Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses News

1. Common HIV treatments may aid Alzheimer's disease patients

   Scientists have identified promising real-world links between common HIV drugs and a reduced incidence of Alzheimer's disease.

2. Specific nasal cells protect against COVID-19 in children

   Important differences in how the nasal cells of young and elderly people respond to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, could explain why children typically experience milder COVID-19 symptoms, a new study finds.

3. Antibiotics aren't effective for most lower tract respiratory infections

   Use of antibiotics provided no measurable impact on the severity or duration of coughs even if a bacterial infection was present, finds a large, prospective study of people who sought treatment in U.S. primary or urgent care settings for lower-respiratory tract infections.

4. New drug prevents flu-related inflammation and lung damage

   Findings show a newly created drug can prevent runaway inflammation while still allowing the immune system to handle the virus, even when given late into infection.

5. Scientists identify pro-aging 'sugar signature' in the blood of people living with HIV

   Scientists have identified sugar abnormalities in the blood that may promote biological aging and inflammation in people living with HIV.

6. Scientists further our understanding of how a foodborne bacterium can survive in food preparation environments

   Scientists have discovered that bacterial populations remain stable on factory floor despite cleaning efforts in ready-to-eat food production facilities.

7. Wound treatment gel fights the battle against antibacterial resistance

   Polymer-based hydrogels are used to treat skin ailments and in tissue engineering because of their ability to retain water, deliver drugs into wounds, and biodegrade. However, they are complicated to manufacture and not very resilient to external forces like rubbing against clothing, sheets, or wound dressings. Scientists have now created a hydrogel enhanced with the amino acid polylysine and blood plasma that is easier to synthesize, contains natural antibiotic properties, and promotes cell growth.

8. Researchers develop more broadly protective coronavirus vaccine

   Researchers have developed a new vaccine that offers broad protection against not only SARS-CoV-2 variants, but also other bat sarbecoviruses. The groundbreaking trivalent vaccine has shown complete protection with no trace of virus in the lungs, marking a significant step toward a universal vaccine for coronaviruses.