Partial oral antibiotic therapy safe and effective in infectious endocarditis

2019-03-18

Patients with an infection of the inner lining on the left side of the heart (endocarditis) who were switched from intravenous to oral antibiotic therapy had better long-term survival and fewer complications than similar patients who remained on conventio

Naltrexone implant helps HIV patients with opioid dependence prevent relapse

2019-03-21

A new study shows that a naltrexone implant placed under the skin was more effective at helping HIV-positive patients with an opioid addiction reduce relapse and have better HIV-related outcomes compared to the oral drug.

Exposure to HIV virus, treatment before birth linked to obesity later in life

2019-03-25

Teens and young adults who were exposed to HIV and antiretroviral therapy before birth but are HIV-negative themselves are at increased risk of obesity and asthma-like symptoms.

TB: Promising new drugs for old pathogen Mtb

2019-03-28

Researchers are targeting a metabolic pathway, the dihydrofolate reductase pathway, crucial for amino acid synthesis to treat TB infections.

Home-based tools can help assess dementia risk and progression

2019-03-29

Researchers report on a novel four-year, randomized clinical trial evaluating different home-based methods to assess cognitive function and decline in participants over the age of 75.

Acute flaccid myelitis requires galvanized research response

2019-04-02

Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) presents significant challenges not only to patients but also to researchers, and efforts must be accelerated to learn more about the condition.

Food additive may influence how well flu vaccines work

2019-04-07

Scientists have linked a common food preservative to an altered immune response that possibly hinders flu vaccines.

Progress toward Epstein-Barr virus vaccine

2019-04-09

A research team has determined how several antibodies induced by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a herpesvirus that causes infectious mononucleosis and is associated with certain cancers, block infection of cells grown in the laboratory. They then used this inf

Biophotonic therapy eliminates bacteria and viruses from organs before transplantation Date: April 11, 2019

2019-04-11

A new method can prevent transmission of diseases to organ recipients. The number of transplants could be higher if organs could be decontaminated.

Developing a vaccine against Nipah virus

2019-04-15

Researchers developed a novel recombinant vaccine called NIPRAB that shows robust immunization against Nipah virus in animal models and may be effective against other viruses in the same family.

New arsenic-based broad-spectrum antibiotic

2019-04-16

Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest public health threats of our time. There is a pressing need for new and novel antibiotics to combat the rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Researchers have now discovered a new broad-spectrum antibiotic that

How the hepatitis B virus establishes persistent infection

2019-04-18

New research sheds light on how a hepatitis B viral protein stimulates the expansion of immune cells that impair antiviral responses. The findings potentially explain how the hepatitis B virus (HBV) establishes and maintains chronic infection, and could l

On-chip drug screening for identifying antibiotic interactions in eight hours

2019-04-19

A research team developed a microfluidic-based drug screening chip that identifies synergistic interactions between two antibiotics in eight hours. This chip can be a cell-based drug screening platform for exploring critical pharmacological patterns of an

Dengue mosquito is Queensland's biggest threat for spreading Zika virus

2019-04-23

Researchers have found that the dengue fever mosquito common to north and central Queensland poses the greatest danger of spreading the Zika virus in Australia. The researchers showed that not only was the dengue mosquito effective at transmitting Zika, t

Newly discovered Ebolavirus may not cause severe disease in humans

2019-04-24

Researchers have provided evidence that a newly discovered Ebolavirus may not be as deadly as other species to humans.

Significant delays in West Nile virus reporting

2019-04-26

Researchers found significant delays in reporting human cases of West Nile virus, hampering real-time forecasting of the potentially deadly mosquito-borne disease.

Influenza vaccine hesitancy among caregivers of children

2019-04-27

Even caregivers whose children receive the first dose of influenza vaccine may be vaccine hesitant and have inaccurate beliefs regarding influenza vaccine and disease, according to a new study.

Influenza vaccine hesitancy among caregivers of children

2019-04-27

Even caregivers whose children receive the first dose of influenza vaccine may be vaccine hesitant and have inaccurate beliefs regarding influenza vaccine and disease, according to a new study.

