Pathogen News and Research

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‘Cultured meat’ will prevent zoonotic diseases such as that which may have caused COVID-19

Meat alternatives that are already at an advanced stage of development could be the solution to the high socioeconomic impact of zoonotic diseases.

From Biotech Foods 19 Jun 2020

Researchers use lead sequencing to determine the structure of RNAs

Scientists from RUB and the University of Münster have created a technique to simultaneously establish the structures of all RNA molecules in a bacterial cell.

18 Jun 2020

Combination drugs for COVID-19 show promise in laboratory tests

Six months into the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 7.4 million people have been infected, and more than 410 000 have died. As yet, there is no treatment or vaccine for the disease.

16 Jun 2020

BCG vaccine elicits trained immunity in humans

A tuberculosis vaccine developed 100 years ago also makes vaccinated persons less susceptible to other infections.

16 Jun 2020

Potent human antibodies protect against SARS-CoV-2 in animal tests

A team led by Scripps Research has discovered antibodies in the blood of recovered COVID-19 patients that provide powerful protection against SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes the disease, when tested in animals and human cell cultures.

16 Jun 2020

Interconnected mycobacteria stay alive longer

The tuberculosis pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis can protect itself better when combined and thus stay alive longer in the air.

15 Jun 2020

Parasite infection associated with the overall composition of gastrointestinal microbiome

Parasite infections are a constant presence for many people who live in tropical regions, particularly in less industrialized areas.

15 Jun 2020

Baylor researchers uncover a novel mechanism that triggers cellular immune response

Viruses and other disease-causing microbes influence the type of immune response their hosts will develop against them. In some cases, the predominant response involves antibodies, proteins made by the immune system that specifically recognize parts of the invading microbe and mediate its destruction.

12 Jun 2020

Lungs' immune cells can be activated more easily than previously thought

A significant site of damage during COVID-19 infection is the lungs. Understanding how the lungs' immune cells are responding to viral infections could help scientists develop a vaccine.

12 Jun 2020

New research pairs spectroscopy with classic plant pathology diagnostics

Kaitlin (Katie) Gold is an assistant professor within the Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology section of the School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University. At her lab, the Grape Sensing, Pathology, and Extension Lab at Cornell AgriTech, she studies the fundamental and applied science of plant disease sensing.

11 Jun 2020

Protein dynamics can help fight bacterial infections

When pathogenic bacteria infect, the body’s immune system attempts to remove these invaders. One method to do this is to trigger an inflammatory response.

10 Jun 2020

Understanding protein-coding gene's role in IBD

A protein-coding gene associated with autoimmune diseases such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, collectively referred to as inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, will be the focus of new research in the School of Medicine at the University of California, Riverside.

9 Jun 2020

Recombineering technique may overcome barriers in bacterial engineering

Genetic engineering of bacteria has transformed contemporary medicine, from bacterial-based insulin to a deeper insight into infectious diseases.

From Harvard Medical School 1 Jun 2020

CRISPR A Tool For Conservation, Not Just Gene Editing

The gene-editing technology CRISPR has been used for a variety of agricultural and public health purposes, and, more recently, a diagnostic test for COVID-19.

From The University of California, Davis 22 May 2020

Adding A Blend Of Spices To A Meal May Help Lower Inflammation

Adding an array of spices to your meal is a surefire way to make it tastier, but new Penn State research suggests it may increase its health benefits, as well.

22 May 2020

X-ray experiments reveal antibody to block entry of SARS-CoV-2

As scientists across the globe race to develop a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, an international team led by Davide Corti at Vir Biotechnology and David Veesler at the University of Washington has been working around the clock on a complementary approach - identifying neutralizing antibodies that could be used as a preventative treatment or as a post-exposure therapy.

20 May 2020