Researchers have discovered large DNA elements called Inocles in the human oral microbiome, according to a study in the journal Nature Communications. Inocles are hosted by the bacteria Streptococcus salivarius and may help bacteria adapt to changes in the mouth environment.

The HPV-DeepSeek liquid biopsy test, which uses whole-genome sequencing and machine learning, can detect head and neck cancers caused by human papillomavirus up to 10 years prior to symptoms, according to a study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. A validation study with samples from the National Cancer Institute's Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial is in process.

Researchers have successfully mapped the centromeres of a human diploid cell line, marking a significant advance in genome sequencing. The study, published in the journal Cell Genomics, utilized long-read sequencing and computational algorithms to capture the complex and repetitive DNA sequences of centromeres, which have been difficult to sequence in the past, providing new insights into the structure and function of centromeres, crucial for cell division and inheritance.

A study suggests that analyzing single strands of hair could lead to a noninvasive diagnostic test for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Researchers found that people with ALS had altered dynamics of metal molecules such as copper and zinc compared with people without ALS. "By analyzing the biodynamics of elements such as copper over time, we can detect disruptions associated with ALS in a simple, noninvasive way," researcher Manish Arora said.

Researchers have developed an algorithm called EVOFLUx that uses DNA methylation data to reconstruct the origin and evolution of leukemia and lymphoma tumors and predict their progression. In the study, published in Nature, researchers analyzed 2,000 patient samples and, using advanced mathematical modeling, found that methylation patterns can reveal how tumors grow and diversify.

House and Senate lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan bill that aims to tie Medicare payment rates for diagnostic tests to a not-for-profit commercial claims database, replacing the current system that the laboratory industry says sets rates too low. The American Clinical Laboratory Association says the Reforming and Enhancing Sustainable Updates to Laboratory Testing Services Act would improve the data used to set rates for laboratory tests.

Vinay Prasad has been reappointed as the FDA's chief medical and scientific officer shortly after resuming his role as director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. His reinstatement comes after a brief departure from the agency, which was marked by controversies surrounding the FDA's handling of gene therapy safety issues.

A study in the journal Pediatrics revealed significant variability in medical clearance testing in pediatric hospital