Immunodeficiency News and Research

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Immunodeficiency (or immune deficiency) is a state in which the immune system's ability to fight infectious disease is compromised or entirely absent.

GeoVax Labs provides updates on HIV-1 vaccine trials

GeoVax Labs, Inc., an Atlanta-based, biopharmaceutical company developing human vaccines for diseases caused by HIV-1 (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and other infectious agents, today provided an update on its vaccine trials progress.

9 Feb 2010

New discovery lays foundation for development of new anti-HIV drugs

A team of scientists at The Scripps Research Institute has identified two compounds that act on novel binding sites for an enzyme used by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS.

4 Feb 2010

Safer bone marrow transplants

If a team of American scientists are right, bone marrow transplants may become safer and more available to people in need of donations. In a new research paper appearing in the February 2010 print edition of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology (http://www.jleukbio.org), they explain how an anti-inflammatory agent called "ATL146e" may significantly improve the likelihood of success for bone marrow transplants by preventing or halting the progression of graft-versus-host disease, a complication of bone marrow transplants in which the donor marrow attacks the host. Although very rare, graft-versus-host disease can also occur after blood transfusions.

2 Feb 2010

Overview of newly evolving technologies for diagnosing and monitoring HIV infections

Rising consumer awareness that early diagnosis and treatment can delay the progression of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to anti-immuno deficiency syndrome (AIDS) has had a telling impact on the sales of HIV tests.

2 Feb 2010

Labeling update for Tibotec Therapeutics' PREZISTA tablets approved

Tibotec Therapeutics announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a labeling update for PREZISTA® (darunavir) tablets to include 96-week data from the ARTEMIS and TITAN studies.

29 Jan 2010

Jeffrey Modell Foundation urges government to implement SCID screening for all newborns

Vicki and Fred Modell, co-founders of the Jeffrey Modell Foundation, today called upon governors, state public health officials, and legislators, in all states, to implement screening of newborns with Severe Combined Immune Deficiency (SCID).

28 Jan 2010

New research suggests prolong breastfeeding is critical for reducing risk of gastroenteritis in infants

For African infants with HIV-positive mothers, reducing exposure to breast milk can lower the rate of HIV transmission. But new research suggests that longer periods of breastfeeding—at least 6 months—are critical for reducing the risk of potentially fatal gastroenteritis.

21 Jan 2010

Scientists and clinicians address diagnosis and treatment for autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases

Autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases are a major health issue. The National Institutes of Health reports that up to 23.5 million Americans are afflicted. The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association reports the number is closer to 50 million. Scientists and clinicians at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston can address the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions, as well as the latest advances in research.

8 Jan 2010

Frequent chlamydia screening does not reduce infection in teenage girls

Frequent testing and treatment of infection does not reduce the prevalence of chlamydia in urban teenage girls, according to a long term study by Indiana University School of Medicine researchers published in the January 1, 2010 issue of the Journal of Infectious Diseases.

8 Jan 2010

Rev protein plays essential role in spreading viruses within organism, discover researchers

Professor Denis Archambault of the Department of Biological Sciences of Universit- du Qu-bec - Montr-al (UQAM), and doctoral student Andrea Corredor Gomez have made a major discovery in the field of molecular biology. They have unlocked some of the secrets of a viral protein, known as Rev, which is very different from other proteins of the same type studied to date.

6 Jan 2010

Annelie Wendeberg presents protocol for identification of environmental microbes

Metagenomics, the study of DNA isolated from samples of naturally occurring microbial populations, is rapidly growing. Improvements to cloning and sequencing techniques are allowing researchers to study microorganisms in environmental samples, and new knowledge of species interactions and community dynamics is emerging.

5 Jan 2010

Coformulation of rilpivirine and Truvada HIV drugs will achieve sales of more than $2 billion in 2018

Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that, in 2018, the fixed dose coformulation of Tibotec's rilpivirine and Gilead's Truvada will achieve blockbuster sales of more than $2 billion in the HIV drug market in the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and Japan.

5 Jan 2010

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

CD20 deficiency in humans results in impaired T cell-independent antibody responses

Antibodies directed against the protein CD20, which is expressed by immune cells known as B cells, are used to treat B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma and rheumatoid arthritis.

22 Dec 2009

Medicare covers HIV screening: AHF lauds CMS

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, today lauded the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), for its decision earlier today to cover HIV testing for Medicare beneficiaries who may be at increased risk for HIV exposure (MSM, IDU) as well as women who are pregnant, and beneficiaries of any age that request to be tested. The decision is effective immediately.

9 Dec 2009

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

Statewide blood screening program identifies infants with T-cell lymphopenia

The testing of DNA from a statewide blood screening program for newborns in Wisconsin was able to identify infants with T-cell lymphopenia, a blood disorder that affects the child's immune system, a disease in which early identification is important, according to a study in the December 9 issue of JAMA.

9 Dec 2009

Comparative study on African monkeys may provide novel targets for AIDS therapy

Two studies published this month in the Journal of Clinical Investigation provide a significant advance in understanding how some species of monkeys such as sooty mangabeys and African green monkeys avoid AIDS when infected with SIV, the simian equivalent of HIV.

5 Dec 2009

Global HIV reporting and monitoring system provides good indication of overall progress towards HIV goal

Although much work remains to be done, a United Nations global reporting system on HIV/AIDS has already yielded an "unequaled wealth of data" on progress toward meeting UN targets for responding to the global HIV epidemic.

3 Dec 2009

FDA approves additional intended use of Roche's cobas TaqScreen MPX Test

Roche announced today that the United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved an additional intended use for its licensed nucleic acid test, to screen source plasma in pools comprised of up to 96 individual donations. The test, called the cobas® TaqScreen MPX Test for use on the cobas s 201 system, is a qualitative, in-vitro test for the simultaneous, direct detection of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1 Group M RNA, HIV-1 Group O RNA , HIV-2 RNA), hepatitis C virus RNA and hepatitis B virus DNA in human plasma.

From Roche Sequencing and Life Science 2 Dec 2009

Immunodeficiency News and Research

Further Reading

GeoVax Labs provides updates on HIV-1 vaccine trials

New discovery lays foundation for development of new anti-HIV drugs

Safer bone marrow transplants

Overview of newly evolving technologies for diagnosing and monitoring HIV infections

Labeling update for Tibotec Therapeutics' PREZISTA tablets approved

Jeffrey Modell Foundation urges government to implement SCID screening for all newborns

New research suggests prolong breastfeeding is critical for reducing risk of gastroenteritis in infants

Scientists and clinicians address diagnosis and treatment for autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases

Frequent chlamydia screening does not reduce infection in teenage girls

Rev protein plays essential role in spreading viruses within organism, discover researchers

Annelie Wendeberg presents protocol for identification of environmental microbes

Coformulation of rilpivirine and Truvada HIV drugs will achieve sales of more than $2 billion in 2018

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

CD20 deficiency in humans results in impaired T cell-independent antibody responses

Medicare covers HIV screening: AHF lauds CMS

CMS to cover HIV infection screening for Medicare beneficiaries

Statewide blood screening program identifies infants with T-cell lymphopenia

Comparative study on African monkeys may provide novel targets for AIDS therapy

Global HIV reporting and monitoring system provides good indication of overall progress towards HIV goal

FDA approves additional intended use of Roche's cobas TaqScreen MPX Test

Achieving and maintaining ISO 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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