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Researchers conduct study of Ebola survivors in Sierra Leone

Researchers from the University's Institute of Translational Medicine have conducted a study of Ebola survivors to describe the medical problems they continue to have after recovering from the acute disease.

27 Feb 2016

Researchers develop new method to screen tumor samples for presence of human polyomaviruses

Human polyomaviruses are commonly found in the population and generally do not produce noticeable symptoms. However, one type of human polyomavirus, the Merkel cell polyomavirus, is known to cause a rare form of skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma, and other members of the polyomavirus family can induce non-cancer related diseases in people with compromised immune systems.

27 Feb 2016

Lilly announces CHMP positive opinion for ixekizumab for treatment of adults with plaque psoriasis

Eli Lilly and Company announced today that the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use has issued a positive opinion for ixekizumab for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults in the European Union who are candidates for systemic therapy.

26 Feb 2016

Researchers unravel biochemical action of antimalarial drug

Malaria is a worldwide menace. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 500,000 individuals died from malaria in 2013 alone. While treatments for the disease exist, cures can also take a hefty physical toll.

26 Feb 2016

Luminex collaborates with University of São Paulo to validate multi-analyte Zika virus assay

Luminex Corporation today announced it is collaborating with the Laboratory of Molecular Evolution & Bioinformatics, Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of São Paulo, Brazil to validate a multi-analyte Zika virus assay developed by Luminex partner, GenArraytion, Inc.

26 Feb 2016

New infection-fighting bandages for serious burn victims

Serious burn victims are immunocompromised and may be missing skin on parts of their body, and this makes them highly vulnerable to bacteria. Thanks to progress in intensive care, they are decreasingly likely to die from burn trauma. Death is more commonly the result of infections that can occur several months after being hospitalized. The bandages used to treat burns actually represent a real breeding ground for microbes.

26 Feb 2016

Genome sequencing shows association between STIs and Trachoma

For the first time, genome sequencing has been carried out on Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis), a bacteria responsible for the disease Trachoma - the world's leading infectious cause of blindness, according to a study in Nature Communications.

26 Feb 2016

Japanese bioengineers tweak E. coli genes to pump out morphine precursor

A common gut microbe could soon be offering us pain relief. Japanese bioengineers have tweaked Escherichia coli genes so that they pump out thebaine, a morphine precursor that can be modified to make painkillers. The genetically modified E. coli produces 300 times more thebaine with minimal risk of unregulated use compared to a recently developed method involving yeast.

26 Feb 2016

Antidepressant paroxetine suppresses inflammation in people with HIV-related cognitive impairment

In a small, placebo-controlled clinical trial, Johns Hopkins physicians report that the antidepressant paroxetine modestly improves decision-making and reaction time, and suppresses inflammation in people with HIV-associated cognitive impairment. The researchers say they believe this is the first time that a SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) has been shown to improve key measures of cognition in people with HIV in a controlled study.

26 Feb 2016

Helpful tips to protect yourself and family from Zika virus

Cases of the Zika virus, a mosquito-transmitted infection that may be linked to birth defects, are on the rise. Currently the majority of cases have been reported in the Americas, with Brazil reporting the highest numbers of cases. Although no local mosquito-borne cases have been reported in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported there have been travel-associated cases.

25 Feb 2016

Maraviroc drug safe, well-tolerated when taken as PrEP to prevent HIV infection

Maraviroc, an oral drug used to treat HIV infection, is safe and well-tolerated when taken daily as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV infection by HIV-uninfected men who have sex with men (MSM) at increased risk for acquiring HIV.

25 Feb 2016

Zika outbreak highlights need for developing and evaluating new vaccines for pregnant women

The recent outbreak of Zika virus disease and its link to fetal development highlights the need for pregnant women and those of reproductive age to be a priority group for developing and evaluating new vaccines and vaccine guidelines for Zika and other emerging infectious diseases, say the authors of a new Viewpoint article in JAMA.

25 Feb 2016

Researchers reveal how stress conditions favor lytic reactivation of herpesviruses

Hiding their DNA genome inside the nucleus of the infected cells, the herpesviruses establish a lifelong infection in humans. Not well defined stress conditions are known to wake up these parasites from their dormancy - the latent phase - and reactivate the production of new viral progeny, eventually causing cell death by lysis - the lytic phase.

