Common fabric could save lives from most deadly disease
Cardiovascular disease is Australia's top killer, contributing to one in four deaths.
But after almost a decade of developing silk artificial blood vessels, researchers are confident they have found a solution to lower the numbers.
In a world-first test, Australians scientists were able to successfully put a silk blood vessel into a sheep in December.
Now they are turning their focus to using one of nature's strongest materials in humans.
"We're the first to bring this natural biomaterial this far along the translational pathway," University of Sydney cardiovascular bioengineering professor Steven Wise told AAP on Wednesday.
"Now we're at a place where we're in sheep and pigs, which are quite like a human."
The vessel starts as a silk cocoon plucked from a farm where it is cut, dried and washed to form a liquid.
It is then spat through a minuscule tube onto a cylindrical roll, where it forms a fluff similar to fairy floss.
Once the fairy-floss solution solidifies, it can be used in bypass surgery as a long-term artery or vein.
The technology will replace current artificial blood vessels, which are made from Gore-Tex, the same material as rain jackets.
"(The plastic is) really bad for you," Professor Wise said.
"They cause blood to clot, so our strategy is to build with a natural material that does belong in your body."
The scientific discovery comes as shovels dig into the ground at the University of Sydney to build a new biomedical centre.
Planned to be completed by 2028, the $780 million Sydney Biomedical Accelerator aims to find solutions to complicated health issues such as cancer and deadly diseases.
NSW is now in the box seat to advance medical technology, according to state Health Minister Ryan Park.
"It's been said for a long time that Victoria is the heart of medical research in this country," he said.
"This puts us back in front of centre in this race.
"This is putting money in our mouth of where we need to go ... (so) our communities can live the most healthy lives possible."
The research hub will play a key role in reducing cardiovascular disease worldwide, Sydney Local Health District chief executive Deb Willcox said.
The disease kills almost 18 million people per year globally, the World Health Organisation says.
"It's an enormous burden across the globe," Ms Willcox said.
"The work that this building bring us will bring treatments forward, provide new medication and procedures, and reduce the burden on people's lives."
The Sydney Biomedical Accelerator is expected to house more than 1200 researchers and clinician scientists once opened.
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The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
'Invariably fatal' rare bat virus claims another victim
A man has died after contracting an extremely rare, rabies-like bat virus, the fourth death since its discovery almost 30 years ago. NSW Health confirmed the man in his 50s died on Thursday after being bitten by a bat several months ago. The northern NSW man was the first recorded case of Australian bat lyssavirus in the state and only the fourth in the nation. Lyssavirus transmits from infected bats to humans when virus in their saliva enters the body through a bite or scratch. Emerging bat viruses expert Alison Peel told AAP the virus, like rabies, travels through the nervous system to the brain. "That happens very slowly so it's quite usual for that to take a number of months between the exposure and the clinical signs developing," the University of Sydney Horizon Fellow said. More than 100 people received medical treatment after potential or suspected exposures each year, Dr Peel said, but it was unknown how many actually contracted the virus. "But certainly, once clinical signs develop ... it's generally, invariably fatal." Australia is home to more than 80 species of bats, and without widespread surveillance of them all, it's safest to assume any bat could be carrying the virus. It was only transmitted through direct contact, so being near bats, or even pooed on by one, was not cause for too much alarm, Dr Peel said. "It's an important consideration to try and avoid direct contact and not touching bats, but we shouldn't panic and take it out on the bats themselves." The virus is also potentially deadly to bats. "It does seem to be circulating within their populations at very, very low levels," Dr Peel said. "But there are quite a high proportion of bats out there that have antibody evidence that suggests that they have been exposed to the virus in the past and they've not become sick. "There is something unique about the way bats are able to handle the infection." It is extremely rare for the virus to transmit to humans because it does not spread through the air. A NSW Health spokesman said anyone bitten or scratched by a bat should seek urgent medical assessment. "Only wildlife handlers who are trained, protected, and vaccinated should interact with bats." People bitten or scratched by a bat