Groundbreaking research by Welsh scientists is being used to develop a more effective vaccine against TB.
Groundbreaking research by Welsh scientists is being used to develop a more effective vaccine against TB.
A team of researchers at Aberystwyth University has discovered a protein, which is capable of waking up dormant Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria that causes TB in humans.
Tuberculosis - Spread - Symptoms - Diagnosis - Treatment - FAQs
Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, primarily affects the lung. It may spread to other organs.
Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, primarily affects the lung. It may spread to other organs.
The vaccine could begin clinical trials next year.
The team of researchers at Aberystwyth first discovered a family of proteins that were able to resuscitate bacteria found harmlessly in and around the human body in the late 1990s.
Tuberculosis in Children - Magnitude of the problem
In India nearly 3-4 million children have tuberculosis and another 94 million are at risk for this disease. The annual infection rate is about 3% and usual sources are adults.
In India nearly 3-4 million children have tuberculosis and another 94 million are at risk for this disease. The annual infection rate is about 3% and usual sources are adults.
The research team, which was led by Professors Mike Young and Doug Kell, at Aberystwyth University, together with Moscow based Prof Arseny Kaprelyants and funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, went on to discover the corresponding genes associated with TB.
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"Our discovery, which is now being developed into a vaccine, might help prevent the establishment of persistent infections in the first place or, alternatively, it might prevent persisting organisms in individuals with latent TB from reawakening at all.
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Study Says TB Bacterium Uses Sugar Coat to Become Attractive to Lung Cells
Ohio State University researchers have found that the most common strain of TB bacteria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, has learnt to coat itself with a sugar called mannose, which makes
Ohio State University researchers have found that the most common strain of TB bacteria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, has learnt to coat itself with a sugar called mannose, which makes
Dr Alf Game, BBSRC Deputy Director of Research, said, "This discovery came out of research in the basic biology of a different bacterium. It shows that we need to strive to understand the fundamental workings of the world around us and from that we can identify how to tackle challenges, such as dangerous diseases, that we all face."
Source-ANI
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