May 2013
3 posts
Viruses in the gut protect from infection
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles Phages in mucus aid immune system by killing invading bacteria. …animal mucus — whether from humans, fish or corals — is loaded with bacteria-killing viruses called phages. These protect their hosts from infection by destroying incoming bacteria. In return, the phages are exposed to a steady torrent of microbes in which to reproduce. See on...
Nanotechnology technique controls blood sugar in...
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles Nanowerk LLC Nanotechnology technique controls blood sugar in diabetics for days at a time Nanowerk LLC (Nanowerk News) In a promising development for diabetes treatment, researchers have developed a network of nanoscale particles that can be… See on nanowerk.com
UCT professor wins international award for TB work...
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles UCT professor wins international award for TB work Health24.com I’ve trained so many young scientists - and this award is for them.” Mizrahi plans to use most of the prize money on hiring senior researchers who are able to bring new skills to the… See on health24.com
April 2013
3 posts
Dengue Viral Fusion
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles Dengue was created for Irene Bosch, Ph.D. at University of Massachusetts and Yorgo Modis, Ph.D. from Yale University. This animation was an educational proje… See on youtube.com
World Immunisation Week: The fight against TB
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles This week is ‘World Immunisation Week’, which aims to promote vaccinations, particularly amongst the 22 million infants which are not protected with routine immunisations. See on micromicrobe.co.uk
Holy Virus Treasure Trove, Batman!
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles Think about the type of animal that would make an ideal host for a virus. It would gather … See on phenomena.nationalgeographic.com
March 2013
10 posts
The future of education eliminates the classroom,...
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles Technology can turn our entire lives into learning experiences via “socialstructed learning,” an aggregation of microlearning experiences drawn from a rich ecology of content and driven not by grades but by social and intrinsic rewards, suggests Marina Gorbis, Executive Director at the Institute for the Future. “Today’s obsession with MOOCs is a...
Whole brain cellular-level activity mapping in one...
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles Neuroscientists at Howard Hughes Medical Institute have mapped the activity of nearly all the neurons in a vertebrate brain at cellular resolution, with signficant implications for neuroscience research and projects like the proposed Brain Activity Map (BAM). Fast volumetric imaging of the larval zebrafish brain with light-sheet microscopy (credit:...
CDC: Rabies victim got virus through organ...
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles A Maryland man who died of the first fatal case of human rabies in the state in nearly 40 years got the virus through an organ transplant, health officials say. See on wbaltv.com
Do Cats With FIV Foretell HIV's Future? - PLoS...
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles PLoS Blogs (blog) Do Cats With FIV Foretell HIV’s Future? See on blogs.plos.org
The baby cured of HIV - my thoughts as a...
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles My conclusion: It sounds to me as if this is a baby with a current and clearly documented HIV infection, which happens to be either extremely well suppressed and/or only minimally functional. I am… See on blog.theotokos.co.za
What Makes Bat Viruses So Deadly To Humans?
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles When it comes to harboring viruses deadly to humans, bats are grand champions. The flying mammals are the reservoir for everything from rabies (100% deadly) to Ebola. Now, scientists have found a new virus hosted by bats, one that doesn’t seem to be able to cause disease in other animals. The discovery may provide clues to what enables some...
World's First Macroscopic Invisibility Cloak Based...
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles Baile Zhang, an assistant professor of physics at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, has used the light-bending qualities of calcite - a cheap and abundant mineral that is a form of calcium carbonate - to create the first macroscopic invisibility cloak. Zhang originally came up with the technology in 2010. This short video clip is...
Ancient Vanity - Human Ancestors 75,000 Years Were...
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles The 2013 Academy Awards were, as always, as much about making appearances as about making films, as red carpet watchers noted fashion trends and faux pas. Both Jessica Chastain and Naomi Watts wore Armani, although fortunately not the same dress. And Best Supporting Actress Anne Hathaway switched from Valentino to a controversial pale pink Prada at...
The Intestinal Gardener: Flora helpers: What...
