Disease/Infection News

RSS

WSU research project to promote HIV testing in African-Americans

A grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, administered by the Michigan Department of Community Health, is helping a Wayne State University researcher's effort to promote HIV testing among African-Americans.

2 Feb 2012

FDA clears Roche's new test for detection of CT and NG infections

Roche announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has provided 510(k) clearance to the cobas CT/NG Test for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) infections in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients from male urine and self -collected vaginal swabs.

1 Feb 2012

First large study to establish link between infection and stroke in children

Common infections in children pose a high risk of ischemic stroke, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2012.

1 Feb 2012

Affinium initiates AFN-1252 Phase 2 trial in acute bacterial skin & skin structure infections

Affinium Pharmaceuticals announced today dosing of the first patient in a multi-center Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating oral AFN-1252 in acute bacterial skin & skin structure infections.

1 Feb 2012

All players involved with Global Fund must take responsibility for 'past failures,' future support

"The Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria has proved to be one of the world's most important and innovative multilateral funding agencies," a Financial Times editorial states.

1 Feb 2012

Natural resistance to flu could hold key to universal vaccine

Researchers have found that on infecting 41 healthy volunteers with different strains of flu virus, those with higher levels of a specific type of white blood cell were less likely to develop severe illness. Now the team of researchers hopes to mimic the natural resistance shown by some of the volunteers, by creating a vaccine that boosts levels of a particular subset of the 'T-cells'.

1 Feb 2012

Millions of faulty condoms recalled but many remain in circulation in South Africa

A large number of faulty condoms are in circulation in the Bloemfontein area of South Africa, despite a recall warns an HIV group. The problem with the condoms was discovered after people complained to the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC).

1 Feb 2012

Bird flu virus research and need for censorship

A group of scientists have been working on a genetically modified strain of bird flu. A federal advisory board declared Tuesday that the details of the research are a “grave concern” to public safety and should be kept under wraps.

1 Feb 2012

New light on how superbugs become resistant to antibiotics

Scientists have shed new light on the way superbugs such as MRSA are able to become resistant to treatment with antibiotics

1 Feb 2012

New general manager's banking background beneficial at Global Fund

In this post on the Center for Global Development's (CGD) "Global Health Policy" blog, Amanda Glassman, a research fellow and director of global health policy at CGD, explains why the banking background of the new general manager of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Gabriel Jaramillo, "should serve him well."

1 Feb 2012

Peptides linked with internal flu viral structures can help develop universal vaccine

Researchers at the University of Southampton, University of Oxford and Retroscreeen Virology Ltd have discovered a series of peptides, found on the internal structures of influenza viruses that could lead to the development of a universal vaccine for influenza, one that gives people immunity against all strains of the disease, including seasonal, avian, and swine flu.

1 Feb 2012

U.N. provides $9.1M to WHO, UNICEF to help fight cholera in DRC

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) last week "received $9.1 million ... from the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to fight off cholera, which has affected more than 22,000 people and killed 500 over the past year in the central African country," the U.N. News Centre reports.

1 Feb 2012

Opinion pieces, blog react to new public-private NTD initiative

Pharmaceutical company heads and global health leaders gathered at a conference on Monday in London to announce the formation of a large public-private partnership to fight neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and endorse the "London Declaration on Neglected Tropical Diseases", in which they pledged to work together and track progress.

1 Feb 2012

Opinion pieces recognize Global Fund anniversary

Last week, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria celebrated its 10-year anniversary. The following are summaries of two opinion pieces written in recognition of this milestone.

1 Feb 2012

ASM to publish special commentaries on NSABB and H5N1 research

In response to recent actions of the U.S. National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB), which recommended that two scientific journals withhold crucial details in upcoming reports about experiments with a novel strain of the bird flu virus, H5N1, the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) will publish a special series of commentaries by prominent scientists, including the acting chair of the NSABB, weighing in on whether the recommendations were necessary and what role biosecurity considerations should play in the dissemination of research findings.

1 Feb 2012

Media outlets continue to publish expert opinion regarding H5N1 bird flu research

The PBS NewsHour blog "The Rundown" features excerpts from interviews with three experts discussing the recent debate over research conducted on the H5N1 bird flu virus.

1 Feb 2012

Protesting Kenyans call for emergency donor conference to raise $2B for Global Fund

"Hundreds of HIV-positive Kenyans protested outside the European Union's Nairobi office on Monday, accusing the E.U. of causing unnecessary deaths by cutting funding to" the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, AlertNet reports.

1 Feb 2012

Faster, less expensive methods of circumcision being tested, reviewed, New York Times reports

The New York Times examines developments in circumcision technology, after "three studies have shown that circumcising adult heterosexual men is one of the most effective 'vaccines' against [HIV] -- reducing the chances of infection by 60 percent or more."

1 Feb 2012

Potential way to block second wave of death from pneumonia treatment

An international research team may have found a way to block a second wave of death that can result from pneumonia treatment.

1 Feb 2012

NanoViricides files FluCide pre-IND briefing document with the FDA

NanoViricides, Inc. announced today that it has submitted a pre-IND briefing document to the US FDA. This submission provides the required information for the Company's highly effective anti-influenza drug candidate, FluCide, in support of a pre-IND Meeting.

1 Feb 2012