Interesting bio-news articles

Short, readable summaries of notable biology and biotech stories — written for researchers, with links to primary reporting where possible.

ESMFold2 and the ESM Atlas mapping large-scale predicted protein structures A billion proteins, mapped by an open-source model (with some caveats) Biohub’s ESMFold2 and ESM Atlas release 1.1 billion predicted structures — with promising antibody-design results, open access, and important caveats. SpudCell synthetic cell with a DNA double helix and organelle-like structures inside a transparent membrane SpudCell: A synthetic cell on the verge of life Kate Adamala’s lab built a water-in-oil droplet with a 36-gene genome that feeds, replicates DNA, and divides — the first integrated synthetic cell cycle from non-living parts. Cross-section of an artery with plaque buildup and inflammatory cells Stiff Arteries May Set the Stage for Inflammation New Bond Lab work links arterial stiffening to primed NLRP3 inflammasome signalling in vascular smooth muscle cells via FAK, mTOR, nuclear actin and SREBP. DNA double helix passing between two human cells connected by a tunnelling nanotube Human Cells May Be Passing Damaged DNA to Their Neighbours, Study Finds UT Southwestern researchers report that stressed human cells can transfer DNA fragments to neighbours via tunnelling nanotubes — with heritable incorporation in recipient cultures. GalaxyVS AI drug screening software on a monitor in a laboratory Galaxy VS: A new AI-powered application that screens 100 billion drugs in seconds Tsinghua and Tianjin’s GalaxyVS uses DrugCLIP vector retrieval on the Tianhe supercomputer to screen a 100-billion-compound library and build open-access GalaxyDB. Petri dish of neurons wired to a computer running Doom on a CRT monitor Dish of neurons learn to play Doom Cortical Labs trained living human brain cells on a CL1 chip to navigate the 1993 shooter — from DishBrain and Pong to demons in the corridors.