Neuroscience

The protein dress of a neuron

Where in a nerve cell is a certain receptor protein located? Without an answer to this question, it is difficult to draw firm conclusions about the function of this protein. Two scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes

Decoy receptor neutralizes coronavirus in cell cultures

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, scientists and health care providers are seeking ways to keep the coronavirus from infecting tissues once they're exposed. A new study suggests luring the virus with a decoy—an ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes

What is the ACE2 receptor, and how is it connected to coronavirus?

In the search for treatments for COVID-19, many researchers are focusing their attention on a specific protein that allows the virus to infect human cells. Called the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, or ACE2 "receptor," the ...

Neuroscience

Common protein in skin can 'turn on' allergic itch

A commonly expressed protein in skin—periostin—can directly activate itch-associated neurons in the skin, according to new research from North Carolina State University. The researchers found that blocking periostin receptors ...

Medical research

An experimental peptide could block COVID-19

In hopes of developing a possible treatment for COVID-19, a team of MIT chemists has designed a drug candidate that they believe may block coronaviruses' ability to enter human cells. The potential drug is a short protein ...

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