Baking in lockdown helped top student get into one of the world s best medical schools
9 Mar, 2021 03:36 AM
4 minutes to read
Linda Tang is the first graduate from Pinehurst College to be accepted into the University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine. Photo / Michael Craig
Linda Tang is the first graduate from Pinehurst College to be accepted into the University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine. Photo / Michael Craig
Lincoln Tan is the New Zealand Herald’s diversity, ethnic affairs and immigration senior reporter.lincoln.tan@nzherald.co.nz@LincolnTanNZH
A top student from Auckland s Pinehurst College says embracing time in lockdown helped her get into her dream medical course at one of the world s most elite universities.
Professor Val Gibson, the University’s Equality Champion focusing on STEMM subjects, said: “International Women’s Day is an opportunity to reflect and celebrate the many contributions of women to the University’s education and research, including to our collaborations across the world. It is particularly poignant at a time when family, friends and colleagues may be separated and our interactions occur via a virtual setting. It is from this space that I send a huge thank you to all who actively contribute to gender equality, and diversity and inclusion, and the women who make Cambridge such a wonderful place to work.
Study highlights risk of new SARS-CoV-2 mutations emerging during chronic infection
SARS-CoV-2 mutations similar to those in the B1.1.7 UK variant could arise in cases of chronic infection, where treatment over an extended period can provide the virus multiple opportunities to evolve, say scientists.
Given that both vaccines and therapeutics are aimed at the spike protein, which we saw mutate in our patient, our study raises the worrying possibility that the virus could mutate to outwit our vaccines
Ravi Gupta
Writing in
Nature, a team led by Cambridge researchers report how they were able to observe SARS-CoV-2 mutating in the case of an immunocompromised patient treated with convalescent plasma. In particular, they saw the emergence of a key mutation also seen in the new variant that led to the UK being forced once again into strict lockdown, though there is no suggestion that the variant originated from this patient.
Irish study pinpoints new therapeutic target for atopic dermatitis
A key mechanism underlying bacterial skin colonisation in atopic dermatitis (AD) has been discovered by Irish researchers.
AD, commonly known as eczema is the most common chronic inflammatory skin disorder in children, affecting millions around the globe and 15 to 20 per cent of people in childhood.
During disease flares, patients experience painful inflamed skin lesions accompanied by intense itch and recurrent skin infection.
The bacterium
Staphylococcus aureus (
S. aureus) thrives on skin affected by AD, increasing inflammation and worsening AD symptoms. By studying the attachment of the bacterium to “corneocytes”, which are dead, flattened skin cells in the outer layer of the skin, researchers at the School of Genetics and Microbiology and School of Clinical Medicine, Trinity College Dublin (TCD), investigated the human and bacterial factors that enabled S. aureus to interact with skin.
Trinity researchers discover key mechanism underlying bacterial skin colonization in atopic dermatitis
Researchers from Trinity College Dublin have discovered a key mechanism underlying bacterial skin colonization in atopic dermatitis, which affects millions around the globe.
Atopic dermatitis (AD, also called commonly eczema) is the most common chronic inflammatory skin disorder in children, affecting 15-20% of people in childhood. During disease flares, patients experience painful inflamed skin lesions accompanied by intense itch and recurrent skin infection.
The bacterium Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) thrives on skin affected by AD, increasing inflammation and worsening AD symptoms. Although a small number of therapies are available at present for patients with moderate to severe AD, it is vital that we understand how S. aureus colonises AD skin so that we can develop new treatments that directly target the bacterium.