Comment

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa yesterday

These results offer new insights into what might go wrong in the brain during psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia, where patients struggle to keep apart imagination and reality. The findings may also inform future virtual reality technologies by identifying how and when imagined experiences feel real.

 A neural basis for distinguishing imagination from reality, Neuron (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2025.05.015. www.cell.com/neuron/fulltext/S0896-6273(25)00362-9

Part 2

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa yesterday

Brain mechanisms that distinguish imagination from reality discovered

Areas of the brain that help a person differentiate between what is real and what is imaginary have been uncovered in a new study.

The research, published in Neuron, found that a region in the brain known as  the fusiform gyrus—located behind one's temples, on the underside of the brain's temporal lobe—is involved in helping the brain to determine whether what we see is from the external world or generated by our imagination.

For the study, researchers asked 26 participants to look at simple visual patterns while imagining them at the same time.

Specifically, participants were asked to look for a specific faint pattern within a noisy background on a screen and indicate whether the pattern was actually present or not. A real pattern was only presented half of the time.

At the same time, participants were also instructed to imagine a pattern that was either the same or different to the one they were looking for, and indicate how vivid their mental images were.

When the patterns were the same, and participants reported that their imagination was very vivid, they were more likely to say they saw a real pattern, even in trials in which nothing was presented. This means they mistook their mental images for reality.

While participants performed the tasks, their brain activity was monitored using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). This technology enabled the researchers to identify which parts of the brain showed patterns of activity that helped distinguish reality from imagination.

The team found that the strength of activity in the fusiform gyrus could predict whether people judged an experience as real or imagined, irrespective of whether it actually was real.

When activity in the fusiform gyrus was strong, people were more likely to indicate that the pattern was really there.

Usually, activation in the fusiform gyrus is weaker during imagination than during perception, which helps the brain keep the two apart. However, this study showed that sometimes when participants imagined very vividly, activation of the fusiform gyrus was very strong and participants confused their imagination for reality.

These findings suggest that the brain uses the strength of sensory signals to distinguish between imagination and reality.

The study also showed that the fusiform gyrus collaborates with other brain areas to help us decide what is real and what is imagined.

Specifically, activity in the anterior insula—a brain region in the prefrontal cortex (the front part of the brain that acts as a control center for tasks such as decision-making, problem solving and planning)—increased in line with activity in the fusiform gyrus when participants said something was real, even if it was in fact imagined.

Part1

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa yesterday

Baby's microbiome may protect against later childhood viral infection

A baby's makeup of gut bacteria—their microbiome—which starts to form as soon as they are born, could help protect against viral infections later in childhood, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that babies with a specific mix of gut bacteria at one week old, which was only found in some babies born vaginally, were less likely to be hospitalized for viral lower respiratory tract infections (vLRTI) in the first two years of life.

This research, published in The Lancet Microbe, is the first study to show an association between the makeup of the gut microbiome in the first week of life and hospital admissions for respiratory infections in early childhood.

The team did this using whole genome sequencing and analysis of stool samples from 1,082 newborns and then used their electronic health records to track admissions to hospital up to the age of two years old.

Building on previous findings  this new research suggests that certain microbiome compositions could give different benefits, such as protection against viral infections.

The gut microbiome is a complex ecosystem of millions of microbes that are vital for human health and important in immune system development. As it begins to form immediately at birth, the first month is the earliest window for intervention that could be used to restore or boost the microbiome.

Previously, the researchers  found that babies born vaginally have a different microbiome compared to those born via cesarean section (C-section), although the differences largely evened out by the time the child was one-year old.

A different study by the same team also found that all UK babies have one of three bacteria within the first week of life, called pioneer bacteria. Two of these, Bifidobacterium longum (B. longum) and Bifidobacterium breve (B. breve), are considered beneficial as they help promote the development of a stable microbiome.

However, not all babies born vaginally had the same microbiome composition. The team identified two other groups of babies based on their microbiome profile, who had a higher risk of hospital admission for vLRTI compared to those in the B. longum group. These other microbiome profiles were found in babies born vaginally and by C-section.

It's important to note that the team observed this finding as an association, otherwise known as correlation, and further research is needed to prove any causal links.

The neonatal gut microbiota and its association with severe viral lower respiratory tract infections in the first two years of life: a birth cohort study with metagenomics, The Lancet Microbe (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.lanmic.2024.101072

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa yesterday

Depriving mice of iron can increase the chance of intersex offspring

Iron deficiency in pregnant mice may lead to the development of ovaries in a small proportion of offspring carrying XY chromosomes, which typically determine male sex. The findings, published in Nature this week, reveal a link between iron metabolism and sex determination in mammals.

A key gene responsible for male sex determination in mammals is Sry, which controls the development of the testes and is found on the Y chromosome. An enzyme called KDM3A that is essential for regulating Sry gene expression is known to rely on Fe²⁺ for its activity. However, how iron levels may influence sex determination remains unclear.

To explore the potential connection between iron metabolism and sex determination in mammals,  researchers conducted a series of experiments using cultured cells and mice. They found that genes favoring accumulation of Fe²⁺ are upregulated in developing mouse embryonic gonads during the crucial period of sex determination.

When the researchers reduced iron levels in cultured cells to approximately 40% of normal levels, expression of the Sry gene was largely suppressed, and the XY gonads began to show genetic markers associated with ovary development.

The researchers then tested the effects of both short-term and long-term iron deficiency in pregnant mice. Short-term iron deficiency was induced by administering an iron-removing drug to pregnant mice for about five days around the time of embryonic sex determination. Among 72 XY offspring born to these mothers, four developed two ovaries and one developed an ovary and a testis. Long-term iron deficiency was induced through a low-iron diet starting four weeks before pregnancy and continuing for six weeks.

This long-term low-iron diet showed no effect on sex determination until a loss-of-function mutation in the gene that encodes KDM3A was introduced in the mothers. This resulted in male-to-female sex reversal in two of 43 XY offspring. No abnormalities were observed in offspring born to mothers with normal iron levels in either of the experiments.

The findings demonstrate a key role of iron in mammalian sex determination, although the effects of iron deficiency on human pregnancies were not investigated.

 Makoto Tachibana, Maternal iron deficiency causes male-to-female sex reversal in mouse embryos, Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09063-2. www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09063-2

**

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa yesterday

In animal experiments with SARS‑CoV‑2‑infected hamsters, phenformin significantly reduced the viral load in the respiratory tract. In cell cultures, phenformin also inhibited the multiplication of dengue viruses, for which there is currently no approved treatment.

Extensive clinical studies on the use of phenformin as an antidiabetic agent have already established its safety in humans. Further clinical studies are needed to determine if phenformin has an antiviral effect in humans. In contrast, atpenin A5 is an experimental substance that demonstrates the feasibility of the methodological approach in cell culture.

Further studies must be conducted to determine whether variants of the substance can be used in animal models where they are both tolerated and have an antiviral effect.

According to the scientists, the developed methods and identified drug candidates are an important step in the rapid development of potential treatments for future pandemics.

Alina Renz et al, Metabolic modeling elucidates phenformin and atpenin A5 as broad-spectrum antiviral drugs against RNA viruses, Communications Biology (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s42003-025-08148-y

Part 2

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa yesterday

Broad-spectrum antiviral compounds discovered

An interdisciplinary research team has identified two antiviral drug candidates effective against a wide range of viruses. The study demonstrates how combining computer-aided modeling with laboratory validation can speed up the development of new antiviral drugs.

The researchers used computer simulations to search for specific metabolic processes necessary for viral reproduction but not vital for the cell itself. Using this method, the team identified two active agents that successfully combated various viruses in initial laboratory tests. The study was published in Communications Biology.

Using data from virus-infected tissues, the international research team developed computer models representing the complex metabolism of cells.

The team then used these tissue-specific models to simulate the replication of various RNA viruses, which are of particular importance due to their pandemic potential. The modeling revealed metabolic processes that the viruses require for replication but that are not essential for cellular survival.

Using these models, the researchers have predicted specific metabolic pathways essential for viral replication, which represent potential targets for antiviral therapies.

They then searched existing drug databases for substances that inhibit precisely these metabolic processes.

Since most viruses have similar basic replication requirements, the international research team from Germany, France, Italy, Greece, and Australia suspected that this strategy could be used to inhibit a wide variety of viruses.

They  tested this hypothesis experimentally and found various substances with broad antiviral activity against very different virus families.

Infection experiments in cell cultures confirmed that two drug candidates—phenformin and atpenin A5—effectively inhibit viral replication.

Phenformin interferes with the metabolism of the cell and was therefore previously used as a drug in type 2 diabetes. Since phenformin is well-characterized for use in humans, their findings could be used to establish supportive therapy against corona or flavivirus infections in the relatively short term.

