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Researchers have developed an innovative approach that uses the natural behavior of Escherichia coli (E. coli) to predict whether a COVID-19 patient is likely to develop a mild or severe form of the disease. Instead of genetically modifying the bacteria, scientists exposed them to patients' blood plasma and analyzed their growth patterns, which reflected the plasma's chemical composition. This living "biosensor" successfully distinguished between mild and severe cases without using traditional machine-learning models. The low-cost technique could pave the way for affordable diagnostic and prognostic tools for COVID-19 and other diseases, while also offering future applications in environmental monitoring and wastewater analysis.

Researchers have uncovered previously unknown changes in blood vessels that may explain why certain oral inflammatory diseases, such as peri-implantitis and rapidly advancing periodontitis, cause rapid tissue destruction. Using the Human Periodontal Atlas, the team identified increased levels of the inflammatory protein CD38 in blood vessel cells, suggesting a shared mechanism that could become a future drug target. The findings not only improve understanding of severe gum disease but also offer valuable insights into other inflammatory conditions, including cancer. Researchers now plan to expand their single-cell atlases across more than 20 diseases to identify common disease pathways and develop more targeted therapies.

The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) has introduced Nigel, an AI-powered virtual assistant designed specifically for gastroenterology and hepatology clinicians. Unlike general AI tools, Nigel is built on AGA's peer-reviewed clinical guidelines and the GRADE evidence framework, providing fast, transparent, and evidence-based answers at the point of care. The assistant helps doctors interpret guidelines, validate diagnostic and treatment decisions, and access the latest research within seconds. With its knowledge base updated in real time as new clinical guidance emerges, Nigel aims to reduce time spent searching for information, ease clinician workload, and ultimately improve patient care.

A widely used blood pressure medication, telmisartan, could significantly boost the effectiveness of the cancer drug olaparib, according to new research. Scientists found that combining the two treatments enhanced the body's immune response against tumors and improved anticancer activity in preclinical studies. The findings suggest that olaparib's benefits may extend beyond patients with BRCA-related cancers, potentially helping a much broader group of cancer patients. Encouragingly, this promising drug combination has already advanced to human clinical trials, where researchers are evaluating its safety and effectiveness. If successful, this approach could offer a more powerful and accessible strategy for cancer treatment in the future.

Childhood learning may be influenced by genetics in different ways as children grow, according to a new study published in Nature Human Behaviour. Researchers found that rare genetic variants had the strongest link to cognitive ability during early childhood, but their influence gradually weakened with age. In contrast, common genetic variants became more strongly associated with cognition during later childhood. The findings may explain why some people carrying rare gene variants linked to intellectual disability appear unaffected later in life. Scientists say the research highlights early childhood as a critical window for brain development and could improve future studies on learning, neurodevelopmental disorders, and personalized interventions.

A new study suggests that high fever in people with malaria may temporarily reduce the spread of the disease. Researchers found that while malaria parasites can activate protective heat-response mechanisms during most stages of their life cycle, mature gametocytes—the stage responsible for infecting mosquitoes—lose this ability and become highly sensitive to high temperatures. As a result, mosquitoes biting patients with high fever may be less likely to acquire the parasite, potentially interrupting transmission. Although more research is needed to confirm this effect in real-world infections, the findings offer new insights into malaria biology and could help guide future strategies to reduce disease transmission.

Researchers have uncovered how a common form of brain cancer, called IDH glioma, becomes more aggressive over time. By analyzing individual tumor cells from patients, the team found that as the cancer progresses, it loses DNA methylation—chemical marks that normally help regulate genes. This change allows more tumor cells to revert to immature, stem cell-like states that are highly adaptable, invasive, and resistant to treatment. The findings provide new insights into why these tumors become harder to treat and may explain why some patients respond poorly to current IDH-targeted therapies. The discovery could guide future treatments and improve prediction of disease progression.

A new study suggests that changes in the brain chemical glutamate may help explain why frequent cannabis use is linked to a higher risk of psychosis in some people. Researchers analyzed 79 individuals with varying levels of psychosis risk and found that cannabis users with lower glutamate levels in the anterior cingulate cortex experienced more severe hallucinations, delusions, and other psychotic symptoms. While the study does not prove that cannabis directly causes these brain changes, it identifies glutamate as a potential biological pathway connecting cannabis use and psychosis. The findings could guide future treatments and improve understanding of who may be most vulnerable to cannabis-related mental health problems.

A new study suggests that chronic psychological stress may accelerate immune aging by disrupting communication between the brain, gut, and bone marrow. In mice, researchers found that stress reduced activity in key brain regions, altered the gut microbiome by lowering beneficial Lactobacillus reuteri bacteria, and decreased levels of spermidine, a compound important for cellular health. These changes impaired blood-forming stem cells in the bone marrow and reduced immune cell production, making the immune system resemble that of an older individual. While the findings need confirmation in humans, they highlight the importance of stress management and gut health in supporting healthy immune function and aging.

Researchers have created the most comprehensive genomic map of bone health, identifying hundreds of previously unknown genes involved in bone formation and loss. By combining single-cell RNA sequencing with genetic data from nearly 500,000 people, the team discovered 34 distinct bone cell types and revealed that blood vessel cells play a much larger role in bone repair than previously recognized. The findings could transform treatment for conditions such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and brittle bone disease by helping scientists develop therapies that rebuild lost bone rather than simply slowing its breakdown. The open-access resource may also advance research into cancers that spread to bone.