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Tick-borne disease in US blood supply

A tick-borne infection known as Babesiosis, which can cause severe disease and even death, is becoming a growing threat to the U.S. blood supply, government researchers said on Monday.

6 Sep 2011

NanoViricides selects NV-INF-1 anti-influenza drug for FDA submission

NanoViricides, Inc. announced today that it has selected a clinical candidate, now designated NV-INF-1, for FDA submission in its highly successful FluCide anti-influenza therapeutics program.

6 Sep 2011

Pharmasset reports SVR results from PSI-7977 phase 2b combination study on HCV genotype 1

Pharmasset, Inc., announced today sustained virologic response (SVR) results from its phase 2b PROTON study with PSI-7977 400 mg dosed once daily in combination with peginterferon alfa 2a and ribavirin (Peg-IFN/RBV) in subjects with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 who have not been treated previously. 43 out of 44 (98%) evaluable subjects achieved an SVR12, defined as HCV RNA below the limit of detection (<15 IU/mL) 12 weeks after the completion of treatment.

6 Sep 2011

Biologists identify mechanism of H. pylori that damages DNA of gastric mucosal cells

The stomach bacterium Helicobacter pylori is one of the biggest risk factors for the development of gastric cancer, the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths in the world.

6 Sep 2011

Three cases of novel influenza A virus now linked to agricultural fair in southwestern Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania departments of Health and Agriculture today announced three cases of a novel influenza A virus have been identified, and are now linked to an agricultural fair in southwestern Pennsylvania.

6 Sep 2011

Researchers discover how yeast cells identify, attach to human tissue and cause infection

Researchers are a step closer towards creating a new class of medicines and vaccines to combat drug-resistant and deadly strains of fungal infections, following a new study published today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

6 Sep 2011

Researchers discover novel way to increase amounts of antibiotics

A novel way of increasing the amounts of antibiotics produced by bacteria has been discovered that could markedly improve the yields of these important compounds in commercial production. It could also be valuable in helping to discover new compounds. With the ever-growing threat from antibiotic resistance, these tools will be very useful in ensuring that we have enough of these useful compounds in the future.

5 Sep 2011

Gilead to amend design of ongoing clinical trials against chronic hepatitis C

Gilead Sciences, Inc. today announced that, in consultation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the company will amend the design of ongoing clinical trials to discontinue dosing of GS 9190 in hepatitis C-infected patients who are receiving that compound in combination with pegylated interferon and ribavirin, and another direct-acting antiviral agent.

5 Sep 2011

Teenagers use medicines frequently without receiving targeted information about risks and benefits

A large proportion of teenagers regularly and frequently take some form of medication without receiving targeted information about the risks and benefits, according to a review of current research, to be presented at the annual congress of the International Pharmaceutical Federation.

5 Sep 2011

IKEPLUS immunization completely eliminates TB bacteria from infected tissues

A potential vaccine against tuberculosis has been found to completely eliminate tuberculosis bacteria from infected tissues in some mice. The vaccine was created with a strain of bacteria that, due to the absence of a few genes, are unable to avoid its host's first-line immune response.

5 Sep 2011

Einstein researchers develop tuberculosis vaccine candidate

Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University report in the September 4 online edition of Nature Medicine that they have developed a tuberculosis (TB) vaccine candidate that proved both potent and safe in animal studies.

5 Sep 2011

Scientists sequence ten variants of E. coli O104:H4 outbreak strain across the world

Ten variants of the deadly Escherichia coli strain that hit Germany in May 2011 have been sequenced across the world. The unprecedented level of collaboration across the scientific community should give insight into how the outbreak arose, says a scientist at the Society for General Microbiology's Autumn Conference 2011.

5 Sep 2011

UNFPA Executive Director to visit refugee camps in Kenya on 3 September

Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is visiting refugee camps in Kenya to underscore the urgent needs of women affected by the famine in the Horn of Africa.

