FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articlesvisual neuroscience·May 1, 2020New gene therapy for complete color blindness tested in patientsNew gene therapy may help those with achromatopsia, or complete color blindness, to improve visual function. The treatment targets the CNGA3 gene, which is implicated in one-third of achromatopsia cases. Read More
Brain CancerFeaturedGeneticsNeurologyNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·May 1, 2020New targets for childhood brain tumors identifiedNeurons and immune cells work together to promote tumor growth in neurofibromatosis type 1. Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeurologyNeuroscience·May 1, 2020Molecular basis of rare neurological disorder reveals potential treatmentStudy reveals how mutations of the synaptotagmin-1 protein can lead to a rare disorder called syt1-associated neurodevelopmental disorder. Mutations of the SYT1 gene interfere with neurotransmitter release, and the altered protein becomes less responsive to calcium. Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·April 30, 2020DNA may hold the key to protecting populations from COVID-19A new genetics test for COVID-19 has been developed by an international team of researchers. The full genome sequencing test can not only provide accurate results in less than two minutes, but it can also extract intricate and highly complex genetic data about the strain of the coronavirus infection. Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·April 29, 2020Molecular switch plays crucial role in learning from negative experiencesNeuromedin U acts as a signaling molecule that allows neurons to communicate with each other, playing a key role in the recall of negative events. Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·April 29, 2020Scientists explore links between genetics, gut microbiome and memoryResearchers have honed in on a link between genetics, the gut microbiome, and memory. A new study identified a lactate as a key memory-boosting molecular messenger in mouse models. Mice fed Lactobacillus microbes had increased levels of GABA in their brains. Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeurologyNeuroscience·April 29, 2020APOE4 triggers early breakdowns in the blood-brain barrierAPOE4, a gene implicated as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, triggers leaks in the blood-brain barrier. The damage to capillaries APOE4 causes correlates with increased levels of cyclophilin, a protein that causes the inflammation that is a signature of early Alzheimer's. Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·April 28, 2020How genes control courtship and aggressionStudy shows how sex-determining genes can mediate courtship and aggressive behaviors in fruit flies. The findings demonstrate the complexity of the relationship between behavior and sex. Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·April 28, 2020Offspring may inherit legacy of their father’s Toxoplasma infectionMouse study reveals the sperm of males infected with Toxoplasma carries an altered epigenetic signature that impacts the brain of the offspring. While the effects of T. gondii infections in pregnant women are fairly well documented, this is a novel study looking at the impact of male infection and its impact on offspring. The study raises the question as to whether T. gondii infections in men before conception impact the health and development of future generations. Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeurologyNeuroscience·April 27, 2020More evidence Parkinson’s disease may start in the gutEnteric neurons appear to play a key role in the development of Parkinson's disease. The findings support the hypothesis and previous studies that the neurodegenerative disease may start in the gut before spreading to the brain. Researchers also found oligodendrocytes were affected during the early stages of Parkinson's, even before the loss of dopaminergic neurons. Read More
AutismFeaturedGeneticsNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·April 27, 2020Lithium may treat behavior linked to autism geneFindings support the idea that lithium, a drug more commonly associated with the treatment of bipolar disorder, may help treat those with SHANK3 related autism. Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·April 24, 2020Asthma drug in clinical trial to treat severe COVID-19 patientsA new clinical trial is underway to test ibudilast, an asthma drug approved in Japan, for the treatment of severe COVID-19. Ibudilast is a MIF inhibitor. MIF is a gene that regulates immune response and is a driver of inflammation which results in the cytokine storm associated with coronavirus. Read More
