Articles tagged with Tuberculosis
Research in mice and tissue cultures suggests that vitamin C enhances the killing power of first-line TB drugs, isoniazid and rifampicin. The combination reduces organ burdens faster than the drugs alone, with a potential to shorten TB chemotherapy duration.
Researchers at TUM and Harvard University discovered a substance that interferes with the formation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis' mycomembrane. Combining this beta-lactone inhibitor with known antibiotics increases effectiveness by up to 100-fold, making it a promising new therapy for TB.
Scientists have developed a noninvasive tuberculosis test that can detect active infections in HIV-negative patients using urine samples. The test, which traps sugar molecules found on the TB bacterium's outer coat, has shown increased sensitivity and accuracy compared to previous methods.
Researchers have developed a new antibiotic, EZ120, that targets the mycomembrane biosynthesis of tuberculosis pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis. By inhibiting key enzymes, EZ120 significantly increases the effectiveness of conventional antibiotics, offering a novel approach for tuberculosis treatment.
A cheap and widely used drug lansoprazole may have useful activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that cause tuberculosis. The study found people taking lansoprazole were a third less likely to develop TB than those taking similar drugs.
Scientists followed 150 adolescents infected with M. tuberculosis for several years, finding elevated immune system activity 1-2 years before diagnosis and suppressed gene expression in T cells before active disease began. This study provides a clearer timeline of biological events leading to pulmonary TB development.
A new study published in Pediatrics found that routine laboratory screenings for children entering foster care carry high costs and questionable medical benefits. Targeted screening may be a more cost-effective approach, particularly for conditions such as anemia, lead poisoning, chlamydia, and gonorrhea.
A phase 4 randomized clinical trial found that self-administered treatment for latent tuberculosis infection had a high rate of treatment completion in the United States, Spain, and Hong Kong. The findings suggest that once-weekly isoniazid and rifapentine by self-administration is noninferior to direct observation in completing treatm...
Researchers identified two key proteins that allow mycobacterium tuberculosis to evade cell destruction, leading to potential new anti-microbial strategies. Deleting these proteins could inhibit repair mechanisms, making TB more susceptible to treatment.
Researchers at Arizona State University have developed new methods for detecting tuberculosis (TB), a deadly disease that kills over a billion people in the last two centuries. The new tests use nanotechnology to detect TB proteins in patient blood samples, providing rapid and accurate results.
Researchers led by Yasu Morita at UMass Amherst have characterized a protein involved in producing a glycolipid compound critical for TB-causing Mycobacterium to become infectious. The discovery provides insight into the disease's mechanisms and potential new drug targets.
A study in rural China found that healthcare providers fail to correctly manage tuberculosis cases, with a high proportion of antibiotics prescribed unrelated to TB treatment. The researchers highlight the need for reforms and improved training to address these gaps in care.
A team of researchers from Instituto de Medicina Molecular used a pioneer method to modify proteins involved in infectious diseases. They identified a novel molecular mechanism that protects pathogenic bacteria from oxidative processes.
TBA-7371 and sutezolid have entered phase 1 clinical trials after early preclinical development. These novel drugs show promise in treating TB with no pre-existing resistance, addressing a growing concern in the disease's increasing resistance to older treatments.
A new genetic sequencing approach enables precise identification of drug-resistant TB, a major public health threat worldwide. The TGen-UCSF team used Single Molecule-Overlapping Reads technology to detect variants of TB, even in cases where older technologies found no mutations.
Long-term follow-up confirms that isoniazid prophylaxis reduces both severe morbidity and mortality among HIV-infected individuals. The study provides evidence for the WHO recommendation of isoniazid preventive therapy in HIV-positive patients, even with early antiretroviral treatment.
Sloan Siegrist, a UMass Amherst microbiologist, has received a five-year, $2.3 million NIH New Innovator Award to study Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) growth rates and develop new antibiotic therapies.
A new study reveals how tuberculosis bacteria evade the immune system by hiding in macrophages. Researchers have found that only well-adapted mycobacteria avoid detection, suggesting a potential target for future treatments.
According to the Global Burden of Disease study, viral hepatitis causes over 1.34 million deaths worldwide, exceeding chronic infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.
A new, fast, and affordable tuberculosis test has been developed for resource-limited areas, enabling early diagnosis and treatment. The paper-based device uses gold nanoparticles and single-stranded DNA to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria.