3 Sep 2011

Scientists hope to create models that can more accurately predict spread of disease

Northwestern University professor Dirk Brockmann and his group at the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science have investigated the outcomes of a previously ignored mechanism in modeling how humans travel.

3 Sep 2011

Researchers discover protein signals responsible for preserving anti-viral antibodies

Our immune system is capable of a remarkable feat: the ability to remember infections for years, even decades, after they have first been encountered and defeated. While the antibodies we make last only about a month, we retain the means of making them for a lifetime.

3 Sep 2011

WHO African region member states have challenges to meet MDGs, WHO/AFRO Director says

Speaking at the 61st session of the WHO Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) in Yamoussoukro, Cote d'Ivoire, on Thursday, African Regional Director of WHO Luis Sambo said "that 46 Africa member countries still had remarkable challenges to scale before meeting the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)," Nigeria's The Nation reports.

3 Sep 2011

PEPFAR releases Guidance for the Prevention of Sexually Transmitted HIV Infections

"The Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator released the U.S President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Guidance for the Prevention of Sexually Transmitted HIV Infections this week," a "50-plus page document intended to 'assist PEPFAR country teams in developing Country Operational Plans (COPs) that align activities to prevent sexual transmission of HIV with country-specific epidemiology and country-owned responses,' according to the introduction statement," the Center for Global Health Policy's "Science Speaks" blog writes.

3 Sep 2011

Finland national health institute finds link between H1N1 flu vaccine and children's narcolepsy

"Finland's national health institute said on Thursday its latest research on previously found links between children's narcolepsy and GlaxoSmithKline's Pandemrix vaccine against H1N1 swine flu also involved a genetic risk factor," Reuters reports.

3 Sep 2011

In research world, Walter Reed fights malaria while new facility seeks to prevent medical errors

Most people know "the Walter Reed" as a mammoth military medical center in Washington, D.C., where both U.S. presidents and ordinary war-wounded soldiers get their care. But the center's Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, housed for the past decade on its own campus in Maryland, just outside Washington, is one of the world's premier research centers for infectious diseases.

3 Sep 2011

NPR examines legacy of Walter Reed Army Medical Center's Institute of Research in battle against malaria

"As the Walter Reed Army Medical Center decamps from its D.C. campus this month and merges with the Bethesda Naval Hospital five miles away," NPR reports on the legacy of "the center's Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, housed for the past decade on its own campus in Maryland, just outside Washington, as one of the world's premier research centers for infectious diseases."

3 Sep 2011

Disease/Infection News

Tick-borne disease in US blood supply

NanoViricides selects NV-INF-1 anti-influenza drug for FDA submission

Pharmasset reports SVR results from PSI-7977 phase 2b combination study on HCV genotype 1

Biologists identify mechanism of H. pylori that damages DNA of gastric mucosal cells

Three cases of novel influenza A virus now linked to agricultural fair in southwestern Pennsylvania

Researchers discover how yeast cells identify, attach to human tissue and cause infection

Researchers discover novel way to increase amounts of antibiotics

Gilead to amend design of ongoing clinical trials against chronic hepatitis C

Teenagers use medicines frequently without receiving targeted information about risks and benefits

IKEPLUS immunization completely eliminates TB bacteria from infected tissues

Einstein researchers develop tuberculosis vaccine candidate

Scientists sequence ten variants of E. coli O104:H4 outbreak strain across the world

UNFPA Executive Director to visit refugee camps in Kenya on 3 September

Scientists hope to create models that can more accurately predict spread of disease

Researchers discover protein signals responsible for preserving anti-viral antibodies

WHO African region member states have challenges to meet MDGs, WHO/AFRO Director says

PEPFAR releases Guidance for the Prevention of Sexually Transmitted HIV Infections

Finland national health institute finds link between H1N1 flu vaccine and children's narcolepsy

In research world, Walter Reed fights malaria while new facility seeks to prevent medical errors

NPR examines legacy of Walter Reed Army Medical Center's Institute of Research in battle against malaria

Leveraging the power of automation to boost research

Automating research - solutions and best practices

How can microdialysis benefit drug development

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