Life Lines by Dr. Dolittle

Sponsored by the American Physiological Society

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Hydrogen sulfide – the gas we hate to smell, but can’t live without

Although hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is most often associated with manure and the smells of rotten eggs, research has shown it plays important physiological roles. In fact, our bodies actually produce H2S within our cells. Other source of H2S include sulfate-producing bacteria in our gut and dietary intake (such as garlic and cruciferous vegetables). H2S is a member of a group of gasotransmitters, referred to as the ‘reactive species interactome’, that […]

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How snakes fight infection quickly

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day today, I thought we’d talk about snakes today. Vertebrates defend themselves from infections with the help of the adaptive and innate immune systems. The first responder to an infection is typically the innate immune system, which is not specific to a particular pathogen. This system helps to prevent the infection from spreading and uses various toxins to kill pathogens. The adaptive immune response, on […]

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Infertility is not an issue for naked mole rats

Naked mole-rats have attracted the attention of scientists once again. Not only do they live very long lives (30+ years), while typically avoiding cancer, females remain fertile their whole life. Unlocking their secrets to avoiding menopause may lead to new ways to treat infertility. New research has identified their tricks for lifelong fertility. It turns out that female naked mole-rats have 1.5 million egg cells (oocytes) when they are born, […]

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Now we know how life underground reduces metabolism

…at least for mole-rats. African mole-rats live in dark underground dwellings where oxygen and food are scarce, and humidity and temperatures are high. These animals have low metabolic rates and body temperatures uniquely adapted to their life underground. Metabolism is controlled in part by thyroid hormones. To understand the role of thyroid hormone in mole-rats, researchers examined the thyroid gland and hormones in naked mole-rats (Heterocephalus glaber) as well as […]

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Protecting oil palms and owls with cholecalciferol

Wild rodent infestations can destroy crops and pose many risks to public health. According to the CDC, they are hosts to many diseases including Hantavirus, Monkeypox, Salmonella, Hemorrhagic fever, Lassa fever, Leptospirosis, Arenavirus, Sylvatic Typhus, and Tularemia. Wild rodents may also indirectly spread diseases to humans and other animals through infected ticks, mites, mosquitoes, and fleas that feast on them. Such indirect illnesses include Lyme disease, Plague, Typhus, Colorado Tick […]

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Keeping it cool when it gets hot

Human thermoregulation in a warm environment Thermoregulation is the ability for an organism to control body temperature within a specified physiological range even when environmental temperatures vary. A recent article published in Physiological Reviews explored thermoregulation in humans and how various factors such as age, body shape, adaptation, and biological sex impact a person’s ability to maintain body temperature. They also explored how various diseases such as multiple sclerosis, diabetes, […]

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The biological importance of carbonic anhydrase enzyme

Carbonic anhydrase is an important enzyme that regulates the acid-base balance of an organism. In fact, carbonic anhydrase (CA) is so important to homeostasis, it is found in all living organisms studied to date – from microorganisms (like bacteria) to mammals. As the name implies, this enzyme is responsible for catalyzing the hydration of carbon dioxide, which is a reversible process (see figure above). In other words, it speeds up […]

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New cancer diagnostic tool

Scientists have come up with a truly unique tool to try to detect cancer – ants. Yes, ants. Ants are known for their strong sense of smell, which helps them locate food pretty well. Interestingly, some forms of cancer can alter the smell of urine and ants may be able to detect those changes. Their findings on the potential use of ants as “bio-detectors” of cancer were published in the […]

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The complex interplay between pathogens and our immune system

I read an interesting review article explaining how cells evolved the ability to kill off pathogens and, in turn, how pathogens evade death. It is kind of like a perpetual game of ‘cat and mouse’ in which the interaction between animals and pathogens drives the evolution of host defenses against infections while at the same time driving the evolution of pathogen strategies to avoid detection. According to the review article, […]

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Hummingbirds can choose how deep to sleep

Could you imagine drinking a can of soda every minute just to support your high metabolism? Amazingly, that is the equivalent to how much sugar a hummingbird needs to support their rapid wingbeats during flight. In fact, hummingbird flight muscles are the fastest on record, allowing the birds to flap their wings at a rate of up to 200 beats per second! That explains why they are always at my […]

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