How A Latent Virus Eludes Immune Defenses
For a virus to survive, it must elude the ever vigilant immune sentinels of its host. A latent virus can escape immune detection if it resides in nondividing cells and doesn’t produce any proteins. No viral proteins means no red flags for immune cells. If the virus targets one of the many cell types that rarely divide, it’s relatively safe while latent. But some viruses, like the gamma-herpesviru...Experimental TB drug effective against resistant and latent mycobacterium tuberculosis
An experimental tuberculosis drug may be effective against not only multi drug-resistant forms of the disease but could also be the first compound to treat the latent stage of infection as well. Researchers report their results today at the 2006 ASM Biodefense Research Meeting. "The class of which this compound is the lead has a very different mechanism of action from any other drug curr...Treating populations infected with HIV and latent TB could speed the emergence of drug-resistant TB
In 2005, 46 regional Ministers of Health in Africa declared that a dramatic rise in tuberculosis (TB) cases was cause for emergency. In some African countries, annual TB case notifications have increased as much as four-fold over the past 15 years. The main culprit? The emergence of HIV. When individuals are infected with both HIV and TB, they are more likely to progress from latent TB infection...A simple feedback resistor switch keeps latent HIV from awakening
Upon entering a cell, a virus often becomes dormant, turning off its genes and laying low until awakened by som e trigger from its environment. When that trigger is pulled, the virus quickly ramps up production of proteins through built-in positive-feedback loops that turn up gene transcription. (In positive feedback, production of something stimulates more production of that thing, resulting in...Synthetic peptide targets latent papilloma virus infections
While a newly marketed vaccine promises to drastically reduce human papilloma virus (HPV) infections, the major cause of cervical cancer, a new discovery by University of California, Berkeley, researchers could some day help the millions of people already infected and at constant risk of genital warts and cancer. One study found that 75 percent of sexually active men and women under 50 hav...Treating Latent Herpes With Licorice
Most viruses, including herpes, cause both active infections and also hide within the body for long periods of time, causing no immediate infection // but can strike again whenever resistance is lowered. The latent infections thus pose repeated problems for those infected. Based on findings of a recent study researchers say a compound found in licorice is showing promise as a treatment f...Valporic Acid Blocks Latent HIV Replication
Researchers at the University of North Carolina have found that administrating Valporic acid can kill dormant HIV persistent in the infected cells. HAART (Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy), which is administered to AIDS patients acts by blocking the virus replication and also enhances the immune system // of these patients. But HAART cannot act on the virus, which is present in the latent pha...New Drug Promises Hope In Multiple Drug Resistant And Latent TB Treatment
FAS20013, a tuberculosis drug, currently in the experimental phase has offered hope in the treatment of multiple drug resistant and latent infections as well. The mechanism of action of the new drug is different // than those used for conventional treatment. The drug targets slow growing mycobacteria involved in the disease process and induces selective killing of the same. The other...Detecting Latent Tuberculosis Effective With Blood Tests
Italian researchers claim the superiority of blood tests over skin tests for detecting people with latent tuberculosis. //According to them blood tests are effective, reliable and therefore holds promise in detecting latent TB. Though the numerous people with the dormant TB infection never actually get a full blown respiratory disease, yet it becomes imperative to detect such cases and...High Rates of Latent TB Infection Found in Russian Health Workers
Testing for tuberculosis has revealed that nearly 40% of the doctors in one Russian city have latent infection, with even higher levels// in those who work in TB clinics. The research has been published in PLoS Medicine. TB disease is a growing problem worldwide. Russia is one country where it is particularly common. Although up to a third of the world's population are infected with t...