Srivastava aims to examine the link between aldose reductase and lung inflammation in asthma. His research group has previously demonstrated the enzyme's role in other inflammatory diseases.
Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch have created new vaccines for West Nile and Japanese encephalitis viruses, showing promise in providing immunity against these deadly diseases. The 'pseudoinfectious' vaccines use genetically modified viruses that can only infect a single cell, mimicking a viral infection without am...
Researchers at UTMB have developed a promising antiviral therapy against RSV using custom-designed molecules that target the genetic machinery of the virus. These 'morpholino oligomers' show minimal toxicity and significantly reduce RSV replication in cell culture and mouse experiments.
A new study confirms the close link between viral colds and ear infections in young children, identifying adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and coronavirus as primary causes. Researchers recommend avoiding exposure to sick children, day care attendance, and using influenza vaccine to prevent respiratory viral infection.
Researchers at UTMB will study brain's electrochemical signaling system to develop new anti-addiction drugs, potentially benefiting compulsive overeaters as well. The four-year program aims to find effective treatments for substance abuse and addiction.
Researchers at UTMB have identified distinct subtypes of asthma using protein profiling, which could lead to tailored treatments. The study found four different asthma subtypes, including one associated with severe and treatment-resistant disease, offering new hope for more effective asthma therapies.
A recent study published by the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston found that bites from uninfected mosquitoes can make West Nile virus worse in lab mice. The research showed a significant increase in mortality rates when mice were exposed to multiple mosquito feedings before being infected with West Nile virus.
Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch developed an innovative artificial immune system that mimics the human body's response to disease. This technology will enable rapid screening of vaccine and therapeutic compounds, potentially saving millions in R&D costs.
Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch have developed a potential new therapy for uveitis, an inflammatory eye condition causing 5-15% of all cases of total blindness in the US. The treatment uses an aldose reductase inhibitor to reduce inflammation and is currently being tested in clinical trials.
Fernandez-Funez will study ways to protect brain cells from damage by prions using genetically engineered flies that produce proteins like those found in 'mad cow' disease. His goal is to find new mechanisms of prion neurotoxicity and develop protective chaperone proteins.
A new review of medical literature reveals that breastfeeding provides numerous benefits, including lower risk of diabetes, lymphoma, and leukemia. However, the authors note that risks associated with formula feeding include growth failure and vitamin deficiencies, but these can be prevented or minimized with preventive measures.
The John S. Dunn Gulf Coast Consortium for Chemical Genomics will establish a computational chemistry research program to predict molecular properties, design molecules, and discover small molecules affecting protein-protein interactions. The grant aims to improve computing methods and synthetic techniques for drug discovery.
Scientists are studying Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria grown in space to understand how it adapts and potentially poses a threat to long-duration space travelers. The bacteria were brought back from orbit frozen in 'zero-g mode' for analysis, providing valuable insights into its behavior in microgravity.
A diet rich in protein may help slow the deterioration of elderly people's muscles. Researchers found that both young and elderly volunteers experienced increased muscle protein synthesis after consuming a moderate amount of protein-rich food. This is crucial for maintaining health, independence, and preventing muscle loss.
A large-scale comparative study has found that treatment with intravenous bisphosphonates increases the risk of jaw or facial bone disease or infection. After six years, about 5.5% of bisphosphonate users had undergone facial or jaw bone surgery or been diagnosed with inflammation of the jaw bone, compared to 0.3% of non-users.
Researchers found that a 45-minute walk restores the muscle-growth-stimulating effects of insulin to levels comparable to those seen in normal young adults. This breakthrough suggests that moderate aerobic exercise may slow the rate of muscle loss in aging.
Researchers have successfully engineered adult stem cells from human cord blood to produce insulin, a potential breakthrough in treating type 1 diabetes. The discovery uses complex signals produced by embryonic mouse pancreas to direct adult stem cells into islet-like cells, producing C-peptide and insulin.
Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch have developed a technique to close accidental colonoscopy wounds using small metal clips inserted through an endoscope. The new method has shown promising results in animal studies, with successful closure of perforations and reduced adhesions compared to surgical closure.
A recent study suggests that President Abraham Lincoln was suffering from a life-threatening form of smallpox when he delivered his Gettysburg Address. Researchers compared clinical features of Lincoln's illness to those of smallpox and found a close match, suggesting he had contracted variola major, the more severe form of the disease.
Scientists at the University of Texas Medical Branch have discovered a cellular protein, PAK1, that interferes with hepatitis C virus replication. The finding may lead to new drug development to fight the virus, which affects approximately 170 million people worldwide.
A new study reveals that precise levels of the special protein UNC-45 are crucial for proper muscle formation. Having too much or too little UNC-45 can disrupt myosin assembly, leading to muscle paralysis and other health issues.
Hepatitis A and C viruses attack the same protein, MAVS, to block immune defenses, allowing them to survive in the liver. This discovery provides a new perspective on the chronicity of hepatitis C, a highly relevant virus clinically.
Researchers at UTMB overturned the long-held medical dogma on RSV, finding that an inadequate immune reaction is associated with severe infections. The study's findings have major implications for developing therapies and treating viral respiratory infections during infancy.
