Infectious Diseases News and Research

RSS

NAT gains importance as traditional testing methods become inadequate

An expanding population of bacterial strains that are drug resistant, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), will be the most important justification for nucleic acid-based tests (NAT).

28 Aug 2009

Urine LAM-ELISA's sensitivity of 50.7% in identifying TB disappoints

Urine LAM-ELISA does not appear to be useful as an independent diagnostic test for pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). A trial of the new diagnostic, described in the open access journal BMC Infectious Diseases found that it was only capable of identifying 50.7% of TB cases.

28 Aug 2009

Polymedix And UMass receive Phase I STTR contract for research on drug-resistant bacteria treatments

PolyMedix, Inc. (OTC BB: PYMX, www.polymedix.com), an emerging biotechnology company developing acute care products for infectious diseases and acute cardiovascular disorders, and the University of Massachusetts, have received a Phase I Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) contract in the amount of $100,000 to support research to identify lead antimicrobial compounds to effectively treat multi-drug resistant and biofilm-embedded bacteria.

28 Aug 2009

Enzymes could be targeted to kill dangerous pathogens

Researchers at Burnham Institute for Medical Research (Burnham), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and University of Maryland have demonstrated that an enzyme that is essential to many bacteria can be targeted to kill dangerous pathogens.

28 Aug 2009

Infectious Disease Research Institute commences clinical trial of its leishmaniasis vaccine in Sudan

IDRI (Infectious Disease Research Institute) announced today the start of a clinical trial in Sudan to test its leishmaniasis vaccine candidate for the treatment of post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL), a complication of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) which is observed in 50% of patients treated for VL in the country, predominantly affecting children.

28 Aug 2009

Avisio to acquire a portable sensory technology asset to instantly detect disease-causing pathogens

Avisio, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: AVIC), a publicly traded commercialization company providing access to best-of-breed processes and resources, today announced that it has signed a Letter of Intent to acquire a portable sensory technology asset that enables instant detection of infectious diseases, eliminating the need for processing samples in a lab.

26 Aug 2009

UT Southwestern awarded $763,000 as grant to expand studies of Peregrine's anti-PS antibodies

Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: PPHM) today announced that the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has awarded a two-year, $763,000 grant to Philip Thorpe, Ph.D., of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center for research expanding its studies of anti-phosphatidylserine (anti-PS) antibodies as potential treatments for viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) infections.

26 Aug 2009

Quality test for Guardian Technologies International's Signature Mapping TBDx system completed

Guardian Technologies International, Inc. (OTCBB: GDTI) today announced that its Software Quality Assurance Team has completed all unit, component, integration, and systems tests of Signature Mapping TBDx™ (TBDx™) in preparation for September clinical trials in South Africa.

26 Aug 2009

Patient health and safety survey reveals that healthcare facilities are not ready to combat swine flu pandemic

A patient health and safety survey of 190 American hospitals from coast to coast compiled by registered nurses in eight different states finds that a disturbing number of our nation's healthcare facilities are not prepared for the coming H1N1/swine flu pandemic, according to results released today by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee.

26 Aug 2009

Genvec to use $2.5 million grant from NIAID for the development of novel cell lines

GenVec, Inc. (Nasdaq: GNVC) announced today that it has received a Phase 2 Small Business Innovation and Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support the development of GenVec's vector production technology.

25 Aug 2009

TuBerculosis Vaccine Initiative receives $3 million grant from Gates Foundation

TuBerculosis Vaccine Initiative (TBVI) recently received a $3million grant for a three year term from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This grant enables the nonprofit organization to strengthen its fundraising and communication activities in order to increase awareness and support for tuberculosis (TB) vaccine research and raise funds for the development of safer and more effective vaccines.

25 Aug 2009

Unotron collaborates with GHA Technologies to supply washable data input devices

School systems throughout the nation have a strong ally in mitigating a resurgence of swine flu this fall. UNOTRON (www.unotron.com), worldwide creator of medical grade, washable computer keyboards, scroll wheel mice, and smartcard readers, announces that it is teaming up with GHA Technologies, Inc. (www.gha-associates.com) to offer Unotron’s high quality, washable data input and security devices.

25 Aug 2009

NIAID to establish a human immune profiling research consortium in 2010; invites grant applications

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a component of the National Institutes of Health, is accepting grant applications for a new initiative to establish a consortium of human immune profiling research centers.

