Articles tagged with Tuberculosis
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.
Researchers develop 'release and kill' strategy to target M. tuberculosis in infected macrophages, potentially shortening TB treatment periods. The approach leverages selective apoptosis to release the bacteria from infected cells, making them susceptible to antibiotics.
Researchers have developed a new 3D system to study human infection in the laboratory, allowing them to investigate what happens in a human body when TB develops. The 3D sphere model enables antibiotics that are important for treating patients to kill the infection, speeding up the process of finding treatments and vaccines.
Scientists at Rockefeller University have developed a detailed analysis of RNA polymerase, crucial to all cells, which is targeted by the antibiotic rifampicin. The study identifies potential strategies for new drugs that can effectively combat resistant TB strains.
A mathematical model of bovine tuberculosis transmission from cattle to cattle and cattle to humans was used to analyze the cost and effectiveness of interventions in Morocco. The results showed that using a more conservative cutoff for a positive skin test could lead to cheaper and quicker elimination of the disease.
Researchers have identified a key gene called NucS that reduces mutation rates in mycobacteria, the infectious microbe causing tuberculosis. This discovery has important implications for understanding antibiotic resistance and could help predict and prevent the development of drug-resistant TB strains.
A study published in PLOS Pathogens suggests that proteins produced by the toxoplasmosis parasite may play a role in developing host-directed tuberculosis therapies. The researchers found that these proteins interact with human proteins to activate anti-tuberculosis defense mechanisms.
A new approach to treating tuberculosis could significantly reduce treatment time and improve patient outcomes. Researchers identified an effective four-drug regimen that kills TB bacteria in the lungs and cures mice up to four times faster than current treatments.
Researchers discovered that Mycobacterium tuberculosis reprograms infected cells to feed on lipids and membranes, leading to new treatment opportunities. The study provides a promising lead in tackling the disease by starving the bacterium of its preferred high-fat food source.
A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR TB) is spread through person-to-person contact in the KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. This epidemic highlights the need for effective infection control and treatment measures to prevent further spread.
A new report calls for improved fungal disease diagnosis to reduce antibiotic resistance. Inadequate attention to fungal infections leads to overprescription of antibiotics, resulting in harmful resistance and increased healthcare costs. The report highlights four clinical situations where fungal disease misdiagnosis worsens the problem.
A new TB vaccine using biobeads to present antigens from the tuberculosis bacterium has shown promising results in mice. The vaccine is designed to induce cell-mediated immune responses and could potentially provide protective immunity against TB.
Researchers have identified a protein called Smurf1 that plays a crucial role in the immune system's ability to recognize and destroy tuberculosis bacteria. This discovery could lead to the development of new treatments by strengthening this immune pathway.
Pediatric tuberculosis remains a concern in Canada, particularly among Aboriginal communities and children from endemic countries. Effective treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach, including clinicians, nurses, and social workers.
Dutch clinicians have developed a personalized dosing strategy for treating multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, reducing hearing loss from 40% to 10%. By monitoring drug concentrations and effectiveness, they were able to decrease doses without compromising efficacy.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis accelerate immune response to tuberculosis in mice by activating dendritic cells, leading to near-sterilizing immunity levels. The study could lead to improved TB vaccines for humans, addressing the variable protection provided by current BCG vaccine.
A centuries-old herbal medicine, artemisinin, has been found to stop TB-causing bacteria from becoming dormant, making them more sensitive to antibiotics. This could shorten treatment times and improve patient outcomes.
Scientists have discovered a mechanism that hijacks the human immune system's response to tuberculosis, revealing a key protein that turns off the call for an immune response. The protein CdnP is now considered an attractive target for a new TB drug.
A computer simulation developed by Johns Hopkins researchers helps predict the potential impact of a new short-course treatment regimen for drug-resistant tuberculosis. The model suggests that this regimen could lower MDR-TB incidence in Southeast Asia by 23% over eight years, potentially averting over 100,000 cases annually.
Scientists have discovered how the human immune system targets Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes TB. The study provides key insight into how the immune system can recognize TB-infected cells, which could lead to the development of new diagnostic tools and novel immunotherapies.
Researchers at Brown University have developed a new compound that can render Mycobacterium tuberculosis susceptible to the immune system. The compound inhibits the bacterial proteasome, making proteins damaged by nitric oxide accumulate and cause bacteria death.
A new study presents a promising treatment for tuberculosis by delivering a commonly used drug to the lungs, which is more effective than oral administration at a fraction of the dose. This approach has the potential to reduce toxicity and improve patient outcomes.
A team of scientists analyzed TB bacterial strains and found they can be genetically subdivided into generalists with worldwide distribution and specialists with localized ecological niches. Generalists have a slightly increased diversity of antigens, allowing them to adapt more specifically to different human populations.
