Articles tagged with Tuberculosis
The microscopic observation drug susceptibility (MODS) test has been endorsed by WHO for use in resource-poor settings. The test delivers positive culture and drug resistance results within two weeks for less than $3 per test, improving TB diagnosis and treatment.
The Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation has received an additional €11.7 million grant from the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs to develop new vaccines against tuberculosis.
Weill Cornell Medical College has received $200,000 in new funding from the Gates Foundation for tuberculosis research. The grants will support projects led by Dr. Carl Nathan and Dr. Kyu Rhee, aiming to understand the genetic mechanism of TB emergence from latency and develop new therapies.
Researchers linked hundreds of approved drugs to M. tuberculosis proteins, identifying new anti-tuberculosis targets and repurposing potential. The study provides a promising computational strategy for novel drug discovery.
Researchers found that people with periodontal disease are at high risk for cardiovascular disease and that invasive dental procedures may raise this risk. However, studies have not consistently shown a link between these procedures and cardiovascular events. Meanwhile, peer support programs improved diabetes management in patients, su...
Scientists discovered a key difference in how TB bacteria and human cells deliver unwanted proteins to their respective recycling factories. This critical difference may help design drugs to disable the bacterial system while leaving normal human protein recycling centers intact.
A new tool has been developed to tackle tuberculosis by integrating genomic and metabolic data, enabling cell-scale simulations and biological strain design. The probabilistic regulation of metabolism (PROM) algorithm accurately predicts knockout phenotypes 95% of the time, paving the way for targeted research during dormancy.
The Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation has received a $362,102 grant from the US FDA to develop new biological and immunological biomarkers for TB vaccine development. The project aims to evaluate four mycobacterial growth inhibition assays and identify T-cell immune responses associated with protective vaccines.
A mobile van approach to hunt down active cases of tuberculosis significantly outperformed door-to-door visits, detecting 255 smear-positive patients vs. 137 through door-to-door visits. This intervention led to a 43% decline in undiagnosed culture-positive TB in the community.
Kathleen Alexander has discovered a novel tuberculosis species, M. mungi, in banded mongooses, which behaves differently from other TB infections, killing infected animals within two to three months. The pathogen's source and host range are areas of ongoing research.
A computer model shows that the US is susceptible to MDR-TB epidemics when TB prevalence falls and case detection improves, even with high treatment compliance. This is attributed to the increased risk of drug-resistant TB spreading in populations with low drug-susceptible TB rates.
Dr. Jerrold J. Ellner leads an international research team to identify biological markers for tuberculosis (TB) and develop novel treatments and vaccines. The five-year grant aims to prevent TB, which kills nearly two million people annually.
Researchers at NPL and Orla Protein Technologies are developing improved TB detection methods to enhance sensitivity, specificity, cost and speed. The project aims to create systems that advance current methods, helping improve healthcare in resource-limiting settings.
A new TB vaccine candidate called AERAS-422 is undergoing clinical trials to evaluate its safety and immunogenicity. The vaccine aims to interrupt TB at all stages of infection, including initial infection, latency, and reactivation.
The Phase II study will establish the optimal dosing regimen and then be tested in Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, and Uganda. The TB vaccine candidate has been shown to have an acceptable safety profile in early-stage clinical trials.
Recent research suggests that some TB vaccines under study may not be effective in older people, as the molecule responsible for immune response activation remains relatively inactive. The study's findings highlight the need for a new approach to vaccine development to ensure protection against tuberculosis for the elderly.
A computer model found a network of genes that can trigger TB's dormant state, switching it from fast-growing to slow-growing. The study reveals potential for a persistence switch that could explain why TB is so widespread and deadly.
Researchers discovered that mycobacteria block phagosome maturation with acyltrehalose-containing glycolipids, surviving and thriving inside host macrophages. This study sheds light on the mechanism of intracellular parasitism and identifies potential new drug targets for TB treatment.
A team from Case Western Reserve University has identified a novel dual recognition mechanism in Mycobacterium tuberculosis that may contribute to immune evasion. The discovery could aid in the design of new vaccines and antibiotics to combat the disease.
A new molecular test has been shown to diagnose tuberculosis (TB) and detect drug-resistant bacteria with high sensitivity and specificity. The Xpert MTB/RIF TB test successfully identified 98% of confirmed TB cases and patients with rifampin-resistant bacteria in under two hours.
