vaccine for Ebola closer to reality
A phase 1 randomised controlled trial has found an Ebola virus disease (EVD) vaccine, developed in Canada, was well-tolerated with no safety concerns, and high antibodies were present in participants six months after immunisation. The team, led by Canadian researchers, conducted the clinical trial “as part of a coordinated, international effort to expeditiously evaluate candidate EVD vaccines and make them available to control the epidemic,” wrote lead author May ElSherif with coauthors. There have been some recent clusters of Ebola cases in Africa and more expected as survivors may still spread the virus to uninfected people. The trial involved 40 healthy people aged 18 to 65 years and looked at safety of the vaccine and the lowest dose required for an immune response after injection with one of 3 doses.
light exposure to prevent mosquito bites
Critical behaviours exhibited by the Anopheles gambiae mosquito — the major vector for transmission of malaria in Africa — such as feeding, egg laying and flying, are time-of-day specific, including a greater propensity for nighttime biting. Insecticide-treated bed nets and walls have helped prevent bites and reduce malaria, but researchers say mosquitoes are adapting to preventive conditions, leaving adults and children vulnerable in the early evening and early morning hours. “Anopheline mosquitoes are adapting to current preventive methods by developing resistance to insecticides and by shifting feeding to earlier in the evening or later into the early morning, times of the day when people are not in bed and therefore not protected by a net,” said Giles Duffield, associate professor at the University of Notre Dame in the US.
Coconut oil as unhealthy as butter
Coconut oil, which is commonly touted as a health food, may be as unhealthy as animal fat and butter, US experts warn. Animal fats are generally seen as bad, while plant oils, such as olive and sunflower are considered healthier options. Some experts claim that the fat in coconut oil may be better for health than other saturated fats. However, according to the American Heart Association (AHA) there are no credible studies to support this claim. Eating a diet high in saturated fat can raise the level of low-density lipoprotein (lDl) or “bad” cholesterol in the blood, which may clog the arteries and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. According to the AHA, 82 per cent of the fat in coconut oil is saturated, which is more than in butter (63 per cent), beef fat (50 per cent) and pork lard (39 per cent).