The PhD in Medical Sciences:

The University of Nicosia Medical School offers the degree PhD in Medical Sciences. The degree is awarded to students who successfully complete an independent research programme leading to novel findings in the chosen field of study. The PhD programme aspires to empower students to become independent researchers, thus advancing innovation and development.

The Research Project:

We are currently inviting application through a competitive process for high calibre candidates to apply for one PhD Scholarship in the fields of Pathology of Neurodegenerative Diseases. The successful candidate will enrol in the PhD programme in Medical Sciences and will work under the Supervision of Professor Dimitrios Kanakis with expertise in the fields of Pathology and Neuropathology at the University of Nicosia Medical School.

Project Description:

Code and Title of research project: PHD-2023-A2: Investigating the possible association of NRG1 and tau, in the development of Alzheimer s Disease (AD).

Background and Rationale:

Neurodegenerative disorders constitute a major problem for the health care system globally. The number of newly diagnosed patients suffering from one of the known neurodegenerative diseases increases dramatically. Finding a treatment or even a preventative measure against such disorders is one of the major challenges of modern science. However, these scientific efforts, though intensive, have not yet achieved the expected result, that is the development of efficacious therapeutic schemes. The reason for this is the absence of sufficient knowledge of the pathogenesis of each of the various degenerative diseases. It is therefore of utmost importance to understand comprehensively the pathology of this category of diseases in order to focus our research explicitly.

Alzheimer s disease (AD) is the commonest age-related neurodegenerative disorder, affecting millions of people worldwide. It is a progressive neurological disorder that drives to the irreversible loss of neurons, primarily in the entorhinal cortex and hippocampus. The amyloid- plaques and the neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) are the main histopathological hallmarks of the disease.

The amyloid hypothesis suggests that the abnormal cleavage of Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) and the subsequent deposition of toxic amyloid peptides are a predominant step in the pathogenesis of the disease. However, tau hyperphosphorylation and neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) formation is a direct epiphenomenon of this abnormal deposition suggesting the close association of APP and MAPT (Microtubule Associated Protein Tau) genes.

Neuregulins (NRG) are a family of growth and differentiation factors involved in neuronal differentiation and migration, oligodendrocyte development, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor function, myelination, neurite extension and arborization, synapse formation and neurotransmitter release.

There are four different neuregulin types: NRG1, NRG2, NRG3, and NRG4. NRG1 is the most widely studied growth factor of the neuregulin family. There are three NRG1 isoforms, namely NRG1 type I, NRG1 type II and NRG1 type III. NRG1 protein has been shown to be important in the development of the CNS, the circulatory system and accessory reproductive organs like the mammary glands. NRG1 plays a pivotal role in neurogenesis and neural differentiations (i.e. neural crest cell differentiation into Schwann cells). Its function is mediated by transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptors of the ErbB family, inducing receptor heterodimerization, which in turn initiates a signal transduction cascade.

A close association of Neuregulin-1 (NRG1), BACE1 and APP genes exists that suggest a potential link between NRG1 and Alzheimer s disease, as the last two factors (i.e. BACE and APP) have been implicated in the development of this condition. NRG1 is a major physiological substrate of -site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), which is cleaved within its ectodomain allowing the exposure of the EGF-like domain for ErbB signaling. In other words, NRG1 activation is mediated by the enzymatic cleavage of BACE1, a rate limiting enzyme for APP proteolysis and amyloid production.

Double immunofluorescence and electron microscopy analysis demonstrated that ErbB4 antibodies co-localized with hyper-phosphorylated tau inclusions and NFTs, proving the relationship between the neuregulin receptor ErbB4 and protein hyper-phosphorylated protein tau. The importance of ErbB/neuregulin signaling in AD pathogenesis, APP processing and tau hyper-phosphorylation has also been shown.

In vitro experiments demonstrated further that NRG1 eliminated the effect of amyloid beta-induced decrease in dendritic spine density in rat primary hippocampal neurons, and improved neural cell differentiation in mouse fetal neuronal stem cells. These results render Neuregulin-1 a potential therapeutic agent for Alzheimer s disease.

