All Northwestern University articles
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NewsTumor-like tissue environments could hold clues to curing HIV
The tissue microenvironments surrounding HIV-infected immune cells look a lot like those surrounding cancerous tumors, reports a new study. The findings help explain why HIV has been so difficult to cure.
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NewsWhy plastic lingers: Water chemistry slows nature’s cleanup
In a new study designed to mimic real environmental conditions, researchers found that the chemical makeup of natural waters significantly delays the breakdown of polystyrene, a common plastic used in packaging and food containers. Because sunlight cannot effectively initiate the degradation process, microbes cannot finish the job.
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NewsFlu drugs show promise against cognitive decline
A class of flu drugs may reduce cognitive decline and premature aging in people living with chronic viral infection. Scientists identified a new biological culprit: the degradation of protective sugar molecules in our bodies, known as glycans, that normally help keep inflammation in check.
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NewsOrganized microbial ‘workforces’ keep Earth’s underground biosphere running
By studying life deep inside a former gold mine, scientists uncovered evidence that Earth’s hidden biosphere operates less like a random collection of microbes and more like an organized workforce. From site to site, the ecosystems were incredibly different from one another but largely stable through time.
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NewsStudy reveals core values that drive Black and Hispanic parents’ decisions on vaccinating their kids against COVID-19
Persistently low rates of COVID-19 vaccination in Black and Hispanic children suggest that parents in these communities tend to be hesitant about the vaccine for their kids, even when they have received it themselves. A new study sheds light on the factors influencing decisions about vaccination.
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NewsHeart health may have impacted the risk of severe COVID-19 infection during the pandemic
Adults with highest heart health scores at the beginning of the pandemic were nearly half as likely to be hospitalized or die from COVID-19 when compared to those with the lowest scores, according to new research.
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NewsHPV cancer vaccine slows tumor growth, extends survival in preclinical model
Scientists discovered that systematically changing the orientation and placement of a single cancer-targeting peptide can lead to formulations that supercharge the immune system’s ability to attack HPV-driven tumors.
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NewsAntibiotic-resistant bacteria found in many healthy birthing mothers and their newborns
A recent study found gut bacteria resistant to common antibiotics in a sizable percentage of healthy birthing mothers and their newborns. In this study, 38% of bacterial strains resistant to ceftriaxone transmitted from mother to infant were E. coli.
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NewsMicrobes may hold the key to brain evolution
A groundbreaking new study reveals that changes to the gut microbiome can change the way the brain works. It provides the first empirical data showing the direct role the gut microbiome plays in shaping differences in the way the brain functions across different primate species.
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NewsNew 15-minute hepatitis C test paves the way for same-day treatment
Scientists have developed the fastest test yet for diagnosing hepatitis C virus (HCV). The highly accurate diagnostic delivers results to patients in just 15 minutes - crucial for kickstarting patients’ treatment before they leave their appointment.
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NewsManganese is Lyme disease bacterium’s double-edged sword
For decades, Lyme disease has frustrated both physicians and patients alike. Caused by the corkscrew-shaped bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, the infection, if left untreated, can linger for months, leading to fever, fatigue and painful inflammation. Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention This digitally colorized scanning electron microscopic ...
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NewsRisk of long COVID in kids doubles after second infection
Children and adolescents were twice as likely to experience long COVID after catching COVID for the second time, compared to their peers with a single previous infection, results running counter to the popular perceptions that COVID in children is ‘mild’.
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NewsBacteria rewire digestive systems to turn plant waste into power
A new study shows that Pseudomonas putida, a common soil bacterium, completely reorganizes its metabolism to thrive on complex carbons from lignin. By slowing down some metabolic pathways while accelerating others, the bacterium manages to extract energy from lignin without exhausting itself.
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NewsOrganized scientific fraud is growing at an alarming rate, study reveals
Although concerns around scientific misconduct typically focus on lone individuals, a study of scientific fraud has uncovered sophisticated global networks of individuals and entities, which systematically work together to undermine the integrity of academic publishing.
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NewsSummer travel ‘will increase the spread of measles,’ expert says
The number of measles cases in the U.S. has reached its highest point in 33 years, and outbreaks are expected to continue, especially amid national and international travel.
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NewsPlacebo-testing vaccines is unethical, ‘a waste of time and money,’ expert says
The proposal to require that all new vaccines undergo safety testing in placebo-controlled trials is ethically problematic and will slow testing down for no good reason, warn scientists.
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NewsExperts stress importance of vaccination amidst measles outbreaks
Pediatric infectious diseases experts stress the importance of vaccination against measles, one of the most contagious viruses, which is once more spreading in the United States.
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NewsNovel point-of-care technology delivers accurate HIV results in minutes
Scientists have developed new technology that could lead to the creation of a rapid point-of-care test for HIV infection competitive with traditional lab-based HIV testing in a fraction of the time and without the need for a stressful wait.
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NewsMicrobial therapy offers new hope for vitiligo patients
A natural compound derived from gut-friendly bacteria significantly slows the progression of vitiligo and may restore pigmentation, reports a new pre-clinical study in mice.
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NewsStudy reveals how ‘Conan the Bacterium’ withstands extreme radiation
Deinococcus radiodurans can withstand radiation doses thousands of times higher than what would kill a human - and scientists have uncovered the secrets of the antioxidant that confers this protection.