Life Sciences

Scientists at EPFL have developed two complementary bladder models to study urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by E. coli: bladder organoids and a bladder-on-a-chip. The two studies reveal how bacteria invade the bladder, and how they evade the immune system and resist antibiotics.

EPFL researchers have characterized a mechanism that allows bacteria to direct their movement in response to the mechanical properties of the surfaces the microbes move on — a finding that could help fight certain pathogens.

For millennia scientists have manually combed through data in a bid to find meaningful patterns to solve complex problems. Now, many researchers believe that Machine Learning will fundamentally change the way science is done.

Using a combination of powerful sequencing techniques and mathematical methods, EPFL researchers have traced the genetic programs that direct the development of each cell in the brain. This molecular map could help researchers to understand how the brain develops and provide insights into a range of conditions, including brain tumors and neurodevelopmental disorders.

EPFL researchers have found that a form of neuron-to-neuron communication that has long been dismissed as ‘background noise’ is required to keep nerve junctions intact as animals age. The finding suggests that defects in this type of neural communication could contribute to neurodegenerative disorders and other brain conditions.

EPFL scientists have devised a new method that can speed up the real-time observation capabilities of cryo-electron microscopy.