sugar coated RNA immune system autoimmune disease research

How Sugar-Coated RNA Tricks the Immune System: A Breakthrough in Autoimmune Disease Research

Introduction

The immune system interprets unprotected RNA as evidence of viral or bacterial invasion, prompting an attack. However, since our cells also possess RNA, they protect it by encasing it in sugars, according to Vijay Rathinam's team at the UConn School of Medicine and Ryan Flynn at Boston Children's Hospital writing in Nature.

RNA and the Immune System

What is RNA?

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a class of large biological molecules essential to life in all its forms—viruses, bacteria and animals alike.

How the Immune System Reacts to RNA

Viruses such as measles, influenza, SARS-CoV-2 and rabies all carry RNA, prompting the immune system to respond aggressively when it detects RNA in the bloodstream or other inappropriate sites. Yet our own cells also contain RNA, sometimes presenting it openly on their surface, visible to patrolling immune cells—remarkably, without provoking attack.

The Challenge of Distinguishing Self from Invader

The Central Question

"Identifying RNA as an indicator of infection poses a challenge, given that every cell within the human body contains RNA," notes immunologist Vijay Rathinam from the UConn School of Medicine. "The real question is how the immune system tells apart our own RNA from that of harmful intruders."

Discovery of Glycosylated RNA

The Role of Sugars in Immune Evasion

Previous investigations by Ryan Flynn of Bostan Children's Hospital and Carolyn Bertozzi of Stanford University discovered that our bodies affix sugars to RNA. These sugar-coated RNA, termed glycosylated RNAs or glycoRNAs, are found on cell surfaces yet appear to evade immune detection.

Research Hypothesis

Rathinam and his team speculated that the sugars might be shielding glycoRNAs from immune detection—a possible mechanism by which the body avoids inflammation caused by its own RNA.

Experimental Findings

Sugar Removal Test

When Vincent Graziano, a doctoral student in Rathinam's laboratory and lead author of the study, removed the sugars from glycoRNA taken from human cell cultures and blood, then reintroduced it into cells, immune cells attacked it. The same RNA, when sugarcoated had previously been ignored.

Key Insight

"The sugar coating conceals our own RNA from detection by the immune system," says Rathinam.

Significance for the Human Body

Protecting Against Unnecessary Inflammation

This is especially important for the body, as cells are frequently coated with glyconRNAs. When they die and are cleared away by the immune system, the RNA's sugar covering stops them from needlessly triggering inflammation.

Implications for Autoimmune Diseases

Potential Connection to Disorders

These findings may prove valuable in considering autoimmune diseases. Conditions such as lupus are linked to certain RNAs and dead cells that trigger immune responses.

Future Research Directions

Now that researchers grasp the role of RNA glycosylation in diverting immune system attention, they can examine whether this mechanism is malfunctioning and how it might be remedied.

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mitochondrial DNA disease treatment breakthrough

Science Triumphs: Eight Babies Born Free of Mitochondrial Disorders via Gene Therapy

Landmark Gene Therapy in Britain Produces Healthy Babies

Researchers revealed on Wednesday that eight healthy infants have been born in Britain through an experimental method involving DNA from three individuals, designed to prevent mothers from transmitting rare, serious illnesses.

Understanding Mitochondrial DNA and Its Impact on Health

Most of our genetic code is located in the cell's nucleus—passed down from both parents and fundamental to who we are. Yet, some DNA is also housed in mitochondria, structures outside the nucleus. Harmful mutations in this mitochondrial DNA can cause a spectrum of serious conditions in children, including organ failure and life-threatening complications.

Screening and the Need for Alternative Reproductive Techniques

Screening during the in vitro fertilization process generally reveals the presence of such mutations. However, in uncommon instances, the results may be inconclusive.

Three-Person IVF: The Groundbreaking Mitochondrial Replacement Technique

How the  Mitochondrial Replacement Technique Works

Scientists have devised a technique to sidestep the issue by employing healthy mitochondria from a donor egg. In 2023, they confirmed the birth of the first babies conceived through this method, which involves transferring the mother's genetic material into a donor egg or embryo containing healthy mitochondria but stripped of its core DNA.