It is therefore evident that the exact role of NRG1 is quite enigmatic, so there is an urgent need to solve the puzzle and understand the exact role of NRG1 in AD pathogenesis. Additionally, there is a missing link between NRG1 gene and tau hyper-phosphorylation. The main aim of the study is to elucidate the possible role of NRG-1 type III gene in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer s disease, through direct or indirect MAPT interaction leading to tau hyper-phosphorylation and NFT formation.

Aims and Objectives:

The current Research Proposal has the following aims and objectives:

1. To examine the possible association of NRG1 with tau protein, tau hyper-phosphorylation and the development of toxic NFTs in AD mice.

2. To examine the potential co-localization of the NRG1 protein with the hyper-phosphorylated protein tau.

3. In a later stage, the association of NRG1 with BACE1 will be examined too, through RNAi technology. BACE1 inhibition will be performed on NRG1 transfected cells, in order to assess the possible change in NRG1 normal processing.

The Scholarship:

The Scholarship will have a duration of three to four years and will cover:

The tuition fees for the PhD programme which are 15,000 in total for the first 3 years and 2,000 for year 4.

Requirements and Qualifications:

Eligible Candidates should hold (or hold by the time that the programme is expected to commence i.e. October 2023) a recognised degree (BSc or a degree equivalent for entry to a Master s Degree) and a Master s degree (MSc) in the field(s) of Molecular Biology or a Doctor of Medicine degree (e.g. MBBS or MD degree).

Expertise in a variety of laboratory (e.g. immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence in paraffin fixed mouse brain samples) and specific molecular biology methods (e.g. Western blotting, in vitro experiments with different cell lines) is a prerequisite for carrying out the experiments of the PhD project.

Application for the PhD Scholarship:

Candidates should submit an online application through this link and upload the following supporting documents:

A cover letter clearly stating that they apply for the PhD Scholarship in the field of Pathology of Neurodegenerative Diseases for the PhD Research Project PHD-2023-A2: Investigating the possible association of NRG1 and tau, in the development of Alzheimer s Disease (AD) .

Copies of the applicant s qualifications/degree(s) the application can be assessed with scanned copies, but certified true copies must be provided if the candidate is successful and prior to enrolment on the PhD programme.

Copies of the applicant s transcript(s) - the application can be assessed with scanned copies, but certified true copies must be provided if the candidate is successful and prior to enrolment on the PhD programme.

Proof of English language proficiency such as IELTS with a score of 7 overall and with a minimum score of 7 in writing or TOEFL iBT with a score of 94 overall and a minimum score of 27 in Writing. Other internationally recognized English language qualifications might be considered upon review. Students from the UK, Ireland USA, Canada (from English speaking provinces), Australia and New Zealand are exempt from the English language requirement.

Two reference letters, of which at least one should be from an academic.

A full Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Once you complete your application please send an email to admissions@med.unic.ac.cy expressing officially your interest in the PhD Research Project PHD-2023-A2: Investigating the possible association of NRG1 and tau, in the development of Alzheimer s Disease (AD) and also attaching all the required documents.

Applications should be submitted by Friday, June 2, 2023 at 5pm. Only fully completed applications, containing all necessary supporting documents will be reviewed.

Only candidates who are shortlisted will be contacted and invited to an interview.

Follow this link:

Scholarship for the PhD in Medical Sciences in the field of Pathology ... - Times Higher Education

Neuropathology

How to Treat Dementia No Matter What Age You Are – DISCOVER Magazine

May 13, 2023 medical

Search the term preventing dementia online, and a list of possible precautions pop up. One story describesa new studythat finds older Americans who used the Internet but not too much have a lower risk of dementia. Other stories suggest that taking vitamin D, getting a good nights sleep or learning a second language are key to combating dementia.

Scientists dont fully understand what causes dementia, a degenerative neurological condition that impacts memory, speech and basic functioning. But they do know thatas many as 40 percentof cases could be slowed or prevented by making certain lifestyle changes.

In 2020,The LancetCommission on Dementia identified 12 risk factors. Although some of these factors, like air pollution, are out of a persons control, there are many lifestyle changes a person can make to reduce their risk. Problematically,studies find that mostpeople arent aware of the risk factors and what they can do to protect themselves.