25 Feb 2016

Two investigational Ebola vaccines well-tolerated in Phase 2 clinical trial

Two investigational vaccines designed to protect against Ebola virus disease were well-tolerated and induced an immune response among 1,000 vaccinated participants in the Phase 2 randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial called PREVAIL I.

25 Feb 2016

Stop TB Partnership's new initiative to increase access to two new life-saving TB medicines

The Stop TB Partnership's Global Drug Facility (GDF) will announce a new initiative to increase access to bedaquiline and delamanid - the two new life-saving medicines recently approved for the treatment of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (TB). The GDF will share how it is expanding existing and developing new public-private partnerships to expedite and maximize access to these two critical medicines.

25 Feb 2016

Research: Impaired immune response significantly involved in rare autoimmune diseases

In the context of the multicentre EU project "INTRICATE" under the management of Renate Kain of the Clinical Institute for Pathology of MedUni Vienna, the effects of infections on the generation of rare autoimmune diseases such as granulomatous polyangiitis (GPA), a systemic disease of the vascular system, are examined.

25 Feb 2016

Tackling Zika virus: Challenges ahead

Health officials, drug companies, governments and the public are scrambling to understand and combat the Zika virus. The virus was first identified almost 70 years ago, but little is known about it. And now, officials suspect it could be related to a rise in microcephaly cases in affected countries.

25 Feb 2016

Okayama University e-Bulletin highlights role of designer DNA-binding proteins to fight viral infections in agriculture, medicine

This issue includes a feature on designer DNA-binding proteins to combat viral infections in agriculture and medicine; news items include updates of official opening of the Okayama University Silicon Valley Office at Fremont (CA), and international collaboration work with Xiamen University; research highlights on immunizing plants; identification of gene Vrn-D4 for enabling wheat to adapt to areas with warm winters; importance of introgression on intra-specific genetic differentiation and adaptive divergence; an interesting twist on supercooled liquid water; and manufacturing denim in Okayama.

25 Feb 2016

Ebola survivors and close contacts have high burden of illness

Preliminary findings from PREVAIL III, a study of Ebola virus disease (EVD) survivors being conducted in Liberia, indicate that both Ebola survivors and their close contacts have a high burden of illness. However, the prevalence of eye, musculoskeletal, and neurological complications was greater among the individuals who survived EVD.

25 Feb 2016

Sangamo presents immunological data from SB-728-T HIV clinical study at CROI 2016

Sangamo BioSciences, Inc., the leader in therapeutic genome editing, announced the presentation of immunological data from the Company's clinical trials of SB-728-T, a ZFP Therapeutic designed to provide functional control of HIV.

25 Feb 2016

Disease/Infection News

Researchers conduct study of Ebola survivors in Sierra Leone

Researchers develop new method to screen tumor samples for presence of human polyomaviruses

Lilly announces CHMP positive opinion for ixekizumab for treatment of adults with plaque psoriasis

Researchers unravel biochemical action of antimalarial drug

Luminex collaborates with University of São Paulo to validate multi-analyte Zika virus assay

New infection-fighting bandages for serious burn victims

Genome sequencing shows association between STIs and Trachoma

Japanese bioengineers tweak E. coli genes to pump out morphine precursor

Antidepressant paroxetine suppresses inflammation in people with HIV-related cognitive impairment

Helpful tips to protect yourself and family from Zika virus

Maraviroc drug safe, well-tolerated when taken as PrEP to prevent HIV infection

Zika outbreak highlights need for developing and evaluating new vaccines for pregnant women

Researchers reveal how stress conditions favor lytic reactivation of herpesviruses

Two investigational Ebola vaccines well-tolerated in Phase 2 clinical trial

Stop TB Partnership's new initiative to increase access to two new life-saving TB medicines

Research: Impaired immune response significantly involved in rare autoimmune diseases

Tackling Zika virus: Challenges ahead

Okayama University e-Bulletin highlights role of designer DNA-binding proteins to fight viral infections in agriculture, medicine

Ebola survivors and close contacts have high burden of illness

Sangamo presents immunological data from SB-728-T HIV clinical study at CROI 2016

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

From Puberty to Menopause: Clue’s CEO, Audrey Tsang on the Power of Femtech

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