Archive for the 'Immune Disorders' Category
April 14th, 2011 by admin
Researchers worldwide are hailing a new discovery as being a possible breakthrough in the treatment for AIDS. Scientists have developed a new protein that stops the AIDS the virus from entering cells. This protein has a basic make-up of naturally occurring proteins in the body that protects cells from viruses, except the human-made version does not cause inflammation and other side effects at the dosages needed to inhibit AIDS.
Continue reading ‘Possible Breakthrough in Battle against AIDS: Protein Fragment Blocks AIDS Virus Entry into Cells’
March 11th, 2011 by admin
While it might seem unbelievable, MIT engineers have announced that they have managed to design a new type of nanoparticles that could effectively and safely deliver vaccines for diseases such as malaria and HIV. HIV is known to be one of the biggest killers in the world and till now no one has been able to successfully create a vaccine for combating this deadly virus.
Continue reading ‘New Nanoparticles from MIT could lead to Vaccines for HIV, Malaria and Others’
January 24th, 2011 by admin
MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus) is one tough nut to crack. Researchers have failed to produce a vaccine because agents cannot break through the life-threatening bacteria’s armor. So, while other research has targeted the surface of the bacteria, a team from the University of Rochester Medical Center has discovered an antibody that reaches beyond the microbe’s surface and can stop the MRSA bacteria from growing, according to a report in Drug Discovery & Development.
Continue reading ‘Researchers ‘Unzip’ MRSA’s Armor for Possible Vaccine’
December 22nd, 2010 by admin
In a rare victory against AIDS, German scientists say that three years after a unique stem cell transplant was tried on a patient, “cure of HIV has been achieved in this” man. This is the first time anyone has been pronounced cured of the disease. But as New Scientist notes, their radical therapy strategy offers no hope for the tens of millions of people around the world with the lethal virus.
Continue reading ‘First HIV “Cure” Comes with a Very Big Catch’
November 24th, 2010 by admin
Selfish bacterial cells that act in their own interests and do not cooperate with their infection-causing colleagues can actually reduce the severity of infection. The selfish behavior of these uncooperative bacteria could be exploited to treat antibiotic-resistant infections, according to research presented at the Society for General Microbiology’s autumn meeting.
Continue reading ‘Backstabbing Bacteria: A New Treatment for Infection?’
September 22nd, 2010 by admin
Studies of the spinal fluid of patients given anti-HIV drugs have resulted in new findings suggesting that the brain can act as a hiding place for the HIV virus. Around 10% of patients showed traces of the virus in their spinal fluid but not in their blood — a larger proportion than previously realized, reveals a thesis from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Continue reading ‘HIV Virus Hides in the Brain, Swedish Study Finds’
September 20th, 2010 by admin
Doctors once suggested her parents take her home to die, but a young Auckland girl’s winning determination to fight off cancer – and the unique treatment that helped – is now being used to save other lives. In 2007, Frances Everall, just four years of age, was not expected to survive an aggressive stage four neuroblastoma – a cancer of the nervous system – which was attacking her.
Continue reading ‘Frances Wouldn’t Be Alive Without Cord Blood’
September 14th, 2010 by admin
Critical challenges remain in the centuries-old battles against infectious diseases, particularly as bacteria and viruses mutate and as the threat of bioterrorism grows. Responding to this need, America’s biopharmaceutical research companies this year have 395 new medicines and vaccines in the pipeline to fight infectious diseases. All 395 are in later stages of development, meaning in clinical trials or under Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review.
Continue reading ‘Nearly 400 Medicines and Vaccines in Development to Fight Infectious Diseases’
August 26th, 2010 by admin
A team headed by researchers from the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute has been awarded a $21 million grant to ascertain how the immune system reacts immediately after it is exposed to the AIDS virus. The project will bring together the expertise of 13 research groups at seven institutions to uncover the cellular protein machinery that represents the first line of defense against HIV.
Continue reading ‘Researchers get $21M to Study HIV’
August 16th, 2010 by admin
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Dr. Margaret Chan, announced that the world is no longer in phase six of influenza pandemic alert — we are now moving into the post-pandemic period and the new H1N1 virus has largely run its course. Dr. Chan went on to say: “As we enter the post-pandemic period, this does not mean that the H1N1 virus has gone away. Based on experience with past pandemics, we expect the H1N1 virus to take on the behavior of a seasonal influenza virus and continue to circulate for some years to come.
Continue reading ‘WHO Declares H1N1 Pandemic Alert Over’
