• Newsletter
  • Search
  • Contacto
  • Home (next newsletter)
  • Home
  • News # 80 | Jun. 2018
  • News # 81 | Jul. 2018
  • News # 82 | Set. 2018
  • News # 83 | Oct. 2018
  • News # 84 | Nov. 2018
  • News # 85 | Dec. 2018
  • News # 86 | Jan. 2019
  • News # 87 | Feb. 2019
  • News # 88 | Mar. 2019
  • News # 89 | Apr. 2019
  • News # 90 | May. 2019
  • News # 91 | Jun. 2019
  • News # 92 | Jul. 2019
  • News # 93 | sep. 2019
  • Newsletters
    • 2008 – 2009
      • News # 1 | nov. 2008
      • News # 10 | nov/dez. 2009
      • News # 2 | dec. 2008
      • News # 3 | jan/fev. 2009
      • News # 4 | mar. 2009
      • News # 5 | abr. 2009
      • News # 6 | mai/jun. 2009
      • News # 7 | jul. 2009
      • News # 8 | ago/set. 2009
      • News # 9 | out. 2009
    • 2010 – 2011
      • News # 11 | jan/fev. 2010
      • News # 12 | mar. 2010
      • News # 13 | abr. 2010
      • News # 14 | mai. 2010
      • News # 15 | jun/jul. 2010
      • News # 16 | ago/set. 2010
      • News # 17 | out/nov. 2010
      • News # 18 | dez. 2010
      • News # 19 | jan/fev. 2011
      • News # 20 | mar/abr. 2011
      • News # 21 | mai/jun. 2011
      • News # 22 | jul/ago. 2011
      • News # 23 | set/out. 2011
      • News # 24 | nov/dez. 2011
    • 2012 – 2013
      • News # 25 | jan. 2012
      • News # 26 | fev/mar. 2012
      • News # 27 | jun. 2012
      • News # 28 | ago. 2012
      • News # 29 | set/out. 2012
      • News # 30 | nov/dez. 2012
      • News # 31 | jan. 2013
      • News # 32 | mar. 2013
      • News # 33 | abr. 2013
      • News # 34 | mai. 2013
      • News # 35 | jun. 2013
      • News # 36 | set. 2013
      •  News # 37 | out. 2013
      • News # 38 | nov/dez. 2013
    • 2014 – 2015
      • News # 39 | jan/fev. 2014
      • News # 40 | mar. 2014
      • News # 41 | abr/mai. 2014
      • News # 42 | jun/jul. 2014
      • News # 43 | set. 2014
      • News # 44 | out/nov. 2014
      • News # 45 | dez. 2014
      • News # 46 | jan. 2015
      • News # 47 | fev. 2015
      • News # 48 | abr. 2015
      • News # 49 | mai. 2015
      • News # 50 | jun. 2015
      • News # 51 | set. 2015
      • News # 52 | out. 2015
      • News # 53 | dez. 2015
    • 2016 – 2017
      • News # 54 | jan. 2016
      • News # 55 | fev. 2016
      • News # 56 | mar. 2016
      • News # 57 | abr. 2016
      • News nº 58 | may 2016
      • News # 59 | jun. 2016
      • News # 60 | jul. 2016
      • News # 61 | set. 2016
      • News # 62 | out. 2016
      • News # 63 | nov/dez. 2016
      • News # 64 | jan. 2017
      • News # 65 | fev. 2017
      • News # 66 | mar. 2017
      • News # 67 | apr. 2017
      • News # 68 | may 2017
      • News # 69 | jun. 2017
      • News # 70 | jul. 2017
      • News # 71 | set. 2017
      • News # 72 | out. 2017
      • News # 73 | nov. 2017
      • News # 74 | dez. 2017
    • 2018
      • News # 75 | jan. 2018
      • News # 76 | fev. 2018
      • News # 77 | mar. 2018
      • News # 78 | abr. 2018
      • News #79 | May 2018
  • Subscribe Newsletter
My Company
  • Home
  • Newsletters
    • 2018 – 2019
      • News nº 92 | jul. 2019
      • News nº 91 | jun. 2019
      • News nº 90 | Mai. 2019
      • News nº 89 | Abr. 2019
      • News nº 88 | Mar. 2019
      • News nº 87 | Fev. 2019
      • News nº 86 | Jan. 2019
      • News nº 85 | Dez. 2018
      • News nº 84 | Nov. 2018
      • News nº 83 | Out. 2018
      • News nº 82 | Set. 2018
      • News nº 81 | Jul. 2018
      • News nº 80 | Jun. 2018
      • News Nº 79 | Mai. 2018
      • News nº 78 | abr. 2018
      • News nº 77 | mar. 2018
      • News nº 76 | fev. 2018
      • News nº 75 | jan. 2018
    • 2016 – 2017
      • News nº 74 | dez. 2017
      • News # 73 | nov. 2017
      • News # 72 | out. 2017
      • News # 70 | set. 2017
      • News nº 70 | jul. 2017
      • News nº 69 | jun. 2017
      • News nº 68 | mai. 2017
      • News nº 67 | abr. 2017
      • News nº 66 | mar. 2017
      • News nº 65 | fev. 2017
      • News nº 64 | jan. 2017
      • News nº 63 | nov/dez. 2016
      • News nº 62 | out. 2016
      • News nº 61 | set. 2016
      • News nº 60 | jul. 2016
      • News nº 59 | jun. 2016
      • News nº 58 | mai. 2016
      • News nº 57 | abr. 2016
      • News nº 56 | mar. 2016
      • News nº 55 | fev. 2016
      • News nº 54 | jan. 2016
    • 2014 – 2015
      • News nº 53 | dez. 2015
      • News nº 52 | out. 2015
      • News nº 51 | set. 2015
      • News nº 50 | jun. 2015
      • News nº 49 | mai. 2015
      • News nº 48 | abr. 2015
      • News nº 47 | fev. 2015
      • News nº 46 | jan. 2015
      • News nº 45 | dez. 2014
      • News nº 44 | out/nov. 2014
