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Proteome atlas for the tuberculosis pathogen

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.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalCell Host & Microbe·DateMay 15, 2013

TB, HIV and malaria vaccine research gets major boost

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.

SourceBurness·DateMay 7, 2013

Annals of Internal Medicine tip sheet for May 7, 2013

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...

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateMay 6, 2013

Reporter in North Korea investigates fight against multidrug resistant tuberculosis

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.

Wolf in sheep's clothing: Uncovering how deadly bacteria trick the immune system

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.

TB infection rates set to 'turn clock back to 1930s'

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.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThorax·DateFeb 11, 2013

Tuberculosis may lurk in bone marrow stem cells of infected patients, Stanford researchers say

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...

SourceStanford Medicine·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJan 30, 2013

'Repurposed' anti-parasite drug shows promise as new TB treatment: UBC research

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.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalAntimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy·DateNov 22, 2012

Antibiotic shows promise in treating extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis

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.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateOct 18, 2012

Pain drug can kill resistant tuberculosis

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.

SourceNewYork-Presbyterian·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 10, 2012

Better vaccines for tuberculosis could save millions of lives

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.

SourceCell Press·JournalTrends in Molecular Medicine·DateAug 28, 2012

New approach of resistant tuberculosis

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.

SourceInstitute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp·JournalThe International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease·DateAug 10, 2012

Trial signals major milestone in hunt for new TB drugs

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 ...

SourceBurness·JournalThe Lancet·DateJul 23, 2012