Scientists Ewine van Dishoeck, Emmanuelle Charpentier, Jennifer A. Doudna, Virginijus Šikšnys, A. James Hudspeth, Robert Fettiplace, and Christine Petit receive the Kavli Prizes for their pioneering work on star formation, DNA editing, and hearing mechanisms. The breakthroughs have transformed our understanding of existence, advancing ...
Researchers found that genes associated with schizophrenia alter early brain development indirectly by influencing placenta health, leading to a fivefold increased risk of developing the disorder. The study also discovered a sex bias in schizophrenia incidence, with males more likely to be affected due to the placenta's role.
A large proportion of malaria patients in endemic countries are likely to receive low doses of malaria medicine, leading to poorer treatment outcomes and potentially fueling drug resistance. Vulnerable groups like malnourished children and pregnant women require different treatments due to their unique response to antimalarial drugs.
Scientists at Christiana Care's Gene Editing Institute have developed a breakthrough CRISPR tool that can edit DNA in a test tube, allowing for precise genetic mutations to be replicated from human tumor samples. This technology has the potential to accelerate personalized cancer care by enabling rapid diagnosis and treatment.
A gene therapy treatment for cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), a fatal degenerative brain disease, has been successfully tested in a clinical trial. The treatment halted the progression of the disease in 15 out of 17 boys who participated in the trial, leading to minimal or no symptoms and normal lives.
Researchers present studies on community health workers using mini-malaria clinics and new bednets, finding high treatment success rates. Alternative solutions, such as insecticide-treated housing and blankets, are also being explored to fight malaria in conflict zones.
A new study finds nearly one in four blood bank supplies contain malaria parasites, putting children and pregnant women at risk. The lack of sensitive diagnostic technology exacerbates the issue, highlighting the need for better vigilance and screening practices to keep blood banks safe.
Treating women subsistence farmers with a cheap deworming medication improved their physical stamina for agriculture work and potentially increased food production. The study found that even low levels of hookworms caused significant benefits in fitness and exercise capacity.
A new study reveals that global antibiotic use increased by 39% between 2000 and 2015, with significant increases in low-income and middle-income countries. The study highlights the need for strategies to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use and support alternatives to address the growing threat of drug resistance.
An interim open-label study found increased product use of the dapivirine vaginal ring compared to a previous Phase III study. The data suggest that women's HIV-1 risk was reduced by more than half in the open-label study, known as DREAM.
A Phase 2 clinical trial in South Africa found that revaccination with the Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine significantly reduced sustained TB infections in adolescents. An experimental subunit vaccine candidate, H4:IC31, also showed promise in preventing TB infection or disease.
A new study reveals that North Americans may be more susceptible to eye worm parasitic infections due to the presence of fruit flies carrying a third species of eye worms. The Oregon woman's case marks the first known human infection with Thelazia gulosa, previously seen only in cattle.
A 10-year study found that West Nile virus victims, including those with mild symptoms or none, showed evidence of brain damage years after the original infection. Brain scans revealed damage or thinning in different parts of the cerebral cortex, as well as degeneration or atrophy in several regions.
Researchers discovered that a second blood feeding significantly increases the Asian tiger mosquito's ability to transmit Zika viruses, potentially underestimating its role in disease outbreaks. The study found that this 'aggressive biter' mosquito can produce many infectious mosquitoes quickly after additional feedings.
Researchers have discovered a unique 'breathprint' of people with malaria, allowing for accurate diagnosis using a breath test. The analysis found that infected patients exhale a compound attracting mosquitoes, accelerating disease spread.
The GHIT Fund has announced significant investments in new treatments for malaria, including an antimalarial drug candidate DSM265 and a diagnostic tool for detecting dormant Plasmodium vivax parasites. These breakthroughs aim to combat the growing threat of artemisinin resistance and eliminate the 'hidden reservoir' of vivax malaria.
TBA-7371 and sutezolid have entered phase 1 clinical trials after early preclinical development. These novel drugs show promise in treating TB with no pre-existing resistance, addressing a growing concern in the disease's increasing resistance to older treatments.
Researchers analyze and describe a comprehensive strategy for preserving antibiotic effectiveness by reducing antibiotic use in farm animals, aiming to reduce consumption by up to 80 percent globally by 2030. The study suggests that limiting meat intake or imposing user fees on veterinary antibiotics could achieve significant reductions.
A 15-country study reveals that adolescent interventions should begin with preteens to avoid the health risks of 'gender straitjackets' that include abuse and suicide. Researchers found that rigidly enforced gender expectations are linked to increased lifelong risks, including HIV, depression, violence, and suicide.
A new study published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene found that rapid diagnostic tests for malaria are reducing the need for antimalarial medications but may also lead to an increase in antibiotic prescriptions. The research analyzed over 500,000 patient visits across malaria-endemic regions and revealed that ...
The nonprofit International Partnership for Microbiddles (IPM) will receive a competitive award of up to $25 million from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to advance HIV prevention microbicide products for women. The award supports IPM's monthly dapivirine vaginal ring, which has shown promising results in...
A study found that excessive chemical applications in Bangladeshi lychee orchards may have triggered acute encephalitis syndrome, killing 13 children. The chemicals, including the banned endosulfan, were applied liberally and included residues on clothing worn into homes.
A new study from India reveals high levels of antibiotic-resistant pathogens in chickens raised for both meat and eggs on farms in Punjab state. The study found that nearly 60% of E. coli isolates contained enzymes conferring drug resistance to key medications, raising concerns about the consequences to human health.
The International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM) has received a four-year, £12 million UK government award to develop and commercialize new HIV prevention products for women. IPM's dapivirine vaginal ring, approved in two large clinical trials, will receive regulatory support.
