In findings that, in the opinion of senior author Domenico Accili, turn the current approach to treating Type II diabetes on its head, researchers at Columbia University have discovered that in Type II diabetes, the insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells whose failure is at the core of the disease do not die. Quite the opposite: They become more stem cell-like.

Novel analyses of the RV144 HIV vaccine trial, also known as the Thai trial, have analyzed viral variants that were able to get past the protection the vaccine offered. Those results, published in Nature and presented at the AIDS Vaccine 2012 conference this week, add to the emerging understanding that targeting certain parts of HIV's envelope protein is likely the best path to an effective vaccine.

The typical way to identify a broadly neutralizing antibody is to screen B cells for one, and then look for an epitope that can induce its production.

The newest advertising blitz of caffeinated-drug company Starbucks comes in the form of encouraging readers to share their favorite fall moments, with the Pumpkin Spice Latte featuring prominently, in tweets that include the hashtag #itsfallwhen.

Last week's data deluge describing the most comprehensive map to date of regulatory elements in the human genome gave scientists new insights into how DNA that does not code for proteins functions within the genome. And that new understanding may enable them to get more information out of older genomewide association studies (GWAS).

The numbers reported today by leaders of the Encyclopedia of DNA Elements, or ENCODE, consortium are enough to make one dizzy.

Scientists have developed a mathematical model that they hope will ultimately be able to help determine how to best prevent resistance to currently available HIV drugs – and how to find effective combinations of new drugs early on in clinical development.

By using a forward genetics approach, two separate teams of researchers have identified related genes as potential oncogenes and mediators of receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Their findings were published back-to-back in the Aug. 13, 2012, online issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

By using a forward genetics approach, two separate teams of researchers have identified related genes as potential oncogenes and mediators of receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Condoms aside, contraception is still mainly the responsibility of women. Partly, that has biological reasons, since when contraception goes wrong, the resulting decisions and consequences fall disproportionately on women. But "there is a pressing need for male contraception," James Bradner told BioWorld Today.