Cystic Fibrosis News and Research

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Cystic fibrosis is a life threatening, inherited disease of the exocrine glands. The condition primarily affects the digestive and respiratory systems which become clogged with a thick, sticky mucus. Cystic fibrosis is caused by a mutation in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene which results in an excess of salt and water passing into cells, causing a thick, sticky mucus to build up in bodily passageways.

UQ Researchers Reveal Mechanism of Immune Evasion by Haemophilus influenzae

Researchers from The University of Queensland have identified how a common bacterium is able to manipulate the human immune system during respiratory infections and cause persistent illness.

12 Jul 2024

New Gene Editing Technique Outperforms Existing Therapies

Cystic fibrosis, a prevalent genetic disorder, leads to thick mucus accumulation in the lungs and other parts of the body, resulting in breathing difficulties and infections.

11 Jul 2024

Selfish No More: Genetic Elements Give Phages a Competitive Edge

Curious bits of DNA tucked inside genomes across all kingdoms of life historically have been disregarded since they don't seem to have a role to play in the competition for survival.

7 Jul 2024

High-Pressure Processing Revolutionizes Food And Pharmaceutical Industries

How high pressure impacts protein structure, unfolding, refolding, and crystallization.

1 Jul 2024

Flower Bulbs and Compost Carry Hidden Threat of Fungal Infection

That pile of soil you bought at the home improvement store may contain more than just dirt, according to new research from the University of Georgia.

26 Jun 2024

Engineered Enzyme Boosts Gene Editing Efficiency for Potential Cystic Fibrosis Treatment

Researchers at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard have enhanced a gene-editing technology, enabling it to efficiently insert or substitute entire genes in the genome of human cells.

11 Jun 2024

Sonification Reveals Hidden Patterns in Protein Folding Dynamics

By converting their data into sounds, scientists discovered how hydrogen bonds contribute to the lightning-fast gyrations that transform a string of amino acids into a functional, folded protein.

21 May 2024

Warwick researchers discover giant phage with potential as a treatment for lung infections

Scientists have found a new bacteria-fighting agent that can attack a common lung infection caused by Burkholderia bacteria.

4 Apr 2024

Scientists Design Proteins to Reach Hidden Cellular Targets

Drug developers have long faced challenges in reaching targets embedded within the cell membrane because of the membrane's complex biochemical properties. Chemists at Scripps Research have now shown that novel, specially made proteins are capable of effectively reaching these “intramembrane” targets.

14 Mar 2024

Novel Antibiotic Discovery: Harnessing Energy Compounds to Combat Bacterial Infections

About a decade ago, researchers in UC Santa Barbara chemistry professor Guillermo Bazan's lab began to observe a recurring challenge in their research: Some of the compounds they were developing to harness energy from bacteria were instead killing the microbes.

22 Feb 2024

Retrotransposon-Based PRINT Technique Holds Potential for Precise Gene Insertion

The recent approval of a CRISPR-Cas9 therapy for sickle cell disease demonstrates that gene editing tools can do a superb job knocking out genes to cure hereditary disease.

22 Feb 2024

Accelerating Genetic Research - The Story Behind One-pot DTECT

Dr Pierre Billon, PhD, grew increasingly frustrated with the lengthy turnaround times and high costs associated with obtaining genetic analysis from specialized private laboratories

8 Feb 2024

Scientists Reinvent Spectinomycin as a Powerhouse Weapon for Drug-Resistant Superbug

Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital are tackling Mycobacterium abscessus (Mab) antibiotic resistance.

10 Jan 2024

Mechanism of Pathogenic Fungus Aspergillus fumigatus Unveiled

An international team of researchers, led by Professor Gustavo Goldman of the University of São Paulo and Maynooth University's Dr Özgür Bayram, has unveiled ground-breaking findings on Aspergillus fumigatus, which can cause deadly disease in humans.

5 Jan 2024

Bioengineered Enzyme-Based Scissors can Selectively Remove Mucins Off Cancer Cells

Cancer cells can evade the body's immune defenses by exploiting a normally helpful and ubiquitous group of molecules known as mucins.

24 Aug 2023

Small RNA Identified as Regulator During Bacterial Infection

Infection risk is always there in those with compromised immune systems. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a typical environmental bacterium, can colonize several body areas, including the lungs.

15 Jun 2023

NSU Research Unlocks How Bacteria "Work Together" to Exacerbate Infections

"Know thy self; know thy enemy" - Sun Tzu. That quote is from centuries ago, but it is applicable in so many ways.

9 May 2023

Researchers Reveal Dual Nature of Beneficial Bacteria UD1022

Alfalfa, also known in Latin as Medicago sativa, is an agricultural crop that is part of the legume family. It is known as a protein-rich food source for dairy cattle that is easily digested and can lead to increased milk production.

19 Apr 2023

Study Paves the Way to Targeted Treatments for Stargardt Disease

A recent study in the Journal of Biological Chemistry revealed the key to a protein that commonly causes blindness.

5 Apr 2023

Surface Structure Impacts Quorum Signaling of Bacteria Across Biofilms

Similar to how cells within human tissues communicate and function together as a whole, bacteria are also able to communicate with each other through chemical signals, a behavior known as quorum signaling (QS).