Pathogen News and Research

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Stress increases resistance to influenza infection

A new study using mice suggests that a repeated stressful situation that triggers the animals' natural "fight-or-flight" response may actually enhance their ability to fight disease when re-exposed to the same pathogen.

2 Mar 2010

Simvastatin impairs ability of macrophages to kill pathogens, and enhances cytokine production

Simvastatin might help us control our cholesterol, but when it comes to infection, it's an entirely different story says a new research study published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology. In the research report, scientists from Italy show that simvastatin delivers a one-two punch to the immune system. First it impairs the ability of specialized immune cells, called macrophages, to kill pathogens. Then, it enhances production of molecules, called cytokines, which trigger and sustain inflammation.

2 Mar 2010

Cause of multiple sclerosis: Researchers test autoimmune hypothesis

A non-pathogenic bacterium is capable to trigger an autoimmune disease similar to the multiple sclerosis in the mouse, the model animal which helps to explain how human diseases work. This is what a group of researchers from the Catholic University of Rome, led by Francesco Ria (Institute of General Pathology) and Giovanni Delogu (Institute of Microbiology), have explained for the first time in a recently published article on the Journal of Immunology.

26 Feb 2010

Mouse study provides new way to test novel therapies for liver infections

How do you study-and try to cure in the laboratory-an infection that only humans can get? A team led by Salk Institute researchers does it by generating a mouse with an almost completely human liver.

24 Feb 2010

Nitric oxide may play key role in the pathogenesis of neonatal meningitis

Current research suggests that nitric oxide may play a role in the pathogenesis of neonatal meningitis. The related report by Mittal et al, "Inhibition of inducible nitric oxide controls pathogen load and brain damage by enhancing phagocytosis of Escherichia coli K1 in neonatal meningitis," appears in the March 2010 issue of The American Journal of Pathology.

24 Feb 2010

Pathogen study could provide new insights on gene regulation

About 50 percent of the world's population carry Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in their gastrointestinal tract - 30 percent of the German population are infected. Besides cancer, these bacteria are linked to other chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease.

24 Feb 2010

Research reveals human Chlamydia pneumoniae has originated from animal source

Animals have been found to have infected humans sometime in the past with the common respiratory disease Chlamydia pneumoniae, according to Queensland University of Technology infectious disease expert Professor Peter Timms.

23 Feb 2010

Gene study provides new clues to fight infections

Investigators at The Methodist Hospital Research Institute in Houston examined for the first time the long-term response to strep throat on a genome-wide level, shedding light on how group A streptococcus interacts with the patient's immune system and attempts to circumvent it.

23 Feb 2010

BioCrossroads' Indiana Seed Fund invests $400,000 in Bioscience Vaccines

BioCrossroads' Indiana Seed Fund has invested in Bioscience Vaccines, Inc. to accelerate the development of biologic materials, which may boost the effectiveness of a wide range of life-saving vaccines.

19 Feb 2010

Rituxan, intended for patients with CLL receives FDA approval

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Rituxan (rituximab) to treat certain patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a slowly progressing blood and bone marrow cancer.

18 Feb 2010

Signaling protein has key role in fighting bacterial infection and inflammation in intestinal tract: Study

A signaling protein that is key in orchestrating the body's overall immune response has an important localized role in fighting bacterial infection and inflammation in the intestinal tract, according to a study by UC San Diego School of Medicine investigators, published in the journal Cell Host and Microbe.

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

Multiple, independent European blood centers to report on INTERCEPT Blood System for platelets and plasma

Cerus Corporation announced today that investigators from blood centers in Sweden, Belgium, France and Slovenia will present their experience with the INTERCEPT Blood System for platelets and plasma during a leading international transfusion safety meeting, the XIIth International Haemovigilance Seminar taking place in Dubrovnik, Croatia from February 17 to 19.

18 Feb 2010

Study: Researchers use genomics to decode blueprint of Plasmodium falciparum

Scientists battling malaria have earned a major victory. According to a Nature Genetics study, an international group of researchers has used genomics to decode the blueprint of Plasmodium falciparum - a strain of malaria most resistant to drugs that causes the most deaths around the world.

