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Important new insights into the early evolution of fungi have been published by Zsolt Merényi, László Nagy and their colleagues. The study, published on 22 June in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution, revealed the genetic milestones of fungal evolution by comparing 123 complete fungal genomes.

Áron Szabó and his colleagues from the Institute of Genetics of the ELKH Biological Research Centre (BRC) conducted a study on glial degradation pathways in a model organism, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster in the laboratory led by Gábor Juhász. The researchers discovered that certain proteins of the autophagy pathway, the machinery responsible for the lysosomal degradation of intracellular material, regulate the degradation of axonal debris produced in abnormal circumstances, e.g., brain injury, neurodegenerative disease, or stroke. This process is known as LC3-associated phagocytosis (LAP). Since LAP is already known to be involved in debris clearance in astrocytes in the mammalian brain, it could also serve as a potential therapeutic target in the future. The study presenting the results was published in Nature Communications.

The immune system deploys effectors that are able to limit or kill pathogens, in turn, invaders developed various counteractive mechanisms. This host-pathogen coevolution resulted in the development of various forms of immune defenses and virulence factors in both hosts and pathogens. The evolved molecular networks that regulate immune responses are the result of this constant fight and their basic components are inherited across generations via vertical gene transfer.

Szilvia Veszelka, senior research associate of the Institute of Biophysics, has been elected as a member of the Hungarian Young Academy (HYA) for the period of 2023-2028. With this appointment, the BRC is now represented by two members in the 60-member organisation, together with Imola Wilhelm, senior research associate of the Institute of Biophysics, who has been elected as the co-chair of the HYA for two years.

The "Straub Days 2023" event of the Biological Research Centre, Szeged will be held on May 25-26, 2023. The main theme of the event is evolutionary biology; lecture topics cover both theoretical and applied aspects of evolutionary research and show how evolutionary approaches can be used to answer old and new big questions in biology as well as in innovative projects related to fungal biotechnology and cancer research.

The Biological Research Centre, Szeged (BRC Szeged), the University of Szeged (USZ) and ELI-ALPS Laser Research Institute (Szeged) have published a joint paper in the Royal Society journal Open Biology, revealing an interesting phenomenon in photosystem-II.

The development of medicine and technology makes more and more tools and methods available for doctors and researchers to explore the molecular background of the disease progression and individual changes, knowledge of which enables personalized therapy.

Prima Primissima Award was established in 2003 to reward representatives of arts, sports, sciences, culture, education, and media in recognition of excellence in their field, a distinction providing a role model for the next generation.

The Gedeon Richter Talentum Foundation was established by Gedeon Richter Plc. to support the early careers of talented young scientists.