NIGMS Archive

February 21, 2013

Antibacterial protein’s molecular workings revealed

Vanderbilt investigators report new insights to the workings of calprotectin, an immune system protein that “starves” bacterial pathogens of the metal nutrients they require.

February 15, 2013

Cure in sight for kissing bug’s bite

It’s possible to cure Chagas disease – a deadly tropical infection transmitted by “kissing bugs” – in a mouse model.

January 23, 2013

New view of DNA processing ‘hub’

Structural studies reveal a new framework for understanding a central player in DNA processing.

January 18, 2013

Seeing light receptor’s interactions

Understanding how the main receptor for light interacts with other signaling molecules may inform new pharmaceutical development.

January 17, 2013

Zinc: a new antibiotic target?

It may be possible to fight hospital-acquired pathogens like Acinetobacter baumannii by targeting the bacterium’s need for the nutrient metal zinc.

November 29, 2012

Polarity protein suppresses tumor growth, invasion

The machinery that builds the characteristic shape of epithelial cells suppresses breast cancer formation and metastasis in a mouse model.