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Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on October 30, 2024 at 11:40am

Less than 7 mm in length, this Atlantic Rainforest flea toad is the second-smallest vertebrate described in the world

Flea toads, as some species in the genus Brachycephalus are known, are less than 1 cm long in adulthood. Their size is far smaller than a fingernail.

The name of a new species, B. dacnis, pays tribute to Project Dacnis, a conservation, research and education NGO that maintains private areas of the Atlantic Rainforest, including the one where the animal was found, in Ubatuba, on the coast of Brazil's São Paulo state.

There are small toads with all the characteristics of large toads except for their size. This genus is different. During its evolution, it underwent what  biologists call miniaturization, which involves loss, reduction and/or fusion of bones, as well as fewer digits and absence of other parts of its anatomy.

The researchers' attention was drawn to the newly described species, B. dacnis, by its vocalizations. It has the same morphology as another species, B. hermogenesi. Both have yellowish-brown skin, live in leaf litter, do not have tadpoles but emerge from their eggs as fully formed miniatures of the adult morphology, and occur in the same region. Their calls are different, however.

DNA sequencing confirmed that B. dacnis was indeed a new species.

In their description of the new species, besides the requisite anatomical traits, the researchers included information about the skeleton and internal organs, as well as molecular data and details of its vocalizations. Descriptions of new species must include these details in order to distinguish them from others more precisely, given that many are cryptic and cannot be differentiated by external anatomy only.

 Luís Felipe Toledo et al, Among the world's smallest vertebrates: a new miniaturized flea-toad (Brachycephalidae) from the Atlantic rainforest, PeerJ (2024). DOI: 10.7717/peerj.18265

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on October 30, 2024 at 11:34am

But PRC1 doesn't act alone. Its activity is tightly controlled to ensure that microtubules assemble at the right time and place. The protein is controlled through a process called phosphorylation, where enzymes add small chemical tags to specific regions on its surface. These molecular tags can turn PRC1's activity up or down.
Scientists now discovered that manipulating the phosphorylation state of PRC1 can induce large-scale transitions between different states of cytoskeleton organization that are needed for cell division. The changes take only a few minutes to complete.
The researchers made this discovery by developing a new laboratory system where they can precisely control and even reverse the transitions of the cytoskeletal structures associated with different stages of cell division outside of a living system. The new technology can help researchers study the fundamental mechanisms governing cell division with greater control and detail than previously possible, and in real time.
The new system can eventually shed light on potential therapeutic strategies for conditions where cell division goes wrong, like cancer. However, for the scientists who discovered the process, the implications of the study are how it inspires a sense of wonder at the sophistication of the natural world.
Cells are incredibly small, yet within them exists a highly organized and very complex system that operates with great precision.

Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-53500-1

Part 2

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on October 30, 2024 at 11:30am

Scientists create a molecular switch that can control cell division on demand outside of a living system

A living cell is a bustling metropolis, with countless molecules and proteins navigating crowded spaces in every direction. Cell division is a grand event which completely transforms the landscape. The cell starts behaving like the host of an international competition, reconfiguring entire streets, relocating buildings and rerouting its transportation systems.

For decades, researchers have been captivated by the cell's ability to organize such a dramatic transformation. Central to the process is the microtubule cytoskeleton, a network of fibers which provides structural support and facilitates movement within the cell, ensuring that chromosomes are correctly segregated. Errors in cell division can lead to a wide array of diseases and disorders, including cancer or genetic disorders.

Yet despite its critical importance, the exact mechanisms governing how cells reorganize their insides during cell division have not been studied well. How does a cell know when and how to rearrange its internal scaffolding? What are the molecular signals governing these changes? Who are the key players conducting it all? According to new research, some of the changes come down to a surprisingly simple and elegant system—the flip of a molecular switch. The findings are published in Nature Communications .
At the heart of the discovery is the protein PRC1. During cell division, PRC1 plays a key role in organizing cell division. It crosslinks microtubules, helping to form a structure in the crucial region where microtubules overlap and chromosomes are separated.

Part 1

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on October 30, 2024 at 11:22am

The findings have significant implications for the fight against bacterial and fungal infections that pose an increasing risk to human health, a problem that is exacerbated by the development of antimicrobial resistance and the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains. The World Health Organization has published lists of priority pathogens that pose the greatest risk, emphasizing the need for new antimicrobial strategies.

