Irish Wedding News
14/08/2014
The research, which has been published in the journal Nature Communications, revealed how a team at Edinburgh University were able to detect and decode a signal that was generated from a baby's DNA that can inform doctors whether a bacterial infection is present in the bloodstream.
This discovery could subsequently help develop a test for bacterial infections in newborns, using one drop of blood, the researchers have said.
Immediate detection of such infections, which are a major cause of death among young children, is currently impossible as no test exists, but if an accurate diagnosis of infection could be made, it would also limit the overuse of antibiotics, which can lead to drug resistance, they added.
For the study, experts at the university identified a signal consisting of 52 molecular characters that is specific to bacterial infection. The team said these characters are like a 'biological tweet'. Using the blood samples from the newborns, the study looked at thousands of signals, which are written in biological code known as messenger RNAs. By code breaking, they were able to identify with almost complete accuracy, the signals generated by an infant's genome which reveals whether or not the child is suffering from sepsis.
Diagnosing sepsis in newborns is difficult as signs of infection, such as a high temperature, may not be present. At the moment, the most reliable way to detect an infection is by locating the bacteria in the blood; however, this requires a large amount of blood.
Commenting on the findings, Professor Peter Ghazal, Professor of Molecular Genetics and Biomedicine at the University of Edinburgh's Division of Pathway Medicine, said: "Just as a Twitter user can send a 140 character message so a baby's genome produces short messages or signals that produce code information to communicate with the infant's immune and metabolic systems so that it can fight the infection.
"The 52-character 'tweet' or message that we have identified appears to be specific for bacterial but not viral infection. This type of signal could also be used to detect infection in children and adults. We are now working on ways of using a single drop of blood to detect this vital signal. This work is also leading us onto a response to tackling antibiotics resistance."
Dr Claire Smith, Consultant Neonatologist at the Simpson Centre for Reproductive Health, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, added: "There is a pressing clinical need for more accurate and rapid testing for neonatal infection than is currently available.
"This work is enabling us to move towards being able to distinguish between babies with true infection who need urgent treatment, and those who are not infected and therefore don't require antibiotics. The potential benefits to babies and their families are important. We are grateful to the families who consented to take part in the study."
(JP/IT)
20/03/2020
LeToya Luckett-Walker Is Pregnant
Charlotte Crosby Finds New Romance
Lydia Bright Gets Candid About Giving Birth
Lana Del Ray Splits From Boyfriend
Angelica Ross Learns Of Boyfriend's Secret Life
Ashley Graham's Breastfeeding Struggle
Susanna Reid's Mother's Day Plans
Lin-Manuel Miranda Homeschooling Kids
Kristen Bell Speaks Of Pride For Daughters
Prince George & Princess Charlotte Now Homeschooled
Better Treatment For Babies Suffering From Bacterial Infections
A new study has claimed that babies suffering from bacterial infections, such as sepsis, could benefit from better treatment.The research, which has been published in the journal Nature Communications, revealed how a team at Edinburgh University were able to detect and decode a signal that was generated from a baby's DNA that can inform doctors whether a bacterial infection is present in the bloodstream.
This discovery could subsequently help develop a test for bacterial infections in newborns, using one drop of blood, the researchers have said.
Immediate detection of such infections, which are a major cause of death among young children, is currently impossible as no test exists, but if an accurate diagnosis of infection could be made, it would also limit the overuse of antibiotics, which can lead to drug resistance, they added.
For the study, experts at the university identified a signal consisting of 52 molecular characters that is specific to bacterial infection. The team said these characters are like a 'biological tweet'. Using the blood samples from the newborns, the study looked at thousands of signals, which are written in biological code known as messenger RNAs. By code breaking, they were able to identify with almost complete accuracy, the signals generated by an infant's genome which reveals whether or not the child is suffering from sepsis.
- - - - - - Advertisement - - - - - -
Diagnosing sepsis in newborns is difficult as signs of infection, such as a high temperature, may not be present. At the moment, the most reliable way to detect an infection is by locating the bacteria in the blood; however, this requires a large amount of blood.
Commenting on the findings, Professor Peter Ghazal, Professor of Molecular Genetics and Biomedicine at the University of Edinburgh's Division of Pathway Medicine, said: "Just as a Twitter user can send a 140 character message so a baby's genome produces short messages or signals that produce code information to communicate with the infant's immune and metabolic systems so that it can fight the infection.
"The 52-character 'tweet' or message that we have identified appears to be specific for bacterial but not viral infection. This type of signal could also be used to detect infection in children and adults. We are now working on ways of using a single drop of blood to detect this vital signal. This work is also leading us onto a response to tackling antibiotics resistance."
Dr Claire Smith, Consultant Neonatologist at the Simpson Centre for Reproductive Health, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, added: "There is a pressing clinical need for more accurate and rapid testing for neonatal infection than is currently available.
"This work is enabling us to move towards being able to distinguish between babies with true infection who need urgent treatment, and those who are not infected and therefore don't require antibiotics. The potential benefits to babies and their families are important. We are grateful to the families who consented to take part in the study."
(JP/IT)
Top stories
20/03/2020
LeToya Luckett-Walker Is Pregnant
Charlotte Crosby Finds New Romance
Lydia Bright Gets Candid About Giving Birth
Lana Del Ray Splits From Boyfriend
Angelica Ross Learns Of Boyfriend's Secret Life
Ashley Graham's Breastfeeding Struggle
Susanna Reid's Mother's Day Plans
Lin-Manuel Miranda Homeschooling Kids
Kristen Bell Speaks Of Pride For Daughters
Prince George & Princess Charlotte Now Homeschooled