A genome-wide association study identified the CD53 gene as a susceptible locus for tuberculosis. Increased CD53 expression was observed in active TB patients, supporting its biological role in disease susceptibility. This research lays the foundation for identifying individuals at high risk of developing tuberculosis.
A new case-control study found that the BCG vaccine protects over 50% of UK children against TB for at least 20 years after vaccination in early teenage years. The research highlights the importance of BCG in preventing the spread of disease, particularly in areas with high TB risk but low vaccination coverage.
Researchers propose a novel antibacterial combination to combat drug-resistant tuberculosis, with potent sterilizing activity against highly resistant strains. The study suggests that pairing ceftazidime and avibactam could be an effective treatment option for patients with extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis.
The Xpert Ultra assay overcomes limitations of the current test, providing more reliable detection of Rifampicin resistance and significantly improving tuberculosis detection in patients with pauci-bacillary disease. The new assay format includes gene target amplifications that enhance previously amplified targets.
Scientists at Trinity College Dublin have discovered how tuberculosis hijacks the immune system in human lungs, enabling it to establish an infection. The research found that TB bacteria produce a protein attracting white blood cells, which become infected and fuel uncontrolled bacterial growth and inflammation.
A new study has found a significant link between malnutrition and tuberculosis (TB) in southern India. The research, published in PLOS ONE, reveals that more than 61% of TB cases in women are attributable to malnutrition, while up to 75% of male TB cases could be eliminated if alcohol use was reduced.
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.
Computer simulations show moxifloxacin kills bacteria more quickly and performs better when doses are missed, making it a superior option for tuberculosis treatment. The research also found that levofloxacin killed bacteria more quickly than gatifloxacin.
A University of Michigan professor analyzed sailors' mouths for clues in the 1845 Franklin expedition disaster. The study found that tuberculosis resulting in adrenal insufficiency, or Addison's disease, likely contributed to the crew's deaths.
A new study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases found that molecular tests detecting genetic mutations rendering TB resistant to drugs may be equally reliable as traditional culture-based tests in predicting treatment outcomes. The research, led by Harvard Medical School scientists, used cough secretion samples from 171 patients ...
A substantial number of US adults reported misusing prescription opioids, with 11.5 million admitting to misuse and 1.9 million having a use disorder. The majority of these individuals had low income or behavioral health problems, while relief from physical pain was the most common motivation for misuse.
A new Canadian study suggests switching to a targeted strategy focusing on high-risk healthcare workers only. The annual screening protocol should be changed to reflect the epidemiology of TB in North America, with resources redirected to increase access to prevention and treatment infrastructure.
Researchers discovered a single nucleotide polymorphism in the hepcidin promoter gene associated with increased susceptibility to extrapulmonary tuberculosis. This genetic variation leads to decreased hepcidin production, impairing macrophage function and allowing M. tuberculosis to spread to other areas of the body.
A team of researchers has identified 26 compounds from sponges and other marine organisms that are active against replicating tuberculosis bacteria, with 19 killing dormant bacteria. This is a novelty as existing drugs are better at killing replicating bacteria.
Children with TB meningitis have a unique biological profile that helps assess disease severity and predict outcomes. This discovery enables doctors to make informed treatment decisions and provide novel treatments.
A newly discovered natural antibiotic produced by bacteria from a cystic fibrosis patient could potentially be used to combat drug-resistant tuberculosis. Lab testing showed that the compound, gladiolin, is stable and effective against four drug-resistant TB strains.
Research found that individuals with low vitamin A levels are 10 times more likely to develop tuberculosis than those with high levels. Vitamin A supplementation may be an effective way to prevent TB in people at high risk of disease.
Researchers found that Mycobacterium tuberculosis inhibits a key signaling pathway in human white blood cells, leading to increased production of MMP-1, which destroys lung tissue. The study suggests that this mechanism may drive disease progression and increase infectiousness.
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 found that TB bacteria alter their metabolism to evade antimicrobials, but new drugs targeting these 'escape pathways' could lead to shorter treatments. This approach aims to improve compliance and reduce the emergence of drug-resistant germs.
A study of 3,434 US MDR TB patients found that those on directly observed therapy had a 77% decrease in mortality compared to self-administered therapy. The study suggests that maximizing direct observation therapy coverage can help reduce all-cause mortality among MDR TB patients.
