PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Indigenous groups more vulnerable in the fight against flu

2014-01-10
(Press-News.org) Contact information: Anne Rahilly
arahilly@unimelb.edu.au
61-390-355-380
University of Melbourne
Indigenous groups more vulnerable in the fight against flu Research indicated that some Indigenous people such as in Alaska and Australia displayed limited immunity response to the effects of influenza. Published in the Journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, senior author, Associate Professor Katherine Kedzierska from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology said that some groups have a specific genetic make-up that prevents them from fighting off influenza. "The findings suggested that there may be ethnic differences in the ability to mount an immune response to the H7N9 virus," said Associate Professor Kedzierska "Due to genetic differences in a protein complex involved in cell-mediated immune responses, people may vary in their ability to mount this kind of immune response against the H7N9 influenza virus that emerged unexpectedly in February 2013." The new influenza virus called H7N9 which originated in birds and caused an outbreak in China in March 2013, infected more than 140 people. The flu strain resulted in a very high mortality rate of 30 per cent due to severe pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Professor Peter Doherty, AC, Laureate Professor and a lead author of the study from the University of Melbourne said the study shed light on what had happened during the catastrophic 1918-1919 influenza pandemic during which high adult mortalities (up to 100%) were reported in some isolated Alaskan villages.

"There are some populations that are at high risk from influenza disease," Professor Doherty said.

"Similarly, as many as 10-20 per cent of Indigenous Australians died of influenza in 1919, compared to END


ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Living on islands makes animals tamer

2014-01-10
Living on islands makes animals tamer Study confirms Darwin's observations and numerous anecdotal reports of island tameness, says UC Riverside's Theodore Garland RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Most of us have seen pictures and probably YouTube videos of "tame" animals ...

Evidence of harmful effect of bisphenol A-based plastics

2014-01-10
Evidence of harmful effect of bisphenol A-based plastics Function and regeneration of switch proteins impaired Bisphenol A impairs the function of proteins that are vital for growth processes in cells. This finding has been reported by researchers from the ...

Regorafenib: hint of minor added benefit

2014-01-10
Regorafenib: hint of minor added benefit Advantage in overall survival, but disadvantage in severe side effects Regorafenib (trade name: Stivarga) has been approved in Germany since August 2013 for adults with metastatic colorectal ...

KIT researchers develop artificial bone marrow

2014-01-10
KIT researchers develop artificial bone marrow This news release is available in German. Artificial bone marrow may be used to reproduce hematopoietic stem cells. A prototype has now been developed by scientists of KIT, the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent ...

Study quantifies costs when failed banks shun financial transparency

2014-01-10
Study quantifies costs when failed banks shun financial transparency New study shows that more transparent accounting helps bidders, lowers costs when financial institutions fail Good accounting isn't just a hallmark of a well-run company: As a new study ...

Fresh faced: Looking younger for longer

2014-01-10
Fresh faced: Looking younger for longer Newcastle University researchers have identified an antioxidant Tiron, which offers total protection against some types of sun damage and may ultimately help our skin stay looking younger for longer. Publishing in ...

The cyborgs era has started

2014-01-10
The cyborgs era has started This news release is available in German. Medical implants, complex interfaces between brain and machine or remotely controlled insects: Recent developments combining machines and organisms have great potentials, but also give rise ...

Cilia use different motors for different tasks

2014-01-10
Cilia use different motors for different tasks PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — Cilia are one of nature's great multipurpose tools. The tiny, hair-like fibers protrude from cell membranes and perform all kinds of tasks in all kinds of creatures, from helping clear ...

1 species, 2 outcomes: Team seeks source of body louse pathology

2014-01-10
1 species, 2 outcomes: Team seeks source of body louse pathology CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A new study seeks to determine how one parasitic species can give rise to two drastically different outcomes in its host: The ...

Primary care practitioners hesitate to prescribe antidepressants for depressed teens

2014-01-10
Primary care practitioners hesitate to prescribe antidepressants for depressed teens Even in severe cases, most wouldn't use medications, says study in Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics Philadelphia, Pa. (January 10, 2014) – Pediatric ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

SOX2: a key player in prostate cancer progression and treatment resistance

Unlocking the potential of the non-coding genome for precision medicine

Chitinase-3-like protein 1: a novel biomarker for liver disease diagnosis and management

The Journal of Nuclear Medicine Ahead-of-Print Tip Sheet: August 22, 2025

Charisma Virtual Social Coaching named a finalist for Global Innovation Award

From the atmosphere to the abyss: Iron's role in Earth's climate history

US oil and gas air pollution causes unequal health impacts

Scientists reveal how microbes collaborate to consume potent greenhouse gas

UMass Amherst kinesiologist receives $2 million ‘outstanding researcher’ award from NIH

Wildfire peer review report for land Brandenburg, Germany, is now online

Wired by nature: Precision molecules for tomorrow's electronics

New study finds hidden body fat is linked to faster heart ageing

How a gift card could help speed up Alzheimer’s clinical research

Depression and anxiety symptoms in adults displaced by natural disasters

Cardiovascular health at the intersection of race and gender in Medicare fee for service

World’s first observation of the transverse Thomson effect

Powerful nodes for quantum networks

Mapping fat: How microfluidics and mass spectrometry reveal lipid landscapes in tiny worms

ATOX1 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma carcinogenesis via activation of the c-Myb/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

Colibactin-producing E. coli linked to higher colorectal cancer risk in FAP patients

Animal protein not linked to higher mortality risk, study finds

Satellite insights into eutrophication trends on the Qinghai–Tibet plateau

Researchers develop an innovative method for large-scale analysis of metabolites in biological samples

Asteroid Bennu is a time capsule of materials bearing witness to its origin and transformation over billions of years

New AI model can help extend life and increase safety of electric vehicle batteries

Wildfires can raise local death rate by 67%, shows study on 2023 Hawaiʻi fires

Yogurt and hot spring bathing show a promising combination for gut health

Study explains how lymphoma rewires human genome

New Durham University study counters idea that Jupiter’s mysterious core was formed by a giant impact

Global study shows racialized, Indigenous communities face higher burden of heart disease made worse by data gaps

[Press-News.org] Indigenous groups more vulnerable in the fight against flu