Cancer is extremely rare in turtles, finds a new study

University of Nottingham

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Football and Burt

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Credit: Chester Zoo

A new study, led by experts at the University of Nottingham, provides the strongest evidence to date that cancer is extremely rare in turtles, a finding that could offer valuable clues for preventing or fighting cancer in humans.

 

While previous research had hinted that cancer might be uncommon in turtles, the new analysis, published in BioScience, shows that only about 1% of individuals are affected, far less than in mammals or birds. The study was led by Dr Ylenia Chiari from the School of Life Sciences at the University of Nottingham, alongside Dr Scott Glaberman from the University of Birmingham, in collaboration with a team of researchers from zoos across the US, UK, and Europe.

 

The team analysed medical records and necropsies (autopsies) from hundreds of zoo turtles, including individuals from Chester Zoo in the UK.

 

The work was only possible thanks to a global network of zoos that have spent decades keeping detailed records and collaborating to support science, highlighting the vital role zoos can play in discovery research. The findings were striking not only for the low number of cancer cases, but also because, when tumours did appear, they almost never spread.

 

Some turtle species grow to tremendous size. Galapagos and Aldabra giant tortoises, for example, can weigh hundreds of kilograms. Turtles are also known for their long lifespans, and many are centenarians. One radiated tortoise at Chester Zoo named Burt was born in 1945 and may live to over 100, while some Galapagos and Aldabra giant tortoises have lived beyond 150 years.

Species that are both large and long-lived are expected to face higher cancer risk, since more cells mean more opportunities for something to go wrong. But turtles seem to defy this pattern.

 

Why are turtles so resistant to cancer? Their secret may lie in strong defences against cell damage, slow metabolism that reduces cellular stress, and unique genes that protect against cancer. Turtles could offer valuable clues for preventing or treating cancer in humans and are a promising model for studying healthy aging and cancer resistance.

 

Dr Ylenia Chiari said: “Turtles, especially iconic species like Galapagos and Aldabra giant tortoises, are famous for living long lives and growing to tremendous sizes. You’d expect that to mean more cancer, but our study, which combines decades of zoo records with previous research, shows how incredibly rare cancer is in these animals. It highlights turtles as an untapped model for understanding cancer resistance and healthy aging, and it shows the vital role zoos play in advancing science through collaboration.”

 

Dr Scott Glaberman added: “Biodiversity has so much to teach us about how the world works. While fascinating in their own right, extreme species like giant tortoises may have already solved many of the problems humans face, including those related to aging and cancer. That makes biodiversity doubly worthy of protection.”

 

Dr Helena Turner, Research Officer at Chester Zoo, said: “This research underscores the immense value of zoo-based science. At Chester Zoo, we’ve long been committed to detailed health monitoring and the long-term care of our animals. It’s fantastic to see these efforts not only contribute to advancing scientific knowledge around cancer resistance but also support vital conservation work to protect these remarkable species that may hold keys to medical breakthroughs benefiting both wildlife and humans.”

Several species of turtles are classified as Endangered or Critically Endangered according to the IUCN Red List, due to different threats including pressure from climate change, habitat loss, and illegal pet trade.

Many of the zoos that contributed data to the study, including Chester Zoo, are involved in conservation breeding programmes that aim to pull species like these back from extinction.

Radiated Turtoise

Credit

Chester Zoo

Galapagos tortoise

Credit

Dr Ylenia Chiari

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Journal

BioScience

DOI

10.1093/biosci/biaf100 

Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

Do turtles get cancer?

Article Publication Date

9-Jul-2025

 

Satellite images reveal positive effects of restoration in the northern hemisphere peatlands

Satellite data spanning over 20 years shows that the temperature and albedo of restored peatlands begin to resemble those of intact peatlands within about a decade

Aalto University

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Undrained peatlands play an important role both as carbon sinks and in supporting biodiversity. The photo was taken during field measurements at the Kurjenrahka peatland in southwest Finland. 

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Credit: Iuliia Burdun / Aalto University

An international research team led by Aalto University has just published the first large-scale analysis based on long-term satellite data on the effects of peatland restoration.

