Immune System News and Research

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Genetically-engineered antivenom to improve the treatment of snake bite

Important breakthrough in using DNA sequencing rather than actual snake venom as the means to generate antivenom.

27 Jun 2006

Vaccine no replacement for Pap test

The Cancer Council Australia cautioned that the vaccine was not a substitute for the Pap screen and that all women aged 18-69 should continue regular two year screening.

27 Jun 2006

New immunology research collaboration established

Singapore's Agency forScience, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and The Australian National University establish immunology research collaboration.

27 Jun 2006

Having older brothers a factor in boys becoming gay

New research says that boys have a greater chance of becoming gay if they have older brothers.

27 Jun 2006

Researchers identify gene used to recognize pathogens

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have identified a gene in the Anopheles gambiae mosquito's DNA that is central to the insect's ability to defend against infectious pathogens, including Plasmodium, the parasite that causes malaria in humans.

27 Jun 2006

Study of fetal DNA in serum and disease activity during pregnancy in women with inflammatory arthritis

During pregnancy, women with inflammatory arthritis usually experience disease improvement or even remission, while a disease flare regularly occurs within 3 to 4 months after delivery.

27 Jun 2006

Staphylococcus-killing substances from fish slime

How would you feel about taking medicine made from fish slime? Researchers have found that the slime that covers the flat-fish plaice contains a substance that kills staphylococcus.

26 Jun 2006

Stroke damage may be reversible

Scientists in the U.S. say they have discovered a way to make the brain reverse the damage it suffers after a stroke, and are optimistic that it will lead to treatment which will exploit the body's ability to heal itself.

26 Jun 2006

No wonder Brits worry more about MRSA than waiting lists

Scientists say they believe as many as 53 million people may carry the superbug MRSA.

21 Jun 2006

Injection may prevent infertility in men receiving cancer chemotherapy

It may be possible to protect the testes of cancer patients against the loss of fertility caused by chemotherapy.

20 Jun 2006

Researchers identify gene used to recognize pathogens

Researchers have identified a gene in the Anopheles gambiae mosquito's DNA that is central to the insect's ability to defend against infectious pathogens, including Plasmodium, the parasite that causes malaria in humans.

20 Jun 2006

In vitro fertilisation could be causing genetic errors in embryo

The conditions in which embryos are cultured in the laboratory during in vitro fertilisation could be causing genetic errors that are associated with certain developmental syndromes and other abnormalities in growth and development, such as low birth weight.

19 Jun 2006

First full face transplant waits for the green light

If a top London hospital gets the green light from its ethical committee, the world's first full face transplant may very well be carried out in Britain.

19 Jun 2006

AIDS might be an accident of evolution

The virulence characteristic of HIV-1 - the virus predominantly responsible for human AIDS - might amount to an accident of evolution, new evidence reveals.

18 Jun 2006

Scientists cracking virus protection shield

Scientists reveal the structure of a protein that packages the viral genome and helps viruses to replicate while avoiding human immune reactions

18 Jun 2006

Central nervous system can sometimes send out signals that invite hostile immune system attacks

It may sound like a case of blame the victim, but researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have shown that cells in the central nervous system can sometimes send out signals that invite hostile immune system attacks.

18 Jun 2006

Bioinformatics used to advance human disease research

The use of computers to advance human disease research - known as bioinformatics -- has received a major boost from researchers at the La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology (LIAI).

18 Jun 2006

Know your fats because now trans fats are the bad guys

A new study has found that trans fats redistribute body fat to the abdomen, creating the deadly "apple" body shape and it can happen on a calorie-controlled diet.

14 Jun 2006

Research explains how pathogenic bacteria evolved over millions of years

Bacteria like Salmonella have a complicated immune system that helps them recognize and isolate foreign DNA trying to invade their cell membrane, according to a University of Washington-led study in the June 8 issue of Science Express.

9 Jun 2006

How cow warts, clergy sex surveys moved along cervical cancer vaccine

The creation of a successful vaccine against cervical cancer, approved today by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, is the culmination of research that occurred thanks not only to scientists and physicians, but also to generous farmers and veterinarians, priests and nuns willing to tell all - and some very patient cows.

9 Jun 2006