Scientists used human white blood cell membranes to carry two drugs, an antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory, directly to infected lungs in mice. The nano-sized drug delivery method successfully treated both the bacterial growth and inflammation in the mice’s lungs. The study shows a potential new strategy for treating infectious diseases, including COVID-19. Source
Researchers determine how the SARS-CoV-2 virus hijacks and rapidly causes damage to human lung cells
Researchers have identified host proteins and pathways in lung cells whose levels change upon infection by the SARS-CoV-2, providing insights into disease pathology and new therapeutic targets to block COVID-19. Source
Healthy muscles are a carrot on a string for healthy lungs
Scientists show effectiveness of carrot-based Japanese herbal medicine called ‘Ninjin’yoeito’ in improving muscle atrophy in the hind legs of mice exposed to cigarette smoke, positioning the medicine as a potential treatment for sarcopenia frailty-related complications with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Source
Repurposed mouse model sheds light on loss of smell in COVID-19
A repurposed mouse model can develop symptoms of both severe COVID-19 (lung damage, blood clots, abnormal blood vessels, and death) and also of milder disease, including loss of the sense of smell, according to a recent study. Source
Getting a grip on better health
Medical researchers in South Australia assessed more than 600 men aged over 40 to 88 years to measure the link between sleep apnea and muscle mass with grip strength. Source
Researchers find how stress and the circadian clock affect sleep
Researchers have found a new neural pathway that links the circadian clock, stress, and wakefulness in mammals. They identified a neuron that becomes excessively active when the mammal is under stress, which could trigger insomnia and other sleep disorders. Source
Gut microbes: a key to normal sleep
Researchers used a cocktail of antibiotics to deplete gut microbes in mice. They found that metabolites in the gut differed in these mice compared with controls. In particular, metabolic pathways involved in making important neurotransmitters like serotonin were affected. Additionally, these mice showed abnormal day-night distribution in sleep/wake patterns, particularly the amount of REM sleep, and frequent transitions between REM and non-REM sleep episodes. Source
Insulators in Alberta at higher risk of chest infections, COPD
Construction workers in Alberta, Canada who work with hazardous insulation materials are much more likely to be affected by repeated chest infections and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to new research. Source
New study explains important cause of fatal influenza
It is largely unknown why influenza infections lead to an increased risk of bacterial pneumonia. Researchers have now described important findings leading to so-called superinfections, which claim many lives around the world every year. Source
Scientists design model to predict cellular drug targets against COVID-19
A computational model of a human lung cell has been used to understand how SARS-CoV-2 draws on human host cell metabolism to reproduce. This study helps understand how the virus uses the host to survive, and enable drug predictions for treating the virus to be made. Source