Addressing antimicrobial resistance will require a multifaceted strategy, including the discovery and characterization of new antimicrobial targets, along with assessing their potential for therapeutic use in innovative (co-)treatment approaches.

The authors of the study suggest that targeting the Zn-Macro pathway could reduce the virulence of major human pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes. These pathogens rely on the crosstalk between lipoic acid metabolism and ADP-ribosylation signaling for their defense mechanisms. Disrupting this pathway could enhance the effectiveness of existing treatments and provide new therapeutic options.
The study's findings represent a significant step forward in the fight against antimicrobial resistance and highlight the potential of Zn-Macros as therapeutic targets.

Antonio Ariza et al, Evolutionary and molecular basis of ADP-ribosylation reversal by zinc-dependent macrodomains, Journal of Biological Chemistry (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107770

Part 2

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on October 30, 2024 at 11:21am

Scientists uncover key mechanism in pathogen defense, paving way for new antimicrobial strategies

Researchers have made a significant breakthrough in understanding how certain pathogens defend themselves against the host's immune system.

This  new work focuses on the role of a group of enzymes known as zinc-dependent macrodomains (Zn-Macros) in reversing ADP-ribosylation, a vital cellular process.

This discovery could lead to innovative treatments to combat antimicrobial resistance, a growing global health threat. The work is published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

ADP-ribosylation is a reversible modification of proteins and DNA that regulates important cellular responses to stress. While this signaling mechanism is well-studied in higher eukaryotes, where it regulates responses to DNA damage, reactive oxygen species and infection, the importance of its role in microorganisms is also becoming increasingly evident, which includes the regulation of the host immune response, microbial immune evasion and adaptation to specific hosts.

The research team used a combination of phylogenetic, biochemical, and structural approaches to investigate the function of Zn-Macros. These enzymes are found in some pathogenic microbes and are essential for removing ADP-ribosyl modifications, thereby helping the pathogens survive oxidative stress.

The study revealed that the catalytic activity of Zn-Macros is strictly dependent on a zinc ion within the active site of these enzymes. The researchers also identified structural features that contribute to substrate selectivity within different types of Zn-Macro enzymes, which may be exploited for the development of future therapies.

Part 1

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on October 30, 2024 at 8:54am

In total, the researchers identified ninety (only 90? Come on, we ourselves 're involved in atleast 10, these researchers don't know about the incidents in India, then) incidents between 2010 and 2023. The team then conducted a systematic content analysis of the articles to categorize the problems mentioned: half of the traffic disruptions reported were traffic jams, while a third were caused by through traffic of heavy vehicles, especially on roads that were not designed for such volumes of traffic.

Reports of traffic rule violations and disturbances to residents were less common. The latter were caused, for example, by long lines of cars preventing drivers from being able to back out of their private parking spaces.

The safety hazards mentioned in the newspaper reports concerned accidents in a third of cases, but also damage to road surfaces and pollution.

Through studies such as this one, the team not only wants to categorize the problems perceived by society, but also develop solutions. The evaluation showed that in most cases, the aim is only to make adjustments at the local level.

The research team also has another suggestion that does not completely delegate responsibility to technology: the system could provide users with additional information about the suggested routes—and then let them choose for themselves.
It would be nice if people could voluntarily choose to be more considerate by providing the full information, they say.

Eve Schade et al, Traffic jam by GPS: A systematic analysis of the negative social externalities of large-scale navigation technologies, PLOS ONE (2024). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0308260

Part 2

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Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on October 30, 2024 at 8:48am

GPS systems often mislead drivers

We know this for sure!

Drivers blindly follow GPS instructions instead of paying attention to signs. Blindly following GPS navigation can lead to difficult situations on the road. A research team has analyzed such incidents and is in favour of delegating more personal responsibility to drivers.

As useful as GPS-controlled navigation systems are in everyday life, they often lead people astray and trigger outrage. Sometimes they even guide cars and lorries onto very challenging roads, unnecessarily endangering everyone involved.

(We know how the GPS took vehicles into water bodies, strange areas and put people into dangerous situations)

This is a technology that is used by more than a billion people worldwide. That's why it's important to understand the social implications.

