Infectious Diseases News and Research

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Inovio's SynCon DNA vaccine effective at inducing CD8+ T cell responses specific to CMV

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that testing of multiple synthetic vaccine constructs for cytomegalovirus (CMV) induced robust T cells in mice, demonstrating the potential for a SynCon DNA vaccine to treat this virus that causes infant death and congenital abnormalities, is associated with cerebral palsy and brain tumors, and is the most common viral infection in organ transplant recipients. CMV is also associated with numerous inflammatory diseases and cancers, and is implicated in hypertension, a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.

26 Nov 2012

mRNA vaccines offer protection against influenza A virus infections in various animal models

CureVac GmbH, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing a new class of therapies and vaccines based on mRNA, and the German Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (FLI), Germany, today announced that mRNA vaccines (RNActive) based on the company's RNA technology platform have the potential to provide effective protection against infectious diseases.

26 Nov 2012

Official stats underestimate brain injury

A population-based study suggests that the true incidence of traumatic brain injury is about sixfold higher than official figures state.

23 Nov 2012

Online flu survey launched in the UK

Does “man flu” exist? How effective is the flu vaccine? And do pets keep you healthy? These are just some of the questions scientists from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine want to explore as they launch a nationwide flu survey.

22 Nov 2012

Checklist diverts inebriated from emergency department

A checklist for use by ambulance crews helps paramedics decide which drunk patients need emergency medical care and which can be diverted to a detoxification facility, say researchers.

22 Nov 2012

DiscoGnosis project aims to develop rapid malaria test

An estimated 500 million people become infected with malaria each year. The disease is often lethal - particularly in tropical developing countries with insufficient health care services. The infected suffer from a high fever. As this is also the case with other germs, however, it is important to conduct a rapid and precise analysis to determine the cause of the disease for a successful therapy.

22 Nov 2012

Walter and Eliza Hall Institute researcher wins 2012 Victoria Prize for Science and Innovation

Professor Terry Speed, a senior researcher at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, was today awarded a 2012 Victoria Prize for Science and Innovation.

22 Nov 2012

Viewpoints: Protecting us from counterfeit medicines; Governors making excuses on insurance exchanges?; Simpson-Bowles and the health law

HHS has made it clear that after federally operated exchanges are up and running, states may eventually take over operations. This seems like wasted effort. States have the information they need to move on insurance exchanges. Governors who care about fiscal responsibility, strong state government and the basic welfare of their residents would do well to get with the program.

21 Nov 2012

Cryoprecipitate plus tranexamic acid boost war injury survival

Administration of cryoprecipitate and tranexamic acid significantly improves the likelihood of survival among seriously injured patients requiring packed red blood cells, suggest results from MATTERS II.

21 Nov 2012

Emory University, Georgia Tech to establish Malaria Host-Pathogen Interaction Center

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, has awarded a five-year contract of up to $19.4 million, depending on contract options exercised, to establish the Malaria Host-Pathogen Interaction Center (MaHPIC).

20 Nov 2012

UBC microbiologist receives Prix Galien 2012 Research Award

UBC microbiologist Robert E.W. Hancock has received the Prix Galien 2012 Research Award, widely considered the most prestigious honour in Canadian pharmaceutical research and innovation. Hancock is being recognized for pioneering work unravelling the complex interactions between antibiotics and bacteria.

20 Nov 2012

Texas Biomed applies patent for new genetically-engineered vaccine strategy to prevent HIV

The Texas Biomedical Research Institute in San Antonio has applied for a patent for a genetically-engineered vaccine strategy to prevent HIV infection that targets the outer layers of body structures that are the first sites of contact with the virus.

20 Nov 2012

Gifts That Give announces partnership with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Gifts That Give, Inc., the popular social commerce site with a strong charitable mission, announced its inaugural partnership with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital by joining the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign.

20 Nov 2012

Geriatric team improves outcomes in elderly emergency department patients

Collaboration between trauma and geriatric specialists can improve outcomes for elderly patients admitted to the emergency department, indicate Canadian study findings.

19 Nov 2012

Biomolecular imaging: an interview with Professor Roger Reddel

The reason Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI) exists is to find ways to treat or prevent childhood disease. Our research programs are focussed on the areas of cancer cell growth, nerve cell signalling, embryology and gene therapy. These four programs have a shared aim of translating novel findings into new treatments for the benefit of families everywhere.

19 Nov 2012

Abacus Diagnostica’s GenomEra C. difficile assay receives CE mark

Abacus Diagnostica Ltd announced that it has received the CE mark for the GenomEra C. difficile assay for the detection of toxin-producing Clostridium difficile directly from stool samples. C. difficile is the leading cause of infectious nosocomial diarrhea in Europe and North America.

19 Nov 2012

Scientists discover new mode of action for enzymes immersed in cellular membranes

Johns Hopkins scientists have discovered a new mode of action for enzymes immersed in cellular membranes. Their experiments suggest that instead of recognizing and clipping proteins based on sequences of amino acids, these proteases' location within membranes gives them the unique ability to recognize and cut proteins with unstable structures.

17 Nov 2012

Study reveals significant regional variation and trends in antibiotic use between 1999-2010

Research revealed during "Get Smart Week" shows that California joined Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington as the five states with the lowest antibiotic use in the nation in 2010.

17 Nov 2012

'Extended-skill' nurses, physiotherapists are as effective as the ER doc

Patients with peripheral soft tissue injuries achieve similar clinical outcomes when treated by emergency nurse practitioners and extended-scope physiotherapists in the emergency department, as when they are treated by doctors, show UK study results.

16 Nov 2012

New pneumococcal vaccine highly effective in infants

A new conjugate vaccine is highly effective (93–100%) at preventing invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD; meningitis, sepsis, bacteremic pneumonia, and other blood-borne infections) in infants younger than 2 years who are the most vulnerable to infection, according to new research published Online First in The Lancet.

16 Nov 2012

Infectious Diseases News and Research

Inovio's SynCon DNA vaccine effective at inducing CD8+ T cell responses specific to CMV

mRNA vaccines offer protection against influenza A virus infections in various animal models

Official stats underestimate brain injury

Online flu survey launched in the UK

Checklist diverts inebriated from emergency department

DiscoGnosis project aims to develop rapid malaria test

Walter and Eliza Hall Institute researcher wins 2012 Victoria Prize for Science and Innovation

Viewpoints: Protecting us from counterfeit medicines; Governors making excuses on insurance exchanges?; Simpson-Bowles and the health law

Cryoprecipitate plus tranexamic acid boost war injury survival

Emory University, Georgia Tech to establish Malaria Host-Pathogen Interaction Center

UBC microbiologist receives Prix Galien 2012 Research Award

Texas Biomed applies patent for new genetically-engineered vaccine strategy to prevent HIV

Gifts That Give announces partnership with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Geriatric team improves outcomes in elderly emergency department patients

Biomolecular imaging: an interview with Professor Roger Reddel

Abacus Diagnostica’s GenomEra C. difficile assay receives CE mark

Scientists discover new mode of action for enzymes immersed in cellular membranes

Study reveals significant regional variation and trends in antibiotic use between 1999-2010

'Extended-skill' nurses, physiotherapists are as effective as the ER doc

New pneumococcal vaccine highly effective in infants

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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