News Archive - Mario Aguilera

Novel ‘On-off’ Switch Discovered in Plant Defenses

Researchers investigating the ways that plants protect themselves—from insects to pathogens—have discovered an “on-off” switch that controls plant defensive mechanisms. The finding lays the groundwork for improved plant disease resistance and food stability.

Researchers Discover Two Paths of Aging and New Insights on Promoting Healthspan

Scientists have unraveled key mechanisms behind the mysteries of aging. They isolated two paths that cells travel during aging and engineered a new way to genetically program these aging routes. The researchers also identified a master circuit that guides the aging processes.

Biologist Sonya Neal Named 2020 Pew Scholar

The Pew Charitable Trusts today announced that Sonya Neal, an assistant professor in the University of California San Diego Division of Biological Sciences, has been selected to join the Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences.

Recovery of Sea Otter Populations Yields More Benefits than Costs

A new study offers perspectives on the ecological and economic impact of sea otters. Comparing regions with and without otters reveals contrasts in kelp forests, fish, urchins, carbon and tourism. The study’s results indicate the economic benefits of having otters present outweigh the costs.

New Biosensor Visualizes Stress in Living Plant Cells in Real Time

UCSanDiego scientists have developed a new biosensor that visualizes stress in living plant cells in real time. The new nanosensor allows unprecedented access to explore mechanisms related to drought.

Exercise Boosts Motor Skill Learning Via Changes in Brain’s Transmitters

Comparing the brains of mice that exercised with those that did not, UC San Diego researchers found that specific neurons switched their chemical signals, called neurotransmitters, following exercise, leading to improved learning for motor-skill acquisition.

They Remember: Communities of Microbes Found to Have Working Memory

Biologists studying bacterial communities have discovered that these simple organisms feature a robust memory capacity. Using light, they were able to encode memory patterns and visualize cells with memory. The discovery reveals parallels between low-level organisms and sophisticated neurons.

Researchers Uncover Importance of Aligning Biological Clock with Day-Night Cycles

Scientists studying bacteria have identified the roots of a behavior that is regulated by the circadian clock. The research provides a striking example of the importance of keeping the internal biological clock aligned with the external environment so that processes occur at the right time of day.

UC San Diego Faculty Members Named 2020 Sloan Research Fellows

Six UC San Diego researchers have been named to receive prestigious 2020 Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowships. Considered among the most promising researchers working today, the new UC San Diego Sloan fellows are part of a cohort of 126 early career scientists selected in the U.S. and Canada.

Fly Model Offers New Approach to Unraveling ‘Difficult’ Pathogen

Clostridium difficile, a bacterium known to cause symptoms from diarrhea to life-threatening colon damage, is part of a growing epidemic for the elderly and hospitalized patients. Biologists have now developed models of the common fruit fly to help develop novel therapies to fight the pathogen.