Articles tagged with Persistent Infections
A new analysis found that prescriptions for curable hepatitis C drugs have declined sharply in recent years, leaving millions without treatment. The researchers urge swift actions to deliver the drugs to those who need them, including increased screening and system-level changes.
Scientists have found evidence that glyphosate, a widely used weedkiller, can select for drug-resistant bacteria that can thrive in agricultural areas and then spread to hospitals. The study revealed that bacterial strains from hospital infections with extreme drug resistance showed high resistance to glyphosate and its byproducts.
Severe COVID-19 and influenza infections can prime the lungs for cancer development, according to new research. Vaccination, however, largely prevents these changes, suggesting a reduced risk of lung cancer.
Researchers found that farming practices, unsafe sanitation, and domestic animals linked to infection risk. Household-level interventions are essential for accelerating elimination, especially when community-wide strategies fail near elimination.
A Dartmouth study found that plasmids can form tight clusters within bacterial communities, making them resistant to antibiotics and clinical treatments. This phenomenon introduces a new avenue for bacterial infections to become more difficult to treat.
A major clinical trial has shown that adding corticosteroids to standard antiviral treatment for encephalitis does not improve long-term outcomes, but early use may lead to better recovery. The treatment is also found to be safe for patients with suspected encephalitis.
The study will select the exact phage that is appropriate for each patient's bacteria, and aims to reduce antibiotic use and healthcare costs. Bacteriophages have been shown to be effective against resistant bacteria causing urinary tract infections.
A SickKids-led study reveals how bile acids can bind to block C. diff's most dangerous toxin, leading to the development of a new compound that neutralizes the toxin directly in the gut. This approach preserves gut health and targets the toxin with precision, offering hope for safer treatments.
Scientists have discovered that immune cells shed their glycocalyx layer to move into tissues, changing the understanding of inflammatory skin diseases like psoriasis. This finding may lead to new approaches in developing drugs targeting immune cell movement and treating infections and inflammatory diseases.
A University of Houston professor has received funding to develop effective treatments for Cryptosporidium infections, which cause severe diarrhea and have no existing cure. The team aims to design drugs that target the parasite's enzyme CDPK1 to minimize systemic exposure and maximize efficacy.
A new review article highlights the need for effective control and prevention strategies for sexually transmitted gut infections, which can persist longer and be harder to treat. The authors emphasize the importance of prompt diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and community-level education and testing.
A new study sampled different lung regions in cystic fibrosis patients before and after treatment with modulators, revealing that infections persisted throughout the lungs and drove inflammation. The findings suggest damage may not be the main cause of infection persistence, raising concerns about ongoing lung function deterioration.
Researchers at University of Alabama at Birmingham identify Gfi1 as a crucial regulator of exhausted CD8+ T cell subsets. Fine-tuning Gfi1 activity may prevent or reverse T cell exhaustion, bolstering immune checkpoint blockade therapy. The study suggests potential for improving cancer treatment and controlling chronic infections.
A study published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases has shown that combining country-level information with individual-level variables can improve the identification of soil-transmitted helminth infections among migrant populations. Researchers found that country-level indicators are stronger predictors than individual-level variable...
A UK clinical trial found that almost nine in ten patients with a penicillin allergy label were not truly allergic after testing, and had their allergy label safely removed. This could help patients access more effective antibiotics and combat antibiotic resistance.
The American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) has launched a critical care APP education and certification program, covering 11 topic areas including patient-centered care and pharmacology. The CCAPP Certification Exam is now available, with an August 5 deadline to apply for the 2025 exam.
Researchers discovered that a specific gene duplication in the fungus Madurella fahalii enables it to neutralize medication, leading to effective treatment challenges. This study highlights the potential of molecular techniques to uncover drug resistance mechanisms and pave the way for targeted therapies.
A recent study by researchers at TUM has discovered that the body produces special T cells predisposed to exhaustion even in early infection phases of moderate diseases. This finding expands our understanding of immune response mechanisms and could help control the immune system in cancer patients or weaken excessive defenses.
The American College of Chest Physicians' CHEST Critical Care and CHEST Pulmonary journals have been indexed in Elsevier's Scopus database. This achievement is a testament to the high-quality research published in these journals, which provide open access content in pulmonary and critical care medicine.
Researchers developed novel antibiotic BTZ-043 to target drug-resistant tuberculosis. The study showed that BTZ-043 effectively penetrates TB lesions and accumulates there in high concentrations, making it a promising treatment option for TB patients.
