Articles tagged with Tuberculosis
Researchers have developed a new tuberculosis vaccine that acts as a booster to the existing Bacille Calmette Guerin (BCG) vaccine, which is ineffective in many cases. The vaccine was tested in a phase one clinical study and showed a robust immune response in most trial participants.
Scientists at Brown University have discovered a novel compound that can kill the TB bacterium by inhibiting ClpP, a cellular enzyme not targeted by any antibacterial drugs. The findings could lead to new treatments for tuberculosis and other infections resistant to traditional antibiotics.
New rapid diagnostic tests have been shown to diagnose drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) in a quarter of the time taken by current methods. The three new tests - pyrosequencing, HAIN line probe test, and microscopic observation drug susceptibility (MODS) test - produced similar results to standard testing with 95-98% accuracy.
Researchers have discovered that the protein Parkin plays a key role in fighting tuberculosis, triggering the destruction of bacteria by immune cells. This finding suggests that strategies already being explored to combat Parkinson's disease may also be effective against tuberculosis.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis originated in Africa at least 70,000 years ago. The bacteria have a strikingly close genetic match with humans, suggesting a long history of co-evolution. This has led to the development of new strategies for disease control and may help predict future patterns of the disease.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine found that a blood pressure medication speeds up TB treatment in mice, potentially making it easier for infected people to complete their therapy. The study suggests verapamil, commonly used to treat high blood pressure and headaches, could be an effective add-on therapy when combined with standard...
A University of Washington team has developed a microneedle patch that can precisely deliver a tuberculosis test without user error. The patch uses biodegradable needles and has been shown to be as effective as the traditional skin test in detecting the infection.
A new study analyzes dozens of tuberculosis genomes to understand why TB is so prevalent and how it evolves to resist countermeasures. The analysis shows that the bacterium takes advantage of human population growth and history, evolving to thrive in crowded and wretched conditions.
A new strategy developed at UC Davis Health System tests for telltale antibodies in the blood to detect tuberculosis, potentially improving treatment outcomes. The test can detect about 80% of active TB cases, making it a significant advancement in disease detection.
A study by Johns Hopkins Medicine and Brazilian experts found that preventive antibiotic therapy for people with HIV lowers their chances of developing TB or dying. Isoniazid therapy reduced deaths and new cases of active TB disease by 31 percent among men and women already infected with HIV.
Researchers at University of Southampton have discovered new markers of tuberculosis that may help in developing new diagnostic tests and treatments. Lung damage releases specific proteins, which can be used to screen individuals and halt transmission between population groups.
Researchers will study tuberculosis in India, examining co-morbidities such as smoking and malnutrition that increase risk of developing the disease. The joint program aims to identify new diagnostic biomarkers for early detection and targeted interventions.
Researchers have developed a new method to pinpoint single DNA mutations, which could aid in diagnosing and treating diseases like cancer and tuberculosis. The technology is robust, easy to use, and suitable for low-resource settings.
A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences identifies a genetic mutation in Africans with HIV that increases their risk of tuberculosis. The research found that low expression of immune response gene MIF confers almost a two-and-a-half fold increased risk for severe TB.
Researchers successfully recovered TB genomes from a 215-year-old mummy using metagenomics, revealing mixed-strain infections and strain lineages circulating in Europe for centuries. The study highlights the significance of mixed-strain infections and the effectiveness of metagenomics in tracking microbial evolution.
Scientists found ethnic differences in immune responses to TB bacterium, impacting diagnosis and treatment. The study identified genetic variation in vitamin D binding protein as a key factor.
Researchers at Boston University's National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories have generated a map of the cellular circuitry of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, shedding light on its ability to survive inactive in the human body for decades and resist treatment. The study provides new insight into the bacterium's survival mechanisms...
Researchers have created a comprehensive regulatory map of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, revealing how the bacterium adapts to changing conditions. This breakthrough provides unique insights into how TB survives in the host and how it can be tackled with new drug interventions.
A new anti-tuberculosis compound has shown powerful activity against ordinary active TB bacteria, non-replicating TB bacteria, and extensively drug-resistant strains. The compound works in two different ways, targeting TB replication and dormancy, and shows no toxicity or adverse side effects.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have identified a new mechanism of PZA drug resistance, which could lead to the development of new antibiotic therapies. The study found that mutations in the panD gene may also be involved in PZA resistance, providing new insight into how this mysterious drug works.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine developed an experimental vaccine that prevents the virulent TB bacterium from invading the brain and causing TB meningitis. The new vaccine was tested in guinea pigs and showed promise in reducing brain damage and death, with higher levels of protective antibodies and interferons.
Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine discovered that vitamin C can kill drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) bacteria in laboratory culture, suggesting a new approach to shorten TB therapy. The study found that vitamin C induced a Fenton reaction, causing reactive oxygen species that kill the TB bacteria.
Researchers have created a comprehensive map of the tuberculosis protein, allowing scientists to pinpoint specific proteins and discover new ones. This resource may aid in the development of new therapies and early detection methods, targeting the main target for medication: pathogen proteins.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded a $2.9 million grant to Aeras, Oxford University, and Okairos to develop novel vaccines against tuberculosis, HIV, and malaria. The collaboration aims to create scalable methods for large-scale production of multiple chimpanzee adenovirus vector constructs.
Researchers found that ambrisentan treatment worsened IPF progression and hospitalization rates. Assessing acute changes in Lung Allocation Score can inform organ wait-list strategies to reduce post-transplant mortality. Inexpensive behavioral interventions helped TB patients in poor countries quit smoking, offering a basis for effecti...
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea has seen a significant rise in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis cases, with up to 15% of patients failing to respond to commonly used drugs. The National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory, established in 2010, provides a rare example of international collaboration in the fight against TB.
Researchers found that excess tumor necrosis factor production initially kills TB pathogens, but later encourages their growth. Certain drug combinations can reverse this effect, potentially reverting hypersusceptibility to hyperresistance.
The joint research collaboration aims to develop new approaches to tackle emerging infectious diseases in the Asia-Pacific region. The project will focus on designing treatments and vaccines for tuberculosis, predicting patients at risk of severe dengue, and developing improved vaccines against virus diseases.
A recent study found that vitamin D levels in the blood are linked to improved lung function in adults. The study also discovered that people with a history of tuberculosis had lower vitamin D levels, which improved when levels rose.
The Third Global Forum on TB Vaccines brings together researchers and stakeholders to review progress and discuss strategies to advance the field. New research suggests that novel vaccines for adolescents and adults could significantly reduce TB cases and deaths in high-burden countries by 2050.
The Lancet warns of the growing threat of drug-resistant tuberculosis, with more than 30% of newly-diagnosed patients having MDR TB in some parts of eastern Europe and central Asia. To eliminate TB as a public health problem by 2050, incidence needs to fall by 16% per year for 40 years.
A recent UCLA study reveals that certain bacteria, including those causing tuberculosis, can pretend to be viruses when infecting humans. This allows them to hijack the immune response and hide out inside cells. The findings may also explain how viral infections like the flu make us more susceptible to bacterial infections like pneumonia.
Researchers have uncovered the atomic structure of dermcidin, a natural antibiotic that is highly efficient against tuberculosis germs and other dangerous bugs. This discovery could lead to the development of new antibiotics that control multi-resistant bacteria.
A new centre will focus on lead optimisation for diseases of the developing world, including TB. The centre will create 11 new posts and receive a £6.5 million investment over five years.
A study published in PLOS Medicine found that whole genome sequencing is more effective at tracing TB outbreaks than standard genotyping tests. The new test revealed that first outbreak isolates were falsely clustered by classical genotyping, providing valuable insights into the evolution of M. tuberculosis.
TB infection rates are forecasted to surge as antibiotics become less effective against the disease. The lack of progress in combating TB is attributed to increasing drug resistance, reminiscent of the 1930s when dedicated sanitaria and invasive surgery were common treatments.
A new TB vaccine, MVA85A, did not offer extra protection against TB in South African infants who had already received the BCG vaccine. The vaccine induced modest immune responses, but these were insufficient to protect against the disease. Further research is needed to understand why this was the case.
A combined strategy of door-to-door visits and education campaigns is proposed to combat TB in Nunavut. The territory's TB rate is 66 times higher than the general Canadian population, but control can be achieved through a community approach combined with clear performance targets.
Scientists at Forsyth Institute have made a groundbreaking discovery about latent tuberculosis, finding that the bacteria can lay dormant in bone marrow stem cells. This understanding has significant clinical implications, explaining why patients with TB remain sensitive to tests and treatment is so challenging.
Scientists at Stanford University School of Medicine have discovered that tuberculosis bacteria can infiltrate and settle in mesenchymal stem cells in the bone marrow. This finding raises the possibility that other infectious agents may employ similar tactics, providing a new potential target for treatment. The research suggests that u...
