Feature Channels: Drug Resistance

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Released: 28-Jan-2020 7:05 PM EST
1 in 4 kids who get antibiotics in children’s hospitals are prescribed the drugs incorrectly
Washington University in St. Louis

New research led by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis indicates that 1 in 4 of the children given antibiotics in U.S. children's hospitals are prescribed the drugs inappropriately. The overuse of antibiotics poses an increasing threat to children who develop — or already have — drug-resistant infections.

Released: 28-Jan-2020 11:05 AM EST
Major Asian Gene Study to Help Doctors Battle Disease
University of Virginia Health System

“Under-representation of Asian populations in genetic studies has meant that medical relevance for more than half of the human population is reduced,” one researcher said.

Released: 27-Jan-2020 6:15 AM EST
Infectious diseases to be detected and prevented thanks to £4m grant
University of Warwick

Infectious diseases could be detected, prevented and controlled thanks to a new £4m grant from the NIHR to the University of Warwick. Researchers will work with partners to develop the use of cutting edge genomics to protect public health.

Released: 27-Jan-2020 5:00 AM EST
New Portable Tool Analyzes Microbes in the Environment
Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Imagine a device that could swiftly analyze microbes in oceans and other aquatic environments, revealing the health of these organisms – too tiny to be seen by the naked eye – and their response to threats to their ecosystems. Rutgers researchers have created just such a tool, a portable device that could be used to assess microbes, screen for antibiotic-resistant bacteria and analyze algae that live in coral reefs. Their work is published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Released: 24-Jan-2020 12:15 PM EST
Disarming bacteria with mucus and phages
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering

Millions of people are treated with antibiotics each year for infections or as a preventative measure. Two teams of NIBIB-funded scientists have been working to find alternative solutions for treating bacterial infections, especially antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Released: 23-Jan-2020 12:10 PM EST
Researchers uncover two-drug combo that halts the growth of cancer cells
UT Southwestern Medical Center

UT Southwestern Simmons Cancer Center researchers have discovered a two-drug combo that halts the growth of cancer cells that carry HER2 mutations.

17-Jan-2020 10:00 AM EST
Urine Reuse as Fertilizer Is Not Likely to Transfer Antibiotic Resistance
American Chemical Society (ACS)

Going “green” with urine carries some potential risks. Now, research published in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T) shows this risk is likely to be minimal.

8-Jan-2020 4:05 PM EST
Taking One for the Team: How Bacteria Self-Destruct to Fight Viral Infections
UC San Diego Health

UC San Diego School of Medicine researchers have discovered how a new immune system works to protect bacteria from phages, viruses that infect bacteria — new information that could be leveraged to improve treatment of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections by refining phage therapy.

Released: 31-Dec-2019 10:15 AM EST
Why It Matters: Prescription for Disaster
Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)

Bacteria are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics. A major cause is their overuse in both humans and animals. At the same time, a lack of financial incentives is setting back efforts to discover new classes of antibiotics. The problem is both global and local, and without new initiatives, many common medical conditions could become deadly once again.

     
Released: 30-Dec-2019 4:00 AM EST
Closing of Second Antibiotic Company Highlights Urgent Need for Investment in Infection Fighting Drugs
Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA)

Earlier today, a release was issued stating that antibiotic maker Melinta is closing. This information was incorrect. Melinta has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy but intends to remain open and is in the process of restructuring. The bankruptcy filing announced today by antibiotic maker Melinta once again highlights the daunting challenges facing research and development of new infection-fighting drugs.

Released: 20-Dec-2019 12:45 PM EST
Hackensack Meridian Southern Region Hospitals Receive N.J. Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Awards
Hackensack Meridian Health

The Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs at Hackensack Meridian Health southern region hospitals were recognized by the New Jersey Department of Health for their dedication to antimicrobial stewardship at the New Jersey Antimicrobial Stewardship Collaborative Annual Conference Thursday, December 5.

Released: 19-Dec-2019 10:40 AM EST
New Therapeutic Strategy for Chemotherapy Resistance in Ovarian Cancer
Wistar Institute

A Wistar study demonstrated that NAMPT, an enzyme critical for NAD+ biosynthesis, mediates selection of stem-like chemoresistant cells following cisplatin treatment.