Researchers found high levels of zinc in deposits in the eye associated with age-related macular degeneration. The discovery may facilitate the development of effective treatments for this leading cause of blindness among the elderly.
Scientists at UTMB and University of Michigan develop direct electrical link between nerve cells and photovoltaic nanoparticle films, enabling light-stimulated nerve-signaling devices. This breakthrough could lead to creation of a nanoparticle-based artificial retina with unprecedented flexibility, compactness, and reliability.
Researchers at University of Texas Medical Branch have discovered a way to identify the biochemical profile of an inappropriate immune response to viral infection. The study uses a protein-scanning chip and computer database to examine over 1,200 protein interactions in guinea pigs infected with two different strains of Pichinde virus.
Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch discovered a potential method to prevent failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) by applying a local anesthetic, Lidocaine, to the exposed spinal cord before surgery. The technique successfully blocked the release of chemicals associated with FBSS and reduced sensitivity in rats.
Researchers found that breast-feeding counters genetic tendencies toward ear infections, which can lead to learning difficulties and language development issues. The study identified specific genes involved in the vulnerability, but found that breast-feeding effectively neutralized their impact.
Researchers at UTMB have developed an antioxidant treatment that reduces oxidative stress and inflammation caused by RSV, a common and dangerous early-childhood infection. The treatment, tested on laboratory mice, also lowers asthma-like symptoms after the virus has been cleared.
Researchers at UTMB discovered that blocking aldose reductase can short-circuit sepsis, protecting heart function and reducing deaths. The compound is similar to an existing diabetes drug in stage three clinical trials.
Scientists at the University of Texas Medical Branch discovered that blocking a single enzyme called aldose reductase can stop colon cancer cell growth. In mouse experiments, tumor progression was completely halted when human colon cancer cells were treated with genetic material that prevented the production of this enzyme.
Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston discovered that curcumin blocks the activity of gastrointestinal hormone neurotensin, implicated in colorectal cancer development. Curcumin reduces IL-8 production, accelerating tumor growth and metastasis.
Scientists at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston have determined the precise structure of the VEE virus protein required for replication. This achievement marks an important step toward developing effective drug therapies against the virus, which can cause widespread infections and death in Central and South America.
Scientists at the University of Texas Medical Branch have discovered a unique mechanism used by the SARS coronavirus to evade the immune system. The virus's nsp1 protein breaks down messenger RNA instructions that trigger the production of interferon beta, crucial for host immunity.
Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch have developed a potential test to estimate how many people are infected with variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), which can take up to 40 years to manifest. The test could also help prevent transmission through blood transfusions and organ transplants by detecting prions in th...
Infected pet rodents can transmit lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) to humans through organ transplants. The virus, a member of the Arenaviridae family, has been linked to severe disease in immuno-suppressed patients.
Researchers used small interfering RNAs to block the spread of human colorectal cancer cells in laboratory mice, achieving a major reduction in liver cancer growth. The treatment also showed potential for increased cancer cell killing when combined with standard chemotherapeutic agents.
Scientists at UTMB and Rice University successfully transmit electrical pulses through carbon nanotubes to stimulate cell growth and communication. The breakthrough could lead to the development of prosthetic devices that can interact with living tissue.
Researchers found that a hepatitis C virus protein accelerates the breakdown of a critical tumor suppressor, leading to liver cell proliferation and increasing cancer risk. This discovery could lead to improved treatment strategies for patients with chronic hepatitis C.
Researchers at UTMB use thermodynamic calculations to predict the ability of various osmolytes to protect proteins in cells under stress. This technique has significant implications for understanding protein folding and unfolding processes in disorders like Alzheimer's disease.
Scientists successfully detected mad cow proteins in the blood of infected hamsters using a novel method called protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA). The breakthrough could lead to a more effective test for detecting prions in cattle and human blood, reducing the risk of transmission through food and organ transplants.
A trans-Atlantic team of researchers has successfully created embryonic-like stem cells from umbilical cord blood, a breakthrough that could revolutionize the treatment of serious diseases. The new cell type shares characteristics with both adult and embryonic stem cells, making it an attractive alternative for stem cell therapies.
Study finds that repetitive tanning behavior may be linked to a kind of addiction, similar to alcoholism or drug dependency. Researchers identified UVL tanning dependence in 53% of beachgoers, suggesting why educational interventions have been unsuccessful.
Researchers at UTMB discovered that oxidative stress from pollen is as important as antigen exposure in triggering severe respiratory inflammation. Antioxidant substances may help forestall allergy or asthma attacks, and longer-lived antioxidants could be effective in treatment and prevention.
Researchers found that between 2-6% of recipient mosquitoes acquired the virus in experiments, with a single bite from an infected donor mosquito infecting two out of 87 recipient mosquitoes. This new transmission method could accelerate disease spread by bypassing the need for high viremia levels.
Researchers at UTMB developed a method called PMCA to produce infectious prions in test tubes, causing TSE symptoms in healthy hamsters. The breakthrough confirms the prion hypothesis and opens doors for new surveillance techniques and blood tests for mad cow disease.