Latest news with #UniversityofSydney
9 News
2 days ago
- Health
- 9 News
New COVID-19 vaccine protects against several variants, researchers say
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Australian scientists say they have created a COVID-19 vaccine that can protect against several variants of the virus. Researchers from the Centenary Institute and the University of Sydney created the CoVEXS5 vaccine, which protects against five variants of the virus, including the "highly immune-evasive" Omicron XBB.1.5 variant and SARS-CoV-1, a relative of SARS-CoV-2. Studies showed reduced virus levels in the lungs of vaccinated mice by 99.9 per cent, compared to unvaccinated controls. Scientists have created a COVID-19 vaccine that can protect against several variants of the virus, health researchers said. (AP) It also triggered high levels of virus-blocking antibodies and activated special immune T-cells in the lungs, which are critical for the body to fight the virus. "By combining parts of multiple coronaviruses, we've created a vaccine that can better prepare the body to fight off both current and future threats," Dr Claudio Counoupas, a researcher at the Centenary Institute's Centre for Infection and Immunity, said. The CoVEXS5 vaccine features a unique version of the spike protein, fusing protein elements from several different COVID-19 variants into one single structure. Researchers say this fusion helps the immune system recognise and respond to a broader range of virus types. The CoVEXS5 vaccine features a unique version of the spike protein, fusing protein elements from several different COVID-19 variants into one single structure. (Getty) "The immune response we saw in the laboratory was both strong and broad," co-lead study author Elizabeth Chan said. "It's exciting to think that this approach could help future-proof vaccines against ongoing changes in the virus." The research team is now focusing on advancing the vaccine through further testing and development. national health science vaccine COVID 19 Coronavirus CONTACT US Auto news: BYD speaks out about their ongoing battle with Tesla.
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Business
- The Advertiser
Surprise jobless hike may trigger interest rate relief
A surprise jump in the jobless rate could help cement the case for an interest rate cut, delivering welcome relief for homeowners. The unemployment rate bucked market expectations, rising from 4.1 per cent to 4.3 per cent in June, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Though the result was unexpected, ex-Reserve Bank economist Luke Hartigan said it met the central bank's year-end unemployment forecast. "This just adds information to say that some modest reduction in interest rates is warranted," the University of Sydney economics lecturer told AAP. After its July meeting, the central bank disappointed mortgage-holders and shocked market economists by opting to hold the cash rate at 3.85 per cent in a split decision. The latest jobs data has been read by some as an early sign of labour market softening. Combined with moderating inflation, the unemployment figures meant an interest rate cut was "virtually locked in" when the central bank meets in August, CreditorWatch's chief economist Ivan Colhoun said. But other economists believe there is still room to move, with VanEck investments head Russel Chesler pointing to the July 30 release of quarterly inflation figures as a vital data point in the Reserve Bank's next rate decision. "The market is still pricing in two more rate cuts by the end of the year, but we consider it premature to be making this call before there is any data to support this," he said. While the recent unemployment increase has put the rate at its highest level since November 2021, Dr Hartigan maintained other metrics showed the market was still relatively solid. "This is the first uptick in a little while, so it's a little bit concerning," he said. "But in the context of where the unemployment rate is now versus where it's been in the past, it is still very low." Economists would likely need a few more months of continued rise to be sure of a weakening in the labour market. Treasurer Jim Chalmers called the unemployment uptick an "inevitable consequence" of global economic uncertainty and the ongoing impact of higher interest rates. "The Australian economy is not immune from global uncertainty but we are well‑placed and well‑prepared to face the challenges ahead," he said. "The ongoing resilience in our labour market over the past three years remains one of our best defences." A surprise jump in the jobless rate could help cement the case for an interest rate cut, delivering welcome relief for homeowners. The unemployment rate bucked market expectations, rising from 4.1 per cent to 4.3 per cent in June, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Though the result was unexpected, ex-Reserve Bank economist Luke Hartigan said it met the central bank's year-end unemployment forecast. "This just adds information to say that some modest reduction in interest rates is warranted," the University of Sydney economics lecturer told AAP. After its July meeting, the central bank disappointed mortgage-holders and shocked market economists by opting to hold the cash rate at 3.85 per cent in a split decision. The latest jobs data has been read by some as an early sign of labour market softening. Combined with moderating inflation, the unemployment figures meant an interest rate cut was "virtually locked in" when the central bank meets in August, CreditorWatch's chief economist Ivan Colhoun said. But other economists believe there is still room to move, with VanEck investments head Russel Chesler pointing to the July 30 release of quarterly inflation figures as a vital data