— Short hairpin RNA molecules were able to block the production of the CCR-5 receptor in mice engineered to possess human immune cells, pointing to a possible therapy against HIV/AIDS in the future. People who lack this CCR-5 receptor on their cells seem to have natural resistance to HIV, but this mutation is extremely rare.

– According to a case report, an adolescent girl was infected with rabies last year, but survived without intensive care. There are a couple caveats – including that she tested positive for virus-neutralizing antibodies only after being given the rabies vaccine — but despite this first-of-its-kind case, experts stress that rabies remains highly dangerous.

— The next step toward an electronic network for US healthcare? It’s in the Department of Justice and Homeland Security, apparently. The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT reportedly plans to use one of the department’s information exchange networks as a testing ground for its Nationwide Health Information Network. (GovHealthIT)

— Walk like an Egyptian, but please don’t eat like one. Researchers say that the lavish banquets ancient Egyptian priests offered the gods were full of food with high fat content. The priests also brought the food home to their families, and an analysis of 16 mummies found that nine had evidence of clogged arteries. (BBC)

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