Dr. Zev Williams, director of the Columbia University Fertility Centre, hailed the study as "a significant milestone." Although not involved in the research, he remarked: "Broadening reproductive choices will enable more couples to embark on safe and healthy pregnancies."

Global Perspective and Legal Status

Legal Approval in the UK and Australia

This technique results in an embryo containing genetic material from three individuals—the mother's egg, the father's sperm and the donor's mitochondria. It was legalized in the UK following a 2016 change in legislation. Australia has also approved its use, although it remains prohibited in many other nations, including the United States.

Study Outcomes and Expert Reactions

Research Publication and Results

Specialists from Newcastle University and Monash University in Australia have detailed in the New England Journal of Medicine that they applied the novel technique to fertilized embryos from 22 patients, resulting in the birth of eight babies unaffected by mitochondrial disorders. One woman remains pregnant.

Expert Observations and Precautions

One of the eight babies exhibited marginally elevated levels of abnormal mitochondria, noted Professor Robin Lovell-Badge, a developmental genetics and stem cell expert at the Francis Crick Institute, who was not directly involved in the study. While the level is not deemed sufficient to induce disease, he advised that the child should be monitored as they grow.

Clinical Potential and Selective Application

Dr. Andy Greenfield, a specialist in reproductive health at the University of Oxford, described the achievement as "a triumph of scientific innovation." He further explained that the mitochondrial exchange method would be reserved for a select group of women, particularly those for whom other methods, such as early-stage embryo testing, have proven ineffective.

Genetic Implications and Ethical Debates

Donor DNA and Trait Influence

According to Lovell-Badge, the donor's DNA contribution is minimal and insufficient to influence the child's traits. He clarified that less than one percent of the genetic material in a baby born through this technique originates from the donor egg.

Expert Comparison with Other Treatments

"As it happens, a bone marrow transplant introduces significantly more donor DNA than this technique does," he explained.

Approval and Oversight in the UK

In Britain, all couples hoping to have a child via mitochondrial donation must receive approval from the national fertility watchdog. To date, 35 individuals have been granted permission.

Global Regulatory Landscape and Ethical Considerations

Restrictions in the United States

Some critics have voiced apprehensions in the past, cautioning that the long-term effects of such innovative procedures on future generations remain unknown.

"At present, pronuclear transfer is not authorized for clinical applications in the United States, primarily due to regulations concerning heritable alterations to embryos," noted Williams of Columbia via email. "Whether this position will shift remains to be seen and will hinge upon ongoing debates in science, ethics and policy."

US Legislative Barriers

Over the past decade, funding bills passed by Congress have routinely contained language that bars the Food and Drug Administration from considering any clinical research proposals involving intentional genetic modifications to human embryos that could be passed down to future generations.

Real-Life Stories and Hope for Families

A Mother's Pain and Advocacy

In nations where the procedure is permitted, supporters argue it may offer a valuable option for certain families.

Liz Curtis, whose daughter Lily succumbed to a mitochondrial disorder in 2006, now supports other families facing similar challenges. She described the heartbreak of being told there was no treatment and that her eight-month-old's death was unavoidable.

She explained that the diagnosis "Shattered our world completely and no one could truly explain what it was or how it would affect Lily." Curtis went on to establish the Lily Foundation, named after her daughter, to raise awareness and fund research, including recent studies at Newcastle University.

A Message of Hope

"It's absolutely thrilling news for families who've had very little hope," said Curtis.

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adult hippocampal neurogenesis study

Human Brains Keep Growing New Neurons to Age 78, Karolinska Study Finds

Groundbreaking Study from Karolinska Institutet

A study from Sweden's Karolinska Institutet, published in Science, reveals that neuron formation in the hippocamus persists into late adulthood-offering critical insight into the enduring adaptability of the human brain.

