Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease, are often associated with the build-up of cellular debris, like misfolded proteins, within the brain. These buildups are usually managed by the immune system with the help of cells called astrocytes and microglia, which scour the central nervous system following possible injury or damage. Researchers …
Can We Reverse Aging by Targeting Old Cells?
James Kirkland and Tamara Tchkonia, researchers at the Mayo Clinic, are at the forefront of a movement focused on stopping chronic disease by targeting aging cells. These so-called “senescent” cells are cells that stop dividing but don’t die. They can build up in tissues due to damage, stress, or — most commonly — aging. And …
Harnessing the Power of Monoclonal Antibodies in the Fight Against Malaria
Monoclonal antibodies have been deployed to treat a variety of diseases, from cancer to COVID-19. Now this treatment approach, which doesn’t depend on the body’s ability to build immunity like vaccines do, is targeting malaria. In a Phase II clinical trial, a monoclonal antibody known as CIS43LS was found to be 88 percent effective in …
First Vaccine for Honeybees Prevents American Foulbrood
A healthy honeybee population is a critical component of healthy ecosystems, clean air, and stable soil. Honeybees also play a critical role in food production, providing an astonishing estimated $15 billion in crops annually in the United States alone. So the rapid decline in the honeybee population, which has been plummeting since 2006, has been …
Precision Steering of CAR-T Therapies May Effectively Target More Tumor Types
Recent years have seen increased research interest in the potential of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cancer therapies. This approach uses genetic engineering to modify T cells from a person with cancer so that the cells will make CARs, proteins that can detect cancer cells and identify them as targets for killer T cells. Although such …
First Malaria Vaccine Is a Milestone Achievement and Poses a Manufacturing Challenge
Following 30 years of research and development, the first malaria vaccine was recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for widespread use in children living in countries with moderate to high P. falciparum malaria transmission. The vaccine, known as RTS,S/AS01, is marketed as Mosquirix and manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). It is not only the first …
Genome Sequencing Labs in Africa and Asia Expand Beyond COVID-19 to Endemic Diseases
Funding unlocked during the COVID-19 pandemic allowed many countries in Asia and Africa to perform in-house genome sequencing, resulting in faster results and action that can help stem the spread of disease. Previously, samples would be sent to distant labs for analysis. Now, many countries are using the increased capacity to analyze samples from other …
Flush Analysis Reveals Potentially Harmful Plumes from Powerful Public Toilets
Flushing a toilet sends waste and water down, but do you ever wonder about what is sprayed up into the air at the same time? Research using a pulsing laser beam, a lidless toilet, and a camera positioned to document the aerosol plume has provided new insight into the potential pathogens you may encounter in …
Is Stool Screening an Effective Tool for Preventing Colon Cancer?
Colonoscopies have historically been the dominant method of screening for early detection of colon cancer, the third leading cause of cancer death in the United States for both men and women. However, recent research has not only challenged the conventional wisdom on the effectiveness of colonoscopies in reducing the risk of developing and dying from …
Research on Extending Lifespan with Cell Reprogramming Yields “Cautious Optimism”
Investors are pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into research designed to minimize the harms of aging through genetic engineering. The San Diego-based biotech, Rejuvenate Bio, added to the flurry of research in this area with a preprint article (not peer-reviewed) that appeared on the bioRxiv website. In the paper, Rejuvenate scientists presented the widely …
