Researchers from SASTRA University have uncovered how some fungi can withstand high temperatures. The study published in Proteins discovered that certain proteins on the outside of fungi play a crucial role in making them heat-resistant. Understanding heat-resistant proteins can help us build proteins and enzymes for industrial use where temperatures are usually high.

To combat the COVID-19 pandemic and potential future outbreaks, a collaborative study from Shiv Nadar Institute of Eminence (SNIoE), Noida, and other research institutes discovered a chemical compound called STL522228. This promising compound inhibits a crucial protein in the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) coronavirus, shedding light on the pressing need for effective antiviral treatments.

Stem cells of an embryo are pluripotent – they can grow into almost any cell type in the body. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) are artificially reprogrammed body cells that can be made to function like embryonic stem cells, offering therapeutic advantages. However, understanding the genetic machinations of pluripotent stem cells is vital to successfully culture iPSC and is an active research area. In an exciting breakthrough, scientists have identified the group of genes responsible for maintaining distinct states of human pluripotency.

Timely intervention is critical to curbing the spread of vector-borne diseases like malaria. A team of researchers from Mangaluru, Karnataka, has shown that information technology tools such as their Malaria Control System can be powerful allies in anti-malaria programs. Here is a report on how digitisation helped Mangaluru chalk its success story against malaria.