Developmental Biology Alliance
University of Georgia
In a prime example of basic bacterial research informing human disease research, microbiologists have identified a potential mechanism for neurodegenerative diseases:
The researchers created a thymus, a butterfly-shaped gland and vital component of the human immune system. Located beneath the breastbone in the upper chest, the thymus is responsible for producing T-lymphocytes, or T-cells, which help organize and lead the body’s fighting forces against threats like bacteria, viruses and even cancerous cells.
“We were all surprised by how well this works,” said Nancy Manley, professor of genetics in UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences and co-author of the paper describing their finding in Nature Cell Biology.
Scott Dougan and his research team are discovering new roles for a specific gene known as Max’s Giant Associated protein, or MGA. A little studied protein, MGA appears to control a number of developmental processes and also may be connected to cancer development.
The thymus gland is a critical component of the human immune system that is responsible for the development of T-lymphocytes, or T-cells, which help organize and lead the body’s fighting forces against harmful organisms like bacteria and viruses.
The thymus gland is a critical component of the human immune system. It is responsible for the development of T-lymphocytes, or T-cells, which help organize and lead the body’s fighting forces against harmful organisms like bacteria and viruses. Nancy Manley, a professor of genetics in UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences and principal investigator for the project.
Most people don’t give much thought to the 10,000 taste buds on their tongue when they choose a chocolate chip cookie over an apple. UGA’s Hongxiang Liu thinks about these tiny sensory organs nearly every day.
Led by Karl Lechtreck, an assistant professor in the cellular biology department, a team of researchers used total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy to analyze moving protein particles inside cilia of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a widely used unicellular model for the analysis of cilia.