Historical Insight into Neurogenesis Research

The Role of the Hippocampus in Brain Function

the hippocampus, a region of the brain central to learning, memory and emotional regulation, has long intrigued scientists.

The 2013 Landmark Study

In 2013, Jonas Frisén's group at Karolinska Institutet published a landmark study demonstrating that new neurons can form in the adult human hippocampus. They achieved this by measuring carbon-14 levels in DNA extracted from brain tissue, allowing them to estimate the age of the cells.

Determining the Cells of Origin

Nevertheless, the degree and importance of adult neurogenesis remain subjects of scientific debate. Conclusive evidence has yet to confirm whether neural progenitor cells-the precursors to new neurons-exist and divide in adult humans.

"We have now succeeded in identifying the cells of origin, confirming that neuron formation continues in the adult hippocampus," says Professor Jonas Frisén, who led the study at Karolinska Institutet's Department of Cell and Molecular Biology.

From Birth Through to the Age of 78

In their latest investigation, the team harnessed an array of advanced techniques to study brain tissue from donors aged between birth and 78, collected from international biobanks.

Techniques and Tools Used

Using single-nucleus RNA sequencing to profile gene activity within individual nuclei, alongside flow cytometry to assess cellular characteristics, they then applied machine-learning tools to chart every stage of neuronal development-from stem cells to dividing immature neurons.

Spatial Gene Mapping with RNAscope and Xenium

To pinpoint the cell's whereabouts, the researchers employed RNAscope and Xenium-two techniques that reveal spatial patterns of gene activity. Both confirmed that the newly generated cells reside within the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, a region crucial for memory formation, learning and cognitive flexibility.

Prospects for Novel Therapies

Results indicate that the precursors to adult neurons in human are broadly comparable to those in mice, pigs and monkeys, albeit with some variation in gene expression. Additionally, individual differences were marked: some adults possessed numerous progenitor cells, others scarcely any.

"This provides a vital piece of the puzzle in understanding the working of the human brain and how it changes over a lifetime," explains Frisén. "Our findings may also inform the development of regenerative therapies aimed at promoting neurogenesis in psychiatric and neurodegenerative conditions."

Collaborative Effort and Institutional Involvement

The study was carried out in close collaboration with Ionut Dumitru, Marta Paterlini and fellow researchers at Karolinska Institutet, alongside colleagues from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden.

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brain organoid platform mild blast TBI research

Brain Organoid Platform Aims to Decode Mild Blast Traumatic Brain Injury in Military personnel

Traumatic Brain Injury: A Persistent Challenge for Military personnel

Traumatic brain injuries have remained a persistent issue among military personnel, with the Department of Defence reporting close to 516.000 cases globally between 2000 and 2024.

Johns Hopkins Launches POSITRONIC to Study mbTBI

A research team from Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, together with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, is developing a next-generation brain-organoid platform to tackle this challenge. Their study—Platform to Optimally Study Injury and TRauma On Neural Integrity and Circuitry (POSITRONIC), published in Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology—outlines the core principles of platforms designed for investigating low-level blast exposure.

Understanding Low-Level Blast Exposure

"The cumulative impact of low-level blast exposure remains poorly understood, largely due to our limited capacity to detect subtle effects on the human body—effects that may appear immediately but unfold gradually over time," said Katy Carneal, Assistant Programme Manager for Biological and Chemical Sciences at APL.

The Hidden Risk of Repeated Exposure

Low-level blasts produce pressure waves that travel through the skull and interact with brain tissue: repeated exposure can result in mild blast-induced traumatic brain injury (mbTBI). Military and low enforcement personnel may be exposed to over 100 such blasts during certain training exercises—and considerably more over the course of their careers.

Developing the POSITRONIC Prototype Platform

"Our aim is to create a prototype platform that will enable a deeper understanding of mbTBI caused by repeated low-level blasts, using advances in brain organoid technology and non-invasive optical imaging," said Eyal Bar-Kochba, Chief Scientist at APL's Research and Exploratory Development Department (REDD) and lead investigator for POSITRONIC. "We hope this work will contribute to the development of preventative strategies, as well as improved diagnostic and treatment approaches."