12-Dec-2019 6:05 PM EST
New CRISPR-based System Targets Amplified Antibiotic-resistant Genes
University of California San Diego

Researchers have developed a new CRISPR-based gene-drive system that more efficiently inactivates a gene rendering bacteria antibiotic-resistant. The new system leverages technology developed by UC San Diego biologists in insects and mammals that biases genetic inheritance of preferred traits called “active genetics.”

Released: 10-Dec-2019 11:30 AM EST
Survey: Majority of Voters Surveyed Support Greater Oversight of Industrial Animal Farms
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

A new survey released by the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future finds that the majority of registered voters support greater oversight of industrial animal farms. The Center for a Livable Future is based at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Released: 9-Dec-2019 3:15 PM EST
Researchers identify ‘Achilles’ heel’ of drug-resistant superbug
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) have identified a protein that allows vancomycin-resistant enterococci to defy antibiotic treatment and immune system attacks. Their discovery opens the door for future treatment options in the fight against antibiotic resistance.

Released: 6-Dec-2019 3:05 PM EST
Current treatment for fungal meningitis is fueling drug resistance
University of Liverpool

A common first-line treatment approach for cryptococcal meningitis in low-income countries is being compromised by the emergence of drug resistance, new University of Liverpool research warns.

Released: 2-Dec-2019 2:35 PM EST
Calcium Signaling Identified as Exploitable Target in Addressing Drug Resistance to Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey

Gene expression profiling and other analyses conducted by Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey researchers and colleagues examining drug resistance to a common antibody therapy for non-Hodgkin lymphoma have identified calcium signaling as a novel and exploitable target in overcoming this treatment obstacle. Results are being presented at the American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting.

18-Nov-2019 3:45 PM EST
Drug-Resistant Staph Can Spread Easily in Household Environments
Washington University in St. Louis

Once rare, the superbug methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infects hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S. each year and kills about 20,000. New research led by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis sheds light on how MRSA is introduced into households and, once there, how it can spread among family members, including the furry ones. Understanding MRSA’s transmission dynamics is critical to devising effective preventive tactics.

Released: 25-Nov-2019 2:30 PM EST
Study Shows Evolution Turns Genes Back On to Regain Function
Stony Brook University

Genes often mutate and lose their function over long-term evolution, which could be good if that stops drug resistance or cancer. A study by Stony Brook University researchers, published online in PNAS, shows that evolution can exploit positive feedback (PF) within cells to restore gene function.

19-Nov-2019 1:45 PM EST
New flu drug drives drug resistance in influenza viruses
University of Wisconsin–Madison

University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers examined the effects of baloxavir treatment on influenza virus samples collected from patients before and after treatment.

22-Nov-2019 1:05 PM EST
Potent antimicrobial found that shows promise in fighting staph infections
McMaster University

After screening thousands of small molecules, the research team discovered a potent new antimicrobial they are calling MAC-545496 that is active against MRSA. Unlike conventional antibiotics, this new antimicrobial neither kills the staph infection nor halts its growth on its own, so the potential for antimicrobial resistance may be considerably lessened.

Released: 22-Nov-2019 10:10 AM EST
Stop asking for that antibiotic
Corewell Health

“We believe Beaumont has a duty to raise awareness and help change attitudes about antibiotics and behaviors that cause antibiotic resistance,” said Dr. Sam Flanders, senior vice president and chief quality and safety officer of Beaumont Health. “Antibiotics save lives. But when they’re used too much, they can lead to antibiotic resistance.”

Released: 19-Nov-2019 4:10 PM EST
Strength in numbers: Crowdsourcing challenge seeks new methods to combat drug-resistant malaria
University of Notre Dame

A team of researchers at Notre Dame put out a call to the masses, enlisting researchers, data scientists and health professionals to analyze genomic data from emerging drug-resistant malaria parasites and gain a better understanding of the mechanisms of resistance.

Released: 18-Nov-2019 3:55 PM EST
Superbug battle: Bacteria structure may be key to new antibiotics
Cornell University

Cornell researchers have uncovered the structure of a regulatory mechanism unique to bacteria, opening the door for designing new antibiotics targeted to pathogens.

