Since the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to the attempts to rapidly develop a vaccine that was effective against current strains, researchers have been looking for a vaccine that could protect more broadly against multiple coronaviruses. That has prompted attempts to harness the potential of the more conserved S2 subunit of the spike protein via which SARS-CoV-2 enters human host cells.

Tumor heterogeneity is recognized as an important way in which tumors are able to grow, invade surrounding tissue, metastasize and develop resistance to therapies. But linking specific states to the overall biology of tumors has been a challenge.

The controversy about the origins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the accusations that it escaped from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, or even that it was deliberately engineered there, could – possibly – be brought to a close by two papers published July 26, 2022.

Two targets, double success. This is the logic behind a new approach that uses monoclonal antibody pairs to fight cancer.

Investigators at the Riken Institute have demonstrated that while tyrosine is a nonessential amino acid, meaning that it can be synthesized by the body and does not need to be taken up in the diet, it has an essential function as far as nutrient sensing is concerned.

Since the isolation of SARS-CoV-2 and the study of its infection mechanisms, scientists have been trying to understand how this virus accesses the brain and produces neurological symptoms. The receptor necessary for the virus to enter the cell by endocytosis (the receptor for angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, ACE2) is only expressed by some neurons and is hardly detected in the brain.

Cancer cells may evade the immune response thanks to a special type of collagen, scientists reported in a new study published in the July 21, 2022, issue of Cancer Cell. Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have discovered oncogenic collagen secreted by cancer cells that differs from normal collagen.

Since the isolation of SARS-CoV-2 and the study of its infection mechanisms, scientists have been trying to understand how this virus accesses the brain and produces neurological symptoms.

In a sense, memories are useless without being linked to feelings. Without knowing whether a memory is good or bad, there is no way to seek out good experiences, and avoid bad ones. Now, investigators at the Salk Institute have identified neurotensin as a critical molecule for the assignment of such emotional valence.

A study published in Nature Communications revealed a new antisense oligonucleotide therapy applicable to the W1282X mutation of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene in cystic fibrosis.