A combination of the Zika virus and Chikungunya, two mosquito-borne infections, increase stroke risk, a new study reports. Read More
Study identifies a specific type of immune cell that induces inflammation in herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis. Read More
Coronavirus infection can lead to an array of neurological complications, including delirium, stroke, and a rare, often fatal neuroinflammatory condition called ADEM. The neurological complications did not always correlate with the severity of respiratory symptoms. In some patients, brain inflammation was likely caused by an immune response to COVID-19, suggesting the neurological damage may be a result of immune system activation rather than the virus itself. Read More
A patient who tested positive for COVID-19 developed acute necrotizing encephalitis (ANE) as a result of the coronavirus infection. An MRI scan revealed the patient had lesions in the thalamus and temporal lobes, areas of the brain implicated in consciousness, sensation, and memory function. Researchers advise doctors to look out for COVID-19 patients who present with altered levels of consciousness, as this may be symptomatic of ANE. Read More
TH17 cells produced increased amounts of SerpinB1, a protein implicated in multiple sclerosis symptoms. SerpinB1 cells were identified with antibodies targeting the CXCR6 surface protein. Using monoclonal antibodies to target CXCR6, the cells disappeared significantly, and the mice primed to develop MS did not develop the disease. Read More
Researchers will present a systematic review of scientific evidence for, and against causal associations for 47 proposed adverse events following immunizations at PAS 2019. The review found that, for 12 of the 47 AEFIs in the study, a causal relationship has been established with at least one vaccine. With the exception of deltoid bursitis, where a vaccine is administered incorrectly, causing pain to the arm, the adverse reactions are very rare. For the other 35 AEFis, the evidence does not support a causal relationship between conditions, such as ASD, asthma, diabetes, multiple sclerosis or SIDs, and vaccinations. Read More
Researchers say in some autoimmune disorders, such as Rasmussen's encephalitis, neurons are not only the targets for immune system attacks, but may also be active protagonists. Read More
The 'shock and kill' therapeutic strategy for treating HIV could potentially cause harmful neuroinflammation, a new study reveals. Read More
Researchers discover the cold sore virus, herpes simplex, resides within neurons. During times of stress, the virus reactivates and triggers symptoms associated with the disease. Read More
Researchers use cutting edge genomic tools to identify infections by brain eating amoeba. Read More
A 14-year-old boy’s turnaround and quick recovery after being stricken by encephalitis - which led to him being hospitalized for six weeks and put into a medically induced coma after falling critically ill - shows that the newest generation of DNA analysis tools can be harnessed to reveal the cause of a life-threatening infection even when physicians have no suspects. Read More
Some cases of chronic fatigue syndrome could be caused by Human Herpesvirus 6, a new study suggests. Read More
