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Mouse Vax | Thigh Fungi | Mousey Mammoth

Mouse Vax | Thigh Fungi | Mousey Mammoth

Issue #227

Steve Burgess
October 18, 2025

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Caught in the Headlights Simone - Baumeister/Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Mouse Vax

Has your mouse received its cancer vaccine? Researchers developed a vaccine that drastically reduces cancer in rodents.

Injects tumor antigens into the immune system
Includes immune boosting stimulants
80% of mice remained tumor-free during melanoma test

A broader antigen version prevented pancreatic, breast, and melanoma tumors by as much as 88%. Naturally, human trials are needed to see how the results translate. Unnaturally, Mickey and Minnie are stoked.

House of Mouse > Shacks of Vax — See how they tested

Thigh Fungi

Leg fungi protects against wasps. That is, if you’re a stinkbug.

Females host symbiotic fungi on hind-leg organs
Tube-like fungal structures open through leg pores
New eggs are smeared in fungal filaments

This protective layer prevents parasitic wasps from injecting their larvae into stinkbug eggs. Better understanding this symbiotic rock-paper-scissors game could lead to new biological pest control strategies.

Wasps are braver than I thought… More details here

🐭 That cancer vaccine story reminded me of another feel-good mouse topic we covered a while back, enjoy! 🦣

Mousey Mammoth

What if we crossed mammoths with mice? Colossal Biosciences genetically engineered a woolly mouse to find out.

Used CRISPR to edit 7 hair and fat genes
Woolly mice fur is 3x longer and thicker than normal
Proof of concept for recreating extinct traits

Fur modification are a major step towards Colossal Bioscience’s goal of reintroducing woolly mammoths by genetically editing modern Asian elephants. Though ethical and ecological considerations must be sorted before we see wandering woollies.

You gotta see ‘em — SO FLUFFY

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