A new study published in eGastroenterology uncovers profound alterations in the mucosal DNA and RNA virome and their interplay with host transcriptomes in colorectal polyps. The research team, led by Dr. Howard Yim and Dr. Xiaotao Jiang at the Microbiome Research Centre, UNSW, analyzed paired polyp and normal mucosal biopsies, revealing reduced viral diversity and distinct enrichment of Poxviridae, Retroviridae, and BeAn 58058 virus. These viral changes correlated with altered gene expression related to cancer and immune pathways, suggesting potential virome-driven mechanisms in early colorectal tumorigenesis.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, low propensity to induce bacterial resistance, and multifunctional properties including immunomodulation and tissue regeneration promotion.This study comprehensively reviews the classification, antimicrobial mechanisms, and therapeutic applications of AMPs in major oral diseases such as dental caries, periodontitis, oral cancer, oral candidiasis, and oral mucositis. The research also analyzes key challenges in clinical translation (stability, cytotoxicity, immunogenicity, production costs) and corresponding solutions, while exploring their applications in implant coatings, oral dressings, combination therapy, and diagnostic markers, providing a robust theoretical basis for advancing oral disease treatment.

A discovery from Australian researchers could lead to better treatment for children with neuroblastoma, a cancer that currently claims 9 out of 10 young patients who experience recurrence. The team at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Sydney found a drug combination that can bypass the cellular defences these tumours develop that lead to relapse.

Discover how St. Jude research uncovered an unknown cell death pathway triggered by innate immune activation and nutrient scarcity that may help treat cancer.