Rosetta Institute of Biomedical Research

Cracking the code of DNA circles in cancer, Stanford Medicine-led team uncovers potential therapy Tiny circles called ecDNA are critical in cancer development and drug resistance. An international Stanford Medicine-led team publishes landmark studies detailing new findings and potential therapies.

Stanford researchers reveal cancer genes can exist outside chromosomes, changing inheritance patterns and exposing new vulnerabilities to CHK1 inhibitors for potential cancer therapy. Read more about it:
med.stanford.edu/news/all-new...

Cell-autonomous innate immunity by proteasome-derived defence peptides - Nature Proteasomal degradation of cellular proteins generate defence peptides constitutively and in response to bacterial infection. Such peptides might provide a source of natural antibiotics that...

The proteasome regulates cellular processes and immunity. Weizmann Institute researchers discovered it produces antimicrobial peptides, disrupting bacterial membranes for cell-autonomous defense against infections. Read more about it:
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Mysterious Blobs in Cells Are Changing the Way We Understand Life Tiny specks called biomolecular condensates are leading to a new understanding of the cell

In complex cells, biomolecular condensates, or membrane-free droplets, organize molecules within them. When these structures fail, disease results. This discovery creates new opportunities for treating cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Read more:
www.scientificamerican.com/article/myst...

Engineered skin bacteria induce antitumor T cell responses against melanoma A system to express tumor antigens in the skin commensal bacterium Staphylococcus epidermidis elicits T cells that treat local and systemic tumors.

Why does our immune system tolerate beneficial bacteria? Researchers disrupted this tolerance, creating a potent tumor vaccine using modified skin bacteria. An unexpected cancer therapy discovery! Read more:
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Science’s 2024 Breakthrough of the Year: Opening the door to a new era of HIV prevention A drug with a novel mechanism protects people against the AIDS virus for 6 months. It could speed the end of the epidemic—if those who need it most get access

In a 2024 breakthrough, Gilead scientists developed a new drug that prevents HIV by disrupting viral capsid protein assembly, showing potential for broader viral therapeutics due to capsid proteins' universal presence. Read more about it:

www.science.org/content/arti...

BIOMEDICAL CAMPS - Rosetta Institute MOLECULAR MEDICINE WORKSHOPS We offer a variety of workshops on molecular medicine for high-achieving high school and middle school students interested in pursuing careers in medicine or related fie...

Applications are open for Summer 2025 molecular medicine workshops for middle and high school students! Join in-person at UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, Columbia, or online for similar courses. Visit our website for details!
www.rosettainstitute.org/biomedical-s...

HHMI's Beautiful Biology Come explore the invisible world of biology through stunning visuals created by scientists and photographers from around the world.

Our ability to visualize molecular biology has grown exponentially, and the images and movies are often very beautiful. Here, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) provides a portal into this world. You'll need some bandwidth!
www.hhmi.org/beautifulbio...

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2024 The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2024 was divided, one half awarded to David Baker "for computational protein design", the other half jointly to Demis Hassabis and John Jumper "for protein structure predi...

Baker, Hassabis, and Jumper win 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for protein structure research. Their work on computational protein design and structure prediction revolutionizes structural biology, accelerating drug development and disease understanding
www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemi...

BIOMEDICAL CAMPS - Rosetta Institute MOLECULAR MEDICINE WORKSHOPS We offer a variety of workshops on molecular medicine for high-achieving high school and middle school students interested in pursuing careers in medicine or related fie...

Applications are now open for our winter break workshops (12/26-12/31) in the Bay Area, in-person on Biomedical and Cancer Research. Or join us online for Medical Bioinformatics and Medicinal Chemistry! Look at the programs and apply on our website:
www.rosettainstitute.org/biomedical-s...