A new study finds malaria hospitalizations exceeding dengue fever cases, with average cost per patient at $25,800 and total bill of $555 million from 2000 to 2014. Malaria infections are likely acquired during travel to Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
A new study finds that long-term exposure to soil minerals from walking barefoot in volcanic soils is the cause of a debilitating and disfiguring skin condition in western Uganda. The researchers found that people had been suffering silently for decades before symptoms became apparent.
Persistent stockouts and exposure to freezing temperatures are among problems in outdated vaccine supply chains, according to researchers. The challenges hinder the impact of vaccines on safeguarding people's health, with one in three countries experiencing at least one stockout of a vaccine for at least one month.
A five-year WHO investigation found treated bed nets continue to provide significant protection from malaria, despite rising insecticide resistance. The study supports the continued use of long-lasting insecticidal nets and calls for investments in new malaria-fighting tools to accelerate progress towards global elimination goals.
Scientists have found that mosquitoes can carry both Zika and chikungunya viruses simultaneously, potentially infecting humans with both diseases in a single bite. The study suggests that co-infection with chikungunya may inhibit infection of Zika virus in mosquitoes, impacting the epidemiology of two mosquito-borne viruses.
A new study found that deaths from West Nile virus can occur years after patients appear to have recovered from the initial illness. The researchers analyzed 4,144 cases and attributed 554 deaths to WNV during a 10-year period, with 268 of those dying soon after recovery due to delayed mortality.
A group of experts suggests reframing global efforts against antimicrobial resistance to focus on building societal resilience and maintaining diversity in the global microbiome. This approach aims to address the root causes of resistance, rather than just treating its symptoms.
Female mosquitoes can pass the Zika virus on to their eggs and offspring, bolstering the need for larvicide use as an integral part of controlling the spread of the virus. The study found that culture of adults infected with the virus resulted in a high rate of transmission to their offspring.
Researchers found that cardinals act as 'supersuppressors' by drawing infected mosquitoes away from robins, reducing the risk of human infections with West Nile virus in Atlanta. The study suggests that preserving and enhancing old growth forests may also help prevent disease transmission.
Global experts are calling on the UN to create and implement a four-part global action plan to reduce deaths due to limited access to antibiotics. The plan aims to improve access, monitor progress, mobilize resources, and coordinate multisectoral action to tackle antibiotic resistance.
High-risk osteoporosis patients often underdiagnosed and undertreated, despite effective fracture-preventing medications. The authors call for improved diagnosis and therapy to prevent fractures in this high-risk population.
A new study published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene documents the public health impacts after devastating flooding on a South Pacific island. Researchers found that 31 people died, mostly children under 14, and many more were injured or affected by infectious diseases.
Researchers at UTMB have developed a new mouse model for Zika infection, removing a bottleneck in preclinical testing. The model is available for immediate screening of antivirals and vaccine candidates.
Global experts celebrate a major public health achievement with the introduction of MenAfriVac®, a vaccine designed for Africa that has nearly eliminated serogroup A meningococcal disease. Over 235 million children and young adults have been immunized, reducing cases from 250,000 in 1996 to just 80 in 2015.
African smallholder farmers purchase over half of their seeds annually through local markets and informal sources. Local legume markets are particularly important, accounting for 64% of seed transactions. The study highlights the need to expand high-quality seed delivery to smallholder farmers through formal and informal channels.
A vaccine developed for African meningitis A has led to the control and near elimination of deadly disease in 26 countries. However, scientists warn that unless countries maintain high levels of protection through routine immunization schedules, the disease could rebound in 15 years.
Researchers explored the use of ivermectin in mass drug administration campaigns to reduce malaria infections in Africa and slow down drug resistance in Asia. Preliminary results showed a 16% reduction in childhood malaria episodes in Burkina Faso, where most population members received regular ivermectin doses.
A new study from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that the expanding range of the Lone star tick is causing reports of Rocky Mountain spotted fever infections to rise, but fatalities have not. The mild disease spread by the aggressive tick is being mistaken for the more serious disease due to similarities in bloo...
A comprehensive genomic analysis suggests that dengue fever can persist year-round in southern China, posing a significant threat to public health. The study found a complex mix of viral subtypes, increasing the risk of epidemic outbreaks when new variants emerge and infect people with no prior exposure.
A new study finds that African dams are linked to over 1.1 million malaria cases annually, with the risk being particularly high in areas with unstable malaria transmission. The research highlights the need for better disease control measures around dam reservoirs.
A new study found that Asian sheep are genetically diverse, with two migratory waves of domestication. This diversity can help herders in developing countries preserve valuable traits for meat production.
The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) has launched a new program to provide independent analysis on pricing linked to patient benefit for new FDA-approved drugs. The program will produce public reports near the time of FDA approval, providing a transparent basis for price negotiations and coverage decisions.
A new study estimates Florida's annual incidence of ciguatera toxin poisoning at about 5.6 cases per 100,000 people, significantly higher than the previous estimate of .2 cases per 100,000. The highest risk areas are around Miami and in the Florida Keys.
Per capita health care spending for children with diabetes rose 4.1% in 2013, nearly double the 2012 increase, due to higher spending on branded insulin. Out-of-pocket costs for those with diabetes were more than double that of those without the disease.
Preliminary research suggests that elderly individuals in China will contribute significantly to TB infections and cases, with their burden increasing from 13% to 71%. Developing a 'post-infection' vaccine could reduce TB rates by almost a third by 2050.
Scientists have discovered 30 new types of heat-beater beans that can thrive in drastic weather extremes, offering a climate-friendly option for farmers. The development of these heat-defying beans is a landmark result of urgent efforts to adapt crops to environmental stresses and could save the 'meat of the poor' from global warming.