Scientists at University of California - Riverside discovered a chemical produced by plants that prevents bacterial biofilm formation. This breakthrough offers potential advances in healthcare and industrial settings, where biofilms cause significant problems.
Researchers have discovered how Haemophilus influenzae turns off the body's immune responses to persist in respiratory tissues. The bacterium convinces the immune system there is no threat, inducing a state of tolerance, and can worsen symptoms in vulnerable groups like cystic fibrosis patients and asthma sufferers.
A new study demonstrates personalized phage therapy's effectiveness in treating antibiotic-resistant infections in animals, with a case of a cat healing from a persistent wound. The treatment combines a specific anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa phage with ceftazidime, achieving full healing after 14 weeks.
Researchers highlight the risk of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants emerging due to prolonged viral replication in immunocompromised individuals. Close genomic surveillance and early diagnostic tests are crucial to mitigate potential public health threats.
A new oral vaccine for recurrent Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) has been shown to prevent infections in over half of participants for up to nine years. The MV140 vaccine was found to be safe and effective, with no notable side effects reported.
A new study by University of Oxford researchers found that around 1 in 200 infections may become persistent for at least 60 days. Persistent infections were also linked to Long-COVID symptoms and viral variants that went extinct in the general population.
A study of Medicare patients in 2022 revealed disparities in COVID-19 therapy access based on patient age, race and ethnicity, Medicaid eligibility, and nursing home residence. Higher-risk individuals received COVID-19 therapy less often than those with lower risk factors.
Researchers found that the complement system remains activated in Long Covid patients, causing cell damage and tissue destruction. This abnormal activity can lead to thromboinflammation and other symptoms of the condition.
Researchers discovered Leishmania parasites in blood-related stem cells of chronically infected mice, challenging the textbook understanding of the disease. The finding may lead to new treatment options and improve our understanding of why some people develop visceral leishmaniasis despite having immune disorders.
Researchers used phage PASA16 to treat tough Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, achieving an impressive 86.6% success rate. The study demonstrated the potential effectiveness of phage therapy as a valuable alternative to conventional antibiotics in combating antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
A study of 8,269 pediatric patients reveals persistent disparities in central line–associated bloodstream infection rates for Black patients and those who speak a language other than English. Stratifying outcomes to assess for disparities may inform targeted interventions to improve equity.
Scientists have identified a compound that prevents C. difficile infection caused by multiple strains of the bacterium, including those causing serious illness. Researchers are now developing new drug candidates to prevent serious C. diff infections in people. The research also explores how diet and sex affect C. diff infection severity.
Researchers developed HIV-1-infection models in human microglia cell cultures to investigate the insertion of the HIV-1 genome. They discovered a correlation between a cellular chromatin factor and the sleeping virus phenotype, linking viral integration to topologically associated domains.
Research suggests that persistent viral infections within hosts can lead to long COVID or post-acute sequelae of COVID-19. The study found that systemic infection and compromised immunity are key factors enabling persistent infection.
A Phase II study published in Frontiers in Oncology found that daily use of AHCC supplementation may help most patients eliminate their HPV infection and decrease the risk of HPV-related cancers. The study showed that 14 of 22 patients (63.6%) became HPV-negative, suggesting a potential treatment option for persistent HPV infections.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 130 studies found that asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections account for 14-50% of cases, with a secondary attack rate two-thirds lower in those without symptoms. Asymptomatic individuals are less infectious than symptomatic ones.
Asymptomatic malaria infections have been found to suppress the immune system, preventing it from eradicating parasites from the bloodstream. This new information provides a framework for considering new policies supporting screening and treatment of asymptomatic malaria in endemic areas.
Researchers from King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust studied nine immunocompromised patients with persistent COVID-19 infections, finding that five developed at least one mutation seen in variants of concern. The study provides evidence that new variants may develop in immunocompromised individuals.
Researchers found that changes in viral communities may enable persistent HPV infection and progression to cancer, associated with bacterial composition and inflammation. Low Lactobacillus abundance and bacteriophage presence were also linked to increased risk.
Researchers at University of Utah Health discovered a novel mechanism in which infectious bacteria adjust to environmental stress, leading to improved survival rates. The study's findings suggest that altering the precision with which bacteria make proteins can help them thrive in stressful conditions.
