News about Pathology & Microbiology

Some Cancers Affect Only Young Women, Study Findings

Among several forms of pancreatic cancer, one of them specifically affects women, often young. How is this possible, even though the pancreas is an organ with little exposure to sex hormones? This pancreatic cancer, known as "mucinous cyst", has strange similarities with another mucinous cancer, affecting the ovaries.

By conducting large-scale analyses of genomic data, both tumours originate from embryonic germ cells. While still undifferentiated, these cells migrate to the reproductive organs. On their way, some can mistakenly stop in other organs, bringing a risk of tumour that may occur 30 years later. Journal of Pathology , paves the way for a more appropriate and personalized management aligned with the tumour's origin.

Pathogenic Bacteria: New Diagnostic Platform Simultaneously Screens All

Scientists at the Center for Infection and Immunity (CII) in the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health have developed the first diagnostic platform that can simultaneously screen for all human pathogenic bacteria as well as markers for virulence and antibiotic resistance. A study in the journal mBio provides details on the performance of the BacCapSeq platform.

Genetic Achilles Heel Hurts Humans Fighting Hepatitis C

An antimicrobial signaling molecule called interferon lambda 4 has lower activity against the hepatitis C virus in the vast majority of humans compared with chimpanzees and African hunter-gatherer Pygmies, according to a new study

What Pneumococcus Says to Make You Sick

Researchers have identified a molecule that plays a key role in bacterial communication and infection. Their findings add a new word to pneumococcus ' molecular dictionary and may lead to novel ways to manipulate the bacterium and prevent infection

Higher Prevalence of K. Pneumoniae Strains in Neonates

The research was conducted by Kazan Federal University, Kazan State Medical University, City Clinical Children's Hospital No. 1, and Republican Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital. K. pneumoniae is known to cause a number of infectious diseases of lungs, kidneys, intestines, liver, and blood. It has become widely known in recent years because of the rapidly growing drug resistance supported by the production of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs).

Development of Effective Antibiotics by Understanding Metal-Free Enzymes Used by Bacteria

Some bacterial pathogens, including those that cause strep throat and pneumonia, are able to create the components necessary to replicate their DNA without the usually required metal ions. This process may allow infectious bacteria to replicate even when the host's immune system sequesters iron and manganese ions in an attempt to slow pathogen replication.

A new study, which appears in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, describes a novel subclass of metal-free ribonucleotide reductase enzymes used by these bacteria, an understanding of which could drive the development of new, more effective antibiotics.

Molecule that Plays Key Role in Bacterial Communication, Infection

Carnegie Mellon University researchers have identified a molecule that plays a key role in bacterial communication and infection. Their findings add a new word to pneumococcus' molecular dictionary and may lead to novel ways to manipulate the bacterium and prevent infection. The findings, from the Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Luisa Hiller, are published in the journal  PLOS Pathogens. 

New Antimicrobial Materials with New Approaches, Findings

Researchers have successfully incorporated 'photosensitizers' into a range of polymers, giving those materials the ability to render bacteria and viruses inactive using only ambient oxygen and visible-wavelength light. The study is published in the journal  ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. 

Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in ICU: Sink Traps are the Surprising Source

During a nationwide outbreak of healthcare-associated infections of an antibiotic-resistant bacteria, an Israeli hospital traced repeated infections of patients in its intensive care unit (ICU) to an unexpected source-sink trap, according to a study published in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.

Insights into Zika Mechanism, Findings

Researchers report a comprehensive analysis of interactions between Zika virus proteins and native human proteins. One of their findings gives insight into how Zika escapes immune signaling and where the virus proliferates inside the cell.

Drug-Resistant Pathogens: Genetic Disruption Strategy Effectively Stymies Evolution

A genetic disruption strategy developed by University of Colorado Boulder researchers effectively stymies the evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as E. coli, giving scientists a crucial leg up in the ongoing battle against deadly superbugs.

Tuberculsosis: Insights into how Harmful White Blood Cells Form

Insights into how harmful white blood cells form during tuberculosis infection point to novel targets for pharmacological interventions, according to a study published in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by Valentina Guerrini and Maria Laura Gennaro of Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, and colleagues.