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News Archive - Mario Aguilera

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

September 22, 2022

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

August 18, 2022

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

August 3, 2022

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

July 12, 2022

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

July 1, 2022

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.

Immune Cells Anchored in Tissues Offer Unique Defenses Against Pathogens and Cancers

June 29, 2022

Researchers are expanding their understanding of unique immune “memory” cells equipped to remember malicious invaders. They developed an atlas that describes tissue-resident memory cells in diverse settings, boosting prospects for new immune defense strategies at vulnerable infection sites.

UC San Diego Biological Sciences Professors Elected to National Academy of Sciences

May 9, 2022

School of Biological Sciences neurobiologist Yishi Jin and molecular biologist James T. Kadonaga have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences, one of the highest honors bestowed upon U.S. scientists and engineers.

Researchers Manipulate Demographic of Bacterial Community with Novel Electronic Technology

May 4, 2022

Using second-long electrical shocks, UC San Diego scientists were able to control the types of cells in a community of bacteria. Being able to direct the ratio of cells holds implications for settings spanning agriculture to health care, where antibiotic resistance is a significant threat.

Recently Discovered Protein Turbocharges Gene Expression

March 9, 2022

Scientists at UC San Diego and Rutgers University have found intriguing new details about a previously missing critical factor in gene expression. An ancient protein called NDF found in all human tissues enhances gene activation and may be involved in diseases such as cancer.

Government Guidelines Across North America, Europe Fail to Protect Lakes from Salt Pollution

February 21, 2022

The salinity of freshwater ecosystems caused by road de-icing salts, agriculture fertilizers, mining operations and climate change is increasing worldwide and current water quality guidelines don’t do enough to address the issue, an international study with UC San Diego scientists has found.
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