Toxins News and Research

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First Edition: September 30, 2010

In today's news, McDonald's may stop providing employee health benefits unless a new health law requirement is waived.

30 Sep 2010

National Jewish Health's liposome-based vaccine receives US patent

National Jewish Health has received a US patent for a new kind of vaccine, which uses a small lipid bubble to deliver an antigen and DNA adjuvant. Chairman of Pediatrics Erwin Gelfand, MD, and former National Jewish Health Professor of Medicine Steve Dow, PhD, developed the new liposome-based adjuvant.

29 Sep 2010

Researchers find stress-activating factors can control genes

Stress has become one of the major disease states in the developed world. Researchers from Dr.Klaus Hansen's group at BRIC, University of Copenhagen, have just shown that external factors can stress our cells through the control of our genes. "We found that stress-activating factors can control our genes by turning on certain genes that were supposed to be silenced.

27 Sep 2010

Researchers identify mechanism that makes bacteria to resist antibiotics

A research team led by Edward Yu of Iowa State University and the Ames Laboratory has discovered the crystal structures of pumps that remove heavy metal toxins from bacteria, making them resistant to antibiotics.

24 Sep 2010

Advanced Targeting Systems receives NCI award to advance SP-SAP drug

Advanced Targeting Systems, the company that pioneered the targeting of specific cell types to manipulate them for the treatment of diseases and for research into the function of biological systems, has been awarded $3 million from the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

24 Sep 2010

NIH awards UCSF $15.4 million to set up new National Center for Systems Biology

Cell biologists at UCSF have received $15.4 million from the National Institutes of Health to set up one of two new National Centers for Systems Biology, to study how cells respond to their environment - an emerging field of research that could revolutionize medicine by creating "smart cells" to deliver medications and other therapeutics more effectively.

22 Sep 2010

Emergent BioSolutions signs contract with HHS to develop rPA anthrax vaccine

Emergent BioSolutions Inc. announced today that it has signed a contract, valued at up to $186.6 million, with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority of the Department of Health and Human Services, for the development of a recombinant protective antigen anthrax vaccine.

18 Sep 2010

BARDA awards contract to Emergent BioSolutions for anthrax vaccine development

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) awarded a $51 million contract to Emergent BioSolutions, Inc., of Rockville, Md., for the development of a new anthrax vaccine using the protective antigen (rPA) to stimulate a protective immune response that neutralizes the anthrax toxins.

18 Sep 2010

New anti-pathogenic drugs render MRSA harmless without killing bacteria

Menachem Shoham, PhD, associate professor and researcher in the department of biochemistry at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, has identified new anti-pathogenic drugs that, without killing the bacteria, render Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) harmless by preventing the production of toxins that cause disease.

17 Sep 2010

Researchers develop infected tissue model for Aganocide compounds

Two common and important human pathogens, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus, are implicated in many clinical diseases of the eye and skin, including keratitis and impetigo, respectively. Infections with their associated toxins can result in the destruction of underlying tissue.

16 Sep 2010

Researchers create artificial human ovary to yield infertility treatments for cancer patients

Researchers at Brown University and Women & Infants Hospital have invented the first artificial human ovary, an advance that provides a potentially powerful new means for conducting fertility research and could also yield infertility treatments for cancer patients. The team has already used the lab-grown organ to mature human eggs.

15 Sep 2010

Atox Bio doses first subject in AB103 Phase 1 study for severe bacterial infections and sepsis

Atox Bio Inc. today announced that it successfully completed the dosing of the first subject in its phase 1 clinical study of AB103, a novel therapy for the treatment of severe bacterial infections and sepsis.

15 Sep 2010

U.S. adults support restrictions on e-cigarettes based on potential risks

According to the makers of electronic cigarettes, they are new devices that allow users to inhale nicotine but not the toxins of tobacco cigarettes. Advocates hail e-cigarettes as a possible quit-smoking aid.

14 Sep 2010

Progenics Pharmaceuticals presents findings of humanized monoclonal antibodies against C. difficile bacterium

Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today presented preclinical findings for its humanized monoclonal antibodies against the disease-causing toxins produced by the bacterium Clostridium difficile.

14 Sep 2010

Researchers identify novel molecular pathway of Parkinson’s disease

A new study led by researchers at Columbia University Medical Center has identified a novel molecular pathway underlying Parkinson's disease and points to existing drugs which may be able to slow progression of the disease.

14 Sep 2010

Earthy or musty odors along with cyanobacteria may indicate presence of harmful cyanotoxins in lakes

Earthy or musty odors, along with visual evidence of blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, may serve as a warning that harmful cyanotoxins are present in lakes or reservoirs. In a newly published USGS study of cyanobacterial blooms in Midwest lakes, taste-and-odor compounds were found almost every time cyanotoxins were found, indicating odor may serve as a warning that harmful toxins are present.

14 Sep 2010

Researchers develop rapid screening test for mycotoxin detection

After close cooperation with researchers at the Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research (Bioforsk), Norwegian grain dealers are implementing a newly devised computational model and rapid screening tests to improve control of toxins in Norwegian cereals.

8 Sep 2010

Inflammation associated with lower intelligence, premature death: Research

Inflammation is associated with lower intelligence and premature death, according to Swedish scientists from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. "Those with low-grade inflammation performed more poorly on standardised intelligence tests, even after excluding those with signs of current illness. Inflammation also predicted an increased risk of premature death," said lead researcher Dr Hakan Karlsson.

7 Sep 2010

Research on bacterial cells may offer new hope for MRSA infection treatment

Selfish bacterial cells that act in their own interests and do not cooperate with their infection-causing colleagues can actually reduce the severity of infection.

7 Sep 2010

Researchers unveil prototype model of first implantable artificial kidney

UCSF researchers today unveiled a prototype model of the first implantable artificial kidney, in a development that one day could eliminate the need for dialysis.

3 Sep 2010