Structure of New Botulism Nerve Toxin Subtype Revealed

piggy submitted, created time 6 days 1 hour (www.sciencedaily.com)

Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory have determined the atomic-level structure of a third subtype of botulinum neurotoxin — a deadly toxin produced by certain bacteria that causes the disease botulism. It is also used in cosmetic and therapeutic applications such as reducing wrinkles and calming a hyperactive bladder

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Common Anesthetic Induces Alzheimer's-Associated Changes in Mouse Brains

sea-maid submitted, created time 1 month 3 weeks (www.sciencedaily.com)

For the first time, researchers have shown that a commonly used anesthetic can produce changes associated with Alzheimer's disease in the brains of living mammals, confirming previous laboratory studies: Use of the gas isoflurane can lead to the generation of the toxin amyloid beta.

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Alzheimer's Gene Slows Brain's Ability to Export Toxic Protein

piggy submitted, created time 1 month 3 weeks (www.sciencedaily.com)

The only known genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease slows down the brain's ability to export a toxic protein known as amyloid-beta that is central to the damage the disease causes, scientists have found.

The research, published Nov. 13 by the Journal of Clinical Investigation, provides new clues into the workings of a protein known as apolipoprotein E4, or ApoE4. People who carry two copies of the gene have roughly eight to ten times the risk of getting Alzheimer's disease than people who do not

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Reactive Oxygen Species Special Feature

sea-maid submitted, created time 6 months 3 weeks (www.pnas.org)

Dioxygen is a highly important, yet toxic, molecule that reacts in vivo to produce reactive oxygen species such as superoxide, peroxides, hydroxyl radicals, and other related species.

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Infant study casts doubt on vaccine-autism link

Sue Wu submitted, created time 11 months 1 week (www.reuters.com)

The mercury in a vaccine preservative is pumped out of a baby's body too quickly for it to do any damage, researchers reported on Wednesday in a study they say should further absolve shots of causing autism.

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Upped toxin no longer needs to bind

Darkfrog submitted, created time 1 year 2 months (www.nature.com)

Bt toxins, which many plants produce naturally, have been used both as sprays and in genetically engineered crops to repel caterpillars and other competitive slimies. So far, resistance has only been found in two species. Resistant insects are found to prevent Bt from binding to receptors in their guts.

"The researchers found that when they deleted a specific region of a Bt toxin, the toxin no longer needed to bind to a receptor before it could kill its host."

Does this make anyone else nervous? The toxin will be tested extensively before it's used in the field.

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That "delicious" smell may be toxic!

Darkfrog submitted, created time 1 year 10 months (www.msnbc.msn.com)

Someone I know bought a new Prius a few months ago, but I couldn't stand to ride in it because I kept getting headaches. I feel much better knowing that I'm probably not allergic to low mileage and an adorable exterior design.

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