Released: 18-Nov-2019 11:30 AM EST
The End of Antibiotics?
Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)

Less than a century after the discovery of antibiotics, the world is at risk of entering an era in which the life-saving drugs no longer work.

     
Released: 18-Nov-2019 8:00 AM EST
ATS, CDC, ERS and IDSA Publish New Clinical Guideline for the Treatment and Prevention of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

The American Thoracic Society, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, European Respiratory Society and the Infectious Diseases Society of America have published an official clinical guideline on the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) in the Nov. 15 American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Released: 13-Nov-2019 2:10 PM EST
Antibiotic Resistance Threats Report Shows Impacts of Federal Investments, Continued Gaps
Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA)

The Antibiotic Resistance Threats Report released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control today shows that while recent federal investments to combat antibiotic resistance have had meaningful impacts, the continued spread of infections that are not effectively treated by existing medicines pose deadly threats to patients and public health. As physicians and scientists on the front lines of a growing public health crisis, the Infectious Diseases Society of America urges federal policy makers to respond to the report’s warning with investments and commitment to turning the tide of antibiotic resistance.

30-Oct-2019 12:05 AM EDT
Poll reveals risky use of antibiotics by some older adults, and opportunities for providers to improve
Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan

Half of older Americans got help from the infection-fighting power of antibiotics in the past two years, a new poll finds, but a sizable minority didn’t follow the instructions on their pill bottle. And one in five say that in the past, they’ve engaged in a risky practice: taking leftover antibiotics without checking with a medical professional.

Released: 1-Nov-2019 1:30 PM EDT
Chemotherapy sometimes set the stage for drug-resistant leukemia at relapse
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

An international collaboration has identified therapy-induced, drug-resistance mutations in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who relapse

Released: 29-Oct-2019 12:05 PM EDT
Think you’re allergic to penicillin? You are probably wrong
University of Georgia

More than 30 million people in the United States wrongly believe they are allergic to penicillin.

23-Oct-2019 1:50 PM EDT
Synthesis of the vitamin biotin
McMaster University

With the increasing rate of multi-drug resistance, it is fundamental to identify new antibiotics. In this study, researchers found the synthesis of the vitamin biotin is integral for the growth of drug-resistant bacteria in human plasma. They were able to treat drug-resistant infections by inhibiting biotin synthesis in an infection mimicking human conditions. By inhibiting biotin synthesis, they have the potential to produce a novel class of antibiotics.

22-Oct-2019 11:05 AM EDT
Antibiotics not necessary for most toothaches, according to new ADA guideline
American Dental Association (ADA)

The American Dental Association (ADA) announced today a new guideline indicating that in most cases, antibiotics are not recommended for toothaches. This guidance, published in the November issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association

Released: 23-Oct-2019 10:00 AM EDT
Bacterial Lifestyle Steers the Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance
Health Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh

How bacteria live – whether as independent cells or in a communal biofilm – determines the course of their evolution, with implications for drug-resistant infections.

Released: 22-Oct-2019 10:05 AM EDT
Single Mutation Dramatically Changes Structure and Function of Bacteria’s Transporter Proteins
New York University

Swapping a single amino acid in a simple bacterial protein changes its structure and function, revealing the effects of complex gene evolution, finds a new study published in the journal eLife. The study—conducted using E. coli bacteria—can help researchers to better understand the evolution of transporter proteins and their role in drug resistance.

   
Released: 17-Oct-2019 11:05 AM EDT
Adapting electronic medical records may help decrease resistance to antibiotics
Penn State College of Medicine

Adapting features of the electronic medical record system used by doctors in caring for their patients may improve efforts to prevent antibiotic drug resistance, according to Penn State research.

Released: 10-Oct-2019 11:05 AM EDT
A Lego-Like Approach to Improve Nature’s Own Ability to Kill Dangerous Bacteria
National Academy of Sciences (NAS)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers antibiotic resistance one of the most urgent public health threats, one that affects communities worldwide. The ramifications of bacteria’s ability to become resistant to antibiotics can be seen in hospitals, public places, our food supply, and our water.