US 1 of 8 nations where child and adolescent health improved but maternal mortality worsened

2019-04-29

The United States is one of only eight countries in the world where decreases in child and adolescent mortality over a 27-year period haven't also been matched by reductions in maternal mortality, according to a new scientific study. This divergent trend

Darwin can help your doctor

2019-04-30

Taking an evolutionary view can inspire new ideas in clinical microbiology. And looking at microbial communities, rather than just the pathogenic micro-organisms, can also lead to new insights. That is why clinicians, bioinformaticians analyzing pathogens

Changing climate may affect animal-to-human disease transfer

2019-05-01

Climate change could affect occurrences of diseases like bird-flu and Ebola, with environmental factors playing a larger role than previously understood in animal-to-human disease transfer. Researchers have been looking at how different environments provi

Viral peptides critical to natural HIV control

2019-05-02

Investigators have used a novel approach to identify specific amino acids in the protein structure of HIV that appear critical to the ability of the virus to function and replicate. They also have found that the immune systems of individuals naturally abl

Drug candidate for reversing mucosal barrier damage by HIV

2019-05-06

Investigators tested a laboratory-made version of a naturally occurring protein (recombinant fragment of human Surfactant Protein D or rfhSP-D) on bioengineered vaginal tissues, immune cells and microbes to determine if the drug candidate could help preve

Groundbreaking study could lead to fast, simple test for Ebola virus

2019-05-07

In a breakthrough that could lead to a simple and inexpensive test for Ebola virus disease, researchers have generated two antibodies to the deadly virus. The antibodies, which are inexpensive to produce, potentially could be used in a simple filter paper

Phage therapy treats patient with drug-resistant bacterial infection

2019-05-08

Scientists have used an experimental therapy that relies on bacteria-infecting viruses collected, in part, through HHMI's SEA-PHAGES program to fight a Mycobacterium infection in a 15-year-old girl.

How Nipah virus spreads from person to person: Lessons from 14 years of investigations

2019-05-09

The deadly Nipah virus, which is carried by bats and occasionally infects people, is more likely to be transmitted from person to person when the infected patient is older, male and/or has breathing difficulties, according to a new study.

How proteins help influenza A bind and slice its way to cells

2019-05-14

Researchers have provided new insight on how two proteins help influenza A virus particles fight their way to human cells

'Striking' differences in rates of HIV/AIDS within African nations

2019-05-15

Despite the rapid scale-up of antiretroviral therapy (ART) since 2000, HIV/AIDS is still the most common cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa, according to data from the Global Burden of Disease.

'Striking' differences in rates of HIV/AIDS within African nations

2019-05-15

Despite the rapid scale-up of antiretroviral therapy (ART) since 2000, HIV/AIDS is still the most common cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa, according to data from the Global Burden of Disease.

Human antibody reveals hidden vulnerability in influenza virus

2019-05-16

The ever-changing 'head' of an influenza virus protein has an unexpected Achilles heel, report scientists. The team discovered the structure of a naturally occurring human antibody that recognizes and disrupts a portion of the hemagglutinin (HA) protein t

Dangerous pathogens use this sophisticated machinery to infect hosts

2019-05-17

A detailed new model of a bacterial secretion system provides directions for developing precisely targeted antibiotics.

Statistical model could predict future disease outbreaks

2019-05-21

Researchers have created a statistical method that may allow public health and infectious disease forecasters to better predict disease reemergence, especially for preventable childhood infections such as measles and pertussis.

Monkey-infecting virus may provide part of future HIV vaccine

2019-05-22

A protein from Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV), which can infect monkeys and apes, has shown promise as a potential component of a vaccine against Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

Spanish flu may have lingered two years before 1918 outbreak and vaccine could have treated it

2019-05-23

The most severe pandemic in recent history, killing some 50 million people worldwide, the Spanish influenza, may have emerged up to two years earlier than previously believed. And, according to a new and influential study, its early manifestation was igno

Shedding light on the burden of dengue in Bangladesh

2019-05-24

Dengue, also known as dengue fever, is a viral disease transmitted to humans by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes. The incidence of dengue is currently increasing dramatically, and it is now one of the diseases said to be re-emerging. Researchers have conduct

Coat of proteins makes viruses more infectious and links them to Alzheimer's disease

2019-05-27

New research shows that viruses interact with proteins in the biological fluids of their host which results in a layer of proteins on the viral surface. This coat of proteins makes the virus more infectious and facilitates the formation of plaques charact

How the immune system keeps the Epstein-Barr virus in check

2019-05-30

A protein called PD-1, which is found on immune cells called CD8+ T cells, plays a key role in controlling infection with the Epstein-Barr virus, according to a study published May 30 in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by Christian Münz of the Univ

Stalk antibodies provide flu protection in humans

2019-06-03

A universal flu vaccine that could prevent a potential influenza pandemic has been a holy grail for epidemiologists around the world ever since the first flu vaccines were developed in 1938.

