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Study lays groundwork for PET imaging studies on human Menkes disease

Scientists at the RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies have used PET imaging to visualize the distribution in the body of copper, which is deregulated in Menkes disease, a genetic disorder, using a mouse model. This study lays the groundwork for PET imaging studies on human Menkes disease patients to identify new therapy options.

26 Mar 2014

Low dose injections of artificial properdin provides protection against septic diseases in mice

Breakthrough MRC-funded study from University of Leicester shows low dose injections of artificial properdin provides substantial protection against septic diseases in mice

26 Mar 2014

HIV and Hepatitis C vaccines now closer to reality

Plans for a new type of DNA vaccine to protect against the deadly HIV and Hepatitis C viruses have taken an important step forward, with University of Adelaide researchers applying for a patent based on groundbreaking new research.

26 Mar 2014

SLU researchers awarded NIH grants to search for a drug to cure hepatitis B

Two grants from the National Institutes of Health will allow Saint Louis University researchers to build on breakthroughs in understanding the hepatitis B virus and begin the search for a drug to cure - not just halt - the illness.

26 Mar 2014

TG2 protein is a key mediator in Porphyromonas gingivalis infection, study finds

Scientists at Forsyth, along with a colleague from Northwestern University, have discovered that the protein, Transgultaminase 2 (TG2), is a key component in the process of gum disease. TG2 is widely distributed inside and outside of human cells. The scientists found that blocking some associations of TG2 prevents the bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis (PG) from adhering to cells. This insight may one day help lead to novel therapies to prevent gum disease caused by PG.

26 Mar 2014

Researchers develop mathematical model that provides insights about molecular mechanisms behind virus assembly

Mathematicians at the University of York have joined forces with experimentalists at the University of Leeds to take an important step in discovering how viruses make new copies of themselves during an infection.

25 Mar 2014

Researchers discover novel population of neutrophils that exhibit enhanced microbial killing activity

Case Western Reserve University researchers have discovered a novel population of neutrophils, which are the body's infection control workhorses. These cells have an enhanced microbial killing ability and are thereby better able to control infection.

25 Mar 2014

Research findings underscore importance of mice as reservoirs for tick-borne pathogens

People living in northern and central parts of the U.S. are more likely to contract Lyme disease and other tick-borne ailments when white-footed mice are abundant. Mice are effective at transferring disease-causing pathogens to feeding ticks. And, according to an in-press paper in the journal Ecology, these "super hosts" appear indifferent to larval tick infestations.

25 Mar 2014

Study suggests that self-administration of influenza vaccine may be feasible with microneedle patch

There are many reasons some people may not get a flu shot, but would they be more likely to do so if there was a simple device that could be mailed directly to them, was easy enough to use by themselves, and provided at least the same level of protection as a traditional flu shot without the pain of a needle jab? A recent NIBIB-funded study, published online February 2014 in the journal Vaccine, suggests the answer is yes.

25 Mar 2014

Low dose injections of artificial properdin provide protection against septic diseases

Researchers at the University of Leicester have produced an artificial version of a naturally occurring protein, properdin, which has been found to successfully combat bacterial pneumonia and meningitis when tested in mice.

25 Mar 2014

Researchers use retro approach to produce new drugs

This alternative approach to creating artificial organic molecules, called bioretrosynthesis, was first proposed four years ago by Brian Bachmann, associate professor of chemistry at Vanderbilt University. Now Bachmann and a team of collaborators report that they have succeeded in using the method to produce the HIV drug didanosine.

25 Mar 2014

Treatment with natalizumab in patients with MS appears linked with JC virus infection

Treatment with natalizumab in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) appears linked with JC virus (JCV) infection, which can lead to a rare and often fatal demyelinating disease of the central nervous system called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) that destroys the myelin that protects nerve cells.

