Posts Tagged ‘immunology’
Health & Medicine - Apr 12, 2010 16:42 - 0 Comments
HIV drugs inhibit prostate cancer virus
EMORY (US)—Four drugs used to treat HIV infection can inhibit a retrovirus recently linked to prostate cancer and chronic fatigue syndrome, according to a recent study published in the journal PLoS One. (more…)
Health & Medicine - Mar 17, 2010 15:54 - 0 Comments
HIV cells’ secret hideout discovered
U. MICHIGAN (US)—HIV-infected cells lie in wait in hidden reservoirs, ready to jump on the chance to serve as a factory for new infection, a new study shows. (more…)
Health & Medicine - Mar 16, 2010 10:15 - 0 Comments
Obese bodies forget how to fight flu
UNC CHAPEL HILL (US)—Being overweight appears to inhibit the immune system’s ability to “remember” how it fought off previous similar bouts of illness. This could limit the body’s ability to develop immunity to influenza viruses, particularly secondary infections, new research shows. (more…)
Health & Medicine - Mar 2, 2010 11:47 - 3 Comments
Probiotics prime immune system to fight
PENN (US)—Scientists have long pondered the seeming contradiction that taking broad-spectrum antibiotics over an extended period of time can lead to severe secondary bacterial infections. Now researchers may have figured out why. (more…)
Health & Medicine - Feb 22, 2010 15:34 - 0 Comments
Proteins act as special forces to stop bacteria
EMORY (US)—A set of proteins found in our intestines can recognize and kill bacteria that have human blood type molecules on their surfaces, scientists have discovered. (more…)
Health & Medicine - Feb 17, 2010 10:35 - 0 Comments
TB-blocking molecule discovered
INDIANA U. (US)—Researchers have identified a mechanism used by the tuberculosis bacterium to evade the body’s immune system and have identified a compound that blocks the bacterium’s ability to survive in the host, which could lead to new drugs to treat tuberculosis. (more…)
Health & Medicine - Jan 21, 2010 10:52 - 2 Comments
Ebola’s deadly disguise
IOWA STATE—The Zaire Ebola virus has an uncanny ability to disguise itself, making it unrecognizable—and deadly—as an invading virus. (more…)
Health & Medicine - Jan 5, 2010 12:49 - 0 Comments
‘Macho’ receptor slows wound healing
U. ROCHESTER (US)—A molecular receptor pivotal to the action of male hormones such as testosterone also plays a crucial role in the body’s ability to heal, report scientists in the December issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation. (more…)
Science & Technology - Jan 5, 2010 12:30 - 2 Comments
Calcium key to ‘legless’ bacteria
UNC-CHAPEL HILL (US)—Bacteria can swim. Bacteria can walk. It’s this mobility that enables some pathogenic bacteria to infect human hosts. Now researchers have identified a spot on bacteria, that when blocked, can stop the microbes in their tracks. (more…)
Health & Medicine - Dec 10, 2009 18:15 - 1 Comment
Surprising weakness found in H1N1
RICE (US)—The H1N1 influenza virus has been keeping a secret that may be the key to defeating it and other flu viruses as well. (more…)
Health & Medicine - Dec 8, 2009 12:20 - 0 Comments
Neurons’ novel way of battling infections
NYU (US)—Biologists have determined how neurons combat viral infections, a discovery that may offer a path for treating viral encephalitis and related afflictions. (more…)
Health & Medicine - Dec 7, 2009 10:55 - 1 Comment
AIDS forerunner hijacked animal gene
U. ROCHESTER (US)—An ancestor of the AIDS virus hijacked an entire gene—perhaps from some prehistoric cat it had infected. Researchers say the gene makes it easier for the virus to infect humans. (more…)
Health & Medicine - Nov 23, 2009 19:17 - 0 Comments
‘Sweet’ polymer is asthma’s kiss of death
JOHNS HOPKINS (US)—A sugar-coated polymer has been developed that selectively kills cells known to trigger aggressive allergy and asthma attacks. Scientists believe the advance could represent a significant step toward novel drug treatments. (more…)
Health & Medicine - Nov 18, 2009 14:07 - 1 Comment
Stopping Lyme disease with tick saliva
YALE (US)—A protein found in the saliva of ticks helps protect mice from developing Lyme disease, researchers have discovered. The findings may spur development of a new vaccine against infection from Lyme disease, which is spread through tick bites. (more…)
Health & Medicine - Nov 9, 2009 17:27 - 0 Comments
Molecules kick start body’s response to HIV
YALE (US)—Researchers have developed synthetic molecules capable of enhancing the body’s immune response to HIV and HIV-infected cells, as well as to prostate cancer cells. (more…)
Health & Medicine - Nov 5, 2009 12:49 - 2 Comments
Pain killers dull flu shot’s effectiveness
U. ROCHESTER (US)—With flu vaccination season in full swing, researchers caution that use of many common pain killers—Advil, Tylenol, aspirin—at the time of injection may blunt the effect of the shot and have a negative effect on the immune system. (more…)
Health & Medicine - Oct 27, 2009 15:49 - 3 Comments
‘Conveyor belt’ route to better vaccines
EMORY (US)—Scientists have identified a protein that could enable more vaccines to be delivered through the mouth or nose, thus strengthening the body’s defenses where the body first encounters many bacteria and viruses. (more…)
Health & Medicine - Oct 21, 2009 12:27 - 1 Comment
Past viruses may help stifle flu pandemic
UC DAVIS (US)—Researchers studying the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus have identified a group of molecular sites on the virus also present in seasonal flu viruses that have been circulating for years. The findings suggest people exposed to earlier viruses may have some immunity to H1N1. (more…)
