COVID-19 severity remains open to several questions. Researchers at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) have revealed how SARS-CoV-2 causes acute inflammation instead of the symptoms of a common cold. This effect could be initiated by the peptide fragments of the coronavirus released when the host eliminates the virus, which can form pro-inflammatory complexes that trigger an amplified immune response.
Bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP-9), also known as growth/differentiation factor 2, is a member of the transforming growth factor-β family of cytokines, which exerts its biological effects through binding to a complex formed by ALK1 and BMPR2.
Neutrophils are the immune system’s most abundant effector cells, which play a defensive role of host cells and clear pathogens by phagocytosis, degranulation and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) release.
The topical combination therapy miconazole plus domiphen bromide (MCZ-DB) resolved signs and symptoms of acute vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and eradicated the yeast Candida albicans from vaginal swabs to a greater extent than miconazole (MCZ) alone in a phase II study, according to Hyloris Pharmaceuticals SA and Purna Female Healthcare.
Be it viral, nucleic acid or protein vaccines, recent efforts that led to the first regulatory approvals for not only COVID-19, but also for malaria and respiratory syncytial virus, positioned infectious diseases in the headlines for much of the last four years.
Bioversys AG has divulged compounds with the ability to interact with accessory gene regulator A (AgrA) and inhibit the expression of AgrA-regulated virulence factors.
Researchers from Scynexis Inc. have recently presented details on the preclinical characterization of SCY-247, a second-generation triterpenoid with glucan synthase inhibitor activity and intended to be used for the treatment of invasive mucormycosis.
When a cell is invaded by a virus, the cell triggers an innate immune response by activating retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) like receptors (RLRs), among others, that are essential for controlling viral replication. Even though several ubiquitin ligases (E3) have been identified to positively or negatively regulate RLRs post-translationally, the E3 ligases directly involved in RLR transcription are still unknown. A screening including 375 ubiquitin E3 ligases identified E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase UBR5 as a positive regulator of RLR transcription.
Be it viral, nucleic acid or protein vaccines, recent efforts that led to the first regulatory approvals for not only COVID-19, but also for malaria and respiratory syncytial virus, positioned infectious diseases in the headlines for much of the last four years. But despite that attention, or the threat of future pandemics, or the numerous infectious diseases for which there are no preventable vaccines and very little development activity, the level of private and public funding for biopharma companies working in the space is dismal – at least compared with that of oncology products, according to a new analysis report released by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) on Jan. 25.
Naegleria fowleri, colloquially known as the "brain-eating amoeba," is a water-borne amoeba and the leading cause of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). In a recent study published in Scientific Reports, researchers from the University of Central Punjab aimed to design an mRNA-based vaccine against PAM.