All articles by Linda Stewart – Page 4
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NewsNew study reveals a safer alternative for long-term hepatitis B treatment
Researchers have studied the effects of switching from long-term tenofovir disoproxil fumarate to the antiviral besifovir dipivoxil maleatein (BSV) in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Switching to BSV may improve patient kidney and bone health.
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NewsRapid and accurate diagnosis of urinary tract infections using targeted next-generation sequencing
A study shows that tNGS demonstrates advantages in rapid and accurate UTI diagnosis, particularly in detecting polymicrobial infections and analyzing antibiotic resistance genes. It shows promise as an effective complementary tool for UTI diagnostics.
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NewsBreaking antibiotic-resistant bacteria’s protective shields opens door for immune system response
Researchers have made progress in uncovering how Streptococcus pneumoniae constructs its capsule, which serves as a protective shield. This capsule is a primary target for vaccine development.
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NewsStudy evaluates airborne transmission risk of mpox compared to COVID-19 and smallpox
Scientists have found that the inhaled infectious dose of mpox is at least 100 times lower than that of SARS-CoV-2 and smallpox, making efficient respiratory aerosol transmission highly unlikely in its current form - but future viral evolution could alter this dynamic.
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News‘Low-sugar’ vaccine can provide broad immunity against coronavirus variants
A universal vaccine for coronaviruses removes sugar molecules from an area of a coronavirus spike protein that rarely mutates and creates effective and plentiful antibodies to inactivate the virus.
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NewsUKHSA highlights pathogens of greatest risk to public health in bid to boost preparedness
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has today published its view on the pathogen families that could pose the greatest risk to public health, in a bid to focus and guide preparedness efforts against these threats.
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NewsInfluenza of avian origin confirmed in a sheep in Yorkshire
The UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer has confirmed a case of influenza of avian origin (H5N1) in a single sheep in Yorkshire following repeat positive milk testing.
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NewsBartonella and babesia found in brain tissue of child with seizures
In a new case study, researchers have found Bartonella henselae, Babesia odocoilei and Babesia divergens-like MO-1 DNA in brain tissue samples from a young child with seizures and suspected Rasmussen’s encephalitis.
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NewsOrigin of life: How microbes laid the foundation for complex cells
Researchers examining links between Asgard archaea and eukaryotes have shown that Asgard tubulins form similar microtubules, albeit smaller than those in their eukaryotic relatives. Unlike actin, these tubulin proteins appear in very few species of Asgard archaea.
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NewsAntibody-based therapy is several steps closer to treat lethal mucormycosis
A new paper discusses the use of monoclonal antibodies to target a key fungal cell surface protein, CotH, which enables the Mucorales fungus to invade human cells and cause mucormycosis, which has high mortality rates in people with weakened immune systems.
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NewsA high-fat diet may impair response to infection
A new study in The Journal of Immunology reveals how a high-fat diet may impair the immune system’s ability to respond to infection by impacting the function of neutrophils, one of the first immune cells to respond to bacteria or viruses. The study demonstrated that male mice fed a high-fat ...
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NewsNew model predicts how bacteria navigate obstacles to spread
A scientist has developed the first analytical model for predicting how bacteria spread in environments filled with obstacles. This model will help inform strategies for curbing bacterial infections or for designing better drug delivery.
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NewsResearchers test new, more reliable method to detect chagas disease
Researchers have successfully tested a faster, more sensitive and reliable way to diagnose Chagas disease, a debilitating parasitic illness that affects approximately 6 million people worldwide.
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NewsFrom pollution to polymer: Methane-munching microbe brews biodegradable plastic at high speed
Scientists have tapped into a methane-consuming bacterium, Methylocystis suflitae, to produce biodegradable plastics called polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), offering a dual win for climate and sustainability.
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NewsSelective G6PDH inactivation for Helicobacter pylori eradication with transformed polysulfide
A new study highlights a novel mechanism of action driven by polysulfides, presenting a promising alternative strategy for combating H. pylori infections.
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NewsNature’s warriors: How rice plants detect and defend against viral invaders
A groundbreaking study uncovers a molecular mechanism by which rice cells perceive viral infections and initiate antiviral response, which significantly contributes to understanding of virus-host interactions for further disease resistance breeding.
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NewsMcMaster leads Canada’s first-ever guidelines for Post COVID-19 Condition
A team of experts from McMaster University has led the creation of Canada’s first-ever comprehensive guidelines for diagnosing, managing, preventing, and treating post COVID-19 condition (PCC), more commonly known as long COVID.
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NewsGatekeeping barriers manage communications between plants and bacteria
For over a century, the Casparian strip has been known as the root’s doorman, controlling what enters the plant. But a new study reveals it has a second job: regulating the delicate metabolic trade between plants and bacteria.
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NewsFour advances that could change tuberculosis treatment
World Tuberculosis Day commemorates Robert Koch’s discovery of the source bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Scientists are still refining TB diagnosis methods and treatment strategies - some of the latest innovations are revealed here.
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NewsTuberculosis in children and adolescents: EU/EEA observes a rise in 2023
The notification rate of tuberculosis (TB) went up from 2 to 2.5 per 100,000 population. But overall, numbers of notified paediatric cases remain relatively low across the region.