Infectious Diseases News and Research

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Vaccinating kids against rotavirus may also reduce risk of seizures

A new study suggests an additional-and somewhat surprising-potential benefit of vaccinating children against rotavirus, a common cause of diarrhea and vomiting. Besides protecting kids from intestinal illness caused by rotavirus, immunization may also reduce the risk of related seizures, according to findings published in Clinical Infectious Diseases and available online.

21 Nov 2013

DNA vaccine demonstrates potential to prevent and treat deadly MERS coronavirus

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that preclinical testing of a DNA synthetic vaccine for the virulent Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS) induced robust and durable immune responses, demonstrating the potential for a SynCon DNA vaccine to prevent and treat this deadly virus.

20 Nov 2013

Staphylococcus Aureus Bacteria anticipates and turns immune defenses against the host

Around 20 percent of all humans are persistently colonized with Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, a leading cause of skin infections and one of the major sources of hospital-acquired infections, including the antibiotic-resistant strain MRSA.

20 Nov 2013

TSRI researchers solve structure of key protein in deadly, but little known virus

What began as a summer internship project designed for an undergraduate student evolved into a one-year study of one of the deadliest, but little known viruses. Researchers at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have now solved the structure of a key protein in the Nipah virus, which could pave the way for the development of a much-needed antiviral drug.

20 Nov 2013

Rapid DNA biochip tests for screening disease-causing bacteria

Patients affected by a bacterial infection can usually be treated with an antibiotic. But sometimes a resistant bacterial strain is causing the infection. In a hospital setting, doctors ideally want to know if they are dealing with such bacteria and which drugs they should choose. But if the doctor runs a test it can take days to get a result. Now, a European project is paving the way for much more rapid tests using DNA biochips. The aim is to rapidly screen disease-causing bacteria using a microarray to spot which resistant genes are present in bacteria.

20 Nov 2013

NPS MedicineWise urges people to guard against superbug whilst travelling

With the holiday season just around the corner and many Australians heading overseas, NPS MedicineWise is urging people to guard against the risk of infection whilst travelling.

20 Nov 2013

Advanced cytotoxins help bacteria survive antibiotics treatment

In spite of the fact that the first antibiotics were discovered almost a century ago, infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, encephalitis and meningitis are still serious diseases for humans in the twenty-first century. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are more than 8 million new cases of tuberculosis per year on a global scale, and that more than 300,000 of these are due to multidrug-resistant strains that are not only difficult to treat, but are also emerging rapidly in regions such as Eastern Europe.

20 Nov 2013

NIAID awards $4.4M grant to study unknown gene function in bacteria that cause plague, brucellosis

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has awarded the University of Chicago $4.4 million over five years to study genes of unknown function in bacteria that cause plague and brucellosis.

20 Nov 2013

New paper highlights correlations between changes in natural systems and potential health outcomes

A new paper from members of the HEAL (Health & Ecosystems: Analysis of Linkages) consortium delineates a new branch of environmental health that focuses on the public health risks of human-caused changes to Earth's natural systems.

20 Nov 2013

New evidence shows probiotics offer enormous potential for treatment of depression

Probiotics are not new, but their status as a nutritional buzzword is. Most folks have now heard and seen the term countless times in commercials and advertisements, as yogurt, dietary supplement, natural food product, and even cosmetic companies promote their probiotic-containing products.

20 Nov 2013

Scientists at Salk Institute develop novel platform to study kidney diseases

Diseases affecting the kidneys represent a major and unsolved health issue worldwide. The kidneys rarely recover function once they are damaged by disease, highlighting the urgent need for better knowledge of kidney development and physiology.

19 Nov 2013

ORC to develop paper-based sensors to detect biomarkers in cancer patients

Pioneering research by the Optoelectronics Research Centre that could transform the care of cancer patients or people with infections in their own homes has received a significant grant from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.

19 Nov 2013

Entire structure of health-care delivery needs to be re-engineered to address threat of antibiotic resistance

The entire structure of health-care delivery for effective antibiotics – from research and development, to distribution and rational use – needs to be re-engineered to address the looming global threat of antibiotic resistance, say the authors of a new report, published today [Sunday 17 November] in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, ahead of European Antibiotic Awareness Day, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ‘Get Smart About Antibiotics Week’ on Monday 18 November.

