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Parasites in human are most likely to interact via food source

Over 1,400 species of parasites - viruses, bacteria, fungi, intestinal worms and protozoa - are able to infect humans. In most cases, the right medicine against a parasite cures the patient.

12 Mar 2014

UNIGE discovers new class of molecules toxic for Plasmodium pathogen

The malaria parasite is particularly pernicious since it is built to develop resistance to treatments. The lack of new therapeutic approaches also contributes to the persistence of this global scourge.

12 Mar 2014

Sleep apnoea may be risk factor for pneumonia

People who suffer from sleep apnoea face an increased risk of developing pneumonia, a large epidemiological study indicates.

10 Mar 2014

Researchers examine association between diabetes and obesity

It's by now well established that obesity is a major risk factor for diabetes. But what exactly is it about extra body fat that leads to insulin resistance and blood glucose elevation, the hallmarks of diabetes?

7 Mar 2014

Six papers published by PNAS in 2013 to receive Cozzarelli Prize

The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) Editorial Board has selected six papers published by PNAS in 2013 to receive the Cozzarelli Prize, an award that recognizes outstanding contributions to the scientific disciplines represented by the National Academy of Sciences.

6 Mar 2014

New drug is effective against superbug MRSA

"I routinely call hospitals and request their yearly antibiotic susceptibility testing data," said Washington University in St. Louis' Timothy Wencewicz. "The log might say, for example, that they've treated hundreds of patients for Acinetobacter baumanni, a bacterium brought into U.S. hospitals by soldiers wounded in the Iraq war, with 30 different antibiotics.

6 Mar 2014

Small-molecule drug effective in protecting nonhuman primates from lethal Marburg virus

For the first time, scientists have demonstrated the effectiveness of a small-molecule drug in protecting nonhuman primates from the lethal Marburg virus. Their work, published online in the journal Nature, is the result of a continuing collaboration between Army scientists and industry partners that also shows promise for treating a broad range of other viral diseases.

5 Mar 2014

New methodology for rapid detection of antibiotics in blood paves way to drug development, personalized treatment

A new methodology for rapidly measuring the level of antibiotic drug molecules in human blood serum has been developed, paving the way to applications within drug development and personalised medicine.

3 Mar 2014

Scientists reveal two regulatory mechanisms that keep the body's immune response in check

A Keck Medicine of USC-led team of microbiologists has identified previously unknown interactions between critical proteins in the human immune response system, uncovering two independent regulatory mechanisms that keep the body's immune response in check. Their findings appear in the February 2014 edition of Cell Host & Microbe, the top peer-reviewed scientific journal that focuses on the study of cell-pathogen interaction.

27 Feb 2014

Cognitive decline in obese diabetic mice can be reversed with regular exercise, surgical removal of belly fat

Cognitive decline that often accompanies obesity and diabetes can be reversed with regular exercise or surgical removal of belly fat, scientists report.

26 Feb 2014

Researchers produce extremely accurate and detailed images of "toxic injections"

Bacteria have developed many different ways of smuggling their toxic cargo into cells. Tripartite Tc toxin complexes, which are used by bacteria like the plague pathogen Yersinia pestis and the insect pathogen Photorhabdus luminescens, are particularly unusual.

25 Feb 2014

iCOMOS conference to explore science behind ‘One Health’ in complex environments

The University of Minnesota will present an international conference on the science behind One Health this spring in Minneapolis.

25 Feb 2014

Researchers discover 'microbial Pompeii' preserved on teeth of skeletons around 1,000 years old

An international team of researchers have discovered a 'microbial Pompeii' preserved on the teeth of skeletons around 1,000 years old. The key to the discovery is the dental calculus (plaque) which preserves bacteria and microscopic particles of food on the surfaces of teeth, effectively creating a mineral tomb for microbiomes.

24 Feb 2014

Researchers discover that immune cells control blood stem cells in bone marrow

Researchers in Bern have discovered that, during a viral infection, immune cells control the blood stem cells in the bone marrow and therefore also the body's own defences. The findings could allow for new forms of therapy, such as for bone marrow diseases like leukaemia.

24 Feb 2014

Ticks infected with the bacterium that causes Lyme disease widespread in San Francisco Bay Area

As winter turns to spring and many Northern Californians plan outdoor adventures, a mysterious, potentially debilitating threat looms.

19 Feb 2014

BioFire Diagnostics submits FilmArray GI Panel to FDA for 510(k) clearance

BioFire Diagnostics, LLC today announced that it has submitted the FilmArray Gastrointestinal (GI) Panel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for 510(k) clearance. The comprehensive FilmArray GI Panel tests for over 20 common bacteria, viruses and parasites that cause infectious diarrhea.

18 Feb 2014

NIAID awards Soligenix SBIR grant to further develop SGX943 for treatment of melioidosis

Soligenix, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing products to treat serious inflammatory diseases where there remains an unmet medical need, as well as developing several biodefense vaccines and therapeutics, announced today that the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has awarded Soligenix a Small Business Innovation Research grant to support further preclinical development of SGX943 as a treatment for melioidosis.

14 Feb 2014

Porvair Sciences to showcase specialist microplate products at Pittcon, Analytica and Genomics Research 2014

Porvair Sciences has announced that it will be showing its latest specialist microplates and microplate equipment at the forthcoming Pittcon 2014 (Chicago), Analytica 2014 (Munich) and Genomics Research 2014 (San Francisco) exhibitions.

From Chromatrap® - Porvair Sciences Ltd 11 Feb 2014

New study tracks spread of H5N1 variant in Egypt recently identified as major epicenter for virus

Since its first identification in Asia, highly pathogenic avian influenza-H5N1-has caused significant alarm in the scientific community. While the virus' primary target is birds-tens of millions have already died from it-it is capable of infecting mammals, including humans, causing serious illness and a frightening rate of mortality.

10 Feb 2014

Finding could lead to first effective vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus

Vanderbilt University scientists have contributed to a major finding, reported today in the journal Nature, which could lead to the first effective vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a significant cause of infant mortality.

9 Feb 2014