As more people live longer, the threat of developing this condition increases. By 2050, an estimated 135 million peoplewill be living with dementia. The bulk of these diagnoses, about 71 percent, will come from lower and middle-income countries where education and healthcare are more limited.

Scientists have learned that preventing dementia is a lifelong process that begins in childhood with access to education.The LancetCommission identified not having an educationbeyond age 12as an important risk factor.

Lack of education is a widespread problem as many people worldwide cannot read or have a limited education.About 14 percentof the worlds population aged 15 and over are illiterate, and although younger generations are becoming more literate, young girls are less educated than their male peers.

Literacy is increasing, but access to education past age 12 is not. Dropout rates were made worse during the COVID-19 pandemic whenmore older children left school, particularly girls.

Reading and engaging in intellectual challenges can reduce a persons risk for dementia later in life. Scientists believe education helps build apersons cognitive reserve, allowing the brain to endure neuropathology. A stronger cognitive reserve can mean a persons dementia is less noticeable or progresses more slowly.

Maintaining a cognitive reserve starts early in life but has to be worked at over the years. This is why studies suggest a person who challenges themselves mentally through puzzles or language learning could stave it off.

Social ties are also a way to maintain a persons cognitive reserve.The LancetCommission noted that hearing loss typically begins in middle age (after age 45) and can threaten a persons interest in socializing and, in turn, minimize their cognitive reserve but more on that later.

During the middle years, a person can also start to develop other dementia risk factors related to vascular brain damage. Having diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, and obesity all create the potential for vascular brain damage. Similarly, smoking and drinking alcohol excessively also risk brain damage associated with the condition.

The Lancetcategorized the above conditions asmodifiable factorsthat could be changed through interventions. Exercising, eating aMediterranean diet, getting hearing aids if needed, managing cholesterol and hypertension, drinking in moderation and not smoking can all help reduce or prevent dementia.

There were other identified risk factors. However, the commission identified that a person could likely not control, including head injury and vascular damage from air pollution.

As people enter later life (after age 65), dwindling social contact and depression can be painful risk factors for dementia. Researchers havelinked social isolationto a decline in cardiovascular health and an increase in depression and dementia.

Social isolation increases a persons risk for dementia because it limits how they engage with others and maintain their cognitive reserve. Similarly, as mentioned above, hearing loss can also stop older adults from socializing or challenging themselves mentally.About one-thirdof U.S. adults have hearing loss, which makes it difficult for them to speak on the phone, follow conversations or enjoy listening to the TV or radio.Only about one-fifthof older adults with hearing loss actually have a pair of hearing aids.

Interventions like hearing aids, exercise and community-supported social events can help older people get the socialization they need to maintain their cognitive reserve and fend off dementia. Such interventions demonstrate how managing modifiable factors is a lifelong need that follows a person from their earliest to their oldest years.

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UC Irvine study shows traffic-related air pollution in Irvine weakens … – EurekAlert

May 13, 2023 medical

Irvine, Calif., May 11, 2023 Researchers from the University of California, Irvine have found that exposure to traffic-related air pollution in Irvine led to memory loss and cognitive decline and triggered neurological pathways associated with the onset of Alzheimers disease.

The link between air pollution and Alzheimers disease is concerning, as the prevalence of toxicants in ambient air is not just on the rise globally, but also hitting close to home here in Irvine, said corresponding and senior author Masashi Kitazawa, Ph.D., associate professor of environmental and occupational health in UCIs Program in Public Health. Our findings are just one example of what particulate matter can do to brain function.

The studys results are published in the journal Toxicological Sciences.

Alzheimers disease is the most common cause of dementia among the elderly and is a growing public health crisis in the U.S. as well as several other countries. Despite extensive research on all aspects of Alzheimers disease, its exact origins remain elusive. Although genetic predispositions are known to play a prominent role in disease progression, growing bodies of evidence suggest that environmental toxicants, specifically air pollution, may cause the onset of Alzheimers disease.

