Fight against Superbug, now Researchers rely on the Worms

The researchers at the University of Technology Sydney is undergoing an important mission to find ways to overcome the superbug prevalences throughout the world. Jana Soares, a researcher student taking care the worms with a combination of antibiotics and anti-microbial peptide, which is commonly used for food preservation for many days.

US student Jana Soares is following up work done at the UTS ithree institute. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1Zq7eJ)

The worms are infected with the superbug which commonly called Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which are resistant against many types of antibiotics. These bacteria commonly infect humans who are hospitalized for more than one week and also can be life-threatening.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1Zq72o)

"This is important research because we are trying to develop treatments for patients in the future," said Soares.

"Currently we use antibiotics which are no longer used in the clinic because the bacteria have developed resistance to these antibiotics,"

"We need to find new antibiotics or new ways to reduce the microbial resistance to antibiotics,"

Jana Soares is a US student who was sent to study at postgraduate Fulbright scholarship funds to follow up previous findings by Associate Professor Cynthia Whitchurch from UTS ithree institutions.

Microscopic worms have been infected with florescent Pseudomonas aeruginosa and treated with a combination of antibiotics. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1Zq7eJ)

She infecting the nematodes with glowed  strains of P. aeruginosa that will glow green under a microscope. This allows her to monitor whether there is a decrease of bacteria after the nematodes were given a combination of antibiotics. If the worm successfully survive, the researchers plan tested this model on mice before conducting clinical trials on human (if this method proves truly successful).

"This is a good stepping stone to get an idea of ​​how we could find new methods to tackle antibiotic resistance," she said.

"All the things we can do to understand how to overcome antibiotic resistance or find new antibiotics will be able to save lives,"

"Resistance to antibiotics is currently a source of concern for public health throughout the world,"

Australian citizen concerns become increasingly significant for some time following a report about a man in Victoria who died after being infected with Klebsiella pneumoniae that are resistant to antibiotic treatment.

The report, published in the Medical Journal of Australia is mentioned in detail that the 59-year-old man infected with the bacterial pneumonia for two months after being treated at St. Vincent Hospital, Melbourne due to pancreatitis. Because the bacteria are resistant to some antibiotics, the man in a short time his condition deteriorated and died five months later.

Peter Collignon, a professor of infectious diseases and microbiology at the Australian National University, said the report such as this is one of the reasons why Australia needs to reduce the amount of antibiotics that they use.

"Antibiotics are the only drug that gives people the side effects, the more antibiotics we use, the more we produce and select 'bug' that are resistant to antibiotics or known by superbug," she said.

Antibiotic resistance becomes one thing we can be passed on to other family members and as society as a whole, the resistance will be transmitted from one individual to another.

Professor Collignon said the antibiotic resistance has now become a worldwide problem, although the rate in Australia is relatively low because of a good water supply, and restrictions on meat imports. However, he said that Australia uses two times more antibiotics than other countries such as the Netherlands, but there is no evidence that people become much better condition.

"We are not going to get a rating equal to China and India because of infrastructure problems and have control on who can prescribe an antibiotic and the quality of antibiotics, but we were headed in that direction." *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | ABC NEWS]

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Electronic skin soon will be provide the biometric data

Japanese researchers are testing the electronic skin called e-skin, which later could be used to keep track of the biomedical data. In an article published in the journal Science Advances, a team of researchers from the University of Tokyo said that the layer of "ultra thin, ultra resilient" which are being developed by them will allow the functions such as blood oxygen levels and heart rate displayed electronically through light emitting diodes mounted on the e-skin.

Japanese researchers have developed an e-skin that could one day revolutionize electronics, particularly biometric tracking. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1ZcwjQ)

The thickness of e-skin was only two micrometers and consists of the layers of silicon oxynitride and parylene. According to the researchers, the special electrodes are inserted between the layers so as to enable them to include polymer light emitting diodes and organic photodetectors for the skin. The diodes are more thinner 10 times than the human hair was so efficient because not much need of electric power and generate less heat.