Future-Ready Technologies to Study Brain Trauma

Limitations of Traditional TBI Models

Researchers have traditionally employed in vivo models—studies conducted on live animals—and in vitro models, involving cultured cells in laboratory settings, to investigate traumatic brain injuries. Yet, applying these findings to human cases has proved difficult due to the limited relevance of such models to human biology.

Brain Organoids: A Transformative in Vitro Tool

Enter brain organoids—an emerging in vitro model based on human cells. One of their chief advantages lies in their capacity to replicate complex neural networks and cellular dynamics.

Johns Hopkins Team Leads the Charge

Neurotoxicologists Thomas Hartung and Lena Smirnova, of the Bloomberg School, were  instrumental in advancing organoid platforms for trauma research. The POSITRONIC team is leading efforts to apply these brain organoids in studying repeated low-level blast exposures.

Simulating Blasts with Precision

"This highlights the flexibility of organoids as a viable alternative to animal models, offering a platform for exploring yet another complex condition," said Smirnova, Assistant Professor at the Bloomberg School.

Cultivating and Testing Brain Organoids Under Blast Pressure

Once cultivated, the brain organoids is linked to a pressure-generation system that allows researchers to simulate repeated low-level blast exposure, mirroring the pressure commonly encountered by service personnel during training exercises.

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AI detects dementia types brain scan

AI Tool Detects 9 Dementia Types from a Single Brain Scan: Mayo Clinic Breakthrough

Breakthrough AI Tool from Mayo Clinic Enables Early and Accurate Dignosis

Study Findings and Diagnostic Performance

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic have unveiled an AI-driven tool enabling clinicians to detect brain activity signatures associated with nine forms of dementia—including Alzheimer's—via a single, commonly used scan, marking a significant leap forward in early and precise diagnosis.

According to a study published on 27 June 2025 in Neurology. StateViewer correctly identified dementia types in 88% of cases. The AI tool also expedited scan interpretation, achieving nearly double the speed and up to triple the accuracy of traditional diagnostic approaches. The system was trained and evaluated using more than 3,600 brain images, including those from healthy participants.

Addressing Diagnostic Challenges in Dementia Care

This breakthrough tackles a fundamental hurdle in dementia care—achieving early and accurate diagnosis, even in cases involving overlapping conditions. With new therapies on the horizon, prompt identification ensures patients receive the most suitable treatment when it proves most effective. The tool offers advanced diagnostic capabilities to practices without  specialist neurology support.

The Growing Burden of Dementia

Global Impact and Current Diagnostic Limitations

Dementia currently impacts over 55 million individuals worldwide, with almost 10 million new diagnoses annually. Alzheimer's disease, the predominant subtype, now ranks as the fifth most common cause of death. Diagnosis involves memory assessments, blood tests, scans, clinical evaluations and specialist referrals—yet even experts find it difficult to differentiate between Alzheimer's, Lewy body and frontotemporal dementias.

StateViewer: A Vision Realized through AI Collaboration

Leadership Behind the Innovation

StateViewer was created under the leadership of Dr. David Jones a consultant neurologist and head fo the Neurology Artificial Intelligence Programme at the Mayo Clinic.

"Each patient who enters my clinic brings with them a story uniquely influenced by the brain's intricate workings," says Dr. Jones. "That complexity is what attracted me to neurology and still fuels my dedication to clearer diagnoses. StateViewer embodies that passion—progress toward earlier insight, more accurate treatment and ultimately, altering the course of these conditions."

AI Engineering and Patient-Focused Design

To realize that vision, Dr. Jones collaborated with Leland Barnard, Ph.D. the data scientist spearheading the AI engineering of StateViewer.