A compound from the South African toothbrush tree has been shown to effectively treat tuberculosis by binding to a novel site on DNA gyrase, an enzyme essential for bacterial growth. This discovery offers hope for developing new antibiotics to combat drug-resistant strains of TB.
Weill Cornell and Tres Cantos Open Lab collaborate to investigate TB drug permeability into Mtb bacteria using metabolomics technology. The goal is to identify broader chemical principles for transforming potential potent compounds into active drugs.
Researchers discovered that bacteria can survive antibiotic exposure through random pulses of the enzyme KatG, which activates the drug isoniazid. This finding may aid in designing new antibacterial treatments, particularly for drug-resistant tuberculosis.
A Pitt-led team has identified a molecule that effectively polices tuberculosis (TB) lung infections and prevents the progression to active disease. The presence of CXCR5 enables the immune system to target infected cells and form protective granulomas, which keep TB under control.
Researchers found a compound called ebselen effectively inhibits the thioredoxin reductase system in Helicobacter pylori, which causes gastric ulcers, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which causes tuberculosis. Ebselen's mechanism targets bacteria lacking glutathione.
Researchers have identified a new drug target, 4'-Phosphopantetheinyl Transferase PptT, which is essential for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) growth and survival. This discovery offers hope for the development of new TB treatments that can shorten treatment duration and combat drug-resistant strains.
A systematic review of TB interventions in low-and-middle income countries found limited real-world evidence to support their effectiveness and financial value. The authors identified substantial gaps in published evidence for scale-up of these interventions, which may prevent program-wide implementation.
A four-year field study shows BCG vaccination reduces TB infection risk in unvaccinated badger cubs in vaccinated groups and social groups. Vaccination can indirectly protect cubs before they emerge from their setts.
A clinical trial led by researchers at Case Western Reserve University will enroll 75 men and women with drug-sensitive pulmonary tuberculosis to test the investigational TB drug AZD5847. The study aims to determine whether the drug reduces TB bacteria counts in participants, with a focus on patients co-infected with HIV.
A Phase 2a trial is being conducted to assess the effectiveness of AZD5847, a new test drug for patients with tuberculosis, including those with HIV co-infection. The study aims to improve treatment options for TB, a leading infectious cause of death among people with HIV/AIDS.
Arturo Casadevall, Ekaterina Dadachova, and Joan Berman received funding to develop novel vaccines for tuberculosis (TB) and an innovative HIV treatment. They will use radioimmunotherapy (RIT) to target and destroy HIV-infected cells in the central nervous system.
Researchers track TB transmission between cattle and badgers using whole genome DNA sequencing and mathematical modeling. The study reveals a close relationship between the two species' bacterial types, highlighting the potential for next-generation sequencing to inform disease control policies.
Researchers from the University of British Columbia have discovered that a well-established family of anti-parasite drugs can be repurposed to effectively treat tuberculosis, including drug-resistant forms. The study highlights the potential for investing in research to find new uses for approved drugs and synergistic combinations.
Avermectins, a well-established family of anti-parasitic drugs, have shown surprising potential in treating tuberculosis. In vitro tests have killed bacteria that cause TB, including drug-resistant forms, offering hope for new therapies against multi-drug resistant TB.
A new rapid test for tuberculosis has been found to substantially reduce TB deaths and improve treatment in southern Africa. The study found that implementing the test would prevent an estimated 132,000 TB cases and 182,000 TB deaths over 10 years.
A rapid Xpert test for tuberculosis (TB) could reduce TB deaths and improve treatment outcomes in southern Africa. Implementing the test is expected to prevent an estimated 132,000 TB cases and 182,000 TB deaths over 10 years, but would increase health service costs by US$460 million.
Researchers have discovered a unique defence mechanism of the tuberculosis pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which protects sulphur-containing proteins from oxidation. The protein mycoredoxin-1 plays a crucial role in this repair mechanism, and disabling it may offer new ways to combat the disease.
Researchers developed a new method to track TB outbreaks by analyzing the genetic information of infected individuals, enabling faster response times and more targeted efforts. The approach has the potential to identify
Scientists have discovered how antibiotics work inside tuberculosis bacteria cells using mass spectrometry. The study's findings suggest that current drugs can be improved by modifying their molecules to withstand bacterial degradation, paving the way for more effective treatments.
Researchers are exploring genetic differences to improve TB treatment outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa. The study aims to identify genes that affect the effectiveness and reaction to anti-TB drugs, with potential benefits for patients with HIV/AIDS.