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Two drugs show promise against COVID-19

Korean researchers have screened 48 FDA-approved drugs against SARS-CoV-2, and found that two, that are already FDA-approved for other illnesses, seem promising. The FDA approval for other uses would greatly reduce the time needed to gain FDA approval of use in COVID-19. The research is published in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, a journal of theContinue reading “Two drugs show promise against COVID-19”

Low levels of vitamin D may be linked to severe COVID-19

A new observational study from the United States indicates that vitamin D insufficiency may play a significant role in the progression of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The research titled ‘Vitamin D Insufficiency is Prevalent in Severe COVID-19’ is available on the preprint server medRxiv. A highly transmittable viral infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirusContinue reading “Low levels of vitamin D may be linked to severe COVID-19”

What is a webinar?

What is a webinar? The word ‘webinar’ is a blend of ‘web’ and ‘seminar’. A webinar is an event held on the internet which is attended exclusively by an online audience. This distinguishes it from a webcast, which also includes the presence of a physical audience. Other terms used as alternatives for webinar are webContinue reading “What is a webinar?”

FDA Issues New Guidance for REMS Testing During COVID-19 Pandemic

“The FDA recognizes that during the COVID-19 public health emergency, the completion of some REMS-required laboratory testing or imaging studies may be difficult because patients suspected of having COVID-19 may be self-isolating and/or subject to quarantine,” said Amy Abernethy, MD, PhD, principal deputy commissioner of the FDA, in a press release. “Under these circumstances, undergoingContinue reading “FDA Issues New Guidance for REMS Testing During COVID-19 Pandemic”

Drug that keeps surface receptors on cancer cells makes them more visible to immune cells

A drug that is already clinically available for the treatment of nausea and psychosis, called prochlorperazine (PCZ), inhibits the internalization of receptors on the surface of tumor cells, thereby increasing the ability of anticancer antibodies to bind to the receptors and mount more effective immune responses. PCZ enhanced the ability of anticancer antibodies to reduceContinue reading “Drug that keeps surface receptors on cancer cells makes them more visible to immune cells”

How resident microbes restructure body chemistry

The makeup of our microbiomes — the unique communities of bacteria, viruses and other microbes that live in and on us — have been linked, with varying degrees of evidence, to everything from inflammatory bowel disease to athletic performance. But exactly how could such tiny organisms have such immense influences on a person? : UniversityContinue reading “How resident microbes restructure body chemistry”

Potential superbug-killing compound

Researchers in Simon Fraser University’s Brinkman Laboratory are collaborating with U.S. researchers to test a new drug that can kill a wide range of superbugs — including some bacteria now resistant to all common antibiotics. Known as AB569, the drug contains ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (commonly referred to as EDTA) and acidified nitrite, two inexpensive chemicals thatContinue reading “Potential superbug-killing compound”

Drug meant for Ebola may also work against coronaviruses

“Even if you know a drug works, it can be a red flag if you don’t know how it works,” said virologist Matthias Götte. “It is reassuring if you know exactly how it works against the target. “We know the drug works against different coronaviruses, like MERS and SARS, and we know the novel coronavirusContinue reading “Drug meant for Ebola may also work against coronaviruses”

Artificial intelligence yields new antibiotic

The computer model, which can screen more than a hundred million chemical compounds in a matter of days, is designed to pick out potential antibiotics that kill bacteria using different mechanisms than those of existing drugs. “We wanted to develop a platform that would allow us to harness the power of artificial intelligence to usherContinue reading “Artificial intelligence yields new antibiotic”

Antibiotics discovered that kill bacteria in a new way

The newly-found corbomycin and the lesser-known complestatin have a never-before-seen way to kill bacteria, which is achieved by blocking the function of the bacterial cell wall. The discovery comes from a family of antibiotics called glycopeptides that are produced by soil bacteria. The researchers also demonstrated in mice that these new antibiotics can block infectionsContinue reading “Antibiotics discovered that kill bacteria in a new way”