Iron ‘blueberries’ may be sign of microbial life on Mars
13 September, 2012 by Tim DeanIt’s unlikely anything lives on Mars today, but it may well have done so millions or billions of years past. And it may have left traces of its existence in the geology of the red planet. One such tantalising hint was discovered by the NASA Opportunity Rover, which found small spherical hematite balls, dubbed ‘blueberries,’ in the Martian soil.
Feature: Rush of blood
21 August, 2012 by Fiona WylieDr Benjamin Kile and Dr Emma Josefsson have helped solve a 100 year old mystery surrounding the short life of blood platelets and the role of a known cancer gene in blood cell formation.
Hendra relative could help combat the deadly virus
03 August, 2012 by Staff WritersA new benign virus related to Hendra and Nipah viruses could yield insights into what makes the latter deadly and open possibilities of new treatments or vaccines.
Feature: Silent epidemic
16 July, 2012 by Graeme O'NeillAboriginal children in the Northern Territory suffer from one of the world’s highest rates of otitis media – i.e. bacterial infections of the middle ear – which can lead to a lifetime of health problems.
Feature: Jill Banfield, extremophile
02 July, 2012 by Fiona WylieGeomicrobiology, environmental biogeochemistry, mineralogy, nanogeoscience, metagenomics, microbial community ecology and evolution. These are but some of the research interests of Professor Jill Banfield.
Slideshow: Lorne Infection and Immunity
04 April, 2012 by Tim DeanShots from the Lorne Infection and Immunity conference held in February this year.
Remember me: immune cell discovery could improve vaccines
02 April, 2012 by Tim DeanResearchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute have revealed the process by which a specialised immune cell produces immune memory, which could lead to improvements in vaccines.
Feature: Stem cell therapy targets Hirschsprung’s disease
26 March, 2012 by Graeme O'NeillStem cell therapy has emerged as a promising and potentially curative option for Hirschsprung’s disease, which causes congenital paralysis of the lower colon.
Brisbane opens new centre for neuromodulation
19 March, 2012 by Tim DeanThe $10 million Asia-Pacific Centre for Neuromodulation will focus on deep brain stimulation and seek to become an international hub for brain research.
Synchrotron solves clot-busting enzyme riddle
09 March, 2012 by Tim DeanA century old puzzle of how a clot-busting protein, plasminogen, is activated in the body has been solved, possibly leading to new treatments for bleeding disorders and some cancers.
Feature: The delicate immunological negotiation of sex
20 December, 2011 by Fiona WylieReproduction doesn’t just involve a negotiation process between partners, but it involves a complex interaction at the immune level.
Gone Viral: The germs that share our lives
09 November, 2011 by Staff WritersIn Gone Viral, Frank Bowden looks at one bug at a time, weaving around them the stories of his patients and their families, the doctors and the difficulties they face and the horrors and successes of hospitals and health care programs.
Malaria vaccine wins Gates Foundation grant
09 November, 2011 by Tim DeanA carbohydrate-based malaria vaccine developed by Australian researchers has won a US$1 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Green heart boost possibility of stem cell therapies
24 October, 2011 by Tim DeanMonash researchers have developed a new technique using green fluorescent protein that could lead the way to an inexhaustible supply of specialised cells derived from stem cells.
New immune cell raises prospect of asthma treatment
12 September, 2011 by Tim DeanThe suite of immune cells in the human body has increased by one, lending insight into immune responses such as asthma, and raising the possibility of a new treatment for chronic allergies.
