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Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa 8 hours ago

Why feeling sick may be important for surviving infection
Sickness behaviors such as fatigue, loss of appetite, and social withdrawal may represent an adaptive, integrated immune response coordinated by brain–immune communication, rather than mere byproducts of infection. Disruption of this brain–immune axis is implicated in chronic conditions like long COVID and neuropsychiatric disorders. Understanding these mechanisms could inform more precise treatment strategies by distinguishing when symptom suppression is beneficial or detrimental to recovery.

https://www.cell.com/trends/immunology/fulltext/S1471-4906(26)00076-1

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa 8 hours ago

When promising cures collapse before they reach patients
Effective drug development and delivery depend on strong alignment between biotech innovators and pharmaceutical partners, particularly in experience, decision-making, and operational processes. Mismatched partnerships can cause delays or failures in bringing promising therapies to patients, while well-matched collaborations, as seen with Pfizer and BioNTech, facilitate rapid and successful drug deployment.

Stephan M Wagner et al, Experiences, Experience Gaps, and the Moderating Role of Technology Co-Development in Biotech–Pharma Partnerships, Production and Operations Management (2026). DOI: 10.1177/10591478261419268

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa 8 hours ago

The fascinating regional differences in birdsong
Birdsong exhibits both individual and regional variation, with many species displaying distinct dialects or "accents" based on geography and local learning. Song differences arise from learning processes, environmental factors such as urban noise and artificial light, and, in some cases, historical population changes. Urban birds often sing at higher pitches, with altered timing and structure compared to rural counterparts.

original article.

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa 8 hours ago

Report links biodiversity collapse to risks for financial systems and food security
Biodiversity loss, climate shocks, and geopolitical conflicts are destabilizing food systems, increasing food prices, and threatening long-term food security and financial stability. Chronic pressures such as soil degradation, water scarcity, and pollinator decline reduce crop yields, while acute shocks like trade disruptions and extreme weather exacerbate volatility. Urgent integration of nature-related risks into financial and policy decisions is recommended to prevent systemic crises.

Planetary Solvency: Tipping into the wild unknown. actuaries.org.uk/planetary-sol … nto-the-wild-unknown

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa 8 hours ago

Diabetes flips immune cells from repair to inflammation in peripheral artery disease, study finds

Type 2 diabetes can turn immune cells that help with tissue repair and anti-inflammatory responses into triggers of chronic inflammation. A recent study investigated why people with type 2 diabetes are at a higher risk of severe complications from peripheral artery disease (PAD).

PAD is a common circulatory condition in which plaque buildup narrows the arteries, reducing blood flow, usually in the legs. This can lead to lower extremity infections and the formation of non-healing ulcers in people with diabetes.

Using RNA-sequencing and gene mapping, researchers discovered that diabetes causes certain immune cells called macrophages that express the protein TREM2 to reprogram their behaviour from helping cells repair to causing harmful inflammation and preventing blood vessels from healing.

In this study, the researchers decided to intercept cell-to-cell communication within the blood vessels to make sense of how diabetes changes it, particularly the interactions between endothelial cells (ECs) and macrophages (MPs).

To do so, they studied human arteries from donors with and without type 2 diabetes. They used single-cell RNA sequencing to zoom in on individual cell types and identify which genes were switched on or off in each. To pinpoint exactly where this activity occurred, they turned to spatial transcriptomics, which helped them create a map of genetic activity within cells of the arterial structure.

In arteries from donors with type2 diabetes, MPs and ECs exhibit elevated expression of the TREM2 receptor. The genetic testing revealed a two-way signalling loop between ECs and MPs, in which both cell types continuously activate one another. This sustained cross-talk promoted the transition of TREM2+ macrophages, a subpopulation of the immune cells, from a protective, anti-inflammatory state to proinflammatory foam-like cells, thereby increasing inflammation.

As these MPs shifted, they began to influence ECs, changing their behaviour and prompting them to release chemicals that make blood vessel walls more sticky, which not only draws inflammatory cells into the vessels but also hinders healing.

