A new study published in Microbiome Research Reports reveals that a polyphenol-rich dietary pattern can significantly reduce inflammation and improve gut microbiota composition in adults aged 60 years and older with elevated inflammatory markers. Conducted as part of the MaPLE (Microbiome mAnipulation through Polyphenols for managing Leakiness in the Elderly) trial, this research showed that an eight-week polyphenol-rich diet decreased key inflammatory markers such as IL-6 and CRP, enhanced microbial diversity, and increased beneficial bacteria including Blautia and Dorea. Metabolomic analyses indicated notable shifts in polyphenol-derived metabolites associated with anti-inflammatory effects. These findings highlight the potential of polyphenol-rich diets as personalized nutritional strategies to counteract “inflammaging” and promote healthy aging.

 

In a survey of faculty, staff and students at an undisclosed museum, 93% of the 44 people who participated said that giving people a look at what goes on behind the scenes is a crucial part of their job.

A comprehensive review in Current Molecular Pharmacology highlights how machine learning, molecular dynamics simulations, and hybrid AI-MD platforms are revolutionizing antimicrobial discovery. These computational strategies can drastically reduce development time and costs while enabling the design of novel antibiotics and antimicrobial peptides. The authors propose an integrated “computation-experiment-clinical translation” framework to overcome current bottlenecks and combat the global AMR crisis.

Coral reefs may seem like paradise, but they are being degraded by a range of global and local factors, including climate change, poor water quality, and overfishing. New research reveals that connections between reefs help stabilise reef health, reducing the risk of collapse, and that a dual approach – improving conditions on both land and sea – may be the best way to protect these crucial ecosystems.

Biological supramolecular structures exhibit both lateral and longitudinal interactions, rendering the structure responsive to changes. Thus far, lateral interactions of synthetically assembled supramolecular polymers have only been elucidated. Inspired by microtubules, this study reports cooperative self-assembly of aryl barbiturate molecules into helical coils, driven by the concerted action of noncovalent lateral and longitudinal interactions. These synthetic polymers uniquely alter with changes in temperature. This conceptual advancement will influence future material designs of next-generation polymers.