16 Jan, 2015 | by Labroots
Ben Gurion University of the Negev Researchers FindCan a new use for an established drug make an even greater impact than the current one? Some researchers in Israel think so. Scientists at Ben Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) in Beershaba, Israel, have found that the anti-inflammatory drug alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT), now used to treat type 1 diabetes and various inflammatory problems, may prevent severe infections in people with compromised immune...... Read More
15 Jan, 2015 | by Labroots
Clash of the GalaxiesWhen stars collide, itâs not always in a Hollywood action film or on the red carpet. In a much more star-studded event than any movie premiere or awards could ever be, NASA has captured images of a collision of galactic proportions. Through the use of NASAâs Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, researchers have been given a look at a true blockbuster of a galactic merger. The unprecedented...... Read More
14 Jan, 2015 | by Labroots
Malassezia Yeasts’ Problemmatic FeastsWherever you look, theyâre there: Malassezia yeasts. The lipid-dependent fungi are lurking, colonizing the skin on people, warm-blooded animalsâas far afield as the recesses of the ocean, in deep-sea ventsâand in places far and wide in between. In our skin, the Malassezia disintegrates the fats and uses them for fuel. Researchers examine the possibility that harmful reactions can occur as the...... Read More
13 Jan, 2015 | by Labroots
Clams Go Disco and Light It Up.While not normally thought of as a club hopping creature capable of glowing in the dark and poisoning predators, the âdisco clamâ or Ctenoides ales as it is formally known, has been impressing researchers with its ability to light up the sea floor. A team of researchers from the University of California-Berkley presented their findings on January 4th at the 2015 annual conference of the Society...... Read More
12 Jan, 2015 | by Labroots
With Christmas Comes the Count.This year, from December 14 2014 to January 5, 2015, Christmas lights, Hanukah candles, holiday parties and New Yearâs celebrations will not be the only traditions observed. The National Audubon Society will hold its 115th annual Christmas Bird Count. Thought to be the largest citizen science endeavor, the CBC is comprised of over 30,000 volunteers worldwide. Researchers, conservation biologists...... Read More
05 Dec, 2014 | by Labroots
Israeli Virologist Working on Ebola Cure CallsâThe world has been asleep for 50 years regarding infectious diseases and Ebola is the wake-up call,â said Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) Professor Leslie Lobel, one of the few virologists worldwide who has been focused on Ebola, Marburg and other infectious diseases emanating from Africa. According to Dr. Lobel, âFifty years ago, we were dealing with eradicating polio, smallpox and...... Read More
04 Dec, 2014 | by Labroots
Study Identifies Possible Treatment Target for Cocaine AddictionA study led by investigators from Massachusetts General Hospital and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania has identified a possible target for therapies that can treat cocaine addiction. Â The study, which received advance online publication in Molecular Psychiatry, found evidence that changing one amino acid in a subunit of an important receptor protein can change the...... Read More
03 Dec, 2014 | by Labroots
Babies, rabies and the nervous systemAbout 55,000 people die from rabies every year. The dreaded disease causes acute inflammation of the brain, producing psychosis and violent aggression.  The virus, which paralyzes the bodyâs internal organs, is always deadly for those unable to obtain vaccines in time. Tel Aviv University scientists have discovered the exact mechanism this killer virus uses to efficiently enter the central nervous...... Read More
02 Dec, 2014 | by Labroots
BGN Technologies, EMC and Jerusalem Venture Partners Form New CyberSpark Industry Initiative, a Nonprofit CompanyBGN Technologies, the technology transfer company of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), EMC Corporation and Jerusalem Venture Partners recently announced the CyberSpark Industry Initiative, which will serve as a coordinating body for joint cyber industry activities with government agencies, the Israel Defense Force (IDF) and academia. The innovative public/private cyber center established in...... Read More
01 Dec, 2014 | by Labroots
Making Rare Disease Drug Research Pay OffWith drug companies investing huge amounts of time and money to produce viable products, it is not surprising that they look for drug candidates that will provide a return on the investment. Whereas rare diseases may not have been the way to go before, there are indications that the trend may be changing in some sectors. A case for developing drugs for rare, orphan diseases can be found in the most...... Read More