News: Molecular Biosciences
Read the latest news from the College of Natural Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin
The Achilles Heel That Could Lead to Universal Coronavirus Treatments
Alone, this target might not be strong enough to directly block infection, but might be used to jump-start or boost an immune response.
![A man in white lab coat holds a three dimensional model of a viral protein and an antibody attached](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/mclellan_2400x1350.jpg)
UT Austin a Key Player in Science’s Hottest Research Areas for 2023
Researchers at UT Austin are involved in some of the most exciting areas of science and driving groundbreaking discoveries and technologies that impact our world.
![Individuals looking at a display of outer space](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/galaxies-in-color2400x1600.jpg)
How Amphibious Plants Rewired a Gas Exchange Pathway to Survive in Water
Just as humans cannot breathe underwater, the tiny pores of plants can't exchange air underwater.
![When grown on land, the amphibious plant Rorippa aquatica produces pores called stomata (left); but grown in water, it does not. Credit: Shuka Ikematsu.](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/stomatano_stomata2400x1600.png)
McLellan Wins Major Awards from Welch Foundation, National Academy
Jason McLellan receives the NAS Award in Molecular Biology and the Norman Hackerman Award from the Welch Foundation.
![Portrait of a man in glasses and white lab coat](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/mclellan_32_thumbnail.png)
How a CRISPR Protein Might Yield New Tests for Many Viruses
It might enable inexpensive, highly sensitive at-home diagnostic tests for COVID-19, influenza, Ebola and more.
![A protein holds open the two strands of a DNA double helix](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/unzipping_dna-2400x1440.jpg)
Dense Bacterial Populations Create Mutant Breeding Grounds for Antibiotic Resistance
Scientists at The University of Texas at Austin have found a new contributor to antibiotic resistance: bacterial swarms that create ideal breeding grounds to evolve...
![Overlapping pink and purple circles surrounded by dandelion seeds.](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/bacterialsurf.jpg)
New Research Advances Fight Against Human Metapneumovirus
New findings could lead to a vaccine for one more respiratory virus.
![A bearded man in a white lab coat stands in front of a large white cabinet](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/mclellan-in-front-of-cryo-em-machine-in-sauer-lab-for-structural-biology-at-ut-austin.jpeg)
Department of Molecular Biosciences
Potential New Drug Target Could Boost Effectiveness of Chemotherapy Drugs
A large family of reverse transcriptases (RTs) could inspire new drugs to improve cancer treatments
![Illustration of a protein that looks like a tangle of curled ribbons in white, grey and green](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/g2intron-likert-structures2400x1440.jpg)
Department of Molecular Biosciences
New Era at UT Austin Begins for Famous Long-Term Evolution Experiment
The Long-Term Evolution Experiment, one of the most famous in all of science, is now running on the University of Texas at Austin campus.
![A scientist in white lab coat holds up a petri dish for observation](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/barrick2400x1440.jpg)
Bringing Developmental Biology to South Texas
John Wallingford has taught developmental biology to students at two of the country's most highly prestigious and competitive institutions, and now he and Rudi Bohm...
![Group of students in a lab look in microscopes and discuss things](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/miranda-smith_fzqptmiwqaadrsa2400x1350.jpg)