In computer simulations of components of the coronavirus, an international team including the physicist Mateusz Sikora found its surface proteins to be unexpectedly flexible. The impressive 3D reconstructions are the first to show detailed information about the virus surface. This has an impact on current vaccine development, as Sikora explains in this interview. Continue reading “The surprising properties of the coronavirus envelope”
The physicist Thomas Beyer and his research group have been investigating how to measure human brain activity. The low-impact method they developed is fully automatic and should help to improve diagnoses in such areas as the field of neurology. Continue reading “Thinking about something, darling?”
In agriculture, fungicides are used to combat fungal infections, and in medicine, antimycotics – both of which have their drawbacks. The microbiologist Florentine Marx-Ladurner is working on a new, more natural active substance. The antifungal compounds she is developing in her laboratory in Innsbruck are based on proteins that originate from moulds. Continue reading “A new way of combating fungal infections”
In order to keep the intestinal mucosa and the entire organism healthy, intestinal epithelial cells have developed various protective functions involving a number of maintenance mechanisms that protect cells from stress. In chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, these mechanisms are often disrupted, although the trigger for these diseases remains unclear. Suspected culprits include a high-fat diet […] Continue reading “Faulty maintenance endangers intestinal health”
Behavioural researcher and START Award winner Alice Auersperg investigates the behaviour and ecology of the Goffin’s cockatoo on the Indonesian Moluccas and compares the bird with close relatives. Exhibiting flexibility and dexterity in using tools similar to higher primates, this bird could corroborate theories that were established for the point when humans (and great apes) […] Continue reading “Why does the Goffin’s cockatoo use a hook?”
A research team in Vienna is investigating how calorie intake, liver activity and fat storage interact and what role the central nervous system plays in this. Initial findings on blockages of the brain-liver axis could serve as a basis for new treatment approaches for fatty liver. Continue reading “Hormonal balance between liver and brain”
Cancer stem cells are a cell type that was previously little known. They are resistant to irradiation and prevent the effective treatment of many types of cancer. A research group from Innsbruck has now identified two genetic mechanisms that produce this radioresistance. Continue reading “How cancer cells defend themselves against radiotherapy”
Certain drugs against high blood pressure are suspected to cause a more severe course of Covid-19, but this suspicion is still awaiting confirmation by experts. The physician Manfred Hecking is now conducting the first clinical study to investigate the exact relationship between the system that regulates human blood pressure and corona infection. Continue reading “What Corona has to do with high blood pressure”
A minimal – and therefore innocuous – dose of an antibiotic coupled with highly sensitive measurement technology could save time and money in the development of new active ingredients. The shortcut lies in being able to do pharmacokinetic testing earlier, which consists in establishing proof that the potentially antibacterial agent can actually become effective at […] Continue reading “Potential shortcut in antibiotics development”
Many organisms have to defend themselves against predators, diseases or pests. Their metabolic products constitute a chemical arsenal that has been used for medical purposes since time immemorial. Using state-of-the-art methods, a team led by Judith Rollinger is screening traditional knowledge in order to identify new active substances against lung infections caused by influenza, coronavirus […] Continue reading “Identifying virus killers in ancient medicinal plants”