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New tabletop device can quickly detect SARS-CoV-2 from saliva samples

Engineers at MIT and Harvard University have designed a small tabletop device that can detect SARS-CoV-2 from a saliva sample in about an hour.

6 Aug 2021

New CRISPR-based diagnostic test detects COVID-19 variants from saliva samples

With the Delta variant wreaking havoc on unvaccinated populations and COVID-19 cases spiking around the world, the pandemic is far from over.

6 Aug 2021

First United Nations resolution on preventable sight loss paves the way for real action on eye health

The International Centre for Eye Health based at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine joins the eye health community in celebrating the passing of the first United Nations resolution on preventable sight loss.

4 Aug 2021

New LSHTM spin-out company aims to improve detection and control of infectious diseases

Two spin-out companies from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) have merged to form a new company that will improve the detection and control of infectious diseases.

4 Aug 2021

Off-season resurgence of respiratory viruses poses a threat to vulnerable infants

Canada should anticipate a resurgence of a childhood respiratory virus as COVID-19 physical distancing measures are relaxed, authors warn in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

27 Jul 2021

UMass Amherst Ph.D. candidate receives USDA-NIFA fellowship for food allergy research

University of Massachusetts Amherst food science Ph.D. candidate Cassandra Suther has received a prestigious predoctoral fellowship of $180,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) to study the effect of norovirus on the development and severity of food allergies.

23 Jul 2021

CDC monitoring over 200 individuals possibly exposed to monkeypox

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is monitoring over 200 people who may have been exposed to the monkeypox virus.

22 Jul 2021

Human coronaviruses need organic materials to transfer efficiently between surfaces

This study, published in the journal Viruses, indicated that human coronaviruses do not transfer effectively from contaminated hands to contact surfaces without the presence of any organic material.

21 Jul 2021

Study sheds new light on why some people may be more prone to serious gum infection

A team led by University of Washington researchers has, for the first time, identified and classified how different people respond to the accumulation of dental plaque, the sticky biofilm that gathers on teeth.

14 Jul 2021

Three in ten people unable to do frequent handwashing at home during COVID-19

Health experts cited frequent handwashing as a key way to prevent the spread of infection as COVID-19 took hold. But a global report has found that three in ten people were unable to do this in their homes.

13 Jul 2021

Metabolites of intestinal bacteria can positively influence the efficacy of tumor therapies

Certain metabolites of bacteria from the intestine make immune cells more aggressive as a new study conducted by scientists from Würzburg and Marburg reveals. The findings could help improve cancer therapies.

9 Jul 2021

Using regular monitoring is most effective in limiting COVID-19 outbreaks in schools

Current methods of limiting the spread of COVID-19 infection in schools are unsuited for controlling outbreaks, with research indicating that regular monitoring measures may be better suited.

8 Jul 2021

Studies evaluate the impact of mobility restrictions during lockdown on air quality in urban areas

Two studies led by María Morales Suárez Varela, group leader of the CIBERESP at the University of Valencia and professor of the Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health at the academic institution, have evaluated the impact of mobility restrictions on air quality and polluting emissions, in Valencia and in three Italian cities.

7 Jul 2021

Mindfulness-based therapy could be a viable treatment for insomnia

Sleep problems are common in the general population with up to half of Singaporean adults reporting insufficient or unsatisfying sleep. Sleep quality tends to worsen with age and poor sleep is a modifiable risk factor for multiple disorders, including cardiovascular disease and cognitive impairment.

7 Jul 2021

Exposure to beneficial microorganisms is not affected by targeted hygiene or cleaning

The theory that modern society is too clean, leading to defective immune systems in children, should be swept under the carpet, according to a new study by researchers at UCL and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

5 Jul 2021

Behavior modification key to prevent COVID-19, study shows

One of the longest-running studies examining COVID-prevention behaviors shows hygiene changes have been sustained but not complex changes, like social distancing, with important policy implications.

30 Jun 2021

Innovative corona test offers great potential for systematic testing

A new corona test developed at the University Hospital Bonn can analyze a large number of swabs simultaneously using sequencing technology and has a similarly high sensitivity as the common qPCR test.

29 Jun 2021

Researchers examine whether community administration of ivermectin influences malaria transmission

Researchers from the LSTM based Cochrane Infectious Disease Group explored whether community administration of ivermectin influences malaria transmission.

29 Jun 2021

Resting heart rate variability predicts emotional resilience during COVID-19 restrictions

An interesting new study available as a preprint on the medRxiv* server suggests that vagally-mediated heart rate variability (vmHRV) is a physiological marker of resilience to stress by indicating how well an individual handles the emotions when faced with changes in the surroundings.

28 Jun 2021

Comprehensive reference on the science, technology, and applications of postbiotics

Postbiotics: Science, Technology, and Applications explains essential and practical knowledge about postbiotics. Chapters cover the definition and classification of postbiotics, principal methods for preparing them, information about the main post biotic constituents and their biological activities and their clinical health benefits.

25 Jun 2021