tldrdaily.news logo
Tag

Brain Infection

All articles tagged with #brain infection

Brain Parasite Toxoplasma gondii Is Stopped by Immune Cells' Self-Destruct Switch
health-and-medicine9 days ago

Brain Parasite Toxoplasma gondii Is Stopped by Immune Cells' Self-Destruct Switch

Researchers at UVA Health found that the brain parasite Toxoplasma gondii can infect CD8+ T cells, but these immune cells use the enzyme caspase-8 to trigger a self-destruct mechanism that kills the infected cell and the parasite inside. In mice lacking caspase-8 in their T cells, brain parasite levels were higher and outcomes worse, indicating caspase-8 is crucial for limiting brain infection. With about a third of people believed to carry T. gondii, most cases are asymptomatic, though toxoplasmosis remains a risk for the immunocompromised. The study, published in Science Advances, enhances understanding of how the immune system controls the parasite and why T cells’ self-destruction can prevent brain persistence.

via ScienceDaily|
#brain-infection#caspase-8#cd8-t-cells
Urgent Action Urged on Brain-Eating Amoebas as Warming Waters Expand Risk
health20 days ago

Urgent Action Urged on Brain-Eating Amoebas as Warming Waters Expand Risk

Scientists warn that free-living amoebas, notably Naegleria fowleri, may pose a growing global health threat as hotter waters expand their habitats. Infections are rare but almost always fatal and occur when contaminated water enters the nose, not by drinking. Amoebas survive in biofilms and cysts, complicating elimination and enabling them to shield other pathogens. Climate change worsens the risk by creating more warm freshwater where people swim or splash, while routine monitoring remains limited due to cost and technical challenges. Prevention hinges on robust water chlorination, flushing hot water systems, safer nasal rinsing, and public awareness while researchers seek better detection and integrated environmental–clinical responses.

via The Conversation|
#brain-infection#climate-change#free-living-amoebas
Sinus Infection Turns Brain Crisis for Florida Teen Volleyball Star
health1 month ago

Sinus Infection Turns Brain Crisis for Florida Teen Volleyball Star

Fifteen-year-old Aedan Jones, a Fort Lauderdale High School volleyball player, saw a routine sinus infection escalate into a brain infection, prompting emergency surgery on Christmas Eve and a long hospital course at Holtz Children’s Hospital with multiple surgeries, intensive care, antibiotics, and ongoing therapies as doctors study why such cases are rising in youths; his community has rallied with fundraising and support.

via Sun Sentinel|
#brain-infection#fort-lauderdale#health
Brain Parasite Hijacks Immune Cells, Then Is Stopped by a Self-Destruct Switch
science1 month ago

Brain Parasite Hijacks Immune Cells, Then Is Stopped by a Self-Destruct Switch

Researchers at UVA Health found that Toxoplasma gondii can infect CD8+ T cells in the brain. Caspase-8 triggers the infected cells to die, cutting off the parasite's life cycle. Mice lacking caspase-8 show higher brain parasite loads and worse outcomes, while normal mice clear the infection. The finding highlights a brain-specific immune defense and a potential target for treatment in at-risk individuals.

via Indian Defence Review|
#apoptosis#brain-infection#caspase-8
Missouri Man Dies from Rare Brain-Eating Amoeba Infection
health6 months ago

Missouri Man Dies from Rare Brain-Eating Amoeba Infection

A man infected with the deadly brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri has died in Missouri, possibly linked to water activities at Lake of the Ozarks. The infection, extremely rare and not contagious between people, occurs when contaminated water enters the nose, traveling to the brain. Public health officials are investigating the source, and precautions such as avoiding submerging the head in warm freshwater are recommended to reduce risk.

via Salina Post|
#brain-infection#health#lake-of-the-ozarks
Nose-Picking in Mice Linked to Alzheimer's Risk
health6 months ago

Nose-Picking in Mice Linked to Alzheimer's Risk

A 2022 study suggests a possible link between nose-picking and increased risk of Alzheimer's, as bacteria like Chlamydia pneumoniae can travel from the nose to the brain in mice, potentially triggering Alzheimer's-like pathology. While human implications are not yet confirmed, the research highlights the importance of nasal tissue health and warrants further investigation into environmental factors in Alzheimer's development.

via ScienceAlert|
#alzheimers#bacteria#brain-infection
Nose-Picking in Mice Linked to Alzheimer's Risk
health6 months ago

Nose-Picking in Mice Linked to Alzheimer's Risk

A 2022 study suggests a possible link between nose-picking and increased risk of Alzheimer's, as bacteria like Chlamydia pneumoniae can travel from the nose to the brain in mice, potentially triggering Alzheimer's-like pathology. While human implications are not yet confirmed, the research highlights the importance of nasal tissue health and warrants further investigation into environmental factors in Alzheimer's development.

via yahoo.com|
#alzheimers#bacteria#brain-infection
Texas woman dies after using contaminated tap water for sinus rinse: safety tips
health8 months ago

Texas woman dies after using contaminated tap water for sinus rinse: safety tips

A Texas woman died after rinsing her sinuses with infected tap water contaminated with Naegleria fowleri, a rare but deadly brain-eating amoeba. Experts warn against nasal exposure to unboiled or untreated water, especially in warm freshwater areas, and recommend boiling or using distilled water for sinus rinsing to prevent infection.

via New York Post|
#brain-infection#health#naegleria-fowleri
Unraveling How the Cold Sore Virus Invades the Brain
health1 year ago

Unraveling How the Cold Sore Virus Invades the Brain

A new study by researchers from the University of Colorado and the University of Bourgogne explores how the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), known for causing cold sores, can infect the brain and potentially contribute to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. The study found that HSV-1 can enter the central nervous system via the trigeminal or olfactory nerves, affecting key brain regions such as the brain stem and hypothalamus, while sparing others like the hippocampus and cortex. The research highlights the role of microglia-induced inflammation in the brain, which may persist even after the virus is gone, potentially linking HSV-1 to chronic inflammation and neurological diseases. The findings, published in the Journal of Virology, provide insights into the virus's impact on brain health and its possible connection to neurodegenerative conditions.

via ScienceAlert|
#brain-infection#health#hsv-1