Xenophagocytosis is a natural immune process that limits interspecies organ generation by eliminating living donor cells, report researchers at Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan. By uncovering how embryonic macrophages eliminate living donor cells, the researchers developed strategies to block this response. Using this strategy, they significantly improved donor cell survival and generation of rat pancreas in mice, bringing us one step closer to producing transplantable human organs in animals.

A new study suggests that a soy-derived lysolecithin, LPC70, reduced high-salt diet (HSD)-induced hypertension, social behavior deficits, and object recognition memory impairment in mice. The benefits are associated with receptor-specific regulation in prostaglandin (PG) signaling. An increased production of arachidonic acid-derived PGs was also noted. The findings suggest LPC70 may serve as a functional food ingredient to mitigate HSD-associated cardiovascular and cognitive decline.

For decades, research on wildlife parasites and pathogens has often relied on methods that require capturing, handling, or even euthanizing animals. These invasive approaches can impose considerable stress on wildlife. However, according to a recently published article by researchers at the HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, a growing number of modern, non-invasive methods, such as citizen science, digital epidemiology, and eDNA, are now available that enable the monitoring of parasites and pathogens without placing substantial stress or burden on wild animals, showing that in many cases, animals do not even need to be captured. 

According to the authors, the growing adoption of non-invasive surveillance methods benefits nature conservation, animal health, and ultimately human health alike. These innovative tools enable earlier detection of emerging wildlife infections and provide a more accurate understanding of how pathogens and parasites spread, while making wildlife research more ethical and sustainable.