A new animal model has successfully treated latent tuberculosis (TB) using a three-month course of antibiotics, showing almost complete sterilization of bacteria. This breakthrough could lead to shorter treatment regimens and improved prevention of reactivation.
A modified Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette et Guérin (BCG) vaccine, dubbed dBCG, has been shown to be safer and more effective than traditional BCG therapy for bladder cancer. The new approach involves injecting dBCG directly into bladder cancer tumors to reduce recurrence and progression of the disease.
Researchers at Texas Biomedical Institute are studying lung macrophages and their role in TB infection, with the goal of developing a new set of biological pathways critical to the body's response. The findings could lead to a new strategy for host-directed therapy and potentially cure TB.
Researchers at Texas Biomed continue testing Ebola therapies and vaccines in human clinical trials, motivated by promising preclinical data. The goal is to positively impact human lives with effective treatments, building on previous studies involving nonhuman primates.
Researchers at Texas Biomedical Institute have discovered that lung-specific chronic immune activation is responsible for the progression of disease in HIV patients. This dysfunction leads to a constant production of cytokines and chemokines, dysregulating the body's ability to fight off other infections.
Researchers found that lung lining fluid from older adults is more prone to dysfunction, allowing bacteria to infect and grow within macrophages. The study suggests that interventions targeting the lung mucosa's oxidative status may help make elderly individuals more resistant to respiratory infections.
A team of scientists has pinpointed a long noncoding RNA molecule that influences a key receptor involved in HIV infection. This discovery may lead to new targets for therapy and increase understanding of how genetic variations affect disease progression.
Researchers are developing a lab model to study co-infection with HIV and TB, which is a major health problem worldwide. The model mimics the early stages of co-infection and could lead to better treatments and control of both diseases.
Researchers discovered a new mutation in the leptin gene associated with severe early-onset obesity. The mutation causes Leptin proteins to be misfolded, rendering them ineffective and leading to excess body fat.
A Texas Biomed Associate Professor has received a $100,000 grant to test an FDA-approved drug for reversing age-related cognitive decline and memory deficits in aged baboons. The study aims to develop a therapeutic intervention to enhance brain cell function and improve overall health.
The Department of Defense is funding a study on a promising experimental Zika vaccine at Texas Biomedical Research Institute. Researchers are working to develop a vaccine that can protect pregnant women from the virus and its devastating birth defects.
Researchers have developed a new vaccine strategy for tuberculosis that protects against the disease by delivering a vaccine directly into the lungs through a spray. The new formulation shows promise in mice studies, with significantly reduced lung inflammation and tissue damage compared to current vaccines.
Researchers have developed a new optofluidic chip-based test to detect Zika virus, which can identify the stage of infection and guide treatment. The technology has the potential to pinpoint recent infections and predict disease progression.
A team of researchers at Texas Biomed has identified the interaction between an Ebola virus protein and a human cell protein that may be crucial to understanding the virus's life cycle. By studying this interaction in human cells using live virus, the scientists hope to develop potential drug targets to stop the disease.
Researchers at Texas Biomed are investigating the role of DNA methylation in Hispanic childhood obesity. The four-year grant aims to understand how changes in genes and proteins contribute to obesity and potentially develop targeted treatments.
Researchers aim to understand how malarial infections impact people exposed to Ebola virus, with a goal of developing tailored therapeutics for co-infection cases. The study will assess molecular impacts using an animal model and may involve testing in nonhuman primates.
Researchers tracked marmosets with Fitbit-like devices to study sleep disturbances, circadian rhythm changes, and cognitive impairment, mirroring Parkinson's non-motor symptoms. The findings provide a valuable animal model for understanding the neuro-circuitry responsible for these complex aspects of the disease.
A new study by Texas Biomedical Research Institute sheds light on the role of specific proteins in triggering autophagy, a mechanism allowing Ebola virus to enter cells. The findings have implications for treating complex diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's, where macropinocytosis is dysregulated.
Researchers have identified a new class of antibodies that can protect against HIV-1 infection, using an animal model to show its effectiveness. The study found that IgM antibodies were able to prevent the virus from crossing the mucosal barrier, offering a potential breakthrough for AIDS prevention and treatment.
A collaborative study between six National Primate Research Centers found that 26% of female nonhuman primates infected with Zika virus experienced miscarriage or stillbirth despite few clinical signs of infection. The study suggests that Zika-associated pregnancy loss in humans may be more frequent than currently thought.
Researchers at Texas Biomedical Research Institute have repurposed promising cancer chemotherapy drugs to target tuberculosis (TB), a deadly disease that kills four people every minute. The study found that these experimental drugs can reduce TB growth by 80% and also decrease inflammation and damage to the lungs.
Researchers found that marmosets infected with the Zika virus during pregnancy experienced spontaneous abortion and neurological abnormalities in their fetuses. This study suggests that marmosets may be a relevant model for understanding the effects of Zika on fetal health.
Scientists at Texas Biomedical Research Institute are set to test the experimental Ebola treatment ZMapp, which showed a 91% probability of preventing mortality in a previous study. The trial is part of a $2 million contract with Mapp Biopharmaceutical, Inc. and aims to determine the effectiveness of the therapy.
A new animal model has been developed at Texas Biomedical Research Institute to mimic key features of the Zika virus infection, including lingering presence in bodily fluids. The marmoset model is useful for testing new drugs and vaccines, and may help identify places where transmission can be blocked.
Researchers at Texas Biomedical Research Institute tested a new drug for hepatitis B virus infection, which uses RNA interference to reduce surface antigens. The therapy has shown safety and effectiveness in human trials, offering hope for a potential cure.