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles Expectant parents, tell me this: If there was a thing you could do for your child that would decrease his or her chances of being obese, suffering from asthma, or developing type 1 diabetes later in life - and that’s just a start - how hard would you try to do it? Well, there is a thing. And that thing is protecting the little one’s gut...
Are we missing half of the viruses in the ocean?
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles There are lots of viruses in seawater - but maybe we’re not seeing the whole picture? See on microbiologybytes.com
February 2013
9 posts
Nature News: Alcohol and science: Saving the agave...
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v438/n7071/full/4381070a.html A decade ago, the tequila industry was pummelled by plant diseases. Rex Dalton meets the scientists working to keep the blue agave diverse enough to survive. For centuries, artisans working in the adobe haciendas of Mexico’s rural valleys have followed tradition to make the...
FDA Approves First Retinal Implant To Treat...
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Thursday approved the first retinal implant for use in the United States. The FDA’s green light for Second Sight’s Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System gives hope to those blinded by a rare genetic eye condition called advanced retinitis pigmentosa, which damages the light-sensitive cells that line the retina....
NIH: Taking the sting out of vaccination - polymer...
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles This might be a new way to get a shot. Funded in part by the NIH, this vaccine patch [1] is coated in a thin film that literally melts into the skin when the patch is applied. The film contains DNA, rather than protein, which is absorbed by the skin cells and triggers an immune reaction. It seems to be effective in animal models. DNA vaccines are...
HOW TO MAKE THE OLD MACHINES WORK
whatshouldwecallgradschool:
credit: BlueEyedFemanon
iBioSeminars - Free University Graduate Program...
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles Free biology talks by the world’s leading scientists. Our mission is to produce a library of outstanding science lectures. We will add 15-20 seminars per year in a wide-range of biology topics. Access, through web streaming or download, is completely free-of-charge. Also check out our iBioMagazine channel, where you can watch ~10 minute talks...
How often does food fraud happen?
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles Amid a wave of food fraud, from beef burgers that actually contain horsemeat to fake olive oil, how can we be sure of what’s in what we eat? Marthèlize Tredoux’s insight: Alarmist? Or making a good point we all should consider? (And to what extent does it impact or affect us here in South Africa?) See on bbc.co.uk
Small Things Considered: The Gram Stain: Its...
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles What is more emblematic of our science than the Gram stain? Since its invention 130 years ago, it has been in frequent and continuous use. It conveniently places most bacteria into one of two groups, the Gram-positives or the Gram-negatives. See on schaechter.asmblog.org
Flu virus weak spot found
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles A key discovery for fighting the flu has been reported by Scripps Research scientists. See on m.utsandiego.com
Flu virus weak spot found
See on Scoop.it - The Wine Glass A key discovery for fighting the flu has been reported by Scripps Research scientists. See on m.utsandiego.com
January 2013
28 posts
Drowning in Wine – The Michael Fridjhon Tasting...
See on Scoop.it - The Wine Glass See on batonage.com
ViroBlogy
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles Virus-like particle and Nano-particle vaccines 2012: conference report Alta van Zyl, Virology Group, Molecular & Cell Biology Department, UCT Introduction: The new international conference on v… Marthèlize Tredoux’s insight: Some insiders notes from what seemed to be a fascinating conference. Polish up those abstracts and make sure...
Braving the cold in the name of icewine | Local |...
See on Scoop.it - The Wine Glass See on stcatharinesstandard.ca
Learning to love Sweet Wine - Wine Whiskers
See on Scoop.it - The Wine Glass See on winewhiskers.co.za
Researchers use DNA to store an mp3, PDF and...
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles See on memeburn.com
David Attenborough: We're suffocating ourselves -...
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles Launching a new TV series at age 87, veteran broadcaster David Attenborough explains why the natural world never ceases to intrigue Marthèlize Tredoux’s insight: We love Uncle Dave. When Uncle Dave speaks, everyone listens. See on newscientist.com
Faecal transplants succeed in clinical trial
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles Unorthodox technique is far more effective than antibiotics at treating recurrent gut infection. See on nature.com
Dispute takes mackerel off menu
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has downgraded mackerel from its list of fish suitable to eat. See on bbc.co.uk
What’s living in your fridge?
