Articles tagged with Tuberculosis
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 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.
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.
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
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.
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.
A study used next-generation sequencing to identify tuberculosis genes in a 19th-century skeleton, revealing a historic strain of the disease. The technology saved time and accurately identified DNA, paving the way for further research into the disease's evolution.
A study found that linezolid, an antibiotic used to treat severe bacterial infections, proved largely effective in treating extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) when added to ongoing treatment regimens. However, 82% of patients experienced significant adverse events that may have been related to the drug.
An observational study found that delamanid can improve outcomes and reduce mortality among MDR-TB and XDR-TB patients when taken for at least 6 months. The treatment resulted in a 74.5% favourable outcome rate, significantly higher than the 55% rate for shorter treatment periods.
Large donors are forcing the World Health Organization to re-evaluate its priorities and agenda-setting process. This shift towards 'multi-bi financing' has raised concerns about the control of international agencies by participating governments.
Research from the University of Copenhagen suggests that dividing campaigns into combating non-communicable or communicable diseases is ineffective and expensive. Integrated health programmes focusing on common risk factors like poor nutrition can effectively combat diseases such as diabetes and tuberculosis.
Researchers found pyridomycin selectively kills Mycobacterium tuberculosis, including strains resistant to front-line drug isoniazid. The natural antibiotic targets the InhA enzyme, which is essential for bacterial cell wall production.
Researchers have found that an off-patent anti-inflammatory drug, oxyphenbutazone, can kill both replicating and non-replicating drug-resistant tuberculosis in laboratory tests. The effective drug may offer a potential new therapy for the over 500,000 people worldwide whose TB has become resistant to standard drug treatments.
A provocative essay in NEJM calls for redoubling efforts to combat TB, highlighting global health inequity and inadequate treatment. The authors advocate for adopting a zero-TB death goal, rapid diagnosis, and infection control measures to stem the pandemic.
Researchers used whole-genome sequencing to track TB outbreak, identifying origin and movement of pathogens, key persons and behaviors that contributed to spread. The study found location-based transmission is crucial for outbreak management and informs public health policy and practice.
Researchers found that high doses of vitamin D, given with antibiotic treatment, accelerate recovery in TB patients by dampening down the body's inflammatory response. Vitamin D supplementation may also benefit patients recovering from pneumonia.
A new study reveals alarmingly high levels of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis worldwide, with nearly 44% of patients showing resistance to at least one second-line drug. The highest prevalence was seen in South Korea and Russia, with the risk of XDR disease quadrupled in previously treated patients.
Researchers propose a novel vaccine strategy using lipidated-promiscuous-peptide vaccines to overcome limitations of existing BCG vaccine, which fails to prevent disease in adults, especially in endemic regions. This new approach has shown promise in animal models and is being tested in human clinical trials.
A large study found that using certain drugs, four or more effective drugs, and a duration of 7-8.5 months can lead to successful patient outcomes in MDR-TB treatment. However, the findings should be interpreted with caution due to limitations in the methods and data.
David M. Tobin has made significant contributions to TB meningitis treatment and is developing new approaches to tackle drug-resistant TB. His work uses zebrafish models to probe host genetic determinants of susceptibility to mycobacterial infection.
The Iowa State researchers discovered the structure of a regulator that controls the expression of a multidrug efflux pump in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This finding is crucial for understanding how tuberculosis bacteria develop drug resistance, providing a starting point for developing new strategies to combat the disease.
Dartmouth medical research has made a breakthrough in developing a new tuberculosis vaccine, DAR-901. The vaccine, produced by growing bacteria related to TB on agar plates and then inactivating them with heat, has shown a statistically significant reduction of 39% in the rate of tuberculosis among HIV-infected patients.
High rates of HIV, hepatitis C, and tuberculosis have been found in homeless populations globally, with rates up to 46 times higher in the US than in the general population. Infections can lead to community spread, malnutrition, and increased healthcare use.
Resistant tuberculosis is a serious threat to world health, with 'multiresistant' cases now making up 1 in 3 new TB cases. A new approach using vital staining with fluorescein diacetate detects resistant bacilli early, allowing for timely treatment and preventing further spread.
A mobile HIV-testing clinic integrated with active tuberculosis case finding in underserviced areas of Cape Town demonstrated high feasibility, yield, and treatment success. The study found that the service was well-received by HIV-negative individuals with symptoms suggestive of TB, as well as all HIV-positive individuals.
A new analysis by UCSF/SFGH researchers suggests the recommended dose adjustment of efavirenz may not be necessary, especially in non-Caucasian populations. The study found no significant difference in efavirenz levels between patients weighing more than 50 kg and those weighing less than 50 kg.
A new combination of drugs to treat tuberculosis shows promise, killing over 99% of patients' TB bacteria within two weeks. The treatment could also be used for patients infected with drug-resistant forms of the disease.
A novel approach to discover the first new tuberculosis (TB) combination drug regimen has cleared a major hurdle with a Phase II clinical trial finding it could kill more than 99 percent of patients' TB bacteria within two weeks. The results add to a growing body of evidence that this regimen could reduce treatment by more than a year ...
