Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rana Muhammad Atif | Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences | China


 

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Microplastics in Caddisflies Casings

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  Recent research from the Naturalis Biodiversity Center in the Netherlands has uncovered a concerning trend regarding caddisfly larvae. Evidence shows that these insects have been using microplastics in their casings since the 1970s. This finding marks the long-standing issue of environmental contamination by plastics. The study, published in the journal *Science of The Total Environment*, analysed preserved caddisfly casings, revealing the integration of synthetic materials into their natural habitats. Caddisfly Overview Caddisflies belong to the order Trichoptera. They are found globally, primarily in freshwater ecosystems like lakes and rivers. These moth-like insects lay their eggs in jelly masses. After hatching, the larvae create protective cases from nearby materials. Traditionally, these materials include sand, stones, and organic debris. Discovery of Microplastics The researchers examined 549 preserved caddisfly casings from natural history collections. They discovere...
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Stem cells reverse woman’s diabetes — a world first

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  The innovative treatment involved extracting fat cells from the patient and reprogramming them into pluripotent stem cells capable of developing into various cell types. These reprogrammed cells were then coaxed to differentiate into insulin-producing islet cells. Approximately 1.5 million of these islet cells were injected into the patient's abdominal muscles during a minimally invasive procedure. This approach allowed for continuous monitoring using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ensuring the safety and functionality of the transplanted cells.  Within 75 days post-transplant, the patient achieved insulin independence, with her blood glucose levels remaining within the target range for over 98% of the day. As of over a year later, she continues to produce insulin naturally, eliminating the need for insulin injections.  🌍 Global Implications This advancement holds significant promise for the future of diabetes treatment. Experts view this as a major step toward dev...
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New “evolution engine” creates super-proteins 100,000x faster

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  "This is like giving evolution a fast-forward button," says co-senior author Pete Schultz, the President and CEO of Scripps Research, where he also holds the L.S. "Sam" Skaggs Presidential Chair. "You can now evolve proteins continuously and precisely inside cells without damaging the cell's genome or requiring labor-intensive steps." Directed evolution is a laboratory process that involves introducing mutations and selecting variants with improved function over multiple cycles. It's used to tailor proteins with desired properties, such as highly selective, high-affinity antibodies, enzymes with new specificities or catalytic properties, or to investigate the emergence of resistance mutations in drug targets. However, traditional methods often require repeated rounds of DNA manipulation and testing with each round taking a week or more. Systems for continuous evolution -- where proteins evolve inside living cells without manual intervention -- a...
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