A Michigan Medicine study found that most patients with mild COVID-19 infections produce antibodies that persist and protect them from reinfection for up to six months. Nearly 90% of participants produced spike and nucleocapsid antibody responses, and all but one had persistent antibody levels at follow-up.
Immunocompromised individuals are at risk for prolonged viral shedding and the emergence of novel variants of concern. Healthcare providers must develop precise guidelines for monitoring and treating these patients.
A machine-learning algorithm can recognize virus-infected cells based on fluorescence of the cell nucleus, reliably identifying viruses and predicting severe acute infections. The algorithm has been trained with a large set of microscopy images and demonstrates 95% accuracy in detecting virulent infections up to 24 hours in advance.
Researchers have developed a novel nanotechnology that can improve the effectiveness of the CF antibiotic Tobramycin, increasing its efficacy against Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infections. The technology has shown to eradicate infections in as little as two doses, providing new hope for people living with cystic fibrosis.
Researchers identified host DNA methylation patterns linked to antibiotic-persistent MRSA infections, highlighting potential for personalized treatment strategies. Methylation differences were more pronounced in immune cells, suggesting epigenetic markers for predicting infection outcome.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have developed a new vaccination strategy to prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs). In tests in mice, the vaccine administered directly to the bladder effectively cleared bacteria. The study suggests that reprogramming the body's immune response could be key to fighting off UTIs.
Researchers at Penn State College of Medicine discovered that IL-21 is critical for the development of effective immune responses to chronic infections in the central nervous system. Injecting IL-21 into cerebrospinal fluid reduced deficiencies in mice with impaired CD4 T-cell production and gene expression related to TRM cells.
A new study by Dartmouth Engineering shows promise for an engineered lysin-based antibacterial agent that may enable safe, repeated dosing to treat life-threatening infections caused by MRSA and other types of S. aureus.
A new study reveals that value-based incentive programs aimed at reducing health care-associated infections did not improve infection rates in either safety-net or non-safety-net hospitals. Safety-net hospitals continued to experience higher rates of health care-associated infections, highlighting persistent disparities in the healthca...
A genetic variant in the DNMT3A region of chromosome 2p appears to help people with MRSA clear blood stream infections by regulating immune response. The mutation reduces levels of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, allowing for a more effective host response.
New study finds that within two to three years after first infection, Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria adapt rapidly, growing slower and optimizing fitness to survive. Clinicians can monitor bacterial traits such as attachment to surfaces and aggregation in biofilms to detect early chronic infections.
Researchers developed a new technology to identify microRNAs from non-culturable pathogens, discovering five highly probable papillomavirus-encoded microRNAs. These microRNAs regulate viral gene expression and control the papillomavirus life cycle.
Researchers found that persistent infections stimulate the immune system, keeping it primed and ready for future encounters. This leads to long-term immunity, but also carries risks of reactivation and disease. The study aims to design vaccines that elicit life-long immunity without sterilizing the pathogen.
Researchers at TSRI found that interferon beta has an immune-suppressing effect that can help some viruses establish persistent infections, including HIV and hepatitis B and C. Blocking IFNβ signaling may lead to the development of new treatments for these infections.
Researchers found that antibiotics can help prevent norovirus infections by eliminating a bacterial collaborator. They also identified an immune system molecule that can cure persistent norovirus infections even in mice with partially disabled immune systems.
Kidney transplant recipients infected with BK virus are more likely to develop donor-specific antibodies, which can lead to organ rejection. The study found a significant association between persistent BK infections and the development of these detrimental antibodies.
Scientists at Scripps Research Institute discover that type 1 interferon proteins initiate persistent infections and limit antiviral immune responses in mice. Blocking interferon receptors earlier restores antiviral immunity and virus clearance.
A large study found that the quadrivalent HPV vaccine was associated with fainting and skin infections in the days following vaccination. The study of over 189,000 females suggests that these side effects are relatively common but not serious, supporting the safety of routine vaccination.
Researchers found that bacteria take advantage of autophagy, a cellular waste disposal system, to cause recurring UTIs. Disabling this system in mice led to quicker and more thorough clearance of the infection.
A study by Scripps Research Institute scientists shows that the single protein TLR7 plays a significant role in generating immune responses required to clear persistent LCMV infection. Without this protein, the immune system's ability to purge the infection is compromised, leading to exhaustion of T cells and impairment of both cellula...