How researchers are shining a light on kidney disease
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 14-Aug-2025 14:11 ET (14-Aug-2025 18:11 GMT/UTC)
For patients with polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a common genetic disorder that ravages the waste-removing organ with cysts, dialysis and transplantation are among the only treatments.
More than 12.4 million people worldwide suffer from the dominant form of the condition. Now, Rutgers University geneticists have uncovered fresh details of how the disease progresses – findings that could open the door to new therapies.
Viruses known as “jumbo phage” are a new hope against the rising antibacterial infection crisis. Researchers have discovered how jumbo phage are able to infect bacteria so efficiently. They found a compartment that protects and hides valuable DNA material from the bacteria’s immune defense system.