Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) editing has emerged as a revolutionary approach in the fight against neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs). As these diseases continue to impose a significant global health burden, the innovative use of mitochondrial gene editing offers a promising avenue to address their underlying causes. The dysfunction of mitochondria, triggered by mutations in mtDNA, is now recognized as a pivotal factor contributing to the development of several debilitating conditions,

An international team of scientists led by the Medical University of Vienna has identified similarities in the mechanisms of diabetes and cancer: as the researchers show, the protein PPARγ, which is central to the regulation of metabolic processes, can also influence the growth of prostate cancer cells. PPARγ is already known to be a target of certain drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes.

Groundbreaking research from the University of Virginia School of Medicine has revealed crucial new insights into the immune systems of COVID-19 survivors, particularly those struggling with persistent breathing issues. The study shows that these patients have distinct changes in their immune system that link to the severity of their lung damage. This discovery holds promise for developing targeted treatments for the lung complications of Long COVID.

The mitochondrion, often referred to as the powerhouse of the cell, plays critical roles in cellular function, making it a prime organelle to target for fundamental studies, metabolic engineering, and disease therapies. With only a limited number of existing mitochondrial targeting sequences, a new study from the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology demonstrates the utility of generative artificial intelligence for designing new ones.

People who are given a vaccine for shingles have a 23% lower risk of cardiovascular events, including stroke, heart failure, and coronary heart disease, according to a study of more than a million people published in the European Heart Journal.

The protective effect of the vaccine lasts for up to eight years and is particularly pronounced for men, people under the age of 60 and those with unhealthy lifestyles, such as smoking, drinking alcohol and being inactive.

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have developed a technique that enables efficient delivery of therapeutic proteins and RNA to cells. The method, presented in Nature Communications, shows promising results in animal studies to deliver gene editors and protein therapeutics.

The method is based on so-called extracellular vesicles (EVs), tiny bubbles that are naturally secreted by cells and can transport biologically active molecules between cells.

A Ludwig Cancer Research study has identified a specific mode of fat uptake by immune cells within tumors that serves as a metabolic checkpoint against anti-cancer immune responses. Harnessing that insight, researchers led by Ludwig Lausanne's Ping-Chih Ho and Yi-Ru Yu - along with Sheue-Fen Tzeng and Chin-Hsien Tsai, former post-docs in the Ho lab who now lead their own labs at Taipei Medical University in Taiwan - have developed a humanized antibody to dismantle that barrier as a potential cancer immunotherapy.