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New model reveals how immune system functions under conditions of neutropenia

Cancer chemotherapy can be a life-saver, but it is fraught with severe side effects, among them an increased risk of infection. Until now, the major criterion for assessing this risk has been the blood cell count: if the number of white blood cells falls below a critical threshold, the risk of infection is thought to be high.

12 Sep 2012

Molecular insight into oxygen sensing mechanism

The study of an oxygen-sensing bacterial regulatory protein by chemistry researchers at the University of Georgia has provided molecular insight into the oxygen sensing mechanism, which could ultimately lead to a better understanding of the ageing process and new treatments for human diseases such cancer, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

12 Sep 2012

Blocking GSK3b enzyme can prevent bacterial-induced periodontal bone loss

A University of Louisville scientist has found a way to prevent inflammation and bone loss surrounding the teeth by blocking a natural signaling pathway of the enzyme GSK3b, which plays an important role in directing the immune response.

12 Sep 2012

Many pediatric respiratory hospitalizations unnecessary

Study findings suggest that a large number of pediatric hospitalizations, particularly those of a respiratory nature, could be prevented.

11 Sep 2012

Durata Therapeutics completes dalbavancin Phase 3 trials on ABSSSI

Durata Therapeutics today announced results from its QT study of the company's lead product candidate, dalbavancin. Dalbavancin is currently under investigation in two ongoing, global, Phase 3 clinical trials for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI).

11 Sep 2012

Arsanis to develop monoclonal antibody therapeutics against nosocomial infections

Arsanis Biosciences GmbH, an early stage biotechnology company developing anti-infective human monoclonal antibodies, today announced the award of two major grants for the development of monoclonal antibody therapeutics against nosocomial infections.

11 Sep 2012

Methodist Hospital develops new technology to rapidly detect drug-resistant TB

Technology developed by scientists at The Methodist Hospital Research Institute could halve the time it takes to diagnose tuberculosis infection, and also tell doctors in a day or two whether the bacteria are drug resistant -- a process that currently takes weeks. Initial tests of the device were recently described in Scientific Reports, a Nature online journal.

11 Sep 2012

RNA researcher to receive 2012 Pearl Meister Greengard Prize from The Rockefeller University

Joan A. Steitz, Ph.D., a pioneer in the field of RNA biology whose discoveries involved patients with a variety of autoimmune diseases, will be awarded the 2012 Pearl Meister Greengard Prize from The Rockefeller University. The prize, which honors female scientists who have made extraordinary contributions to biomedical science and carries an honorarium of $100,000, will be presented at a ceremony on Thursday, November 29 at Rockefeller University's Caspary Auditorium.

11 Sep 2012

Oxyphenbutazone can kill drug resistant TB

An off-patent anti-inflammatory drug that costs around two cents for a daily dose in developing countries has been found by researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College to kill both replicating and non-replicating drug resistant tuberculosis in the laboratory -- a feat few currently approved TB drugs can do, and resistance to those is spreading.

11 Sep 2012

Pathogens identified in majority of childhood CAP hospitalizations

A comprehensive investigation of childhood community-acquired pneumonia in Taiwan has identified at least one pathogen in 85% of previously healthy children.

10 Sep 2012

Automated system for mapping protein-DNA interactions

Since the sequencing of the human genome in 2001, all our genes - around 20,000 in total - have been identified. But much is still unknown - for instance where and when each is active. Next to each gene sits a short DNA segment, and the activity of this regulatory segment determines whether the gene will be turned on, where and how strongly.

10 Sep 2012

Atox Bio AB103 for Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections granted FDA Fast Track designation

Atox Bio, a clinical stage biotechnology company engaged in the development of novel immunemodulators for severe infections in critically ill patients, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted Fast Track designation to AB103, its lead product, currently in development for the treatment of Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections (NSTI).

10 Sep 2012

Surprising new roles for angiotensin converting enzyme

At the 1st ECRC "Franz-Volhard" Symposium on September 7, 2012 at the Max Delbr-ck Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in Berlin-Buch, Professor Ken Bernstein reported that in mice an excess of ACE led to a much stronger immune response than usual.

10 Sep 2012

Simple low-cost biosensor to detect contaminated drinking water

Diarrheal disease is the second leading cause of death in children under five years old - killing as many as 1.5 million children worldwide every year. These startling statistics from the World Health Organization (2009) point to the reason why a group of undergraduate students from Arizona State University is working to develop a low-cost biosensor - a simple device that would detect contaminated drinking water.

7 Sep 2012

Boston researchers develop neonatal mouse model of sepsis

Sepsis, or bacterial infection of the bloodstream, is a grave, hard-to-diagnose threat in premature newborns in the NICU. Even when it's detected and treated with antibiotics, its inflammatory effects can harm fragile babies' development. Now, researchers at Boston Children's Hospital have modeled the effects of sepsis on the unique newborn immune system, using mice.

7 Sep 2012

Kalidex announces presentation of data on KPI-10 against MDR strains at ICAAC

Kalidex Pharmaceuticals, a privately-held anti-infective company, today announced the presentation of data on its lead development candidate KPI-10, a broad spectrum, next-generation fluoroquinolone, at the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) in San Francisco, September 9 through 12.

7 Sep 2012

Durata completes target enrollment in dalbavancin Phase 3 trials for abSSSI

Durata Therapeutics today announced that it has completed its target enrollment for DISCOVER 1 ("Dalbavancin for Infections of the Skin COmpared to Vancomycin at an Early Response"), one of two ongoing, global, Phase 3 clinical trials of Durata's lead product candidate, dalbavancin, under investigation for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (abSSSI).

7 Sep 2012