Naseeb Kaur Malhi et al, Diabetes-induced TREM2–endothelial cell signaling impairs ischemic vascular repair, Science Translational Medicine (2026). DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adu3761

Michael D. Chang et al, Programming peripheral artery disease in diabetes, Science Translational Medicine (2026). DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aef8756

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa 8 hours ago

Evolution has reused the same genes for 120 million years, study shows

Scientists have shown that evolution has been using the same genetic "cheat sheet" for over 120 million years, suggesting that life on Earth may be more predictable than first imagined. The international team, studied several distantly related South American rainforest butterfly and moth species that sport similar wing colour patterns that warn away predators, a phenomenon known as mimicry.

The aim of the study was to discover the genes controlling these similar mimicry color patterns among seven distantly related species.

The scientists, including researchers from a number of South American countries, found that despite being very distantly related to each other, the various butterfly and moth species reused the same two genes—ivory and optix—to evolve near identical color patterns.

The genetic changes in the different butterfly species did not happen in the genes themselves, but in similar "switches" that turn the genes on or off. The moth species surprisingly used an inversion mechanism—a large chunk of DNA flipped backwards—a near identical genetic trick used by one of the butterflies.

Convergent evolution, where many unrelated species independently evolve the same trait, is common across the tree of life. But we rarely have the opportunity to investigate the genetic basis of this phenomenon.

Investigating seven butterfly lineages and a day-flying moth,  researchers show that evolution can be surprisingly predictable, and that butterflies and moths have been using the exact same genetic tricks repeatedly to achieve similar colour patterns since the age of the dinosaurs.

The research, published in the journal PLOS Biology, shows that evolution isn't always a roll-of-the-dice, but can be more predictable than previously thought.

PLOS Biology (2026). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3003742

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa yesterday

The research team also says the evidence suggests yawning is a way for the body to regulate the temperature in and around the brain.

In humans, the brain tissue can be up to 1°C warmer than the rest of the body, and venous blood leaving the brain is typically about 0.2–0.3°C warmer than the arterial blood entering it.
So when someone yawns, we can now see an increase in the cooler arterial blood flow into the skull, compensating for the coupled outflow of CSF and venous blood, and therefore we can surmise there may be a thermoregulatory process happening there.

"We could speculate that perhaps yawning is a way that the brain helps to cool itself down, but again we would need to do more research to state that with certainty.

"We do know that a hot brain is not a good thing because there is a risk of cell damage, seizures and cerebral swelling. And there is actually a very narrow band temperature-wise where the brain is steady and balanced, what is known as homeostasis.

"That's likely the reason why there are so many mechanisms—such as blood flow and sweating—that help regulate temperatures in the brain.

"We don't fully know what the level of contribution yawning may play in that, but this research opens up some interesting avenues for further investigation in that area as well."
The researchers also say they have identified for the first time that people appear to have a unique signature to their individual yawn, which can be identified by the complex way their tongue moves during the action.

Another interesting thing they found is that each person yawns in a unique way—so the tongue motion during the yawn is different between people, but very consistent for each person.
And it's not a simple motion. It's a very complex movement of the tongue during a yawn. It's almost like a fingerprint, so you could possibly identify someone just based on how they yawn.

Adam D. Martinac et al, Biomechanics of contagious yawning: Insights into cranio-cervical fluid dynamics and kinematic consistency, Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.resp.2026.104575

Part 2

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa yesterday

A good yawn might do more than you think, say researchers

A simple yawn may feel like the most ordinary of human acts—a reflex triggered by tiredness, boredom, or seeing someone else's mouth stretch wide.

Yawning induces simultaneous outflow of cerebrospinal fluid and venous blood from the skull, a pattern distinct from deep breathing, which causes CSF inflow. This fluid movement may contribute to brain waste clearance and thermoregulation, suggesting a physiological role for yawning beyond social or behavioural triggers. Individual tongue motion during yawning is unique and consistent, resembling a biometric signature.

