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Scientists investigate immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 spike immunogens

The coronavirus pandemic is actively spreading across the globe, with millions of people infected. Amid the global health crisis, scientists race to develop an effective vaccine against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.

10 Jun 2020

DNA sequencing and analysis of drug-resistant bacteria set up in the Philippines

Antibiotic resistance surveillance in the Philippines has moved into the genomic era, enabling better tracking of dangerous bacteria. Researchers at the Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance (CGPS housed at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and The Big Data Institute, University of Oxford), and the Philippine Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, set up local DNA sequencing and analysis of drug resistant bacteria in the Philippines.

5 Jun 2020

Rational use of antibiotics can help fight bacterial infections

The increase in antibiotic resistance and the lack of new antibiotics is currently a major global health problem.

5 Jun 2020

Study: Campylobacter infection is associated with child stunting

Gastrointestinal infection with Campylobacter plays a major role in the stunting of children in urban Bangladesh, say the authors of a new study.

5 Jun 2020

Antiviral effects for COVID-19: Early is better

A new study by an international team of researchers and published on the preprint server medRxiv* in June 2020 describes the possible reasons for inconsistent or null findings in clinical studies of antiviral drugs to date. It proposes a new approach to decide the sample size in light of its findings.

5 Jun 2020

Precautions for intimacy, sex, during COVID-19

Amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, safe sex practices are as important as other measures to prevent infection. Little focus has been given to sexual health, but a new study highlights how couples can reduce the transmission of the novel coronavirus.

5 Jun 2020

Showers, toilets and washbasins may act as SARS-CoV-2 reservoirs despite low environmental transmission

In their new research paper currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server, scientists from the University of Bonn in Germany demonstrated that indirect environmental transmission most likely plays only a minor role in the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, certain potentially neglected viral reservoirs have to be taken into account when introducing epidemiological measures.

3 Jun 2020

Study shows link between exposure to air pollution and vascular damage

A study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a centre supported by the "la Caixa" Foundation, contributes new evidence about the negative impact of air pollution on cardiovascular health.

3 Jun 2020

Cone snail venom produces new type of insulin

Diabetes is a global health issue affecting millions. In 2014, there were 422 million diabetics, compared to 108 million in 1989. The condition can be treated with diet, physical activity, medicines like synthetic insulin injections, and regular screening.

3 Jun 2020

Spleen plays a dual role in malaria vivax

Plasmodium vivax is the most widely distributed human malaria parasite, mostly outside sub-Saharan Africa, and responsible for millions of clinical cases yearly, including severe disease and death. The mechanisms by which P. vivax causes disease are not well understood.

2 Jun 2020

People suffering from cluster headache often face a long delay in being diagnosed properly

New research led by Keele University has found that people suffering from cluster headache often face a long delay in being diagnosed correctly.

2 Jun 2020

Study reveals how essential SARS-CoV-2 protein can be stabilized and scaled for production

A research group from the University of Texas in Austin described a high-yield production of a stabilized severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein (S-protein) that may accelerate the development of vaccines and diagnostic tests. This methodological 'tour de force' paper is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

1 Jun 2020

Democratic super PAC uses familiar political play to hit Trump on Medicare

Priorities USA Action, a Democratic super PAC, announced a new digital and TV ad series criticizing President Donald Trump's response to the coronavirus pandemic.

1 Jun 2020

A key player in hepatitis A virus infection discovered

How hepatitis A virus manages to enter liver cells called hepatocytes and initiate infection had remained a mystery for fifty years until now.

26 May 2020

Researchers find a 'skinny' gene

Some people may have trouble losing weight, while others find it hard to gain weight. Now, a team of scientists may have found the answer to why some people remain thin despite eating without restriction.

26 May 2020

Intermittent fasting does not work for everyone, study finds

Obesity is a global health problem. In 2016, an estimated 650 million people were obese, and that number is increasing. Lifestyle modification through reduced caloric intake and physical activity can help curb obesity.

26 May 2020

The infection of lung stem cells may determine SARS-CoV-2 pathogenicity

A group of researchers from Russia and France has demonstrated how stem cells in the lungs can be readily infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), leading to significant defects in their regeneration capacity and more severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Their manuscript is currently available on the preprint server bioRxiv.

25 May 2020

Novel biomarkers linked to improved outcomes with immunotherapy in metastatic breast cancer

Two novel biomarkers have been found to correlate with improved outcomes with immunotherapy in metastatic breast cancer and may help to identify the patients most likely to benefit from this treatment, according to exploratory studies reported at the ESMO Breast Cancer Virtual Meeting 2020.

22 May 2020

Online survey launched to understand link between coronavirus restrictions and osteoarthritis risk

Researchers at Loughborough University are investigating how changes in physical activity that are a result of the global health pandemic are related to osteoarthritis development and symptoms.

22 May 2020

Landmark review outlines guidelines for new technologies to facilitate equitable, ethical use of AI

A landmark review of the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the future of global health published in The Lancet calls on the global health community to establish guidelines for the development and deployment of new technologies and to develop a human-centered research agenda to facilitate equitable and ethical use of AI.

20 May 2020