Japan has one of the world’s longest-living populations, yet predicting which octogenarians will lose their independence remains difficult. Now, researchers identify two blood proteins—beta-2-microglobulin and cystatin C—that are consistently associated with future disability in adults aged 85 years and older. The findings, independently replicated in an Italian aging cohort, suggest that kidney dysfunction and chronic inflammation contribute to disability risk and could support earlier preventive interventions in rapidly aging populations worldwide.

All living things have a fleet of tiny copy machines that turn instructions from DNA into RNA, the molecules responsible for helping build proteins that keep organisms alive. One of those nanoscale machines, called eukaryotic RNA polymerase II, performs a crucial early step required by nearly every biological process. It makes messages, copying and carrying instructions from the cell nucleus to make proteins.

Until recently, scientists had only witnessed the eukaryotic RNA at work in carefully assembled test tubes, stripped of the chaotic realities of life inside a cell. Now, a team led by Penn State researchers has captured a glimpse of this molecular machinery as it operates inside living organisms. 

A tiny chemical difference helps make RNA better than DNA at condensing into liquid-like droplets under high temperatures and acidic conditions.

Vaccines protect most people from serious illness, but the strength of that protection can vary considerably from one person to another. Some people produce a robust immune response, while others respond only weakly.

A new study led by Arizona State University helps us understand why. Before a vaccine ever enters your body, your immune system may already hold clues to how strongly it will respond.

In blood samples from more than 4,000 people, ASU researchers and their colleagues measured antibodies against 185 antigens—targets recognized by the immune system, including those from common viruses and bacteria as well as targets associated with autoimmune diseases. 

They then used artificial intelligence to analyze patterns in samples collected before and after COVID-19 vaccination, identifying antibody signatures that helped distinguish strong vaccine responders from weak ones.

The research opens a possible path toward more personalized vaccination strategies.