Gene-edited chicken cells resist bird flu virus in the lab

2019-06-04

Scientists have used gene-editing techniques to stop the bird flu virus from spreading in chicken cells grown in the lab. The team prevented the virus from taking hold by deleting a section of chicken DNA inside lab-grown cells.

How hepatitis C 'ghosts' our immune system

2019-06-05

Scientists have discovered how the highly infectious and sometimes deadly hepatitis C virus (HCV) 'ghosts' our immune system and remains undiagnosed in many people. By targeting a specific protein, scientists hope to restore effective immune responses aga

Are American Zika strains more virulent than Pacific and Asian strains?

2019-06-06

Researchers comparing American, Pacific and Southeast Asian subtypes of Zika virus have concluded that the American-subtype strain has the highest ability to grow both in vitro and in vivo.

Chickenpox vaccination lowers risk of pediatric shingles

2019-06-10

A study of more than 6 million children showed routine varicella vaccine considerably lessened likelihood of painful shingles disease.

Checkmate for hepatitis B viruses in the liver

2019-06-11

Researchers have for the first time succeeded in conquering a chronic infection of the hepatitis B virus in a mouse model. The team showed in its publication, that T-cell therapy can provide a permanent cure.

Deadly tick-borne virus cured with experimental flu drug, in mice

2019-06-13

An investigational flu drug cures mice infected with the rare but deadly Bourbon virus, according to a new study.

How certain antibiotic combinations could defeat 'superbugs'

2019-06-17

In hospitalized patients with bacterial infections, heteroresistance is more widespread than previously appreciated. This finding -- alarming on one level -- could also reveal ways to defeat apparently invincible bacteria.

How hepatitis B and delta viruses establish infection of liver cells

2019-06-18

Researchers have developed a new, scalable cell culture system that allows for detailed investigation of how host cells respond to infection with hepatitis B (HBV) and delta virus (HDV).

Urban wildlife may be a significant vector for anti-microbial resistant germs

2019-06-19

In the cities of developing nations, where unregulated antibiotic use is common and livestock jostle with people amid often unsanitary conditions, scientists have found a potentially troubling vector for the dissemination of anti-microbial resistant (AMR) bacteria -- wildlife.

Plants may be transmitting superbugs to people

2019-06-23

Antibiotic-resistant infections are a threat to global public health, food safety and an economic burden. To prevent these infections, it is critical to understand how antibiotic-resistant bacteria and their genes are transmitted from both meat and plant-foods. Researchers have now shown how plant-foods serve as vehicles for transmitting antibiotic resistance to the gut microbiome.

Interdisciplinary approach decreases broad spectrum antibiotic usage

2019-06-26

An interdisciplinary approach to antimicrobial stewardship involving comprehensive blood culture identification (BCID) testing decreased broad spectrum antibiotic use, according to new research.

Standard TB tests may not detect infection in certain exposed individuals

2019-07-01

In a study, infectious disease experts identified a large group of people who were clearly exposed to TB for more than 10 years but the two most reliable tests (TST and IGRA) came back negative on repeated tests. While further research is needed, the results seem to indicate that either the tests are not sufficiently sensitive to detect a low-level case of TB or some people are mounting a natural defense.

Combining antibiotics, researchers deliver one-two punch against ubiquitous bacterium

2019-07-08

By combining two well-established antibiotics for the first time, a scientific team has delivered a 'double whammy' against the pervasive Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a potentially deadly form of bacteria that is a major source of hospital-based infections

Scientists identify new virus-killing protein

2019-07-09

A new protein called KHNYN has been identified as a missing piece in a natural antiviral system that kills viruses by targeting a specific pattern in viral genomes, according to new findings.

Flu fact sheet for parents increases vaccination rate in children

2019-07-10

Parents given a handout with flu facts at their pediatrician's office were significantly more likely to get their kids vaccinated before the end of flu season, pediatricians have found.

HIV: Reprogramming cells to control infection

2019-07-12

Following research on cohorts, scientists have described the characteristics of CD8 immune cells in these 'HIV controller' subjects. The unique antiviral power of these immune cells can be attributed to an optimal metabolic program that confers persistence and the ability to react effectively against infected cells. Working ex vivo, the scientists successfully reprogrammed cells from infected non-controller individuals to give them the same antiviral potency as controllers' cells.

