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By Category: Research

Deadly Virus Could Be Fought With Drug that Lowers Cholesterol

(Science World Report) The hantavirus is a mysterious and lethal microorganism; a total of 30 cases occur in the United States each year. It suddenly appeared in the Southwest over 20 years ago in an outbreak that killed over a dozen people. The virus is considered extremely deadly, causing deaths in 30 to 40 percent Read More »

February 11, 2014
| Filed under Agents & Toxins, Public Health, and Research
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Newly found tactics in offense-defense struggle with hepatitis C virus

(EurekAlerts) The hepatitis C virus (HCV) has a previously unrecognized tactic to outwit antiviral responses and sustain a long-term infection. It also turns out that some people are genetically equipped with a strong countermeasure to the virus’ attempt to weaken the attack on it. The details of these findings suggest potential targets for treating HCV, Read More »

February 10, 2014
| Filed under North America, Public Health, and Research
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The structure of a protein identified that helps dengue and West Nile replicate and spread infection

(Medical News Today) Dengue fever and West Nile fever are mosquito-borne diseases that affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide each year, but there is no vaccine against either of the related viruses. A team of scientists at the University of Michigan and Purdue University has discovered a key aspect both to how the viruses Read More »

February 10, 2014
| Filed under Agents & Toxins and Research
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New study defines powerful bacterial immune response

(Medical News Today) T-cells, the elite guard of the immune system in humans and other mammals, ignore normal biologic protocol and swing into high gear when attacked by certain fast-moving bacteria, reports a team of researchers led by a UC Davis immunologist.

February 10, 2014
| Filed under North America and Research
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Flu Shot Fail: Why Doesn’t the Vaccine Always Work?

(NBC) Vaccines have wiped out smallpox and they’ve nearly eradicated polio. Vaccination can control measles and mumps, and they protect travelers against yellow fever and cholera. Most are so good that a few doses in childhood cover people for decades, even life. But there’s one vaccine that people have to get every single year, and Read More »