For Members
Issue #651
In this week's issue:
- Belly button bacteria oligarchs dominate our navel's ecosystem
- Bugs in the system
- Does the flu shot curb heart disease?
- Scientists explore new class of synthetic vaccines
- Malaria vaccine gives disappointing results
- Drinking Pig Worms to Fight Crohn's Disease
- Hints of a more virulent, mutating West Nile virus emerge
- Fighting bacteria with mucus
Belly button bacteria oligarchs dominate our navel's ecosystem
Wired
November 8, 2012
http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-11/08/belly-button-diversity-project
The Belly Button Biodiversity Project, which explores the bacterial ecosystems living in its participants' navels, has discovered that a small number of bacterial phylotypes (or "species") dominate the micro-landscape.
Bugs in the system
The Economist
November 3, 2012
http://www.economist.com/news/science-and-technology/21565586-bacterial-medicine-starting-emerge-bugs-system
Bacterial medicine is starting to emerge.
Does the flu shot curb heart disease?
CNN
October 30, 2012
http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/30/health/flu-shot-heart-disease/index.html
The influenza vaccine may reduce the risk of heart related disease and death by up to 50%, researchers say.
Scientists explore new class of synthetic vaccines
ASU Research Matters
August 2, 2012
http://researchmatters.asu.edu/stories/scientists-explore-new-class-synthetic-vaccines-2329
In a quest to make safer and more effective vaccines, scientists have turned to a promising field called DNA nanotechnology to make an entirely new class of synthetic vaccines.
Malaria vaccine gives disappointing results
Nature
November 9, 2012
http://www.nature.com/news/malaria-vaccine-gives-disappointing-results-1.11785
A vast phase III clinical trial in Africa of the malaria vaccine candidate RTS,S/AS01 reported disappointing results.
Drinking Pig Worms to Fight Crohn's Disease
ABC News
November 7, 2012
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/drinking-pig-worms-fight-crohns-disease/story?id=17664441#.UJ02OW_A-Ig
Whipworms might help fight autoimmune diseases like Crohn's.
Hints of a more virulent, mutating West Nile virus emerge
Washington Post
November 9, 2012
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/hints-of-a-more-virulent-mutating-west-nile-virus-emerge/2012/11/08/75e37776-2523-11e2-9313-3c7f59038d93_story.html
The West Nile virus epidemic of 2012, the worst in a decade, may be notorious for yet another reason: The virus, in some cases, is attacking the brain more aggressively than in the past, raising the specter that it may have mutated into a nastier form, say two neurologists who have extensive experience dealing with the illness.
Fighting bacteria with mucus
MIT News
November 8, 2012
http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2012/fighting-bacteria-with-mucus.html
Results from a recent study suggest a possible new source of protection against biofilm formation: polymers found in mucus.