A large number of beads, each with a unique protein fragment, were used to create artificial eggs by an international team of researchers, enhancing the likelihood of fertilization.

According to research results that were published in the journal Science Advances, just a small fraction of the beads had sperm attached to them when sperm was incubated with them.

Researchers eventually found that beads corresponded to one specific protein, MAIA, and sperm linked to all of these beads after going through numerous rounds of deleting beads that didn′t have sperm bound to them. The novel protein MAIA, which bears the name of the Greek motherhood goddess, is thought to be responsible for attracting sperm into the egg for fertilization.

After inserting the MAIA gene into human culture cells, these cells became receptive towards the sperms precisely in a similar manner as they would in normal fertilization.

The discovery of the MAIA protein not only significantly advances the understanding of the human fertilization process but it also opens up new avenues for the treatment of infertility and will transform the development of future contraceptives. (The Tribune, 9 September 2022)