Part 1

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa yesterday

Nanoparticle smart spray helps crops block infection before it starts

As climate change fuels the spread of plant diseases worldwide, a new nanoparticle smart spray could help crops defend themselves by blocking harmful bacteria from entering through tiny pores in their leaves.

The spray is made of nano-sized particles which are designed to deliver antibacterial compounds directly to the plant's stomata—the pores on a plant's leaves that let it breathe, but which can also act as gateways for infection.

The particles, which we've called 'SENDS'—short for stomata-targeting engineered nanoparticles—are designed to stick precisely to these pores, like a lock finding its key. Once in place, they release natural antibacterial agents that stop pathogens from getting inside and infecting the plant.

Suppanat Puangpathumanond et al, Stomata-targeted nanocarriers enhance plant defense against pathogen colonization, Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-60112-w

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa yesterday

The team now plans to explore the efficacy of the nanozyme in preventing ischemic stroke, which is also caused by clogging of blood vessels.

Their experiments with human platelets worked well too.

G. R. Sherin et al, Vanadia Nanozymes Inhibit Platelet Aggregation, Modulate Signaling Pathways and Prevent Pulmonary Embolism in Mice, Angewandte Chemie International Edition (2025). DOI: 10.1002/anie.202503737

Part 2

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa yesterday

Novel nanozyme prevents excess clotting

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have developed an artificial metal-based nanozyme that can potentially be used to clamp down on abnormal blood clotting caused by conditions like pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE).

The work is published in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition.

Under normal circumstances, when a blood vessel is injured, specialized blood cells called platelets get activated and cluster together around the vessel to form protective blood clots. This process, known as the blood clotting cascade (hemostasis), involves a complex series of protein interactions triggered by signals from physiological agonists (chemicals) such as collagen and thrombin.

However, when these signals go haywire in conditions like PTE or diseases like COVID-19, oxidative stress and levels of toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) increase, leading to over-activation of platelets. This triggers the formation of excess clots in the blood vessel, contributing to thrombosis, a major cause of morbidity and mortality.

To tackle this challenge, researchers  have developed nanomaterials that mimic the activity of natural antioxidant enzymes, which scavenge reactive oxidative molecules.

These "nanozymes" work by controlling ROS levels, thereby preventing the over-activation of platelets that leads to excess clot formation or thrombosis.

The team synthesized redox active nanomaterials of different sizes, shapes, and morphologies via a series of controlled chemical reactions starting from small building blocks. They then isolated platelets from human blood, activated them using physiological agonists, and tested how effectively the different nanozymes could prevent excess platelet aggregation.

The team found that spherical-shaped vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅) nanozymes were the most efficient—these materials mimic a natural antioxidant enzyme called glutathione peroxidase to reduce oxidative stress.

It was challenging to get the pure form of the nano enzyme with only the +5 oxidation state of vanadium oxide. This was important because the +4 oxidation state is toxic to the cells.

The unique chemistry of the vanadium metal is crucial because the redox reactions that reduce ROS levels are happening on the surface of the vanadium nanomaterial.

The team injected the nanozyme in a mouse model of PTE and found that it significantly reduced thrombosis and increased the animals' survival rates. They also observed the weight, behavior, and blood parameters of the animal for up to five days after injecting the nanozyme, and did not find any toxic effects.

Anti-platelet drugs that target thrombosis sometimes have side effects such as increased bleeding.

Unlike conventional anti-platelet drugs that interfere with physiological hemostasis, the nanozymes modulate the redox signaling and do not interfere with normal blood clotting. This means that they won't cause bleeding complications that are a major concern with current therapies.

Part 1

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa yesterday

The researchers also examined whether eating a portion of fiber, protein or fat before carbohydrates reduced blood sugar spikes. The participants ate pea fiber powder, protein from boiled egg whites or fat in the form of crème fraîche 10 minutes before eating rice.

Eating fiber or protein before the rice lowered the glucose spike, and eating fat before the rice delayed the peak of the spike. But these changes in blood glucose response occurred only in the metabolically healthy participants who were insulin-sensitive or had normal beta cell function.

Though eating fat, protein or fiber before carbohydrates had minimal impact on the blood glucose response patterns in participants with insulin resistance or beta cell dysfunction.
Eating carbohydrates later in a meal is still a good idea even though it has not yet been sorted out whether it is best to eat protein, fat or fiber before carbohydrates. Eat your salad or hamburger before your French fries, the researchers recommend.

Individual variations in glycemic responses to carbohydrates and underlying metabolic physiology, Nature Medicine (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41591-025-03719-2

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