Science & Self: Navigating Anxiety with Gene Therapy: Episode 1-Pilot Podcast · ttrohn · In this episode of Science & Self: Navigating Anxiety with Gene Therapy, Dr. Troy Rohn dives into a personal experience with social anxiety and the surprising challenges that simple...

Molecular biology shows all health phenomena, from cancer to fleeting emotions, have molecular mechanisms in DNA/RNA/proteins. Rosetta Instructor Dr. Troy Rohn shares his experience with anxiety and quest for pharmaceutical solutions:
open.spotify.com/show/5L7kmKP...

Adipose tissue retains an epigenetic memory of obesity after weight loss - Nature Stable epigenetic changes indicate the existence of an obesogenic memory in mouse adipocytes that primes cells for pathological responses in an obesogenic environment and potentially contributes to th...

GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic aid weight loss, but long-term effects are unclear. Fat cells retain "obesogenic memory," hindering sustained weight loss --reversing this could lead to lasting results. Read more:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Thermal infrared directs host-seeking behaviour in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes - Nature The mosquito Aedes aegypti can detect humans through infrared radiation for highly effective mid-range navigation.

Mosquitoes spread many diseases, but current pesticides can harm other beneficial insects like pollinators as well. UC Santa Barbara researchers examine Aedes aegypti sensing proteins to design mosquito specific insecticides with fewer off target effects:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Time-series reconstruction of the molecular architecture of human centriole assembly Expansion microscopy and time-series reconstructions enable elaboration of dynamic centriole assembly.

Researchers at Geneva University reveal the intricate assembly of centrioles, vital structures for cell division. Using fluorescent microscopy, they show the beauty of cytoskeletal components crucial for chromosome separation. Take a look:
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...

Depleting myeloid-biased haematopoietic stem cells rejuvenates aged immunity - Nature Antibody-mediated depletion of myeloid-biased haematopoietic stem cells in aged mice restores characteristic features of a more youthful immune system.

Age-induced lymphoid-myeloid imbalance causes immune dysfunction, increasing vulnerability to infections and inflammation. Weissman's study proposes an antibody to rejuvenate aged immune systems -- but can we prevent this from happening in the first place?
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Identification of a leucine-mediated threshold effect governing macrophage mTOR signalling and cardiovascular risk - Nature Metabolism Zhang et al. use human studies and mechanistic work in mouse models to describe how leucine serves as the key amino acid derived from dietary protein to drive deleterious macrophage mTORC1 signalling ...

Fad diets and supplements often lack evidence for health benefits, sometimes causing harm. Studies link high-protein diets and excess niacin to cardiovascular risks:
www.nature.com/articles/s42...
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Cell surface RNAs control neutrophil recruitment RNAs present on the outer cell surface have been recently identified in mammalian cells, but the functional significance of these cell surface RNAs hasn’t been clear. This study reveals roles of cell ...

Neutrophils exit the bloodstream for immune defense. Yale researchers find cell-surface RNAs' critical role in the process, raising questions on their broader health implications:
news.yale.edu/2024/01/22/r...
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...

A bioelectrical phase transition patterns the first vertebrate heartbeats - Nature The first heartbeat of a zebrafish was captured, and development of cardiac excitability and conduction around this singular event were analysed, showing how development of single-cell properties prod...

Researchers from Harvard captured and characterized the first heartbeat in real time using various techniques, including electrophysiology and fluorescent video microscopy. Watch yourself, and keep reading:
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
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She wrote to a scientist about her fatigue. It inspired a breakthrough. Her dogged efforts lead to a new scientific discovery that may help many others with chronically fatiguing illnesses, including long covid.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and Long Covid lack approved treatments due to unknown molecular mechanisms. NIH research, sparked by patient insights, aims to uncover new therapies:
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2023/...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

What is a cell type? A next step for cell atlases should be to chart perturbations in human model systems

Global efforts map human cells based on molecular features, aiding in understanding tissue organization, disease, and therapy. But what defines a human cell type amidst phenotypic diversity?
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Ångström-resolution fluorescence microscopy - Nature The authors introduce a single-molecule DNA-barcoding method, resolution enhancement by sequential imaging, that improves the resolution of fluorescence microscopy down to the Ångström scale using off...