point in the Reserve Bank's next rate decision. "The market is still pricing in two more rate cuts by the end of the year, but we consider it premature to be making this call before there is any data to support this," he said. While the recent unemployment increase has put the rate at its highest level since November 2021, Dr Hartigan maintained other metrics showed the market was still relatively solid. "This is the first uptick in a little while, so it's a little bit concerning," he said. "But in the context of where the unemployment rate is now versus where it's been in the past, it is still very low." Economists would likely need a few more months of continued rise to be sure of a weakening in the labour market. Treasurer Jim Chalmers called the unemployment uptick an "inevitable consequence" of global economic uncertainty and the ongoing impact of higher interest rates. "The Australian economy is not immune from global uncertainty but we are well‑placed and well‑prepared to face the challenges ahead," he said. "The ongoing resilience in our labour market over the past three years remains one of our best defences." A surprise jump in the jobless rate could help cement the case for an interest rate cut, delivering welcome relief for homeowners. The unemployment rate bucked market expectations, rising from 4.1 per cent to 4.3 per cent in June, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Though the result was unexpected, ex-Reserve Bank economist Luke Hartigan said it met the central bank's year-end unemployment forecast. "This just adds information to say that some modest reduction in interest rates is warranted," the University of Sydney economics lecturer told AAP. After its July meeting, the central bank disappointed mortgage-holders and shocked market economists by opting to hold the cash rate at 3.85 per cent in a split decision. The latest jobs data has been read by some as an early sign of labour market softening. Combined with moderating inflation, the unemployment figures meant an interest rate cut was "virtually locked in" when the central bank meets in August, CreditorWatch's chief economist Ivan Colhoun said. But other economists believe there is still room to move, with VanEck investments head Russel Chesler pointing to the July 30 release of quarterly inflation figures as a vital data point in the Reserve Bank's next rate decision. "The market is still pricing in two more rate cuts by the end of the year, but we consider it premature to be making this call before there is any data to support this," he said. While the recent unemployment increase has put the rate at its highest level since November 2021, Dr Hartigan maintained other metrics showed the market was still relatively solid. "This is the first uptick in a little while, so it's a little bit concerning," he said. "But in the context of where the unemployment rate is now versus where it's been in the past, it is still very low." Economists would likely need a few more months of continued rise to be sure of a weakening in the labour market. Treasurer Jim Chalmers called the unemployment uptick an "inevitable consequence" of global economic uncertainty and the ongoing impact of higher interest rates. "The Australian economy is not immune from global uncertainty but we are well‑placed and well‑prepared to face the challenges ahead," he said. "The ongoing resilience in our labour market over the past three years remains one of our best defences." A surprise jump in the jobless rate could help cement the case for an interest rate cut, delivering welcome relief for homeowners. The unemployment rate bucked market expectations, rising from 4.1 per cent to 4.3 per cent in June, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Though the result was unexpected, ex-Reserve Bank economist Luke Hartigan said it met the central bank's year-end unemployment forecast. "This just adds information to say that some modest reduction in interest rates is warranted," the University of Sydney economics lecturer told AAP. After its July meeting, the central bank disappointed mortgage-holders and shocked market economists by opting to hold the cash rate at 3.85 per cent in a split decision. The latest jobs data has been read by some as an early sign of labour market softening. Combined with moderating inflation, the unemployment figures meant an interest rate cut was "virtually locked in" when the central bank meets in August, CreditorWatch's chief economist Ivan Colhoun said. But other economists believe there is still room to move, with VanEck investments head Russel Chesler pointing to the July 30 release of quarterly inflation figures as a vital data point in the Reserve Bank's next rate decision. "The market is still pricing in two more rate cuts by the end of the year, but we consider it premature to be making this call before there is any data to support this," he said. While the recent unemployment increase has put the rate at its highest level since November 2021, Dr Hartigan maintained other metrics showed the market was still relatively solid. "This is the first uptick in a little while, so it's a little bit concerning," he said. "But in the context of where the unemployment rate is now versus where it's been in the past, it is still very low." Economists would likely need a few more months of continued rise to be sure of a weakening in the labour market. Treasurer Jim Chalmers called the unemployment uptick an "inevitable consequence" of global economic uncertainty and the ongoing impact of higher interest rates. "The Australian economy is not immune from global uncertainty but we are well‑placed and well‑prepared to face the challenges ahead," he said. "The ongoing resilience in our labour market over the past three years remains one of our best defences."
