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Genome study could help prevent devastating epidemics in the future

A team of collaborating scientists at The Methodist Hospital Research Institute in Houston, the Broad Institute in Boston, Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, and the Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion (OAHPP) have sequenced almost 100 full genomes from three successive epidemics of flesh-eating bacteria.

27 Jan 2010

Gates annual letter addresses importance of innovation for global health, agriculture

In his second annual letter, Bill Gates reflects on the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's work and the importance innovation will play in overcoming some of the world's greatest challenges, including in global health and agriculture, the Associated Press reports. "Gates says the foundation currently is backing 30 areas of innovation including online learning, teacher improvement, malaria vaccine development, HIV prevention, and genetically modified seeds," according to the news service (Gordon Blankinship, 1/25).

27 Jan 2010

WHO Director-General highlights global health gains, challenges at executive board meeting

During the WHO's recent executive board meeting, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan reflected on public health gains over the past decade and the challenges that lie ahead, Nigeria's Guardian reports. Chan commended the international community's response to H1N1 and global efforts to reduce child mortality, fight malaria and tuberculosis.

27 Jan 2010

Report highlights challenges facing Obama in Africa

A new report highlights challenges facing the Obama administration in Africa, including HIV/AIDS, poverty and climate change, VOA News reports.

27 Jan 2010

AIDS Healthcare Foundation bans Merck's sales representatives for unwarranted pricing of Isentress

AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the largest global AIDS organization which operates free AIDS treatment clinics in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Eastern Europe, including 18 healthcare centers in California, Florida, and Washington, DC, has banned pharmaceutical sales representatives from Merck and Co. Pharmaceuticals, from calling on AHF’s medical providers and staff in its US healthcare centers.

27 Jan 2010

UCF researcher develops first dual vaccine to fight malaria and cholera

A University of Central Florida biomedical researcher has developed what promises to be the first low-cost dual vaccine against malaria and cholera.

27 Jan 2010

Health care providers play a critical role in H1N1 vaccinations

Results from the latest C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health indicate health care providers play a critical role in influencing parents and patients to vaccinate their children and themselves against H1N1 flu.

27 Jan 2010

Antibiotics may be effective in fighting MRSA infections

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago and Israel's Weizman Institute of Science have found that two antibiotics working together might be more effective in fighting pathogenic bacteria than either drug on its own.

27 Jan 2010

HZI researchers explore novel therapies to keep the immune system young and functional for healthy aging

By comparing the immune responses of both, young and old mice, to bacterial infection they found that the number of macrophages, one of the major cell populations involved in the elimination of infecting bacteria, decreases rapidly in aged mice. This decline in the number of fighters and the associated weakness of the immune defense may be responsible for the age-associated increase in susceptibility to infections.

27 Jan 2010

Ecolab and AvidBiotics to develop new technology to reduce E. coli in red meat products

Ecolab Inc. has entered into an agreement with AvidBiotics Corp. under which they will jointly work to develop a new technology that could significantly reduce the presence of the pathogen E. coli O157:H7 in red meat products.

27 Jan 2010

Dynavax Technologies to present data on its SD-101 Phase 1b trial for chronic HCV infection

Dynavax Technologies Corporation announced today data from two studies that differentiate SD-101 from standard-of-care as well as emerging treatments for chronic HCV infection. The findings of a Phase 1b clinical trial and an in vitro study of SD-101's mechanism of action show that the second-generation TLR9 agonist is well tolerated and safe and induces both IFN-lambda and IFN-alpha at concentrations producing antiviral activity. The data will be presented at the 45th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver in Vienna, Austria in April 2010.

27 Jan 2010

Over 125M pregnant women worldwide exposed to malaria annually, study finds

More than 125 million pregnant women worldwide are exposed to malaria each year, according to a study published Tuesday in PLoS Medicine, ANI/oneindia reports. Previously, such estimates were limited to malaria risk in Africa. "Most malarial deaths are among young children in sub-Saharan Africa but pregnant women and their unborn babies are at high risk," the news service writes, adding that "[n]early 10,000 women and 200,000 babies die every year because of malaria in pregnancy, which often leads to miscarriages, pre-term births, and low-birth-weight births" (1/26).

