LMB In The News

“The last thing that more than 70% of British adults do before they go to bed is check social network sites, figures show. Instead of curling up with a good book before nodding off, 72% of adults check status updates on Facebook, a study conducted on behalf of Travelodge found… Sleep specialist Dr Michael Hastings, a researcher for the Medical Research Council at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridgeshire, said: “It’s having a huge negative effect on people’s sleep. Adults don’t realise what impact using computers, mobile phones and other gadgets before falling sleep is having on their night’s sleep.” More…

“British researchers say that they’ve identified a mechanism that antibodies use against viruses, the CBC’s Kelly Crowe reports.” More…

“New research suggests the immune system can fight viruses from within healthy cells. Science Correspondent Tom Clarke says the discovery is a “real game-changer” in the fight against the common cold.” More…

“BBC News video clip related to Dr Leo James’ discovery about how the body fights viruses.” More…

“Interview of Dr Leo James” More…

“Scientists say they have made a landmark discovery which could pave the way for new drugs to beat illnesses like the common cold. Until now experts had thought that antibodies could only tackle viral infections by blocking or attacking viruses outside cells. But work done by the Medical Research Council shows antibodies can pass into cells and fight viruses from within. PNAS journal said the finding held promise for a new antiviral drugs. The Cambridge scientists stressed that it would take years of work and testing to find new therapies, and said that the pathway they had discovered would not work on all viruses.” More…