Kitazawa and his team compared mouse models at two ages. Researchers exposed a group of 3- and 9-month-old mouse models to ultrafine particulate matter for 12 weeks via ambient air collected in Irvine. A second group was exposed to purified air. The differing ages were used to determine the potential impact of particulate matter exposure during highly vulnerable life stages: developing youth and the elderly.

Researchers conducted testing related to memory tasks and cognitive function and found that both benchmarks were impaired by exposure to particulate matter. Notably, they also discovered that their older models (12 months at the time of analysis) showed brain plaque build-up and glial cell activation, which are both known to increase inflammation associated with the onset of Alzheimers disease.

Air pollution is one of the very few prominent, modifiable environmental risk factors in Alzheimers disease, said co-author Michael Kleinman, Ph.D., adjunct professor of environmental and occupational health in UCIs Program in Public Health. Public and environmental regulatory agencies need to accelerate efforts to reduce particulate matter levels in order to reduce the risk of Alzheimers disease and other serious health conditions.

Kitazawa added, This evidence is alarming, and its imperative that we take action to adopt effective and evidence-based regulations, spread awareness on lifestyle changes and work together to improve our air quality.

This study was supported by the National Institutes of Health under awards R21 ES028496 and RF1 NS130616 and by UCI MINDs Womens Alzheimers Movement Womens Initiative grant.

Additional authors include Jason G. Kilian, Marina Mejias-Ortega, Heng-Wei Hsu, David A. Herman, Janielle Vidal, Rebecca J. Arechavala, Samantha Renusch, Hansal Dalal, Irene Hasen, Amanda Ting, Carlos J. Rodriguez-Ortiz, Siok-Lam Lim, Xiaomeng Lin and Joan Vu, all currently or formerly with the UCI Program in Public Healths Department of Environmental and Occupational Health; professor Takashi Saito of Japans Nagoya City University; and team leader Takaomi C. Saido of the RIKEN Center for Brain Science in Wako, Japan.

About the University of California, Irvine:Founded in 1965, UCI is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nations top 10 public universities byU.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. Its located in one of the worlds safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange Countys second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide.For more on UCI, visitwww.uci.edu.

Media access: Radio programs/stations may, for a fee, use an on-campus ISDN line to interview UCI faculty and experts, subject to availability and university approval. For more UCI news, visit news.uci.edu. Additional resources for journalists may be found at communications.uci.edu/for-journalists.

Toxicological Sciences

Exposure to quasi-ultrafine particulate matter accelerates memory impairment and Alzheimers disease-like neuropathology in the AppNL-G-F knock-in mouse model

19-Apr-2023

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.

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UC Irvine study shows traffic-related air pollution in Irvine weakens ... - EurekAlert

Biology

The new human pangenome could help unveil the biology of everyone – Science News Magazine

May 13, 2023 medical

More than 20 years after people got a peek at the first draft of the human genome, our genetic instruction book, researchers have unlocked the next level: the human pangenome.

In four studies published May 10 in Nature, researchers describe the achievement, how the pangenome was built and some of the new biology scientists are learning from it.

The more complete reference book, which includes almost all the DNA of 47 people, will allow researchers to explore types of variation that could never be examined before, such as large chunks of duplicated, lost or rearranged DNA. That work could possibly reveal more details about the genetic underpinnings of heart diseases, schizophrenia and various other diseases and disorders.

The pangenome adds 119 million DNA bases the information-carrying units of DNA not present in the existing human genome, called the reference genome. Much of that DNA is in never-before-explored parts of the genome containing multiple copies of genes that are duplicated from originals elsewhere in the DNA.

Those duplicated parts are changing faster than nonduplicated portions of the genome, says Evan Eichler, a human geneticist at the University of Washington in Seattle and one of the leaders of the Human Pangenome Reference Consortium. Whats more, when Eichler and colleagues examined the types of variants that arise in these duplicated regions, they found a very strong signal that the mutations that are occurring are fundamentally different from [mutations in] the rest of the genome, he says.

Some of these duplicated regions include ones implicated in humans large brains relative to other species and other traits that set humans apart from other primates. Others have been implicated in certain traits or diseases.

Conversely, another study found that the very short arms of certain chromosomes, including chromosomes 13, 14 and 21, are becoming more like each other as they swap DNA. Those short arms are important because they contain genes for making ribosomal RNAs, which serve as the scaffolds for ribosomes, the machinery responsible for building every protein in the body.

But perhaps the biggest achievement of the pangenome project is that it is finally giving researchers a more complete look at the full spectrum of human genetic diversity.

The roughly two-decade-old human reference genome derives mostly from one man, but is a patchwork quilt of more than 60 peoples DNA (SN: 3/4/21). It has been restitched and added to over the years but still has holes.

Last year, the first fully complete human genome was announced (SN: 3/31/22). That genome contains all of the DNA from tip to tip, or telomere to telomere, of each human chromosome. Except that genome wasnt from a person. It came from a type of tumor known as a hydatidiform mole. These unusual tumors result when a human sperm fertilizes an empty egg and the fathers chromosomes are duplicated.

The genetic information from such tumors represents not even one individual. Its from one half of one individual, says human geneticist Timothy OConnor of the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore who was not involved in either project.

The new pangenome draft is from actual people and contains almost complete DNA from 47 anonymous individuals from different parts of the world. That diversity is important because it helps us to understand ourselves as a single human species, as a single human race, OConnor says.

Past genetics research has been criticized for relying too heavily on DNA from people of European heritage. Studying just one population of people could mean missing genetic variants that have arisen in specific populations, OConnor says. Having a pangenome reference allows us to assess that population-specific variation in a much more detailed way. And hopefully, that will then lead to greater insight into the biology of everyone.

While the pangenome is a great first step to better represent all human genetic diversity, OConnor says, it still is missing key groups in the world. Its still underrepresenting Latin Americans and Indigenous Americans, and theres nobody included from Oceania. Theres still a lot more variation that needs to be added to the pangenome to really, truly be representative of everyone.

Added diversity is coming, human geneticist Karen Miga of the University of California, Santa Cruz said during a May 9 news conference. The consortium plans to complete a total of 350 genomes, including these 47, by mid-2024. The first phase of the project was aimed at developing the technology to build the pangenome.

Now, the consortium is in talks with Indigenous groups and scientists from around the world about trying to develop a shared framework, so that its not the U.S. trying to set the table. Its really providing a table and inviting other stakeholders who see the value in creating this type of reference resource to join us, said Miga, who helped lead the pangenome project.

Having a more complete understanding of human genetic diversity could help researchers begin to unravel the genetic underpinnings of various diseases and disorders.

Whats more, new DNA deciphering technologies have allowed pangenome researchers to examine types of genetic variants that have been difficult to study before.

In particular, duplicated regions of the genome were hard to study because researchers previously could read only short pieces of DNA. There was no way to tell where in the vast puzzle of the human genome those nearly identical pieces fit. Newer long-read DNA deciphering, or sequencing, technology makes it possible to read stretches of DNA many thousands of bases long (SN: 2/22/21).

Being able to assess where some people have extra DNA and others are missing DNA, called structural variants, adds a more nuanced view of human genetics, OConnor says, revealing more of its complexity (SN: 4/10/09).

For instance, researchers used the pangenome map to trace how chromosomes fold up so that different parts are touching each other. Scientists could see some folds and chemical marks in structural variants that may affect how genes are turned on and off. That could affect traits or health. Eichlers group also mapped one version of a gene that has converted another copy into its own image. These gene conversions were surprisingly common with each person having, on average, more than 2,000 instances of them.

With this more nuanced and complex view of human genetics comes a promise for improved genetics-based medicine. But it may take a while before the pangenome makes a difference in medical clinics, Eichler says.

Researchers hope the pangenome will help them more easily diagnose the genetic changes that contribute to rare diseases and find treatments for common disorders, he says. Once that happens, clinicians may start incorporating data from the pangenome in their practices.

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Bringing the power of molecular biology to environmental science – Science Business

May 13, 2023 medical

A first-of-a-kind research expedition is pioneering the use of mobile laboratories to understand how Europes coastal ecosystems are impacted by environmental factors such as pollution, loss of biodiversity, and climate change.

