News 2019

Scientists at the University of Glasgow have found a new paradigm in the understanding of bacterial evolution - an important element in the wider context of antibiotic resistance. The ability of most bacterial pathogens to cause disease depends on the presence of a class of genetic elements called "pathogenicity islands".

Understanding Animal Research, an organisation promoting greater openness about animal research, has today released a list of the ten organisations in Great Britain that carry out the highest number of animal procedures - those used in medical, veterinary and scientific research. These statistics are freely available on the organisations' websites as part of their ongoing commitment to transparency and openness around the use of animals in research.

Scientists have helped unravel the protective ' and potentially harmful ' effect of iron in the body. In a series of early-stage studies examining genetic data from over 500,000 people, a team of international scientists, led by Imperial College London, explored the role that iron plays in over 900 diseases.

Female patients who suffer from a disabling neurological disorder known as idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) are at twice the risk of heart conditions and stroke, a study led by the University of Birmingham has shown for the first time. IIH is a debilitating condition in which the pressure around the brain is severely raised, causing disabling chronic headaches.

Scientists at the University of Birmingham have shed fresh light on the mechanism used by certain types of bacteria to protect themselves against attack. Gram negative bacteria can cause diseases such as pneumonia, cholera, typhoid fever and E. coli infections, as well as many hospital acquired infections.

Research led by the University of Birmingham has found important new ways that the BRCA1 gene functions which could help develop our understanding of the development of ovarian and breast cancers. The research was led by experts at the University of Birmingham's Birmingham Centre for Genome Biology and Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences and is part of a five-year research project which is playing a pivotal role in identifying and understanding breast cancer genes.

Tooth decay and gum disease impact on illness and healthcare spending, yet the role of genetics in dental problems is largely unknown. New research led by an international team, including researchers at the University of Bristol, suggests hereditary traits and factors such as obesity, education and personality could play a role in tooth decay and gum disease.

A type of blood pressure lowering medication, called a calcium-channel blocker, may be linked with increased risk of bowel condition diverticulosis. This condition causes small bulges or pouches to appear in the lining of the intestine. Particularly affecting the elderly (as many as 65 per cent of over 85s may be affected), diverticulosis can in some cases can lead to a medical emergency if the pouches become infected or burst.

In a world first, scientists have found a new way to direct stem cells to heart tissue. The findings, led by researchers at the University of Bristol and published in Chemical Science, could radically improve the treatment for cardiovascular disease, which causes more than a quarter of all deaths in the UK (1).

A change is as good as a rest when it comes to remembering more, according to new research by neuroscientists at the University of Sussex. Dr Michael Crossley , Senior Research Fellow in Neuroscience, used pond snails to study the factors impacting on memory interference. He found that, when tasked with learning two similar things, snails were only able to store and recall the first memory.

New research by neuroscientists from the University of Sussex shows that drinking only one pint of beer or a large glass of wine is enough to significantly compromise a person's sense of agency. Sense of agency is the feeling of being in control of our actions. It is an important aspect of human social behaviour, as it implies knowledge of the consequences of those actions.

Faced with potential violence from rival factions, dwarf mongoose groupmates pull together and behave more co-operatively, according to a new study by University of Bristol researchers published today [Thursday 20 June]. Conflict between rival groups is common throughout the animal world, from ants to chimpanzees, but its consequences have been little studied.

In a world first, neuroscientists from the University of Glasgow have been able to construct 3D facial models using the unique information stored in an individual's brain when recalling the face of a familiar person. The study will be the cornerstone for greater understanding of the brain mechanisms of face identification, and could have applications for AI, gaming technology and eyewitness testimony.

When it comes to making friends, it appears dolphins are just like us and form close friendships with other dolphins that have a common interest. The findings, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B by an international team of researchers from the Universities of Bristol, Zurich and Western Australia, provides further insight into the social habits of these remarkable animals.

Doctors have urged hospitals around the world to reconsider the type of fluids used to treat children gravely ill with sepsis. In a new study , researchers from Imperial College London found saline fluids commonly used to help stabilise critically ill children may trigger the blood to become more acidic, and lead to organ failure.

Controlling the frequency of 'brain waves' could help to improve people's recall of memories and potentially provide a key to unlock conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, according to a new article. Brain oscillations occur during neural processes that are relevant for memory and using different approaches to drive these brain waves demonstrates a direct link to improving memory.

Scientists have used gene-editing techniques to stop the bird flu virus from spreading, in chicken cells grown in the lab. According to the team behind the work, the findings raise the possibility of producing gene-edited chickens that are resistant to flu. This could potentially prevent the birds from being a major reservoir for pandemic strains of the virus.

Cancer-related inflammation impacts significantly on cancer development and progression. New research has observed in zebrafish, for the first time, that inflammatory cells use weak spots or micro-perforations in the extracellular matrix barrier layer to access skin cancer cells. The research, led by the University of Bristol and published in Cell Reports today [Tuesday 4 June] , used translucent zebrafish to model several sorts of skin cancer and live image how inflammatory cells find the growing cancer cells in the skin.

A common gene variant, which evolved in response to cooking and farming, helps some people cope with modern diets by keeping blood sugar low. However, new research on the gene reveals that close to half of the people studied still have an older variant that may be better suited to prehistoric diets and could make them more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.

New research on two people born with extra fingers has shown how the brain adapts to the workload imposed by more digits. Extra fingers and toes are traditionally seen as a birth defect, so nobody has thought to study how useful they might really be. Professor Etienne Burdet Department of Bioengineering The findings could show us how to tap into the brain's resources to control robotic extra limbs and digits.