Researchers locate mechanism underlying plasticity in grownup brains Kumar Jeetendra | December 27, 2020 Developing brains continuously sprout new neuronal connections called synapses as they understand and remember. Important connections — the ones that are repeatedly introduced, such as how to avoid danger — are nurtured and reinforced, while links deemed unnecessary are pruned away. Adult brains experience similar pruning, but it was unclear why or how synapses in …
Study uncovers immune defense system that shields the lungs from viral diseases Kumar Jeetendra | March 18, 2021 Scientists have discovered a previously unknown arm of the immune defense system that protects the lung from lethal viral infections. Respiratory diseases caused by viruses such as influenza A and SARS-CoV-2 cause harm not only through their own activities, but also from collateral damage as the immune system reacts to combat the infection. A timely …
Researchers examine signal necrotic cells that prompt phagocytic cells to overwhelm the dying cell Kumar Jeetendra | May 8, 2021 As people keep their homes clean and clutter in check, a crew of cells within the body is in charge of clearing the waste that the body generates, including cells that are dying. The housekeeping cells remove unwanted material by a process called phagocytosis, which literally means’eating cells’ “Phagocytosis is quite important for the body’s …