      • News nº 43 | set. 2014
      • News nº 42 | jun/jul. 2014
      • News nº 41 | abr/mai. 2014
      • News nº 40 | mar. 2014
      • News nº 39 | jan/fev. 2014
    • 2012 – 2013
      • News nº 38 | nov/dez. 2013
      • News nº 37 | out. 2013
      • News nº 36 | set. 2013
      • News nº 35 | jun. 2013
      • News nº 34 | mai. 2013
      • News nº 33 | abr. 2013
      • News nº 32 | mar. 2013
      • News nº 31 | jan. 2013
      • News nº 30 | nov/dez. 2012
      • News nº 29 | set/out. 2012
      • News nº 28 | ago. 2012
      • News nº 27 | jun. 2012
      • News nº 26 | fev/mar. 2012
      • News nº 25 | jan. 2012
    • 2010 – 2011
      • News nº 24 | nov/dez. 2011
      • News nº 23 | set/out. 2011
      • News nº 22 | jul/ago. 2011
      • News nº 21 | mai/jun. 2011
      • News nº 20 | mar/abr. 2011
      • News nº 19 | jan/fev. 2011
      • News nº 18 | dez. 2010
      • News nº 17 | out/nov. 2010
      • News nº 16 | ago/set. 2010
      • News nº 15 | jun/jul. 2010
      • News nº 14 | mai. 2010
      • News nº 13 | abr. 2010
      • News nº 12 | mar. 2010
      • News nº 11 | jan/fev. 2010
    • 2008 – 2009
      • News nº 10 | nov/dez. 2009
      • News nº 9 | out. 2009
      • News nº 8 | ago/set. 2009
      • News nº 7 | jul. 2009
      • News nº 6 | mai/jun. 2009
      • News nº 5 | abr. 2009
      • News nº 4 | mar. 2009
      • News nº 3 | jan/fev. 2009
      • News nº 2 | dez. 2008
      • News nº 1 | nov. 2008
  • Subscrever Newsletter
  • Contacto
Main Menu
  • Home
  • Newsletters
    • 2018 – 2019
      • News nº 92 | jul. 2019
      • News nº 91 | jun. 2019
      • News nº 90 | Mai. 2019
      • News nº 89 | Abr. 2019
      • News nº 88 | Mar. 2019
      • News nº 87 | Fev. 2019
      • News nº 86 | Jan. 2019
      • News nº 85 | Dez. 2018
      • News nº 84 | Nov. 2018
      • News nº 83 | Out. 2018
      • News nº 82 | Set. 2018
      • News nº 81 | Jul. 2018
      • News nº 80 | Jun. 2018
      • News Nº 79 | Mai. 2018
      • News nº 78 | abr. 2018
      • News nº 77 | mar. 2018
      • News nº 76 | fev. 2018
      • News nº 75 | jan. 2018
    • 2016 – 2017
      • News nº 74 | dez. 2017
      • News # 73 | nov. 2017
      • News # 72 | out. 2017
      • News # 70 | set. 2017
      • News nº 70 | jul. 2017
      • News nº 69 | jun. 2017
      • News nº 68 | mai. 2017
      • News nº 67 | abr. 2017
      • News nº 66 | mar. 2017
      • News nº 65 | fev. 2017
      • News nº 64 | jan. 2017
      • News nº 63 | nov/dez. 2016
      • News nº 62 | out. 2016
      • News nº 61 | set. 2016
      • News nº 60 | jul. 2016
      • News nº 59 | jun. 2016
      • News nº 58 | mai. 2016
      • News nº 57 | abr. 2016
      • News nº 56 | mar. 2016
      • News nº 55 | fev. 2016
      • News nº 54 | jan. 2016
    • 2014 – 2015
      • News nº 53 | dez. 2015
      • News nº 52 | out. 2015
      • News nº 51 | set. 2015
      • News nº 50 | jun. 2015
      • News nº 49 | mai. 2015
      • News nº 48 | abr. 2015
      • News nº 47 | fev. 2015
      • News nº 46 | jan. 2015
      • News nº 45 | dez. 2014
      • News nº 44 | out/nov. 2014
      • News nº 43 | set. 2014
      • News nº 42 | jun/jul. 2014
      • News nº 41 | abr/mai. 2014
      • News nº 40 | mar. 2014
      • News nº 39 | jan/fev. 2014
    • 2012 – 2013
      • News nº 38 | nov/dez. 2013
      • News nº 37 | out. 2013
      • News nº 36 | set. 2013
      • News nº 35 | jun. 2013
      • News nº 34 | mai. 2013
      • News nº 33 | abr. 2013
      • News nº 32 | mar. 2013
      • News nº 31 | jan. 2013
      • News nº 30 | nov/dez. 2012
      • News nº 29 | set/out. 2012
      • News nº 28 | ago. 2012
      • News nº 27 | jun. 2012
      • News nº 26 | fev/mar. 2012
      • News nº 25 | jan. 2012
    • 2010 – 2011
      • News nº 24 | nov/dez. 2011
      • News nº 23 | set/out. 2011
      • News nº 22 | jul/ago. 2011
      • News nº 21 | mai/jun. 2011
      • News nº 20 | mar/abr. 2011
      • News nº 19 | jan/fev. 2011
      • News nº 18 | dez. 2010
      • News nº 17 | out/nov. 2010
      • News nº 16 | ago/set. 2010
      • News nº 15 | jun/jul. 2010
      • News nº 14 | mai. 2010
      • News nº 13 | abr. 2010
      • News nº 12 | mar. 2010
      • News nº 11 | jan/fev. 2010
    • 2008 – 2009
      • News nº 10 | nov/dez. 2009
      • News nº 9 | out. 2009
      • News nº 8 | ago/set. 2009
      • News nº 7 | jul. 2009
      • News nº 6 | mai/jun. 2009
      • News nº 5 | abr. 2009
      • News nº 4 | mar. 2009
      • News nº 3 | jan/fev. 2009
      • News nº 2 | dez. 2008
      • News nº 1 | nov. 2008
  • Subscrever Newsletter
  • Contacto

