🧬 New clue toward male birth control

Scientists found that sperm switch on an enzyme called aldolase to boost energy for fertilization. Blocking this process could lead to new male contraceptives.

🔗 www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

#SciComm #Reproduction #BirthControl 🧪

interactions, blocking vast opportunities of cross-fertilization to explore. Here we unify both concepts into a novel framework of coherent control for light interacting with open photonic systems. From the QNM perspective, [3/9 of https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.18134v1]

Just in time for 8 March, we are thrilled to open the way to targeted non-hormonal contraception with the first structure of a fertilization-blocking antibody bound to a key female reproductive protein, #ZP2:

Structural basis of ZP2-targeted immunocontraception
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Potentially bad news for reproductive med. What to know:

🔹️Ulipristal acetate is a drug used in the emergency contraceptive Ella. Like Plan B (which uses a diff. drug) it works by blocking fertilization, & so, preventing pregnancy (vs terminating it) after sex.

1/10

www.nytimes.com/2025/01/23/h...

Fresh off the press in @pnas.org: functional and structural studies of the interaction between #fertilization-blocking mAb IE-3 and mammalian #egg coat protein #ZP2

www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

Thanks to
@vetenskapsradet.bsky.social @erc.europa.eu @embo.org @kawresearch.bsky.social @dfg.de

Cryo-EM structure of endogenous Plasmodium falciparum Pfs230 and Pfs48/45 fertilization complex | Science

Malaria parasite fertilization occurs in the midgut of a female Anopheles mosquito. Blocking fertilization within the mosquito can prevent malaria transmission. Plasmodium falciparum Pfs230…

A new mRNA vaccine candidate targets the malaria parasite’s fertilization complex, blocking its reproduction in mosquitoes and interrupting transmission to humans. doi.org/g9wcbk

#Utah "The Utah Supreme Court, a body with a clear conservative majority, surprised many observers last week when it handed down a ruling blocking enforcement of the state’s new abortion ban, which criminalizes virtually all abortions from the moment of fertilization."
slate.com/news-and-pol...

Blocking malaria transmission by targeting fertilization in the mosquito is such a clever upstream strategy. Curious to see how this structural insight into Pfs230-Pfs48/45 interaction could shape next-gen transmission-blocking vaccines.

Harris, became the first vice president to visit a clinic run by Planned Parenthood. She undertook a nationwide tour focused on reproductive rights. And [after Vance was selected], Harris criticize[d] him for blocking protections for in vitro fertilization.

www.npr.org/sections/sho...

Miracle?? A product of unprotected sexual intercourse which resulted in fertilization. That’s no miracle and if you think I’m a hater or wrong you should go back to biology class.

You gonna block me on Bluesky too after blocking me on twitter?

"Birth control doesn’t end a pregnancy; it prevents pregnancy by blocking fertilization or an egg implanting...[But to] some, contraception is a symbol of the sexual revolution that has radically altered gender and family dynamics"
Thanks, MAGA:

A law means nothing without enforcement.
They'll soon be blocking clinics providing trans-affirming care, and in vitro fertilization.

“U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz led Senate Republicans on Tuesday in blocking a bill that would have ensured access to in vitro fertilization nationwide.”

www.reformaustin.org/politics/ted...

Hyde-Smith "blocked passage Wednesday of a bill to protect access to in-vitro fertilization nationwide...Duckworth excoriated Republicans for blocking the legislation — accusing them of hypocrisy after so many voiced support for the treatments over the last week"

www.politico.com/live-updates...

Republicans blocking legislation to protect in vitro fertilization (IVF) access nationwide, despite their claims of supporting IVF.

Senator Duckworth accused them of "hypocrisy" and "misleading voters".

The Republicans said it went too far, threatened religious freedom, or was unnecessary.