17 Feb 2010

Biomagnetics Diagnostics to accelerate development of assay test cartridge for malaria, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and TB

Biomagnetics Diagnostics Corp., a developer of revolutionary diagnostic systems and technology for malaria, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, tuberculosis and detection, announced today the implementation of a program to accelerate the availability of the world's first Integrated Optical BioSensor (IOBS) platform. The Company is currently reviewing research and manufacturing partnerships to develop simple to replicate bench top versions of the IOBS platform on which single pathogen or multiple pathogen testing assay cartridges can be developed.

11 Feb 2010

Cerus enters into collaborative agreement with EFS for development of INTERCEPT Blood System

Cerus Corporation announced today that it has entered into a collaborative agreement with France's national transfusion service, the Etablissement Français du Sang (EFS), for the development of the company's INTERCEPT Blood System for red blood cells.

10 Feb 2010

Mutations that enable Pseudomonas to thrive in cystic fibrosis lung secretions may also guard them against antibiotics

People with cystic fibrosis, an inherited disease that clogs airways with thick mucous, frequently have lung infections that defy treatment. While the life expectancy for children with cystic fibrosis has increased over the past few decades, many lives are still shortened in young adulthood by the ravages of lung infections.

10 Feb 2010

Preliminary study results of ExThera Medical's Seraph extracorporeal affinity therapy published

ExThera Medical announced today that the results of a preliminary study (“Cytokines in blood from septic patients interact with surface immobilized heparin”) of its proprietary medical device, Seraph™ extracorporeal affinity therapy, have been published in the current issue of the Journal of the American Society for Artificial Organs (Jan.-Feb. 2010).

9 Feb 2010

Phase 1 trial of Cerus' INTERCEPT red blood system meets primary endpoint

Cerus Corporation announced today that its Phase 1 trial of red blood cells treated with the INTERCEPT Blood System met its primary endpoint, with preliminary analysis demonstrating that greater than 75 percent of treated cells continued to circulate 24 hours following transfusion. The INTERCEPT red blood cell system is a pathogen inactivation treatment the company is developing to protect against transmission of infectious diseases through red blood cell transfusions. An estimated 70 million units of red blood cells are transfused worldwide each year.

9 Feb 2010

Studies suggest potential therapeutic targets for food poisoning, TB and autoimmune diseases

Researchers at National Jewish Health have discovered how the virulent food-borne bacteria Listeria monocytogenes induces infected immune cells to sabotage their own defensive response.

2 Feb 2010

Pathogen News and Research

Stress increases resistance to influenza infection

Simvastatin impairs ability of macrophages to kill pathogens, and enhances cytokine production

Cause of multiple sclerosis: Researchers test autoimmune hypothesis

Mouse study provides new way to test novel therapies for liver infections

Nitric oxide may play key role in the pathogenesis of neonatal meningitis

Pathogen study could provide new insights on gene regulation

Research reveals human Chlamydia pneumoniae has originated from animal source

Gene study provides new clues to fight infections

BioCrossroads' Indiana Seed Fund invests $400,000 in Bioscience Vaccines

Rituxan, intended for patients with CLL receives FDA approval

Signaling protein has key role in fighting bacterial infection and inflammation in intestinal tract: Study

Viral infection can suppress immune response to secondary bacterial infection

Multiple, independent European blood centers to report on INTERCEPT Blood System for platelets and plasma

Study: Researchers use genomics to decode blueprint of Plasmodium falciparum

Biomagnetics Diagnostics to accelerate development of assay test cartridge for malaria, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and TB

Cerus enters into collaborative agreement with EFS for development of INTERCEPT Blood System

Mutations that enable Pseudomonas to thrive in cystic fibrosis lung secretions may also guard them against antibiotics

Preliminary study results of ExThera Medical's Seraph extracorporeal affinity therapy published

Phase 1 trial of Cerus' INTERCEPT red blood system meets primary endpoint

Studies suggest potential therapeutic targets for food poisoning, TB and autoimmune diseases

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