New York Post
2 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
How ‘jet lag' could be making you depressed — even if you didn't travel anywhere
You're running on jet fumes — and you didn't even step foot on an airplane. Jet lag is a common occurrence after long flights. Flyers can feel tired and struggle with digestive issues because their internal biological clock, also known as their circadian rhythm, isn't aligned with their new time zone. Now, researchers are warning of a phenomenon called 'internal jet lag.' A startling examination of young Australians who sought mental health treatment revealed that some of these patients appeared to have jet lag symptoms — even though they didn't travel. Advertisement 4 Jet lag is when a person's internal biological clock, also known as their circadian rhythm, isn't aligned with the new time zone after flying. EdNurg – 'We analyzed participants' core body temperature, cortisol levels and melatonin levels, which we know play important roles in how our bodies manage the circadian rhythm — our 24-hour cycles — which regulate things like wakefulness and sleep,' said Joanne Carpenter of the University of Sydney. 'When we looked at these three measures in young people who presented to mental health services, we found that 23% of patients were experiencing a kind of physiological jet lag.' Advertisement The peculiar findings suggest that healthcare providers should target biological clocks when treating mood disorders. Mood disorders can be characterized by persistent sadness (depression), extreme happiness (mania) or a combination of both (bipolar disorder). 4 'Internal jet lag' is when biological 'clocks are not just delayed but not lining up with each other.' It could be linked to mental health disorders. Marco – The new study featured two sets of participants. The first group were 69 people aged 16 to 35 who visited a mental health clinic in Sydney. Advertisement The other group of 19 young people didn't have a history of mental illness. The participants swallowed a sensor that continuously logged their body temperature. The researchers also measured their sleep and the circadian-related hormones melatonin and cortisol. Your body naturally produces melatonin, which helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle by signaling that it's time for bed. Advertisement Cortisol, meanwhile, prepares the body for activity upon waking. 'We were able to measure melatonin and cortisol levels using saliva samples in the lead up to sleep and after participants woke,' Carpenter said. '[This] is the first time these key markers of the circadian rhythm have been combined with body temperature to study how circadian rhythms might be misaligned in people with mood disorders.' 4 This graphic from the study shows correlations between circadian measures and depressive symptoms in youth with emerging mood disorders. sagepub Carpenter's team found that at least two of these circadian rhythm measures were out of sync in 23% of the mental health patients. She described 'internal jet lag' as when the 'clocks are not just delayed but not lining up with each other.' 'While we do see teenagers sleeping later because of normal developmental shifts in the body clock to later timing across adolescence, what we are seeing here is a more extreme kind of circadian disruption,' Carpenter explained. Advertisement 'This is similar to the disruption we see when traveling across time zones or undertaking shift work, when the body clock becomes out of sync with the external environment,' she added. The study authors noted that the findings — published this week in the Journal of Biological Rhythms — don't establish 'internal jet lag' as a cause of mental disorders. They did find a link between greater depressive symptoms and core body temperature cycles running on an earlier clock than other rhythms and sleep-wake patterns. 4 More research is needed to explore the potential relationship between body clock and mental health to better understand mood disorders. kwanchaift – Advertisement They acknowledged that their sample sizes were small and their data was collected over just one sleep cycle. Also, a few participants in the 'healthy' group showed signs of clock misalignment. More research is needed to explore the potential relationship between body clock and mental health to better understand mood disorders, which are often treated with a combination of therapy and medication. 'This strong early evidence opens up exciting new ways we can study and potentially treat common mental health disorders and hopefully improve the lives the thousands of young Australians living with depression anxiety,' Carpenter said.
