Research led by scientists from McMaster University has yielded a potent antimicrobial that works against the toughest infectious disease strains. The find could be the beginning of developing new therapeutics to combat drug-resistant infections. Image credit: Pixabay (Free Pixabay licence) The discovery is important as it is directly related to the development of Staphylococcus aureus diseases, known popularly...
Tag: <span>infections</span>
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Technique identifies T cells primed for certain allergies or infections
When your immune system is exposed to a vaccine, an allergen, or an infectious microbe, subsets of T cells that can recognize a foreign intruder leap into action. Some of these T cells are primed to kill infected cells, while others serve as memory cells that circulate throughout the body, keeping watch in case the...
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Vaping wrecks immune cell function, increases infection risk
By Dr. Liji Thomas, MDNov 17 2019 A new study published in the Journal Cell Physiology shows that e-cigarettes have toxic effects on neutrophils function, making them a threat to human health by increasing the likelihood of infection with Gram-negative bacteria. E-cigarettes are in wide use today, among 7% to 12% of adults and up to 37% of...
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Malaria hides in people without symptoms
by Anna Gotskind, Duke University It seems like the never-ending battle against malaria just keeps getting tougher. In regions where malaria is hyper-prevalent, anti-mosquito measures can only work so well due to the reservoir that has built up of infected humans who do not even know they carry the infection. In high-transmission areas, asymptomatic malariais...
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Nutrition or pathogen? Balancing healthy metabolism and stress resistance
by Beth Newcomb, University of Southern California A new study led by the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology indicates that the negative long-term metabolic effects of fighting off infections could be mitigated by tweaking how a gene called SKN-1 directs cells to respond to stressors. A previous study in Caenorhabditis elegans in the laboratory...
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Discovery reveals mechanism that turns herpes virus on and off
by Cornell University New research from Dr. Luis M. Schang and his group at the Baker Institute for Animal Health has identified a new mechanism that plays a role in controlling how the herpes virus alternates between dormant and active stages of infection. The herpes virus causes cold sores and genital sores, as well as...
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Poo transplants beat antibiotics for treating C. diff superbug
by American College of Physicians Treating recurrent Clostridioides difficile (CDI) with fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) increased survival by nearly 30 percent, cut length of hospital stay in half, and reduced the risk of sepsis by nearly four times compared to treating with antibiotics. Findings from a prospective cohort study are published in Annals of Internal...
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Compression garments can ease lymphedema. Covering costs? Not so easy
by Carmen Heredia Rodriguez Every morning, Britta Vander Linden dons compression stockings, a cumbersome process she calls “putting on my legs.” She relies on the garments to stand and walk without intense leg pain and swelling. That’s because Vander Linden, 44, was born with lymphedema. The condition affects the lymphatic system, a network of lymph...
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Scientists identify new potential treatment pathway for cardiovascular disease
by University of Sheffield Scientists from the University of Sheffield have identified a new potential treatment pathway for cardiovascular disease. Their research has shown for the first time that a protein expressed in a subset of immune cells contributes towards the build-up of fatty deposits in arteries, which leads to cardiovascular disease. These fatty deposits...
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A ‘shocking’ new way to treat infections
by Maggie Pavlick, University of Pittsburgh Titanium has many properties that make it a great choice for use in implants. Its low density, high stiffness, high biomechnanical strength-to-weight ratio, and corrosion resistance have led to its use in several types of implants, from dental to joints. However, a persistent problem plagues metal-based implants: the surface...