Week in Review: June 13–17

Anti-CRISPR proteins; following the chronic fatigue syndrome funding; listening, learning, and memory consolidation during sleep; microbe affects behavior; Zika updates

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Researchers at the University of Toronto have found more anti-CRISPR proteins in phage genomes and mobile genetic elements, adding to a group of such molecules previously identified by the team. “The discovery of anti-CRISPR proteins is not surprising in the sense that phage must develop these as part of the nature of the host-parasite co-evolution,” said Eugene Koonin of the US National Center for Biotechnology Information and the National Library of Medicine who was not involved in the work.

The Scientist spoke with researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) about their planned intramural study on myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). “Historically, the NIH has ignored this illness for a long time, and that’s caused lot of resentment and suspicion in the patient community,” said Brian Vastag, a journalist who has ME/CFS. “Now I’m convinced that the NIH has turned the corner.”

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