BARseq2 is a new technique that allows researchers to trace thousands of brain circuits simultaneously.
Using single nucleus RNA sequencing, researchers have mapped 21 subtypes of motor neurons in the spinal cords of mice.
Study sheds new light on the role noncoded RNAs play at the synapse.
COVID-19 may not directly infect the brain, but the virus is still capable of causing significant neurological damage, a new study reports. Researchers say the neurological changes seen as a result of coronavirus infection are likely related to inflammation triggered by viral infection in different parts of the body or the brain's blood vessels.
A new blood test can distinguish the severity of a person's depression and their risk for developing severe depression at a later point. The test can also determine if a person is at risk for developing bipolar disorder. Researchers say the blood test can also assist in tailoring individual options for therapeutic interventions.
Using data from RNA sequencing, researchers have identified three molecular subtypes of Alzheimer's disease.
Training neural circuits for tissue engineering at youthful stages generates a better response than training mature cells.
In both human cell and mouse models of Huntington's disease, RNA from mitochondria was misplaced within spiny projection neurons. The stray RNAs, which looked different to cells than RNA derived from the cell nucleus, trigger an immune reaction that can lead to striatal cell type vulnerability.
Study reports SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, was well suited to making the jump from animals to humans by shapeshifting as it gained the ability to infect human cells. The virus's ability to infect humans occurred via exchanging gene fragments from a coronavirus that infected pangolins. The species-to-species transmission was a result of the ability of SARS-CoV-2 to bind to host cells through alterations to its genetic material.
Researchers have identified 6,822 mutations of SARS-CoV-2 across a global dataset. 273 mutations have occurred repeatedly and independently. Of those, researchers investigated 31 mutations that have occurred at least ten times during the current pandemic. They found no evidence that any of the common mutations are increasing the ability of the virus to be transmitted. Some common mutations are neutral, but most are mildly detrimental to the virus. New evidence also suggests the viral spike protein, D614G, is not associated with increased viral transmission.
Researchers isolated live SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, from the feces of patients who died as a result of coronavirus infection. Antigens to the virus were also found in post-mortem gastrointestinal surface cells. Isolating the live virus from fecal matter indicates evidence of the infectious virus in feces is a common manifestation of COVID-19. Researchers also found SARS-CoV-2 RNA on surfaces and bedding samples in hotel rooms used by two presymptomatic people who were later diagnosed with COVID-19.
MicroRNAs that should attack SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, diminish with age, and due to chronic health problems. The findings shed light on why those who are older, and those with health conditions are more susceptible to coronavirus.