IDRI's TB Discovery Program will focus on developing more effective, cheaper, and faster-acting drugs to combat multi-drug resistant TB strains. The new funding from Eli Lilly will support the screening of over 500,000 compounds in search of potential TB drugs.
A recent study published in BMC Medicine found that the prevalence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in West Africa is significantly higher than previously thought. The study revealed that MDR-TB strains were widely circulating and drug resistance was a much bigger problem in the region than anticipated.
The Critical Path Institute's CPTR initiative and the WHO Global TB Programme partnered to develop quantitative analyses of TB-PACTS database data. The collaboration, called TB-ReFLECT, will extract key lessons and package them as tools for future trial design.
TB research suggests infection causes autoimmunity, where immune system reacts incorrectly to its own lung tissue. This can lead to the bacteria spreading through coughing, making the person highly infectious.
A study published in the American Journal of Pathology reveals that HIV co-infection reduces dendritic cell function, leading to increased tuberculosis risk. The research suggests a new treatment strategy using host-directed therapy to strengthen immune cells.
A new study finds that migrants arriving on visas to the UK from countries at high risk of TB pose a negligible risk of onwards infection, despite being at increased risk of developing TB themselves. Ongoing monitoring and treatment are crucial to continuing the downward trend of TB incidence in the UK.
A new study found that Sutherlandia, a commonly used African botanical supplement, can reduce the effectiveness of isoniazid, a widely used anti-tuberculosis drug. This could lead to active tuberculosis and potentially drug-resistant forms in patients taking both supplements.
A study found consistent differences in antibody structure and function between latent and active TB, which could improve diagnosis and lead to more effective vaccines. The findings also suggest a potential mechanism for controlling TB infection using antibodies.
A big data analysis of over a million cattle and 50,000 badgers found that cattle are primarily infected through other cattle, not badgers. This challenges the long-held assumption that badgers play a key role in spreading TB to cattle.
Cephalosporins have shown promise in treating tuberculosis (TB) through an in vitro study, with the antibiotics demonstrating potent anti-mycobacterial properties when used in synergistic combinations with traditional therapies. The results suggest that these drugs could be part of new combinatorial TB therapies.
A recent study found that cure rates for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in Europe are higher than expected, with 61% of patients cured. The study proposes new definitions for 'cure' and 'failure', which may lead to improved treatment outcomes.
Experts suggest outsourcing key tasks from WHO to better-placed agencies to improve effectiveness and attract funding. This approach would utilize external expertise more appropriately, allowing the organization to maintain global leadership while increasing the contribution of other actors.
Recent studies on tuberculosis have yielded conflicting results, leaving questions about the role of the lung microbiome in the disease. The variability in study methods, particularly in sampling techniques, may be a major contributor to these discrepancies.
Researchers found that a repurposed drug, pirfenidone, increased lung lesions and prevented antibiotics from targeting TB bacteria. The study suggests caution when using host-directed therapies for TB, emphasizing the need for careful vetting of new treatments.
Researchers found that TB lesions can remain in lungs long after treatment with antibiotics has been completed. After six months of treatment, 50 patients still showed radiological abnormalities, indicating persistent TB bacteria.
The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends latent TB infection screening in primary care settings, but challenges remain in identifying high-risk patients. Current tools are insufficient to predict progression from latent to active disease, hindering personalized medicine for those with latent TB infection.
The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening for latent tuberculosis infection in people at increased risk due to their birthplace or living history. Treatment of LTBI with CDC-recommended regimens provides a moderate health benefit in preventing disease progression.
Researchers discovered that some monkeys with depleted immune systems still had a second line of defense against tuberculosis, targeting CD8 and B cells. This finding could lead to more effective vaccines for TB, which affects people co-infected with HIV.
Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine receive a $3.7 million NIH grant to identify biomarkers signaling Mtb activity in HIV-infected individuals. The goal is to develop tests that can predict active TB disease progression, optimizing preventive therapy timing and effectiveness.
A new study suggests that the number of tuberculosis cases in India could be up to two to three times higher than current estimates. The research found that many people opt for treatment from private healthcare providers, which usually fail to report TB cases to public health officials.
A simulated patient study sheds light on antibiotic misuse in Indian pharmacies, revealing that only a minority of urban Indian pharmacies correctly managed patients with presumed tuberculosis. The study found that pharmacies frequently dispensed antibiotics to patients presenting with TB symptoms without prescriptions.
The NIH has selected winning teams from a nationwide undergraduate biomedical engineering design competition for their innovative solutions to various healthcare challenges. The designs showcased promising technologies for diagnosing diseases such as tuberculosis and sepsis, with potential to save millions of lives.
A new diagnostic tool for tuberculosis has been developed to simplify, fasten and improve the accuracy of tests. The experimental new test is currently being tested in South Africa.