Microbiome composition influences depression

Disturbances in the microbiome increase the risk of numerous diseases

21-Dec-2022 - Our microbiome, the billions of microorganisms that live in and on our bodies. They control many important bodily functions, including those in our brain, and, research by Amsterdam UMC, the University of Amsterdam and Erasmus MC delivers the most extensive evidence to date of a relationship ...

Aerosol microdroplets inefficient carriers of COVID-19 virus

Modeling shows SARS-CoV2 isn't spread very well by the small droplets that linger longest

30-Oct-2020 - Aerosol microdroplets, the tiny particles that linger in the air longest after we talk, cough, or sneeze, do not appear to be extremely efficient at spreading the virus that leads to COVID-19. Modeling of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in confined spaces suggests aerosol transmission is not a very ...

New mechanism that leads to inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis discovered

03-Mar-2017 - New research findings suggest that synovial CD4+ T cells that produce IL-21 contribute to joint inflammation by activating synovial fibroblasts in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Understanding the mechanisms of inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis is important for the design of new therapies for ...

The birth of the brightest red glowing protein

25-Nov-2016 - The brightest red fluorescent protein ever, mScarlet, has just been engineered by researchers at the University of Amsterdam, the Institut de Biologie Structurale, IBS (CEA/CNRS/University Grenoble Alpes) and the European Synchrotron (ESRF) in France. mScarlet can be used to monitor the activity ...

New insights that link Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Crucial role for FMRP (Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein) in embryonic development of the brain cortex

19-Nov-2014 - Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common cause of inherited intellectual disability (ID), as well as the most frequent monogenic cause of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). FXS is caused by the absence or incorrect production of the protein FMRP (Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein). Scientists ...

New virus isolated from patients with severe brain infections

19-Jun-2013 - Researchers have identified a new virus in patients with severe brain infections in Vietnam. Further research is needed to determine whether the virus is responsible for the symptoms of disease. The virus was found in a total of 28 out of 644 patients with severe brain infections in the study, ...

New probes for the brain

The Department of Microsystems Engineering of the University of Freiburg is Coordinating the Research Project NeuroSeeker

12-Feb-2013 - Developing tiny probes for research and brain-related medical applications – that is the goal of the project NeuroSeeker, launched in February 2013 with a kick-off event in Leuven. The interdisciplinary project pools the expertise of ten partner institutions from Europe and Canada. The University ...