The body defends itself against pathogens by depriving them of vital iron. However, this strategy doesn’t always succeed against Salmonella. Researchers at the University of Basel have discovered that these bacteria specifically target iron-rich regions within immune cells to replicate. Their findings on how pathogens evade the immune defense are important for fighting infections.
In order for trees to grow, they need to control their water balance meticulously. A study by the University of Basel shows how trees react to drought – and revises previous perceptions.
After the bloody attack on Indian tourists in Kashmir, the decades-long conflict in the Indian subcontinent has flared up again. Conflict researcher Dr Pascale Schild puts the events into perspective and explains why the people of Kashmir have been torn between the fronts for decades.
As part of the Weed Care study, researchers are investigating how the legal supply of cannabis affects consumption and mental health among participants. In a first academic publication, the study team has now reported on the direct comparison of the substance’s legal versus illegal procurement.
Bacteria have a simple yet potent mechanism that controls their sensitivity to environmental stimuli. A new study by researchers at the University of Basel reveals that the responsiveness of cells is directly linked to their growth rate: the slower cells grow, the more sensitively they respond to their environment. This increased sensitivity can give the cells a crucial survival advantage.
Runny nose, itchy eyes: even a small concentration of pollen in the air can trigger a reaction in allergy sufferers. Researchers from the University of Basel and the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute have now investigated whether allergic reactions such as these influence cognitive performance.
In the fight against bacterial pathogens, researchers are combining vaccination with targeted colonisation of the intestine by harmless microorganisms. This approach could potentially mark a turning point in the antibiotics crisis.
LSD is a well-known hallucinogenic drug, but medical research has also discovered its potential for treating psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety. Now, researchers from the University of Basel have explored whether the substance could also relieve symptoms of ADHD.
People breathing contaminated air over the course of years are at greater risk of developing numerous diseases. This is thought to be due to highly reactive components in particulate matter, which affect biological processes in the body. However, researchers from the University of Basel have now shown that precisely these components disappear within hours and that previous measurements therefore completely underestimate the quantities in which they are present.
