Infection and Immunity nieuws
Dec 11: Infections with Gram-negative bacteria responsible for significant mortality
Infections with Gram-negative bacteria form a significant burden of mortality in hospitalized patients in country with low antimicrobial resistance such as the Netherlands, contributing to more than 2,000 deaths per year. Of these, approximately one-third occur after non-bacteremic GNI and two-third after bacteremic GNI. These findings were presented by Tim Deelen in his PhD thesis that he defended at Utrecht University on December 11, 2020.
Read moreDec 9: Using antibodies to fight bacteria
How can we use antibodies to fight bacteria? Suzan Rooijakkers, professor of microbiology at UMC Utrecht, has received a grant of € 2 million from the European Research Council (ERC) to answer this question. She has been awarded this grant for her research into antibody therapies that use the immune system to fight bacteria. In this way, she hopes to find an alternative to antibiotics in the long term.
Read moreDec 4: Rapid antigen test for corona also reliable for screening asymptomatic people
The antigen rapid test is a reliable method to identify (early) corona infections in people without complaints and can therefore be used as screening in asymptomatic people. This was concluded in a validation study recently conducted by UMC Utrecht in Dutch professional football.
Read moreDec 1: Rheumatologists compare rheumatoid arthritis drugs in difficult-to-treat patients
Dutch rheumatologists have started a clinical study in patients with difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA). They compare the efficacy of adding either tocilizumab or prednisone in patients who do not benefit sufficiently from treatment with the conventional RA drug methotrexate.
Read moreNov 21: Mass screening for corona will not allow for reopening of society
Massive and repeated testing of the population for the coronavirus, followed by isolating people that can spread the virus, after the current wave is not a feasible solution for the reopening of society. This conclusion is drawn in a new modeling study by epidemiologists from UMC Utrecht and Utrecht University.
Read moreNov 18: Limited effect of cytomegalovirus on immune aging
Infection with the cytomegalovirus (CMV) appears to play only a minor role in aging of the immune system. To further unravel the relationship between CMV and immune aging, there should be more research leading towards a better understanding of the unique CMV-specific T cell response. This was concluded by Sara van den Berg who defended her PhD thesis in Utrecht November 18, 2020.
Read moreNov 12: Vulnerable elderly wanted to participate in BCG vaccine study
At the end of this week, 4000 participants will be participating in the Dutch study coordinated by UMC Utrecht and Radboudumc into the effect of the BCG vaccine against the consequences of a corona infection in vulnerable elderly. This was announced today during a working visit by minister Hugo de Jonge of VWS to the UMC Utrecht. The minister was provided an explanation of the ongoing investigation in which volunteers can still participate.
Read moreNov 11: RS virus infection second leading cause of infant death worldwide
The RS virus (RSV) is the second leading cause of infant death worldwide and causes 118,000 deaths in this group each year. In the Netherlands, 2,000 children also end up in hospital every year because of this cold virus. Pediatric infectiologist prof. Louis Bont of UMC Utrecht: “It is November, the start of the RS virus season in the Netherlands. At peak times, the RS virus also ensures a full intensive care unit for us.”
Read moreNov 4: A novel IL4-10 fusion protein for the treatment of inflammatory diseases
A novel fusion protein of IL-4 and IL-10 (IL4-10 FP) was effective in resolving chronic pain in multiple preclinical models and showed synergistic effects as compared to the activity of the two individual cytokines IL-4 and IL-10. The fusion protein was found to be effective against inflammatory, neuropathic and osteoarthritic pain, indicating that it targets common pain pathways in different types of chronic pain. This thesis by Cristine Steen-Louws describes the development of IL4-10 FP and the evaluation of its therapeutic potential in inflammatory diseases, as studied at the UMC Utrecht.
Read moreNov 3: Antimicrobial stewardship reduces use of antibiotics in pneumonia
An antimicrobial stewardship intervention (consisting of education, motivating opinion leaders, audit and feedback) in patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) resulted in 27 percent reduction in broad-spectrum antibiotic use, without compromising patient outcome. These findings were reported by Inger van Heijl and Valentijn Schweitzer who both received their PhD titles for their (partly joined) research on methodology and execution of antimicrobial stewardship strategies in hospitalized patients with CAP.
Read more