The lead author of the study, Postdoctoral Researcher Iuliia Burdun from Aalto University, explains that NASA’s satellite image time series were analyzed over a period of more than 20 years.

The researchers examined key climate variables of peatlands: temperature, vegetation, and albedo, that is, the proportion of sunlight the surface reflects into space.

The study showed clear changes roughly a decade after restoration measures began.

‘The albedo and temperature of restored areas began to resemble intact peatlands rather than drained peatlands, across nearly all the studied areas,’ Burdun summarizes.

The study covered 72 areas in Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States — countries where peatlands cover a significant portion of the land area.

The sites included wooded and open peatlands, peat extraction areas, and peatlands drained for agriculture.

The effects of restoration on vegetation were not as fast or consistent as the changes in temperature and reflectivity. According to Burdun, there are several reasons for this.

‘Albedo and temperature change more quickly as the peatland becomes waterlogged, but the return of vegetation takes longer. Simply blocking drainage ditches is often not enough — other measures are also needed. In forested mires, this might mean cutting down trees, while in bare peat extraction areas, it could involve planting moss, for example,’ she explains.

More detailed information on ecosystem health

When a peatland is drained, the peat dries out and the carbon stored in it is released into the atmosphere. Degraded peatlands are estimated to cause about 5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Undrained peatlands play an important role as carbon sinks and as habitats that support biodiversity. Finland and many other countries are launching large-scale peatland restoration projects, driven in part by the EU Restoration Regulation.

About one-third of Finland’s land area consists of peatlands, roughly half of which have been drained. Restoration is a large and costly undertaking, and monitoring its success and impacts through field measurements alone is impossible, emphasizes Professor Miina Rautiainen from Aalto University, who led the study.

‘To support peatland restoration decisions and actions, both in Finland and globally, we urgently need diverse information on the characteristics of natural mires and the effects of restoration. Satellite imagery play a key role in helping us understand ecosystem changes across large geographical areas.’

The researchers worked closely with the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke). The study was funded by the Research Council of Finland.

The research was published in the respected journal Environmental Research Letters.

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Journal

Environmental Research Letters

DOI

10.1088/1748-9326/ade901 

Article Title

Satellite data archives reveal positive effects of peatland restoration: albedo and temperature begin to resemble those of intact peatlands

Article Publication Date

8-Jul-2025

 

Warm paste transforms into emergency power source

Researchers develop hydrogel-based iron-air battery that can be assembled from common warm paste

Science China Press

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Researchers have developed a novel method to transform commercially available warm pastes into functional iron-air batteries for emergency power generation. The technology redirects the chemical energy that would normally produce heat (reaching temperatures up to 41°C as shown in thermal imaging) into electrical energy instead. The conversion process involves reconfiguring the warm paste's iron-based materials by adding hydrogel layers and catalysts to create electrochemical reactions (Cathode: O2 + 2H2O + 4e− → 4OH−; Anode: Fe + 3OH− → FeOOH + H2O + 3e−). This innovative approach repurposes the same chemical energy source - transforming heat-generating warm pastes into electricity-producing batteries through a simple assembly process involving non-woven powder backing layers and catalyst components.

 

Scheme 1. Conversion of a warm paste into an emergency power source. The left panel shows the temperature profile, internal structure, and an infrared thermal image illustrating the temperature distribution during operation. The right panel illustrates the step-by-step assembly process of the iron–air battery.

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Credit: ©Science China Press

Outdoor adventurers and emergency responders now have a potentially life-saving new power option thanks to researchers at Nanjing University who have developed a way to convert common warm paste into emergency batteries.

The research team, led by Professor Ping He, created a hydrogel-based iron-air battery system that can be rapidly assembled using readily available warm paste materials. These heating pads, commonly used to provide warmth in cold conditions, contain iron powder that undergoes an oxidation reaction to generate heat.