"The advent of mobile phones has changed the way we communicate. While these communication tools are getting smaller and smaller, they are still discreet devices that we have to carry with us," said Takao Someya of the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Engineering. "What would the world be like if we had displays that could adhere to our bodies and even show our emotions or level of stress or unease? In addition to not having to carry a device with us at all times, they might enhance the way we interact with those around us or add a whole new dimension to how we communicate.".

The research team said that the development of promising technologies that can be used. This is not the first e-skin, but the researchers said the new e-skin is more durable and comfortable to wear because it is very thin and pliable. The e-skin also does not allow oxygen and water evaporated to operate electronics thereby increasing The e-skin also does not allow oxygen and water evaporated to operate electronics thereby increasing  the device's potential lifetime from "a few hours" into "several days." *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | VOA NEWS]

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Human heart grow and ticking in the Lab

Currently, there are 4,186 people waiting for the heart transplant in the US, but with a shortage of donors is most likely not all patients survive. By developing a heart transplant in the laboratory has been a long dream in the medical community. A study in the journal Circulation Research has moved one step closer to this dream. The research team has successfully developed beating human heart grown in the lab using stem cells.

Previous research has shown how 3D printers can produce a 3D heart segments using biological materials. Although each heart cell is empty, when compared to the actual. This structure provided the framework, so that heart tissue can grow.

A partly regrown human heart within a bioreactor, which replicates the biological conditions around a normal human heart. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1YuQhh)

Currently, a team from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Harvard Medical School have taken the collagen 'skeleton' and combined with stem cells to some of the results are truly spectacular.

Roughly 610,000 people die from heart disease in the U.S. every year. Could this revolutionary technique one day save many of those lost to this killer? (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1YuQhh)

The main problem of the heart transplant, in addition to the lack of donors, is that there is a possibility that the recipient's body will reject the new organ. Their immune systems will often recognize the strange tissue as a threat, where it will be attacked and destroyed. The only way to stop this is the consumption of medications that suppress the immune system, and this is only successful in some cases.

How to grow a heart. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1YuSXb)

In this study, 73 human hearts is considered unsuitable for transplantation are carefully soaked in a detergent solution to separate them from the cells that will provoke self-destructive response. Until the end, all that remains is the collagen skeleton of heart, complete with elaborate structures and vessels, providing a new foundation for a new heart cells that will grow.

They were then induced to be two types of heart cells, which are easy to grow and thrive on the current skeleton is bathed in a nutrient solution. After two weeks, the network of cells grown almost like the adult heart, but with a complicated structure. A team of researchers gave the cells an electric shock, and then the heart starts beating really. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | DAILYMAIL | IFLSCIENCE!]

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Dogs know cancer earlier than you?

A Labrador retriever can effectively detect cancers such as laboratories, according to an ongoing study to test the ability of a dog's nose to sniff cancer in patients. A recent study found that trained dogs can detect prostate cancer in urine with a 98 percent accuracy rate.

Dogs know you have cancer before you do. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1YsKJu)

There are two 3 year old female german dogs was trained by Italian Minsitry of Defense's Military Veterinary Center to recognize prostate cancer through positive reinforcement of volatile organic compounds.

The dogs are analyzing more than 400 urine samples and one dog detect prostate cancer with accuracy up to 100, while the other dog reach up to 98.6 percent accuracy rate.

However, prostate cancer is not the only type of cancer that can be detected by a dog. Man's best friend has also been proved that their nose can detect the breast, ovarian, colon, bladder, skin and lungs cancers through the breath of patients.

Cancer causes the body to release certain organic compounds that can be detected by dogs but not humans, and scientists hope that by studying the phenomenon can help them someday to develop an electronic dog's nose can detect cancer.

With 220 olfactory cells that are in a dog's nose, while humans only 50 million, it is estimated that a dog's nose can smell the smells of up to one million times better than humans.

