Honey could save you from blindness
Researchers from the University of Manchester in Britain have identified the effect of honey used since ancient times for the treatment of several diseases, on pathogenic fungi that can cause devastating infections in vulnerable people. It was discovered that there is a powerful link between Surgihoney — a medicinal type of honey and the destruction of Fusarium — a fungus that can cause blindness or even death. The researchers used different concentrations of Surgihoney, a biologically engineered honey that produces chemically reactive molecules containing oxygen, to test how effective it could be in destroying the fungus Fusarium, which is found on plants and in soil. Even the lowest concentrations had a significant effect in breaking down the cell wall of the fungus, demonstrating its potential as a future treatment for patients, the study revealed. The way fungi invades wounds is associated with the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics.
Drug target for dengue virus identified
Investigators from the American Society for Microbiology have data suggesting that a protein in dengue virus that goes by the scientific name, NS4B, would make a promising target for antiviral drug development. Till date no vaccine or drug has become available against the dengue virus. A flavivirus like the Zika virus, dengue has become a leading cause of serious illness and death in some Asian and latin American countries. The team found that a metabolite of the common pain reliever, acetaminophen, called AM404, inhibits dengue virus from replicating. They identified AM404 as a potential antiviral agent by screening the National Institutes of Health Clinical Collection.
A sunscreen that gives instant Vit D
US researchers have found a new sunscreen that guarantees no loss of Vitamin D, rather allows the body to produce the essential vitamin, a deficiency or insufficiency of which causes major health problems in both adults and children. Researchers from Boston University in the US developed Solar D, through a process in which the ingredients of a sunscreen are altered in such a way that it does not impact its sun protection factor (SPF), but does allow the body to produce Vitamin D. “Solar D was designed with compounds with differing filter compositions to maximise Vitamin D production while maintaining its sun protection for reducing erythema or burning of the skin,” said Michael F Holick, professor at Boston University. Sun exposure has been the major source of Vitamin D for most children and adults worldwide. However, the increased risk of skin cancer led to the widespread usage of sunscreens.