nervous system of the gastrointestinal tract, causing problems with peristalsis. Using an experimental model, Khan et al show that if the infection is successfully treated early enough then the damage can be reversed via a repair mechanism involving regeneration of nerve cells in the colon.
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Much of our knowledge about how T. cruzi causes Chagas disease comes from studies of infections in mice, but the data do not capture the full range of clinical outcomes seen in humans. In this paper, we developed a hamster model of T. cruzi infection with two striking features – almost exclusive restriction of chronic infection to a skin tissue niche and a progressive gait dysfunction resembling cerebral palsy.
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The Chagas disease drug discovery pipeline has been focused on a few model T. cruzi strains, but this does not reflect the parasite’s genetic diversity present across the millions of infected people. Here we present an expanded panel of strains engineered to express dual bioluminescent-fluorescent fusion reporter genes that can be used to ensure candidate compounds have in vivo activity across the species before being advanced into clinical testing.
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In this paper we use a combination of cryo-electron microscopy (CryoEM) and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM) to investigate structural plasticity of the multi-subunit protein kinase called CaMKII. CaMKII plays a critical role in synaptic transmission by neuronal cells and the fact we observe intrinsic variation in stoichiometry and pleomorphology of the complex is important because subunit number is thought to play a critical role in alteration of dendritic spine anatomy, which underlies the structural basis of learning.
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In this paper we describe the structure of the interaction between TACC3 and ch-TOG. A single helix from ch-TOG, normally bound to two hairpins, pops out and binds to the coiled-coil of TACC3. We then isolated Affimers (non-antibody binders) that inhibit this interaction in vitro. Moving into cells, we could express the Affimers to inhibit the ch-TOG–TACC3 interaction and found a new function for these two proteins in stabilizing the pericentriolar material.
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Laura Downie has invented a new way of labelling ER-Membrane Contact Sites in live cells on-demand. It uses the Lamin B Receptor so we called it “LaBeRling”. Unlike other methods, LaBeRling doesn’t distort existing contacts. It can label many different contacts between ER and other organelles (plasma membrane, mitochondria, lysosomes, endosomes, lipid droplets). Here, Laura uses LaBeRling to look at ER-Golgi contact sites in mitosis for the first time.
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Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common cause of anovulatory infertility. Obesity exacerbates the reproductive complications of PCOS; however, the management of obesity in women with PCOS remains a large unmet clinical need. Observational studies have indicated that bariatric surgery could improve the rates of ovulatory cycles and prospects of fertility; however, the efficacy of surgery on ovulation rates has not yet been compared with behavioural modifications and medical therapy in a randomised trial. The aim of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy of bariatric surgery versus medical care on ovulation rates in women with PCOS, obesity, and oligomenorrhoea or amenorrhoea.
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Our Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Building, which we share with the School of Life Sciences, has been awarded the West Midlands Building of the Year award from the Royal Institute of British Architects.

In a collaboration between Soochow (China), Institut Pasteur (Shanghai), CDC (China), Liverpool, Georgia (US), and Warwick we investigated the host-specificity of S. enterica based on 362,931 publically accessible genomes in EnteroBase (a database of sequenced enteric bacteria genomes hosted and developed at Warwick). We detected the presence of nine populations that are enriched in pigs and observed frequent intercontinental transmission of genetically almost identical strains in these pig-enriched populations, which cannot be explained solely by natural causes. Therefore, we focused on one population enriched in pigs, serovar Choleraesuis, reconstructing the historical fluctuations in this population, accumulation of antimicrobial-resistant genes, and international transmissions. We revealed a 2-stage expansion in the population of this serovar, the first associated with the development of intensive pig farming in the early 20th century and the second due to the increased frequency of antimicrobial resistance after the 1960s. Additionally, we found that Europe and the USA contributed the most to international transmissions of this serovar.
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Professor Robert Cross, Warwick Medical School has been awarded the Biochemical Society Award for Sustained Excellence 2025.

The work and contribution of fifteen eminent bioscientists, outstanding educators and exceptional early career researchers has been acknowledged in the annual Biochemical Society Awards following a record year of nominations - Find out more and read the full article here