Redesigning an elusive bacterial enzyme into an efficient green catalyst
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 24-Jun-2026 09:15 ET (24-Jun-2026 13:15 GMT/UTC)
Cytochrome P450 enzymes are promising biocatalysts for greener chemical manufacturing, but many remain difficult to study because their activity relies on unidentified partner proteins. Now, researchers from Japan have engineered the P450 enzyme CYP107J1 from Bacillus subtilis into a new hydrogen peroxide-driven form that no longer requires these partners. The modified enzyme exhibited 28-fold higher catalytic activity than its natural counterpart and efficiently produced indigo dye, demonstrating a promising strategy towards sustainable oxidation chemistry.
A miniaturized, biomimetic model of the human intestine successfully reproduced long-term enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) infection, report researchers from Science Tokyo. Using this innovative platform, they shed light on how this virus grows in the intestine without triggering a strong immune response. Their findings could help develop effective treatments for EV-A71 infectious diseases.
Analysis of Massachusetts Medicaid data finds that people with diabetes, heart disease, depression, and other conditions who received medically tailored meals for at least six months experienced significantly fewer health emergencies and lower costs of care than those who did not.
A new study identifies vgll3 as a key gene that promotes rapid growth and early reproduction while increasing the risk of aging and cancer later in life. The findings provide rare experimental evidence for the theory that evolution favors early-life advantages even at the expense of long-term health. Researchers say the discovery could open new paths for understanding, and potentially separating, the biological links between development, aging, and disease.
MIT engineers developed a noninvasive pacemaker that stimulates the heart using ultrasound. The design could one day provide a surgery-free alternative to traditional cardiac implants.
Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have developed a new manufacturing platform for producing targeted mixtures of beneficial gut bacteria, an approach that could help expand access to microbiome-based therapies for patients with recurrent Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection. Their findings were published in the June 2 issue of Nature Medicine [10.1038/s41591-026-04442-2]. Recurrent C. difficile infection is a serious and often debilitating condition that can occur after antibiotic treatment disrupts the natural balance of bacteria in the gut. Although fecal microbiota transplants (FMT)—a treatment that transfers stool from healthy donors to restore gut bacteria in patients with severe or recurrent infections—have proven effective for many patients, more standardized and scalable therapeutic options are needed.
New research published in Gastroenterology highlights how culture, social environment, stress, and economic conditions influence disorders of gut–brain interaction, including irritable bowel syndrome. The review, co-authored by Professor Agata Mulak of Wroclaw Medical University as part of the Rome V Criteria update, argues that sociocultural factors play a significant role in symptom development, healthcare-seeking behavior, and treatment outcomes. The findings support a more holistic and personalized approach to gastrointestinal care.