Meet Steve Schutz. Some might say he’s very dedicated to his work. But others would call him downright crazy. You see Steve works in an insectarium, a place where mosquitos are born and raised. And to ensure its residents are well-fed and propagate, he serves up his bare arm once a week for dinner.
As a result, after a feeding the 50 red welts on his lower arm barely even register as a slight tingle since Steve has built up an immunity to the mosquito’s saliva…
Feisty little buggers.
The rodents of the future will eat poison pellets like candy, according to new research conducted on mice found in a German bakery. The baker called in an exterminator to rid his business of the pests and discovered, to his horror, that the little buggers weren’t even fazed by bromadiolone, which is a very concentrated and deadly version of the common rat poison warfarin…
Continue reading… “Eek! Mice are evolving an immunity to poison!”
Antibodies developed in patients who had the H1N1 pandemic flu strain that protect against a variety of flu strains.
The swine flu outbreak that swept across the globe claiming over 14,000 lives could provide scientists with a vital clue to creating a universal vaccine, a study claims. Researchers have found several patients infected with the 2009 H1N1 pandemic flu strain have developed antibodies that are protective against a variety of flu strains.
HLA molecule helps determine whether someone will be able to fight off HIV.
As long as HIV and AIDS have existed, there has been a small minority who have contracted the virus, but not the disease. Their bodies are somehow able to control HIV, making them less contagious and immune to AIDS symptoms, sometimes forever. A new genomic study of nearly 1,000 of these people, known as “HIV controllers,” has found the genetic reason behind this.
Continue reading… “Genetic Secret to AIDS Immunity Discovered”
“its A Bhaaaaaad Trade off”
Strong immunity may play a key role in determining long life, but may do so at the expense of reduced fertility, a Princeton University study has concluded. An 11-year study of a population of wild sheep located on a remote island off the coast of Scotland that gauged the animals’ susceptibility to infection may give new insight into why some people get sicker than others when exposed to the same illness.
Continue reading… “Strong Immunity at Cost of Fertility?”
Aging gene linked to immunity
British scientists studying the genetics of aging said that experiments on laboratory worms showed that a specific gene is strongly linked to lifespan, immunity and disease resistance. Since the gene, called DAF-16 in worms, is found in many animals and in humans, the finding could open up new ways to affect aging, immunity and resistance in humans, the scientists said.
Continue reading… “Scientists Discover Aging Gene Linked to Immunity and Disease Resistance”
Genetically engineered mosquito could carry vaccine for malaria
Experts believe “flying vaccinators” could eventually be a radical new way of tackling malaria. The new approach targets the salivary gland of the Anopheles mosquito.
Continue reading… “Genetically Modified Mosquito That Vaccinates as it Bites”
Cascade Regional Blood Services says the promotion has worked so well at six Tacoma pubs and breweries, it’s expanding its “Give blood, get beer” offer to its bloodmobile for pubs in Federal Way and Steilacoom.
Organizers say it takes all types of blood donors giving at all times to meet the demands. “We’re thinking, ‘pint for pint.’ Its fun. we can get a new donor group,” said Lauren Buchholz of Cascade Regional Blood Services.
Continue reading… “Bloodmobile Expanding ‘Beer-For-Blood’ Offer”
Making a vaccine against seasonal influenza is a constant catch-up game. Scientists must predict which of the constantly mutating virus strains will be most virulent six months in the future, the amount of time it takes to manufacture the vaccine. The system has worked well enough for the regular flu. But when new, virulent strains emerge–including the current, rapidly spreading swine flu (H1N1)–the traditional approach falls short. Even as consumers clamored for a vaccine, it took seven months and around 48,000 confirmed U.S. cases before the first H1N1 vaccines were shipped to hospitals around the country.
Continue reading… “Flu Vaccines Hit A Wall – Scientists Struggle To Speed Vaccine Development”
A new experimental treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) completely reverses the devastating autoimmune disorder in mice, and might work exactly the same way in humans, say researchers at the Jewish General Hospital Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research and McGill University in Montreal.
Continue reading… “Experimental Treatment Reverses Multiple Sclerosis In Animals”
Here swiney swiney!
Throwing “swine flu parties” in an attempt to get immunity against the virus while it is a fairly mild form is not a good idea, doctors say. Reports have emerged of people intentionally mixing with friends who have flu.
Their reasoning is that it is best to be infected before the winter when the virus could become more deadly.
But public health expert Dr Richard Jarvis said such behaviour could undermine the fight against swine flu.
He also stressed while it was a mild flu, people would still be putting their health and the health of their children at risk…
Continue reading… “Doctors Warn Against Throwing ‘Swine Flu Parties’”
