The foot-and-mouth-disease virus is helping scientists to tackle a common cancer with the worst survival rate — pancreatic cancer. Researchers at Queen Mary University of London have identified a peptide, or protein fragment, taken from the foot-and-mouth-disease virus that targets another protein, called ?v?6 (alpha-v-beta-6). This protein is found at high levels on the surface…

A team of researchers found that immune cells undergoing stress and an altered metabolism are the reasons why some individuals become sick from viral infections while others do not, when exposed to the same virus. The findings, published in top medical journal Nature Medicine, have important implications for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases…

Researchers have developed a high-throughput screen methodology to identify compounds affect a key G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) rhodopsin (Rh). GPCRs mediate many important physiological functions and are considered to be one of the most effective therapeutic targets for a broad spectrum of diseases, ranging from diabetes to immune system disorders. The study, titled «Identification…

The main bioactive compound of ginger root lowers autoantibody production and helps halt disease progression in mice with antiphospholipid syndrome and lupus. Ginger is known to have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects, making it a popular herbal supplement to treat inflammatory diseases. And according to a Michigan Medicine led study published in JCI Insight, the main…

The discovery of new drugs is vital to achieving the eradication of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Africa and around the world. Now, researchers have identified traditional Ghanaian medicines which work in the lab against schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis, three diseases endemic to Ghana. The major intervention for NTDs in Ghana is currently mass…

Researchers demonstrated the relationship between improvements in zebrafish’s hunting skills and the development of sensory coding in a part of the brain which responds to visual stimuli. When zebrafish are learning to hunt fast-moving prey, it is a highly dynamic period in their development. The researchers demonstrated the relationship between improvements in zebrafish’s hunting skills…

Today, the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) published new COVID-19 guidance for gastroenterologists treating patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). While the COVID-19 pandemic is a global health emergency, patients with IBD have particular concerns for their risk for infection and management of their medical therapies. This clinical practice update incorporates the emerging understanding of COVID-19…

Biomedical engineers have developed a system for real-time observations at the cellular level in the colon of a living mouse. It employs a magnetic system to stabilize the colon during imaging while otherwise allowing the gut to move and function normally. Researchers expect the procedure to allow new investigations into the digestive system’s microbiome as…

Researchers developed a technique in laboratory animals to consistently and reproducibly open the blood-brain barrier. This barrier serves as a barricade securing the brain from the external world blocking out certain environmental toxins, but also prevents drug therapies from reaching their intended targets. The new technique is based on a routine procedure for removing clots…

A study has identified a gene, KCNJ15, that is associated with helping our immune system fight tuberculosis (TB), and potentially other infectious diseases. The team used high-throughput genomic technologies to learn how the DNA packaging in blood cells changes when a person has active TB, a bacterial disease that killed one and a half million…