Futurity.org » Monash University

Low vitamin D worsens lupus severity

Courtney Karayannis-Monash — Mon, 07 May 2012 20:00:48 +0000

MONASH (AUS) — People with lupus experience more severe symptoms if their vitamin D levels are low, a new study shows.

The new research also finds that, due to environmental, genetic, and cultural factors which contribute to vitamin D deficiency, Australians are more susceptible to the disease.

Cassava crop toxins threaten food security

Emily Walker-Monash — Thu, 03 May 2012 16:36:58 +0000

MONASH (AUS) — Cassava, a staple crop of southeast Africa, contains more toxins, including cyanide, than are safe for people to eat, say researchers.

Scientists found levels of toxins in excess of World Health Organization standards in the leaves and tuberous roots of cassava plants being grown in regions of Mozambique with drier climates.

Tim Cavagnaro led the study, funded by AusAID, with his team from the School of Biological Sciences and Australian Centre for Biodiversity at Monash University, working in collaboration with scientists in Mozambique.

Blocked protein acts as ‘handbrake’ for MS

Emily Walker-Monash — Wed, 02 May 2012 15:29:38 +0000

MONASH (AUS) — Blocking a protein that contributes to nerve damage could potentially slow—or even halt—the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Research published in the journal Brain demonstrates the key role played by the collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP-2) in the development of MS.

To beat resistant bacteria, let them live

Emily Walker-Monash — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:18:54 +0000

MONASH (AUS) — In the fight against antibiotic resistance, the next strategy may be to disarm the bacteria without actually killing them.

Published in Nature Structure and Molecular Biology, research led by Monash University shows a protein complex called the Translocation and Assembly Module (TAM), forms a type of molecular pump in bacteria.

The TAM allows bacteria to shuttle key disease-causing molecules from inside the bacterial cell where they are made, to the outside surface, priming the bacteria for infection.

To find disease, method tracks proteins

Rebecca Scott-Melbourne — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 15:50:29 +0000

U. MELBOURNE/ MONASH (AUS) — A new technique identifies and tracks diseased proteins inside cells and could assist with treatments for brain diseases and cancer.

Developed by Danny Hatters and his team in the department of biochemistry and molecular biology at the Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, the technique uses a flow cytometer to track the protein clusters in cells at a rate of thousands per minute.

Creature bested dinos with top chompers

Emily Walker-Monash — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 18:51:37 +0000

MONASH (AUS) / U. WASHINGTON (US) — An advanced set of molars helped a group of prehistoric rodent-like mammals survive the extinction event that ended the reign of the dinosaurs 66 million years ago.

In research published in Nature, evolutionary biologists show that the multituberculate family of mammals possessed an almost unmatched ability to grow and prosper while co-existing with dinosaurs. Their unusual teeth allowed them to diversify their diet more than other mammals, giving them a major advantage over their contemporaries.

Blood clot buster in atomic detail

Emily Walker-Monash — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 18:59:13 +0000

MONASH (AUS) — Researchers have discovered how an enzyme that destroys blood clots is switched on, unlocking a century-old atomic riddle.

The findings could lead to new treatments for clotting and bleeding disorders, and some cancers.

Sperm production is costly, crickets show

Emily Walker-Monash — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:54:34 +0000

MONASH U. (AUS) — The production of sperm is more biologically taxing than previously thought, a new study with crickets proves.

In research published in the journal PLoS ONE, Damian Dowling of Monash University and Leigh Simmons, a professor at the University of Western Australia, have investigated the trade-off between sperm quality and immunity.

Mouse to elephant in 24M generations

Emily Walker-Monash — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:11:00 +0000

MONASH (AUS) — A new study says that it would take 24 million generations for a mouse-sized animal to evolve to the size of an elephant.

The Monash University study is the first time that scientists have measured how fast large-scale evolution can occur in mammals. The researchers describe increases and decreases in mammal size following the extinction of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago.

Could stem cells save snow leopards?

Emily Walker-Monash — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:41:43 +0000

MONASH U. (AUS) — Scientists have produced embryonic stem-like cells from the tissue of an adult snow leopard for the first time.

Never before have induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, which share many of the useful properties of embryonic stem cells, been generated from a member of the cat family.