University of Alberta researchers have identified the protease GlpG as a new drug target for antibiotic-resistant E. coli, which causes hundreds of thousands of UTI deaths annually. Inhibiting GlpG prevented bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation in laboratory studies. The discovery addresses a global health emergency as antimicrobial resistance projections show it could cause cancer-level deaths by 2050.
A Nature Communications study reported that STING agonist 8803 inhibited tumor growth in human meningioma samples and reduced tumor volume and mortality in mouse models. Researchers found the STING pathway is expressed in both meningioma tumor cells and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment.
Three advances in TB diagnostics: a portable $300 device delivering results in 30 minutes, a Quick DNA kit detecting drug resistance in 5 minutes, and an ultrasensitive test finding TB DNA in 12-16% of hospitalized US patients.
A clinical trial combining laser interstitial thermal therapy with pembrolizumab immunotherapy showed nearly half of recurrent high-grade astrocytoma patients alive at 18 months, far exceeding typical survival. Separate research reveals steroids make glioblastoma cells vulnerable to dietary interventions targeting their altered metabolism.
