Virology News and Research

Latest Virology News and Research

Peginterferon alpha-2a yields better results in treating patients with chronic hepatitis C

In patients with chronic hepatitis C, treatment with peginterferon alpha-2a (PegIFNα2a) plus ribavirin (RBV) better suppresses the virus to undetectable levels in the blood than treatment with peginterferon alpha-2b (PegIFNα2b) plus RBV, according to two new head-to-head studies in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute.

5 Jan 2010

GIVI scientists discover anti-HIV molecule that enhances infection, reduces transmission

Scientists at the Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology (GIVI) have discovered a new agent that might inhibit the infectivity of HIV. The agent, surfen, impairs the action of a factor in semen that greatly enhances the viral infection.

5 Jan 2010

U.S. encounter with swine flu highlights health system weaknesses

As the number of H1N1 (swine flu) cases in the U.S. continues to wane, the New York Times reflects on how federal officials handled the pandemic and other factors that helped the situation. "The outbreak highlighted many national weaknesses: old, slow vaccine technology; too much reliance on foreign vaccine factories; some major hospitals pushed to their limits by a relatively mild epidemic," the newspaper writes.

4 Jan 2010

Cepheid granted EUA for Xpert Flu A Panel test

Cepheid today announced it has been granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Xpert® Flu A Panel test.

4 Jan 2010

Research may point to more effective therapeutic targets for prion diseases

Scientists from The Scripps Research Institute have determined for the first time that prions, bits of infectious protein devoid of DNA or RNA that can cause fatal neurodegenerative disease, are capable of Darwinian evolution.

4 Jan 2010

Organ donation gives a new life

Ten years ago, Dale Shippam got a new heart. It's taken him around the world, and, in the New Year, on a part of an Olympic journey across Canada.

31 Dec 2009

Nukepills.com delivers 5.4 million doses of Potassium Iodide to protect people from nuclear radiation

For Nukepills.com, specialists in the niche market of radiation emergency preparedness, 2009 was a year of record sales due to events such as Iran's nuclear program, nuclear plant radiation leaks, Potassium Iodide distribution programs and worries of dirty bombs.

31 Dec 2009

Southern Chicago healthcare provider takes extra precautions to prevent H1N1 virus

There have been some new changes to the visitor guidelines at Riverside Medical Center. With the recent upswing in the number of people infected with the H1N1 virus, the southern Chicago suburbs healthcare provider has decided that there should be extra precautions put in place to protect patients, visitors and staff during this influenza outbreak.

31 Dec 2009

Scientists discover a new family of giant virus

After Mimivirus, Mamavirus and the virophage, the group of giant viruses now has a new member called Marseillevirus. Discovered in an amoeba by the team led by Didier Raoult at the Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes research group (CNRS/Université Aix-Marseille 2), a description of this new virus was published this week on the website of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

31 Dec 2009

Rite Aid offers H1N1 flu shots through certified immunizing pharmacists

Rite Aid now is offering the H1N1 (swine) flu shots by its certified immunizing pharmacists at 1,257 Rite Aid stores in 30 states and the District of Columbia. Customers can go to www.riteaid.com/H1N1 to find the most convenient Rite Aid store offering the H1N1 flu shots.

31 Dec 2009

Study says short-term school closures during flu pandemic may increase infection rates

Closing schools for less than two weeks during a flu pandemic may increase infection rates and prolong an epidemic, say University of Pittsburgh researchers in a study published ahead-of-print and online in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice.

31 Dec 2009

Presence of Streptococcus pneumoniae could predict risk of severe disease in H1N1 pandemic influenza

The presence of the Streptococcus pneumoniae in samples that can be easily obtained in clinics and emergency rooms may predict risk of severe disease in H1N1 pandemic influenza.

31 Dec 2009

U.S. Congress designates January as ‘Cervical Health Awareness Month’

Nearly 4,000 women in America will die this year from cervical cancer. These cancers are, largely, preventable, and raising public awareness can save lives. It's why the U.S. Congress has designated January as Cervical Health Awareness Month.

