Calcium activity mediated by Piezo1 channels regulates the pathfinding of blood vessels in the developing brain.
Researchers discovered a bacteria of the genus Bartonella releases a protein, which they dubbed BafA, which stimulates the production of new blood vessels that support bacterial lesions. Bartonella henselae causes cat scratch disease. The findings provide new insight into the mechanisms by which infectious bacteria can produce lesions.
Early developmental deficits in the formation of the brain's blood vessels cause autistic traits in mouse models of ASD.