Adults with HIV who have compassionate care providers start and remain in treatment longer

2019-07-14

Researchers find patients who perceive their primary care providers as lacking empathy and not willing to include them in decision making are at risk for abandoning treatment or not seeking treatment at all.

Widespread global implementation of WHO's 'Treat All' HIV recommendation

2019-07-15

A new study shows that the World Health Organization's (WHO) 2015 recommendation for immediate treatment of all people living with HIV has become the standard of care across HIV clinics in countries around the world. While most countries have adopted the WHO's ''Treat All'' recommendation, the extent to which these guidelines had been translated into practice at HIV clinics around the world was previously unknown.

Developing a novel HIV vaccine: DNA and recombinant proteins

2019-07-23

Researchers have developed a novel vaccine consisting of DNA and recombinant proteins -- proteins composed of a portion of an HIV protein and another unrelated protein.

Scientists pinpoint new mechanism that impacts HIV infection

2019-07-24

Scientists have published results of a study that pinpointed a long noncoding RNA molecule which influences a key receptor involved in HIV infection and progression of the disease. This newly-identified mechanism could open up a new avenue for control of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

How HIV infection may contribute to wide-ranging metabolic conditions

2019-07-25

HIV-infected cells release vesicles that contain a viral protein called Nef, impairing cholesterol metabolism and triggering inflammation in uninfected bystander cells, according to a new study.

Lung cell patches its own DNA on the fly to survive influenza

2019-07-29

Scientists have identified one kind of lung cell that can hustle to repair its damaged DNA and survive an attack of the influenza A virus while other kinds of cells around it die in droves. The finding reveals more about the battle between cells and viruses at the smallest level, and also may provide some important clues for respiratory conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma.

Selective antibiotics following nature's example

2019-07-30

Chemists develop selective agents to combat infectious diseases -- based on the structures of natural products.

Self-sterilizing polymer proves effective against drug-resistant pathogens

2019-08-01

Researchers have found an elastic polymer that possesses broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties, allowing it to kill a range of viruses and drug-resistant bacteria in just minutes - including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Hepatitis B: Unusual virus discovered in shrews

2019-08-02

The discovery of an unusual hepatitis B virus from shrews offers new opportunities of better understanding the chronic progression of the disease. International research teams were able to demonstrate that an important protein which is essential for the development of a chronic course of infection is not present in this virus.

Bacterial resistance to two critical antibiotics widespread in Southeast Asia

2019-08-12

Resistance to two critical antibiotic types, one a 'drug of last resort' when all others fail against some 'superbugs,' are widely distributed in Southeast Asia, raising the risk of untreatable infections, say a team of investigators.

Anti-viral immune discovery could lead to better vaccines

2019-08-13

Researchers have identified a molecular switch that impacts immune responses to viral infections, and whether or not protective antibodies are produced. The team also made the surprising discovery that the immune system protects against different viruses via distinct pathways. Their findings could lead to better strategies to develop vaccines for previously hard-to-prevent viruses.

Scientists find powerful potential weapon to overcome antibiotic resistance

2019-08-14

Staphylococcus aureus bacteria are a major cause of serious infections that often persist despite antibiotic treatment, but scientists have now discovered a way to make these bacteria much more susceptible to some common antibiotics.

Monkey malaria breakthrough offers possible cure for relapsing malaria

2019-08-15

A breakthrough in monkey malaria research could help scientists diagnose and treat a relapsing form of human malaria.

Expression of M gene segment of influenza A virus determines host range

2019-08-15

The host range of the influenza A virus (IAV) is restricted by dysregulated expression of the M viral gene segment, according to a new study.

E. coli's secret weapon in launching infections

2019-08-20

Most types of Escherichia coli are harmless, but the ones that aren't can cause severe life-threatening diarrhea. These problematic bacteria launch infections by inducing intestinal cells to form tiny structures, called pedestals, that anchor the pathogens in place and help the colonies grow.

Texas cities increasingly susceptible to large measles outbreaks

2019-08-21

The growing number of children arriving at Texas schools unvaccinated makes the state increasingly vulnerable to measles outbreaks in cities large and small, according to a computer simulation. The findings indicate that a 5% further decrease in vaccination rates that have been on a downward trend since 2003 would increase the size of a potential measles outbreak by up to 4,000% in some communities.

