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Scientists identify environmental conditions that could enable H5N1 bird flu virus to survive

On the eve of the 2010-11 influenza flu season, scientists and engineers have identified the environmental conditions and surfaces that could enable a highly pathogenic (H5N1) bird flu virus to survive for prolonged periods of time at least two weeks and up to two months. Among them: The virus appears to thrive at cooler temperatures and low humidity.

14 Oct 2010

Researchers determine genetic blueprint of 13 strains of Lyme disease causing bacteria

Benjamin Luft, M.D., Professor of Medicine, Stony Brook University Medical Center, and a team of medical researchers have determined the genetic blueprint of 13 strains of the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. The finding is crucial to advancing research on Lyme disease, the most frequent tick-borne infection in North America and Europe, and may lead to better diagnostics and a vaccine.

14 Oct 2010

Federal guidance aims to reduce misuse of synthetic DNA to create dangerous organisms

Federal guidance issued today aims to reduce the risk that synthetic DNA will be misused deliberately to create dangerous organisms. Screening Framework Guidance for Providers of Synthetic Double-Stranded DNA, issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, supports national biosecurity goals and balances the promise of synthetic DNA with its potential biosecurity risks.

14 Oct 2010

World's third rectal microbicide trial launched in Pittsburgh

The world's third rectal microbicide trial launched in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania today, with sites preparing to open in Boston, Massachusetts, and Birmingham, Alabama soon. Scientists will test the rectal safety and acceptability of tenofovir gel, a microbicide developed for vaginal use that has shown promise for preventing HIV through vaginal intercourse. Depending on the outcome of this new study, tenofovir gel could be further evaluated to determine if it can reduce the risk of HIV among both men and women who engage in receptive anal intercourse.

14 Oct 2010

GSK to expand donation of albendazole medicine to treat children with STH risk

At the launch of the World Health Organization's (WHO) first report on Neglected Tropical Diseases today, GSK announced a new five year commitment to expand the donation of its medicine albendazole to treat children at risk of intestinal worms, known as soil-transmitted helminths (STH).

14 Oct 2010

Stop TB Partnership launches Global Plan to Stop TB 2011-2015

The WHO's Stop TB Partnership "laid out a new plan on Wednesday to combat tuberculosis and the nearly 2 million deaths it causes each year," Reuters reports.

14 Oct 2010

Scientists unveil quality control mechanism of immune system to destroy pathogens

An Australian team of scientists has uncovered a quality control mechanism that must take place for our immune system to subsequently effectively destroy harmful viruses and bacteria.

14 Oct 2010

NIH awards grant to Bavarian to advance early research in filoviruses

Bavarian Nordic A/S announced today that the company has received funding from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) to advance its early research in filoviruses (Ebola and Marburg virus).

14 Oct 2010

Medicago and PATH partner on development of broad coverage influenza vaccine

Medicago Inc., a biotechnology company focused on developing highly effective and affordable vaccines based on proprietary manufacturing technologies and Virus-Like Particles (VLPs), today announced that it has been awarded $946,000 in funding by U.S.-based PATH pursuant to a research collaboration agreement. Medicago and PATH will work together on a broad coverage influenza vaccine based on Medicago's proprietary plant-based Virus-Like Particle (VLP) technologies for the developing world.

13 Oct 2010

TrovaGene receives patent for diagnosis and monitoring of pathogenic infection

TrovaGene, Inc. a developer of transrenal molecular diagnostics to facilitate personalized medicine, received notice of U.S. Patent 7,803,929 entitled "Kits for diagnosis and monitoring of pathogenic infection by analysis of cell-free pathogenic nucleic acids in urine."

13 Oct 2010

Detect-Ready MRSA assay receives first independent validation

Molecular Detection Inc. a company developing Detect-Ready assays designed to increase the speed and accuracy of infectious disease diagnosis, today announced that its Detect-Ready MRSA assay has received its first independent validation in a study conducted at St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust, a leading teaching hospital in the UK.

13 Oct 2010

Food allergies are becoming more common in U.S. children

The scary reality is that food allergies are becoming more and more common in the United States. In the last 10 years there has been an 18 percent increase in children with food allergies. In fact, one in 22 children has a food allergy. That means most likely there is at least one child in each classroom with a food allergy. Halloween parties and trick or treating are just a few of the end of fall activities that can heighten the danger for kids with food allergies.