Now, a new imaging study suggests that yawning may play a subtle but intriguing role in moving fluids in and out of the brain. Although the researchers acknowledge the idea is speculative, they say their work introduces an interesting avenue for understanding the physiological functions of yawning.

Using real-time MRI scans, the team was able to see what happens inside the head and neck when people yawn, and compare it to the effect of normal and deep breathing.

The results, based on a small-scale group of 22 participants and published in Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology, showed that yawning triggered a specific maneuver in which cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and venous blood moved out of the skull together, whereas during deep breathing cerebrospinal fluid flowed into the skull.
Cerebrospinal fluid is a clear liquid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, filling the space around them like water around a floating object. It is important because it cushions and protects the brain and spinal cord from injury and also helps carry nutrients in and waste products out.

The fact that CSF and venous blood flows away from the skull during yawning, but CSF flows in the opposite direction when deep breathing, was a big surprise to the researchers.

They observed that yawning is a body movement that can influence the flow of fluids around the brain.
There has been speculation that yawning can help clear waste from the brain, but so far there has not been solid proof.

This new research suggests that yawning can play a role in cleaning brain fluid, which would most likely happen close to bedtime.
This finding could be important for further studies into neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and dementia—all of which have been potentially linked to the build-up of waste products in and around the brain that can be a result of impaired CSF flows.
Part 1

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa yesterday

No brain required: This is how the single-celled Stentor learns
Stentor coeruleus, a single-celled organism lacking a nervous system, exhibits habituation by reducing its contraction response to repeated stimuli. This learning process relies on calcium influx and CaMKII-mediated protein modification rather than new protein synthesis. The acquired response can be inherited by daughter cells, indicating a non-neuronal molecular basis for memory storage.
Scientists have known for more than a century that a single-celled organism with no nerve cells—much less a brain—can behave in ways that resemble learning.
Now, scientists can explain how this simple organism, called Stentor coeruleus, learns: It uses molecular machinery that resembles what neurons have in the human brain. The results suggest that learning may be a fundamental feature of life.

In findings published in Current Biology, the researchers used modern neuroscience tools to study the pond-dwelling "Stentor," which is shaped like a trumpet and is large enough to be seen with the naked eye. These organisms contract when perturbed but stop after repeated jolts—a form of learning called habituation.
These single cells can perform behaviours that are normally associated with cognition and brains.
The results suggest that Stentors reacted to the jolts by allowing calcium to flow into their cells, which triggered an enzyme called CaMKII to add chemical tags to certain proteins. With each jolt, the Stentors became less likely to respond—suggesting the chemical tags had changed how the organisms sensed the jolts. The Stentors also passed this knowledge to their daughter cells when they divided.
Scientists are still trying to understand how Stentors store this knowledge, but it may involve mechanoreceptors, which respond to touch. Animal neurons do something similar using CaMKII to change the sensitivity of receptors on their surface. It's a tantalizing clue that learning may rely on molecular systems that existed long before the evolution of brains.

Deepa H. Rajan et al, Molecular pathways for learning in the single-cell Stentor coeruleus, Current Biology (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2026.03.080

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa yesterday

A routine virus can slow breast cancer spread to the lungs, offering hidden protective power

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), mostly infects the lungs, nose, throat, and respiratory tract, and can cause illness ranging from mild cold and fever-like symptoms to severe pneumonia and bronchitis. A recent study has found that having a respiratory infection can act as a shield against the spread of cancer cells.
A natural antiviral chemical called type I interferons is produced by our body as one of the earliest responders in the fight against RSV infections. These molecules can also help prevent breast cancer from spreading to the lungs by changing the lung environment in a way that makes it difficult for cancer cells to survive or thrive. The findings are published in PNAS.

Ana Farias et al, Type I interferons induced upon respiratory viral infection impair lung metastatic initiation, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2026). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2412919123

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