25 Aug 2009

NIAID funds Nanotherapeutic for developing an inhaled version of the injectable antiviral drug

Nanotherapeutics, Inc., today announced that it has been awarded a $30.9 Million, 5-year contract from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to develop an inhaled version of the injectable antiviral drug, cidofovir, for non-invasive, post-exposure prophylaxis and treatment of the Category A bioterrorism agent smallpox (Variola major).

25 Aug 2009

Recent releases: limiting corruption; mental health; U.S. global health policies; non-physician administered ARV; African health ministers

A Lancet Infectious Diseases Reflection and Reaction piece says while PEPFAR's "investment of over US$228 million into Mozambique in 2008 alone" resulted in "an exponential increase in the number of people on" ARVs and boosted prevention programs, "[t]here is more money available for HIV/AIDS than can reasonably be spent, especially given Mozambique's poor infrastructure and large geographical area. Unfortunately, one side-effect has been an associated increase in corruption." To maximize aid money and limit corruption, "careful and creative resource management will be needed," the author concludes (Johnson, 9/09).

24 Aug 2009

Research reveals that diarrheal bacteria can cause colon cancers

Johns Hopkins scientists say they have figured out how bacteria that cause diarrhea may also be the culprit in some colon cancers. The investigators say that strains of the common Bacteroides fragilis (ETBF) dupe immune system cells into permitting runaway colon tissue inflammation, a precursor for malignant growth.

24 Aug 2009

Researchers discover elusive nanoscale movements of ribosomes at work

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have for the first time captured elusive nanoscale movements of ribosomes at work, shedding light on how these cellular factories take in genetic instructions and amino acids to churn out proteins.

24 Aug 2009

Microbiologists discover new therapies for human respiratory syncytial virus and influenza A virus

A cellular molecule that not only can sense two common respiratory viruses but also can direct cells to mount a defense has been identified by microbiologists at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

24 Aug 2009

CEL-SCI to raise $4.4 million by selling 9.7 million units to institutional investors

CEL-SCI Corporation. (NYSE Amex: CVM), a biotechnology company entering a late stage oncology trial and focused on infectious disease, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with several institutional investors to sell 9.7 million units, with each unit consisting of one of the Company's common shares and 0.50 warrants to purchase one share of common stock, for gross proceeds of approximately $4.4 million, before deducting placement agent fees and estimated offering expenses, in a "registered direct" offering.

21 Aug 2009

New study reveals that influenza vaccination may prevent inappropriate antibiotic use

We all know that influenza vaccination helps prevent disease, but a new study from Canada suggests it may also prevent another public health problem: inappropriate antibiotic use. The findings come from a new study in the September 1, 2009 issue of Clinical Infectious Disease, which is now available online.

21 Aug 2009

Infectious Diseases News and Research

NAT gains importance as traditional testing methods become inadequate

Urine LAM-ELISA's sensitivity of 50.7% in identifying TB disappoints

Polymedix And UMass receive Phase I STTR contract for research on drug-resistant bacteria treatments

Enzymes could be targeted to kill dangerous pathogens

Infectious Disease Research Institute commences clinical trial of its leishmaniasis vaccine in Sudan

Avisio to acquire a portable sensory technology asset to instantly detect disease-causing pathogens

UT Southwestern awarded $763,000 as grant to expand studies of Peregrine's anti-PS antibodies

Quality test for Guardian Technologies International's Signature Mapping TBDx system completed

Patient health and safety survey reveals that healthcare facilities are not ready to combat swine flu pandemic

Genvec to use $2.5 million grant from NIAID for the development of novel cell lines

TuBerculosis Vaccine Initiative receives $3 million grant from Gates Foundation

Unotron collaborates with GHA Technologies to supply washable data input devices

NIAID to establish a human immune profiling research consortium in 2010; invites grant applications

NIAID funds Nanotherapeutic for developing an inhaled version of the injectable antiviral drug

Recent releases: limiting corruption; mental health; U.S. global health policies; non-physician administered ARV; African health ministers

Research reveals that diarrheal bacteria can cause colon cancers

Researchers discover elusive nanoscale movements of ribosomes at work

Microbiologists discover new therapies for human respiratory syncytial virus and influenza A virus

CEL-SCI to raise $4.4 million by selling 9.7 million units to institutional investors

New study reveals that influenza vaccination may prevent inappropriate antibiotic use

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 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

Latest News