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Surprise jobless hike may trigger interest rate relief
A surprise jump in the jobless rate could help cement the case for an interest rate cut, delivering welcome relief for homeowners. The unemployment rate bucked market expectations, rising from 4.1 per cent to 4.3 per cent in June, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Though the result was unexpected, ex-Reserve Bank economist Luke Hartigan said it met the central bank's year-end unemployment forecast. "This just adds information to say that some modest reduction in interest rates is warranted," the University of Sydney economics lecturer told AAP. After its July meeting, the central bank disappointed mortgage-holders and shocked market economists by opting to hold the cash rate at 3.85 per cent in a split decision. The latest jobs data has been read by some as an early sign of labour market softening. Combined with moderating inflation, the unemployment figures meant an interest rate cut was "virtually locked in" when the central bank meets in August, CreditorWatch's chief economist Ivan Colhoun said. But other economists believe there is still room to move, with VanEck investments head Russel Chesler pointing to the July 30 release of quarterly inflation figures as a vital data point in the Reserve Bank's next rate decision. "The market is still pricing in two more rate cuts by the end of the year, but we consider it premature to be making this call before there is any data to support this," he said. While the recent unemployment increase has put the rate at its highest level since November 2021, Dr Hartigan maintained other metrics showed the market was still relatively solid. "This is the first uptick in a little while, so it's a little bit concerning," he said. "But in the context of where the unemployment rate is now versus where it's been in the past, it is still very low." Economists would likely need a few more months of continued rise to be sure of a weakening in the labour market. Treasurer Jim Chalmers called the unemployment uptick an "inevitable consequence" of global economic uncertainty and the ongoing impact of higher interest rates. "The Australian economy is not immune from global uncertainty but we are well‑placed and well‑prepared to face the challenges ahead," he said. "The ongoing resilience in our labour market over the past three years remains one of our best defences."
Sky News AU
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
Denmark's Princess Isabella could move to Australia after pal Princess Ingrid-Alexandra of Norway confirms Sydney move
Princess Isabella of Denmark is reportedly considering a move to her mother's native Australia just months after another major royal revealed plans to move to Sydney. Isabella, who recently marked her milestone 18th birthday, is the elder daughter of King Frederik and Aussie-born Queen Mary. According to Danish tabloid Billed Bladet, the Princess is reportedly considering moving to Mary's native Australia to study or enjoy a gap year before commencing royal duties and completing military service. 'There may be a possibility that Princess Isabella will follow in her mother's footsteps,' the outlet revealed on Tuesday. Isabella is widely tipped to take on full royal duties in future in support of her parents and later her brother Crown Prince Christian. The Danish Princess knows Australia well and has enjoyed many family holidays in her mother's native Tasmania. Meanwhile, her cousin Count Nikolai of Monpezat studied for a semester at the University of Technology Sydney in 2023. The report comes months after it was confirmed Norway's Princess Ingrid Alexandra will move to Australia in August to begin a three-year undergraduate degree at the University of Sydney. 'Her Royal Highness Princess Ingrid Alexandra will begin her studies at the University of Sydney in August, enrolling in a Bachelor of Arts program,' the Norwegian Palace said in a press release in May. It is understood Ingrid Alexandra and Isabella are close, with Isabella's father King Frederik serving as Ingrid Alexandra's godfather. Isabella's possible move down under would be only the latest in a long line of international royals who have completed part or all of their education in Australia. Thailand's reigning King Vajiralongkorn spent several years studying in Australia in the 1970s, while King Charles spent two terms at Geelong Grammar School in 1966. The report comes months after Isabella earned high praise in the Danish press after making her first major public speech during her birthday celebrations. Danish publication BT's entertainment editor Fie West praised the young royal for using humour to break the ice during the historic occasion. 'Princess Isabella shows great initiative by starting her very first official speech with a joke,' West said. 'She speaks into something that many Danes remember and have brought a smile to their faces, and it is extremely charming that she displays self-irony.'
