Virology News and Research

Latest Virology News and Research

CMS to cover HIV infection screening for Medicare beneficiaries

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced its final decision to cover Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection screening for Medicare beneficiaries who are at increased risk for the infection, including women who are pregnant and Medicare beneficiaries of any age who voluntarily request the service.

9 Dec 2009

Breakthrough findings may lead to new treatments for Ebola hemorrhagic fever

Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute have determined the structure of a critical protein from the Ebola virus, which, though rare, is one of the deadliest viruses on the planet killing between 50 and 90 percent of those infected.

9 Dec 2009

Bird influenza viruses have a variety of strategies to cross the species barrier

The 2009 H1N1 influenza virus used a new strategy to cross from birds into humans, a warning that it has more than one trick up its sleeve to jump the species barrier and become virulent.

9 Dec 2009

Combination of gene and cell therapy improves critical limb ischemia associated with aging or diabetes

Blood vessel blockage, a common condition in old age or diabetes, leads to low blood flow and results in low oxygen, which can kill cells and tissues. Such blockages can require amputation resulting in loss of limbs. Now, using mice as their model, researchers at Johns Hopkins have developed therapies that increase blood flow, improve movement and decrease tissue death and the need for amputation.

8 Dec 2009

Also in Global Health news: Rotavirus vaccine; guinea worm eradication; health systems; Zulu King calls for male circumcision

The West African Rotavirus Advisory Board is calling on governments to vaccinate children against rotavirus, IRIN reports. At a recent meeting in Dakar, Senegal, which was "financed by GlaxoSmithKline, makers of one of two rotavirus vaccines" the board issued a document recommending that governments "immediately recognize the magnitude of the rotavirus problem and make vaccination against the virus a priority" (12/8).

8 Dec 2009

Swine flu news round-up

The German government is looking to sell over 2 million leftover doses of the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine, the country's health minister said Monday, Agence France-Presse reports. "A health ministry senior official in the state of Thuringia, Hartmut Schubert, said that the vaccines could even be donated and that there had been requests from Afghanistan and Eastern European countries including Ukraine," the news service adds (12/7).

8 Dec 2009

Brazil: The largest emerging pharmaceutical market for hepatitis C virus

Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that at approximately $120 million, the hepatitis C virus drug market in Brazil is among the largest emerging pharmaceutical markets for the disease.

8 Dec 2009

Department of Health reminds at-risk Pennsylvanians to receive H1N1 vaccination

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, has allocated a total of 2,940,300 doses of H1N1 flu vaccine to Pennsylvania to date, the state Department of Health said today.

8 Dec 2009

BIOGUARD barrier gauze dressings exhibit high antiviral efficacy against H1N1 virus

An independent lab report demonstrated that BIOGUARD™ barrier gauze dressings exhibit greater than 99.9% inactivation rates against swine flu virus after exposure for 24 hours.

8 Dec 2009

West Nile Virus can become more widespread in Europe than previously thought, says new report

Potentially fatal mosquito-borne West Nile fever (WNF) can become much more widespread in Europe than previously thought, say scientists in a new report just out in the journal BMC Evolutionary Biology(1).

8 Dec 2009

Enrollment of patients for Phase I/IIa clinical study of Interleukin-7 commenced

Cytheris SA, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on research and development of new therapies for immune modulation, today announced that it has begun enrolling patients in its Phase I/IIa clinical program evaluating the company’s investigative immune-modulator, recombinant human Interleukin-7 (CYT107), in combination with standard antiviral treatment and vaccination in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B-infected (HBV) patients.

8 Dec 2009

Beryl launches H1N1 Risk Assessment service to provide useful information about H1N1 virus

The Beryl Companies, the nation’s leading provider of outsourced call center services for the healthcare industry, has launched a new service that will enhance hospitals’ abilities to provide useful information to consumers who have questions and concerns about the H1N1 virus.

