The human body is a stressful place for bacteria to live. They must defend against many chemical and physical stressors, in addition to the immune system. One major physical stressor is fluid flow, which constantly circulates in the bloodstream, urinary tract, and lungs. Research has...