Researchers found that inhibiting a key immune response early on can shorten TB treatment time and prevent relapse. In a study, mice treated with standard TB medication plus a TNF-alpha inhibitor had a significantly lower bacterial burden than those receiving only the standard treatment.
Seven pharmaceutical companies, including Abbott, AstraZeneca, and Sanofi, have joined forces with four research institutions to accelerate the development of new tuberculosis (TB) drugs. The TB Drug Accelerator aims to shorten treatment regimens from six months to one month, reducing mortality rates and combating drug resistance.
Researchers developed a new swab technique that can spot tuberculosis in non-human primates with no outward signs of disease. The method has been successfully tested on Asian monkey populations, revealing a significant prevalence rate and potential for primate-to-primate transmission.
A nationwide survey in China reveals one in 10 newly diagnosed TB patients are infected with drug-resistant strains, with over 5,000 cases annually. Experts emphasize the need for rapid testing to determine drug resistance and developing new combination therapies to combat multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.
Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine have been awarded a $5.9 million NIH grant to develop a new TB vaccine against multi-drug resistant and extensively drug-resistant strains. The approach is based on genetically altered Mycobacterium smegmatis, which can generate a robust immune response in animals.
Researchers found that reducing TB infections in geographic hotspots can significantly reduce citywide transmission rates by up to 29% over 50 years. Controlling these hotspots may have a similar impact on long-term, community-wide TB incidence as achieving the same targets in the remaining population.
A study of over 3,000 dairy herds in England and Wales found that liver fluke infection reduces the sensitivity of skin tests used to diagnose bovine TB. This means infected cattle may not be identified by current surveillance schemes, contributing to the disease's spread.
A parasitic flatworm called Fasciola hepatica hinders the diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis (TB) in cattle by reducing the sensitivity of skin tests. This study found that liver fluke infection can create false negatives for TB, allowing infected cattle to continue transmitting the disease.
A microfluidic chip test has been developed to detect latent tuberculosis, promising to be cheaper and faster than current methods. The test uses a novel approach to detect interferon-gamma in blood samples, triggering an electrical signal for diagnosis.
A new study found that active tuberculosis is an independent predictor of lung cancer death in the elderly. The research analyzed data from 61,239 subjects aged 65 years or older and found a significant association between tuberculosis and lung cancer mortality.
Researchers developed a simple and inexpensive method to detect more cases of tuberculosis using vacuum filtering a sputum sample through a small filter. The new technique detected 89% of cases in Brazil, compared to 60% detection with the traditional method.
A Michigan State University researcher has developed a synthetic biosensor that glows green in response to conditions mimicking human tuberculosis infection. The goal is to find new treatments for chronic TB and multidrug-resistant TB.
Funding for non-custodial alternatives, community service, and legal representation are essential to reduce overcrowding and HIV/TB transmission. African governments have a responsibility to address life-threatening prison conditions contrary to international law.
Researchers have identified biosignatures for tuberculosis and sarcoidosis, but a single signature is insufficient to distinguish between the two diseases. A combination of markers is required to accurately diagnose a specific disease, enabling doctors to distinguish between different diseases with similar clinical appearances.
A new diagnostic tool for tuberculosis (TB) offers improved accuracy and speed, allowing for faster treatment. The Xpert MTB/RIF assay is a fully automated test that determines TB infection and multidrug-resistant strain in under an hour.
The European Respiratory Society and ECDC introduce new EU Standards for Tuberculosis Care to bridge gaps in TB case management. The guidelines include recommendations such as drug susceptibility testing and proper isolation protocols to combat multidrug-resistant TB cases.
A two-drug combination of meropenem and clavulanate has been shown to effectively treat forms of TB that are resistant to other antibiotics. The treatment offers new hope for dealing with drug-resistant TB, which is a major public health concern globally.
A genetic study in Vietnam aims to find out why only one in ten people carrying the tuberculosis bacterium become sick. The research, led by Australian scientist Dr Greg Fox, seeks to identify genes that increase TB risk.
Scientists have made significant progress in building knowledge and infrastructure to develop novel tuberculosis vaccine candidates. The next decade of research will focus on investigating remaining fundamental questions and leveraging recent innovations in systems biology, genomics, and bioinformatics.
Researchers and experts call for intensified global collaboration to develop effective new vaccines against tuberculosis. The blueprint outlines a path forward to create more effective, safe vaccines that can protect people from childhood TB, pulmonary TB, and latent TB.
Researcher Russell Chesney hypothesizes that 18th century London's crowded living conditions, poor diets, and low sunlight exposure contributed to high rates of rickets and tuberculosis in children like Tiny Tim. Improved nutrition, vitamin D from sunlight and cod liver oil could have prevented the boy's fatal condition
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grants Aeras up to $220 million to develop safe and effective TB vaccines amid rising drug-resistant strains. The funding aims to accelerate global efforts to eliminate the airborne threat.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have developed a novel way to culture tuberculosis bacteria, which could lead to new treatments and insights into its extraordinary resilience against environmental stresses. The bacteria's ability to form biofilms is thought to be a key factor in its resistance to treatment.