This amino acid may help the body fight tumors and viral infections
medicalxpress - The amino acid arginine helps keep the human body humming, most notably by synthesizing proteins that carry out a range of cellular processes. It's produced by our bodies and found in common high-protein foods. Low levels of arginine are associated with a…
AI Summary: New research implicates the amino acid histidine in modulating immune and tumor biology, suggesting it may enhance anti-tumor responses and antiviral defenses in preclinical studies. Scientists report mechanistic insights that could inform future therapeutic strategies, although translation to patients will require careful testing—because promising mouse data still need to pass the human audit.
Ancient Smallpox DNA Hidden in Two Chilean Mummies Traces the Disease’s Colonial Arrival
discovermagazine - Learn how centuries-old DNA linked an extinct virus to European colonization and its spread through an Indigenous community in northern Chile.
AI Summary: Researchers detected ancient smallpox DNA in two Chilean mummies, providing genomic evidence that European colonists introduced the virus to the Americas. The findings link historical outbreaks to colonial contact, illuminate pathogen spread centuries ago, and offer a tangible genetic record of the devastating diseases that reshaped indigenous populations.
HHS to stop funding ‘dangerous’ life sciences research
Paige Twenter / beckershospitalreview - The federal government will stop funding what it determines to be “dangerous” gain-of-function research conducted in the U.S. and abroad after implementing a new policy. The “Policy for Stopping High-Risk Life Sciences Research” lands during broader uphea…
AI Summary: The federal government announced a new policy curbing federal funding for defined categories of high‑risk life‑sciences research, citing biosafety and biosecurity concerns. The move pauses support for experiments judged to pose elevated pandemic or containment risks, sparking debate about how to balance oversight, scientific progress and public safety without stifling useful innovation.