Tap wealth of local products emerging to fight 'neglected' diseases of poor: study Nov 3, 2009
NTDs include trachoma, the leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide, elephantiasis, leprosy, dengue fever, hookworm infection and schistosomiasis ... "Without proper drugs, vaccines and diagnostics for sleeping sickness, intestinal parasites, elephantiasis and other tropical diseases, an enormous percentage of the world's people will remain trapped in poverty.". (EurekAlert!)
Parasite Bacteria May Help Fight Spread Of Mosquito-borne Diseases Oct 3, 2009
In chronic cases, infection leads to a condition known as elephantiasis, which can cause severe swelling in the legs, male scrotum and female breasts. Previous research has shown that infecting a mosquito with a strain of the bacterial parasite Wolbachia known as wMelPop nicknamed 'popcorn' can halve its lifespan. (Science Daily)
DNA Barcoding Of Mosquito Species Deployed In Bid To End Elephantiasis May 5, 2009
The University of Ghana, supported by the Philadelphia-based JRS Biodiversity Foundation, is pioneering the use of DNA "barcodes" to map menacing mosquito species in West Africa that spread lymphatic filariasis (LF), commonly known as elephantiasis ... 5, 2007) Once-yearly administration of two antiparasitic drugs to control lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis) costs just 0. (Science Daily)
'Barcode' shows mosquito threats Apr 30, 2009
Only certain mosquitoes spread lymphatic filariasis, otherwise known as elephantiasis, which affects people in more than 80 nations ... A World Health Organization-sponsored programme has been established with the aim of wiping out the threat from elephantiasis by 2020. (BBC News -- Health)
Caltech biologists find optimistic worms are ready for rapid recovery Mar 10, 2009
Sternberg speculates that other nematodes, including the parasitic worms that cause elephantiasis in humans, and other lymphatic filarial diseases, may also go through similar transitions in nutrition as they transition from one host (say, a mosquito) to another (a human). Those transitions may be mediated by a similar accumulation of RNA Pol II on particular genes. (EurekAlert!)
Pocket-Size Personal Trainers Feb 27, 2009
A recent checkup confirmed my worst suspicions: I'm borderline everything, from diabetes to elephantiasis. Luckily, there's a raft of new gadgets on the market that use high-tech sensors to help me get a handle on my love handles. (Time.com)
