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Image of the fly brain (grey) highlighting the population of neurons (pink) to which the gut-secreted peptide CCHa1 signals
A Protein-Rich Diet Helps Mice and Flies Sleep More Soundly: Study
The effect appears to be mediated by a gut-secreted peptide that signals to neurons in the brain that modulate the response to mechanical vibrations.
A Protein-Rich Diet Helps Mice and Flies Sleep More Soundly: Study
A Protein-Rich Diet Helps Mice and Flies Sleep More Soundly: Study

The effect appears to be mediated by a gut-secreted peptide that signals to neurons in the brain that modulate the response to mechanical vibrations.

The effect appears to be mediated by a gut-secreted peptide that signals to neurons in the brain that modulate the response to mechanical vibrations.

animal models

Image of various medical supplies on blue background
Relevant Models Reflect Real-world Needs
Deanna MacNeil, PhD | Aug 1, 2023 | 1 min read
Jie Sun shares how his curiosity, creativity, and motivation to address clinical public health needs steer his research in immunology and infectious disease.
Two pink-colored, rod-shaped bacteria interacting with a blue-colored human cell
Gut Bacterium Linked to Depression in Premenopause
Alejandra Manjarrez, PhD | Mar 17, 2023 | 2 min read
The opportunistic pathogen Klebsiella aerogenes degrades estradiol and induces depressive-like behavior in mice, a study finds.
Sun
Relevant Models Reflect Real-World Needs
The Scientist’s Creative Services Team | 1 min read
Jie Sun shares how his curiosity, creativity, and motivation to address clinical public health needs steer his research in immunology and infectious disease.
A Nile rat sitting atop fruits
Genome Spotlight: Nile Rat (Avicanthis niloticus)
Christie Wilcox, PhD | Nov 23, 2022 | 4 min read
A reference sequence for this emerging model organism will facilitate research on type 2 diabetes and the health effects of circadian rhythm disruption.
A mouse in front of an open sack of grain.
Mice Fed a Highly Processed Diet Are More Susceptible to the Flu
Alejandra Manjarrez, PhD | Nov 18, 2022 | 3 min read
It’s not clear why grain-fed mice are better able to recover after infection, but a study’s findings suggest food type may skew the results of animal studies.
Learn about hot topics in organoid research
Next-Level Organoids
The Scientist’s Creative Services Team | 1 min read
Researchers use organoid cultures in unique ways to study health and disease.
News feature
Photo of a long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis) sitting on a rock overlooking a large body of water.
What Happens to Science When Model Organisms Become Endangered?
Dan Robitzski | Oct 13, 2022 | 9 min read
The long-tailed macaque and pig-tailed macaque are now endangered in the wild according to the IUCN Red List, which says exports for monkey research are partially to blame.
Artist’s rendition of bright blue microbes among intestinal lining
Study Links Depression with High Levels of an Amino Acid
Dan Robitzski | Jun 14, 2022 | 5 min read
Experiments in animals and observations in humans suggest that the amount of proline circulating in one’s plasma has a strong association with depression severity.
Gaining Biological Insights into Brain Development Using Single Cell Technologies
Gaining Biological Insights into Brain Development Using Single Cell Technologies
The Scientist Creative Services Team in collaboration with 10x Genomics | 1 min read
Richard Smith will discuss the importance of ionic flux in in utero neuronal development.
A white mouse huddles with some of her nine-day-old pups.
In Vivo Gene Therapy Cures Infertility in Mice
Dan Robitzski | May 2, 2022 | 2 min read
Mice rendered infertile through ovary cell–targeting mutations gave birth to seemingly normal offspring through natural mating after a virus-based gene therapy was injected into their ovaries.
Image of brain cells showing pyramidal neurons in green, astrocytes in red, and microglia in blue
Replacing Microglia Treats Neurodegenerative Disease in Mice
Shawna Williams | Mar 17, 2022 | 2 min read
Researchers find a way to wipe out the brain’s immune cell corps and send in new and improved versions.
The Epigenetic Origins of Allergy and Asthma
The Scientist Speaks Ep. 15 - The Epigenetic Origins of Allergy and Asthma
The Scientist’s Creative Services Team | 1 min read
Epigenetic marks acquired from environmental exposures throughout life influence human health and may even transcend generations.
Thomas Lozito poses with Donald, one of his mourning geckos.
Thomas Lozito Is Figuring Out How Lizards Rebuild
Connor Lynch | Feb 14, 2022 | 4 min read
The University of Southern California bioengineer studies how lizards regrow their tails, with the goal of one day inducing regeneration in humans.
Stem Cell Transplant Treats Parkinson’s Disease in Monkeys
Roni Dengler, PhD | Feb 7, 2022 | 4 min read
Personalized stem cells improved motor symptoms and depression signs in monkeys modeling Parkinson’s disease, paving the way for trials in human patients.
Improving Cardiac Cell Therapy Persistence
The Scientist Speaks Ep. 13 - The Long Haul: Improving Cardiac Cell Therapy Persistence
Niki Spahich, PhD | 1 min read
Researchers remuscularize the heart after cardiac infarction with stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and ready-made microvessels.
grey and purple cancer cells under a microscope
Cell Diversity Could Spell Trouble for Animal Models of Cancer
David Adam | Nov 19, 2021 | 3 min read
Tracking human cancers in mice shows some unexpected cell changes that could undermine translational research.  
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A New Model with Fully Functioning Blood Vessels Mimics Brain Cancer
Roni Dengler, PhD | Sep 10, 2021 | 2 min read
A newly developed platform may one day replace cell culture and animal models to personalize cancer treatment.
A Ticking Time Bomb: Tracing the Origin and Spread of SARS-CoV-2
The Scientist’s Creative Services Team | 1 min read
Linda Saif will give a historical overview of SARS spillovers from animals to humans, and Neville Sanjana will describe recent work on a SARS-CoV-2 spike protein variant that increases human infectivity.
a leopard gecko with an unusually yellow body
“Lemon Frost” Leopard Geckos’ Cancers Similar to Human Melanomas
Christie Wilcox, PhD | Jun 24, 2021 | 6 min read
The color morph’s bright yellow hue and its propensity for skin tumors both likely stem from a gene implicated in a dangerous form of human skin cancer, suggesting the animals could make an ideal model for studying the disease.
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