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Could a vaccine help ward off MS?

A study published in Neurology suggests that a vaccine used to prevent tuberculosis may help prevent multiple sclerosis in people showing early signs of the disease. After six months, vaccinated individuals had fewer brain lesions than those who received a placebo, with 58% not developing MS compared to 30%.

SourceAmerican Academy of Neurology·JournalNeurology·DateDec 4, 2013

Leading cause of heart disease ignored in North America's poorest communities

Researchers say Chagas disease remains a leading cause of heart disease in impoverished North American communities, with inadequate healthcare and limited treatment options available. The editorial calls for increased medical awareness, scientific cooperation, and public-private partnerships to develop new tools and treatments.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateOct 31, 2013

New technology shows promise in taking the guesswork out of vaccine development

Scientists at Arizona State University have developed a microchip-based technology called immunosignature diagnosis that can rapidly measure an individual's vaccine response. This innovation has the potential to significantly reduce the costs and timeframes of vaccine testing, allowing for more effective vaccines to be identified.

SourceArizona State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 28, 2013

McMaster lab develops new tuberculosis vaccine

Researchers have developed a new tuberculosis vaccine that acts as a booster to the existing Bacille Calmette Guerin (BCG) vaccine, which is ineffective in many cases. The vaccine was tested in a phase one clinical study and showed a robust immune response in most trial participants.

SourceMcMaster University·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateOct 2, 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

Scientists report successful vaccine developed against deadly Nipah virus

Researchers successfully developed a highly effective vaccine against the deadly Nipah virus, which has shown complete protection in African green monkeys with no evidence of disease. The vaccine, known as Hendra-sG, is a recombinant piece of the virus produced in the laboratory and can be used safely for human treatment.