Anti-measles medicines – a research led by Miguel Castanho

By Joana Ferreira de Sousa On 25 October, 2018 2018 | Science Space Comments Off on Anti-measles medicines – a research led by Miguel Castanho Tags: slider

After so many decades under control and practically forgotten as a result of strict vaccination policies, measles has re-emerged and have already resulted in casualties. This is also the case of Portugal, where several cases of measles have been recorded. It should be highlighted that measles is one of the most infectious known viruses. The reason behind its resurgence lies with anti-vaccination ideologies, which have led to the resurgence of the virus among non-vaccinated populations that the virus can infect and from whom it can spread to other people. Babies under vaccination age are particularly at risk of exposure to viruses. The anti-immunisation streams have raised significant controversy, with remarkable repercussions in public health. The practical result is that, nowadays, there is an unprecedented need to have medicine to treat measles and do prophylaxis against the virus.

A study that has now been released analyses the molecules that can achieve these two goals and have been tested in animal models of the disease. The IMM/FMUL team led by researcher and professor Miguel Castanho has discovered that a set of molecules that have a mixed nature of protein and lipid has the ability to organise itself forming “smart” structures that connect and disconnect among themselves according to recorded presence or absence of the virus. The final outcome is the inability of measles to affect cells. This direct correlation between microscopic events to a molecular level and the pharmacological effect has been, in Miguel Castanho’s own words, “very hard to achieve and has called for the use of sophisticated techniques and turning to specialised knowledge.”

The study was developed at IMM/FMUL and benefited from the collaboration of the Columbia University Medical Centre, in New York. A team of Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier (ITQB-UNL) also conducted computer simulations of the molecule. The article resulting from this research has been published in ACS Nano, a magazine that is published by the American Chemical Society, the largest scientific society of chemistry in the world.