"Throughout the development of StateViewer, we remained acutely aware that each data point and brain scan represented a person grappling with a challenging diagnosis and pressing concerns," says Dr. Barnard. "Witnessing how this tool can offer clinicians timely, accurate insights underscores the promise of machine learning within clinical practice."

Translating Brain Activity into Clinical Understanding

How the StateViewer Tool Works

The tool interprets an FDG-PET scan—used to assess how the brain metabolizes glucose energy—and cross-references it with a comprehensive database of scan from individuals with confirmed dementia, detecting patterns linked to distinct or overlapping dementia types.

Dementia Subtype Detection

Alzheimer's generally impacts regins associated with memory and cognition, while Lewy body dementia affects area governing attention and motor function. Frontotemporal dementia, meanwhile disrupts language and behavioural centers.

Visual Insights for All Clinicians

StateViewer employs colour-coded brain maps to visually depict these patterns, enabling all clinicians—even those without neurology backgrounds—to comprehend the AI's diagnostic rationale.

Future Prospects and Clinical Integration

Researchers at the Mayo clinic intend to broaden the tool's application and will carry on assessing it effectiveness across diverse clinical environemtns.

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infrared contact lenses human night vision

Revolutionary Lenses Allow Humans to See in the Dark Without Opening Eyes

A Breakthrough in Noninvasive Vision Enhancement

A team of neuroscientists and materials scientists has developed contact lenses that grant infrared sight in humans and mice by transmuting infrared into visible light. Unlike traditional night-vision googles, these lenses—reported in Cell—need no external power and allow perception of several infrared bands. Their transparency permits simultaneous viewing of infrared and visible light, with superior IR vision when the eyes are closed.

"Our findings pave the way for wearable, noninvasive technologies that could grant humans enhanced vision," remarks Tian Xue, lead researchers and neuroscientist at the University of Science and Technology of China. "The material offers immediate possibilities—flickering infrared light, for instance, may serve to relay data in contexts such as security, rescue operations, encryption or anti-counterfeiting."

How the Infrared Contact Lenses Work

Nano-particles Convert Infrared to Visible Light

The contact lens employs nano-particles capable of absorbing infrared radiation and converting it into light within the visible spectrum (approximately 400 to 700 nanometers), perceivable by mammalian eyes. These particles are designed to detect near-infrared wavelengths, ranging from 800 to 1600 nanometers—just beyond the natural limits of human vision.

Earlier Research and Motivation

The researchers had earlier demonstrated that injecting these nano-particles into the retina could grant mice infrared vision, though their aim was to develop a less intrusive alternative.

Design and Testing of the Contact Lenses

Safe Integration with Soft Lens Polymers

The researchers fashioned the contact lenses by integrating the nano-particles with pliable, non-toxic polymers commonly found in conventional soft lenses. Upon confirming their safety, the lenses were tested on both humans and mice.

Mice Behavioral Evidence of Infrared Vision

The researchers observed that mice fitted with contact lenses exhibited behaviors indicative of infrared vision. When offered a choice between a dark enclosure and one lit with infrared light, lens-wearing mice opted for the dark, unlike their untreated counterparts.

Physiological and Brain Activation Indicators

The mice exhibited physical indicators of infrared vision, with their pupils narrowing in response to infrared light. Imaging also showed activation in the brain's visual processing centers when exposed to such wavelengths.

Human Trials and Performance

Recognition of Infrared Signals

Human participants wearing the infrared contact lenses were able to correctly identify flickering Morse code-style signals and determine the source direction of the infrared light.

"It's perfectly straightforward-without the contact lenses, the subjects sees nothing. With them on, they can plainly observe the flickering of the infrared light," remarked Xue.

Closed-Eye Detection Advantage

"We discovered that subjects were better at detecting the flickering when their eyes were closed, as near-infrared light passes through the eyelids more efficiently than visible light, reducing interference."

Multiband and Colour-Coded Infrared Vision

Assigning Colours to Infrared Wavelengths

A further modification to the lenses enables wearers to distinguish among various bands of infrared light, with nanoparticles designed to assign distinct colours to each wavelength—such as blue for 980 nm, green for 808 nm and red for 1,532 nm.