8 Dec 2009

H1N1 virus produces pulmonary damage similar to earlier flu pandemics

In fatal cases of 2009 H1N1 influenza, the virus can damage cells throughout the respiratory airway, much like the viruses that caused the 1918 and 1957 influenza pandemics, report researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner.

8 Dec 2009

Human blood stem cells can be engineered to kill HIV-infected cells, find researchers

Researchers from the UCLA AIDS Institute and colleagues have for the first time demonstrated that human blood stem cells can be engineered into cells that can target and kill HIV-infected cells — a process that potentially could be used against a range of chronic viral diseases.

8 Dec 2009

People infected with West Nile virus may have persistent virus in their kidneys, shows study

A new study shows that people who have been infected with West Nile virus may have persistent virus in their kidneys for years after initial infection, potentially leading to kidney problems.

8 Dec 2009

New research discovers link between HIV-related cognitive deficits and Alzheimer's-related dementia

More than half of HIV patients experience memory problems and other cognitive impairments as they age, and doctors know little about the underlying causes. New research from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests HIV-related cognitive deficits share a common link with Alzheimer's-related dementia: low levels of the protein amyloid beta in the spinal fluid.

8 Dec 2009

Marketers and retailers refrained from promoting any dietary supplement for H1N1 treatment

The trade associations of the dietary supplement industry today reaffirmed the industry's support for the responsible sale and use of health-promoting vitamins, minerals, herbs and other dietary supplements.

8 Dec 2009

Also in global health news: Clean water in India; cholera in Kenya; Zuma, Gates discuss HIV/AIDS; MDR-TB in Marshall Islands; sanitation in Jakarta

India's Tata Group on Monday "unveiled a new low-cost water purifier, which it hopes will provide safe drinking water for millions and cut the toll of deadly diseases," Agence France-Presse/mysinchew.com reports.

8 Dec 2009

H1N1 virus causes more life-threatening complications than seasonal flu

Infection with the H1N1 virus, or swine flu, causes more life-threatening complications than seasonal flu in children with sickle cell disease, according to research from Johns Hopkins Children's Center.

8 Dec 2009

HHS joins with Ad Council to launch new nationwide PSA campaign

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is joining with the Ad Council to launch a new nationwide public service advertising (PSA) campaign called “Together We Can All Fight the Flu.”

7 Dec 2009

Virology News and Research

Latest Virology News and Research

CMS to cover HIV infection screening for Medicare beneficiaries

Breakthrough findings may lead to new treatments for Ebola hemorrhagic fever

Bird influenza viruses have a variety of strategies to cross the species barrier

Combination of gene and cell therapy improves critical limb ischemia associated with aging or diabetes

Also in Global Health news: Rotavirus vaccine; guinea worm eradication; health systems; Zulu King calls for male circumcision

Swine flu news round-up

Brazil: The largest emerging pharmaceutical market for hepatitis C virus

Department of Health reminds at-risk Pennsylvanians to receive H1N1 vaccination

BIOGUARD barrier gauze dressings exhibit high antiviral efficacy against H1N1 virus

West Nile Virus can become more widespread in Europe than previously thought, says new report

Enrollment of patients for Phase I/IIa clinical study of Interleukin-7 commenced

Beryl launches H1N1 Risk Assessment service to provide useful information about H1N1 virus

H1N1 virus produces pulmonary damage similar to earlier flu pandemics

Human blood stem cells can be engineered to kill HIV-infected cells, find researchers

People infected with West Nile virus may have persistent virus in their kidneys, shows study

New research discovers link between HIV-related cognitive deficits and Alzheimer's-related dementia

Marketers and retailers refrained from promoting any dietary supplement for H1N1 treatment

Also in global health news: Clean water in India; cholera in Kenya; Zuma, Gates discuss HIV/AIDS; MDR-TB in Marshall Islands; sanitation in Jakarta

H1N1 virus causes more life-threatening complications than seasonal flu

HHS joins with Ad Council to launch new nationwide PSA campaign

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