"We realized that the same chemical reaction that produces heat in warm pastes could be harnessed to generate electrical power instead," said Professor He. "By designing the right battery architecture with a hydrogel electrolyte, we can convert this thermal energy source into a portable emergency power supply." The key innovation lies in the modified hydrogel electrolyte, which contains 3% polyacrylic acid potassium salt (PAAK) and 0.5% sodium lignosulfonate. This electrolyte maintains high ionic conductivity even at extremely low temperatures, with a freezing point of -53°C, and prevents battery leakage while effectively binding the iron powder anode. Performance tests showed impressive results: the battery generates 0.98V voltage and delivers 2.68 Ah capacity at room temperature. Even at -20°C, the system maintains functionality with 1.24 Ah capacity. When four cells are connected in series, they provide sufficient power to charge a mobile phone, ensuring critical communication capabilities during emergencies.

The researchers demonstrated the practical application by powering LED lights and successfully charging smartphones, even in sub-zero conditions. The assembled battery achieved an energy density of 89.92 Wh kg−1, comparing favorably to commercial lead-acid batteries. This breakthrough offers significant advantages for outdoor activities and emergency situations where both warmth and power are crucial for survival. The battery can be manually assembled using the original warm paste packaging, requiring no specialized equipment or complex procedures.

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Journal

Science Bulletin

DOI

10.1016/j.scib.2025.05.036 

Method of Research

Experimental study

 

Substances isolated from marine sponges show potential for treating malaria

In pre-clinical tests conducted at the University of São Paulo, compounds called batzelladins were effective even against strains of Plasmodium that are resistant to conventional antimalarial drugs

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

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Compounds were isolated from the species Monanchora arbuscula

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Credit: Eduardo Hadju

Brazilian researchers have discovered chemical compounds in marine sponges that have the potential to eliminate the malaria parasite, including strains that are resistant to conventional antimalarial drugs. The research results were published in the journal ACS Infectious Diseases.

Caused by protozoa and transmitted by the bites of Anopheles mosquitoes, malaria is one of the world’s most deadly infectious diseases. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there were around 600,000 malaria-related deaths in 2023 alone, 75% of which were children under the age of five.

Two newly discovered compounds, batzelladins F and L, were found to rapidly eliminate the parasites that cause malaria, including Plasmodium falciparum, which is predominant in Africa and more lethal, and Plasmodium vivax, which is predominant in South America. The efficacy of the substances was proven through tests on blood samples from patients and infected mice.

“These are robust results that give us hope for a new treatment. Although the compounds did not completely eliminate the protozoa, they can serve as inspiration for the synthesis of new chemical structures with enhanced action,” says Rafael Guido, a professor at the University of São Paulo’s São Carlos Institute of Physics (IFSC-USP) and co-author of the study.

The study involved a multidisciplinary team from USP, the National Museum, the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), and the Roraima Tropical Medicine Research Center. It was supported by FAPESP through ten projects (13/07600-3, 24/04805-8, 15/01017-0, 19/17721-9, 22/01063-5, 21/03977-1, 22/01066-4, 23/09209-1, 22/15947-2, 20/01229-5), as well as funding from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES).

Roberto Berlinck, a professor at the São Carlos Institute of Chemistry (IQSC-USP) who also signed the paper, said that the finding highlights the importance of Brazilian biodiversity, which is at risk.

“We don’t usually associate the negative impact of climate change with the discovery of new drugs or, more specifically, with curing diseases. The Monanchora arbuscula sponges live in an environment that’s threatened by ocean warming. Therefore, a natural product that we’re just beginning to investigate could disappear,” the researcher warns.

Berlinck also points out that climate change has led to an increase in malaria cases worldwide.

Methodology

To investigate the mechanisms of action of batzelladins, the group of researchers isolated them from the other compounds found in the marine sponge and characterized their chemical structure. This work was carried out by Anderson L. Noronha, from IQSC-USP.

The researchers noted that batzelladins act quickly and effectively on young parasites, inhibiting their ability to multiply inside the host’s red blood cells. According to Guido, this rapid action means that the parasites are less likely to develop resistance to treatment.

“We observed that the parasite dies as soon as it comes into contact with the chemical compounds. This is important because molecules that kill the parasite slowly allow it to adapt and generate resistance,” explains Giovana Rossi Mendes, from IFSC-USP, who was responsible for carrying out the tests with the blood samples and mice.