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles Storing perishable foods at cold temperatures may slow their demise, but eventually spoilage still sets in. What makes some foods perishable is their ability to provide food and shelter for various species bacteria and fungi. While you’re flipping through recipe books to plan your next meal, these microorganisms are already eating the ingredients....
Polymer can turn a whole swimming pool into a...
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles Stiff supergel mimics cell scaffolding and melts when cooled. Take one kilogram of polyisocyanide polymer. Sprinkle liberally across an Olympic swimming pool. Warm gently. Within minutes, your jelly is ready. Serves 25 million. Alan Rowan, a materials chemist at Radboud University Nijmegen in the Netherlands, is describing the properties of a...
The Best Birth Control In The World Is For Men
See on Scoop.it - The Wine Glass If I were going to describe the perfect contraceptive, it would go something like this: no babies, no latex, no daily pill to remember, no hormones to interfere with mood or sex drive, no negative … See on techcitement.com
South African strikes not connected to wine...
See on Scoop.it - The Wine Glass See on thedrinksbusiness.com
Calligraphy – Crafted by Nitida - Wine Whiskers
See on Scoop.it - The Wine Glass See on winewhiskers.co.za
Wine Resolutions 2013 - Wine Whiskers
See on Scoop.it - The Wine Glass See on winewhiskers.co.za
Hepatitis C virus takes over invaded cell by...
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles Researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine have figured out intimate details of how the hepatitis C virus takes over an invaded cell, a breakthrough that could point to way for new treatments for the virus. See on news-medical.net
UCSB scientists publish groundbreaking study...
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles While legions of medical researchers have been looking to understand the genetic basis of disease and how mutations may affect human health, a group of biomedical researchers at UC Santa Barbara is studying the metabolism of cells and their… See on news-medical.net
New research reveals a shared genetic...
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles New research reveals a shared genetic susceptibility to epilepsy and migraine. See on news-medical.net
Virus caught in the act of infecting a cell
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles Biology News Articles & Current Events, Updated Daily See on biologynews.net
Flexible, nanoscale 'bed of nails' created for...
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles Researchers have come up with a technique to embed needle-like carbon nanofibers in an elastic membrane, creating a flexible “bed of nails” on the nanoscale that opens the door to development of new drug-delivery systems. See on sciencedaily.com
Designer bacteria may lead to better vaccines
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles The 61 strains of E. coli are part of a new class of biological “adjuvants” that is poised to transform vaccine design. Adjuvants are substances added to vaccines to boost the human immune response. See on sciencedaily.com
Who decides in the brain? How decision-making...
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles Neuroscientists have shown how decision-making processes are influenced by neurons. Whether in society or nature, decisions are often the result of complex interactions between many factors. See on sciencedaily.com
Viral and Bacterial Interactions in the Upper...
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles Respiratory infectious diseases are mainly caused by viruses or bacteria that often interact with one another. Although their presence is a prerequisite for subsequent infections, viruses and bacteria may be present in the nasopharynx without causing any respiratory symptoms. The upper respiratory tract hosts a vast range of commensals and potential...
Celebrities' GM crusade stops science feeding the...
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles Television chefs and other public figures have been blamed for preventing science from feeding the poor by campaigning against genetically modified foods. See on telegraph.co.uk
Reshaping the brain: Scientists reprogram neurons...
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles The cerebral cortex—the gray matter that forms the outer layers of the mammalian cerebrum and cerebellum—is divided into six different layers based on the presence of specialized neurons, and we’ve known that since the early 1900s. Denis Jabaudon is interested in using the tools of modern biology to understand the genetic mechanisms that...
DNA 'LEGOs' Can Build a Mini Space Shuttle and...
See on Scoop.it - Biology & Biotech baubles A tiny space shuttle made out of DNA “LEGO bricks” shows how scientists could someday build new technologies on the smallest scales. Single DNA strands became “LEGO bricks” that could assemble together by themselves into 102 individual 3D shapes. Harvard researchers manipulated the DNA coding of the bricks so that they could...