An unreported Zika outbreak in 2017 detected through travel surveillance and genetics

2019-08-22

By sequencing virus genomes from infected travelers, analyzing travel patterns and mosquito modeling, researchers unearthed a spike in Zika cases from travelers returning from Cuba during the summer of 2017 that was not captured by local reports.

How gonorrhea develops resistance to antibiotics

2019-08-23

As public health officials worry about the emergence of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea, researchers are tracing how antibiotics bind to a gonococcal protein, information that can help lead to new antimicrobials.

Genomic migration analysis shows antibiotic resistance moving from humans to animals

2019-09-17

New results show that human-acquired antibiotic resistance genes are being transmitted to livestock, companion animals and wildlife. Researchers analyzed a global set of 901 genome sequences of the bacteria Streptococcus agalactiae (aka group B Strep) from nine different host species -- humans, cows, dogs, fish, frogs, gray seals, dolphins, goats and a camel -- to better understand the transmission process. Streptococcus agalactiae can cause life-threatening illnesses.

Alcohol-producing gut bacteria could cause liver damage even in people who don't drink

2019-09-19

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the build-up of fat in the liver due to factors other than alcohol, but its cause remains unknown. Now, researchers have linked NAFLD to gut bacteria that produce a large amount of alcohol in the body, finding these bacteria in over 60% of NAFLD patients. Their findings could help develop a screening method for early diagnosis and treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver.

Dengue virus becoming resistant to vaccines and therapeutics due to mutations in specific protein

2019-09-20

Researchers have discovered that the dengue virus changes its shape through mutations in Envelope protein to evade vaccines and therapeutics. The study also gives insights on the types of treatment strategies to use at different stages of infection. This could give rise to new approaches in vaccine development and treatment for dengue disease.

Green tea could hold the key to reducing antibiotic resistance

2019-09-23

Scientists have discovered that a natural antioxidant commonly found in green tea can help eliminate antibiotic resistant bacteria.

New class of antibiotic candidates for fighting against superbugs

2019-09-24

Scientists have developed a new class of antibiotic drug candidates which has high potential to be developed into a new generation of antibiotics fighting against multi-drug resistant superbugs including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Share:

New fungus-derived antibiotic: Relief in sight for immunocompromised people

2019-09-25

Infections that are treatable in healthy people can often be fatal in immunocompromised individuals (people with a weak immune system), and hence, they require specialized treatment. Eushearilide is already known to be active against a wide range of pathogenic fungi and yeasts, but its antibacterial properties have not been explored. Now, scientists have derived a new compound from eushearilide and demonstrated its antibacterial and antifungal properties. It can be used to treat lung infections, meningitis, and encephalitis.

Powerful new synthetic vaccines to combat epidemics

2019-09-27

A new type of vaccine that can be stored at warmer temperatures, removing the need for refrigeration, has been developed for mosquito-borne virus Chikungunya in a major advance in vaccine technology. The findings reveal exceptionally promising results for the Chikungunya vaccine candidate, which has been engineered using a synthetic protein scaffold that could revolutionise the way vaccines are designed, produced and stored.

Candidate Ebola vaccine still effective when highly diluted, macaque study finds

2019-10-18

A single dose of a highly diluted VSV-Ebola virus (EBOV) vaccine -- approximately one-millionth of what is in the vaccine being used to help control the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo -- remains fully protective against disease in experimentally infected monkeys, according to scientists. The investigators completed the dosage study using cynomolgus macaques and an updated vaccine component to match the EBOV Makona strain that circulated in West Africa from 2014-16.

Bacterial lifestyle alters the evolution of antibiotic resistance

2019-10-23

How bacteria live - whether as independent cells or in a communal biofilm - determines the course of their evolution, with implications for drug-resistant infections.

Four new strains of human adenovirus

2019-10-24

Large-scale study to identify human adenovirus genotypes in Singapore leads to discovery of four new adenovirus strains and increase in strains linked to severe diseases. Researchers suggest use of antiviral therapies and adenovirus vaccines, and routine monitoring of adenovirus strains.

Advance in search for new Clostridioides difficile vaccine

2019-10-25

Scientists have made a breakthrough in the hunt for a new vaccine for killer hospital bug Clostridioides difficile (C. diff).

