Research in Germany

• Using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and computer simulations, researchers have visualized, for the first time, how the three-dimensional structure of the cancer protein p53 changes dynamically over time – from super-fast trillionths of a second to microseconds, which are one million times slower. • p53 can adopt at least 50 different three-dimensional structures and is much more ordered than was previously thought. • In the fight against cancer, understanding the dynamics of these structures might help develop drugs that target p53. This new approach also allows to study similar proteins whose dynamics have previously been difficult to access applying conventional methods.

Researchers at the University of Stuttgart and the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research have developed tiny rolls that can be unrolled and rolled up in a controlled manner using a magnet. The model for this was the proboscis of butterflies. These smart materials enable the development of more efficient drive technologies for micro- and soft robotics, a field of research of great economic importance. The results have been published in the journal Advanced Materials.

A University of Tübingen team tests the practical implementation of a two-step process optimized in the laboratory – a contribution to feeding the world with protein that does not involve farming

Extreme heatwaves are a defining feature of this summer and put a strain on the human body – particularly the brain. Dr. Wenzel Glanz, a neuro scientist and head physician at the joint memory clinic run by DZNE and the Department of Neurology at Magdeburg University Hospital, explains the mechanisms involved and the many ways in which excessive heat can affect the brain.

Researchers find a previously unknown way to selectively activate B cells B cells produce antibodies against pathogens. Such an immune response can also be triggered by contact with materials that have a specific surface structure. This was discovered by researchers from the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Humboldt University of Berlin, the Berlin Institute of Health at Charité (BIH), and the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE). The findings expand the understanding of how immune cells perceive their environment and open up new possibilities for immunotherapies and biomaterials. The study was recently published in the journal Advanced Science.

Researchers have developed a chemically defined approach against the multidrug-resistant hospital fungus Candida auris. A synthetic sugar molecule serves as the basis for a vaccine candidate, protective antibodies, and a prototype for a rapid test.