BioMed Central Blog

Inflammation hypothesis linked to Alzheimer's therapy

Alzheimer's disease is thought to affect 37 million people worldwide, and there is evidence to suggest that inflammation can contribute to Alzheimer's and exacerbate the course of the disease.  A review published in Alzheimer's Research & Therapy discusses inflammatory reactions in Alzheimer’s, which are still considered to be downstream effects of the accumulated proteins believed to trigger disease – amyloid beta and tau.

But the more recent “inflammation hypothesis” suggests it may be possible to alter the immune system and direct it towards the clearance of these amyloid and tau proteins. Anti-inflammatory drugs and immunization against amyloid beta have been considered but initial clinical trials have shown mixed results.

If it will be necessary to approach research from multiple directions to defeat this devastating condition, Zotova and colleagues suggest that addressing neuro-immune interactions involved throughout the disease course might help devise future therapeutic strategies.

Posted by Frances Mulvany at 15:03    Comments (0)

 

Mobile DNA – novel insights into DNA rearrangement

 

 

 

In recent years, the impact of mobile genetic elements which can ‘jump’ from one genomic location to another, and in doing so bring about genetic recombination and genome reorganization, has been revealed.

A new journal that launches today, Mobile DNA, will publish articles that provide novel insight into the mechanisms and regulation of these mobile elements, and also the implications of the genetic rearrangements for cellular function and organism evolution.

The first published articles include a launch Editorial from the Editors-in-Chief, several research articles, and a review of how discoveries into the mechanisms of mobile DNA have informed evolutionary theory in the 21^st century.

Mobile DNA launches with Professors Nancy Craig, Thomas Eickbush and Daniel Voytas as Editors-in-Chief. An international Editorial Board, comprised of leading researchers in the field, supports them.

In the words of co-Editor-in-Chief Dan Voytas  "Mobile DNA provides a unique forum for researchers to communicate their latest findings on mobile elements – from mechanistic insights to evolutionary impacts.” To keep up to date with the latest publications, register with Mobile DNA to receive regular updates and journal news, or follow our RSS feed.

Posted by Ciaran O'Neill at 14:15    Comments (0)

 

Towards malaria elimination - a new thematic series

Approximately half of the world's population is at risk of malaria, particularly those living in lower-income countries. This disease is curable and more importantly preventable, so why does a child continue die of malaria every 30 seconds?

A thematic series entitled ‘Towards malaria elimination’ published in Malaria Journal provides encouraging news about what is achievable with an integrated malaria elimination programme. The series provides a platform to catalyze all malaria research, reviews and debate, aiming to lead to malaria elimination and eradication in endemic areas.

One of the first articles published as part of the series reports on how effective measures combining four major control methods have produced a rapid decline in malaria morbidity and mortality on the island of Príncipe. The authors argue that to achieve elimination even more integrated programmes must be encouraged and sustained. Whilst countries such as Tunisia and the Maldives have proven that elimination of malaria from entire nations is possible, can these complex programmes be kept up in economically unstable countries?

Malaria Journal’s Editor-in-Chief Marcel Hommel, and the series Guest Editor, Marcel Tanner, explain that although significant gains have been made, a further coordinated effort by scientists, public health professionals, programme managers, funders and policy makers is still needed to progress malaria elimination further forward.

Posted by Alison Cobb at 10:32    Comments (0)