Since there is no publicly available documentation, the researchers used a different method: they systematically combed the LexisNexis news database for newspaper articles and internet posts about incidents in which navigation systems caused chaos and problems. To avoid complications due to translations, they only looked at English texts, which unsurprisingly reported mostly on events in English-speaking countries. But as the examples above illustrate, such incidents also occur in other areas around the world. Yeah, in India for sure. 

In societies where navigation apps are increasingly used, we can expect to see more of these types of situations in the future.

Part 1

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on October 29, 2024 at 11:37am

Cat Ba langurs' unique ability to drink salt water

A new study shows the remarkable adaptability of the critically endangered Cat Ba langurs. Despite low genetic diversity, the langurs have retained key genetic traits that help them survive in their isolated environment on Cat Ba Island in Vietnam. One of these remarkable adaptations is the ability to drink salt water.

The study is dedicated to the genetic challenges faced by the fewer than 100 remaining individuals of this primate species. Due to the dramatic decline of its population, the species suffers from genetic impoverishment, high inbreeding and a potentially increased susceptibility to disease. Nevertheless, analysis of their genetic information shows that genetic diversity has been maintained in functionally important areas of their genetic information. This enables the Cat Ba langurs (Trachypithecus poliocephalus) to continue to cope adequately with changing environmental conditions.

Their adaptability makes the animals unique. Drinking salt water is an outstanding example of this.

This extraordinary ability is a direct consequence of their isolated island home, where there are only limited freshwater sources. The researchers show that changes in certain genes have probably increased tolerance to salt water. These genetic adaptations enable langurs to cope with the high sodium content of salt water and thus contribute to their survival in this unique environment.

The research is published in the journal Nature Communications.

 Liye Zhang et al, Genomic adaptation to small population size and saltwater consumption in the critically endangered Cat Ba langur, Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52811-7

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on October 29, 2024 at 11:29am

A wing's teardrop form forces air to flow quickly over its top, creating a low-pressure area that pulls the plane up. At the same time, air pushes against the bottom of the wing, adding upward pressure. Designers call the combination of this pull and push "lift." Changes in flight conditions or a drop in an aircraft's speed can result in stall, rapidly reducing lift.

The study uncovered the physics by which the flaps improved lift and identified two ways that the flaps control air moving around the wing. One of these control mechanisms had not been previously identified.

The researchers uncovered the new mechanism, called shear layer interaction, when they were testing the effect of a single flap near the front of the wing. They found that the other mechanism is only effective when the flap is at the back of the wing.

The researchers tested configurations with a single flap and with multiple flaps ranging from two rows to five rows. They found that the five-row configuration improved lift by 45%, reduced drag by 30% and enhanced the overall wing stability.

The discovery of this new mechanism unlocked a secret behind why birds have these feathers near the front of the wings and how we can use these flaps for aircraft. Especially because we found that the more flaps you add to the front of the wing, the higher the performance benefit.

This is the power of bioinspired design!

Wissa, Aimy, Distributed feather-inspired flow control mitigates stall and expands flight envelope, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2024). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2409268121. doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2409268121

Part 2

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on October 29, 2024 at 11:27am

Bird wings inspire new approach to flight safety

Taking inspiration from bird feathers,  engineers have found that adding rows of flaps to a remote-controlled aircraft's wings improves flight performance and helps prevent stalling, a condition that can jeopardize a plane's ability to stay aloft.

These flaps can both help the plane avoid stall and make it easier to regain control when stall does occur.

The flaps mimic a group of feathers, called covert feathers, that deploy when birds perform certain aerial maneuvers, such as landing or flying in a gust. Biologists have observed when and how these feathers deploy, but no studies have quantified the aerodynamic role of covert feathers during bird flight.

Engineering studies have investigated covert-inspired flaps for improving engineered wing performance, but have mostly neglected that birds have multiple rows of covert feathers. The present study has advanced the technology by demonstrating how sets of flaps work together and exploring the complex physics that governs the interaction.

This new  the technique is an easy and cost-effective way to drastically improve flight performance without additional power requirements.

The covert flaps deploy or flip up in response to changes in airflow, requiring no external control mechanisms. They offer an inexpensive and lightweight method to increase flight performance without complex machinery. They're essentially just flexible flaps that, when designed and placed properly, can greatly improve a plane's performance and stability.

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