In addition to scientific research, there is also anecdotal evidence that says that dogs can detect cancer. Many dog ​​owners are telling the story of their pets constantly sniff or nudging area of ​​their body that turns out to be the area where the tumor is derived.

That's what happened to Maureen Burns who has a 9 year old collie mix dog, named Max, began to behave strangely. Her dog sniff her breasts and backed by what is called a sad look in his eyes.

Burns did have a small lump in her breast, but her mammogram had been clear. But as Max's peculiar behavior persisted, she returned to the doctor and asked for a biopsy. Doctors were surprised to learn the lump was cancerous. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MNN]

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These 'Molecular Scissors' get rid of HIV from the human cells forever

Scientists successfully edit the HIV genetic material permanently for the first time. This success into a new beginning in the effort to cure the patients with HIV and AIDS (Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome).

When infecting humans, HIV inserts its genetic material in the cells that responsible for the immune system called CD4 T cells. The insertion was made HIV constantly multiply. HIV 'eat' CD4 continuously until the amount is very small, then decreased immunity, and comes the symptoms of AIDS.

(Pictured: HIV T cells.) Scientists have removed HIV from human immune cells using a new gene-editing technique. And they've managed to shut down HIV replication permanently. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1YiO5k)

Antiretroviral (ARV) drugs are currently circulating effective in preventing HIV replication. However, these drugs can not cure. If people with HIV/AIDS stop taking them, the virus will re-grow.

Intends to seek the healing for people with HIV/AIDS, a team of scientists from Temple University Health System conducted an experiment to edit the HIV virus. They use CRISPR-Cas9, a protein that is able to identify certain sections of genes and eliminate them. And CRISPR-Cas9 often referred to as "molecular scissors".

A new strategy to precisely modify human T cells using the genome-editing system known as CRISPR-Cas9. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1YiOau)

CRISPR-Cas9 is the most influent and innovative biotechnology today. Molecular scissors that have managed to cure genetic disease called Duchenne muscular dystrophy. CRISPR is actually the DNA sequences extracted from the bacteria. DNA sequence was paired with an enzyme called Cas 9.

Kamel Khalili, who led the experiment using bacteria to target the virus. Bacteria that are required to produce the genetic material that is identical to the targeted virus's genetic material.

Genetic material produced by bacteria together with Cas 9 and then look for HIV's genetic material contained in human cells. And Cas 9 will then be cut off HIV's genetic material.

With its elaborate method, Khalili and the team managed to permanently eliminate HIV from the human CD4 T cells grown in the laboratory. Not only that, CD4 is also protected from reinfection.

"This discovery is important in a variety of levels," Khalili said as quoted by Science Alert on Tuesday, March 22, 2016. "It demonstrates the effectiveness of our method to eliminate HIV from the DNA and CD4 T cells."

"Furthermore, research has shown that the system can protect the cells from re-infection and the technology is effective for cells, without any toxic effects," he said.

Still need more research to this system can be applied to completely cure people with HIV/AIDS. However, this success is a good first step. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | SCIENCE ALERT]

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Is bearded man more hygienic?

According to research conducted recently shows that the beard is thought to contain good bacteria which can be developed into new antibiotics. And researchers found shave to clean can make a man stricken with infections, bacteria develop antibiotic resistance, when compared with those who had beards.

As quoted from the Independent on Thursday, January 21, 2016, the study published in the Journal of Hospital Infection, by conducting tests on 408 samples from the face of the hospital staffs (with and without the beard).

(Pictured: Vin Diesel with beards on 'The Last Witch Hunter' movie.) Beards may be more hygienic and bacteria-resistant than shaven skin, study finds. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1NzljgS)

The result showed that people who clean shave beard, three times more susceptible bring a staph bacteria that is resistant to most of antibiotics named 'Methicillin-Resistant Staph Auerus (MRSA)' on their cheeks.