25 Mar 2014

IDRI awarded grant extension of $3.4M for identifying new leads and drug targets for tuberculosis

IDRI's drug discovery efforts continue to grow with a recently awarded grant extension of $3.4 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The additional funding was awarded to Tanya Parish, Ph.D., IDRI's Vice President of Drug Discovery, and supplements an earlier grant awarded in 2010, for a total of $7.8 million.

25 Mar 2014

Tobacco smoking increases risk of recurrent TB, shows study

Research published today provides critical new insight on the harmful links between smoking tobacco and developing tuberculosis (TB).

24 Mar 2014

Tuberculosis control needs a complete and patient-centric solution

Whether it is mobile phone service or vacation travel, good businesses know that success depends on providing a complete and customer-centric solution. Should patients with tuberculosis not be offered a complete solution that is patient-centered? After all, millions are affected and a large market at the base-of-the-pyramid (BoP) remains unserved.

24 Mar 2014

Drugs fail to "wake up" dormant reservoirs of HIV inside immune system T cells

Scientists at Johns Hopkins report that compounds they hoped would "wake up" dormant reservoirs of HIV inside immune system T cells - a strategy designed to reverse latency and make the cells vulnerable to destruction - have failed to do so in laboratory tests of such white blood cells taken directly from patients infected with HIV.

24 Mar 2014

Russian Ministry of Health approves Medivir's simeprevir for chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 infection

Medivir AB announced today that the Russian Ministry of Health has approved Sovriad (simeprevir) for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 infection, in combination with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin, in adults with compensated liver disease (including cirrhosis) who are treatment naïve or who have failed previous interferon therapy (pegylated or non-pegylated) with or without ribavirin. Russia will be the first country within EMEA to gain access to simeprevir, which represents a significant advance in hepatitis C treatment.

24 Mar 2014

New national research consortium focuses on better drug therapies for viral infections

Viral infections with limited or no treatment options can pose a major global health threat, but a new national research consortium centered at the University of Alabama at Birmingham is focused on the discovery of new and better drug therapies as these viruses emerge.

24 Mar 2014

Researchers developing new medication to tackle river blindness and elephantiasis

Researchers are developing new drug treatments to tackle river blindness and elephantiasis, which affect up to 150 million people across the world.

24 Mar 2014

CUMC researchers devise new system for classifying periodontal disease

Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center have devised a new system for classifying periodontal disease based on the genetic signature of affected tissue, rather than on clinical signs and symptoms. The new classification system, the first of its kind, may allow for earlier detection and more individualized treatment of severe periodontitis, before loss of teeth and supportive bone occurs.

24 Mar 2014

Disease/Infection News

Study lays groundwork for PET imaging studies on human Menkes disease

Low dose injections of artificial properdin provides protection against septic diseases in mice

HIV and Hepatitis C vaccines now closer to reality

SLU researchers awarded NIH grants to search for a drug to cure hepatitis B

TG2 protein is a key mediator in Porphyromonas gingivalis infection, study finds

Researchers develop mathematical model that provides insights about molecular mechanisms behind virus assembly

Researchers discover novel population of neutrophils that exhibit enhanced microbial killing activity

Research findings underscore importance of mice as reservoirs for tick-borne pathogens

Study suggests that self-administration of influenza vaccine may be feasible with microneedle patch

Low dose injections of artificial properdin provide protection against septic diseases

Researchers use retro approach to produce new drugs

Treatment with natalizumab in patients with MS appears linked with JC virus infection

IDRI awarded grant extension of $3.4M for identifying new leads and drug targets for tuberculosis

Tobacco smoking increases risk of recurrent TB, shows study

Tuberculosis control needs a complete and patient-centric solution

Drugs fail to "wake up" dormant reservoirs of HIV inside immune system T cells

Russian Ministry of Health approves Medivir's simeprevir for chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 infection

New national research consortium focuses on better drug therapies for viral infections

Researchers developing new medication to tackle river blindness and elephantiasis

CUMC researchers devise new system for classifying periodontal disease

Leveraging the power of automation to boost research

Automating research - solutions and best practices

How can microdialysis benefit drug development

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