Scientists at Nationwide Children's Hospital have discovered a distinct blood transcriptional signature associated with active TB, which may help identify patients at risk of developing the disease. The study found that this signature was present in 10-20% of latent TB patients and correlated with disease extent in active TB patients.
The Open Source Drug Discovery (OSDD) Consortium is a worldwide scientific community working together to discover and develop new drugs. Key findings include the development of a comprehensive map of Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome, paving the way for a potential new drug for tuberculosis.
Researchers will study immune cells to identify biomarkers associated with TB infection and disease reactivation. The joint laboratory aims to develop early diagnosis and effective treatment for the highly contagious disease, affecting millions worldwide.
Researchers identified a genetic variant on chromosome 18 associated with increased TB susceptibility in African populations. The study demonstrates the feasibility of genome-wide association studies in Africa, which have been successful in European populations but faced challenges due to high genetic diversity.
Rice University's compact fluorescence microscope, developed by Andrew Miller, has been shown to accurately diagnose tuberculosis in a trial with 98.4% accuracy. The portable device, costing $240, is comparable to expensive lab equipment and has the potential to improve early detection and treatment of TB in developing countries.
Leading respiratory specialists call for a new approach to TB screening for newly arrived immigrants from high-risk countries. They argue that the current system is fundamentally flawed and fails to address the growing number of TB cases in the UK. The authors propose screening new arrivals in community services, rather than relying on...
Researchers developed an alphavirus vector to overcome neutralizing antibodies and induce immune responses in humans with advanced cancer. Genetic mutations determined breast cancer subtype by influencing Rb gene expression.
Researchers found that TB bacteria tip the balance between cell death types, affecting immune response. Drugs targeting eicosanoid production may offer new treatment options for TB.
A five-year, $4 million NIH grant will support a prospective study on antiretroviral therapy for people co-infected with MDR-TB and HIV in South Africa. The study aims to gather evidence for clinical practice and public health policy worldwide.
A new diagnostic technique called microscopic-observation drug-susceptibility (MODS) has been shown to be significantly more sensitive and faster than conventional culture tests, diagnosing 70% more cases of pulmonary TB among children under 12. This is the best available test for confirming paediatric pulmonary tuberculosis in resourc...
A clinical trial in Cambodia found that starting anti-HIV therapy two weeks after beginning TB treatment boosts survival rates for HIV-infected adults with weak immune systems. This approach, compared to waiting eight weeks, shows a significant difference in mortality rates among participants.
A postmortem study in South Africa reveals high TB prevalence and late diagnosis among HIV-positive patients. The study suggests that early tuberculosis screening and treatment can reduce the global death toll from TB.
Researchers will investigate person-to-person transmission of XDR-TB using advanced epidemiologic techniques and social network analysis. The findings could alter public health approaches for controlling the XDR-TB epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa.
Scientists have discovered that CCL5 plays a protective role in warding off tuberculosis by attracting immune cells to infection sites. The protein may lead to new therapies that help the immune system resist TB, providing hope for treating this global disease.
Scientists found that M. tuberculosis antigens remain unchanged and homogenous, unlike many viruses and parasites, allowing the bacteria to be transmitted from person to person.
New scientific advances offer significant promise for reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, including novel TB drugs, rapid diagnostic tests and bold prevention approaches like PrEP. Experts call for policymakers to capitalize on these advances to save millions of lives from these deadly epidemics.
The TB Alliance has made significant progress in developing new TB drugs, with three co-developed by the organization and its partners, and two others currently being tested through the Critical Path to TB Regimens (CPTR) initiative.
The Lancet series highlights the need to assess interventions for social and economic determinants of TB, including malnutrition, alcohol use, and poor housing. Community engagement is crucial to overcome this community disease, and a progressive model is needed to harness community participation.
Despite progress in curing TB patients, the disease remains a major health threat due to poverty, poor diagnosis, and treatment. The Lancet launches the TB Observatory to monitor progress, increase funding, and promote international cooperation to combat TB.
The global burden of tuberculosis remains significant, with 11 million active cases in 2008, despite progress made since the start of DOTS era. Rapid expansion of TB diagnosis and treatment has saved up to six million lives, but further efforts are needed to eliminate the disease by 2050.
The article highlights the growing concern of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) becoming a dominant strain worldwide. MDR TB poses a major threat to existing TB control programmes due to its association with lower cure rates and higher mortality rates than drug-susceptible TB disease.
