The NIAID has awarded a $9 million grant to Celera to rapidly sequence the Anopheles mosquito genome. This initiative will provide scientists with a unique opportunity to study the natural history of malaria by analyzing and comparing the genomes of mosquitoes, humans, and Plasmodium falciparum parasites.
A novel vaccine has been developed to protect against Leishmaniasis, a disease caused by the single-celled parasite Leishmania. The vaccine targets a component of sand fly saliva, dubbed SP15, which appears to induce natural immune responses in mice.
Dr. Tramont takes helm of DAIDS, a successful program critical to understanding HIV causes and creating antiretroviral drugs, with a focus on building on its legacy
Researchers found nearly a fourth of S. aureus genome is dispensable, allowing bacteria to adapt and spread through population. Contingency genes provide flexibility in causing diseases in humans, cows, and other organisms.
A clinical study has confirmed a single gene mutation as the cause of chloroquine-resistant malaria. The study developed a molecular marker that can diagnose individuals with chloroquine-resistant malaria, helping doctors select the best therapy and public health officials set country-wide treatment guidelines.
A new study sequenced the gene of a deadly type of Escherichia coli, revealing that it frequently picks up new DNA from other bacteria and viral genes. These newly acquired genes may contribute to the organism's virulence and make infections difficult to treat.
A new therapy effectively treats a disease similar to multiple sclerosis in monkeys by targeting T cells that cause the disease. The approach could soon be tested against MS and other autoimmune diseases in humans, offering potential for improved treatment options.
A new study published in JAMA found that steroid hormone drug fludrocortisone does not alleviate symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), particularly neurally mediated hypotension (NMH). Researchers recommend further testing of other drugs or drug combinations to benefit CFS patients with NMH.
New research suggests that macrophages are an underappreciated reservoir of virus in HIV infection. Macrophages continue to produce large amounts of an HIV-like virus even after CD4+ T cells are depleted, providing new insight on how the virus survives. This discovery may lead to new strategies for eliminating the virus from the body.
The NIH has announced a new initiative and strategic plan for global AIDS research, with the goal of slowing the pandemic and reversing its destruction. The plan includes increased investment in global research, new funding approaches, and support for long-term research infrastructure.
Scientists have developed a live recombinant vaccine that protects against a fungal infection in mice, using recombinant DNA technology. The vaccine is safer than traditional live vaccines and more effective than 'killed' vaccines, offering a promising approach to protect against rising fungal diseases.
A team of researchers at NIH has developed a novel vaccine that prevents Ebola virus infection in monkeys, offering a promising new approach to protecting humans. The vaccine induces strong anti-Ebola immune responses and protects against lethal doses of the virus.
A recent study found that proteins in T cells play a key role in the spread of HIV. By blocking these proteins, scientists hope to develop new treatments for the virus. The research, led by Ulrich Schubert, reveals how HIV manipulates T cells to spread and infect other cells.
A study published in the journal AIDS identifies a genetic risk factor for HIV infection, specifically a variation in the RANTES gene that increases susceptibility but also slows down disease progression. Researchers found that this SNP is associated with up to twice the risk of HIV infection and takes about 40% longer to develop AIDS.
Researchers have determined the structure of a key protein from paramyxoviruses, which causes respiratory diseases in children and animals. The study reveals clues for effective new drugs and highlights the benefits of structural biology in guiding drug design against communicable diseases.
Researchers have identified a single gene on chromosome 7 of Plasmodium falciparum that makes the most deadly malaria parasite resistant to chloroquine. The pfcrt gene is associated with chloroquine resistance in parasite lines from Asia, Africa, and South America.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has awarded a seven-year, $43.8 million contract to Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) for malaria vaccine production and support services. This contract supports the acceleration of new malaria vaccine development, including clinical trials.
Researchers have sequenced the Ureaplasma urealyticum genome, revealing a novel metabolic system and 652 genes with unknown functions. The discovery will aid in understanding how the bacterium causes disease and may lead to better treatments.
A recent NIH study discovered that gene alterations associated with cystic fibrosis may also contribute to chronic sinus problems in some individuals. The study found that nearly five times more patients with sinusitis carried CFTR alterations than those without the condition.
The NIAID Challenge Grants program will award $19 million to eight companies to develop new drugs and vaccines against deadly infectious diseases. Researchers will work on developing a pediatric indication for tafenoquine to prevent malaria in adults, as well as studying azithromycin for treating malaria.
The Hepatitis C Cooperative Research Centers are expanding their investigation of acute and chronic infection caused by the hepatitis C virus, with a focus on understanding why African Americans respond poorly to current treatment. The initiative will also explore ways to prevent disease progression and develop new therapeutic strategies.
Researchers found that a Tat-specific killer T cell response can effectively contain simian immunodeficiency virus during early infection, leading to a massive immune response. The study suggests a new approach to designing HIV vaccines by stimulating immune responses against virus proteins produced within hours of infection.
An international team is accelerating the investigation of immune-related genes to improve organ transplant matches and develop vaccines for specific diseases. The Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) gene complex holds clues to many medical questions.
Researchers have found a pore-like hole in the membranes of red blood cells infected by Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasite. This discovery may lead to new treatments for malaria, a devastating disease that kills over one million people each year. The study provides a new target for potential new malaria treatments.
The study provides a comprehensive understanding of Vibrio cholerae's genetic makeup, shedding light on its role in disease and survival. The DNA sequence reveals two circular chromosomes, each essential for the organism's viability, and may hold clues to developing new vaccine candidates and diagnostic tools.
