Detecting trace amounts of multiple classes of antibiotics in foods
Widespread use of antibiotics in human healthcare and livestock husbandry has led to trace amounts of the drugs ending up in food products. Long-term consumption could cause health problems, but it’s been difficult to analyze more than a few antibiotics at a time because they have different chemical properties. Now, researchers reporting in ACS’ Journal […]
Fine tuning first-responder immune cells may reduce TBI damage
IMAGE: Drs. Babak Baban (foreground) and Krishnan Dhandapani. view more Credit: Kim Ratliff, Augusta University photographer AUGUSTA, Ga. (January 25, 2021) – Immediately after a traumatic brain injury and as long as one year later, there are increased levels of immune cells called ILCs in the brain promoting inflammation, which can worsen brain damage, scientists report. […]
Rhesus macaques develop promising immune response to SARS-CoV-2
In a promising result for the success of vaccines against COVID-19, rhesus macaque monkeys infected with the human coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 developed protective immune responses that might be reproduced with a vaccine. The work was carried out at the California National Primate Research Center at the University of California, Davis and is published Jan. 22 in […]
Immune cells discovered in the lungs improve virus defense
A research team at the University of Basel has discovered immune cells resident in the lungs that persist long after a bout of flu. Experiments with mice have shown that these helper cells improve the immune response to reinfection by a different strain of the flu virus. The discovery could yield approaches to developing longer-lasting […]
Nanoparticle vaccine for COVID-19 | EurekAlert! Science News
IMAGE: A schematic visualization of the ferritin nanoparticle with shortened coronavirus spike proteins, which is the basis of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate from Stanford. view more Credit: Duo Xu Before the pandemic, the lab of Stanford University biochemist Peter S. Kim focused on developing vaccines for HIV, Ebola and pandemic influenza. But, within days of closing […]
Unravelling the mystery that makes viruses infectious
IMAGE: Capsid protein pentamers (subunits colour-coded) being recruited to the growing protein shell (brown) during virion assembly by formation of sequence-specific contacts between the genome (packaging signals shown as orange space-filled… view more Credit: University of Leeds Researchers have for the first time identified the way viruses like the poliovirus and the common cold virus ‘package […]
Hydroxychloroquine blood levels predict clotting risk in patients with lupus
The antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine is frequently prescribed to treat symptoms of the autoimmune disease lupus. In addition to decreasing disease flares, the drug can also prevent blood clots, which are a major problem in individuals with lupus. A new study in Arthritis & Rheumatology shows that monitoring patients’ blood levels of hydroxychloroquine can predict their […]
Study explains why patients with cancer spread to the liver have worse outcomes
IMAGE: Weiping Zou, M.D., Ph.D. view more Credit: University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center ANN ARBOR, Michigan — Michael Green, M.D., Ph.D., noticed that when his patients had cancer that spread to the liver, they fared poorly – more so than when cancer spread to other parts of the body. Not only that, but transformative immunotherapy […]
Gut cells sound the alarm when parasites invade
To effectively combat an infection, the body first has to sense it’s been invaded, then the affected tissue must send out signals to corral resources to fight the intruder. Knowing more about these early stages of pathogen recognition and response may provide scientists with crucial clues when it comes to preventing infections or treating inflammatory […]
Allergists offer reassurance regarding potential allergic reactions to COVID-19 vaccines
BOSTON – Reports of possible allergic reactions to the COVID-19 vaccines produced by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, both recently approved for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), have raised public concern. A team of experts led by allergists at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) has now examined all relevant information to offer reassurance […]