New drugs, vaccines, biomarkers, and diagnostics could reduce TB incidence by 94% by 2050. Biomarker development is crucial for predicting treatment outcomes, while diagnostics advancements aim to improve case detection.
Experts warn that weak health systems are impeding global efforts to control tuberculosis, with rapidly introduced suboptimum reforms harming national targets. However, innovative solutions from countries like Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Tanzania, Thailand, and Vietnam have shown promise in addressing bottlenecks.
The commentary emphasizes the need for improved TB diagnosis and treatment access, surveillance, and investment in new drugs, diagnostics, and a vaccine. Migrants face significant health disparities due to inadequate treatment and poor public health infrastructure.
Implementing the 3Is policy (Intensified tuberculosis case finding, Infection control, and Isoniazid preventive therapy) combined with earlier start of ART can prevent HIV-associated TB. Early diagnosis and treatment, along with a comprehensive package of HIV care, form the basis of prevention and control of HIV-associated TB.
Researchers developed a new technique using patterns in immune response to differentiate between active and latent tuberculosis. The test identified specific cytokine patterns that allowed for quick diagnosis, potentially reducing early exposure to the disease.
A recent study published at the ATS 2010 International Conference found that HIV-infected patients who are falsely diagnosed with tuberculosis have higher mortality rates compared to those who receive correct diagnoses. The study evaluated 600 HIV-infected patients treated at Mulago Hospital in Kampala, Uganda, and discovered that fals...
Scientists studied Mycobacterium tuberculosis proteasome structure and assembly to understand its role in pathogen survival. This knowledge could aid in developing anti-TB drugs by preventing proteasome maturation.
A recent study published in PNAS reveals that Mycobacterium tuberculosis relies on gluconeogenic substrates for growth and persistence, with phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) playing a pivotal role. This finding could lead to the development of new drug therapies targeting the enzyme, potentially improving treatment outcomes fo...
Dr. Mandalakas will analyze social and economic barriers to implementing Isoniazid preventative therapy in children with latent tuberculosis infection in South Africa. She aims to promote the practical implementation of preventive therapy to improve child health outcomes.
The University of Maryland Medical Center's Historical Clinicopathological Conference has re-examined Simon Bolivar's death, suggesting chronic arsenic poisoning led to a serious respiratory illness. Dr. Paul G. Auwaerter believes the symptoms align with gradual arsenic poisoning, contradicting the initial diagnosis of tuberculosis.
Researchers have discovered a new avenue to overcome tuberculosis drug resistance by targeting an enzyme that breaks down beta-lactam antibiotics. Clavulanate and meropenem combination shows promise in sterilizing TB bacteria, including XDR-strains.
An experimental immune-boosting drug that increases type I interferon production hastens tuberculosis (TB) in mice. The treatment also draws more macrophages to the lungs, where TB bacteria thrive, leading to severe lung tissue damage and worsened disease outcomes.
Chronic stress accelerates tumor growth in ovarian cancer patients by protecting cells from anoikis, a process that allows tumor cells to survive and grow. Stress hormones norepinephrine and epinephrine activate the protein FAK, leading to accelerated mortality.
The study found that Poly-ICLC treatment increased lung bacterial load and damage in mice infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This was attributed to the recruitment of myeloid immune cells, which supported bacterial growth and exacerbated lung damage.
UT Southwestern researchers found that a type of blood pressure medication shows promise in overcoming some drug-resistant tuberculosis. However, the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium may be resistant to treatment in more people than previously thought. The studies challenge current thinking on how TB works and how best to kill it.
Researchers have discovered that Mycobacterium tuberculosis stimulates macrophages to accumulate fat droplets, turning them into 'foamy' cells that can reawaken the latent TB infection. This cellular transformation allows the bacteria to leak out into the airways and progressively destroy lung tissue.
A Johns Hopkins team identified a class of chemical compounds that selectively slow down a tuberculosis protein's activity and block TB growth. The MetAP inhibitors have the potential to enhance existing therapy by targeting an essential enzyme in the bacteria's survival.
A study published in Respiratory Research reveals that older people and those infected with HIV are at higher risk of contracting and dying from tuberculosis. The research identified factors linked to treatment abandonment and deaths, including lack of understanding, injection drug use, and age over 50 or HIV infection.
Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine have found two novel ways to kill TB bacteria, using an enzyme called GlgE and a second pathway that also synthesizes alpha glucans. This combination could lead to a potent therapy that prevents resistant TB strains from developing.