Researchers have identified a viral protein responsible for Ebola-induced internal bleeding. The discovery could lead to the development of targeted antiviral treatments and vaccines to prevent the disease. By understanding how the virus attaches to and enters cells, scientists can design more effective countermeasures.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is launching a new clinical trial to test a promising transplant therapy for type 1 diabetes. The Edmonton protocol involves transplanting insulin-producing pancreas cells and aims to induce immune tolerance, allowing people with the condition to stop relying on insulin injections.
Scientists have identified mating behavior in Candida albicans, a fungus long thought to reproduce only by splitting itself. This discovery promises to accelerate research into the fungus and enable researchers to better understand its biology and identify new drug targets.
A recent study found that a short regimen of nevirapine continues to reduce HIV transmission in infants even when breastfed. The results showed a sustained 39% reduction in risk over 12 months, and preliminary data suggest an additional 2% reduction after 18 months.
The NIH has established an international network to develop and test non-vaccine strategies for HIV prevention, focusing on microbicides, behavioral interventions, and antiretroviral therapy. The HPTN aims to identify promising measures to protect people, especially children and women, from HIV infection.
Researchers at NIAID explore a new approach to HIV treatment involving cyclic therapy, which may reduce HAART duration and costs. Preliminary findings suggest that patients can maintain minimal viral loads and adequate CD4+ T cells during intermittent therapy.
Researchers found that adding IL-2 to antiretroviral therapy significantly increases CD4+ T-cell counts in HIV-infected patients. The study's results suggest that IL-2 may be used as a means of maintaining quality of life and decreasing AIDS-defining events.
The Blueprint for TB Vaccine Development identifies the TB crisis as a global health priority and encourages an international collaborative effort to develop a vaccine. The report details three different vaccine concepts currently being developed: live, attenuated vaccines; subunit vaccines; and naked DNA vaccines.
Scientists at NIH and Whitehead Institute have grown malaria parasites in fruit flies, creating a model for studying parasite development in insects. The new model has identified a part of the insect immune system that naturally attacks malaria parasites.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has launched four public-private partnerships to accelerate the development of promising HIV/AIDS vaccines. The partnerships aim to tap into the skills of both private industry and academic research centers, with a focus on developing vaccines for use around the world.
A new TB drug candidate, PA-824, has been shown to be effective against MDR strains of the bacteria. The compound, developed by PathoGenesis Corporation with assistance from NIAID's Laboratory of Host Defenses, works by preventing MTB from forming an important fatty acid component of its cell walls.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has launched a global network to develop and test preventive HIV vaccines. The network, known as the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN), will provide a comprehensive framework for conducting clinical trials globally.
A study led by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has identified key changes in surface proteins of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) that enable it to evade the immune system. The research found that these changes occur early in the infection process and can determine whether a person will develop chronic or acute HCV disease.
A study of over 400 HIV-positive and negative heterosexual couples found that lower HIV blood levels are associated with reduced transmission risk. Individuals with viral loads below 1,500 copies/mL had no infected partners.
Scientists identify a feature common to the immune systems of long-term nonprogressors that enables them to resist disease. The discovery links HLA B*5701 gene to immune resistance in HIV-infected individuals, offering new insights into mechanisms of immune defense.
Researchers at NIAID's Rocky Mountain Laboratories have identified a new class of compounds that slow the development of prion diseases in mice. The compounds, which include drugs used in cancer therapy, block the conversion of normal prion protein to an altered form, delaying disease progression. If successful in humans, this treatmen...
The nasal spray flu vaccine protected young children against the A/Sydney flu strain with an 86% efficacy rate, reducing disease severity and middle-ear infections. The two-year study showed overall protection of 92% and significant cross-protection against other strains.
The updated Guidelines recommend using recently developed tests to determine virus resistance, guiding the selection of new drug regimens. The Panel emphasizes goals of therapy, including suppression of plasma viral load, restoration of immunologic function, and improvement of quality of life.
The Adult AIDS Clinical Trials Group will receive $80 million in funding to continue studying antiviral interventions, immune system restoration, and opportunistic disease prevention. The network aims to improve patients' abilities to tolerate therapies and develop new strategies for treating HIV-related complications.
A new study has found that a molecular traffic signal, HIV matrix protein, controls two opposing functions regulating the virus' life cycle. This discovery provides new targets for creating molecular gridlock and halting virus growth.
Researchers have developed a new method to explore autoimmune mechanisms in chronic Lyme disease, which could lead to better diagnosis and treatment. The technique identifies specific bits of the Lyme agent that trigger an immune response against the body's own cells.
Researchers at NIAID have produced the first high-resolution genetic map of Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest malaria parasite. The map provides a framework to accelerate genome sequencing efforts, enabling scientists to locate genes important for drug resistance and disease severity.
Researchers found that even after highly sensitive tests detected no viable HIV, the virus quickly rebounded to substantial levels when therapy was stopped. The study suggests that eradicating HIV with current therapies is unlikely due to the presence of latent reservoirs that drugs cannot access.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has awarded $1.9 million to three Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research Centers, led by experts in various aspects of the disease. These centers will conduct research on causes, characteristics, and treatment of CFS.
A new model of HIV decline during treatment suggests that antiretroviral therapy drives HIV down to stable levels, varying with drug efficacy. The model proposes that significant numbers of CD4+ T cells become infected with HIV after treatment initiation, leading to a gradual decline in viral load.