News Archive
Probe can measure both cell stiffness and traction, researchers report
Diana Yates
Scientists have developed a tiny mechanical probe that can measure the inherent stiffness of cells and tissues as well as the internal forces the cells generate and exert on…
Teaching generations of students about outbreaks – with art
Jessica Brinkworth
by Jessica Brinkworth (GNDP/IGOH), Anthropology Professor
Most people don’t visit the health department to view student art, but here we are, in the busy main hall of…
$9.5M award to study emerging pathogens, better understand influenza-antibody interactions
Christine des Garennes
Aquatic birds, especially ducks, can carry influenza viruses but they don’t often become severely ill, leading scientists to wonder how their immune systems act as a reservoir…
IGB Profile: Victoria Kramer
Ananya Sen
If you walked into the RIPE HTPF, located on the southern part of the Illinois campus, the first thing you would notice is the never-ending rows of plants. At any given time,…
CA's proposal to manufacture insulin could curb prices, improve public health
Phil Ciciora
A new paper co-written by a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign legal scholar argues that the state of California’s proposal to manufacture and distribute insulin at cost…
Microelectronics give researchers a remote control for biological robots
Liz Ahlberg Touchstone
First, they walked. Then, they saw the light. Now, miniature biological robots have gained a new trick: remote control.
The hybrid “eBiobots” are the first to combine…
Team streamlines DNA collection, analysis for elephant conservation
Diana Yates
A new DNA-collection approach allows scientists to capture genetic information from elephants without disturbing the animals or putting their own safety in…
How do methanotrophs handle the toxic effects of hydrogen sulfide?
Ananya Sen
Methanotrophs—organisms that grow by consuming methane—seem to be perfect for alleviating global warming, since methane accounts for about 30% of this effect. However, drilling…
New role of small RNAs in Salmonella infections uncovered
Ananya Sen
Salmonella are food-borne pathogens that infect millions of people a year. To do so, these bacteria depend on a complex network of genes and gene products that allow them to…