Tuberculosis News and Research

Latest Tuberculosis News and Research

Marine natural compounds hold potential to combat tuberculosis

A team of researchers at the University of Central Florida has discovered a potential new weapon in the fight against tuberculosis, and it lives in the Little Mermaid's realm.

6 Jul 2017

New report reveals rapidly expanding diabetes epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa is in the midst of a rapidly expanding diabetes epidemic that could have devastating health and economic consequences for the region unless quick and decisive action is taken to turn the tide, according to a major new report from a Lancet commission co-led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

6 Jul 2017

Newly discovered antibiotic could help treat drug-resistant tuberculosis

A newly discovered antibiotic, produced by bacteria from a cystic fibrosis patient, could be used to treat cases of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB). This is the finding of a team of scientists from Cardiff University’s School of Biosciences and the University of Warwick.

24 Jun 2017

Scientists resolve 3D protein structures to combat dangerous infectious diseases

An international team of scientists including the Computation Institute has determined the 3-D atomic structures of more than 1,000 proteins that are potential targets for drugs and vaccines to combat some of the world's most dangerous emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.

22 Jun 2017

Text messaging provides effective support in improving care for HIV, tuberculosis patients

Mobile phone text messaging is a powerful tool for improving quality of care, as shown by José António Nhavoto in his doctoral thesis in informatics at örebro University. He has developed and tested a method in Mozambique, helping patients with severe diseases to follow through with their treatments.

22 Jun 2017

Scientists discover biological fingerprint in children with tuberculosis meningitis

Children with tuberculosis meningitis - a brain and spinal cord infection that leads to disability and death -- have a biological fingerprint that can be used to assess the severity of the condition, help decide the best course of treatment, and provide clues for novel treatments, scientists at the Francis Crick Institute, Imperial College London and the University of Cape Town reveal.

21 Jun 2017

Plant compound found to be effective against drug-resistant HIV

A plant found throughout Southeast Asia traditionally used to treat arthritis and rheumatism contains a potent anti-HIV compound more powerful than the drug AZT, according to a new paper published in the Journal of Natural Compounds.

15 Jun 2017

Newly discovered natural antibiotic could help fight against drug-resistant TB

The number of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) cases is rising globally. But a newly discovered natural antibiotic -- produced by bacteria from the lung infection in a cystic fibrosis patient -- could help fight these infections.

14 Jun 2017

Low levels of vitamin A could be strong risk factor for TB

People with low levels of vitamin A living with individuals sick with tuberculosis may be 10 times more likely to develop the disease than people with high levels of the nutrient, according to research led by investigators at Harvard Medical School.

13 Jun 2017

Clinical study shows new mechanism that BCG vaccine uses to reverse advanced type 1 diabetes

Interim results from a FDA-approved clinical trial testing the generic vaccine bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) to reverse advanced type 1 diabetes are being presented at the 75th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association.

12 Jun 2017

Heroin use in the U.S. estimated to cost society more than $51 billion

Heroin use in the United States was estimated to cost society more than $51 billion in 2015, according to new research at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

9 Jun 2017

WHO releases list of antibiotics as last resort in superbug infections

This Tuesday (6th June 2017) the World Health Organization came out with a recommendation that some antibiotics should be kept in reserve as the last resort in superbug infections due to the risk of antibiotic resistance worldwide.

6 Jun 2017

Single protein allows mycobacteria to generate diverse populations and avoid TB drugs, research shows

Subgroups of tuberculosis (TB)-causing bacteria can persist even when antibiotics wipe out most of the overall population. The need to eliminate these persistent subpopulations is one reason why TB treatment regimens are so lengthy.

1 Jun 2017

TB germs' metabolic 'escape pathways' may be neutralized by new drugs to shorten duration of therapy

New research suggests the bacteria that cause tuberculosis alter their metabolism to combat exposure to antimicrobials, and that these metabolic "escape pathways" might be neutralized by new drugs to shorten the troublesome duration of therapy.

31 May 2017

Amped up antibiotic to fight resistant bacteria finally a reality

Resistant bacteria have been a menace killing thousands worldwide. Bacteria causing pneumonia, tuberculosis, wound and skin infections, gonorrhea have notably undergone major changes to evade the current armament of antibiotics that physicians have to fight them with.

30 May 2017

FIRS releases new report that outlines global burden of respiratory disease

The Forum of International Respiratory Societies, an organization comprised of the world’s leading international respiratory societies working together to improve lung health globally, today released “The Global Impact of Respiratory Disease.” The report lays out the tremendous impact that respiratory disease has on world health.

26 May 2017

WHO announces new flagship programs for African region over next two years

The World Health Organization’s Regional Director for Africa announced today four new flagship programs for the region over the next two years, including a major push on adolescent health and the creation of regional emergency hubs.

26 May 2017

BU professor receives Research Innovation and Translation Achievement Award from ATS

Avrum Spira, MD, MSc, professor of medicine, pathology and bioinformatics at Boston University School of Medicine, is the inaugural recipient of the Research Innovation and Translation Achievement Award from the American Thoracic Society.

24 May 2017

Study: Spouses of Nepali migrant workers at higher risk of HIV

Traveling abroad to work or study has become a national trend in Nepal, especially in the young male population. Over three million Nepali migrant workers are in the Middle East, Malaysia and India.

23 May 2017

Directly observed therapy linked to decrease in mortality among MDR TB patients

Directly observed therapy (DOT) for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) was associated with a 77 percent decrease in mortality in the United States, compared to self-administered therapy from 1993 to 2013, according to new research presented at the ATS 2017 International Conference.

22 May 2017