In addition to fighting malaria, substances derived from marine sponges have demonstrated anti-parasitic activity against other diseases, including leishmaniasis and Chagas disease.

“At first glance, it may seem unusual that a substance with the potential to cure malaria, a disease related to tropical forests, is present in a marine microorganism, which wouldn’t need to protect itself from this pathogen. But the apparent disconnection is actually commonplace in prospecting studies for natural products with biological activity,” says Guido.

These substances are what scientists call secondary metabolites: organic compounds that perform adaptive functions for the organisms that produce or accumulate them. These functions include defense against enemies, attraction between sexes, repulsion of predators, and occupation of physical space, among others.

“Just like the agents that cause malaria, marine sponges are very ancient organisms that have accumulated these secondary metabolites over years of evolution to ensure their success in the environment in which they find themselves, the oceans,” explains Guido.

About São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)
The São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) is a public institution with the mission of supporting scientific research in all fields of knowledge by awarding scholarships, fellowships and grants to investigators linked with higher education and research institutions in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. FAPESP is aware that the very best research can only be done by working with the best researchers internationally. Therefore, it has established partnerships with funding agencies, higher education, private companies, and research organizations in other countries known for the quality of their research and has been encouraging scientists funded by its grants to further develop their international collaboration. You can learn more about FAPESP at www.fapesp.br/en and visit FAPESP news agency at www.agencia.fapesp.br/en to keep updated with the latest scientific breakthroughs FAPESP helps achieve through its many programs, awards and research centers. You may also subscribe to FAPESP news agency at http://agencia.fapesp.br/subscribe.

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Journal

ACS Infectious Diseases

DOI

10.1021/acsinfecdis.4c00714 

Article Title

Marine Guanidine Alkaloids Inhibit Malaria Parasites Development in In Vitro, In Vivo and Ex Vivo Assays

New strategy developed to engineer high-affinity receptor-containing antibodies against malaria

Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences

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Structure-based engineering and functional characterization of D1D2.v-IgG for inhibiting RIFIN#1-mediated immune evasions 

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Credit: WANG Yizhuo

In a recent study published in Science China Life Sciences, a research team led by WANG Junfeng at the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences introduced an innovative approach to developing high-affinity receptor-containing antibodies in vitro, offering a promising strategy to combat malaria.

Malaria is a serious infectious disease caused by Plasmodium parasites and spread by mosquitoes. To evade the host immune system, the parasite expresses variant surface antigens like RIFINs, which bind to immune-inhibitory receptors such as LILRB1 and LAIR1. Recently, scientists have discovered a rare class of “receptor-containing antibodies” in malaria patients. These antibodies incorporate domains from inhibitory receptors, allowing them to block the interaction between RIFINs and host receptors, disrupting immune evasion. However, they are rare, hard to isolate, and have low binding affinity, limiting their clinical potential.

In this study, the team employed a structure-guided affinity maturation strategy. They first engineered a high-affinity receptor fragment variant and then grafted it into the framework of MDB1, a known human anti-malaria antibody. This process yielded a new antibody, D1D2.v-IgG, which exhibited a 30-fold higher binding affinity to the malaria antigen RIFIN#1 (PF3D7_1254800) compared to native LILRB1.

Functional assays confirmed that D1D2.v-IgG could specifically recognize RIFIN#1 on both K562 cells and Plasmodium-infected red blood cells, effectively neutralizing the parasite’s immune evasion.

Building on this success, the researchers designed a bispecific antibody called NK-biAb by fusing a single-chain antibody (scFv) with NKG2D, a receptor found on natural killer (NK) cells. This engineered antibody not only blocked RIFIN#1-mediated immune evasion but also actively recruited NK cells to attack the infected cells, significantly enhancing immune cell-mediated cytotoxicity.

This study provides a novel strategy for developing antibodies targeting Plasmodium falciparum immune evasion mechanisms and opens new avenues for innovative antimalarial drug discovery.

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Journal

Science China Life Sciences

DOI

10.1007/s11427-024-2914-2 

Article Title

A strategy for the development of receptor-containing antibodies targeting malaria variant surface antigens