All Asia & Oceania articles – Page 15
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NewsProtein interplay offers insights into how the immune system recognizes viral RNA
A new study reveals how two proteins cooperate in a key early step of antiviral detection. Using cryo-electron microscopy and high-speed atomic force microscopy, researchers found that LGP2 binds to viral RNA and recruits MDA5 molecules, as if threading beads on a string.
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NewsMountain soils in arid regions may emit more greenhouse gas as climate shifts, new study finds
A new field study from northwestern China reveals that climate-driven changes in temperature and moisture could significantly reshape nitrous oxide emissions from soils in arid mountain ecosystems, with important implications for future climate feedbacks.
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NewsScientists identify key protein that stops malaria parasite growth
An international team of scientists have identified a unique protein essential for the malaria parasite’s survival and transmission. Aurora-related kinase 1 (ARK1) acts as a ‘traffic controller’ during the parasite’s unusual cell division and growth process.
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NewsScientists uncover how engineered biochar and microbes work together to boost plant-based cleanup of cadmium-polluted soils
A new study reveals how specially modified biochar can significantly improve the ability of willow trees to remove toxic cadmium from contaminated soils, offering a promising strategy for restoring polluted land in a sustainable way.
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NewsEmerging class of antibiotics to tackle global tuberculosis crisis
Researchers investigated how three naturally occurring antibiotic compounds – ecumicin, ilamycin and cyclomarin – act on a vital protein degradation machine inside Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes TB.
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NewsVaccine uptake: Why conspiracy theories can be so irresistible
New research has found that understanding how someone processes information can be a strong predictor of whether they are drawn to conspiracy beliefs that can influence vaccine uptake, trust in institutions and responses to emergencies.
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NewsMeningococcal B vaccination does not reduce gonorrhoea, trial results show
Contrary to existing evidence from observational studies, the meningococcal B vaccine (4CMenB) has no effect on preventing the acquisition of gonorrhoea, according to the results of the world’s largest randomised control trial (RCT) into possible efficacy.
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NewsHow citrus rewires its vascular system to fight Huanglongbing
By profiling thousands of individual cells, researchers mapped how different vascular cell types in citrus roots respond during early stages of infection with Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, revealing profound changes in cell fate, gene expression, and tissue differentiation.
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NewsA comparison of the efficacy of non-chemical versus chemical cleansers against Candida species on removable dental prostheses
A new review aims to systematically compare the efficacy of chemical and non-chemical denture cleansers in reducing Candida spp. on removable dental prostheses.
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NewsA single gene, a dramatic change: CRISPR unlocks white strawberries
Researchers used CRISPR/Cas9 to selectively edit a single dominant gene copy controlling fruit color in the commercial octoploid strawberry cultivar ‘Florida Brilliance’. By targeting the MYB10-1B gene, they successfully converted red strawberries into stable white-fruited plants.
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NewsSelf-repairing biohybrid system uses sunlight to purify uranium-contaminated water
The efficiency of microbial remediation technologies is often limited by the slow electron transfer rate of microorganisms themselves. Scientists have successfully constructed a novel, self-regenerating “bacteria-mineral” biohybrid system that can utilize light like a solar cell, greatly enhancing the purification efficiency of uranium pollution.
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NewsScientists find that silencing bacteria can worsen heart infections
By studying a bacterium responsible for a severe heart infection, the scientists show that disrupting bacterial communication can be associated with adverse clinical outcomes. These findings open the door to more targeted therapeutic strategies against this type of infection.
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NewsHealthier, tastier kelp: food scientists boost nutrition and flavour of kombu
A team of food scientists has found a way to unlock the trapped nutrients in the edible seaweed, kombu, and replace the strong odours with more appealing scents, directly overcoming the two major challenges – limited nutrient bioaccessibility and poor sensory experience.
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NewsMicroplastics in soil may reshape microbial genes and threaten ecosystem stability
A new review highlights how microscopic plastic particles accumulating in soils can alter microbial genes that control essential ecosystem functions, potentially affecting food production, climate processes, and environmental health.
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NewsYou don’t need to be very altruistic to stop an epidemic
Researchers have used a mathematical model of epidemic behaviour to find that even people who are only barely altruistic - valuing their own life as equivalent to the lives of around 100,000 others – would still see it as rational to drastically reduce their social contacts when infected.
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NewsMethane’s missing emissions: The underestimated impact of small sources
Although efforts are being made to reduce the contribution of big polluters to methane in Japan, new research suggests that smaller sources are vastly underestimated in the Osaka metropolitan area. The team found unaccounted emissions from numerous small sources, including restaurants, commercial facilities, and private residences.
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NewsThe hidden infections that refuse to go away: how household practices can stop deadly diseases
A 13-year study reveals why a deadly parasitic infection targeted for elimination in China persisted in some areas even after decades of control. The research investigated some of the last pockets of schistosomiasis in the country, finding that farming practices and unsafe sanitation contributed to disease spread.
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News Huayunuo approval positions China at forefront of viral hepatitis innovation, says GlobalData
Huahui Health has recently secured conditional approval from China for Huayunuo (Libevitug Injection), marking it as the first domestically developed monoclonal antibody (mAb) drug for chronic hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection in adults with or without compensated cirrhosis.
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NewsScrub typhus a threat in the home, study in South India finds
Most human scrub typhus infections could occur inside villages rather than during agricultural work, suggests new research conducted with the help of communities living in Tamil Nadu.
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NewsNew findings on infection with the Epstein-Barr virus
Researchers have identified genetic and non-genetic factors that help the body fight the Epstein-Barr virus. Using a new technique, they were able to estimate the amount of EBV in the blood and find correlations in large health data sets – for example, an increased viral load in people with HIV infections, but also in smokers.