LBT Innovations and bioMérieux have converted their exclusive licence agreement — surrounding LBT's foundational culture plate-streaking technology, MicroStreak — into a non-exclusive one. [ + ]

The winners of the 2015 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes have been announced, with 16 prizes presented for outstanding contributions to Australian science. [ + ]

Compounds called karrikins, present in bushfire smoke, induce mass germination of seeds shed by Australia's fire-adapted plants in the wake of fire. University of Western Australia chemist Dr Mark Waters has traced the story of karrikins right back to the first simple plants to colonise the land, more than 430 million years ago. [ + ]

A strategic cooperation agreement between CTM CRC, GE Healthcare Australia and HealthInSA outlines a long-term partnership focused on advancing Australia's cell therapy industry. [ + ]

"With the growing accessibility and affordability of genome sequencing, we are witnessing the birth of a new era in industrial microorganism strain development; comparative genomics in industrial strains is providing a richer and deeper understanding of the genetic composition and variation of these crucial microbes." Find out more at the Australasian Genomic Technologies Association annual conference in the Hunter Valley from 11-14 October. [ + ]

Legislation for the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) has successfully passed through the Senate with bipartisan support, with assurance from the government that the fund will meet the needs of the medical research community. [ + ]

In order to empower the latest generation of scientists to better commercialise their research, Sigma-Aldrich has spearheaded a new initiative that forges a dynamic partnership between industry and academia. [ + ]

A 3D-printed drug product has been approved by the US FDA for the treatment of partial onset seizures, myoclonic seizures and primary generalised tonic-clonic seizures in adults and children with epilepsy. [ + ]

For several model systems, microinjection is an established method to introduce DNA into single cells to generate transient and stable transformants. The injection of single cells within plant organs, however, is more difficult. [ + ]

Cynata Therapeutics is collaborating with the University of Sydney to test the potential therapeutic efficacy of its Cymerus mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in animal models of heart attack and associated heart rhythm abnormalities. [ + ]

It sounds too good to be true, but scientists have developed a molecule that effectively acts as an exercise mimic. By tricking cells into thinking they have run out of energy, the molecule increases glucose uptake and metabolism, thus improving glucose tolerance and weight loss. [ + ]

Ongoing research by GSK’s Ethnopharmacology Group led by Dr Annette Gross is investigating the potential for inter-ethnic differences in response to new medicines being developed by GSK R&D.

The elusive Weyl fermion, a massless particle theorised 85 years ago, has been observed by two separate teams of researchers. [ + ]

Invion and Hovione Scientia will partner on the development of inhaled INV104 (zafirlukast) as a potential new treatment for asthma. INV104 is a leukotriene receptor antagonist which works by blocking the action of leukotrienes in the lungs, thereby preventing inflammation and narrowing of the airways. [ + ]

The overproduction of an inflammatory protein that causes rheumatoid arthritis has also been implicated in the development of heart valve disease. [ + ]