Disease/Infection News

RSS

Tips to follow when you notice signs or symptoms of ringworm

What do athlete's foot, jock itch, and barber's itch all have in common? They are all cases of ringworm, say dermatologists from the American Academy of Dermatology.

8 Aug 2017

TMDU-led researchers identify protein critical to early stages of cellular HIV infection

When a virus enters a cell, one of the first steps in the process of infecting that cell is removal of the protein coat that surrounds the virus's genetic material.

8 Aug 2017

South Texas fights tuberculosis one blood test at a time

Like most people at Haven for Hope, San Antonio’s largest homeless shelter, James Harrison doesn’t plan on staying long. “I lost my apartment and had nowhere else to go,” he explained.

8 Aug 2017

Shortage of Hepatitis B vaccine - prioritization of vaccinations announced in UK

According to a recent announcement made by Public Health England, there is a global shortage of vaccines used against hepatitis B infection. This announcement is followed up by a “prioritisation guidance” which means that persons who are at greatest risk of getting hepatitis B are to be vaccinated on priority if they have not received the vaccine before.

7 Aug 2017

Congress revamps housing program to benefit areas where HIV is spreading

In a bipartisan push, Congress has restructured a federal program that provides housing assistance for people living with HIV to funnel more money into areas struggling to control the outbreak.

7 Aug 2017

Researchers hope to harness immune cells for better treatment of allergies, infections

By learning how a recently discovered immune cell works in the body, researchers hope to one day harness the cells to better treat allergies and infections, according to new Cornell University research.

4 Aug 2017

HIV prevention and treatment being overlooked in older populations

When it comes to HIV prevention and treatment, there is a growing population that is being overlooked -- older adults -- and implicit ageism is partially responsible for this neglect, according to a presentation at the 125th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association.

4 Aug 2017

New profiling procedure reveals role of immunoresolvents in blood coagulation

Stopping a wound from bleeding is essential for human health. Blood coagulation - in which blood goes from liquid to gel and forms a clot - can prevent excessive bleeding and infection. But exactly what molecular events transpire when blood coagulates has remained somewhat mysterious.

4 Aug 2017

Molecular tests that detect drug-resistant TB may become faster alternative to traditional testing

Novel molecular tests are gaining popularity as a rapid way to detect genetic mutations that render tuberculosis impervious to drugs. Yet, how well these new tests fare in gauging risk of actual drug failure and patient death has remained unclear.

4 Aug 2017

Robot emits UV light to destroy infection-causing bugs in hard-to-clean places

Hospitals around the world are looking for new and innovative ways to battle deadly pathogens and kill multidrug resistant organisms that can cause hospital-acquired infections, or HAI.

4 Aug 2017

Prior flavivirus disease does not worsen Zika infection in rhesus macaques

Rhesus macaques previously infected with dengue or yellow fever viruses appear to be neither more nor less susceptible to severe infection with Zika virus, according to new research published in PLOS Pathogens.

4 Aug 2017

Mouse model developed to allow study of Zika virus transmission

Scientists at the National Institutes of Health have developed a mouse model to study the sexual and fetal transmission of Zika virus. This will enable studies to further understanding of how the Zika virus spreads, thereby allowing treatments to be developed.

4 Aug 2017

New study shows how gut microbes can prevent severe flu infections in mice

Microbes that live in the gut don't just digest food. They also have far-reaching effects on the immune system.

3 Aug 2017

FDA approves new treatment for all HCV genotypes 1-6

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Mavyret (glecaprevir and pibrentasvir) to treat adults with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes 1-6 without cirrhosis (liver disease) or with mild cirrhosis, including patients with moderate to severe kidney disease and those who are on dialysis.

3 Aug 2017

HIV prevention drug to be trialed by Britain's NHS

After a High Court case, an HIV prevention drug is soon to be available on the NHS. NHS England has issued a statement saying that pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) treatment for HIV shall be available to an initial 10,000 people for a trial period of three years.

3 Aug 2017

UM SOM awarded $2.47 million grant to develop vaccine against Shigella, ETEC infections

The University of Maryland School of Medicine has been awarded a three-year, $2.47 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to develop a vaccine to protect against Shigella and Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), pathogens which are among the leading causes of diarrheal diseases in young children in developing countries and a common cause of "traveler's diarrhea" among travelers to these countries.

3 Aug 2017

Study finds high rates of drug resistance to urinary tract infections in Bangladesh

Organisms causing urinary tract infections (UTI) are increasingly proving to be ineffective or showing resistance to drugs that are used to kill the germs. This phenomenon has been increasing worldwide, especially to commonly used antimicrobials (drugs) in children.

3 Aug 2017