A new NIH-funded study finds that children exposed to high indoor levels of pet or pest allergens during infancy have a lower risk of developing asthma by age 7. The study suggests that exposure to certain allergens early in life may prevent asthma from developing, and may provide clues for the design of strategies to prevent asthma.
Researchers found that a tick saliva molecule blocks inflammation and abnormal blood clotting in HIV-infected cells, reducing cardiovascular risks. The discovery could lead to new treatments targeting the TF pathway.
Researchers at NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases have developed a laboratory model to study tick-borne flaviviruses, including Powassan virus. The new model involves culturing organs from Ixodes scapularis ticks with flaviviruses, which can infect salivary glands and midgut.
Researchers discovered a potential broad-spectrum antiviral by inhibiting the EZH2/1 complex, which suppressed HSV infection and reactivation in mice. The treatment also showed promise against other viruses, including human cytomegalovirus, adenovirus, and Zika virus.
Researchers have developed a mouse model to study Zika virus transmission, finding that the virus can be transmitted sexually from males to females and vertically from pregnant women to their fetuses. The study suggests that the placenta may be a key barrier in preventing Zika virus infection of the fetus.
Two clinical trials found that adolescents using oral Truvada and a vaginal ring for HIV prevention had high adherence rates, with most participants taking the medication as prescribed. The studies pave the way for larger trials of these interventions in this vulnerable age group.
A nine-year-old South African child has suppressed HIV virus without anti-HIV drugs for eight and a half years, according to the NIH-funded study. The child received early limited anti-HIV treatment in infancy and was found to have maintained undetectable levels of HIV despite not receiving ongoing therapy.
An investigational HIV vaccine regimen was well-tolerated and generated immune responses against HIV in healthy adults, according to the APPROACH trial. The results support further development of candidate vaccines and plans for a larger trial in southern Africa to evaluate safety and efficacy.
A new study found that over half of HIV-positive transgender women are concerned about combining antiretroviral therapy with feminizing hormone therapy due to unknown drug interactions. This concern affects their adherence to medication and treatment, highlighting the need for better health care optimization.
Researchers have successfully elicited broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) to HIV in calves by immunization, a breakthrough that may inform HIV vaccine and therapeutics design. The unique structure of bovine bNAbs, particularly the long HCDR3 loops, shows promise for promoting human immune system development.
Two experimental vaccines demonstrate protection against Zika-related congenital damage in mice, preventing placental damage and fetal demise. Researchers observed significant reduction of Zika virus RNA in maternal, placental, and fetal tissues among vaccinated mice.
Researchers found two common, inexpensive antimicrobials can help patients recover from MRSA abscesses, contradicting current thinking on treatment effectiveness. The study involved 796 children and adults with small, uncomplicated skin abscesses.
Researchers discovered a genetic cause of CHAPLE disease, a rare immune disorder that causes severe gastrointestinal symptoms and blood clots. They found that a defective CD55 gene leads to complement hyperactivity, damaging blood vessels and causing life-threatening symptoms.
Research suggests type 2 immunity protects against metabolic disease but worsens nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) through inflammation and scarring. Inflammation in the liver involves immune molecules like IL-13, TGF-beta, and IFN-gamma.
Scientists have identified mutations in the CARD11 gene that lead to severe atopic dermatitis, an allergic skin disease. Supplementing with the amino acid glutamine may partially correct the underlying cell-signaling defects, according to a study published in Nature Genetics.
A Phase 1/2 clinical trial of an experimental Chikungunya vaccine, MV-CHIKV, is underway in the US. The trial aims to assess the safety and immune response of the vaccine in healthy adults.
A 10-year Lassa virus research project has yielded structural and functional details of a key viral surface protein, which could help advance development of Lassa vaccines. The study provides the first detailed view of the Lassa glycoprotein precursor complex bound to a human neutralizing antibody.
Researchers have discovered that a single protein in mycobacteria allows the bacteria to generate diverse populations that can evade TB drugs. Blocking this protein may reduce mycobacterial diversity and shorten treatment courses.
Researchers use a live imaging system to track and monitor influenza virus infection in immunized mice, providing insights into the effectiveness of candidate vaccines and treatments. The study offers a promising alternative to traditional methods, enabling real-time monitoring of disease progression.
A new study has found that the Zika virus circulated undetected for up to a year in some regions before public health authorities took notice. The research, published in Nature, reconstructed the virus's dispersal by sequencing genetic material from hundreds of patients in ten countries and territories.
Researchers at NIAID developed a new malaria vaccine that protects monkeys against the deadly Plasmodium falciparum parasite. The vaccine elicited neutralizing antibodies in monkeys and showed improved efficacy compared to previous AMA1 vaccines.
A Phase 3 clinical trial found that adding mepolizumab to standard treatment for eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) significantly improved remission rates, with 28% of participants achieving remission after one year. The disease was in remission at weeks 36 and 48 in 32% of participants who received mepolizumab.
Scientists identified two human antibodies that neutralize multiple ebolavirus species, offering potential treatments for people infected with Ebola virus or related viruses. These broadly protective antibodies could provide a basis for therapeutic pan-ebolavirus antibody treatments and vaccines.
Researchers have found evidence that enterococci bacteria developed antimicrobial resistance around 425 million years ago, when their prehistoric animal hosts transitioned to land. This ancient adaptation enabled the bacteria to survive in a range of challenging environments, including hospital settings.
The study found that Zika virus can persist in cerebrospinal fluid, lymph nodes, and colorectal tissue of infected rhesus monkeys for up to 42 days and 72 days respectively. The virus persistence may contribute to neurological issues associated with Zika infection in humans.
