Infectious Diseases – Page 2 – PossibleThreat Articles

Wind turbine design and placement can mitigate negative effect on birds

October 19, 2019 0 Comments Bird Flu, Cold and Flu, Disability, Diseases and Conditions, Infectious Diseases, Influenza, Medical Topics

Wind energy is increasingly seen as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels, as it contributes to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. However, the rapid expansion of wind farms has raised concerns about the impact of wind turbines on wildlife. A new study provides comprehensive data on how turbines affect bird populations. The study suggests ways to mitigate negative effects through wind turbine design and placement, recommending taller turbines, shorter blades, and placement away from bird habitats.

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Preventing streptococci infections

October 18, 2019 0 Comments Bacteria, Biology, Biotechnology, Cystic Fibrosis, Infectious Diseases, New Species, Pharmaceuticals, Pharmacology

Researchers have discovered an enzyme they believe could be key to preventing Group A Streptococcus infections that cause more than 500,000 deaths worldwide each year. The enzyme works through a novel mechanism of action that can also be found in other streptococcal species, increasing the impact and relevance of this finding.

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A new approach to tackle superbugs

October 17, 2019 0 Comments Bacteria, Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Infectious Diseases, Microbes and More, Microbiology, Pharmaceuticals, Pharmacology, Ulcers

Scientists have uncovered a novel antibiotic-free approach that could help prevent and treat one of the most widespread bacterial pathogens, using nanocapsules made of natural ingredients.

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DEET gives humans an 'invisibilty cloak' to fend off mosquito bites

October 17, 2019 0 Comments Diseases and Conditions, Dogs, Human Biology, Infectious Diseases, Insects (including Butterflies), Malaria, Nature, Pests and Parasites

Since its invention during the Second World War for soldiers stationed in countries where malaria transmission rates were high, researchers have worked to pinpoint precisely how DEET actually affects mosquitoes.

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New effective vaccines for Lyme disease are coming

October 17, 2019 0 Comments Chronic Illness, Diseases and Conditions, Infectious Diseases, Joint Pain, Lyme Disease, Pain Control, STD, Vaccines

There is no effective vaccine currently available to prevent Lyme disease in humans. Experts from academia, government, and industry recently convened to tackle this public health challenge. Now, a new article reiterates the need to stop the infection, and defines a strategy for developing effective vaccines.

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Acaí berry extracts fight malaria in mice

October 17, 2019 0 Comments Diseases and Conditions, Genetically Modified, Infectious Diseases, Malaria, mice, Pests and Parasites, Pharmacology, rodents

Despite humanity's best efforts to eradicate malaria, the disease struck more than 200 million people in 2017, according to the World Health Organization. Worse yet, the parasite that causes malaria is developing resistance to many antimalarial drugs, including the mainstay, chloroquine. Researchers are actively searching for new treatments, and now, a group have found that acaí berry extracts can reduce parasites in the blood and prolong the survival of infected mice.

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In Baltimore, lower income neighborhoods have bigger mosquitoes

October 16, 2019 0 Comments Alzheimer's Research, Infectious Diseases, Insects (including Butterflies), Invasive Species, Malaria, Nature, Pests and Parasites, Viruses

Low-income urban neighborhoods not only have more mosquitoes, but they are larger-bodied, indicating that they could be more efficient at transmitting diseases. So reports investigating how socioeconomics influences mosquito-borne disease risk in Baltimore, Maryland.

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Nanomesh drug delivery provides hope against global antibiotic resistance

October 16, 2019 0 Comments Bacteria, Biotechnology, Infectious Diseases, Microbes and More, Microbiology, Pharmaceuticals, Pharmacology, Wounds and Healing

Researchers have produced a nanomesh that is capable of delivering drug treatments.

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Novel virus type may shed light on viral evolution

October 16, 2019 0 Comments Agriculture and Food, Biology, Herpes, HIV and AIDS, Infectious Diseases, Microbes and More, Virology, Viruses

Viruses are non-living creatures, consisting of genetic material encased in a protein coat. Once the virus infects a living organism, it can replicate itself and continue on. But what happens if a virus lacks the proper tools to infect an organism? How can it propagate? Researchers have uncovered a novel virus that may help answer those questions.

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How mucus tames microbes

October 14, 2019 0 Comments Bacteria, Biotechnology and Bioengineering, COPD, Cystic Fibrosis, Gastrointestinal Problems, Infectious Diseases, Microbes and More, Soil Types

A study from MIT reveals glycans, branched sugar molecules found in mucus, can prevent bacteria from communicating with each other and forming infectious biofilms, effectively rendering the microbes harmless.