At the same time, 10 percent of men are likely to have colonies of a positive bacterium named 'Staphylococcus Aureus,' which produces a yellow pigment on the face. This bacterium causes skin infections, respiratory and food poisoning.

The scientists also suspect this is causing mikrotrauma resulting from sideburns to the skin, supporting the development of bacterial colonization and proliferation.

The study conclusion noted: "Overall, a similar colonization occurred in health workers with or without a beard, but certain species of bacteria commonly found in workers without a beard."

(Pictured: Staphylococcus Aureus.) Men who shave beards clean, three times more susceptible bring Methicillin-Resistant Staph Auerus (MRSA). (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1NzljgS)

Dr. Adams Roberts, a microbiologist from the University College London, was able to breed more than 100 different bacteria from the sample by analyzing the different beard. The result finds the existence of microbes that can kill other bacteria.

Dr. Robert separates microbes and test it with a type of E. coli that cause urinary tract infections. He found that the microbe is able to kill bacteria efficiently. This leads to inventory existing antibiotics become less effective, with the presence of antibiotic-resistant infections that killed at least 700,000 people each year.

Until now, there has been no new antibiotics issued since 30 years ago. Dr Roberts considers this invention is similar to the success of Alexander Fleming who discovered penicillin. The discovery was inadvertently occurs when fungal spores exploded into one of the sample being studied.

At the time, Flemming realized that the bacteria had died he developed only in the area affected by the explosion of spores. However, further research from an accidental moment that led to the penicillin which we know today. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | INDEPENDENT]

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Researchers uncover the Brain's mechanisms related to the addiction to cocaine

Researchers found a groove in the brain that connects to the impulse with habits, which could explain why individual is difficult to control the cocaine addicted, according to a study published by University of Cambridge on Tuesday, January 12, 2016.

The previous studies indicate that chronic exposure to drugs change the brain's prefrontal cortex, but also to change one area of ​​the brain called the basolateral amygdala, which is associated with the link between the stimulus and the emotions.

Basolateral amygdala keep the pleasant memories related to cocaine, but the prefrontal cortex manipulate this information, helping individuals consider whether to use it or not: if addicted individuals to using it, it activates mechanisms in the dorsal striatum, which plays an important role in habitual behavior.

Illustration: the addiction to cocaine. (Picture from: http://1.usa.gov/1ltNBTp)

However, by studying the brains of mice are addicted to cocaine through self drugs delivery, the researchers identified the way in the brain that indirectly connects the basolateral amygdala with the dorsolateral striatum, avoiding the prefrontal cortex. This means that addicted individuals will not be aware their desire to use the drug, the researchers said.

"We always assume that addiction occurs due to failure of the control ourselves, but now we know that's not the problem," said Dr. David Belin of the University of Cambridge, who wrote the study results.

"Drug addiction is seen primarily as a psychiatric disorder, with handling such as cognitive behavioral therapy that focuses on the recovery of the ability of the prefrontal cortex to control otherwise maladaptive drug use," he said.

"But we showed that the prefrontal cortex is not always aware of what happened, making such treatments are not always effective," says Belin.

In a study published in the journal Biological Psychiatry, Dr. Belin and colleagues showed that the use of drugs to overcome an overdose of paracetamol may help individuals with addiction to cocaine overcome their addiction, giving the desire for individuals to stop.

The drug, N-acetylcysteine, had previously been shown in rat studies to prevent relapse. However, the drug later failed human clinical trials, though analysis suggested that while it did not lead addicted individuals to stop using cocaine, amongst those who were trying to abstain, it helped them refrain from taking the drug, according to the study. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | XINHUA]

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Beware, Hep C may be tied to the Parkinson's risk in the future!

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), between 130 and 150 million people worldwide suffer from Hepatitis C is a liver infection caused by a virus of the same name. While the infection can lead to serious health conditions, many people may not realize they have it.

And now, the scientists have discovered is how the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) also affects the nerve tissue, and cause fatigue, depression and cognitive dysfunction on those chronically infected.