Using whole-genome sequencing for early identification and containment of AMR pathogens

2019-10-28

A study published today examines the evolutionary and epidemiologic history of an epidemic strain of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) -- called LAM4/KZN. This strain was first reported in a 2005 outbreak where it was associated with 90 percent mortality among predominantly HIV infected individuals, and has since become widespread throughout the province. A new study identifies key host, pathogen and environmental factors that facilitated the success of this XDR-TB strain.

Modified CRISPR gene editing tool could improve therapies for HIV, sickle cell disease

2019-11-07

Researchers may have found a way to sharpen the fastest, cheapest and most accurate gene editing technique, CRISPR-Cas9, so that it can more successfully cut out undesirable genetic information. This improved cutting ability could one day fast-track potential therapies for HIV, sickle cell disease and, potentially, other immune conditions.

Antibiotics: New substances break bacterial resistance

2019-11-11

Researchers have developed a new, promising class of active ingredients against resistant bacteria. In initial tests in cell cultures and insects, the substances were at least as effective as common antibiotics. The new compounds target a special enzyme that only appears in bacteria in this specific form and that was not previously the target of other antibiotics.

Boosting host immune defenses to treat tuberculosis

2019-11-12

A study suggests a new approach that might help treat Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis: making people's cells better at killing Mtb by harnessing RNA sensors in our cells, which detect the RNA of invading pathogens. For the first time, researchers have shown that RNA sensing is important in inhibiting Mtb's growth once it gets inside cells.

Faster, stronger rabies vaccine

2019-11-14

Every year, more than 59,000 people around the world die of rabies and there remains no cheap and easy vaccine regimen to prevent the disease in humans. Now, researchers report that adding a specific immune molecule to a rabies vaccine can boost its efficacy.

HIV drug exposure in womb may increase child risk of microcephaly, developmental delays

2019-11-18

Children born to women on HIV therapy containing the drug efavirenz were 2 to 2.5 times more likely to have microcephaly, or small head size, compared to children born to women on regimens of other antiretroviral drugs, according to a new analysis. The children with microcephaly also had a higher risk for developmental delays, compared to children with normal head size.

Daily cannabis use lowers odds of using illicit opioids among people who have chronic pain

2019-11-19

For those using illicit opioids to manage their chronic pain, cannabis may be a beneficial -- and a less dangerous -- alternative, according to new research.

Malaria discovery could lead to better HIV and lupus treatments

2019-11-20

A discovery about how the immune system responds to malaria infection could lead to better treatments for hepatitis C, HIV and lupus, say researchers. The research team showed, in laboratory models, that strong inflammatory signals caused by malaria infection activate molecules that trigger the production of highly potent antibodies to fight the disease.

Eastern equine encephalitis virus poses emergent threat

2019-11-21

2019 has been a particularly deadly year in the U.S. for eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), a mosquito-borne illness. As of November 12, 36 confirmed cases of EEE had been reported by eight states; 13 of these cases were fatal.

Wound healing in mucous tissues could ward off AIDS

2019-11-22

Wound healing in mucous tissues during early infection by Simian Immunodeficiency Virus guards some primate species against developing AIDS. Both HIV and SIV provoke an immune response that injures tissues surrounding the intestine; African green monkeys with SIV quickly repair their mucous tissues. This interrupts the disease course and avoids AIDS onset. Stimulating this response might be a way of treating HIV in people.

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria more prevalent in device-related infections

2019-11-25

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) related to the use of medical devices are more likely to be antibiotic resistant than HAIs that result from surgical procedures, according to a new report.

MS linked to variant of common herpes virus

2019-11-26

Researchers have developed a new method to separate between two different types of a common herpes virus (HHV-6) that has been linked to multiple sclerosis. By analyzing antibodies in the blood against the most divergent proteins of herpesvirus 6A and 6B, the researchers were able to show that MS-patients carry the herpesvirus 6A to a greater extent than healthy individuals.

Immediate treatment with antiretroviral therapy helps infants with HIV

2019-11-27

As part of an international collaborative effort, investigators conducted immunological and virological testing on newborns in Botswana, finding that initiating antiretroviral therapy immediately, rather than waiting a few weeks, provided measurable benefits for infants born with HIV.

Clever drugs for slimy bugs' in fight against staph infections

2019-12-02

Bacterial biofilms that develop around golden staph infections make treatment difficult and prolonged, but researchers have shown in laboratory work that the hybrid antibiotics they have developed can destroy staph biofilms.

