Staphylococcus aureus News and Research

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Staphylococcus aureus is a spherical bacterium (coccus) which on microscopic examination appears in pairs, short chains, or bunched, grape-like clusters. These organisms are Gram-positive. Some strains are capable of producing a highly heat-stable protein toxin that causes illness in humans.

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) research: an interview with Dr. Griffin Rodgers, NIDDK director

Chronic granulomatous disease, or CGD, is a diverse group of inherited diseases in which certain cells of the immune system have difficulty forming reactive oxygen compounds, most importantly superoxide radicals. These are used by these white blood cells to kill certain bacteria.

3 Sep 2013

Imaxio's pro-immunogenic technology used in tuberculosis vaccine phase I clinical study

Imaxio, a biopharmaceutical company specializing in vaccines and genomics, announces today that IMX313, its proprietary pro-immunogenic technology, has been administered for the first time in humans in a tuberculosis vaccine phase I clinical study. The trial is being conducted by the Jenner Institute at Oxford University, England.

3 Sep 2013

MicuRx Pharmaceuticals raises $25 million in Series B financing

MicuRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately-held biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation antibiotics, today announced it raised $25 million in Series B financing. Led by BVCF, a private equity and growth fund specializing in the life sciences industry, the round also includes existing investors Morningside Group and Devon Park Bioventures.

22 Aug 2013

Study shows superantigens produced by staph bacteria cause infective endocarditis and sepsis

University of Iowa researchers have discovered what causes the lethal effects of staphylococcal infective endocarditis - a serious bacterial infection of heart valves that kills approximately 20,000 Americans each year.

20 Aug 2013

Research: MRSA in humans originated in cattle at least 40 years ago

A type of MRSA found in humans originated in cattle at least 40 years ago, new research has found. The study provides clear evidence that livestock were the original source of an MRSA strain which is now widespread in people.

16 Aug 2013

Study: Strain of bacteria infections in humans originally come from cattle

A strain of bacteria that causes skin and soft tissue infections in humans originally came from cattle, according to a study to be published in mBio-, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology.

13 Aug 2013

GE, UW scientists to develop new medical device for detecting infectious disease

You've heard of on-demand TV, now imagine on-demand medical diagnosis - anytime, anywhere in the world. Scientists at GE Global Research, the technology development arm of the General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE), are working with a team based at the University of Washington to develop a new medical device, the size of a pack of playing cards, that can detect infectious disease by way of a simple nasal swab, in less than an hour.

9 Aug 2013

Nano-machine cell killer offers new insight into fight against pathogens

This is a veritable mechanics of aggression on the nanoscale. Certain bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, have the ability to deploy tiny darts. This biological weapon kills the host cell by piercing the membrane.

5 Aug 2013

Decatur Memorial Hospital installs germ-zapping robots to kill bugs

As hospitals across the nation look for new and innovative ways to battle deadly pathogens and kill multi-drug resistant organisms that put patients at risk, Decatur Memorial Hospital (DMH) has taken a leap into the future with the installation of two germ-zapping robots that eliminate hard-to-kill bugs in hard-to-clean places.

3 Aug 2013

Microbiologists identify staph-killing compound that may be effective for osteomyelitis

Osteomyelitis, a debilitating bone infection most frequently caused by Staphylococcus aureus ("staph") bacteria, is particularly challenging to treat.

2 Aug 2013

Deletion of a protein improves ability to fight bacteria in mice with CGD

Deletion of a protein in white blood cells improves their ability to fight the bacteria staphylococcus aureus and possibly other infections in mice with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), according to a National Institutes of Health study. CGD, a genetic disorder also found in people, is marked by recurrent, life-threatening infections. The study's findings appear online in The Journal of Clinical Investigation.

2 Aug 2013

Research: Reducing antibiotics consumption does not necessarily reduce resistance

Antibiotic use-and misuse-is the main driver for selection of antibiotic resistant bacteria. This has led many countries to implement interventions designed to reduce overall antibiotic consumption. Now, using methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) as an example, Laura Temime of the Conservatoire National des Arts et Metiers, Paris, and collaborators warn that simply reducing antibiotics consumption does not necessarily reduce resistance.

30 Jul 2013

Chemical compound from ocean microbe offers potential treatments for anthrax

A team led by William Fenical at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego has discovered a new chemical compound from an ocean microbe in a preliminary research finding that could one day set the stage for new treatments for anthrax and other ailments such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

18 Jul 2013

Sequella licenses Pfizer's exclusive worldwide rights to develop, commercialize sutezolid

Sequella, a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company commercializing novel antibiotics to treat life-threatening infectious diseases, today announced that it has licensed Pfizer Inc's exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize sutezolid, a Phase 2 oxazolidinone antibiotic currently in development for the treatment of tuberculosis.

17 Jul 2013

Infrared light allows characterization of pathogens

The bacterium Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is commonly found in nature and frequently colonizes the skin and the upper respiratory tract of humans. A healthy immune system can fight the microorganism but once the immune system is weakened the pathogen can spread and lead to life-threatening diseases of the lungs, the heart and other organs.

15 Jul 2013

Imaxio receives FP7 grant to support the development of S. aureus vaccine

Imaxio, a biopharmaceutical company specialized in vaccines, together with its partners from the Jenner Institute at Oxford University, the European Vaccine Initiative and Preclin Biosystems, is pleased to announce today a European Union award of EUR 5.5 million to support the ‘Bellerophon Project’ consortium to develop a vaccine against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus).

3 Jul 2013

Basketballs, volleyballs can spread potentially dangerous germs among players

UC Irvine researchers have demonstrated that basketballs and volleyballs can spread potentially dangerous germs among players. Their findings may bring a new awareness to athletes, coaches, trainers and parents regarding safe sanitation practices for athletes.

3 Jul 2013

Study: Diabetes before pregnancy linked to increased risk of MRSA

Pregnant women with diabetes are more than three times as likely as mothers without diabetes to become infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) before hospital discharge, according to a study in the July issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, the official publication of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).

1 Jul 2013

UW receives $10 million to develop paper-based pathogen identification test

The University of Washington has received nearly $10 million from the U.S. Department of Defense to continue a project aimed at building a small, paper-based device that could test for infectious diseases on-demand in areas where diagnostic capabilities are limited.

26 Jun 2013

Rebiotix receives FDA Fast Track designation for RBX2660 to treat patients with CDI

Rebiotix Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted Fast Track designation for the investigation of RBX2660 (microbiota suspension), intended for the treatment of recurrent Clostridium difficile infection.

25 Jun 2013