Antibodies and SARS-CoV-2 infections: Tthe more the better
Oxford University Hospital tracked infections in 12,500 of its healthcare workers. Enlarge / Oxford University is associated with the hospital that ran this study, as well as a vaccine that is currently undergoing clinical trials. (credit: Gallo.....»»
Intestinal cells and lactic acid bacteria work together to protect against Candida infections
The presence of probiotics such as lactic acid bacteria changes the environment in the intestine and forces the yeast fungus Candida albicans to change its metabolism, making it less infectious. This way, probiotics can contain or prevent the spread.....»»
Disinfectant mechanism of nano-sized electrostatic atomized water particles on SARS-CoV-2
Current disinfection strategies have major drawbacks, which is why the World Health Organization does not advise routine spraying or fogging of biocidal agents, or UV light sterilization, in occupied areas. One possible alternative is nano-sized elec.....»»
Potency of staph-fighting antibiotic blunted by blood serum
Staph infections pose lethal threats in hospitals, where the Staphylococcus aureus bacterium can be transferred from the skin or nasal passages into open wounds and, potentially, the bloodstream. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporte.....»»
New inherited retroviruses identified in the koala genome
Historic virus infections can be traced in vertebrate genomes. For millions of years, these genomes have been repositories for retroviruses that incorporated their code into germline cells and were inherited as endogenous retroviruses (ERVs). Researc.....»»
Team develops a rapid test to measure immunity to SARS-CoV-2
Mount Sinai researchers have developed a rapid blood assay that measures the magnitude and duration of someone's immunity to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This test will allow large-scale monitoring of the population's immunity and the.....»»
Hedgehogs Host the Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance
Bacteria resistant to methicillin emerged in hedgehogs long before the drug was prescribed to treat infections. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.....»»
Blaming Gay Men for Monkeypox Will Harm Everyone
Lessons from HIV/AIDS and SARS-CoV-2/COVID for harm reduction -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.....»»
Researchers create rapid test for deadly infections in livestock, starting with pigs
Researchers at McMaster University have developed a new form of rapid test to detect infections in farm animals, responding to the rising threat of dangerous outbreaks......»»
Determining which wavelengths of UV light work best for COVID-19 virus disinfection
To disinfect a surface, you can illuminate it with a blast of ultraviolet (UV) light, which is bluer than the human eye can see. But to specifically inactivate SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, which wavelengths are best? And how much radia.....»»
Targeted wastewater surveillance has a history of social and ethical concerns
Wastewater surveillance involves testing sewage to obtain data about a population's health. While the technique is decades old, it has gained recent international prominence for its ability to predict pandemic surges, detect new SARS-CoV-2 variants a.....»»
Common drug-resistant superbug develops fast resistance to "last resort" antibiotic
A study published today in Cell Reports reveals how populations of a bacterium called Pseudomonas respond to being treated with Colistin, a "last resort" antibiotic for patients who have developed multi-drug resistant infections......»»
With BA.2.12.1 now dominant in US, experts eye new subvariants BA.4 and BA.5
New data suggests BA.4, BA.5 are better at evading immune responses than BA.2.12.1. Enlarge / A person holds a positive SARS-CoV-2 rapid test on February 17, 2022 in Berlin, Germany. (credit: Getty | Thomas Trutschel) Omicron.....»»
BA.4, BA.5 gain ground in US, pose higher risk of breakthrough infections
New data suggests BA.4, BA.5 are better at evading immune responses than BA.2.12.1. Enlarge / A person holds a positive SARS-CoV-2 rapid test on February 17, 2022 in Berlin, Germany. (credit: Getty | Thomas Trutschel) Omicron.....»»
New model offers physics-inspired rankings evaluation
The world is rife with rankings and orderings. They show up in tennis—as in the French Open, which ends with a final ranking of champion players. They show up in pandemics—as when public health officials can record new infections and use contact.....»»
Researchers identify novel cellular process that helps us understand the mechanisms of aging-related diseases
The study of autophagy—the recycling and repair process within cells—has huge potential to aid in fighting the aging process, bacterial and viral infections and diseases including cancer, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's......»»
New study indicates how deep learning can improve gene therapies and antiviral drugs
The nuclease Cas13b associated with CRISPR defense systems—also known as genetic scissors—has the potential to be used in the future in hereditary diseases to silence adverse genes. In the fight against infections, it is also being researched as.....»»
Investigating a hospital superbug"s resistance power
Treatment of severe infections caused by pathogenic bacteria relies on "last resort" antibiotics, but rising resistance by "superbugs" to most clinically approved drugs leaves patients exposed to possible fatalities......»»
Further insights into the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein glycan shield
An unprecedented wealth of information has been gathered on SARS-CoV-2 in a very short period. This information is primarily focused on the cellular entry process and mechanism of antibody recognition where mainly protein-protein interactions occur......»»
How three mutations work together to spur new SARS-CoV-2 variants
Like storm waves battering a ship, new versions of the SARS-CoV-2 virus have buffeted the world one after another. Recently, scientists keeping tabs on these variants noticed a trend: Many carry the same set of three mutations. In a new study in ACS'.....»»
Nanobiotics: New machine learning model predicts how nanoparticles interact with proteins
With antibiotic-resistant infections on the rise and a continually morphing pandemic virus, it's easy to see why researchers want to be able to design engineered nanoparticles that can shut down these infections......»»