All USA & Canada articles – Page 3
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NewsMolecules that fight infection also act on the brain, inducing anxiety or sociability
New research on a cytokine called IL-17 adds to growing evidence that immune molecules can influence behavior during illness.
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NewsNew research boosts future whooping cough vaccines
By blocking the pertussis toxin epitopes with new found antibodies, researchers improved the pertussis vaccines to provide stronger, long-lasting immunity for infected and high-risk infants.
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NewsNew COVID-19 drug shows greater promise against resistant viral strains
A new standalone oral drug candidate has proven to be effective against Paxlovid-resistant COVID-19 strain in animal models. It works with low doses and cause no drug interaction-induced side effects.
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NewsMicroscopy reveals signs of life in earth’s extremes, boosting search for alien life
Researchers used advanced microscopy to detect microbial biosignatures that help to identify the signs of life in extreme environments on Earth, thus also applicable in the search of life in extraterrestial environments.
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NewsAn antiviral chewing gum to reduce influenza and herpes simplex virus transmission
Researchers have used a clinical-grade antiviral chewing gum to substantially reduce viral loads of two herpes simplex viruses and two influenza A strains in experimental models. The chewing gum could also work against bird flu.
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NewsThe new season of The Last of Us has a spore-ting chance at realism
The trailer for the hit HBO series appears to show the ’zombie fungus’ cordyceps infecting humans by releasing air-borne spores, instead of through tentacles — closer to scientific reality, according to experts.
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NewsResearchers reveal why young plants may be more vulnerable to disease
A new study on baby plants shows that fighting disease at a young age often comes at a steep cost to growth and future evolutionary fitness—or their ability to reproduce.
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NewsAlternative approach to Lyme disease vaccine development shows promise in pre-clinical models
An international research team finds genetically engineered Lyme bacterial proteins could offer long-standing protection against infection while requiring fewer vaccinations.
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NewsScientists link a phytoplankton bloom to starving dolphins in Florida
In 2013, 8% of the bottlenose dolphins living in Florida’s Indian River Lagoon died. Investigations have now revealed that the dolphins may have starved because key habitats for nutritious prey were destroyed by a phytoplankton bloom driven by the accumulation of fertilizer, effluent from septic tanks, and other by-products of human activity.
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NewsAMI members develop rapid test for bacterium that costs poultry industry billions globally
Scientists have developed a rapid, sensitive and specific test for a bacterial pathogen that is responsible for necrotic enteritis in poultry, a disease that causes billions in global economic losses annually.
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NewsHow a small number of mutations can fuel outbreaks of western equine encephalitis virus
New research shows how small shifts in the molecular makeup of a virus can profoundly alter its fate. These shifts could turn a deadly pathogen into a harmless bug or supercharge a relatively benign virus, influencing its ability to infect humans.
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NewsResearch uncovers hidden spread of one of the most common hospital-associated infections
By tracking Clostridium difficile through the hospital environment, rather than on patients alone, scientists have uncovered previously undetected movement of bacteria through hospital settings.
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NewsThe beginning of the end: Setting a global target for rubella eradication
Scientists discuss the 2024 World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendation for universal introduction of rubella-containing vaccines (RCVs) into childhood vaccination programs in all countries – particularly in the remaining 19 countries that have yet to do so.
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NewsSome gut bacteria could make certain drugs less effective
Researchers discovered that gut bacteria can metabolize oral administered drugs that target G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) and potentially other chemicals and food compounds, leading to impacts on the effectiveness of medication to patients.
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NewsMuseum collections reveal worldwide spread of butterfly disease
A new study of museum butterfly collections explore how these specimens can be used to track the spread of disease. Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (OE) is a protozoan parasite that can hamper a butterfly’s growth and flight.
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NewsPinning down the process of West Nile virus transmission
A US project aims to use mathematical models to analyze how factors like temperature, light pollution, and bird and mosquito abundance affect West Nile virus transmission. The ultimate goal is to advise health departments of the best time of year to kill the bugs.
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NewsMicroalgae and bacteria team up to convert CO2 into useful products
Most methods of genetically modifying the bacterium Escherichia coli and other microbes to convert carbon dioxide into useful biological products require additional carbon sources. A new study overcomes this limitation by combining the photosynthetic finesse of a single-celled algae with the production capabilities of the bacteria E. coli.
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NewsMiso made in space tastes nuttier, researchers on the ISS find
A new study reveals how researchers successfully made miso on the International Space Station (ISS). They found that the miso smelled and tasted similar to miso fermented on Earth—just with a slightly nuttier, more roasted flavor. The team hopes this research will help broaden the culinary options available to astronauts.
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NewsFAU secures $1.3 million NIH grant for breakthrough in HIV self-test technology
To address the urgent need for a reliable, rapid and affordable self-test for early HIV detection, researchers have been awarded phase-II of a five-year, $1.3 million grant which will support the development of an innovative disposable microchip technology designed for HIV-1 self-testing during the first two weeks post-infection.
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NewsNew Cedars-Sinai study shows how specialized diet can improve gut disorders
A new study examined whether a specialized diet could improve symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders linked to an imbalance in gut microbiota. The research tested the elemental diet’s effectiveness and explored whether improving its unappealing taste— a major barrier—could help patients adhere to the diet’s stringent protocol.