NIH CANCELS 300 RESEARCH PROJECTS THREATENING HIV EPIDEMIC PROGRESS

The federal government has canceled over 300 research projects funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including 65 focused on HIV prevention and care, disrupting progress towards eliminating the epidemic in the U.S. Many of these projects aimed to improve access to HIV drugs like PrEP, particularly for high-risk populations such as Black men and trans women. Researchers, including Julia Marcus and Amy Nunn, expressed concern that these cuts, under the guise of aligning with NIH and HHS priorities, threaten scientific advancement and equity efforts. Despite prior commitments, such as President Trump’s initiative to end the HIV epidemic, these cancellations undermine that progress. The NIH did not elaborate on the reasons for the cuts, and many researchers fear the long-term impact on public health and academic careers. Experts warn the decision could result in a resurgence of HIV cases, set back medical advancements, and harm vulnerable populations. (The Guardian)

---

CDC CANCELS MEASLES RISK ASSESSMENT AMID GROWING OUTBREAK

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently canceled plans to release a risk assessment that highlighted the high risk of measles in areas with low vaccination rates. The assessment, which aimed to emphasize the importance of vaccination, was suppressed following guidance from Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known vaccine critic. The CDC’s shift in messaging now frames vaccination as a personal choice, diverging from its previous stance promoting vaccines as essential for public health. This change comes amid growing measles outbreaks in 19 states, with over 480 cases reported. Public health experts, including Jennifer Nuzzo from Brown University, expressed concern over the weakened messaging, particularly as measles is highly contagious and can be deadly. Additionally, the CDC has faced challenges in handling data transparency and managing the outbreak, with concerns about insufficient resources for state health departments. (Ars Technica)

---

---

NEW ANTIBIOTIC LARIOCIDIN FIGHTS DRUG-RESISTANT SUPERBUGS EFFECTIVELY

Researchers have identified a promising new antibiotic, lariocidin, derived from a bacterium found in soil. This molecule belongs to a group of peptides that form a robust, lasso-shaped structure, which allows it to survive digestion. Lariocidin works by binding to the ribosome and transfer RNA, disrupting protein synthesis and causing errors in the genetic code. This results in toxic, faulty peptides that kill the bacteria. Unlike other antibiotics, lariocidin’s unique mode of action means that pathogens have not developed resistance to it. In lab tests, it effectively slowed the growth of multiple drug-resistant bacteria without harming human cells. When tested in mice infected with Acinetobacter baumannii, a superbug resistant to last-resort antibiotics, treated mice survived longer with lower bacterial levels. While promising, further research is needed to enhance its potency, understand its behavior in the body, and reduce potential side effects before it can be developed into a human drug. (Nature)

---

US RESPONSE DELAYED AFTER MYANMAR EARTHQUAKE KILLS 1,700

In response to a deadly 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar that killed over 1,700 people, many countries, including China, Russia, and India, sent emergency aid. However, the United States, once a leading foreign aid provider, has been slow to respond. Despite President Trump’s prior claims of assistance, a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) assessment team won’t arrive until days later, with the overall U.S. response delayed. The Trump administration’s cuts to USAID have significantly hindered its ability to respond quickly. Many humanitarian aid specialists and contractors were laid off, and resources were depleted, leaving USAID’s infrastructure crippled. While the U.S. pledged up to $2 million in aid, logistical challenges, including Myanmar’s military junta’s restrictions, complicate relief efforts. Some experts worry that aid funneled through the junta could be diverted to support the military. Despite this, Chinese and Russian teams have already deployed to help. (New York Times)

---

---

NANOPARTICLES SHOW PROMISE IN TREATING RESPIRATORY FAILURE AND ATHEROSCLEROSIS

Researchers are exploring the use of nanoparticles, similar to those in RNA vaccines for COVID-19, to treat respiratory failure and atherosclerosis. Both conditions involve malfunctioning endothelial cells that reduce key protein production, contributing to severe inflammation and health issues. In acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), endothelial cells in lung capillaries fail to produce the KLF2 protein, leading to fluid leakage and impaired oxygen transfer. In atherosclerosis, plaques disrupt blood flow, causing a reduction in the PLPP3 enzyme, which fuels further inflammation. To address these, researchers developed nanoparticles that carry messenger RNA for KLF2 and PLPP3, aiming to restore normal function. The nanoparticles, which target inflamed cells, showed promising results in lab tests and mouse models. In ARDS, they reduced lung damage and inflammation by half, while in atherosclerosis, they reduced vascular inflammation by 83%, stabilizing plaques. Despite challenges, such as potential immune reactions and dosing concerns, this approach could offer new treatments for these life-threatening conditions. (Science)

---

ANCIENT WASP DISCOVERED IN AMBER REVEALS UNIQUE PREDATOR BEHAVIOR

Scientists have discovered an ancient wasp preserved in 99-million-year-old amber, which may have lived alongside dinosaurs. The wasp, named Sirenobethylus charybdis, has an abdomen with flappy paddles lined with bristles, resembling the carnivorous Venus flytrap. Unlike modern-day wasps, this species likely used its trap-like structure to hold prey in place while laying eggs, rather than crushing it. This behavior mirrors the parasitic strategies of modern wasps like cuckoo and bethylid wasps. The unusual structure of the wasp, which combines a bear trap-like design with a flytrap mechanism, is unlike anything seen in other insects. Researchers hope the discovery will offer insights into ancient insect behaviors and the diversity of species that once existed. The study, published in BMC Biology, underscores the surprising complexity of ancient insects, showing that many exceptional traits existed long before modern-day species evolved. (AP)

---

THRIVING ECOSYSTEM DISCOVERED BENEATH ANTARCTIC ICEBERG A-84

Scientists have discovered a thriving ecosystem of sponges, anemones, hydroids, and coral beneath a colossal iceberg, A-84, that broke off from the George VI Ice Shelf in Antarctica. This previously inaccessible site, now exposed, has become the focus of research. An international team from the Schmidt Ocean Institute reached the seafloor in January, using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV SuBastian) to explore the untouched habitat at depths of up to 1,300 meters. The researchers were surprised to find a vibrant ecosystem, possibly centuries old. The discovery offers new insights into how ecosystems function beneath floating ice sheets, as these ecosystems had been cut off from surface nutrients for potentially hundreds of years. Scientists suggest that deep-sea currents may provide the necessary nutrients to sustain life in this isolated environment. The team is now working to identify and describe the new species found in this unique habitat. (NDTV)

---

NEW STUDY REVEALS HOW LLMs DECIDE TO HALLUCINATE RESPONSES

New research from Anthropic sheds light on the inner workings of large language models (LLMs), revealing how they decide when to provide an answer or refuse. This behavior, often seen as “hallucination,” occurs when LLMs offer plausible-sounding but incorrect answers. Anthropic’s study explores how certain neural circuits within the model activate when encountering “known” or “unfamiliar” entities. For instance, when the model comes across a familiar name like “Michael Jordan,” it activates a feature that encourages a response, while less known entities trigger a “can’t answer” circuit. The research shows that these circuits sometimes malfunction, allowing LLMs to confidently produce hallucinated responses, especially for entities that aren’t well-represented in their training data. The findings suggest that improving the model’s ability to distinguish between what it knows and doesn’t know could help reduce hallucinations. However, Anthropic acknowledges that this research is still in its early stages, and much more work is needed to address the confabulation problem. (Ars Technica)

Thanks for reading. Let’s be careful out there.

WORDS: The Biology Guy.

---

---