Researchers at IIT Kanpur have discovered that a particular gene (DLX1), which plays an important role in the development of jaws, skeleton, and interneurons in the brain, has an important role to play in the growth and development of prostate cancer. Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur have discovered that a particular … Continue reading IIT Kanpur team identifies a novel target to treat prostate cancer
Drug discovery
Rheumatoid arthritis: CDRI’s peptide effective in preventing cartilage destruction
CDRI researchers have used a specific fragment of a protein secreted by the parasitic worm liver fluke to protect the cartilage of joints from being destroyed, thus preventing rheumatoid arthritis from progressing. The peptide does not cause a wholesale suppression of the immune system. A specific fragment of a protein secreted by the parasitic worm … Continue reading Rheumatoid arthritis: CDRI’s peptide effective in preventing cartilage destruction
IIT Roorkee’s novel molecule effective against multi-drug resistant bacteria
A molecule identified by IIT Roorkee researchers exhibits broadspectrum bactericidal activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria. The molecule was found to be effective against persister bacteria as well. Screening a small-molecule library of about 11,000 compounds, researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee identified a potent molecule that exhibits broadspectrum bactericidal activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria … Continue reading IIT Roorkee’s novel molecule effective against multi-drug resistant bacteria
Combination therapy using malaria drug quickly clears TB
IISc researchers have discovered the mechanism by which TB bacteria develop tolerance to TB drugs. They found a combination of malaria and TB drug can prevent the bacteria from developing drug tolerance. The drug combination cleared TB bacteria from mice lungs in eight weeks. Researchers from Bengaluru have made an important discovery of the mechanism … Continue reading Combination therapy using malaria drug quickly clears TB
IISER Pune identifies druggable targets for multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
IISER Pune researchers have identified novel drug targets to kill multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. They increased the small molecule's ability to cross the cell barrier and bind to multiple proteins. A few proteins are crucial for bacteria's survival. Novel protein targets that can be used by candidate drug molecules to kill antibiotic-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus, … Continue reading IISER Pune identifies druggable targets for multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Explainer: What makes the new drug-resistant TB medicine Pretomanid promising
When used in combination with bedaquiline and linezolid, the newly approved pretomanid drug for MDR-TB and XDR-TB had an overall treatment success rate of about 90%. Besides better effectiveness, the duration of treatment is just six months. Treating drug-resistant tuberculosis — multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) — got a shot in the … Continue reading Explainer: What makes the new drug-resistant TB medicine Pretomanid promising
IMTECH’s novel compound treats colistin-resistant bacteria
A novel compound isolated from a soil bacterium by IMTECH researchers shows promise in killing Gram-negative bacteria (Klebsiella pneumoniae and E. coli) that are resistant to colistin. Compared with colistin, 16 times less of the compound is enough to kill colistin-resistant bacteria. The compound also resists spontaneous mutation. A novel compound isolated from a soil … Continue reading IMTECH’s novel compound treats colistin-resistant bacteria
JNCASR team fully restores long-term memory in mice with Alzheimer’s
JNCASR researchers along with French counterparts have been able to fully restore neuron to neuron connections and long-term memory in mice with Alzheimer’s disease using a small molecule that activates two enzymes. The molecule attached to carbon nanospheres was able to breach the blood-brain barrier and reach the brain in sufficient concentration. Using a small … Continue reading JNCASR team fully restores long-term memory in mice with Alzheimer’s
Podcast: New approaches to kill TB bacteria
Amit Singh from IISc explains how a protein (WhiB4) that condenses the DNA of TB-causing bacteria in response to oxidative stress was identified. The team found that artificially elevating the levels of WhiB4 protein led to prolonged compaction of DNA leading to bacterial death. Drugs or inhibitors that can either keep the WhiB4 protein level … Continue reading Podcast: New approaches to kill TB bacteria
IISc team finds new approaches to kill TB bacteria
IISc researchers have for the first time identified a protein (WhiB4) that condenses the DNA of TB-causing bacteria in response to oxidative stress. They found that artificially elevating the levels of WhiB4 protein led to prolonged compaction of DNA leading to bacterial death. Drugs or inhibitors that can either keep the WhiB4 protein level high or condense … Continue reading IISc team finds new approaches to kill TB bacteria
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