New tool to predict the global spread of dengue

2019-12-04

Researchers have developed a new tool to predict the global spread of human infectious diseases, like dengue, and track them to their source.

Safer viruses for vaccine research and diagnosis

2019-12-11

A new technology to produce safer 'hybrid' viruses at high volumes for use in vaccines and diagnostics for mosquito-borne diseases has been developed.

Zika vaccine protects both mom and fetus, but mom needs a higher dose when pregnant

2019-12-12

Researchers showed, for the first time, that a single, higher dose of vaccination to a pregnant mouse safely protects both her and her fetus from the Zika virus. The researchers found that a single, less potent dose was not enough to protect the fetus.

Taking shape: Scientists propose new structure for shell of HIV-1 virus

2019-12-13

The matrix shell of the HIV-1 virus may have a different shape than previously thought, and a newly proposed model has significant implications for understanding how the virus functions.

Climate change could make RSV respiratory infection outbreaks less severe, more common

2019-12-16

Researchers studied annual outbreaks of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in one of the first examinations of how climate change could affect diseases transmitted directly from person to person. They found that while outbreaks of RSV could become generally less severe, infections may become more common, which could leave people more vulnerable to the virus over the long term, particularly children.

Modified cancer drug effective against multi-resistant bacteria

2019-12-17

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are increasingly the source of deadly infections. Scientists have now modified an approved cancer drug to develop an active agent against multidrug-resistant pathogens.

Zika vaccine protects fetus in pregnant monkeys

2019-12-18

An experimental vaccine against the Zika virus reduced the amount of virus in pregnant rhesus macaques and improved fetal outcomes. The work could help support development and approval of an experimental Zika DNA vaccine currently in early stage trials in humans.

Why your first battle with flu matters most

2019-12-19

Analyzing public health records from Arizona to study how different strains of the flu virus affect people of different ages, researchers found that the first strain we encounter during childhood sets the course of how our immune system responds to exposures later in life.

Improvements in vaccines against meningitis

2019-12-20

New research could lead to an improved vaccine to protect against the bacterium, Neisseria meningitides that causes sepsis and meningitis.

Removing body clock gene protects mice against pneumonia

2020-01-06

This is the first time a clock gene has been found to affect resistance to bacterial pneumonia, a fatal disease responsible for 5% of all deaths in the UK each year.

Single dose of antibodies can knock out HIV in newborns

2020-01-07

A single dose of an antibody-based treatment can prevent HIV transmission from mother to baby, new nonhuman primate research suggests for the first time. This is the first time a single dose of broadly neutralizing antibodies given after viral exposure has been found to prevent infection in nonhuman primate newborns.

A molecular switch for stomach disease

2020-01-08

A research team has revealed a new mechanism which controls the causes of infection with H. pylori, triggering the development of stomach diseases. It is hoped that these findings will lead in time to new therapies.

First robust cell culture model for the hepatitis E virus

2020-01-13

A mutation switches the turbo on during virus replication.

New strategy in the fight against antibiotic resistance

2020-01-14

Bioscience engineers have developed a new antibacterial strategy that weakens bacteria by preventing them from cooperating. Unlike with antibiotics, there is no resistance to this strategy.

New species of antibiotic-resistant bacteria found in infected wound

2020-01-21

A hitherto unknown antibiotic-resistant bacteria species, in the same family as E. coli and Salmonella spp., has been found and classified in Sweden. The proposed taxonomic name of the species -- the first of the new genus -- is Scandinavium goeteborgense, after the city of Gothenburg, Sweden, where the bacterium was isolated and the research was done.

Researchers reverse HIV latency, important scientific step toward cure

2020-01-22

Overcoming HIV latency -- induction of HIV in CD4+ T cells that lay dormant throughout the body - is a major step toward creating a cure for HIV. For the first time, scientists have shown that a new approach can expose latent HIV to attack in two different animal model systems with little or no toxicity.

Exposure to diesel exhaust particles linked to pneumococcal disease susceptibility

2020-01-23

A new study shows that exposure to diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) can increase an individual's susceptibility to pneumococcal disease.