Transmitted through direct contact with infected droplets, or by air propagation when the infected individual coughs or sneezes, the measles virus is highly contagious and is once more a reason for alarm just as Portugal had been labelled free from this epidemic since 2016, according to data by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Directorate-General for Health (DGS) has recently issued several alerts on measles, recommending that citizens living on Portuguese soil to check their vaccination bulletin and that, if necessary, to get vaccinated against this virus.

Measles’ symptoms normally appear around 10 to 12 days after being infected and normally start off as a fever, skin rash, cough, conjunctivitis and nasal discharge. Patients are deemed contagious from four days prior to five days after showcasing the skin rash that characterises this infection.

With two simultaneous outbreaks in 2017, measles has come back strong in Portugal and has infected almost 30 people, causing the death of a young girl.

According to DGS figures concerning 2017, more than 87% of the people that have contracted measles were not vaccinated.

Portugal is not alone in these statistics: according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and to a report released on the European region, in the first semester of 2018 alone a record number of measles cases have been recorded in Europe. The annual record had been achieved last year when 23,000 cases were recorded in a single full year.

Both WHO and DGS are in agreement, in view of this “highly contagious” virus, and have stated that the only effective solution is vaccination. Vaccination against measles is part of the National Vaccination Programme and should be administered at 12 months of age and at age five.

Share

Search

Índice – News nº 83 | out. 2018
 Simbioses
 I Updated Course in Medical Law | Opening Session
 Professor António Gonçalves Ferreira elected President of the European Association of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery
 Living daily with cancer – the testimony of Sandra Lucas
 Dark-haired Maria
 Professor Jorge Draper Mineiro – tribute on the centennial of his birth
 Awards Ceremony of the 5th Annual Health + Solidarity Run
 With a balanced heart!
 Uma aula especial dada pelo Professor Mário Simões
 Beyond Med – A Glance at Medical Education
 Opening of the Master’s Degree in Cardiovascular Rehabilitation
 Ronald Harden is granted the Honoris Causa Doctorate by the University of Lisbon
 Personality Award granted to Fernando Pádua, the “Heart Doctor”.
 The hug between iMM and Laço – a conversation with consultant Lynne Archibald
 Open Access International Week 2018 | National and International Policies
 The Mentoring Project and its novelties
 Carmo Fonseca and the Laboratory that wants to wait for cancer before it appears
 Miguel Castanho to lead project selected for funding by the European Innovation Council
 Find the Researcher you are looking for – Now
 Publicações Científicas (FMUL/HSM/IMM) setembro – outubro 2018
 AIDFM CETERA – Ensaio Clínicos
 Anti-measles medicines – a research led by Miguel Castanho
 ERC 2018 Synergy Grants para Edgar Gomes (iMM)
 Sérgio de Almeida and his new weapon in the fight against breast cancer
 Notícias do Pedagógico
 Vera Mendonça – on radiotherapy for breast cancer
 The ancient book of CDI-Library of FMUL: a legacy that honours the past and helps us build the future
 Lecture “Mediterranean Diet: Health Promoter”
 Dia da Investigação | 12 DEZ – Save the date
 XVII Hospital dos Pequeninos
 II Congresso de Investigação em Medicina das Escolas Médicas Portuguesas | 9 e 10 de novembro 2018
 4th Students Meeting of Mind-Brain College
 “Descomplicar a Pesquisa Bibliográfica”
 Deslocado? – Tem o Espaço S
 Já está à venda a Agenda da Pediatria
 José Manuel de Vasconcelos Pequito Cortez Pimentel (1924-2018)
 Dra. Anabela Maria Rebelo Morais (1955–2018)
My Company

100 AnosPropriedade e Edição: Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa NIPC: 502662875  Periodicidade: Mensal  Diretor: Prof. Doutor Fausto J. Pinto Conselho Editorial: Prof. Doutor Fausto J. Pinto, Profª. Doutora Ana Sebastião, Prof. Doutor Mamede de Carvalho, Prof. Doutor António Vaz Carneiro, Prof. Doutor Miguel Castanho, Dr. Luís Pereira  Equipa Editorial:  Ana Raquel Moreira, Cristina Bastos, Isabel Varela, Joana Sousa, Maria de Lurdes Barata, Rui Gomes, Sónia Teixeira  Colaboração:  Gabinete de Relações Públicas, Internacionais e Comunicação  Versão Inglesa: AP|PORTUGAL- Language Services  Conceção: Metatexto, Lda. e-mail: news@medicina.ulisboa.pt  Sede do Editor e Sede da Redação: Avenida Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa Estatuto Editorial Anotado na ERC 

  • Increase Font
  • Decrease Font
  • Black & White
  • Inverse Colors
  • Highlight Links
  • Regular Font
  • Reset
Real Accessability