31 Dec 2009

Young people more likely to catch swine flu from an infected person in their household

Young people aged under 18 years are more likely than adults to catch swine flu from an infected person in their household, according to a new study published today in the New England Journal of Medicine.

30 Dec 2009

Researchers develop automated system to differentiate strains of influenza

Researchers from the Medical College of Wisconsin, the Children's Research Institute, and the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin have developed a rapid, automated system to differentiate strains of influenza.

30 Dec 2009

Canadian Health deploys IceWEB's GIS server technology to combat the growth of H1N1 Flu virus

IceWEB, Inc., www.IceWEB.com, a leading provider of purpose built appliances and building blocks for cloud storage networks, announced today that Canadian Health has deployed IceWEB high performance GIS (Geographic Information System) server technology to augment their efforts to combat the growth of the H1N1 Flu virus.

28 Dec 2009

Infecting mosquitoes with Wolbachia bacteria increases their resistance to human disease-causing viruses

Earlier this year, researchers showed that they could cut the lives of disease-carrying mosquitoes in half by infecting them with a bacterium they took from fruit flies. Now, a new report in the December 24th issue of Cell, a Cell Press publication, suggests that their strategy might do one better: The Wolbachia bacteria also makes the mosquitoes more resistant to infection by viruses that are a growing threat to humans, including those responsible for dengue fever and Chikungunya.

28 Dec 2009

New series of 30-second PSAs on getting vaccinated against H1N1 flu

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in conjunction with the Ad Council and the Jim Henson Company, has released a new series of 30-second public service announcements (PSAs) about the importance of getting the 2009 H1N1 vaccine. Targeted to parents and children, the PSA campaign features 15 governors, a state first lady, a state chief medical officer and the main character from the PBS’ series “Sid the Science Kid” and reminds the public that getting vaccinated is the best way to stay healthy during this flu season.

24 Dec 2009

EGCg in green tea inhibits flu infection

Joint research conducted by the Central Research Institute of ITO EN, Ltd. and Professor Takashi Suzuki of the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, showed that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), a kind of catechin contained in green tea, had an inhibitory effect against three types of influenza viruses, including the swine-origin H1N1 virus that caused pandemic flu in 2009, and that its effect did not depend on the type of virus. These findings once again suggest that green tea is effective in preventing flu.

24 Dec 2009

More H1N1 vaccines available in U.S., many Americans don't want it

While an increasing number of H1N1 (swine flu) vaccines are available in the U.S., "more than half of American adults say they still don't want it, and one-third of parents say they don't want their children to get it either, according to two surveys," the Washington Post reports. "As of this week, 111 million doses of vaccine against the pandemic strain of H1N1 flu have been released to states and cities.

24 Dec 2009

Virology News and Research

Latest Virology News and Research

Peginterferon alpha-2a yields better results in treating patients with chronic hepatitis C

GIVI scientists discover anti-HIV molecule that enhances infection, reduces transmission

U.S. encounter with swine flu highlights health system weaknesses

Cepheid granted EUA for Xpert Flu A Panel test

Research may point to more effective therapeutic targets for prion diseases

Organ donation gives a new life

Nukepills.com delivers 5.4 million doses of Potassium Iodide to protect people from nuclear radiation

Southern Chicago healthcare provider takes extra precautions to prevent H1N1 virus

Scientists discover a new family of giant virus

Rite Aid offers H1N1 flu shots through certified immunizing pharmacists

Study says short-term school closures during flu pandemic may increase infection rates

Presence of Streptococcus pneumoniae could predict risk of severe disease in H1N1 pandemic influenza

U.S. Congress designates January as ‘Cervical Health Awareness Month’

Young people more likely to catch swine flu from an infected person in their household

Researchers develop automated system to differentiate strains of influenza

Canadian Health deploys IceWEB's GIS server technology to combat the growth of H1N1 Flu virus

Infecting mosquitoes with Wolbachia bacteria increases their resistance to human disease-causing viruses

New series of 30-second PSAs on getting vaccinated against H1N1 flu

EGCg in green tea inhibits flu infection

More H1N1 vaccines available in U.S., many Americans don't want it

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