The NIH has awarded $9 million to seven international centers focused on malaria research, aiming to understand complex interactions between human hosts and mosquito vectors. The 7-year awards will support vital research to control, eliminate, and eventually eradicate malaria, a global health threat that claims millions of lives annually.
Researchers at NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases have identified a set of protein complexes that are recruited to viral genes to stimulate both initial infection and reactivation from latency. Environmental stresses also induce reactivation, providing new targets for the development of therapeutics.
A 2015 NIH study analyzed daily gene activation in an Ebola patient and found a marked decline in antiviral responses before virus clearance from white blood cells. The study showed host responses shifted toward cellular and organ repair, coinciding with clinical improvement.
A large clinical trial is being conducted to identify the most promising Ebola vaccination regimens to protect people from the disease. The PREVAC trial will enroll over 5,000 adults and children in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone to evaluate three experimental vaccine strategies.
Scientists have successfully treated guinea pigs and rhesus monkeys with a monoclonal antibody to cure Marburg and Ravn viruses. The treatment, MR191-N, provided up to 100% protection when administered within 5 days of infection, offering new hope for preventing and treating filovirus outbreaks.
A Phase 2/2b clinical trial has begun testing an experimental DNA vaccine designed to protect against disease caused by Zika infection. The vaccine aims to gain more safety and immune response data and determine if it can effectively prevent disease caused by natural Zika infection.
The National Institutes of Health has designated $42.7 million for the Consortium of Food Allergy Research (CoFAR) over seven years to continue evaluating new approaches to treat food allergy. CoFAR scientists are working on immunotherapy approaches to reduce immediate allergic symptoms and bring about long-term relief.
A Phase 1 clinical trial found that a two-vaccine regimen against Ebola virus disease induced an immune response that persisted for approximately one year in healthy adult volunteers. The investigational vaccines used harmless viral vectors to deliver proteins of the Ebola virus, prompting an immune response.
A molecule naturally produced by the immune system protects mice and monkeys against Zika virus infection, reducing fetal brain damage and microcephaly. Administering 25-hydroxycholesterol to pregnant mice also protected them from Zika-induced developmental defects.
Researchers found that monkeys suppressed HIV-like virus SHIV after receiving dual-antibody treatment, which enabled their immune systems to control the virus long after the antibodies were gone. The study suggests a potential approach to treating HIV and other infections.
A novel vaccine developed by scientists at NIAID protected cattle from respiratory syncytial virus infection, with high levels of neutralizing antibodies and protection against viral replication. The vaccine's pre-F protein construct showed promise in a model that may be applied to human RSV vaccine development.
The NIH-funded Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group has reviewed over 70 study proposals and initiated more than 30 clinical studies to address antibacterial resistance. The group's key accomplishments include the launch of the CRACKLE study, a prospective multicenter cohort study designed to characterize CRE infections.
A large yellow fever outbreak in rural Brazil is causing concern among world health authorities, who are warning of the risk of spreading the disease to non-endemic regions. The outbreak, which has already claimed several lives, highlights the importance of rapid public health response and vaccination efforts.
A Phase 1 clinical trial is underway to test the safety and tolerability of an RSV vaccine in healthy adults. The study aims to assess the vaccine's ability to prompt an immune response and reduce the burden of this important disease.
The NIH is conducting a Phase 1 clinical trial to test an investigational vaccine called AGS-v, designed to trigger an immune response to mosquito saliva. The goal is to provide broad protection against mosquito-transmitted diseases such as Zika, malaria, and dengue fever.
A Phase 1 clinical trial found that the PfSPZ Vaccine protected 64% of healthy adults from a different malaria strain, while also inducing durable T cell responses. The vaccine showed cross-protection against multiple strains, providing hope for an effective malaria vaccine.
An experimental malaria vaccine strategy, PfSPZ-CVac, combined with antimalarial medication protected all nine clinical trial volunteers given three high-dose vaccinations. The vaccine induced a response from T cells and identified 22 malaria parasite proteins that could be the targets of protective immune responses.
The investigational PfSPZ Vaccine protected a significant proportion of healthy adults against infection with Plasmodium falciparum malaria for the duration of the malaria season. The vaccine demonstrated a 48% protective efficacy and was well-tolerated, with no serious adverse events.
Scientists at the NIH found that an antibody against alpha-4 beta-7 integrin protected monkeys from SIV, reducing transmission and inducing sustained remission. The protein is crucial to HIV's initial phase of infection, influencing disease development.
A novel mRNA vaccine has shown promise in protecting mice and monkeys against Zika virus infection. The vaccine, which uses messenger RNA to produce Zika virus proteins, was found to be highly effective in preventing the virus in both animal models.
Researchers discovered a toxin from S. epidermidis that contributes to blood infections and worsens septic infection in mouse models. Clinical studies are needed to assess its impact on human sepsis.
High-dose immunosuppressive therapy followed by stem cell transplantation has been shown to induce sustained remission in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Five years after treatment, 69% of participants had survived without progression or relapse, with some showing improvements in mobility and physical capabilities.
Researchers discover that a component of the innate immune system, the complement system, plays a crucial role in killing antibiotic-resistant ST258 bacteria. The study's findings suggest that a modified antibody could be used to develop new tools to treat and prevent infections caused by these bacteria.
H5Nx viruses, spreading globally through migratory wild birds, display a binding protein on their surfaces that allows them to exit host cells. This adaptation may render them less able to spread to humans, but not rule out eventual evolution to infect people.
Researchers used a new mouse model to study how the Ebola virus affects the immune system, focusing on cellular signaling events. They found that macrophages play a critical role in controlling EBOV infection by producing MAVS, which helps limit organ damage and promotes type I interferon production.