Biological engineering

An integrated artificial gut platform developed at Lincoln Laboratory allows researchers to accurately emulate the colon, opening the way to precise testing of the human microbiome.

Artificial gut aims to expose the elusive microbiome

Testing platform will allow the research community to explore the human microbiome in new ways.

October 3, 2019

MIT engineers have programmed viruses called bacteriophages to kill different strains of E. coli, by making mutations in a viral protein that binds to host cells.

Engineered viruses could fight drug resistance

By tweaking bacteriophage genomes, MIT team creates a new weapon to combat infection.

October 3, 2019

Researchers at MIT and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard have devised a new way to rapidly image synaptic proteins at high resolution. Using fluorescent nucleic acid probes, they can label and image as many as 12 different proteins in neuronal samples containing thousands of synapses.

Technique can image individual proteins within synapses

Rapid imaging method could help reveal how conditions such as autism affect brain cells.

September 26, 2019

MIT researchers have collected and preserved samples of nearly 8,000 strains of bacteria found in the human digestive tract.

A comprehensive catalogue of human digestive tract bacteria

Researchers identify nearly 8,000 strains of bacteria, while also clarifying their genetic and metabolic context.

September 2, 2019

MIT engineers created a DNA-acrylamide gel that can be degraded by DNA-editing enzymes. At right, the gel is broken down after two hours of exposure to a DNA "trigger sequence." At left, the gel is exposed to DNA that doesn't contain the trigger sequence, so it remains intact.

Using CRISPR to program gels with new functions

Smart materials change properties in response to specific DNA sequences; could be used in a variety of devices.

August 22, 2019

MIT biological engineers have developed a new way to encode complex memories in the DNA of living cells.

High-precision technique stores cellular “memory” in DNA

Engineers program human and bacterial cells to keep a record of complex molecular events.

August 22, 2019

The blood-brain barrier — the normally tight border that prevents harmful molecules in the bloodstream from entering the brain — can be damaged by the protein aggregates that form in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.

Tissue model reveals role of blood-brain barrier in Alzheimer’s

Study finds that Alzheimer’s damage allows toxins to enter the brain, further harming neurons.

August 12, 2019

A bright fluorescent quantum defect can be a tool to upgrade current biomedical imaging systems, looking at even smaller tumors through the defect emission.

A single-photon source you can make at home

Shining light through household bleach creates fluorescent quantum defects in carbon nanotubes for quantum computing and biomedical imaging.

August 9, 2019

Cancer cells targeted with nanoparticles built in the Hammond laboratory

MIT “Russian Doll” tech lands $7.9M international award to fight brain tumors

Researchers from MIT's Koch Institute will work with teams in the UK and Europe to use nanoparticles to carry multiple drug therapies to treat glioblastoma.

July 26, 2019

A cancer cell (blue, center) can elude attack by immune cells (such as these T cells shown in green and red) by sequestering the mutated proteins that would otherwise signal its identity as a "foreign" invader away from the cell’s surface.

Unmasking mutant cancer cells

A new dosing regimen for an old cancer drug shows new promise as an immunotherapy.

July 17, 2019

MIT engineers have devised a way to stimulate T cells (shown in red) to attack tumors by activating them with a vaccine that accumulates in the lymph nodes. B cells in the lymph nodes are labeled in blue.

New vaccine strategy boosts T-cell therapy

Super-charging a treatment for leukemia also makes it effective on solid tumors.

July 11, 2019

The CRISPR family enzyme Cas13 (pink) is at the heart of the RESCUE platform, where it uses a special guide (red) to target RNAs in the cell (blue).

New CRISPR platform expands RNA editing capabilities

The new system, dubbed RESCUE, allows RNA edits to be made that were not previously possible.

July 11, 2019

Top: A cell undergoing normal cell division (mitosis). Bottom row: Defects in the mitotic spindle produced by two drugs that interfere with cancer cell division. These defects can lead to cell death.

Cancer biologists identify new drug combo

Two drugs that block cell division synergize to kill tumor cells.

July 10, 2019

A new technique prevents cell-killing proteins called cytokines from escaping once they have been injected into a tumor.

Confining cell-killing treatments to tumors

Attaching a Velcro-like molecule may prevent immune proteins called cytokines from leaking out of cancerous tissue after injection.

June 26, 2019

Winners in the Patagonia Case Competition: (l-r) Audrey Bazerghi, Cherry Gao, Jordan Landis, Cristina Bleicher, Ellena Kim, and Ty Christoff-Tempesta.

Graduate students win first place in 2019 Patagonia Case Competition

MIT PhD and MBA students proposed a winning solution for sustainable food and apparel packaging.

June 24, 2019

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