Released: 10-Oct-2019 11:05 AM EDT
First 3D View of Life’s Processes in Liquid
Penn State Materials Research Institute

A new liquid-cell technology allows scientists to see biological materials and systems in three dimensions under an electron microscope (EM), according to researchers at Penn State, Virginia Tech and Protochips Inc

4-Oct-2019 9:45 AM EDT
Scientists Sound Alarm on Lack of Market Support for Antibiotics Against Superbugs
Center for Connected Medicine

The health care market is failing to support new antibiotics used to treat some of the world’s most dangerous, drug-resistant “superbugs,” according to a new analysis by University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine infectious disease scientists.

2-Oct-2019 5:45 PM EDT
Long-Term Follow-Up Data Shows Deep Brain Stimulation Is an Effective Treatment for Treatment-Resistant Depression
Mount Sinai Health System

A study published online on Friday, October 4, in The American Journal of Psychiatry found that deep brain stimulation (DBS) of an area in the brain called the subcallosal cingulate (SCC) provides a robust antidepressant effect that is sustained over a long period of time in patients with treatment-resistant depression—the most severely depressed patients who have not responded to other treatments

Released: 3-Oct-2019 1:10 PM EDT
New Test Assists Physicians With Quicker Treatment Decisions For Sepsis
Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt

A new test to determine whether antibiotics will be effective against certain bacterial infections is helping physicians make faster and better prescription treatment choices.

Released: 26-Sep-2019 12:05 PM EDT
CMS Takes a Significant Step Against Antimicrobial Resistance with Hospital Stewardship Requirement
Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA)

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ new rule requiring hospitals participating in its programs to establish antibiotic stewardship programs will enable critical advances toward control of a major public health threat.

     
Released: 25-Sep-2019 1:05 PM EDT
Resistance to immune checkpoint blocker drug linked to metabolic imbalance
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

A metabolic imbalance in some cancer patients following treatment with a checkpoint inhibitor drug, nivolumab, is associated with resistance to the immunotherapy agent and shorter survival, report scientists from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Released: 25-Sep-2019 1:05 PM EDT
Scientists tackle potential drug resistance by using new single-cell genetic method
University of Notre Dame

Using a new technique that can identify genetic profiles of individual cells, University of Notre Dame researchers modeled a breast cancer tumor’s potential resistance to a drug, and then identified a drug combination that reversed that resistance.

Released: 24-Sep-2019 8:05 AM EDT
Breakthrough in Understanding Enzymes That Make Antibiotic for Drug-Resistant Pathogen
University of Warwick

One of the WHO’s three critical priority pathogens, Acinetobacter baumannii, for which new antibiotics are urgently needed is one step closer to being tackled, as researchers from the Department of Chemistry - University of Warwick have made a breakthrough in understanding the enzymes that assemble the antibiotic enacyloxin.

Released: 23-Sep-2019 12:05 PM EDT
Green tea could hold the key to reducing antibiotic resistance
University of Surrey

Scientists at the University of Surrey have discovered that a natural antioxidant commonly found in green tea can help eliminate antibiotic resistant bacteria.

Released: 19-Sep-2019 1:05 PM EDT
Biologists Untangle Growth and Defense in Maize, Define Key Antibiotic Pathways
University of California San Diego

Studying natural defenses in maize, a staple of diets around the world, UC San Diego biologists describe how they combined an array of scientific approaches to clearly define six genes that encode enzymes responsible for the production of key maize antibiotics known to control disease resistance.

   
11-Sep-2019 2:00 PM EDT
Antibiotic Resistance Surges in Dolphins, Mirroring Humans
Florida Atlantic University

Scientists obtained a total of 733 pathogen isolates from 171 individual wild Bottlenose dolphins in Florida and found that the overall prevalence of resistance to at least one antibiotic for the 733 isolates was 88.2 percent. Resistance was highest to erythromycin, followed by ampicillin. It is likely that these isolates from dolphins originated from a source where antibiotics are regularly used, potentially entering the marine environment through human activities or discharges from terrestrial sources.

   
Released: 12-Sep-2019 3:05 PM EDT
Major Grant Awarded to Wistar Supports Development of a Novel Therapeutic Approach for Antibiotic-resistant Bacteria
Wistar Institute

Wistar has received a grant of approximately $4.6 million from the National Institutes of Health in support of innovative research to tackle antibiotic resistance.



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