Aid for Colour-Blind Users

Beyond enhancing perception of infrared details, the colour-coded nanoparticles may also be adapted to assist those with colour blindness in detecting wavelengths they typically cannot see.

"Through converting red wavelengths into green ones, this innovation could help blind users perceive previously invisible elements," says Xue.

Improving Visual Clarity and Signal Detection

Wearable Glasses for Sharper Infrared Imaging

Due to the contact lenses' limited capacity for fine detail—owing to their closeness to the retina causing scattered light—the researchers devised a wearable glass system using the same nanoparticles, offering sharper infrared perception.

Future Developments in Sensitivity

At present, the contact lenses can solely detect infrared light emitted by LED sources, though scientists are striving to enhance the nanoparticles' sensitivity to pick up weaker infrared signals.

"In time, through collaboration with materials scientists and optics specialists, we aim to develop a contact lens boasting finer resolution and improved sensitivity," said Xue.

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safe sweeteners that fight bacteria

Scientists Discover Artificial Sweetener That Can Combat Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

The artificial sweetener saccharin, typically used in products like sugar-free drinks and diet yogurts, has demonstrated effectiveness in eliminating multidrug-resistant bacteria, including highly dangerous pathogens.

The Growing Threat of Antibiotic Resistance

"Antibiotic resistance poses a significant challenge to contemporary medicine," notes Professor Ronan McCarthy, lead researcher at Brunel University's Antimicrobial Innovations Center.

"Antibiotics are essential in preventing infections during procedures like tooth extractions and cancer therapies, yet their effectiveness is diminishing as resistance grows."

Global Impact of AMR

In 2019, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) was directly responsible for 1.27 million deaths and associated with nearly 5 million fatalities worldwide.

WHO's List of Priority Pathogens

The World Health Organization (WHO) has listed drug-resistant pathogens like Acinetobacter baumannil, known for severe infections in immunocompromised individuals, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, associated with sepsis and chronic lung conditions, as top-priority threats.

Saccharin Emerges as a Novel Antimicrobial Agent

"In groundbreaking research by our team, we've discovered saccharin as a novel antimicrobial agent," said Prof. McCarthy. "It disrupts bacterial cell walls, causing deformation and rupture, ultimately destroying the pathogens. Importantly, this disruption allows antibiotics to penetrate and overcome bacterial defenses."

A Sweetener with Hidden Ability

Saccharin has been staple in the human diet for over a century. Although it has undergone extensive safety testing in humans, its impact on bacteria was not well understood until a recent study published in EMBO Molecular Medicine.

Mechanism of Action

The international research team discovered that saccharin halts bacterial growth, interferes with DNA replication and prevents the formation of biofilms—protective structures that enhance bacterial resistance to antibiotics.

From Lab to Applications: Saccharin-Infused Wound Dressing

The team developed a hydrogel wound dressing infused with saccharin, which demonstrated superior performance to top hospital-grade silver-based antimicrobial dressing in testing.

Transforming Treatment Strategies

"This discovery is incredibly promising," said Prof. McCarthy. "While new antibiotics typically require decades and immense investment, saccharin is already widespread—and it both destroys resistant bacteria and enhances existing antibiotic therapies."

Sweeteners Beyond Taste

"Many diet and sugar-free products contain artificial sweeteners. Our research has shown that these same sweeteners, often used in beverages like coffee or 'sugar-free' drinks, can make some of the most harmful bacteria more treatable."

A Looming Crisis and a Ray of Hope

The World Health Organization cautions that we may soon enter a "Post-Antibiotic era," where routine infection could prove fatal. Excessive antibiotic use in healthcare and agriculture has hastened resistance, while new treatments remain scarce.

Urgency for New Solutions

"This alarming scenario calls for urgent intervention," stated Prof. McCarthy. "Saccharin may offer a novel and promising path forward in combating drug-resistant infections."

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