Virology News and Research

Latest Virology News and Research

AAAS meeting examines test-and-treat model's potential for fighting HIV spread, TB co-infection

Researchers speaking at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) meeting on Saturday, discussed how a strategy to promote universal voluntary HIV tests and early antiretroviral treatment for patients living in high-risk areas might "derail the spread of [HIV/]AIDS, a battle where a successful vaccine remains elusive," the Associated Press/Washington Post reports

23 Feb 2010

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals initiates ALN-RSV01 Phase IIb trial in adult lung transplant patients for RSV infection

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today that it has initiated a Phase IIb trial in adult lung transplant patients with ALN-RSV01, an RNAi therapeutic for the treatment of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. RSV infection in lung transplant patients represents an important unmet medical need; the condition is associated with significant morbidity, including the development of acute lung transplant rejection in 10% to 20% of infected patients.

22 Feb 2010

HHS Secretary reviews H1N1 response at NACCHO conference

Thank you, Tom. I also want to thank NACCHO for hosting this important conference and for inviting me to speak here today. Public health is a top priority for this administration. So is strengthening our partnerships across government. So I’m glad I could come talk with you about how we can work together to keep Americans healthy and safe.

22 Feb 2010

Two genetic alterations linked to benign enzyme condition keep hepatitis C patients anemia-free

Many people who undergo treatment for hepatitis C develop hemolytic anemia, a disorder that destroys red blood cells. In some cases, it is so severe they have to reduce their medication or stop therapy altogether. But now, scientists in Duke University's Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy have discovered two genetic alterations linked to a benign enzyme condition that keep some patients anemia-free.

21 Feb 2010

ASU epidemiologist to take close look at factors impacting influenza dynamics within Mexico

Influenza surveillance mechanisms in Mexico were adequate during the fast-spreading H1N1 outbreak in 2009, yet Mexico did not have the infrastructure to quickly identify the emergence of this novel strain, according to an Arizona State University (ASU) epidemiologist.

21 Feb 2010

News outlets examine HIV vaccine research, cervical cancer screening data presented at conference

Several news outlets examine the latest reports out of this week's Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in San Francisco.

20 Feb 2010

Amerigroup's fourth-quarter revenues rise 18.5%

Amerigroup Corporation today announced that net income for the fourth quarter of 2009 was $40.2 million, or $0.79 per diluted share, versus $35.9 million, or $0.67 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2008. For the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company's net income was $149.3 million, or $2.85 per diluted share.

19 Feb 2010

State policy developments: Wisconsin's new 'public option,' Iowa's medical marijuana vote, and more

New Hampshire Public Radio: A bill in the state legislature would create an annual public report that details the causes of rising health spending by analyzing now-private information that doctors, hospitals and other health organizations would have to provide to the state's Department of Insurance. The move is partly in response to conflicting narratives: The state's health spending continues to rise, yet hospitals and doctors say they are struggling (Grant, 2/17).

19 Feb 2010

Simple molecular kit to reprogram any cell of the body into another

In an effort to sidestep the ethical dilemma involved in using human embryonic stem cells to treat diseases, scientists are developing non-controversial alternatives: In particular, they are looking for drug-like chemical compounds that can transform adult skin cells into the stem cells now obtained from human embryos. That's the topic of a fascinating article in Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), ACS' weekly newsmagazine.

19 Feb 2010

VIRxSYS announces results from prophylactic HIV vaccine study at 2010 CROI conference

VIRxSYS Corporation, a privately held company developing vaccines and RNA therapies for serious human diseases such as HIV and cardiovascular diseases, announced results from its prophylactic HIV vaccine (VRX1023) study in Rhesus Macaque monkeys during a presentation today at the 2010 Annual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in San Francisco, CA.

19 Feb 2010

Researchers develop technology to preserve vaccines in tropical temperatures

A team of British researchers have developed a simple, low-cost method to preserve vaccines in tropical climates, which they say could help to revolutionalize vaccination campaigns in developing countries, Reuters reports.

19 Feb 2010

Walker's book focuses on deaths, genetic deformities and other health issues resulting from environmental pollution

Since the brain-injuring virus needs mosquitoes and pigs to spread, government officials should ban standing water in cemetery cisterns and urban drainage ditches. They should keep industrial "piggeries" away from cities and their populations.

