Leprosy, tuberculosis, and peanuts
Nitric oxide is a natural part of the body’s immune defense. Linköping University researcher Thomas Schön has studied this compound in connection with the skin disease leprosy and the lung disease tuberculosis. The Swedish researcher has found that nitric oxide probably contributes to the disease in the case of leprosy but, on the... view more... (2002-11-01)
Forgotten, but not gone: Leprosy still present in the US
Long believed to be a disease of biblical times, leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, continues to be seen in the United States. "Approximately 150 cases are diagnosed each year with 3,000 people in the U.S. currently being treated for leprosy. view more (2008-11-07)
Abandoned bones suggest TB wiped out leprosy in battle of killer diseases
The spread of tuberculosis may have killed off leprosy in Europe in the Middle Ages, according to research published in the latest issue of the Royal Society Proceedings B. view more (2005-02-07)
Researchers identify new leprosy bacterium
A new species of bacterium that causes leprosy has been identified through intensive genetic analysis of a pair of lethal infections, a research team reports in the December issue of the American Journal of Clinical Pathology. view more (2008-11-25)
The 'MIP-MAP' game: Indian bug is the ancestor of Crohn's disease pathogen
An Indian team of researchers led by Seyed E. Hasnain of the Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), University of Hyderabad, India has found that a seemingly unknown mycobacterial organism Mycobacterium indicus pranii (MIP) could be the earliest ancestor of the 'generalist' branch of mycobacterial pathogens. view more (2007-10-03)
Oldest evidence of leprosy found in India
A biological anthropologist from Appalachian State University working with an undergraduate student from Appalachian, an evolutionary biologist from UNC Greensboro, and a team of archaeologists from Deccan College (Pune, India) recently reported analysis of a 4000-year-old skeleton from India bearing evidence of leprosy. view more (2009-05-27)
Do Overseas Recruitment Schemes Fuel Health Inequalities?
Schemes to recruit doctors from developing countries risk damaging their fragile health systems, warns a senior doctor in this week's BMJ. Overseas recruitment schemes are marketed primarily as an opportunity for doctors to experience one of the world's best healthcare systems. Yet a new NHS scheme is taking highly experienced specialists,... view more... (2003-10-15)
Scientists discover gene that controls speed of tuberculosis development
Scientists at the MUHC have discovered a gene that controls the speed at which patients develop tuberculosis-the first time such a gene has been discovered for this disease. view more (2005-08-17)
Uprooting and replanting the tree of life
A new theory on the evolution of ancient microbes is set to challenge widespread scientific views of early life on earth and could overturn previous interpretations of the huge bank of molecular taxonomic data that has been built up in recent years, according to research published today in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary... view more... (2002-01-08)
Unexpected discovery can open a new chapter in the fight against tuberculosis
A close relative of the microorganism that causes tuberculosis in humans has been found to form spores. view more (2009-06-09)
Scientists sequence Nature's antibiotic factory
The genome sequence of Streptomyces coelicolor, one of the family of common soil bacteria that produce more than two thirds of the world's antibiotic medicines, will be published in the journal Nature this week. Streptomyces are almost ubiquitous in the soils and are responsible for its familiar 'earthy' smell. The genome data, collected by... view more... (2002-05-06)
Drugstore in the Dirt
French clay that kills several kinds of disease-causing bacteria is at the forefront of new research into age-old, nearly forgotten, but surprisingly potent cures. view more (2007-10-26)
UAB Researchers Find TB-Prevention Therapy Is Cost-Effective Option
University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) researchers have found that the cost of preventive antibiotic tuberculosis (TB) therapy for patients infected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is generally less expensive than the reported cost of treating newly confirmed TB cases. view more (2009-09-10)
How much is the world spending on neglected disease research and development?
The first comprehensive survey of global spending on neglected disease R&D, published in this week's PLoS Medicine, finds that just over $US 2.5 billion was invested into R&D of new products in 2007, with three diseases-HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria-receiving nearly 80% of the total. view more (2009-02-04)
Croatian skeletons reveal changing status of cancer in Europe across the centuries
Innsbruck, Austria: Cancer incidence rates in the developed world are increasing each year and developing countries are also now showing an increased incidence of the disease. But how much were our ancestors affected by the disease? Dr Mario Slaus of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts in Zagreb presented archaeological findings at the 18th... view more... (2004-07-06)
Blood pressure enzyme can have tumor-sensing role
By increasing production of a blood pressure-regulating enzyme in mice, researchers have found they can enhance the mouse immune system's ability to sense tumor growth. view more (2008-04-08)
Possible New Cure for Psoriasis
Cell biologists of the University of Bonn, in cooperation with the University of Leeds (U.K.) and industry may have discovered a new effective therapy for psoriasis: a specific group of what are known as metalloproteinase inhibitors can normalise the increased tendency of epidermis cells (keratinocytes) to divide, which is the cause of this... view more... (2004-08-16)
Study finds multiple neglected tropical diseases effectively treated with drugs
The neglected tropical diseases are a group of 13 infectious diseases, including elephantiasis, hookworm, African sleeping sickness and trachoma, which affect more than 1 billion people worldwide, most of whom live in extreme poverty. view more (2007-10-26)
Researcher hits bulls-eye for antibiotic target
A Purdue University researcher has opened the door for possible antibiotic treatments for a variety of diseases by determining the structure of a protein that controls the starvation response of E. coli. view more (2006-08-23)
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