Brochure

World Summit on Infectious Diseases and Therapeutics

Brochure Form

Partial oral antibiotic therapy safe and effective in infectious endocarditis

Naltrexone implant helps HIV patients with opioid dependence prevent relapse

Exposure to HIV virus, treatment before birth linked to obesity later in life

TB: Promising new drugs for old pathogen Mtb

Home-based tools can help assess dementia risk and progression

Acute flaccid myelitis requires galvanized research response

Food additive may influence how well flu vaccines work

Progress toward Epstein-Barr virus vaccine

Biophotonic therapy eliminates bacteria and viruses from organs before transplantation Date: April 11, 2019

Developing a vaccine against Nipah virus

New arsenic-based broad-spectrum antibiotic

How the hepatitis B virus establishes persistent infection

On-chip drug screening for identifying antibiotic interactions in eight hours

Dengue mosquito is Queensland's biggest threat for spreading Zika virus

Newly discovered Ebolavirus may not cause severe disease in humans

Significant delays in West Nile virus reporting

Influenza vaccine hesitancy among caregivers of children

Influenza vaccine hesitancy among caregivers of children

US 1 of 8 nations where child and adolescent health improved but maternal mortality worsened

Darwin can help your doctor

Changing climate may affect animal-to-human disease transfer

Viral peptides critical to natural HIV control

Drug candidate for reversing mucosal barrier damage by HIV

Groundbreaking study could lead to fast, simple test for Ebola virus

Phage therapy treats patient with drug-resistant bacterial infection

How Nipah virus spreads from person to person: Lessons from 14 years of investigations

How proteins help influenza A bind and slice its way to cells

'Striking' differences in rates of HIV/AIDS within African nations

'Striking' differences in rates of HIV/AIDS within African nations

Human antibody reveals hidden vulnerability in influenza virus

Dangerous pathogens use this sophisticated machinery to infect hosts

Statistical model could predict future disease outbreaks

Monkey-infecting virus may provide part of future HIV vaccine

Spanish flu may have lingered two years before 1918 outbreak and vaccine could have treated it

Shedding light on the burden of dengue in Bangladesh

Coat of proteins makes viruses more infectious and links them to Alzheimer's disease

How the immune system keeps the Epstein-Barr virus in check

Stalk antibodies provide flu protection in humans

Gene-edited chicken cells resist bird flu virus in the lab

How hepatitis C 'ghosts' our immune system

Are American Zika strains more virulent than Pacific and Asian strains?

Chickenpox vaccination lowers risk of pediatric shingles

Checkmate for hepatitis B viruses in the liver

Deadly tick-borne virus cured with experimental flu drug, in mice

How certain antibiotic combinations could defeat 'superbugs'

How hepatitis B and delta viruses establish infection of liver cells

Urban wildlife may be a significant vector for anti-microbial resistant germs

Plants may be transmitting superbugs to people

Interdisciplinary approach decreases broad spectrum antibiotic usage

Standard TB tests may not detect infection in certain exposed individuals

Combining antibiotics, researchers deliver one-two punch against ubiquitous bacterium

Scientists identify new virus-killing protein

Flu fact sheet for parents increases vaccination rate in children

HIV: Reprogramming cells to control infection

Adults with HIV who have compassionate care providers start and remain in treatment longer

Widespread global implementation of WHO's 'Treat All' HIV recommendation

Developing a novel HIV vaccine: DNA and recombinant proteins

Scientists pinpoint new mechanism that impacts HIV infection

How HIV infection may contribute to wide-ranging metabolic conditions

Lung cell patches its own DNA on the fly to survive influenza

Selective antibiotics following nature's example

Self-sterilizing polymer proves effective against drug-resistant pathogens

Hepatitis B: Unusual virus discovered in shrews

Bacterial resistance to two critical antibiotics widespread in Southeast Asia

Anti-viral immune discovery could lead to better vaccines

Scientists find powerful potential weapon to overcome antibiotic resistance

Monkey malaria breakthrough offers possible cure for relapsing malaria

Expression of M gene segment of influenza A virus determines host range

E. coli's secret weapon in launching infections

Texas cities increasingly susceptible to large measles outbreaks

An unreported Zika outbreak in 2017 detected through travel surveillance and genetics

How gonorrhea develops resistance to antibiotics

Genomic migration analysis shows antibiotic resistance moving from humans to animals

Alcohol-producing gut bacteria could cause liver damage even in people who don't drink

Dengue virus becoming resistant to vaccines and therapeutics due to mutations in specific protein

Green tea could hold the key to reducing antibiotic resistance

New class of antibiotic candidates for fighting against superbugs