Gamers solve AIDS puzzle where scientists fail

Online gamers have succeeded where scientists have failed for a decade, successfully deciphering the structure of an AIDS-like retrovirus enzyme.

Biochemists called in the gamers after failing to piece together the structure of the protein-cutting enzyme, and challenged them to produce an accurate model of the enzyme using Foldit, an online game that allows players to collaborate and compete in…

Alcohol Responsible for More Deaths Than AIDS, TB or Violence

It is no secret that alcohol abuse and deaths related to alcohol are a serious problem, but it may be worse than many realize. In fact, alcohol is responsible for 2.5 million deaths around the globe each year.

Figures released this week in the World Health Organization’s “Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health” showed that alcohol-related incidents and diseases…

Illnesses, Food-Borne

Food-borne illness, often called food poisoning, is caused by pathogens or certain chemicals present in ingested food. Bacteria, viruses, molds, worms, and protozoa that cause disease are all pathogens, though there are also harmless and beneficial bacteria that are used to make yogurt and cheese. Some chemicals that cause food-borne illness are natural components of foods, while others…

HIV-AIDS

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) was identified in 1983 by the French scientist Luc Montagier and his staff at the Pasteur Institute in Paris. Ever since that discovery, scientists have been searching for ways to treat those infected with HIV, and to produce a vaccine to prevent its spread. While new antiviral treatments have been developed, a vaccine has yet…

AIDS/HIV infection

Definition Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a complex illness caused by a retrovirus, which is a single-strand virus that replicates by using reverse transcription to produce copies of DNA that become incorporated within the genome of the host cell. The HIV virus destroys a type of white blood cell known as CD4+ T lymphocytes, or T helper cells….

Magic Johnson Biography (1959-)

Basketball player. Born Earvin Johnson, Jr. on August 14, 1959 in Lansing, Michigan. After leading Michigan State University to a National Collegiate Athletic Association championship (1979), Johnson played 12 years as a guard for the Los Angeles Lakers (1980–91). He was named to the All-NBA (National Basketball Association) team nine times (1983–91), and was voted the league’s Most Valuable…