News Archive - Mario Aguilera

Brain Cells Under Attack Don ‘Body Armor’ Response, Offering New Views of Stroke Damage

UC San Diego neurobiologists have discovered that cells within neurons, the brain’s transmission connectors, protect themselves with a type of body armor when faced with threatening conditions such as during a stroke. The pro-survival mechanism helps reduce brain tissue damage.

Researchers Identify Elusive Carbon Dioxide Sensor in Plants that Controls Water Loss

UC San Diego scientists have identified a long-sought carbon dioxide sensor in plants, a discovery that holds implications for trees, crops and wildfires. The researchers found that two proteins work together to form the sensor, which is key for water evaporation, photosynthesis and plant growth.

UC San Diego Faculty Receive New EDI Award from Chan Zuckerberg Initiative

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine have selected UC San Diego Assistant Professors Brian Aguado and Sonya Neal as grant recipients in a new program launched to promote equity, diversity and inclusion in science.

A Chain of Inspiration: Nick Spitzer’s Golden Anniversary at UC San Diego

UC San Diego icon Nick Spitzer, known for his warm, engaging personality and a passion for teaching and research, is marking 50 years on campus. A campus celebration and new innovation award have been set to mark his lasting contributions to science and the university.

The Thinking Undead: How Dormant Bacteria Calculate Their Return to Life

Facing extreme conditions such as starvation and stress, some bacterial cells enter a dormant state in which life processes stop. Biologists have discovered how they assess environmental conditions for a return to life, carrying implications for evaluating life on Earth as well as other planets.

A Sea Change for Plastic Pollution: New Material Biodegrades in Ocean Water

Seeking solutions to counteract a rapid rise in plastic trash, scientists at UC San Diego have developed biodegradable material that is designed to replace conventionally used plastic. In a new study, an interdisciplinary team of researchers has shown that the material biodegrades in seawater.

CRISPR-based Technology Targets Global Crop Pest

Applying CRISPR-based technology to a broad agricultural need, scientists have developed a new technology aimed at Drosophila suzukii, the invasive fruit fly responsible for millions of dollars in crop damage. The technology replaces the need for insecticides with precise genetic edits in flies.

Giant Viruses Build a Cell Nucleus Surprisingly Like Our Own

Scientists are using new technologies to obtain unprecedented looks inside viruses and their unique abilities to infect and destroy bacteria. Using cryo-EM and other technologies, they found that jumbo phage cells feature a compartment that is surprisingly similar to the nucleus of human cells.

Evolve… Innovate… Repeat: Scientists Peel Back the Layers of Virus-Host Evolution and Innovation

Scientists have uncovered an intriguing new understanding of how viruses and the hosts they infect evolve new innovations to outcompete each other. Culminating a 10-year research effort, the researchers tracked the way fitness landscapes constantly change in the ongoing struggle for survival.

“Soft” CRISPR May Offer a New Fix for Genetic Defects

Scientists have developed a CRISPR-based technology that could offer a safer approach to correcting genetic defects. The new “soft” CRISPR system makes use of natural DNA repair machinery, providing a foundation for novel gene therapy strategies with the potential to cure genetic diseases.