require rabies immunoglobulin and rabies vaccine. In 2024, 118 people were treated after being bitten or scratched by a bat around the nation. The virus was first discovered in a black flying fox in Queensland in 1996. A man has died after contracting an extremely rare, rabies-like bat virus, the fourth death since its discovery almost 30 years ago. NSW Health confirmed the man in his 50s died on Thursday after being bitten by a bat several months ago. The northern NSW man was the first recorded case of Australian bat lyssavirus in the state and only the fourth in the nation. Lyssavirus transmits from infected bats to humans when virus in their saliva enters the body through a bite or scratch. Emerging bat viruses expert Alison Peel told AAP the virus, like rabies, travels through the nervous system to the brain. "That happens very slowly so it's quite usual for that to take a number of months between the exposure and the clinical signs developing," the University of Sydney Horizon Fellow said. More than 100 people received medical treatment after potential or suspected exposures each year, Dr Peel said, but it was unknown how many actually contracted the virus. "But certainly, once clinical signs develop ... it's generally, invariably fatal." Australia is home to more than 80 species of bats, and without widespread surveillance of them all, it's safest to assume any bat could be carrying the virus. It was only transmitted through direct contact, so being near bats, or even pooed on by one, was not cause for too much alarm, Dr Peel said. "It's an important consideration to try and avoid direct contact and not touching bats, but we shouldn't panic and take it out on the bats themselves." The virus is also potentially deadly to bats. "It does seem to be circulating within their populations at very, very low levels," Dr Peel said. "But there are quite a high proportion of bats out there that have antibody evidence that suggests that they have been exposed to the virus in the past and they've not become sick. "There is something unique about the way bats are able to handle the infection." It is extremely rare for the virus to transmit to humans because it does not spread through the air. A NSW Health spokesman said anyone bitten or scratched by a bat should seek urgent medical assessment. "Only wildlife handlers who are trained, protected, and vaccinated should interact with bats." People bitten or scratched by a bat require rabies immunoglobulin and rabies vaccine. In 2024, 118 people were treated after being bitten or scratched by a bat around the nation. The virus was first discovered in a black flying fox in Queensland in 1996. A man has died after contracting an extremely rare, rabies-like bat virus, the fourth death since its discovery almost 30 years ago. NSW Health confirmed the man in his 50s died on Thursday after being bitten by a bat several months ago. The northern NSW man was the first recorded case of Australian bat lyssavirus in the state and only the fourth in the nation. Lyssavirus transmits from infected bats to humans when virus in their saliva enters the body through a bite or scratch. Emerging bat viruses expert Alison Peel told AAP the virus, like rabies, travels through the nervous system to the brain. "That happens very slowly so it's quite usual for that to take a number of months between the exposure and the clinical signs developing," the University of Sydney Horizon Fellow said. More than 100 people received medical treatment after potential or suspected exposures each year, Dr Peel said, but it was unknown how many actually contracted the virus. "But certainly, once clinical signs develop ... it's generally, invariably fatal." Australia is home to more than 80 species of bats, and without widespread surveillance of them all, it's safest to assume any bat could be carrying the virus. It was only transmitted through direct contact, so being near bats, or even pooed on by one, was not cause for too much alarm, Dr Peel said. "It's an important consideration to try and avoid direct contact and not touching bats, but we shouldn't panic and take it out on the bats themselves." The virus is also potentially deadly to bats. "It does seem to be circulating within their populations at very, very low levels," Dr Peel said. "But there are quite a high proportion of bats out there that have antibody evidence that suggests that they have been exposed to the virus in the past and they've not become sick. "There is something unique about the way bats are able to handle the infection." It is extremely rare for the virus to transmit to humans because it does not spread through the air. A NSW Health spokesman said anyone bitten or scratched by a bat should seek urgent medical assessment. "Only wildlife handlers who are trained, protected, and vaccinated should interact with bats." People bitten or scratched by a bat require rabies immunoglobulin and rabies vaccine. In 2024, 118 people were treated after being bitten or scratched by a bat around the nation. The