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Document de presse | 2019.02.28
New research suggests earlier emergence of malaria in Africa
Malaria, which claims hundreds of thousands of lives each year – mainly children and especially in Africa –, is one of the leading causes of death by an infectious agent, the Plasmodium falciparum parasite. In research on malaria, the genetic mutation that causes sickle cell anemia (also known as drepanocytosis), a chronic disease that is often fatal in children under five, caught the attention...
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Document de presse | 2019.07.12
HIV: reprogramming cells to control infection
Cells from the rare individuals who naturally control HIV infection have been the focus of investigation for nearly 15 years with the aim of elucidating their specific features. Following research on the ANRS CO21 CODEX and CO6 PRIMO cohorts, scientists from the Institut Pasteur have described the characteristics of CD8 immune cells in these "HIV controller" subjects. The unique antiviral power...
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Portrait | 2019.03.11
Diego Cordero Cervantes, globe-trotting researcher
Diego was born and grew up in La Paz, Bolivia. His father and grandfather were both lawyers, and his mother was a history and geography teacher. They explained to Diego while he was still a boy that there were two ways of making a living and providing for his family – he could become either a lawyer or a doctor. Diego has finally made his own way: becoming a researcher.His parents always wanted...
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News | 2019.10.02
Lassa fever: vaccine set to be trialed
There is currently no vaccine for the Lassa arenavirus, which causes Lassa fever. This hemorrhagic fever, endemic in West Africa, infects up to 300,000 people each year. Given the urgency of the situation, scientists in the Biology of Viral Emerging Infections Unit and the Viral Genomics and Vaccination Unit at the Institut Pasteur evaluated the efficacy of several vaccine candidates. Following...
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Document de presse | 2019.10.22
A blood factor involved in weight loss and aging
Aging is a process that affects all functions of the human body, particularly brain function. However, aging can be delayed through lifestyle changes (physical exercise, restricting calorie intake, etc.). Researchers at the Institut Pasteur and CNRS have elucidated the properties of a molecule in the blood – GDF11 – whose mechanisms were previously unknown. In a mouse model, they showed that this...
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Portrait | 2019.11.18
Lluis Quintana-Murci: discovering the world and humankind
Lluis Quintana-Murci is a scientist specializing in human genetics, with a particular focus on population genetics. His fascinating research tells an amazing story – our story, the story of humanity through time and in all its stunning diversity. Lluis was delighted to talk to us about his background and his passion for his work.Lluis was born in 1970 in Palma de Mallorca in Spain. As a child, he...
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News | 2020.04.22
Neurodevelopmental disorders: a daily practical guide by InovAND to help families deal with the difficulties of lockdown
Institut Pasteur partner InovAND, the Excellence Center in the Greater Paris region specializing in autism spectrum and neurodevelopmental disorders, is publishing a practical guide every day to help families overcome the difficulties associated with the lockdown.The lockdown soon proved to be a testing time for many families, especially those with a child affected by neurodevelopmental disorders...
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News | 2020.06.02
The hidden population of multidrug-resistant Klebsiella bacteria colonizing the human digestive tract
Klebsiella bacteria are responsible for some of the most antibiotic-resistant infections. A major study on intestinal colonization by Klebsiella has shed light on human carriage of these strains in the community (i.e. outside hospitals) in low-income countries. This study reveals that controlling Klebsiella carriage is a complex challenge.It is normal to find Klebsiella bacteria inhabiting the...
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News | 2020.12.02
Diphtheria: identification of a penicillin resistance gene
Before the vaccine era, diphtheria was the most deadly respiratory infection in young children. There are still outbreaks of diphtheria in some world regions and cases can occur among unvaccinated individuals, with severe consequences. Antibiotics are vital in treating diphtheria, and the emergence of antibiotic resistance is a major public health concern. A team of Institut Pasteur scientists...
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Document de presse | 2020.12.28
COVID-19: optimizing surveillance in long-term care facilities
Throughout the world, long-term care facilities have been high-risk sites for virus spread since the emergence of the COVID-19 epidemic. In this context, the capacity for timely surveillance and control of case numbers is essential in such facilities. Scientists at the Institut Pasteur have joined forces with the University of Versailles-Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Inserm, and the National...