Showerheads and toothbrushes filled with unexpected bacteriophages
US researchers have found a surprising diversity of viruses living in household biofilms, specifically in showerheads and on toothbrushes, many of which they have never seen before. They suggest that this previously untapped biodiversity, which includes viruses that infect bacteria, could become a source of materials for exploring antibiotic resistance.
AI and chemistry: Why a Nobel Prize is just the beginning
The award of the 2024 Nobel Prize for Chemistry has put the use of artificial intelligence in science, and computational chemistry in particular, in the spotlight again.
Nanobodies could limit the dangerous effects of opioids
For the first time, an antibody-type molecule has been reported to bind to the opioid receptor. This could lead to new pain medication or an antidote to opioid overdoses.
Antibiotic resistance meets AI
Artificial intelligence could help doctors spot antibiotic resistant bacteria. This is the conclusion from a Swiss study that trained GPT-4 from OpenAI to interpret lab tests on patient samples.
Cancer protein in therapeutic crosshairs
Researchers in California have pinpointed a location on a cancer protein that small molecules can target. Mutations in the protein, called Forkhead box protein 1 (FOXA1), allow some cancers to proliferate, but it has been notoriously difficult to block it with drugs.
Chemicals industry growth slows
The UK chemical industry has seen growth almost disappear, despite signs earlier in the year that growth had returned. The latest survey of the industry by the UK Chemicals Industry Association, reporting on Q3 trading, shows reductions across the board.
GSK’s largest US investment
Pharma major GSK is to make its largest ever manufacturing investment in the US. Its Marietta, Pennsylvania, US, site will receive new state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, while new R&D and commercial facilities will double the size and capacity of the site, representing a total investment of up to $800m.
Investors focus on bioscience research
On both sides of the Atlantic, investment in bioscience research is experiencing significant interest. The UK Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is investing £4m in 23 ‘pioneering’ bioscience research technologies, methodologies and resources through its 2023 Transformative Research Technologies fund (23TRT).
Editing atoms to boost drug discovery
A new technology that enables the easy and rapid editing of single key atoms responsible for drug efficacy could revolutionise the process of discovering potential drug candidates.
COP29 meeting comes at a critical phase for climate crisis
Ahead of the UN’s Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, researchers stressed the severity of the unfolding climate change crisis.