Virus infects cells with a protective cloaking mechanism
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 28-Apr-2025 11:08 ET (28-Apr-2025 15:08 GMT/UTC)
Viruses known as “jumbo phage” are a new hope against the rising antibacterial infection crisis. Researchers have discovered how jumbo phage are able to infect bacteria so efficiently. They found a compartment that protects and hides valuable DNA material from the bacteria’s immune defense system.
Imagine a super-charged immune cell that can launch a focused attack on stubborn solid tumors — a smart fighter that destroys cancer cells for days without tiring. USC biomedical engineers have made this concept a reality, crafting what they have named the “EchoBack CAR T-cell,” which could soon be a game changer in the field of cancer immunotherapy.The work, published in the scientific journal Cell, is a groundbreaking new approach that could overcome major obstacles in treating tumors that are not usually candidates for immunotherapy, while keeping healthy tissue safe.
For the first time researchers demonstrate in an animal how heavy alcohol use leads to long-term behavioral issues by damaging brain circuits critical for decision-making.