Chronic hepatitis B affects more than 250 million individuals worldwide, putting them at risk of developing liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. While antiviral immune responses are key to eliminating hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections, insufficient antiviral immunity characterized by failure to eliminate HBV-infected hepatocytes is associated with chronic hepatitis B. Prophylactic vaccination against hepatitis B successfully established protective immunity against infection with the hepatitis B virus and has been instrumental in controlling hepatitis B. However, prophylactic vaccination schemes have not been successful in mounting protective immunity to eliminate HBV infections in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Painless lesions investigated in mice

Now, for the first time, researchers have looked into the lesions on mouse skin to assess if there are any metabolic signalling pathways that are responsible for thwarting pain. The aim is to hopefully use this mechanism to help people suffering from debilitating pain through the development of non-narcotic pain medications.

“No one knows why these lesions are painless – but it has been thought that the parasite somehow manipulates the host physiological system,” said Abhay Satoskar, senior author of the study and professor of pathology in The Ohio State University College of Medicine.

Researchers have worked out how a protein called photolyase repairs DNA using light, and their discoveries could guide the development of light-based manufacturing technologies.

By Grace Wade

Researchers have found that some pathogens can use physical force to enter and survive inside cells, bypassing the immune system. This could lead to new ways of fighting intracellular infections.

Dr_Microbe/iStock.

Toxoplasma as intracellular pathogen.

Researchers have found a bacteriocin that can help inhibit the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Infections with antibiotic-resistant bacteria are a growing global problem. Part of the solution may lie in copying the bacteria’s own weapons. The research environment in Tromsø has found a new bacteriocin, in a very common skin bacterium. Bacteriocin inhibits the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that are often the cause of disease and can be difficult to treat.

One million deaths each year.

The fact that we have medicines against bacterial infections is something many people take for granted.