Articles tagged with Tuberculosis
Researchers at Butantan Institute and collaborators developed a more potent version of the BCG vaccine, which protects against tuberculosis by inducing a strong immune response. The new formulation protected animals for a significantly longer period than conventional BCG.
Researchers at the University of the Witwatersrand have developed a modified BCG vaccine that shows enhanced protection against tuberculosis in mice. The new vaccine candidate could potentially replace or boost existing TB vaccines, providing a novel solution to the global health crisis.
Researchers have designed a novel 3D hydrogel culture system that accurately mimics the mammalian lung environment, allowing for the study of tuberculosis bacteria infection and therapeutics. The system successfully tracks infection progression and demonstrates the efficacy of pyrazinamide in clearing out TB bacteria.
Scientists have developed a new method to detect antibiotics in finger sweat, showing high accuracy for tuberculosis treatment monitoring. The technique allows for less invasive testing, making it easier to monitor treatment and preventing drug-resistant TB.
The American College of Chest Physicians' CHEST Critical Care and CHEST Pulmonary journals have been indexed with the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), enhancing their open access content's accessibility and usage. The indexation is attributed to strong editorial boards led by Hayley Gershengorn and Matthew Miles.
A new study suggests that countries should prioritize tuberculosis treatment for exposed individuals with evidence of TB infection, regardless of age—except in high-burden settings, where all exposed individuals should be considered for treatment. Preventive treatment can stop latent TB infections from developing into deadly TB disease.
New therapies aim to strengthen the body's immune responses and restore antimicrobial functions to combat TB. Researchers have identified small molecule compounds that reduce Mtb growth inside immune cells by up to 50-75%, suggesting a potential complement to standard therapy.
Researchers found that undernourished household contacts were three times more likely to progress to TB disease than well-nourished individuals. The study suggests that undernutrition fails to contain the infection when it occurs, leading to increased risk of severe illness and death.
Researchers uncover how tuberculosis infection drives excessive inflammation in the lungs by activating neutrophils. Targeting neutrophils could lead to new therapies for TB treatment, potentially reducing antibiotic-resistant cases.
A study of tens of thousands of individuals found that post-TB lung disease is a significant global challenge. TB survivors experience restrictive lung damage and airflow obstruction, reducing their ability to breathe efficiently and increasing the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
A study found that structural racism is largely to blame for disparities in tuberculosis (TB) incidence among the U.S.-born population. Researchers analyzed national TB registry data and found that TB incidence ratios were higher for certain racial and ethnic groups, with greater relative disparities among females.
A population-wide observational study found an association between tuberculosis (TB) and a higher incidence of various cancers. TB patients were more likely to be diagnosed with lung, blood, gynaecological, colorectal, thyroid, oesophagus, and stomach cancers compared to the general population.
A new study finds that BCG vaccination reduces TB transmission in cattle by almost 90%. Vaccinated cows also develop significantly fewer visible signs of TB than unvaccinated ones. The vaccine has the potential to control bovine tuberculosis and put herds on a pathway towards elimination.
A new study published in Microbiology Spectrum shows that an enzymatic cocktail can effectively kill a variety of mycobacterial species, including those causing tuberculosis. The research delivers the enzymes inside host macrophages where mycobacteria grow, increasing efficacy and reducing toxicities associated with current treatments.
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital successfully repurposed approved drugs to improve drug delivery to tuberculosis bacteria, promoting anti-bacterial host responses and improving health outcomes. The study found that combining bevacizumab and losartan enhanced TB drug delivery and reduced bacterial burden in rabbits with TB.
Researchers have identified a combination of medications that may improve blood flow within granulomas, benefiting drug delivery and reducing bacterial burden in tuberculosis-infected rabbits. The study leverages decades of cancer research to study tuberculosis-affected lung tissue and improves treatment.
Researchers have developed new recommendations for optimizing TB screening programs in low-incidence countries. Screening high-risk groups, such as migrants and vulnerable populations, is a cost-effective approach that detects the disease early and prevents transmission.
Scientists have discovered six proteins that can accurately diagnose tuberculosis (TB). The breakthrough study paves the way for a simple blood test to detect the bacteria, which could prevent millions of cases annually. TB is the world's deadliest infectious disease, killing over one million people each year.
A systematic review by Gogichadze et al. suggests that active pulmonary TB screening programs targeting vulnerable populations in low-TB-incidence countries are cost-effective. The authors conclude that screening immigrants and other high-risk groups is a viable approach to detecting latent infections.
