New Atlas

Medical Audio available

Human drug trials explore strange link between gum disease bacteria and Alzheimers

Rich Haridy January 23, 2019

A provocative new study is suggesting the same bacteria responsible for gum disease is also the primary pathogenic cause of Alzheimer’s disease. Not only that, but a new drug developed to inhibit these bacterial toxins and treat Alzheimer’s is moving into major human clinical trials later this year.

There is a hypothesis that the bacteria that causes gum disease can travel into the brain ...

Medical Audio available

New fecal transplant technique successfully treats inflammatory bowel disease

Rich Haridy January 16, 2019

A new Australian trial has revealed significant success in fecal transplants treating ulcerative colitis, pioneering a new stool processing technique suggested to enhance the therapeutic effect of the treatment.

Researchers have developed a new technique that produces fecal transplant samples without exposing the feces to ...

Medical Audio available

Malaria spit-test promises detection up to a week before symptoms appear

Rich Haridy January 6, 2019

A team of researchers have revealed an innovative new salvia test that promises to quickly and cheaply screen for the presence of malaria parasites up to a week before any symptoms appear.

It's hoped a new saliva test that offers early detection of malaria will reach the market ...

Biology Audio available

Pigs genetically-engineered to resist deadly swine virus

Michael Irving December 16, 2018

Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) is a highly infectious and deadly disease among pigs, with outbreaks leading to huge livestock losses. Now, researchers from Jilin University in China have genetically modified pigs to be resistant to the virus, which will also pass that down to their offspring.

Chinese researchers have genetically engineered pigs to be resistant to a widespread and deadly virus

Science Audio available

New study suggests Alzheimer's is not one disease but six different conditions

Rich Haridy December 5, 2018

A large team of researchers has developed a new way to classify patients with Alzheimer’s disease suggesting we should think of the disease as six distinctly different conditions instead of one single disease.

Based on a new study, researchers are aiming to reclassify Alzheimer's disease into a set of ...

Medical

Do certain essential oils have antibiotic properties?

Michael Irving December 4, 2018

Essential oils are most commonly associated with aromatherapy and other alternative “medicines." Now a team at Johns Hopkins has found that some essential oils may have antibiotic properties, particularly against a persisting form of the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.

Researchers have found that some essential oils, such as garlic, may have antibiotic properties

Medical

$100 smartphone kit can ID pathogens in under an hour

James Holloway September 21, 2018

American scientists have developed a smartphone app that can identify types of bacteria in one hour, down from a typical turnaround of 18 to 28 hours. The reduced detection time should mean faster diagnosis, treatment and recovery for patients, as well as reduced costs.

The app, named Bacticount, is available for free from the Google Play Store

Medical

New cells discovered in the airway might hold the key to cystic fibrosis

Michael Irving August 1, 2018

We may be a step closer to new treatments for cystic fibrosis, as two research teams are now reporting the discovery of a new type of cell in the airways. These rare cells seem to be where most activity of a certain gene is located, mutations of which are known to cause cystic fibrosis.

Two studies have discovered new types of cells in the airways called pulmonary ionocytes (highlighted in ...

Medical

Growing "Alzheimer's in a dish" reveals new potential treatment target

Michael Irving July 31, 2018

To improve our understanding and find new potential ways to treat Alzheimer's disease, researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have produced one of the most detailed models of “Alzheimer’s-in-a-dish,” using cultures of human neural cells that display neuroinflammation.

Researchers have grown "Alzheimer's-in-a-dish" to study the progression of the disease and find new potential ways ...

Biology

New strain of ebolavirus discovered in Sierra Leone

Nick Lavars July 30, 2018

The ranks of the ebolavirus genus have grown for the first time in a decade, with the identification of a new strain in free-tailed bats in Sierra Leone. It is not yet known if it is harmful to humans, but its discovery will assist efforts to understand how the virus hides between outbreaks

Scientists have discovered a new ebolavirus in free-tailed bats in Sierra Leone