Life sciences: genetics, neuroscience, ecology and molecular biology.
A study of 1,218 consumers in Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom found that conventional pesticides were generally seen as riskier than gene-edited watermelons. Consumers also preferred zero-residue pesticides to organic-certified alternatives, although 22% to 27% rejected gene-edited watermelons.
In a study of 156,764 UK Biobank participants, researchers examined associations between adherence to the UK Eatwell Guide and measures of body size and body fat. Higher adherence was associated with lower adiposity measures both at the initial assessment and, in the prospective analysis, with more favorable body mass index patterns over time. The study does not show that adherence caused these differences.
Researchers developed MuSpAn, a software package for mapping how cells interact across different scales in tissue. Tests on normal mouse intestine and a mouse intestinal cancer model identified coordinated fibroblast–immune interactions and a range of fibroblast states.
A programmable DNA device punctured artificial membranes, delivered attached molecular cargo and then retracted to promote resealing. Researchers also used it to control biochemical reactions in cell-sized environments, but the study does not report tests in living organisms.
In an exploratory study of eight people, ultra-high-frequency flickering visual stimulation increased sharp-wave ripples in the hippocampus during wakefulness. The result suggests a possible noninvasive way to influence a memory-related brain rhythm, but the study did not test whether memory improved.
Intensive poultry farming has changed how Campylobacter jejuni moves among chickens and wild birds, according to an analysis of 2,747 genomes. The researchers estimate a roughly 100-fold rise in chicken-to-wild-bird transfers since 1900 and found that chicken-adapted strains often carry genes linked to antimicrobial resistance and survival in chickens.
In male mice, brief bursts of neuronal activity tracked which sensory cues predicted rewards and changed as those associations changed. Suppressing the bursts disrupted learning and task performance, providing causal evidence that they help drive associative learning.
Researchers have isolated the first cultivated virus known to infect a chrysophyte, an aquatic protist that can both photosynthesize and consume prey. Its genome contains a proteorhodopsin-like gene, a type of gene not previously reported in a virus, although predictions suggest the protein may not function as a light-driven proton pump.
Researchers systematically reviewed 23 human clinical reports covering 176 cases of acute organophosphate poisoning in Nigeria. Children accounted for 55.0% of reported cases, accidental ingestion for 60.3%, and the pooled case-fatality rate was 23.9%. Because many included reports were small and descriptive, the findings show patterns in reported cases rather than the risk for all people in Nigeria.
A treatment containing phenylephrine hydrochloride and harmine pushed adult heart-muscle cells toward an embryonic-like state and increased their proliferation in laboratory and in vivo experiments. The findings come from experimental models, not human trials, and the abstract does not establish whether the approach restores heart function or is safe in people.
A combined antibody-based test detected and quantified Legionella pneumophila in complex process-water samples while reducing total processing time. It also supported identification of important subtypes, although direct subtyping had limitations and the study used samples spiked with laboratory standards.
A study of 40 young cattle calves found that processed probiotics improved growth and several gut-health measures more than chlortetracycline or no supplement. Encapsulated and freeze-dried formulations also increased beneficial bacteria, reduced two potentially harmful bacteria and, for encapsulated probiotics, improved some immune measures.
A study of 167 autistic children found that language skills, amount of speech and meaningful language use do not always align. The results suggest that simple verbal or non-speaking labels can miss important differences between children.
A 13-year study of 696 dementia-free adults found several distinct patterns of cognitive aging. Better cognitive trajectories were associated with faster walking, higher quality of life, more sports and mentally stimulating activities, and greater intake of plant-based foods.
A genetically modified gut bacterium killed up to 100% of Helicoverpa armigera caterpillars in laboratory tests, and all larvae exposed to treated leaves died within eight days. The bacterium also colonized caterpillar guts and tomato leaves, but its persistence, spread and safety in field conditions have not been tested.
