More than half of the people in the world host colonies of a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori in their stomachs. Although it’s harmless to many, H. pylori can cause stomach cancer as well as ulcers and other gastric conditions. Doctors tend to prescribe multiple antibiotics to defeat the microbe, but that strategy can lead to…
Billions worldwide are infected with tropical worms. Unsurprisingly, most of these people live in poor countries, kept poor by the effects of worm-related malnourishment. What may surprise many is that worms also cause the majority of cases of some cancers in these countries. Published in Frontiers in Medicine as a special article collection on parasite-associated malignancy, new research…
QIAGEN N.V. recognized the annual World TB Day 2019 by highlighting its growing global commitment to preventive screening and treatment for latent tuberculosis (TB) infection, a widespread condition that can lead to active TB disease in vulnerable patients. QIAGEN is investing in several areas regarding ease of use, throughput, screening efficiency and test availability for…
Beware the ball pit. Ball pits used in children’s physical therapy—similar to those made popular by restaurants catering to families—may contribute to germ transmission between patients, according to new research published in the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC), the journal of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology. The popularity of ball pits has…
Infections with a Human Papillomavirus (HPV) cause 99 percent of cervical cancer cases, and the disease’s first sign is often the appearance of precancerous lesions on a woman’s cervix. But bacteria may play an important role, too. New research suggests that the cervical microbiome may influence HPV infection more than researchers previously thought. In a…
With the advent of more sensitive culture and molecular diagnostic testing modalities, Bartonella spp. infections; documented in blood and/or cerebrospinal fluid specimens from patients with diverse neurological symptoms. Pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS); characterized by an unusually abrupt onset of cognitive, behavioral, or neurological symptoms. Bartonella infection can mimic So, researchers at North Carolina State University…
Cholera strikes almost 3 million people each year worldwide, causing 95,000 deaths. An acute diarrheal infection, it’s prevalent in regions with inadequate access to clean water and sanitation. Now Tufts researchers are developing a treatment to prevent the spread of cholera, using viruses to attack the bacterium that causes the disease. It’s different than current…
In part because of its resistance to many antibiotics, tuberculosis kills approximately 1.7 million people worldwide each year. But new research from the University of Notre Dame suggests that structures released by the infected cells may be used in tandem with antibiotics to boost the body’s immune system, helping fight off the disease. The paper,…
Our bodies are continuously concocting specific antibodies to thwart invaders like a virus or even pollen, and scientists have new information about how the essential production gets fired up and keeps up. It’s a key protective mechanism that the scientists want to better understand with the long-term goal of manipulating it to help keep us…
Influenza type B, though generally less widespread than type A, poses a formidable threat for vulnerable populations like the elderly and the young. In the 2012-2013 flu season, for example, influenza type B caused the majority of deaths due to flu among children, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Findings…
Melanoma, also known as malignant melanoma, is a type of cancer that develops from the pigment-containing cells known as melanocytes. Melanomas typically occur in the skin, but may rarely occur in the mouth, intestines, or eye. In women, they most commonly occur on the legs, while in men they are most common on the back. Sometimes they develop from a mole with changes such…
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus that can infect almost anyone. Once infected, your body retains the virus for life. Most people don’t know they have CMV because it rarely causes problems in healthy people. But if you’re pregnant or have a weakened immune system, CMV is cause for concern. A woman who develops an…