Researchers are exploring the role of microRNAs in brain structure changes associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. The study aims to identify biomarkers in blood and cerebrospinal fluid that correlate with brain variations.
Researchers aim to identify parasite genes underlying resistance, monitor spread, and design treatment strategies. They will use innovative genetic crosses in a 'humanized' mouse strain to better understand drug resistance evolution.
Researchers at Texas Biomedical Research Institute are developing a modified TB vaccine that could provide longer-lasting immunity. The team has shown promising results in mouse models, increasing the bacteria-killing power tenfold and protection by threefold.
Dr. Timothy Anderson received a 5-year, $4.6 million MERIT Award to study drug resistance in malaria parasites and develop effective treatment strategies. The award supports his efforts to understand the genetic determinants of resistance and apply powerful gene editing technologies.
A new antimalarial compound, pyronaridine, has shown promising activity against the Ebola virus in laboratory tests. The compound, already approved for use in Europe, was identified through a machine learning model and is being tested in vivo to assess its potential as an Ebola treatment.
Researchers will analyze tissue samples from baboons to identify molecular mechanisms underlying early onset atherosclerosis. The study may lead to the development of early diagnostics and interventions, potentially saving millions of lives by treating the disease in its early stages.
Researchers at SNPRC have developed an operational technique for delivering neural stem cells to the brain with low invasiveness and high accuracy, targeting the basal ganglia to treat Parkinson's disease. The technique revealed a pulsatile dispersion of injected cells, which could enhance cell survival and efficacy.
The Southwest National Primate Research Center at Texas Biomedical Research Institute has received a $40 million NIH grant to continue its research programs using nonhuman primates. The grant renewal will support the Center's breeding and research colonies of NHP species, making them available to the global scientific community.
Researchers aim to develop a multi-layered defense strategy targeting mucosal barriers, blood, and tissues. The goal is to induce host defenses against HIV simultaneously at multiple levels.
Researchers aim to identify genes involved in PZQ resistance, enabling development of simple molecular tests to monitor resistance and provide early warning of drug resistance emergence. The study will focus on precise genes and mutations in laboratory genetic crosses and then expand to field researchers in Uganda and Kenya.
A preclinical study conducted by Texas Biomed has shown that Mymetics' HIV vaccine candidate generated significant protection in female monkeys, with an efficacy rate of 87%, delaying persistent infection after repeated viral challenges. The study's results suggest a potential breakthrough in developing an effective HIV vaccine.
A recent study by Dr. Anthony Griffiths reveals that the Ebola virus has a high frequency of spontaneous mutation, which could prove useful for developing therapies. Increasing the mutation rate may make the virus non-viable, providing a potential therapeutic tool against the disease.
Scientists at Texas Biomed aim to develop a functional cure for babies born with HIV by testing a combination of antiviral drugs and vaccines in infant monkeys. The goal is to induce long-lasting protective immunity and eliminate the virus from tissue reservoirs.
Researchers at Texas Biomedical are exploring a novel mechanism for Filovirus detection using llama antibodies, which could lead to more sensitive diagnostic tools for Marburg and Ebola viruses. The goal is to develop streamlined tests that can detect all known and emerging strains of these viruses.
Researchers discovered a new cellular factor critical to Ebola virus infection and identified Tetrandrine as a potent small molecule inhibiting the virus's entry into human white blood cells. The compound showed efficacy in preventing Ebola virus disease in mice without obvious side effects.
Researchers at Texas Biomed are using new genomic tools to analyze individual malaria parasites, allowing for more effective treatment and vaccine design.
A new preclinical trial will begin to confirm the HIV vaccine candidate's excellent results, led by Dr. Ruth Ruprecht and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The study aims to provide mucosal protection and blood antibodies against infection.
Researchers at Texas Biomedical Institute have discovered new cellular factors essential for CCHFV infection, revealing the site where a drug therapy would need to act. The findings suggest that multivesicular bodies are critical for CCHFV replication and hold promise for broad-spectrum antiviral treatments.
Researchers will use innovative approaches to study how genetic sequence changes affect cells in the body, leading to diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. The goal is to develop new therapies and improve treatment for these conditions.
Research conducted at Texas Biomedical Research Institute found that sunscreen use in infancy and childhood reduces malignant melanoma incidence in adulthood by 10-fold. The study used a natural animal model, gray short-tailed opossums, to test the effectiveness of sunscreen against UV-induced melanoma.
A team of scientists has identified the critical gene responsible for drug resistance in schistosome parasites. The finding could lead to improved therapies by redesigning the existing oxamniquine drug to target both major species, potentially saving millions of lives annually.
Research with baboons found that genetic differences may regulate bone remodeling, a natural process where mature bone tissue is removed and replaced. This could explain why older women taking bisphosphonates are at risk of atypical fractures in their femurs, due to slower bone growth and accumulation of bone tissue.
Researchers have identified genes associated with brain aging, revealing a heritable basis for neurocognitive deterioration and decreased white matter integrity. The study used large pedigrees of Mexican Americans to disentangle genetic from non-genetic influences on aging.
A new study reveals that nearly half of Mexican American children aged 6-17 show signs of metabolic syndrome, a cluster of warning signs for diabetes and heart disease. Early screening is critical to identify risk factors and intervene before chronic health problems develop.
Scientists at Texas Biomedical Research Institute have identified four genes (TENC1, ERBB3, ACVR1B, and DGKA) that influence levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. This discovery could lead to the development of new drugs to reduce heart disease risk in humans.