While studying embryos in vitro can have many ethical and technical complications, there is a model that serves as an excellent substitute. Two-dimensional “gastruloids” are made from colonies of human pluripotent stem cells that can replicate the third week of gestation in which the three germ layers of the body are established. In APL Bioengineering, researchers discuss a sorting system comprised of a microscope, a camera, a sorting stage, and devices for collecting and releasing the microrafts that the gastruloids are grown on. The system is controlled by custom software that automates the process.

A research team at the Wyss Institute at Harvard University and Harvard Medical School (HMS) led by Wyss Founding Core Faculty member George Church, Ph.D. has devised a solution for creating microglia with strong functional similarities to human microglia from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) within four days, compared to 35 days it takes to obtain similar, yet less fine-tuned cells in a conventional differentiation process. 

A new study from scientists from the universities of Bath (UK) and Cape Town (South Africa) suggests ciprofloxacin could be used as a template for designing a new family of blood pressure drugs with fewer side effects.

Fungal infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals, are responsible for nearly four million deaths annually—however, current treatments are limited and are frequently ineffective. Now, scientists at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research and the University of Georgia discover how the lethal pathogenic fungus, Cryptococcus neoformans, thrives, allowing them to identify potential novel therapeutic targets for treatment.

A research team led by Prof. LIU Zhiyong at the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has identified two novel genetic mechanisms for disease resistance in wheat, offering promising strategies to enhance resilience against powdery mildew and stripe rust.

A study from ETH Zurich shows that premature aging disrupts bone structure and osteocyte networks in an age- and sex-dependent manner. Using the PolgA mouse model, researchers found significant declines in bone density, osteocyte morphology, and lacuno-canalicular connectivity by 40 weeks of age. Male mice exhibited more severe deterioration. Advanced imaging and computational analysis confirmed the damage. The findings position PolgA mice as a valuable model for studying cellular mechanisms underlying age-related bone loss.