Gut microbiome influences location of immune cells

Microbial communities shape the immune system

24-Sep-2024 - Researchers at the Experimental and Clinical Research Center of Max Delbrück Center and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin have found that microbial communities in the mouse GI tract are unevenly distributed, which influences immune cell populations. The work was published in“Gut ...

Bacteria beyond Earth?

Signs of life detectable in single ice grains emitted from moons orbiting Saturn and Jupiter

27-Mar-2024 - The ice-encrusted oceans of some of the moons orbiting Saturn and Jupiter are prime candidates in the search for extraterrestrial life. A new lab-based study led by Freie Universität Berlin and the University of Washington, Seattle, shows that individual ice grains ejected from these planetary ...

Secretomics uncovers blood-brain barrier mystery

15-Aug-2023 - Researchers identify novel gelatinase substrates involved in astroglial barrier function: In neuroinflammation, immune cells such as leukocytes cross the blood-brain barrier. One key to this is the gelatinases matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9. Until now, the substrates of these enzymes ...

PFAS reduce the activity of immune cells

A study demonstrates immune-modifying effect using a new method

21-Jul-2023 - Because they are persistant, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are also known as "chemicals for eternety". They can lead to liver damage, thyroid disorders, obesity, hormonal disorders, and cancer. A team of researchers from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) has now ...

Systematic depiction of previously unknown gene functions

Largest cellular proteomic study of yeast cells unlocks fundamental insights

03-May-2023 - A proteome is the entirety of all active protein molecules present within an organism, a certain type of tissue, or a cell under specific conditions and at a certain time. Now, an international team of researchers led by members from Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, the Francis Crick ...

New findings could pave the way to detecting the building blocks of life in our solar system

Detecting biomolecules on ocean moons

07-Dec-2022 - It would be technically possible for future space missions to detect DNA, lipids, and other bacterial components on ocean moons in our solar system – provided that these building blocks of life do exist beyond Earth. This is the conclusion that has now been reached by an international team of ...

Mirror image molecules reveal drought stress in forests

Ecosystem changes can be more accurately predicted by emissions of chiral compounds

09-Sep-2022 - Worldwide, plants emit about 100 million tonnes of monoterpenes into the atmosphere each year. These volatile organic molecules include many fragrances such as the molecule pinene – known for its pine fresh scent. Since these molecules are highly reactive and can form tiny aerosol particles that ...

Loops for micro-organisms

Researchers develops a method of cultivating microbial communities in a permanently stable manner

19-May-2022 - The capabilities of complex microbial communities are used for numerous biotechnological processes. This requires special compositions of the microbial communities. However, these are often unstable and susceptible to disruption. UFZ researchers have now developed a "mass transfer method with a ...

Perfluorinated Chemicals: Pollution is underestimated

Researchers discover overlooked contaminants in rivers

27-Apr-2022 - Per- and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFAS) can have harmful effects on human health and the environment. They are still used in numerous everyday products. Together with an international team of researchers, scientists at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon investigated water samples from German and ...

Glycation in the body: Trigger of protein dysfunction in aging and age-related diseases

Study powerfully demonstrates how the consequences of glycation for the whole proteome can be studied

01-Apr-2022 - To maintain organ functions, the proteins in the cells need to be kept in balance (proteostasis). This state is disturbed with increasing age. One possible cause is glycation, in which sugars and proteins combine irreversibly. These advanced glycation end products (AGEs) accumulate and can lead ...