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Science News Archive October 2018 - Page 6


Page 6 of 47

New evidence of durable immune response to 3 experimental Ebola vaccines helps drive new wave of vaccine development targeting a number of diseases with epidemic potential

Three experimental Ebola vaccines showed persistent immunity for at least two and a half years, driving new vaccine development against diseases like Lassa fever, Nipah virus disease, and MERS-CoV. The study's findings have implications far beyond the Ebola fight, providing insights that could expedite vaccine development.

Sniffer dogs could detect malaria in people

Researchers found that sniffer dogs could scent malaria in samples of socks worn by infected children, with an accuracy rate of 70% for malaria-infected samples. The trained dogs could distinguish between the scent of malaria parasites and uninfected individuals, providing a non-invasive way to screen for the disease at ports of entry.

Mass shootings may trigger unnecessary blood donations

A recent study analyzed the impact of mass shootings on blood supply and demand for blood products. The research found that a call for immediate blood donation was unnecessary and resulted in wasted blood resources. The study suggests that cities develop protocols for mass casualty events, such as issuing calls for donations by ZIP code.

SourceNorthwestern Memorial HealthCare·JournalJournal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery·DateOct 29, 2018

Engineering a model of mitochondrial evolution

Scientists create a yeast mutant with deficient mitochondria and an E. coli bacterium with the necessary enzymes to form a symbiotic relationship, allowing the chimera to persist for over 40 generations. This model provides insight into the origins of mitochondrial endosymbiosis and can be used to explore further mechanisms.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 29, 2018

Alterations to seabed raise fears for future

The ocean floor is dissolving rapidly as a result of human activity, with calcite formation being neutralized by acidic CO2. Researchers predict that this process will intensify in the future, leading to long-lasting repercussions on marine ecosystems.

SourceMcGill University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 29, 2018

Illinois study provides whole-system view of plant cold stress

A recent Illinois study provides a global view of plant cold stress by examining the entire collection of genes, metabolites, pathways, and reactions. This approach identifies significant metabolites associated with important traits and offers a step forward in metabolic profiling techniques.

SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·JournalFrontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology·DateOct 29, 2018

Donor hearts at increased disease risk offer better survival rates for transplant recipients

Researchers found that accepting an organ from a donor at higher risk of disease transmission offers a higher one-year survival rate for candidates on the heart transplant list. Patients who decline such offers may wait longer or become too ill to undergo the procedure, resulting in higher mortality rates.

SourceAmerican College of Cardiology·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateOct 29, 2018