Nobel laureates advanced fluorescent imaging tech. Max Planck researchers push resolution to detect points one nanometer apart, enhancing subcellular visualization:

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Walking naturally after spinal cord injury using a brain–spine interface - Nature A reliable digital bridge restored communication between the brain and spinal cord and enabled natural walking in a participant with spinal cord injury.

Here is some ground-breaking research on spinal injury from researchers in Lausanne, Switzerland. You can choose to spend your life working on small problems, or big ones. These researchers have clearly chosen to work on the latter:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Developmental trajectory of transmission speed in the human brain - Nature Neuroscience This study mapped the developmental trajectory of transmission speed in the human brain by using electrical pulses and intracranial recordings. The authors found that these pulses travel with increasi...

Brain development extends beyond teenage years, shaping cognition until age 30. But how does it affect abilities? This paper explores, hinting at potential pharmacological interventions for cognitive enhancement and age-related brain disorders:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

How did life begin? One key ingredient is coming into view A Nobel-prizewinning scientist’s team has taken a big step forward in its quest to reconstruct an early-Earth RNA capable of building proteins.

Exploring life's origins unveils mysteries. Researchers at Weizmann Institute delve into the first ribosome's structure, essential for cellular function
nature.com/articles/d41...

Your brain could be controlling how sick you get — and how you recover Scientists are deciphering how the brain choreographs immune responses, hoping to find treatments for a range of diseases.

It’s well known that one’s attitude and outlook on life can affect their susceptibility to getting sick, and the degree of their recovery. How does the brain modulate this on a molecular level? Read more:
www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Association of wearable device-measured vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity with mortality - Nature Medicine Using data from wearable activity monitors, this study shows that short bursts of physical activity that are done as part of daily life activities and that are only 1 or 2 minutes in length are associ...

Regular movement throughout the day is crucial for health. University College London researchers show brief bursts of activity reduce mortality from cardiovascular disease and cancer. What are the molecular mechanisms?
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

The protein behind immunotherapy resistance Scientists have identified a key protein that helps tumors evade attacks by the immune system, contributing to poor responses to immunotherapy in the clinic.

Renowned scientist Doug Hanahan's study reveals Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein’s (FMRP's) role in cancer; overexpression in tumors allows evasion of immune system and regulation of immunotherapy response. Read more:
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/202...

Evolution of immune genes is associated with the Black Death - Nature Klunk and colleagues identify signatures of natural selection imposed by Yersinia pestis and demonstrate their effect on genetic diversity and susceptibility to certain diseases in the present day.

Epidemics select for favorable genetics. U. Chicago researchers find Black Death survivors' descendants have stronger immune systems but higher autoimmune disease risk. Covid-19's evolutionary impact remains to be seen:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

New generation of cancer-preventing vaccines could wipe out tumors before they form Shots enter early clinical trials for healthy people at high risk for disease

The immune system, honed over a billion years, is harnessed for vaccines. With modern tech, we can expand vaccination's reach beyond infectious diseases. Learn more about vaccines against cancer:
www.science.org/content/arti...

What's next for AlphaFold and the AI protein-folding revolution DeepMind software that can predict the 3D shape of proteins is already changing biology.

An update on progress stimulated by AlphaFold's revolutionary protein folding algorithm generated using AI:
www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Distinct structural domains in MUNC long non-coding RNA regulate gene expression Anindya Dutta, M.D., Ph.D., and colleagues now have detailed the first structure-function study of this long non-coding RNA.

In biomedical research, experimental design matters most. Detailed journalism sheds light on complex topics like long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) studied by University of Alabama researchers, raising questions about prioritization and study methods:
www.uab.edu/news/researc...