Infectious Diseases News and Research

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COVID-19: BCG vaccine is safe and possibly has a positive effect

The BCG vaccine, a vaccine originally made against tuberculosis, has a general stimulating effect on the immune system and is therefore effective against multiple infectious diseases - possibly also against COVID-19.

6 Aug 2020

Synthetic peptide can make multidrug-resistant bacteria sensitive to antibiotics

Scientists at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have developed a synthetic peptide that can make multidrug-resistant bacteria sensitive to antibiotics again when used together with traditional antibiotics, offering hope for the prospect of a combination treatment strategy to tackle certain antibiotic-tolerant infections.

6 Aug 2020

Human encroachment into forest land caused bat CoV spillover and COVID-19 emergence

A new study published on the preprint server medRxiv in August 2020 discusses the root causes underlying the emergence of such infectious diseases following their crossover of the line separating animal viruses from human. This initial event is of enormous significance.

6 Aug 2020

Carefully engineered spike protein can help develop COVID-19 vaccine

The experimental vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 that was the first to enter human trials in the United States has been shown to elicit neutralizing antibodies and a helpful T-cell response with the aid of a carefully engineered spike protein that mimics the infection-spreading part of the virus.

6 Aug 2020

New medical imaging resource center at UChicago will help tackle COVID-19 pandemic

A new center hosted at the University of Chicago -- co-led by the largest medical imaging professional organizations in the country -- will help tackle the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic by curating a massive database of medical images to help better understand and treat the disease.

5 Aug 2020

Warming climate in Southern California may increase risk of West Nile outbreaks

As climate change brings hotter weather to Southern California, coastal populations from San Diego to Santa Barbara may face an increased risk of contracting West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases, suggests a new study led by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley.

5 Aug 2020

NIH-Moderna investigational vaccine protects mice from infection with SARS-CoV-2

The investigational vaccine known as mRNA-1273 protected mice from infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, according to research published today in Nature.

5 Aug 2020

New serological test for COVID-19 helps determine herd immunity, vaccine efficacy

New COVID-19 test evaluates herd immunity and vaccine efficacy with high accuracy.

5 Aug 2020

European Commission approves first drug for hepatitis D

What started off as basic research 25 years ago has now lead to a successfully approved drug: The entry blocker bulevirtide (brand name Hepcludex, formerly known as Myrcludex B), jointly developed by researchers from Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD) and the Medical Faculty of Heidelberg, the DZIF and other partners, has now been approved by the European Commission.

5 Aug 2020

Potential antibody treatment for yellow fever developed in 7 months using Rapid Response Strategy

Yellow fever, an acute viral hemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes, infects about 200,000 people and causes an estimated 30,000 deaths each year.

5 Aug 2020

Pediatric experts outline back-to-school safety guidelines for solid organ transplant recipients

As school districts look ahead to a very different school year, pediatric infectious disease experts from across the United States convened to outline back-to-school safety guidelines for solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients.

5 Aug 2020

Study disproves role of vultures in spreading pathogens to humans and other species

A new analysis published in IBIS examines whether bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms that are present in wild vultures cause disease in the birds, and whether vultures play a role in spreading or preventing infectious diseases to humans and other animal species.

5 Aug 2020

Interleukin-6 inhibitors appear to be a more effective treatment for COVID-19

New research from Boston Medical Center found that patients experiencing severe COVID-19 symptoms had improved outcomes when administered an Interleukin-6 (IL6ri) inhibitor, sarilumab or tocilizumab, given to mediate severe systemic inflammatory responses.

5 Aug 2020

Discovery of new mechanism in the immune system provides better understanding of diseases

An active immune system protects against diseases and infections. An overactive immune system is the body's worst enemy. One example of this is multiple sclerosis, which is a so-called autoimmune disease, while an overactive immune system also leads to some COVID-19 patients becoming seriously ill.

4 Aug 2020

ACTG initiates novel clinical trial to evaluate multiple therapeutics for COVID-19

The AIDS Clinical Trials Group, the world's largest and longest established HIV research network, today announced the initiation of the ACTIV-2 Outpatient Monoclonal Antibodies and Other Therapies Trial, which will be conducted by the ACTG.

4 Aug 2020

NIH trial to evaluate potential new therapeutics for mild, moderate COVID-19

A Phase 2 clinical trial will evaluate the safety and efficacy of potential new therapeutics for COVID-19, including an investigational therapeutic based on synthetic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to treat the disease.

4 Aug 2020

Decoy receptor neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 virus in tissue cultures

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, scientists and health care providers are seeking ways to keep the coronavirus from infecting tissues once they're exposed. A new study suggests luring the virus with a decoy - an engineered, free-floating receptor protein - binds the virus and blocks infection.

4 Aug 2020

Clinical trial to test safety, efficacy of antibody treatment in hospitalized COVID-19 patients

Patients admitted with COVID-19 at select hospitals may now volunteer to enroll in a clinical trial to test the safety and efficacy of a potential new treatment for the disease.

4 Aug 2020

Study shows health anxieties have increased as a result of ongoing pandemic

New research into people's coping strategies faced with COVID-19 highlights the mental health toll for those shielding

4 Aug 2020

Five alternative methods of SARS-CoV-2 suppression

The current pandemic has proved to be challenging to control without stringent and comprehensive non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs), relying mostly on isolation and contact tracing of cases, along with social distancing. However, strategies like these have a huge human cost in terms of restriction of social interactions, resulting in depressive tendencies, disruption of economic activity, and loss of educational resources.

3 Aug 2020

Infectious Diseases News and Research

COVID-19: BCG vaccine is safe and possibly has a positive effect

Synthetic peptide can make multidrug-resistant bacteria sensitive to antibiotics

Human encroachment into forest land caused bat CoV spillover and COVID-19 emergence

Carefully engineered spike protein can help develop COVID-19 vaccine

New medical imaging resource center at UChicago will help tackle COVID-19 pandemic

Warming climate in Southern California may increase risk of West Nile outbreaks

NIH-Moderna investigational vaccine protects mice from infection with SARS-CoV-2

New serological test for COVID-19 helps determine herd immunity, vaccine efficacy

European Commission approves first drug for hepatitis D

Potential antibody treatment for yellow fever developed in 7 months using Rapid Response Strategy

Pediatric experts outline back-to-school safety guidelines for solid organ transplant recipients

Study disproves role of vultures in spreading pathogens to humans and other species

Interleukin-6 inhibitors appear to be a more effective treatment for COVID-19

Discovery of new mechanism in the immune system provides better understanding of diseases

ACTG initiates novel clinical trial to evaluate multiple therapeutics for COVID-19

NIH trial to evaluate potential new therapeutics for mild, moderate COVID-19

Decoy receptor neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 virus in tissue cultures

Clinical trial to test safety, efficacy of antibody treatment in hospitalized COVID-19 patients

Study shows health anxieties have increased as a result of ongoing pandemic

Five alternative methods of SARS-CoV-2 suppression

NGS for Infectious Disease Surveillance eBook

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

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