And now, the scientists have discovered is how the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) also affects the nerve tissue, and cause fatigue, depression and cognitive dysfunction on those chronically infected. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1P4zG43)

A new study reveals how this effect can be attributed to neurological development of Parkinson's disease in the future. A progressive disorder that affects the body's nervous system, Parkinson's can be managed with medication, but do not have a cure until today.

Study participants in Taiwan with and without the type of hepatitis that followed an average age of 12 years to see if they develop the disorder or not. Apparently, those who have Hepatitis C is 30 percent more likely to develop Parkinson's than those who are not infected. The researchers called for more investigation HCV connections and damage the nervous system, but increase preventive measures against HCV infection is still a wise choice.

HCV is a blood-borne pathogen, which means mostly transmitted through sharing needles, unsafe medical practices and syringe accidents, or like most of the cases occurred in the blood transfusion in Taiwan.

Patients with Hepatitis C were 2.5 times more likely to develop Parkinson’s before adjustments. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1OYwG3e)

This virus can also be transmitted from mother to baby during birth. For the Hepatitis C infection cases alone is common. While the treatment is still very expensive. It is estimated that a single round of treatment for Hepatitis C can costs up to $100,000 and a significant inconvenience for the patient. In addition, some insurance companies also refuse to pay the required medication of patients.

"We have a unique way to give healing, to the limited duration of therapy, and now we're making decisions based on the stage of the disease to distinguish those who are eligible for treatment and who does not," says Raymond Chung, MD, a gastroenterologist and Medical Director of the Liver Transplant Program at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

So, what can be done to make the treatment of Hepatitis C have become more affordable? Dr Chung suggested us to do an alternative treatment therapies. You can consult with a doctor about this. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MEDSCAPE]

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Stonefish venom could reduce transplant rejection rate in cancer patients

Stonefish may be a nightmare for the divers, but fish with ugly and deadly form that was able to reduce the level of rejection of transplants in the Cancer patients. 

The scientists found similarities between the Stonefish deadly toxins, and how the human immune system reacts when they rejected a bone marrow transplant. These findings are particularly surprising given the Stonefish has a bad reputation.

Scientists found the Stonefish venom could reduce transplant rejection rate in cancer patients. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1Iq2GjU)

"If the sting does not kill you, it will be Stonefish can cause tremendous pain to be paralyzing and may even turn off the body's tissues and therefore the most likely members of the body that need to be amputated."

Jamie Seymour, an associate professor from James Cook University who specialises is venom, said the pain of Stonefish stings was excruciating. 

"Stonefish is one of the few animals that we know will only use the poison for defense," he said. But these fish were able to help scientists to understand more about the human body.

Professor James Whisstock of Monash University said the Stonefish venom contains a perforin protein which has the ability to make a hole in the body's cells.

"We were shocked to find the protein content in this Stonefish was associated with the main weapon used by the human body's immune system in eliminating cells infected by viral and malignant as cancer cells," he said.

The response of the immune system plays an important role in thwarting up to 30 percent of bone marrow transplant, which is used in the treatment of leukemia.

So understanding how these proteins form pores may help scientists find ways to prevent the formation of pores as often as possible, particularly through the development of the body's immune system suppressants.

"It gives us an idea of ​​how this protein can assemble into larger and form a ring-shaped pores," says Professor Whisstock.

And the information on the structure of the Stonefish toxin, it turned out to actively inform us of drug discovery programs that occur at this time.

Structure of the Stonefish venom really gives us some fantastic information about how to develop a molecule that is better to prevent the immune system to function when we're not wanted, for example, reject the transplanted organ.

Professor Seymour said the poison may occasionally contain important information and possibilities that need to be explored.

"If you could find out what exactly the structure and components of each of the pieces in this poison, then we can examine the structure and eventually discovered a new compound from the poison," he said.

The researchers hope to develop a molecule, which can be transferred to a medical clinical settings, in the next three years. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | ABC NEWS]

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