27 January 2010LATEST HIGHLIGHTS
Infection-proofing by the gut
Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Tokyo, Japan
Clarification of the details of the molecular mechanism of the intestinal immune system may lead to new oral vaccines
Linking more suspects to bowel disease
Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Tokyo, Japan
A genome-wide scan of over 4,000 Japanese individuals reveals genes associated with ulcerative colitis
Pinpointing genetic susceptibility to Parkinson’s disease
Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
A large-scale genomic study reveals two previously unidentified genetic risk factors for Parkinson’s disease
Looking out for number one
Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Tokyo, Japan
A mathematical analysis suggests that parasitic genetic elements need not perish from their singular selfishness
Pathways of presentation
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Australia
Specialized subsets of immune cells use separate cellular pathways to display antigen on their cell surface
Evolution through 40,000 generations
Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Korea
Tracking long-term evolution in bacteria reveals that genome change and adaptation are linked in highly complex ways
Fitting the profile
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Australia
Variations in surface proteins may help researchers to reliably isolate and track cells with potential value for studying blood cell development
Looped commitment for immune cells
Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
The protein Dec2 participates in a feed-forward loop that drives the maturation of T helper type 2 cells from their precursors
Checkpoint control
Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Singapore
A study of yeast used in baking and brewing helps explain how chromosome stability is maintained during cell division
Clearing away obstacles
Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
A signaling protein with diverse regulatory activities guides embryonic development by segregating inhibitors that block cell differentiation
Dengue’s Achilles heel
Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand
Direct evidence shows that to replicate the dengue virus depends on host proteins that could become therapeutic targets
Attention to detail
Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Tokyo, Japan
An RNA-modifying enzyme ensures that only appropriate targets get processed by closely ‘inspecting’ bound molecules
