The life cycle of the Leishmania parasite
Disease-causing leishmania parasites are spread by the bite of infected sand flies. 350 million people in 88 countries, primarily in the tropics and subtropics, are at risk. For a long time, little was known about the transmission cycles of the disease, but over the last few years, field research and the application of molecular biology have greatly contributed to understanding the life cycle of the parasite. This research looks at the pathways leishmania parasites use to obtain nutrients needed for their growth through the life cycle and how changes in metabolism can change their virulence and ability to cause disease in the host. Read more.
Genes that control adult height
Adult height is inherited and identifying its genetic basis may give
insights into the complex growth process that results in adult height.
Height can be associated with a number of important medical conditions
such as cardiovascular disease. University of Melbourne researchers
combined careful determination of adult height, complex modeling of
family groups and genome searches to identify the chromosome region or
locus for adult height. Pooled with other studies worldwide this study
suggests that an important gene which regulates bone growth is also in
this chromosome region. Read more.
New drug targets against Tuberculosis
A new potential drug-target against Tuberculosis has been identified. New drugs against the bacterium that causes tuberculosis are sought due to an increase in multi-drug resistant strains worldwide. A molecule that halts the synthesis of crucial metabolites for the bacterium but that is not found in humans, would be a suitable candidate for such a new therapy. This study has elucidated the structure of an enzyme that is important for the assembly of the bacterial cell wall to the Tuberculosis bacterium. Detailed structural analysis has identified binding-sites on this enzyme that would potentially inactivate it and so be a drug target. Read more.