Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres

How individuality develops? Experience leads to the growth of new brain cells

How do organisms evolve into individuals that are distinguished from others by their own personal brain structure and behavior? Scientists in Dresden, Berlin, Münster, and Saarbrücken have now taken a decisive step towards ...

Neuroscience created May 09, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (9) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Solving puzzle of B-cell lymphoma development

Germinal centers are sites in the organs of the lymphatic system, formed during the course of an immune response to infection, where B cells intensely proliferate and modify their DNA in order to produce ...

Immunology created Sep 23, 2012 | popularity 4.9 / 5 (7) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Scientists find Achilles' heel of cancer cells

Several substances inhibiting so-called HDAC enzymes have been studied in trials searching for new anti-cancer drugs in recent years. "Trials have shown that HDAC inhibitors are very effective in arresting growth of cultured ...

Cancer created Nov 05, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (6) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Alternate ending -- living on without telomerase

Scientists of the German Cancer Research Center have discovered an alternative mechanism for the extension of the telomere repeat sequence by DNA repair enzymes.

Medical research created Nov 03, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (4) | comments 0

Molecular knock-out alleviates Alzheimer's symptoms in mice

Researchers at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) and the University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG) have identified an enzyme as a possible target for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The protein ...

Alzheimer's disease & dementia created Nov 30, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (4) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

Serotonin mediates exercise-induced generation of new neurons

Mice that exercise in running wheels exhibit increased neurogenesis in the brain. Crucial to this process is serotonin signaling. These are the findings of a study by researchers at the Max Delbrück Center ...

Neuroscience created May 13, 2013 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (4) | comments 0

A natural dye obtained from lichens may combat Alzheimer's disease

A red dye derived from lichens that has been used for centuries to color fabrics and food appears to reduce the abundance of small toxic protein aggregates in Alzheimer's disease. The dye, a compound called orcein, and a ...

Medical research created Dec 02, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Death cap mushroom poison to arrest pancreatic cancer in mice

The mere thought of an identification error sends a chill down the spine of any mushroom lover: The death cap mushroom (Amanita phalloides), which resembles the common white button mushroom, contains one of the most deadly ...

Cancer created Apr 02, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 0

Metastasis stem cells in the blood of breast cancer patients discovered

Individual cancer cells that break away from the original tumor and circulate through the blood stream are considered responsible for the development of metastases. These dreaded secondary tumors are the ...

Cancer created Apr 22, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Evolution in the antibody factory: How immune cells are able to advance their own evolution

Immune system B cells play a crucial role in the defence of pathogens; when they detect such an intruder, they produce antibodies that help to combat the enemy. They concurrently and continuously improve ...

Immunology created Mar 11, 2013 | popularity 4.7 / 5 (3) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Misplaced molecules: New insights into the causes of dementia

A team of German and Belgian researchers has succeeded in gaining new insights into the causes of certain movement disorders and forms of dementia. Scientists including Bettina Schmid and Christian Haass from the German Center ...

Neuroscience created Mar 01, 2013 | popularity 3.7 / 5 (3) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Tapeworm drug inhibits colon cancer metastasis

A compound that for about 60 years has been used as a drug against tapeworm infection is also apparently effective against colon cancer metastasis, as studies using mice have now shown. The compound silences a gene that triggers ...

Cancer created Jun 17, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

In the pursuit of dangerous clumps

When normal proteins form protein clumps in the body, then alarm bells start ringing. Such clumps, called "amyloids," are closely associated with Alzheimer's disease and type 2 diabetes, formerly called adult-onset ...

Medical research created Jul 28, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Skin and immune system influence salt storage and regulate blood pressure

High blood pressure is responsible for many cardiovascular diseases that are the leading cause of death in industrialized countries. High salt intake has long been considered a risk factor, but not every type of high blood ...

Medical research created Sep 08, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

Researchers find controlling element of Huntington's disease

A three molecule complex may be a target for treating Huntington's disease, a genetic disorder affecting the brain. This finding by an international research team including scientists from the German Center for Neurodegenerative ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Feb 26, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast