The glycocalyx surrounds each cell in the human body like a coat. This complex sugar layer plays a key role in the progression of numerous diseases, such as cancer and autoimmune diseases. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light (MPL) have succeeded for the first time in imaging individual sugars within the glycocalyx at molecular resolution and linking their spatial arrangement to their biological function. The findings, recently published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology, open up completely new perspectives for understanding this important cell structure – with far-reaching consequences for diagnosis and therapy.

A study of jewel wasps, known for their distinctive metallic colours, has shown that they can undergo a kind of natural ‘time-out’ as larvae before emerging into adulthood with this surprising advantage

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which give rise to all blood cell types, are essential for regenerative medicine and gene therapy. However, predicting their long-term quality remains a challenge. Now, researchers from Japan have developed a novel system combining live-cell imaging and machine learning to predict HSC quality based on real-time behavior. This approach reveals hidden cellular diversity and enables accurate prediction of cell stemness and quality, advancing basic biology and offering promise for clinical applications.

Amylase/trypsin-inhibitors (ATIs) are proteins that can trigger immune reactions in the human body. They are best known from wheat, where they are considered a possible trigger of non-celiac wheat sensitivity. An international research team led by Katharina Scherf from the Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich has now succeeded for the first time in precisely measuring these proteins in barley. The results could open up new avenues for the development of more tolerable foods.

This research paves the way for point-of-care cortisol testing and diagnoses.

A team of UC Merced researchers has shown that tiny artificial cells can accurately keep time, mimicking the daily rhythms found in living organisms. Their findings shed light on how biological clocks stay on schedule despite the inherent molecular noise inside cells.