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A new study from the University of Vienna reveals that sea anemones use a molecular mechanism known from bilaterian animals to form their back-to-belly body axis. This mechanism ("BMP shuttling") enables cells to organize themselves during development by interpreting signaling gradients. The findings, published in Science Advances , suggest that this system evolved much earlier than previously assumed and was already present in the common ancestor of cnidarians and bilaterians.

A research team led by Stefan Pflügl has succeeded in genetically manipulating the microorganism T. kivui to metabolize carbon monoxide. Stefan Pflügl (left) in the lab with the first authors of the two publications, Angeliki Sitara (center) and Rémi Hocq (right). " aria-haspopup="dialog" Genetic changes can occur naturally through evolution or can be initiated with the help of genetic engineering.

Researchers around the world are investigating the causes and treatment of Parkinson's disease, ADHD, and addiction. One key aspect of this research is the dopamine transporter DAT. In an international research project, scientists from Johannes Kepler University Linz, the Medical University of Vienna, and the NIH (National Institutes of Health, USA) have now investigated this protein in more detail and discovered previously unknown mechanisms.

Epilepsy is primarily treated symptomatically - that is, the majority of the available medications aim to suppress seizures without influencing the underlying causes of the disease. A research team from the Medical University of Vienna has now identified a molecular mechanism that may play a role in the development of seizures.

TU Wien (Austria) and Keio University (Japan) have now found a way to create artificial blood vessels in miniature organ models in a rapid and reproducible manner. Schematic representation of a hepatic lobule (left) and 3D view of the vascularized hepatic lobule on-chip after 9 days of culture (right) " aria-haspopup="dialog" Endothelialized laser-patterned channels after 7 days of culture (left) and magnified view of immunofluorescence-stained microvessel (CD31 in red, nuclei in blue) " aria-haspopup="dialog" How can we investigate the effects of a new drug?

A research team involving the Medical University of Vienna has summarised the novel findings on the immunomodulatory effect of tick saliva in a review paper. The work, published in the journal Frontiers in Immunology, shows how bioactive molecules in tick saliva influence the host's immune system, facilitate disease transmission and at the same time offer potential for novel therapeutic applications.

Voltage-gated calcium channels are associated with numerous diseases. A new research group led by Nadine Ortner from the Institute of Pharmacy at the University of Innsbruck is now focusing on gene mutations that impair the function of a specific channel subtype known as CaV1. The five-person interdisciplinary team is funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) with 1.64 million euros.

ISTA scientists present new microscopy method to reconstruct mammalian brain tissue Our brain is a complex organ. Billions of nerve cells are wired in an intricate network, constantly processing signals, enabling us to recall memories or to move our bodies. Making sense of this complicated network requires a precise look into how these nerve cells are arranged and connected.

Multiple antibiotic resistance is auxiliary to bacterial fitness and adaptability Could a gene regulatory network in gut microbes have evolved its elaborate and tightly regulated molecular machinery only to pump out antibiotics indiscriminately? Researchers from the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) show this is an auxiliary function.

First report of a new DNA marker outside of microbes, important for sperm function Could it be that one of only three known markers directly targeting the DNA does not exist outside the realm of microbes? Now, researchers led by Xiaoqi Feng at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) have demonstrated that this marker-N4-methylcytosine (4mC)-is essential for sperm development and maturation in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha , a key organism in plant evolution.

A temporary bacterial infection of the skin can cause long-lasting changes in the immune system and increase allergic inflammation. This is the result of a study led by the Medical University of Vienna and the CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine, which has just been published in the leading journal "Science Immunology".

Special anatomical structures in the throat greatly enrich the vocal repertoire of New World monkeys A recent investigation led by voice scientist Christian T. Herbst from the University of Vienna and colleagues from Anglia Ruskin University provides new insights into the vocal capabilities of New World monkeys, the group of all'original primates of the American continent: They can produce "voice breaks" similar to human yodeling, but support a much wider range of frequencies.

Organoids have revolutionized science and medicine, providing platforms for disease modeling, drug testing, and understanding developmental processes. While not exact replicas of human organs, they offer significant insights. The Siegert group at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) presents a new organoid model that reveals details of the developing nervous system's response to viral infections, such as Rubella.

This novel antibiotic activates an existing "suicide" mechanism in gonococci The increase of microbes resistant to antibiotics is a growing problem. These include, for example, Neisseria gonorrhoeae , a bacterium which causes gonorrhea. Researchers from the universities in Konstanz and Vienna discover a new class of antibiotic that selectively targets Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Phosphorylation serves as a key on-and-off switch in cell signaling, such as in the Akt pathway, which regulates cell growth and is often upregulated in cancer. Master students Tarik Husremovic and Vanessa Meier from the Leonard lab at the Max Perutz Labs now reveal, in a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), that the phosphatases PHLPP1 and PHLPP2 - previously believed to dephosphorylate Akt and suppress tumor growth - are neither phosphatases nor tumor suppressors.

A recent study on fish allergies has gained new insights into the reactivity to parvalbumins, the main allergens in fish. A research team from Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences and the Medical University of Vienna, together with international colleagues, examined the IgE reactivity to parvalbumins from 12 different freshwater fish species from Austria.

Why is sleep so important for learning and memory? Neuroscientists from the Csicsvari group at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) provided new insight into this essential function by monitoring neuronal activity in rat brains for up to 20 hours of sleep following spatial learning.

Although persons with haemophilia have nowadays reached a similar life expectancy as the general population in regions of the world with access to safe and effective therapies, little is known about the biological ageing process in the people with this congenital bleeding disorder. In a study recently published in the journal "Haematologica", researchers from the MedUni Vienna have now shown that people with haemophilia have a significantly increased biological age.

A research team from the Medical University of Vienna has made further progress in the treatment of intestinal inflammation. A study shows that the semi-synthetic bile acid NorUDCA inhibits in the intestine the formation of pro-inflammatory T helper 17 cells (TH17) and at the same time promotes the generation of anti-inflammatory regulatory T cells.

This effect even occurs with virtual nature - such as nature videos In a new study, an international team of neuroscientists led by the University of Vienna has shown that experiencing nature can alleviate acute physical pain. Surprisingly, simply watching nature videos was enough to relieve pain. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, the researchers found that acute pain was rated as less intense and unpleasant when watching nature videos - along with a reduction in brain activity associated with pain.