All Infection Prevention & Control articles – Page 10
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NewsA natural molecule present in the human body protects against the flu
A research team has demonstrated that dermcidin, an antimicrobial peptide produced constitutively by the human body, also exhibits antiviral activity against the influenza virus. People who do not develop flu-like symptoms have higher baseline levels of this molecule.
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NewsCopper-loaded starch nanoparticles can target bacteria in microbial communities
Researchers have developed copper-loaded starch nanoparticles that can be broken down by specific bacteria to release antibacterial copper molecules. They hope that these nanoparticles can be used to target biofilms, which account for 50-70% of healthcare-associated infections.
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NewsScientists solve 40-year-old biological mystery behind sleeping sickness
Scientists have cracked a 40-year-old biological cold case by revealing how the parasite that causes sleeping sickness stays one step ahead of the human immune system.
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NewsNew vaccine strategy could help extend immunity against evolving viruses
Researchers have identified a possible way to make longer lasting vaccines for respiratory viruses like influenza and the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
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NewsResearchers move closer to preventing pandemics
Researchers have developed an AI tool that can help determine whether unfamiliar bacteria carry genetic features linked to disease. By enabling the detection of harmful bacteria before they infect humans, this could transform pandemic preparedness.
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NewsStudy reveals how a live bacterial therapy reshapes the vaginal microbiome and identifies predictors of treatment success
A new study provides the most detailed picture yet of how a promising bacterial therapy works to prevent recurrent bacterial vaginosis (BV) and why it works better for some women than others.
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NewsSpecific patterns of CD39 expression on T-cells of HIV/HCV coinfected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy
Researchers demonstrated that CD4+ T-cells act as the main regulators of purinergic signals in HIV/HCV coinfected and healthy individuals. At the same time, the proportion of CD4+ T-cells involved in the control of purinergic signaling was increased in HIV/HCV coinfected patients compared with healthy subjects.
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NewsScientists studying bird flu in the air to protect people and agricultural operations
New research will investigate how nonthermal plasmas can render aerosols containing the virus that causes bird flu incapable of infecting humans and livestock. The approach exposes air to strong electric fields, temporarily creating free electrical charges that damage viruses.
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NewsNew flu drug discovery could help fight future pandemics
Scientists say that new laboratory tests have revealed a new way to stop flu viruses, which could lead to better treatments and improved pandemic preparedness. The international team has developed experimental compounds that appear to block the virus more effectively than current medicines.
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NewsOver 250,000 deaths from meningitis globally in 2023; over one third in children under five
In 2023, globally 259,000 people died from meningitis and 2.5 million people were infected with the disease, suggests a study. Although death and infection rates have declined significantly since 1990, progress is insufficient to meet the WHO targets.
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NewsNew antibiotic alternative fights foodborne salmonella
Researchers have discovered a safe and highly effective natural virus that functions like a precision-guided missile, capable of eliminating harmful Salmonella on various foods and packaging materials, showing great potential as a novel guardian for food safety.
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NewsFirst Chagas disease conference on US soil highlights a turning point in national awareness
For the first time, a conference dedicated to Chagas disease research will be held on U.S. soil, marking a significant and symbolic moment for researchers, clinicians and public health leaders working to boost awareness of the disease in this country.
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NewsSimple antiseptic can reduce newborn infections
A new Cochrane review finds that chlorhexidine likely cuts umbilical cord infection rates by about 29% in low- and middle-income countries, and may reduce newborn deaths.
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NewsWhy is vaccination for target populations plummeting in the UK? Share your insights!
As a group of leading UK health experts launches a new Commission on Access to Vaccines to understand why access levels are falling across the UK, Applied Microbiology International is calling on members to share their insights on childhood vaccinations.
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NewsTracking bacteria’s protective armor could help find targeted vaccine targets
The first large-scale genetic study of E. coli’s protective armour has identified the five capsule types that are responsible for 70 per cent of all multidrug-resistant bloodstream infections in Europe.
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NewsHPV vaccination uptake in adults shaped by knowledge and medical advice
A nationwide survey of HPV uptake in Switzerland found just over 27% of the approximately 3,850 adults aged 18 to 45 surveyed had received at least one dose of the vaccine. While nearly 59% of those aged 18 to 26 are vaccinated, the rate drops to around 16% among those aged 27 to 45.
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NewsHealth experts from a new Commission call for a step change in vaccine access as coverage falls and potentially preventable outbreaks return
A group of leading UK health experts have today announced that they will be launching the Commission on Access to Vaccines to understand why access levels are falling across the UK and to recommend practical measures to reform vaccine delivery across the health system.
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NewsScreening and preventive treatment program reduced tuberculosis incidence 83% among Tibetan children living in northern India
A study shows that significant reduction of tuberculosis (TB) transmission and burden (the total impact of health problems on a population) among schoolchildren in high-burden areas can be achieved using existing TB screening, treatment and follow-up protocols.
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NewsAutoantibodies implicated as drivers of long COVID in new study
A new study shows that antibodies from Long COVID patients can induce persistent pain-like symptoms in mice. This provides evidence for a potential causal role of autoantibodies in Long Covid.
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NewsCancer drug repurposed to treat drug-resistant herpes
Researchers have successfully repurposed an FDA-approved cancer drug, doxorubicin, to treat drug-resistant strains of herpes. A digital tool that combs through chemical compounds and flags those that may be effective against herpes infections, identified doxorubicin, a known anticancer drug.