According to UPI.com, scientists from Cardiff University have discovered a genetic variant associated with a hyperactive inflammatory response of the immune system to viruses. It is a variant of Ifitm3 gene. Previous studies have shown that the probability to catch the flu depends on Ifitm3. A certain variant of this gene increases the risk of viral infections.

According to UPI.com, scientists from Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology have created a compound capable to neutralize the beta-amyloid protein. This protein forms plaques which are typical to Alzheimer's disease.

It is known that children gaining high scores in tests on the search for novelty are prone to drug addiction. According to Zee News, scientists from Stanford University and the University Medical Center of Hamburg-Eppendorf claim that a new test allows to evaluate the risk much more accurately.

As a rule, a cancer diagnostics is an invasive and unpleasant procedure. Because of incorrectly diagnosed "cancer" in some cases, scientists are constantly looking for new methods of simple and painless diagnostics. According to Medical News Today, a new method of lung cancer detection has been developed. The authors of this method are scientists from Medical School of Boston University.

According to UPI.com, US scientists have grown hundreds of Mycobacterium smegmatis cultures which are similar to the bacterium causing tuberculosis. Bacteria were exposed to low concentrations of antibiotics that act slowly. The scientists monitored the death of bacteria and isolated the bays with microorganisms mutated

Scientists from the University of Zurich have revealed that BIIB074 substance is capable to alleviate the pain in people with trigeminal neuralgia. This chronic disease is accompanied by severe pain in the maxillofacial area. Experts note that BIIB074 is better than other drugs for the disease, which often cause fatigue and concentration problems.

Scientists from Karolinska Institute and the University of Southern Denmark have created a short DNA fragments (oligonucleotides), which can bind to HTT gene. Mutation in this gene causes Huntington's disease. Oligonucleotides prevent production of protein damaging nerve cells, Medical Xpress reports.

According to Medical Xpress, the scientists of the London University and Imperial College have found a "Molecular switch" that causes an inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease. The scientists hope that their discovery will help to develop new methods of treatments for these autoimmune diseases.

Mitochondria are the "power plants" of cells. Scientists from the Medicine School at Yale University have found that changes in the size of mitochondria in brain cells affect blood sugar levels. It is very important for diabetics of the 1st and 2nd types to maintain normal blood sugar concentrations, UPI.com reports.

Scientists from London Imperial College propose to treat hay fever with immunotherapy. Patients should be subjected to the increased level of pollen for a long time (at least three years). As a result, they become accustomed to the allergen, The Daily Mail reports.