virus was first discovered in a black flying fox in Queensland in 1996. A man has died after contracting an extremely rare, rabies-like bat virus, the fourth death since its discovery almost 30 years ago. NSW Health confirmed the man in his 50s died on Thursday after being bitten by a bat several months ago. The northern NSW man was the first recorded case of Australian bat lyssavirus in the state and only the fourth in the nation. Lyssavirus transmits from infected bats to humans when virus in their saliva enters the body through a bite or scratch. Emerging bat viruses expert Alison Peel told AAP the virus, like rabies, travels through the nervous system to the brain. "That happens very slowly so it's quite usual for that to take a number of months between the exposure and the clinical signs developing," the University of Sydney Horizon Fellow said. More than 100 people received medical treatment after potential or suspected exposures each year, Dr Peel said, but it was unknown how many actually contracted the virus. "But certainly, once clinical signs develop ... it's generally, invariably fatal." Australia is home to more than 80 species of bats, and without widespread surveillance of them all, it's safest to assume any bat could be carrying the virus. It was only transmitted through direct contact, so being near bats, or even pooed on by one, was not cause for too much alarm, Dr Peel said. "It's an important consideration to try and avoid direct contact and not touching bats, but we shouldn't panic and take it out on the bats themselves." The virus is also potentially deadly to bats. "It does seem to be circulating within their populations at very, very low levels," Dr Peel said. "But there are quite a high proportion of bats out there that have antibody evidence that suggests that they have been exposed to the virus in the past and they've not become sick. "There is something unique about the way bats are able to handle the infection." It is extremely rare for the virus to transmit to humans because it does not spread through the air. A NSW Health spokesman said anyone bitten or scratched by a bat should seek urgent medical assessment. "Only wildlife handlers who are trained, protected, and vaccinated should interact with bats." People bitten or scratched by a bat require rabies immunoglobulin and rabies vaccine. In 2024, 118 people were treated after being bitten or scratched by a bat around the nation. The virus was first discovered in a black flying fox in Queensland in 1996.
Perth Now
10 hours ago
- Perth Now
'Tightrope' for men in childcare amid calls for ban
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Sky News AU
10 hours ago
- Sky News AU
NSW man dies after contracting state's first confirmed case of lyssavirus after bat bite, health authorities confirm
A New South Wales man has died after contracting the state's first recorded case of Australian bat lyssavirus. In a statement on Thursday, a NSW Health spokesperson confirmed the man had succumbed to the virus after fighting for life in hospital. "We express our sincere condolences to the man's family and friends for their tragic loss," a spokesperson said. "While it is extremely rare to see a case of Australian bat lyssavirus, there is no effective treatment for it." On Wednesday, NSW Health said the man was in a critical condition after being bitten by a bat several months ago. The situation sparked an urgent warning from authorities, urging the public to avoid touching or handling bats given the risk of contracting lyssavirus. Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) is typically spread from bats to humans when the virus in the animal's saliva enters the body through a bite or scratch. The illness, which can be fatal if left untreated, is a considered to be closely related to the rabies virus. Earlier, Director in Health Protection at NSW Health Keira Glasgow described the situation as "very tragic" particularly given the man sought treatment following his injury. Ms Glasgow confirmed the man was the first person in NSW to contract the virus, and fourth on a national level. She urged people to assume any bat in Australia can carry lyssavirus, adding urgent medical assessment is crucial if a person is bitten or scratched by the animal. "You will need to wash the wound thoroughly for 15 minutes right away with soap and water and apply an antiseptic with anti-virus action, such as betadine, and allow it to dry," she said. "You will then require treatment with rabies immunoglobulin and rabies vaccine." ABLV can be carried by species of flying foxes, fruit bats and insect-eating microbats. NSW Health has reminded Australians the best form of protected from infection is to not touch bats. "If you see a bat in distress, injured or trapped on the ground, do not try to rescue it," health authorities said. Members of the community should contact their local wildlife rescue group or trained experts at wildlife rescue organisation WIRES via 1300 094 737 if they notice a bat in distress.
