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University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Specimens of the clover-like Medicago truncatula plant were each given an initial mixture of two strains of the nitrogen-fixing bacteria Ensifer meliloti to learn what happens to microbes when paired with the same host across multiple generations.

Biologists shed light on how microbes evolve, affect hosts

Acid-tolerant yeast model helps guide industrial organic acid production

Acid-tolerant yeast model helps guide industrial organic acid production

Professor of Chemistry Doug Mitchell is one of the academic co-founders of Lassogen.

Lassogen raises $4.5M in seed round to develop novel therapeutics

The SoyFACE 'Free-Air Concentration Enrichment' (FACE) facility at the University of Illinois simulates rising carbon dioxide and temperature as well as changing rainfall patterns.

30 years of experiments simulate future crop climate response

Professor of Molecular and Integrative Physiology Erik Nelson

Nelson awarded $4.5M to study prevention, treatment of breast cancer

Illinois study tracks evolution of SARS-CoV-2 virus mutations

Illinois study tracks evolution of SARS-CoV-2 virus mutations

How the next Congress decides to handle the issue editing human sperm and eggs will affect the science, ethics and financing of genomic editing for decades to come, said Jacob S. Sherkow, a professor of law at Illinois who studies the ethical and policy implications of advanced biotechnologies.

Congress must clarify limits of gene-editing technologies

Postdoctoral researcher Byoungsoo Kim and professor Hyunjoon Kong led a team that developed an octopus-inspired device for transferring fragile, thin sheets of tissue or flexible electronics.

Octopus-inspired sucker transfers thin, delicate tissue grafts, biosensors

In a recently published study from the University of Illinois, researchers have identified a new class of bacterial importers in over 250 species.

Study on how bacteria obtain essential nutrients in soil, during infection

An example of typical dynamics with regime shifts. Purple lines indicate the start of VDRs while green lines indicate the start of HCRs. Top: Abundance profiles of hosts. Bottom: Abundance profiles of viruses. 

CRISPR-induced immune diversification in host-virus populations

Psychology professor Aron Barbey (left) and his colleagues designed a 12-week exercise and nutrition intervention that enhanced physical and cognitive performance in active-duty Air Force airmen. Postdoctoral researcher Christopher Zwilling led the study with Barbey.

Exercise and nutrition regimen benefits physical, cognitive health

The banyan tree Ficus macrocarpa produces aerial roots that give it its distinctive look. A new study reveals the genomic changes that allow the tree to produce roots that spring from its branches.

Genomic study reveals evolutionary secrets of banyan tree

Paul Hergenrother

Cancer compound leads to major licensing deal

Forces applied across the width of a cell pull at the support fibers like violin stings being plucked, Illinois engineering professor Ning Wang said. The fibers stretch the chromosomes in the cell and increase gene expression.

Gene expression altered by direction of forces acting on cell

“Citizen scientists” developing homemade COVID-19 vaccines may believe they’re inoculating themselves against the ongoing pandemic, but the practice of self-experimentation with do-it-yourself medical innovations is fraught with legal, ethical and public health issues, says a new paper co-written by University of Illinois law professor Jacob S. Sherkow.

Do-it-yourself COVID-19 vaccines fraught with public health problems