Scientists Uncover New Details of SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus Interactions with Human Cells
In order to infect cells, SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, needs to insert itself into the membrane of human cells; new molecular models show…
Biophysical Society News
Bowl-Shaped Nanoparticles Help Untangle Alzheimer’s Disease Amyloid Beta Plaques
New research shows that the protein that causes Alzheimer’s Disease’s hallmark brain plaques clings to certain bowl-shaped nanoparticles, allowing researchers to better understand the disease…
DNA Origami Used to Monitor CRISPR Gene Targeting
CRISPR gene editing has transformed research, but it is not perfect, and can sometimes target unintended genes. To watch CRISPR enzymes respond to different genes,…
Therapeutic Hypothermia: How Reducing Body Temperature Could Help 10% of All Intensive Care Patients
A new study reveals how lower temperatures improve the activity of surfactant, a molecular mixture that is essential for breathing. This indicates that therapeutic hypothermia…
Sugar-Coated Shield Helps the COVID-19 Virus Become Activated and Infectious
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is coated with sugars called glycans, which help it evade the immune system. New research shows precisely how those…
SARS vs. COVID-19: Why Some Coronavirus Strains Are More Infectious Than Others
The coronaviruses that cause SARS and COVID-19 have spike proteins that move into “active” and “inactive” positions, and new research indicates how those molecular movements…
Evidence That Earth’s First Cells – 3.8 Billion Years Ago – Could Have Made Specialized Compartments
New research by the University of Oslo provides evidence that the “protocells” that formed around 3.8 billion years ago, before bacteria and single-celled organisms, could…
