All Boston Children’s Hospital articles
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NewsNew immune system enhancer extends COVID-19 vaccine protection reducing need for repeated boosters
Researchers demonstrated that pairing the original COVID-19 mRNA vaccine with an adjuvant extended the duration of the vaccine’s protection in mice from a few months up to two years. The combo also showed a more pronounced response against omicron viral components than the vaccine alone.
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NewsStudy finds four of the CDC’s seven measles elimination status indicators missed
After public health experts declared measles eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, the U.S. CDC established seven indicators of measles elimination status to ensure that the country remained on track. Now researchers find that the U.S. missed four of the seven criteria, with the others at risk.
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NewsAncient, insect-targeting bacterial toxin may have implications for human health, agriculture, and drug discovery
Scientists have identified and characterized a new class of Streptomyces-produced toxins that are very distantly related to the deadly toxin that causes diphtheria, a serious and contagious infection, in humans.
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NewsAmbient air pollution is associated with respiratory infection burden in the first year of life
Ambient air pollution is associated with respiratory infection burden in the first year of life, according to preliminary findings from the Immune Development in Early Life (IDEaL) Rome Cohort.
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NewsNew study examines measles vaccination coverage after a postelimination outbreak
In 2022–2023, a large postelimination measles outbreak occurred in central Ohio. A study found that 20 months after the outbreak, MMR coverage across the entire primary care network (PCN) population remained well below herd immunity levels, with minimal gains.
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NewsTeam simulates a living cell that grows and divides
By simulating the life cycle of a minimal bacterial cell — from DNA replication to protein translation to metabolism and cell division — scientists have opened a new frontier of computer vision into the essential processes of life.
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NewsScientists develop novel gene therapy for hereditary hearing loss
Scientists have introduced an innovative gene therapy method to treat impairments in hearing and balance caused by inner ear dysfunction. The treatment holds promise for treating a wide range of mutations that cause hearing loss.
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NewsNew Center of Excellence to respond to the challenge of antibiotic-resistant bacteria
Boston Children’s Hospital and Tulane University have received $25 million in funding from NIAID/NIH to establish a Center of Excellence for Translational Research (CETR) called IMPACT (Immunization against Multidrug-resistant Pathogens: Activating T Cell Immunity).
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NewsSweet disguise: the human body hides RNA with sugar coatings
To our immune system, naked RNA is a sign of a viral or bacterial invasion and must be attacked. But our own cells also have RNA. To ward off trouble, our cells clothe their RNA in sugars, a new study reports.
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NewsInfectious disease surveillance platform BEACON launches as a new open-source global resource
The Biothreats Emergence, Analysis and Communications Network (BEACON), an open-source infectious diseases monitoring tool powered by AI and human experts, has been launched.
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NewsPartnering diet and intestinal microbes to protect against GI disease
New research suggests that we could get more out of our diets by harnessing intestinal microbes to break down plant compounds collectively known as phenolic glycosides. These compounds pair sugar molecules with a host of small molecules beneficial to human health.
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NewsA surprising link between Crohn’s disease and the Epstein-Barr virus
A longitudinal study has revealed strong and surprising evidence showing that exposure to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can lead to a higher risk of Crohn’s disease. Researchers are now trying to find out the mechanistic actions in their associations.
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NewsResearchers identify signs tied to more severe cases of RSV
In a new study, researchers found an increase in NK cells in the airways of children with severe RSV as well as other alterations that suggest these cells may be contributing to disease severity.
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NewsScientists get to the bottom of COVID’s worst pediatric complication
Scientists investigating multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) found their immune systems had latched onto a part of the coronavirus that closely resembles a protein found in their bodies, launching an attack on their own tissues.
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NewsFrom ‘hit to vial’: Discovery and optimization of a promising vaccine adjuvant
Scientists identified a new and promising adjuvant, dubbed PVP-037 - in principle, this compound can be added to any vaccine to enhance its action.
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NewsBoston Children’s Hospital receives a contract of up to $9 million to improve flu vaccines
The Precision Vaccines Program (PVP) at Boston Children’s Hospital has been awarded a contract from NIAID to develop a small molecule adjuvant to enhance the effectiveness of flu vaccines.