Fitness & Nutrition News

Tumor blood vessels can act like a gatekeeper, preventing natural killer cells from leaving the bloodstream and attacking tumors.

The Lassa virus (LV) is a hemorrhagic virus that causes Lassa fever (LF). Despite its high mortality rate in Africa, no FDA-approved mRNA vaccine currently exists. Considering its epidemic potential, a new multi-epitope mRNA vaccine (LF-mVax) candidate is designed by immunoinformatics, targeting the GP, NP, and ZP through CD8+, CD4+, and B cell epitopes. LF-mVax was introduced with antigenic, non-allergic, and non-toxic epitopes that were derived from consensus sequences. The combined CD8 + and CD4 + epitopes provided 99.98% coverage of the global population, with robust immunity. Additionally, the selected epitopes were attached to adjuvants and linkers to make a stable, immunogenic vaccine against LV with favourable biophysical features. The analyses of the secondary and tertiary structures exhibit excellent quality (Ramachandran 82.4%, Z-score − 6.39), and the docking results show strong TLR-2 and TLR-4 binding (-1048.9 and − 1099.9 kJ/mol). The results were validated by MM-GBSA, MD simulation, PCA, and DCCM analysis. LF-mVax was cloned in E. coli (GC 45.83%, CAI 0.9962), and immune simulations predicted strong innate and adaptive responses with IL-2 and IFN-γ activation. The mRNA showed stability during entry, transcription, and expression in the host. Nevertheless, laboratory and animal studies are needed to establish the safety and potency of the LF-mVax.

Osteomyelitis, surgical site infections, implant infections, abscesses, and other localized infections can be difficult to treat due to poor vascularity, biofilm formation, and the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. These infections result in significant morbidity and mortality in human and veterinary patients. Local delivery of high concentrations of antibiotics that are released over a prolonged period of time can overcome these issues, and avoid side effects of systemic antibiotics. In vitro release kinetics of amikacin, clindamycin, and vancomycin from a cross-linked dextran (CLD) gel were investigated. The hypothesis was that CLD gel containing vancomycin, amikacin, clindamycin or a combination of amikacin and clindamycin would elute concentrations above the MIC of common bacterial pathogens for 7 days in vitro. Elution kinetics of CLD gels impregnated with each antibiotic and control gel were tested an in vitro. Each gel was incubated with phosphate-buffered saline at 37 °C with agitation in triplicate. The media was changed every 24 h. Samples from the experimental and control gels were collected for a period of 16 days and antibiotic concentrations were determined. Mean antibiotic concentrations from CLD gel remained above the MIC for at least 7 days for each of the antibiotics investigated. Peak mean antibiotic concentrations occurred at 24 h. In sum, there is reliable elution over 7 days of amikacin, clindamycin and vancomycin from CLD gel at clinically relevant concentrations.

The number of cases of meningitis linked to an outbreak in Kent, England, is likely to rise, a health leader has said, as experts look at whether the bacteria has become able to transmit more easily.

A study by Washington University warns that stopping GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro may raise the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Aine McSweeney from Clonmel, Co Tipperary, also had two mammograms that she says were allegedly incorrectly interpreted as benign

Bacteria are part of everyday life. Many are harmless and some are essential. However, others can cause serious disease in both animals and people. One of the biggest challenges facing animal and human health today is antimicrobial resistance.

Experts answer four key questions based on the findings of a study that indicated that low-dose oral lithium could slow memory decline in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

We aimed to investigate the clinical, microbiome, and metabolomic characteristics of hydrogen (H₂)- and methane (CH₄)-predominant small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) subtypes. We retrospectively enrolled adults who underwent standardized lactulose hydrogen–methane breath testing between February 2021 and July 2025. Participants were categorized as Normal, H₂–SIBO, CH₄–SIBO, or mixed H₂/CH₄–SIBO. Clinical characteristics were compared using Kruskal–Wallis tests and chi-square tests. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors independently associated with each SIBO subtype. Expiratory gas profiles (AUC, peak, and mean values) were quantified, and correlations with age and body mass index (BMI) were assessed using Spearman analysis. In a subset of participants, stool samples underwent 16S rRNA gene sequencing and untargeted metabolomic profiling, followed by integrative analyses of microbiota composition, diversity, and metabolic signatures across SIBO subtypes. Among 503 participants, higher serum albumin levels were independently associated with H₂–SIBO, whereas higher fasting glucose was independently associated with CH₄–SIBO. Breath-test profiling indicated that methane parameters, rather than hydrogen, better differentiated SIBO subtypes, and total (H₂ + CH₄) gas output was modestly correlated with age but not BMI. In the exploratory multi-omics subset, fecal microbiota composition and metabolomic signatures differed by subtype; LEfSe identified Bacteroidaceae as a CH₄-SIBO signature and Alcaligenaceae/Acidaminococcaceae as H₂–SIBO signatures. Differential metabolites were enriched in pathways related to branched-chain amino acid biosynthesis, lipid metabolism, and mineral absorption. H₂- and CH₄-predominant SIBO subtypes exhibit distinct clinical correlates and stool microbiome–metabolome profiles. Methane exhalation appears more informative for differentiating subtypes, and age is modestly associated with total expiratory gas volumes. These findings support potential subtype-specific host–microbe metabolic interactions, although the multi-omics results should be interpreted as exploratory.

Scientists discover a single neuron in fruit flies that decides between sweet and bitter, revealing a new mechanism of brain decision-making.