Researchers developed a new FISH-Flow protocol to analyze hundreds of thousands of cells simultaneously, allowing for faster and more accurate disease detection. The protocol identifies telltale mRNA species and proteins, enabling early diagnosis and treatment of infectious and non-infectious lung diseases.
Researchers have identified three mutations that enable TB pathogens to develop rapidly in immunocompromised individuals. These emerging strains require new treatment approaches, including genetically engineered vaccines that consider a patient's immune status and pathogen virulence features.
Two new studies on DAR-901, a non-pathogenic bacterium-based vaccine, demonstrate improved protection against tuberculosis compared to the current BCG vaccine. The studies suggest that DAR-901 is likely to be as effective as the original formulation and may be the first protective TB vaccine in humans since BCG.
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have discovered a natural defence mechanism that prevents Mycobacterium tuberculosis from damaging phagosomes, allowing cells to deliver antibacterial components more efficiently. This discovery could help develop treatments for TB without antibiotics.
Cases of drug-resistant tuberculosis are expected to rise significantly in India, the Philippines, Russia, and South Africa between 2000 and 2040. The growing epidemic is predicted to be driven by person-to-person transmission, rather than strains acquiring resistance to anti-tuberculosis drugs.
A new study found that a TB vaccine candidate is safe and effective in adolescents infected with Schistosoma mansoni, a parasitic worm. No serious adverse events were recorded during the trial.
The Critical Path Institute and Translational Genomics Research Institute will sequence at least 12,000 tuberculosis bacteria isolates from around the world to better understand drug resistance. The partnership aims to develop personalized medicine options for patients with drug-resistant TB.
Researchers trained AI models to identify TB on chest X-rays, achieving a 96% accuracy rate. The models' performance was improved when combined with expert radiologist interpretation, increasing the diagnosis accuracy to nearly 99%.
A new assay allows for direct measurement of pathogen biomarkers in bovine blood, enabling discrimination between exposure and infection. This breakthrough supports the global One Health strategy and has potential applications for diagnosing diseases in cattle, elephants, and other species.
Rutgers scientists determine the structure of tuberculosis drug target Mtb RNA polymerase and discover a new class of compounds, Na-aroyl-N-aryl-phenylalanamides (AAPs), that potently inhibit it. The findings reveal potential for developing improved anti-tuberculosis drugs.
Scientists at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine have created a new way to screen potential treatments for Tuberculosis (TB), which may reduce treatment duration from six months to weeks.
A new rapid blood test to diagnose and quantify the severity of active TB cases has been developed by a team of researchers from Arizona State University. The NanoDisk-MS assay can detect minute blood levels of two proteins that are released only during active infections, providing faster results than current tests.
The global rise of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) poses a significant threat to progress made in controlling the disease. The emergence of extensively drug-resistant TB is associated with high mortality and is a serious public health problem.
Researchers found that HIV co-infections drive natural selection in M. tuberculosis, favoring epitope conservation and influencing its evolution. This discovery has implications for vaccine design to combat the co-epidemic in high-HIV TB settings.
Researchers identified a secondary pathway to reactivate EthA enzyme in resistant TB strains, boosting treatment efficacy. The combination of SMARt-420 and ethionamide effectively treated resistant TB strains, reducing bacterial load in mouse lungs.
Researchers at the University of Sydney have discovered a new compound that could translate into a new drug lead for tuberculosis. The compound, which is derived from soil bacteria compounds, has been shown to be effective against the bacterium causing TB in containment laboratory tests.
A simple blood test commonly used to screen adults for tuberculosis can predict which children infected with the TB bacteria are likely to progress to active disease. The test, known as QuantiFERON-TB assay, is a valuable predictor of severe TB in high-risk countries like South Africa.
A landmark study confirms that 'super-boosting' approach effectively counters negative interactions between key HIV and TB drugs in children co-infected with both diseases. This advancement will enable healthcare workers to treat children more effectively, ensuring long-term control of the HIV virus and keeping them alive.
A study of 180 HIV-infected patients reveals a prevalence of 20% for AIDS-defining illnesses associated with ART. This investigation aims to educate physicians treating patients with HIV/TB, shedding light on the importance of timely treatment initiation.