The mobile truck laboratories will bring state of the art equipment and technologies to over 100 locations along the coast in 24 countries, where scientists will collect samples and analyse them directly on site. This will be the first time researchers have been able to carry out such detailed molecular biology research in the field.

Studying the ocean has always been more difficult than studying the land. Some of the challenges include a lack of visibility, pressure changes, salinity that can wreak havoc with equipment, and tides. Compounding this is a lack of standardisation of hardware, surveying methodologies and systems for recording data.

Carrying out molecular biology research in coastal ecosystems is even more challenging. Organisms die in transit to central laboratories, and thats why the Traversing European Coastlines (Trec) project has developed mobile laboratories to take the complex technology needed to analyse samples into the field.

We realised that today we have the technologies and the power to explore these land/water interface ecosystems in a completely new way, said Edith Heard, director general of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), which is coordinating Trec with Frances Tara Ocean Foundation and the European Marine Biological Resource Centre.

We are bringing technologies to where life is happening, and where the scientists want to use them, as opposed to always having to rely on shipping things back to some place that has the right material, the right machines, Heard said.

The project, which stated last month, involves 120 different sampling stops along the EU coastline, starting at Roscoff in France. At each site, the team will lay transects from the Tara foundations schooner at anchor, to the shore. A variety of soil, sediment, and water samples will be taken.

These will be analysed in mobile labs equipped with microscopes, freezers, and equipment to prepare samples for imaging, genomic and metabolomic analysis, which will travel between sites.

Protein complexes

The approach is already delivering results. We can see the ultrastructure of dinoflagellates as never seen before, with many new organelles not known before, for which it will take us years to unravel their functions, said Detlev Arendt, senior scientist at EMBL. We also expect that new protein complexes will be described in the next couple of years thanks to the field data that is being generated.

While in fields such as healthcare, mobile labs are becoming commonplace, they are not yet mainstream in environmental science. One aim of Trec is that this way of working will become the standard amongst molecular biologists working in the field.

Based on first experiences, mobile laboratories can make a very important contribution to data collection methodologies, especially in implementing quality assurance and quality control protocols, says Giuseppe Manzella, co-founder of OceanHis, a company that manufactures mobile mini-labs that collect ocean data in real-time.

The mini-labs can be installed on different kinds of boats, and use a range of sensors to collect physical, geochemical and biological data, such as temperature, salinity, chlorophyll levels, blue algae, oxygen levels, conductivity and turbidity.

The method is completely different from the classic method of collecting samples and analysing them in the laboratory, Manzella said.

The research being carried out by the Trec project will add to knowledge about the sections of the European coastline that will be surveyed, said Kate Larkin, head of the European Marine Observation and Data Network. By combining the Trec data with the wide range of data available in existing European Marine Observation and Data Network (Emodnet) datasets, new insights will be unlocked.

This type of data is valuable, but if you imagine lots of different point data being put together, you suddenly start getting a real picture, Larkin said.

Although originally focused on physical and chemical data, work is ongoing to incorporate more biological and genetic information into Emodnets vast databases.

Joining up the dots between the different forms of data is essential to give researchers a clear picture of whats going on, notes Larkin. People dont just want to know the spatial distribution of killer whales. They also want to know whats in the water column and whats on the seafloor, she said.

EMBL hopes the mobile labs will set a new standard for environmental molecular biology and that the results of the TREC expedition will become a reference point for other researchers.

Were not just doing experiments in our research. Were providing infrastructure. And we provide all our data resources openly, said Heard. As a research infrastructure, we have to rise up to the next challenges. We need to do [this] now because climate change is hitting fast.

The Trec project is not part of the Horizon Europe Oceans Mission, but it is complementary, Heard said. There will be cross-benefits between Trec and a project that is part of the Oceans Mission that EMBL is also involved in, called BIOOcean5D, which will investigate marine biodiversity on a large scale. BIOOCean5D is working on the standardisation of protocols for environmental data collection, which will feed into Trec.