Researchers have developed a new framework for classifying tuberculosis (TB) that replaces the traditional binary approach with four disease states: clinical, subclinical, infectious, and non-infectious. The International Consensus for Early TB (ICE-TB) framework aims to improve diagnosis and treatment of early-stage TB, which has hist...
Tulane University researchers have developed a CRISPR-based platform for diagnosing nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections, allowing for accurate results in as little as two hours. The blood test can identify over 93% of patients with an NTM infection, enabling rapid treatment plans and reducing the risk of complications.
Research on over 600,000 TB cases reveals 80% have no persistent cough, delaying diagnoses and transmission, with high infection rates among symptomless individuals. The study suggests rethinking current diagnostic practices for more effective TB identification.
A study by Amsterdam UMC and University of Cape Town found that Mycobacterium tuberculosis is present in the respiratory aerosol of 90% of suspected TB patients, including those with negative sputum tests. This raises concerns about unknowingly transmitting infection and highlights the complexity of TB transmission.
The Access to Advanced Health Institute (AAHI) has received $12.7 million to develop a novel immune-stimulating adjuvant formulation, NanoAlum, which aims to improve vaccine protection against complex diseases like tuberculosis and influenza.
A network of African scientists has secured funding to develop new drugs for malaria and TB, two major diseases affecting the continent. The Grand Challenges Africa Drug Discovery Accelerator Programme will support leading research efforts on these diseases.
Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine found that patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) respond similarly to those with drug-sensitive TB when treated with bedaquiline-based second-line medications. The study suggests that treatment duration for drug-resistant TB may be shortened, potentially reducing mortality rates.
Researchers at McGill University Health Centre discovered that a century-old BCG vaccine can provide cross-protection against influenza A virus and COVID-19 by inducing trained immunity. The study's findings have significant implications for developing vaccines against emerging respiratory viruses.
A new study from the University of Cincinnati finds that being in prison is a significant driver of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) transmission. The researchers identified molecular resistance patterns and defined recent transmissions, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to control the MDR-TB epidemic in prisons.
Researchers found that an imbalance of CD4+ T cells in the lungs can exacerbate tuberculosis, leading to increased disease severity and reduced survival rates. Removing a specific receptor that recognizes extracellular ATP can improve the response of these T cells and potentially lead to new therapeutic interventions.
Researchers at La Jolla Institute for Immunology have identified 137 unique T cell epitopes targeted by the immune system in patients with active TB. These findings may lead to the development of new diagnostics and therapies for the disease, which affects over 1.3 million people worldwide.
The University of Texas at Arlington is advancing its understanding of deadly disease tuberculosis (TB) with a new research project led by associate professor Kayunta Johnson-Winters. The project aims to understand why certain types of Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria do not respond to treatments.
Researchers developed a new method to identify individuals at high risk of developing tuberculosis, using PET-CT imaging and a novel bacteriophage-based assay. The study identified 20 asymptomatic contacts who were subsequently tested for TB through bronchoscopy and sampling.
A team of researchers from UMass Amherst and Seattle Children's Research Institute found that prior exposure to certain bacteria changes the lung's innate immune response, making it more vulnerable to tuberculosis. The study suggests that remodeling the innate immune system could be a more effective strategy in fighting TB.
A study in Paraguay found that people deprived of liberty are at a high risk of tuberculosis (TB) during and after incarceration. The risk persists for years after release, with the incidence of TB declining but remaining 10 times higher than in the community.
A review paper highlights N-AIDS as a key determinant and comorbidity of TB, emphasizing the need for action on malnutrition to detect, prevent, and eliminate TB. The study found that nutritional interventions can significantly reduce TB incidence among household contacts.
Researchers have found that the BCG vaccine can enhance innate immunity in individuals with dormant immune cells, predicting a positive response to vaccination. Trained immunity responders exhibited increased production of inflammatory mediators after vaccination.
Researchers discovered new antibiotic molecules targeting Mycobacterium tuberculosis, reducing its pathogenicity. These substances also enhance the activity of conventional antibiotics like ethionamide, offering a renewed treatment approach.
Researchers found a single gene involved in iron-sulphur clusters crucial for TB bacterium's persistence. The IscS gene helps regulate the SUF operon, preventing hypervirulence and allowing the bacteria to survive harsh lung conditions.
Recent studies published in the Tuberculosis journal reveal the earliest confirmed presence of tuberculosis' causative agents in human remains, pushing the timeline back by tens of thousands of years. Researchers have also discovered evidence of TB infection in Neanderthal specimens from Hungary, dating back over 32,000 years.