18 Nov 2013

Researchers generate three-dimensional kidney structures from human stem cells

18 Nov 2013

Heidelberg scientists identify protein motifs that influence gene silencing

Bioscientists at Heidelberg University have studied the function of certain proteins, known as Argonaute (Ago) proteins, in the process of gene regulation. They sought to understand why only the Ago2 protein is able to target and directly turn off genes in humans, while the closely related Ago3 protein is not.

16 Nov 2013

Genetic mutations in parasite cause over 100 million cases of malaria annually in Africa

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute have discovered recent genetic mutations in a parasite that causes over 100 million cases of malaria annually-changes that may render tens of millions of Africans who had been considered resistant, susceptible to infection.

16 Nov 2013

Mass. Eye and Ear's OGSH launches new collaboration to care for people ENT diseases

Rates of death and disability stemming from ear, nose and throat conditions continue to rise in developing countries like Uganda, but despite the need, fewer than 15 operating ear, nose and throat surgeons serve Uganda's 33.4 million and growing population. Only two ENT residency programs exist in this country, but many trainees do not remain in the country after graduation. Mass. Eye and Ear's Office of Global Surgery and Health is launching a new collaboration with Mbarara University Science and Technology School of Medicine and Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital to help address the need for more trained physicians to care for the ENT diseases and conditions of this population and to help encourage those who are ENT trained to stay in the country to care for those who need them.

16 Nov 2013

New Malaria Vaccine Technology Roadmap aims to identify second generation malaria vaccines

The world should aim to have vaccines which reduce malaria cases by 75%, and are capable of eliminating malaria, licensed by 2030, according to the updated 2013 "Malaria Vaccine Technology Roadmap", launched today.

15 Nov 2013

Scientists identify genetic signature of respiratory syncytial virus

Scientists have identified the genetic signature of respiratory syncytial virus, the leading cause of infant hospitalizations around the world. The work is a key step toward a better understanding of the immune response to RSV, which will aid the development of a vaccine and a tool that could allow physicians to determine the severity of the infection when symptoms first develop. The study, from a team at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, was published this week in PLOS Medicine.

15 Nov 2013

Lower doses of antimalarial drug effective in reducing malaria transmission

Lower doses of the antimalarial drug primaquine are as effective as higher doses in reducing malaria transmission, according to a study published today in Lancet Infectious Diseases by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine researchers.

15 Nov 2013

Infectious Diseases News and Research

Vaccinating kids against rotavirus may also reduce risk of seizures

DNA vaccine demonstrates potential to prevent and treat deadly MERS coronavirus

Staphylococcus Aureus Bacteria anticipates and turns immune defenses against the host

TSRI researchers solve structure of key protein in deadly, but little known virus

Rapid DNA biochip tests for screening disease-causing bacteria

NPS MedicineWise urges people to guard against superbug whilst travelling

Advanced cytotoxins help bacteria survive antibiotics treatment

NIAID awards $4.4M grant to study unknown gene function in bacteria that cause plague, brucellosis

New paper highlights correlations between changes in natural systems and potential health outcomes

New evidence shows probiotics offer enormous potential for treatment of depression

Scientists at Salk Institute develop novel platform to study kidney diseases

ORC to develop paper-based sensors to detect biomarkers in cancer patients

Entire structure of health-care delivery needs to be re-engineered to address threat of antibiotic resistance

Researchers generate three-dimensional kidney structures from human stem cells

Heidelberg scientists identify protein motifs that influence gene silencing

Genetic mutations in parasite cause over 100 million cases of malaria annually in Africa

Mass. Eye and Ear's OGSH launches new collaboration to care for people ENT diseases

New Malaria Vaccine Technology Roadmap aims to identify second generation malaria vaccines

Scientists identify genetic signature of respiratory syncytial virus

Lower doses of antimalarial drug effective in reducing malaria transmission

NGS for Infectious Disease Surveillance eBook

The Critical Role of Sample Storage in Drug Discovery and Development

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

The impact of vibration on microscopy

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