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Bringing the power of molecular biology to environmental science - Science Business

Biology

Evolutionary cell biology study shows how energy production can be optimized to ensure rapid growth without respiration – Phys.org

May 13, 2023 medical

This article has been reviewed according to ScienceX's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

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In a paper published today, researchers from the Randall Centre for Cell & Molecular Biophysics and The Crick use an evolutionary cell biology approach in two related fission yeasts, one that acquires energy by respiration and one that doesn't, to find the critical points at which respiration feeds into central carbon metabolism.

Establishing the rules of carbon metabolism, which produces biomass and energy, is critical for our understanding of life, from evolution to development to disease. Glycolysis is an ancient metabolic pathway that doesn't need oxygen. One molecule of glucose is used to produce two molecules of ATPthe "energy currency" of the celland two molecules of pyruvate, an intermediate molecule that can be metabolized further in respiration. Respiration is the most efficient way of generating ATP (overall producing up to 36 ATPs/glucose in mammals) and regenerating the electron carrier NAD+, which is required for growth.

Most eukaryoteslike animals, fungi or plantslive in environments with lots of oxygen, and respire. Yet, rapidly growing human cancer cells and single cell organisms, such as yeasts, often choose glycolysis over respiration, even when oxygen is available. We know little about the metabolic rewiring required to cope with the lack of respiration.

The authors of the new paper, published in Current Biology, show how both ATP production and NAD+ regeneration can be optimized to ensure rapid growth without respiration, and discuss possible trade-offs of choosing between respiration and glycolysis.

The researchers are convinced that understanding the plasticity of metabolism may ultimately aid in explaining organismal ecology and the evolution of higher-level cellular features, such cell size and growth rate. The principles uncovered in this study can be potentially generalized to the reprogramming of energy metabolism in human aging and disease, and point out new ways to improving microbial performance in biotechnological applications.

More information: Snezhana Oliferenko, Optimisation of energy production and central carbon metabolism in a non-respiring eukaryote, Current Biology (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.04.046. http://www.cell.com/current-biology/f 0960-9822(23)00528-6

Journal information: Current Biology

Warren High biology teacher accused of inappropriate relationship – San Antonio Express-News

May 13, 2023 medical

A Warren High School biology teacher is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student.

Stephanie Woods, 28, turned herself in Thursday and was charged with improper relationship between educator and student. She was released Friday after posting bail, which was set at $50,000.

READ ALSO: Teachers child sex case all over Snapchat months after OConnor HS decided not to tell parents

Principal Melissa Hurst said in a letter that Woods was placed on administrative leave when the allegation was brought to district officials attention. The principal said there is limited information to share as the investigation continues, adding that investigators have no reason to suspect that other students are involved.

The relationship came to light when the student involved, a 17-year-old girl, told a therapist about the matter, an affidavit supporting Woods arrest states.

On Wednesday, the teen told police that she was afraid to speak because Woods would get in trouble. She said their relationship started in December and that she spent nights with Woods.

READ ALSO: San Marcos teacher arrested, accused of inappropriate relationship with student

The teen would tell her parents that she was going to a friends house, but she was at Woods place, according to police.

Hurst said that incidents involving the safety of the school, students or staff may be reported via theNorthside Independent School Districts safeline at 210-397-7233.

jbeltran@express-news.net

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Biology teacher, coach arrested for alleged improper relationship with student – WOAI

May 13, 2023 medical

SAN ANTONIO

A Warren biology teacher and tennis and basketball coach is behind bars after she allegedly had an improper relationship with a 17-year-old girl.

Stephanie Woods, 28, was arrested Tuesday afternoon and placed on administrative leave by school officials on May 5. According to the affidavit, police learned about Wood's improper relationship with a student after a victim's friend made an outcry to her therapist. From there, officials began investigating and found evidence on the victim's phone that showed she had been at Woods' home multiple times.

The victim told police she told her family that she was staying with a friend from school when she went to her house. Additionally, she admitted their relationship had begun in December 2022.

A letter was sent out to parents by school officials on Thursday to discuss the matter, adding that the investigation is ongoing and they don't suspect any other students were involved.

Wood's bond is set at $50,000.

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Biology teacher, coach arrested for alleged improper relationship with student - WOAI

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