The human microbiome is a bit of a buzzword in wellness circles, referring to the trillions of symbiotic microbial cells harbored within the body. The microbiota in each individual microbiome can contribute to healthy or unhealthy physical function. In other words, the bacteria in your body can affect everything from digestion and cognition to behavior. …
New Study Illuminates COVID-19 Neurological Symptoms
Difficulty thinking, concentrating, and remembering are amongst the most debilitating long-haul symptoms of COVID-19. In some cases, this “brain fog” can linger for months. Of the first 100 patients with confirmed COVID-19 infections whose symptoms lasted at least six weeks, 81 reported experiencing brain fog. Until recently, the underlying causes of these lingering COVID-19 neurological symptoms …
Understanding How Cells Tell RNA and DNA Apart Could Lead to New Antivirals
RNA viruses are known to cause a large number of diseases in humans, including COVID-19, measles, influenza, hepatitis, yellow fever and Zika. Most new and reemerging viral diseases, in fact, are based on RNA. While vaccines often have been effective against RNA viruses, treatments for disease caused by these viruses can be more challenging. One …
The Need Grows for New Antifungal Therapies
Unless you’re working in a highly controlled environment like a cleanroom, it’s safe to assume you are surrounded by fungi. Millions of fungal species live in soil, grow on plants, not to mention on our bodies. Every inhalation can introduce fungal spores. If you have never had to worry about this, it is because you …
The Most Effective COVID-19 Vaccine Could Be Intranasal
The pace of vaccine development against COVID-19 will certainly go down as one of the fastest in our history. In less than a year, a number of vaccines have been developed and distributed that prevent illness from COVID-19. In the U.S. alone, more than 200 million doses of vaccine have been distributed as of April …
Human Immune System Beats HIV for the First Time
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. Without treatment, HIV can cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). While there is currently no effective cure for HIV, scientists recently made a groundbreaking discovery: some rare patients, known as “elite controllers,” may be able to …
Five Criteria to Use When Selecting a CRO for a Gene Therapy Study
Contract research organizations (CROs) have been an integral part of drug development since the 1920s, first as providers of preclinical testing services, then as organizations that could manage clinical trials on behalf of their sponsors. While this makes the majority of CROs knowledgeable experts in the management of clinical trials, especially for traditional small-molecule therapies, …
How Houseplants Can Contribute to Fighting Multi-Resistant Germs
Plants can liven up a dreary space, purify our air, and generally keep us healthier – but what if they could contribute to innovative germ-fighting science, too? That question is at the center of recent research on multi-resistant, or multidrug-resistant germs. Why? Because these highly evolved germs are a major concern in healthcare environments. There, they …
COVID-19 and Allergies – Symptoms, Similarities, and the Science
The spring equinox arrived in March and with it came longer days, warmer temperatures and, for about eight percent of the world’s population, seasonal allergies. Prior to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, allergies were more of a nuisance than a serious health concern for most people. But beyond emotional duress stemming from the fact that seasonal allergy …
Natural Killer Cells May Play a Role in Preventing Parkinson’s Disease
According to the Global Burden of Disease study, 6.2 million patients live with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and this number is expected to double by 2040. Although promising medications, such as levadopa, have been introduced, there are currently no cures for PD. Researchers at the University of Georgia are trying to change that with their recent …
