Infectious Diseases News and Research

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Special fatty molecules pave novel way to treat infections, autoimmune diseases, allergies and cancer

An international research team led by scientists from Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN) under the Agency of Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) discovered that a special class of fatty molecules is essential for activating a unique group of early-responding immune cells.

2 Apr 2012

Novel tetracyclines with improved potency, efficacy against contemporary P. aeruginosa isolates

Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on next-generation antibiotics, announced today that it is presenting new results from studies that demonstrate the improved potency and pharmacokinetics of several of its newest discovery-stage tetracycline analogs.

2 Apr 2012

New diagnostic test for Trichomonas vaginalis

Medical Diagnostic Laboratories, L.L.C. is a CLIA certified infectious disease laboratory which specializes in high-complexity, state-of-the-art, automated DNA-based molecular analyses.

2 Apr 2012

Vaccines for measles may not increase risk of febrile seizures in 4-6 year olds

Vaccines for measles were not associated with an increased risk of febrile seizures among 4-6 year olds during the six weeks after vaccination, according to a study by the Kaiser Permanente Vaccine Study Center that appears in the current issue of Pediatrics.

2 Apr 2012

Study examines TB services in prisons in countries receiving Global Fund grants

According to a study recently published in a special supplement of the Journal of Infectious Diseases, half of countries receiving grants from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria provide tuberculosis (TB) services in prisons; "even when TB services were provided to prisoners, they were limited in scope; and "few of the programs receiving a grant from the Global Fund offered services dedicated to the treatment and prevention of multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB)," an aidsmap news story reports.

31 Mar 2012

Dengue infection makes mosquito's blood feeding more efficient

Mosquitoes infected with dengue virus experience an array of changes in the activity of genes and associated functions of their salivary glands, and these changes may lead to increased virus transmission, according to a recent study led by George Dimopoulos, Ph.D., of the Malaria Research Institute and Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University.

31 Mar 2012

Data from Cempra's CEM-101 Phase 2 trial on N. gonorrhoeae infections to be presented at ECCMID

Cempra Inc., a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on developing antibiotics to meet critical medical needs in the treatment of bacterial infectious diseases, today announced that data will be presented at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) demonstrating that CEM-101 (solithromycin) is active against antibiotic-resistant strains of N. gonorrhoeae.

31 Mar 2012

Data from Cempra's CEM-101 Phase 2 trial on CABP to be presented at ECCMID

Cempra Inc., a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on developing antibiotics to meet critical medical needs in the treatment of bacterial infectious diseases,today announced that data will be presented at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID), in London, March 31 to April 3,demonstrating CEM-101's (solithromycin's) efficacy to be comparable to levofloxacin in a Phase 2 trial of patients with community-acquired bacterial infections.

31 Mar 2012

Cancer patients with CDI may benefit from DIFICLIR drug

New data presented at the 22nd European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) demonstrate that in cancer patients with CDI, DIFICLIR(fidaxomicin) may offer significant benefits in terms of clinical cure, recurrence and sustained clinical cure.

31 Mar 2012

Needle-free vaccine shows promise against RSV in children

Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan are closing in on a needle-free vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a major cause of respiratory illness in children under two years of age.

30 Mar 2012

Basidiobolomycosis appears to be emerging in the Southwestern U.S.

An emerging fungal infection of the gastrointestinal tract that mimics cancer and inflammatory bowel disease appears to be emerging in the Southwestern United States and other desert regions, according to Mayo Clinic researchers in Arizona investigating the disease. The invasive fungus, Basidiobolus ranarum, is typically found in the soil, decaying organic matter and the gastrointestinal tracts of fish, reptiles, amphibians, and bats.

30 Mar 2012

Researchers, experts debate publication of H5N1 research amid updated studies

"As researchers from both sides of the debate over two controversial H5N1 studies weighed in Tuesday on full publication versus a more cautionary approach, two U.S. journals" -- the Journal of Infectious Diseases (JID) and its sister publication, Clinical Infectious Diseases -- "said they are developing policies to address any future such instances," CIDRAP News writes.

30 Mar 2012

Scientific research is crucial to preventing, controlling, eradicating infectious diseases

The debate about two studies showing that, with few genetic mutations, H5N1 bird flu strains could become more easily transmissible among ferrets, a laboratory model for humans, "has become a debate about the role of science in society.

30 Mar 2012

Avian and swine flu viruses hijack genetic regulators during human infection

Researchers at the University of British Columbia have identified a number of tiny but powerful "genetic regulators" that are hijacked by avian and swine flu viruses during human infection.

29 Mar 2012

Nomir announces data from Noveon Laser pivotal trial on onychomycosis

Nomir Medical Technologies, Inc., a leader in novel photobiology and laser therapies, announced today that new data from its landmark pivotal onychomycosis trial first published in the peer-reviewed Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association (JAPMA) has once again been published in this prestigious journal. The new paper, which reports on a 270 day onychomycosis clinical trial, offers further scientific support for using the Noveon lasers as an effective therapeutic treatment.

29 Mar 2012

Mere presence in a room can add 37 million bacteria

A person's mere presence in a room can add 37 million bacteria to the air every hour - material largely left behind by previous occupants and stirred up from the floor - according to new research by Yale University engineers.

29 Mar 2012

CDC Director provides update on AIDS epidemic in anticipation of AIDS 2012 conference

In anticipation of the AIDS 2012 conference, to be held in Washington, D.C., from July 22-27, CDC Director Thomas Frieden spoke at the Washington-based Center for Strategic & International Studies, where he provided an update on the epidemic in the U.S. and abroad, VOA News reports.

29 Mar 2012

Spherix 2011 net loss decreases to $3.5 million

Spherix Incorporated – an innovator in biotechnology for therapy in diabetes, metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis, and provider of technical and regulatory consulting services to food, supplement, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies – today reported financial results for the year ended December 31, 2011, and recent and upcoming business highlights.

29 Mar 2012

Opinion pieces, editorials, blog posts recognize World TB Day

Saturday, March 24, was World Tuberculosis (TB) Day. The following is a summary of several editorials, opinion pieces, and blog posts published in recognition of the day.

27 Mar 2012

IU biologist to genetically modify variants of chlamydia

An Indiana University biologist has been awarded over $2.3 million from the National Institutes of Health to genetically modify variants of the human pathogen chlamydia in hopes of finding a vaccine for the most commonly reported bacterial infectious disease in the United States.

27 Mar 2012