13 Oct 2010

New global plan for elimination of TB

The world could be on its way towards eliminating tuberculosis (TB) if governments and donors fully invest in a plan released today by the Stop TB Partnership. The global plan to stop TB 2011-2015: transforming the fight towards elimination of tuberculosis for the first time identifies all the research gaps that need to be filled to bring rapid TB tests, faster treatment regimens and a fully effective vaccine to market.

13 Oct 2010

ViiV Healthcare to expand Patient Assistance Program

ViiV Healthcare will expand its Patient Assistance Program effective January 1, 2011 and continue its Patient Savings Card program to help maintain access to HIV medicines for those most affected by the economic downturn in the United States. Specifically, ViiV Healthcare will launch the ViiV Healthcare Patient Assistance Program with an increased maximum household income level for enrollment and is piloting membership in the Welvista program, a nonprofit program to facilitate access to HIV medications for individuals currently on ADAP waiting lists.

13 Oct 2010

$1.5 million DOD award allows U-M scientists to pursue new application for nanoemulsion technology

The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded $1.5 million over three years to the Michigan Nanotechnology Institute for Medicine and Biological Sciences and to Ann Arbor-based NanoBio Corporation to develop and test nanoemulsions with potential to fight a wide range of wound infections, including drug-resistant forms.

13 Oct 2010

LifeWise improves access to common immunizations at pharmacies

LifeWise Health Plan of Oregon is announcing a new step to remove barriers to care by providing improved access to common immunizations at pharmacies. LifeWise members can now simply present their member card at a pharmacy just as they do at their doctor's office to receive immunizations.

13 Oct 2010

Ocular Therapeutix completes Proof of Principle clinical study with moxifloxacin punctum plug

Ocular Therapeutix, Inc. announced today the completion of a successful Proof of Principle clinical study with their novel sustained drug delivery moxifloxacin punctum plug.

13 Oct 2010

New evidence supports possible link between XMRV and prostate cancer

Xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV) has been the subject of many studies since its discovery in 2006, but conflicting reports have created an unclear picture of XMRV's role in human disease. In three recent studies published in the November 15 issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases, now available online, the evidence supports a possible link between XMRV and prostate cancer but not other links involving chronic fatigue syndrome, HIV infection, or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

13 Oct 2010

Infection during pregnancy linked to increased risk for neurodevelopmental disorders in fetus

A pregnant woman's immune response to viral infections may induce subtle neurological changes in the unborn child that can lead to an increased risk for neurodevelopmental disorders including schizophrenia and autism. Research published in the online journal mBio- provides new insights into how this may happen and suggests potential strategies for reducing this risk.

13 Oct 2010

DoD awards $1.5 million grant to study nanoemulsion-based therapies for preventing burn wound infections

Researchers from NanoBio Corporation and the University of Michigan Medical School today announced the receipt of a $1.5 million grant from the Department of Defense (DoD) to study the use of nanoemulsion-based therapies for protection against burn and wound infections.

13 Oct 2010

Disease/Infection News

Scientists identify environmental conditions that could enable H5N1 bird flu virus to survive

Researchers determine genetic blueprint of 13 strains of Lyme disease causing bacteria

Federal guidance aims to reduce misuse of synthetic DNA to create dangerous organisms

World's third rectal microbicide trial launched in Pittsburgh

GSK to expand donation of albendazole medicine to treat children with STH risk

Stop TB Partnership launches Global Plan to Stop TB 2011-2015

Scientists unveil quality control mechanism of immune system to destroy pathogens

NIH awards grant to Bavarian to advance early research in filoviruses

Medicago and PATH partner on development of broad coverage influenza vaccine

TrovaGene receives patent for diagnosis and monitoring of pathogenic infection

Detect-Ready MRSA assay receives first independent validation

Food allergies are becoming more common in U.S. children

New global plan for elimination of TB

ViiV Healthcare to expand Patient Assistance Program

$1.5 million DOD award allows U-M scientists to pursue new application for nanoemulsion technology

LifeWise improves access to common immunizations at pharmacies

Ocular Therapeutix completes Proof of Principle clinical study with moxifloxacin punctum plug

New evidence supports possible link between XMRV and prostate cancer

Infection during pregnancy linked to increased risk for neurodevelopmental disorders in fetus

DoD awards $1.5 million grant to study nanoemulsion-based therapies for preventing burn wound infections

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