27 Jan 2010

Abbott submits Premarket Approval application for the ARCHITECT HIV Ag/Ab Combo assay to FDA

An assay to aid in the early detection of HIV infection may soon be available in the United States. Abbott announced today it has submitted a Premarket Approval application for the ARCHITECT HIV Ag/Ab Combo assay to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for expedited review. Upon approval, the assay is expected to be the first test available in the United States to simultaneously detect the combined presence of HIV antigens (proteins produced by the HIV virus) and antibodies (proteins produced by the body to fight HIV antigens), which would allow for the early detection and ongoing monitoring of the virus.

26 Jan 2010

Institute of Medicine urges healthcare providers to take steps to battle hepatitis B and C

The Institute of Medicine, a branch of the US National Academy of Sciences, is urging healthcare providers to take steps to battle liver-damaging hepatitis B and C, which are often overlooked viruses.

25 Jan 2010

Scidev.net feature addresses nutrition, food security

SciDev.net includes a special feature on the challenges associated with meeting the nutritional and food needs of people around the world.

23 Jan 2010

HSV-2 can reactivate throughout the genital tract

Genital herpes caused by a reactivation of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is generally treated as a lesion in one specific area of the genital region. A new study, however, finds that the virus can frequently reactivate throughout the genital tract, an important new concept that could help guide both HSV-2 treatment and prevention.

23 Jan 2010

Vaccination for children: Pros and cons

ProCon.org, a nonpartisan 501(c)3 nonprofit public charity dedicated to promoting critical thinking, created the new website http://vaccines.procon.org to explore the core question "Should any vaccines be required for children?"

23 Jan 2010

Recent releases in global health

"Picture the situation in Haiti: families living on top of sewage-contaminated rubbish dumps, with no reliable sources of food and water and virtually no access to health care. This scenario depicts the situation in Haiti before the earthquake that catapulted this impoverished and conflict-ridden country into the international headlines,"

23 Jan 2010

Scientists map origin of MRSA, technology could help understanding of other diseases

"Scientists have found a way to track minutely-differing strains of the 'superbug' MRSA [methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus] as they spread between people and across the globe, a finding that could aid efforts to control the deadly bacteria," Reuters/ABC News reports (Kelland, 1/21).

23 Jan 2010

Department of Health to continue H1N1 vaccination clinics every Saturday in Pennsylvania

In an effort to ensure that Pennsylvania's citizens are protected against the H1N1 flu virus, the Department of Health will continue public vaccination clinics at all 60 state health centers every Saturday through Feb. 6 from 9 a.m. to noon.

23 Jan 2010

Disease/Infection News

Genome study could help prevent devastating epidemics in the future

Gates annual letter addresses importance of innovation for global health, agriculture

WHO Director-General highlights global health gains, challenges at executive board meeting

Report highlights challenges facing Obama in Africa

AIDS Healthcare Foundation bans Merck's sales representatives for unwarranted pricing of Isentress

UCF researcher develops first dual vaccine to fight malaria and cholera

Health care providers play a critical role in H1N1 vaccinations

Antibiotics may be effective in fighting MRSA infections

HZI researchers explore novel therapies to keep the immune system young and functional for healthy aging

Ecolab and AvidBiotics to develop new technology to reduce E. coli in red meat products

Dynavax Technologies to present data on its SD-101 Phase 1b trial for chronic HCV infection

Over 125M pregnant women worldwide exposed to malaria annually, study finds

Abbott submits Premarket Approval application for the ARCHITECT HIV Ag/Ab Combo assay to FDA

Institute of Medicine urges healthcare providers to take steps to battle hepatitis B and C

Scidev.net feature addresses nutrition, food security

HSV-2 can reactivate throughout the genital tract

Vaccination for children: Pros and cons

Recent releases in global health

Scientists map origin of MRSA, technology could help understanding of other diseases

Department of Health to continue H1N1 vaccination clinics every Saturday in Pennsylvania

Redefining control and consistency in anaerobic microbiome workflows

AI in Healthcare: How generative tools are transforming clinical practice

The future of automation: Machine learning–driven hepatocyte and organoid counting

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