Articles tagged with Tuberculosis
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.
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.
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.
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.
SomaLogic will develop a low-cost diagnostic tool using its proteomic technology to detect TB biomarkers. The grant aims to improve identification of active TB cases in developing countries.
The Forsyth Institute is developing a low-cost diagnostic tool for tuberculosis (TB), which can quickly and accurately diagnose active TB cases in developing countries. The project focuses on identifying and validating seven proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis as biomarkers of active disease.
The University of Louisville will receive a $576,800 grant to develop a low-cost, simple test for diagnosing tuberculosis (TB) in developing countries. Researchers aim to identify and validate TB biomarkers using a disposable sampling plate and breath test.
The study found that 10% of TB patients received less than the recommended four drugs, while almost 34% of HIV-positive patients were not satisfactorily managed. The research highlights the need to increase awareness, training, and resource allocation to prevent drug-resistant TB cases.
Researchers found a gene, LTA4H, that influences inflammation to TB infection, predicting drug therapy effectiveness. This discovery suggests tailoring treatment based on patients' genetic sequences could improve patient outcomes.
Researchers found that a single 'Goldilocks' gene, LTA4H, regulates the immune response to TB. Variations in this gene lead to excessive or insufficient inflammation, which can affect treatment response. The study suggests personalized medicine could improve TB treatment outcomes.
Research finds a significant association between pulmonary TB and EGFR mutations in lung cancer patients. The study reveals that tumors with these mutations respond well to targeted therapies, offering new hope for treatment.
Researchers at Michigan State University used advanced DNA testing to confirm the presence of brucellosis in skeletal remains from medieval Albania, suggesting the disease was endemic in the region since the Middle Ages. The findings provide valuable insights into the history of infectious diseases and their impact on human health.
Researchers found that multidrug-resistant tuberculosis is more likely caused by speedy drug metabolism rather than inconsistent doses. The study suggests monitoring patients' drug concentrations during treatment may be as important as compliance with therapy.
A University of Texas at Austin chemist has received a $1.6 million grant to develop a simple, paper-based test for detecting drug-resistant tuberculosis. The goal is to create a real-time test that can be used in resource-poor communities without refrigeration.
Researchers discovered that mycobacterial cell growth patterns determine their susceptibility to antibiotics, providing new avenues for targeted treatment. The findings could lead to more effective treatments for the deadly disease, which kills over 1.5 million people annually.
A study found that commercially-available tests for latent TB infection have high false-positive rates in low-prevalence populations, with 77% of subjects having positive results with only one test. The findings suggest that risk stratification may increase the predictive value and reduce false positives.
A UK-wide cohort study found a significant increase in tuberculosis (TB) diagnoses among postpartum women, with a higher risk of TB in the six months following pregnancy. The study suggests that targeted screening of pregnant and post-partum women in high-risk groups may be necessary to prevent poorer outcomes.
A new report highlights the global impact of medical misdiagnosis, revealing over a million people diagnosed with TB develop an incurable but manageable fungal infection. Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) can progress slowly and may lie undetected for years until symptoms appear.
A new TB vaccine candidate has entered Phase I clinical trials in South Africa to assess its safety and immunogenicity in latently infected adults. The vaccine, SSI H56-IC31, has shown efficacy in pre-clinical studies and holds promise for preventing active TB disease in a vast population.
Researchers developed a new TB vaccine H56 that reduces clinical disease and prevents reactivation of latent infection when combined with BCG, a current but ineffective vaccine. This breakthrough could lead to improved protection against TB.
The TB Research Movement aims to create a framework for concrete actions to harmonize and synergize TB research efforts globally. The movement is creating a framework for more research and innovation, particularly for the poor and vulnerable populations burdened by TB.
Researchers validate preclinical effectiveness of TB drug target DNA gyrase B, killing bacteria in both replicating and dormant states. This could lead to a shorter treatment length, improving patient compliance and reducing drug resistance.
A University of Adelaide scientist highlights the potential of freely available software tools to predict the spread of diseases in Australian wildlife and commercial stock. The team used these tools to estimate that up to 100,000 buffalo would need to be culled annually for 15 years to reduce TB prevalence near zero.