Nanoparticles loaded with antibiotics and antimicrobial compounds inhibit TB progression and overcome resistance without cell damage. The technology shows promise for a shorter treatment strategy against multidrug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
A six-month multidrug regimen is being evaluated against the standard nine-month treatment for adults and adolescents with tuberculous meningitis. The trial aims to generate evidence that could lead to improved treatment options and reduced mortality rates, particularly for high-risk groups such as pregnant women and adolescent children.
A genomic analysis in southern Mozambique found that new molecular tests are needed to detect a wider range of mutations conferring resistance to first-line TB drugs. The study identified high numbers of isoniazid-resistant cases, which were also missed by the Xpert/Ultra test.
Researchers tested the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine in healthy adults to gather data about TB immune responses. The study found associations between BCG and gene expression changes in blood, providing insights into optimal protection against TB.
Elevated blood glycerol levels are linked to increased TB disease severity in experimental models with Type 2 diabetes. The study identifies glycerol kinase as a crucial enzyme driving TB disease severity.
A recent study published in Nature Communications reveals that disrupted NAD(H) homeostasis is a key factor in tuberculosis pathogenesis. The researchers found that the glycolytic pathway can be selectively inhibited using an LDH enzyme with mostly LDHA subunits, which preferentially converts pyruvate to lactate and NADH to NAD+.
Scientists at Texas Biomedical Research Institute found a promising cancer therapy also effectively reduces TB growth, even for drug-resistant bacteria. The therapy combines MCL-1 and BCL-2 inhibitors with antibiotics to control TB up to 98%.
Researchers created a blood-based test to detect both diseases, measure viral and bacterial loads, and track treatment progress. The test aims to improve patient outcomes by catching immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) earlier.
A new diagnostic tool has been developed to help diagnose tuberculosis in children, with a focus on providing accurate results quickly and conveniently. The tool uses blood samples taken from the fingertip and identifies specific gene activity to detect the disease, offering improved accuracy compared to traditional methods.
Researchers studied how Mycobacterium tuberculosis forms cord-like aggregates that resist antibiotics and alter host cell behavior. The study revealed new insights into the biophysical mechanisms of cord formation and its impact on infection.
A new study reveals that innate CD8+ lymphocytes play a crucial role in limiting tuberculosis infection, and an inflammatory molecule called Interleukin-15 could be used to boost vaccine efficacy. Researchers found that these cells create a 'bottleneck' preventing bacteria from establishing active infection.
Scientists have discovered a TB vaccination strategy that prevents lung infection in monkeys infected with SIV, despite the vaccine being contraindicated for people living with HIV. The results show promise for protecting people with HIV against TB, which is the leading cause of death among them.
A study found that only 3 out of 22 African countries with high TB/HIV burden have no national policy on LF-LAM test implementation. Main barriers include lack of funding and training, despite the test being less expensive than other diagnostic tests.
Researchers identified a 'guard mechanism' controlling protein GPB1 to attack microbes and cancer cells. The study found that disrupting this mechanism can kill pathogens like Toxoplasma and potentially treat cancer.
A Boston University-led study identified genetic signatures of TB-susceptible and TB-resistant macrophages, leading to a new approach to tweak the immune system to fight the disease. The research could lead to therapies targeting host immunity to tuberculosis.
A new Canadian guideline aims to promote health equity among marginalized groups by providing 16 preventive care recommendations. The guidelines focus on removing barriers to healthcare, prioritizing people from disadvantaged groups, and improving access to essential screenings and interventions.
Researchers analyzed data from 31 studies and found that cattle face a higher risk of getting tuberculosis from wildlife through indirect interactions. Indirect interaction rates were 154 times higher than direct interaction rates.
A UCF researcher is developing a new antibiotic to treat tuberculosis and related lung infections. The team aims to create potent antimycobacterial agents that can be administered orally and target drug-resistant strains.
Researchers at the Institute for Systems Biology have identified a signaling system called MtrA that helps Mycobacterium tuberculosis grow in response to host signals. Disrupting this system compromises the pathogen's cell wall, making it unable to divide and ultimately compromising its survival.
Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine successfully treated four patients with resistant TB using a six-month regimen of bedaquiline, pretomanid and linezolid. This novel approach achieves superior outcomes with less side effects in a shorter period, improving health equity for MDR TB patients.
A clinical trial of a three-month tuberculosis treatment regimen has been closed due to high rates of unfavorable outcomes. Participants who received the investigational treatment experienced ongoing or recurring TB at rates above thresholds set in the study protocol.