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Scientists from the Max Planck Institute and EPFL have developed a new type of biosensor able to precisely quantify metabolites using a single drop of blood. The accuracy and simplicity of the procedure could make it a tool of choice for diagnosing and monitoring several diseases.

Sleeping sickness-causing parasites contain an unusual protein synthesis machinery. A team of researchers from ETH Zurich and the University of Berne resolved its very special structure for the first time.

This knowledge can aid vaccine development, treatment of infections and moderation of autoimmune disease.

A study has found that certain genes and pathways that regulate splicing factors – a group of proteins in our body that tell our genes how to behave - play a key role in the ageing process. Significantly, the team found that disrupting these genetic processes could reverse signs of ageing in cells.

Given only a few frames of a video, humans can usually surmise what is happening and will happen on screen. Computers, however, struggle with this task. In a paper presented at the European Conference on Computer Vision, researchers describe a module that helps artificial intelligence systems to fill in the gaps between video frames to greatly improve the network’s activity recognition.

Recent research finds that MAPK pathway, which is typically altered in many cancers, is required for regulation of normal renal differentiation during embryogenesis.

A key mechanism by which skin begins to develop in embryos has been identified, shedding light on the genetic roots of birth defects like cleft palate. This work paves the way for development of more functional skin grafts for burn victims.

A recent achievement in the field of protein research allows for better tailored pharmaceuticals with fewer side-effects.

Researchers have now identified three new molecular drug targets in N. fowleri, an amoeba that can infect a healthy person and cause severe primary amebic meningoencephalitis, a "brain-eating" disease The team have also identified a number of drugs that are able to inhibit the amoeba's growth in a laboratory dish.

Researchers have identified four types of neurons in the peripheral auditory system, three of which are new to science.