19 Feb 2010

WHO recommends H1N1 be added to next year's seasonal flu virus

The WHO is recommending the H1N1 (swine flu) virus be added to the regular flu vaccine for the Northern Hemisphere's 2010-2011 regular flu season, the Associated Press reports (2/18).

19 Feb 2010

GeoVax Labs presents results of preclinical study on prototype HIV/AIDS vaccine at CROI

GeoVax Labs, Inc., an Atlanta-based, biopharmaceutical company developing vaccines for diseases caused by HIV-1 (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), today announced that it presented the results of a preclinical study on a prototype HIV/AIDS vaccine at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in San Francisco.

18 Feb 2010

Viral infection can suppress immune response to secondary bacterial infection

A new study reveals how infection with the influenza virus impacts the way that the immune system responds to subsequent infections. The research, published by Cell Press in the February 18th issue of the journal Cell Host and Microbe, provides a new understanding of the physiological and pathological consequences of the flu.

18 Feb 2010

Gene study could pave way for novel methods for plagues and other infectious diseases

An international consortium of scientists, including Universitat Aut-noma de Barcelona (UAB) researcher Deodoro Oliveira, have sequenced the genome of three species of parasitoid wasps of the genus Nasonia.

18 Feb 2010

Neuroimaging study may lead to new therapeutic treatments for stroke and hearing loss

Duke University Medical Center scientists crowded around a laser-powered microscope in a darkened room to peer into the brain of an anesthetized juvenile songbird right after he heard an adult tutors' song for the first time.

18 Feb 2010

Roche completes enrollment in RG7128 Phase 2b PROPEL study

Pharmasset, Inc. announced today the complete enrollment by Roche of the 12 week RG7128 Phase 2b study (PROPEL) of approximately 400 treatment-naive patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes 1 and 4. The study remains blinded to Roche and Pharmasset.

17 Feb 2010

Health Canada approves Talecris Biotherapeutics' PROLASTIN-C for AAT deficiency

Talecris Biotherapeutics announced today that it has received approval from Health Canada for PROLASTIN®-C (Alpha1-Proteinase Inhibitor [Human]), a more purified and concentrated version of PROLASTIN® produced using advances in manufacturing technology. A similar approval for PROLASTIN-C was granted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on October 17, 2009.

17 Feb 2010

Phase III study: GARDASIL prevents 77.5% of pre-cursor lesions to anal cancer

In a new phase III study, GARDASIL(R) (Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus (Types 6, 11, 16 and 18) Recombinant Vaccine) prevented 77.5 per cent of anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6, 11, 16 and 18 in 16-to-26 year-old men who have sex with men.

17 Feb 2010

Virology News and Research

Latest Virology News and Research

AAAS meeting examines test-and-treat model's potential for fighting HIV spread, TB co-infection

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals initiates ALN-RSV01 Phase IIb trial in adult lung transplant patients for RSV infection

HHS Secretary reviews H1N1 response at NACCHO conference

Two genetic alterations linked to benign enzyme condition keep hepatitis C patients anemia-free

ASU epidemiologist to take close look at factors impacting influenza dynamics within Mexico

News outlets examine HIV vaccine research, cervical cancer screening data presented at conference

Amerigroup's fourth-quarter revenues rise 18.5%

State policy developments: Wisconsin's new 'public option,' Iowa's medical marijuana vote, and more

Simple molecular kit to reprogram any cell of the body into another

VIRxSYS announces results from prophylactic HIV vaccine study at 2010 CROI conference

Researchers develop technology to preserve vaccines in tropical temperatures

Walker's book focuses on deaths, genetic deformities and other health issues resulting from environmental pollution

WHO recommends H1N1 be added to next year's seasonal flu virus

GeoVax Labs presents results of preclinical study on prototype HIV/AIDS vaccine at CROI

Viral infection can suppress immune response to secondary bacterial infection

Gene study could pave way for novel methods for plagues and other infectious diseases

Neuroimaging study may lead to new therapeutic treatments for stroke and hearing loss

Roche completes enrollment in RG7128 Phase 2b PROPEL study

Health Canada approves Talecris Biotherapeutics' PROLASTIN-C for AAT deficiency

Phase III study: GARDASIL prevents 77.5% of pre-cursor lesions to anal cancer

Small solutions for big problems in drug discovery and delivery

Professor Nancy Ip: Pioneering New Paths in Neurodegenerative Therapy

Utilizing process Raman in optimizing cultivated meat production