Breast milk protein safely decreases infections in preemies

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, was formerly a leading cause of death in children in the United States and around the world before vaccines were introduced in the 1940s.

Existing antivirals may be less effective against this H5N1 bird flu strain, and prevention measures, such as avoiding raw milk consumption and reducing exposure in dairy workers, may be the most effective way to protect against the virus.

Researchers have successfully demonstrated a technique for encapsulating bacteria, which can subsequently be preserved and applied to plants to promote their growth and protect them from pests and infections. The technique paves the way for a variety of crop applications that will enable farmers to use these beneficial bacteria in conjunction with agrochemicals.

Immunotherapy, or antibody treatment that activates the patient's own immune system against cancer, is increasingly being studied as an alternative to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This is because it directly targets cancer cells, reducing the negative effects associated with more conventional treatments.

In a recent study, scientists from The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) and UConn Health not only show how cancer hijacks this tightly regulated splicing and rearranging of RNA but also introduce a potential therapeutic strategy that could slow or even shrink aggressive and hard-to-treat tumors. This discovery could transform how we treat aggressive cancers, such as triple-negative breast cancer and certain brain tumors, where current treatment options are limited.

In a startling discovery, a team of Boston University researchers found that bacteria exposed to microplastics became resistant to multiple types of antibiotics commonly used to treat infections.

Antidepressants, such as Prozac, are routinely used to treat mental health issues, but recent research reveals they may also protect against major infections and life-threatening sepsis. Scientists at the Salk Institute have now discovered how medications regulate the immune system and protect against infectious disease, providing insights that could lead to a new generation of life-saving treatments and improve global readiness for future pandemics.

The researchers have identified a rare type of immune cell, called stem-like T cells, that holds the key to maintaining powerful, long-term immune responses against cancer and other chronic infections.

Prolonged illnesses, such as cancer and persistent infections, can fatigue the immune system, causing its frontline defenders, T cells, to lose their ability to act efficiently.

A new study has found that the composition of the gut microbiome helps in predicting how likely a person will succumb to potentially life-threatening infection with Klebsiella pneumoniae, E.coli and other bugs -- and it may be altered by changing your diet.