Researchers discovered that targeting host enzymes with imatinib reduces M. tuberculosis load and enhances traditional antibiotics' effectiveness. This approach limits infection and may reduce antibiotic-resistant strains.
Researchers discovered Mycobacterium tuberculosis produces a protein that disables the immune response, allowing the bacteria to live comfortably in human cells. This breakthrough provides new targets for developing better treatments against this devastating disease.
A study by Frank Cobelens and colleagues found that the Xpert MTB/RIF diagnostic test is cost-effective for TB diagnosis in high-burden countries. The test reduces years of life lost due to TB, making it a highly cost-effective investment.
A study found a decrease in TB cases in the US between 2000 and 2009, particularly among recent immigrants and disadvantaged groups. The drop was attributed to economic recession and lower immigration rates, but the long-term impact on public health remains uncertain.
A large-scale community-randomized trial found that community counseling reduced TB prevalence and child infections by half, with costs under $1 per person per year. The ZAMSTAR project, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, improved TB testing and service integration in communities.
Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) poses a significant threat globally, with over half a million cases of multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) and 25,000 to 50,000 XDR-TB cases. Sanatoria were used to isolate patients, but their dismantling led to the current crisis. The Lancet calls for new-age sanatoria to provide state-of-...
Recent research highlights that faster diagnostic tests are necessary but not sufficient to improve health outcomes for tuberculosis and HIV patients. The study emphasizes the need for thorough evaluation of diagnostics to ensure technical advancements translate into better patient care.
Starting HIV therapy two weeks after TB treatment increases survival by 33 percent, according to a recent study. The study suggests that immunosuppressed patients should be started on ART rapidly at two weeks after beginning TB therapy.
A new study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that the optimal time to integrate HIV treatment with TB therapy depends on a patient's immune status. Patients with advanced HIV disease who start antiretroviral treatment earlier show significant improvements in survival rates.
Researchers at Trudeau Institute found a link between the formation of new lymphoid tissue in the lungs and protection from tuberculosis. The study, published in The Journal of Immunology, may lead to improved vaccines and therapies for fighting deadly disease.
Researchers discovered that vitamin D is essential for triggering an effective immune response against tuberculosis, a potentially fatal lung disease. They found that T-cells release a protein called interferon-γ that requires sufficient levels of vitamin D to activate immune cells and kill the bacteria.
A new health needs assessment framework is proposed to better manage child contacts of adult TB cases. The approach aims to reduce child mortality and the reservoir of M. tuberculosis in the community, contributing to TB elimination.
A new study predicts that smoking could cause 18 million more cases of tuberculosis worldwide and 40 million additional deaths over the next 40 years. The research, led by UCSF, found that smoking raises the risk of contracting TB and death, making it a critical factor in population-wide TB rates.
The TB bacterium has a unique molecule on its outer surface that blocks the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a key protein in the body's immune response. This allows the bacterium to remain infectious and evade the host's defense.
Three Johns Hopkins researchers, including Andrew Feinberg, Gyanu Lamichhane, and Thomas Hartung, have received NIH Director's Awards for their groundbreaking work in epigenetics, tuberculosis, and toxicological testing. Their research aims to revolutionize cancer treatment, develop new antibiotics, and improve human health.
Researchers have identified the protein BVES as a suppressor of colorectal cancer progression and suggest it could be a therapeutic or preventative target. Modulating BVES expression was found to decrease cancer cell characteristics in human colon cancer cells, providing rational for targeting BVES in individuals with colorectal cancer.
Researchers developed a genetically modified Mycobacterium smegmatis vaccine that induces strong immune response in mice, protecting them from TB infection. The vaccine effectively lowers TB bacteria levels by 1,000 times compared to the current BCG vaccine.
A potential vaccine against tuberculosis has been found to completely eliminate the disease-causing bacteria from infected tissues in mice. The vaccine uses a modified strain of bacteria that triggers a specific immune response, providing longer protection and bactericidal immunity.