It’s hard to imagine millions of people going partially blind unnoticed. However, the sense of smell is much easier to overlook. People can live with a reduced sense of smell and never realize it. This condition can still create serious health and safety risks.

Millions of Americans may have lost their sense of smell unknowingly. COVID-19 can cause a partial or total loss of smell, called hyposmia or anosmia, respectively. Viruses disrupt the cells and receptors in nasal passageways. Sense of smell can recover, but it does not always return.

[Read more…]

Napoleon’s failed 1812 invasion of Russia remains a historic military disaster. His army entered Russia with about half a million soldiers. Yet, fewer than 100,000 returned, and some estimates fall as low as 10,000. Disease was one of several devastating forces behind this catastrophic loss.

A recent investigation uncovered clues about the infections that struck Napoleon’s troops. Researchers examined 13 teeth from male soldiers found in a mass grave in Vilnius, Lithuania. The teeth contained preserved tissue and blood traces that held microbial DNA fragments.

[Read more…]

It sounds like a horror movie. A hidden parasite lurks in the brains of millions of Americans without them knowing. Yet, this is not a fictional scenario. The Toxoplasma gondii parasite lives in 40 million Americans.

The illness usually goes untreated unless it causes serious complications. However, new research sheds light on a low-risk way to stop the parasite’s replication. Researchers at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine studied the baseline function of T. gondii.

[Read more…]

Scientists have made a surprising discovery that could change antibiotic research. They found a new antibiotic hiding within bacteria already studied for decades. This unexpected find could open a new path for discovering life-saving drugs. It may also become a crucial tool against antimicrobial resistance.

Antibiotic resistance is growing worldwide. A 2023 World Health Organization report showed that one in six common bacteria resisted treatment. This marked a 40% rise since 2018, with resistance increasing by 5 to 15% each year. Such rapid growth makes finding new antibiotics more urgent than ever.

[Read more…]

Tuberculosis remains the world’s deadliest infectious disease, despite being treatable and preventable. It kills about 1.6 million people every year, mostly in low-income countries.

Researchers have developed a new compound called CMX410 that targets tuberculosis bacteria. The compound shuts down a vital enzyme called polyketide synthase 13, or PKS-13. This enzyme helps the bacteria build a protective outer shell.

[Read more…]

Like extra bombs tucked away inside a missile, viruses hidden inside bacteria don’t seem like a great place to find new treatments. However, researchers from Penn State found viral DNA within ancient bacteria that helped them fight viruses. Specifically, the enzyme called PinQ flips a switch on bacterial genes. The result is the generation of proteins that block viruses from infecting bacteria.

By studying this mechanism, researchers may uncover new antiviral drugs and antibiotics. The discovery could also impact industrial microbiology and bioengineering.

[Read more…]

They say to know your enemy. What better way than to see it in atomic detail? Researchers at the University of Queensland achieved this with the yellow fever virus. They captured high-resolution images showing structural differences between vaccine strains and wild strains.

These maps revealed how the two virus types affect the immune system differently. Yellow fever virus, or YFV, is a deadly mosquito-borne disease. It damages the liver and causes fever, jaundice, and internal bleeding. Severe cases can lead to organ failure and death.

[Read more…]

MIT biological engineers found new targets for a better tuberculosis vaccine. They identified specific antigens that may trigger stronger immune responses. These findings could lead to vaccine candidates that protect more effectively. Tuberculosis remains the world’s deadliest infectious disease.

Researchers conducted a large-scale screen of TB proteins to find potential targets. The screening revealed multiple antigens suitable for new vaccine design. From over 4,000 bacterial proteins, scientists pinpointed several highly immunogenic peptides. These peptides caused powerful reactions from T-cells, which fight infections.

[Read more…]

Long COVID remains a major diagnostic and treatment gap today. Millions of Americans battle severe and persistent symptoms each day.

Recent research shows a hidden change could drive these symptoms. Researchers assessed blood samples from Long COVID patients. They found abnormal changes in microscopic blood structures linked to common symptoms like brain fog and fatigue.

These findings could guide future therapies that address this gap. The study found strong links between these biomarkers and Long COVID. The biomarkers appear connected to thrombo-inflammatory activity in the body.

Thrombo-inflammatory activity involves blood clots triggered by inflammation. Inflammation can develop due to disease and immune responses.

[Read more…]

Exercise offers many proven health benefits for people. A recent study claimed daily walking could increase lifespan by over ten years. New benefits of exercise continue to appear through ongoing research. One new benefit relates to immune system improvement.

Researchers found exercise may improve immune responses to inflammation. Immune cells handled inflammation better when it appeared in the body. The study focused on older adults who used endurance exercise routines. Endurance exercise included running, biking, swimming, rowing, and walking.

Natural killer cells, or NK cells, are white blood cells. They detect and destroy infected, diseased, or mutated cells. NK cells can also help the body fight cancer. These cells showed changes in regularly exercising adults.

NK cells in active adults adapted better to disease threats. They produced lower levels of inflammation during immune responses. They also used energy more efficiently during normal function.

[Read more…]