Virology News and Research

Latest Virology News and Research

Today's OpEds: The Berwick backlash; HIV screening a part of routine care; And why Congress should provide Medicaid help to states

As is well-known, Congress has a constitutional duty to examine presidential nominees like Dr. Berwick. But apparently, the prospect of giving the American people an opportunity to hear this nominee defend his past praise for government-run systems that ration healthcare was worrisome enough for the administration that it sought to ignore congressional oversight altogether (Sen. Mitch McConnell, 7/12).

14 Jul 2010

First Edition: July 13, 2010

Today's health policy headlines include a report about state preparations to cut Medicaid spending as the federal funding stalemate continues and a status check on the start up of high-risk pools.

13 Jul 2010

ABL signs international distribution agreement for Virco BVBA's HIV resistance interpretation system

Advanced Biological Laboratories (ABL) is pleased to announce its recent signature of a non-exclusive international distribution agreement (excluding United States, Australia, Canada and United Kingdom) of virco®TYPE HIV-1, Belgium-based Virco BVBA's HIV resistance interpretation system.

13 Jul 2010

Researchers watch armed tumor-seeking immune system cells attack dangerous melanomas in real time

Researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center created a large, well armed battalion of tumor-seeking immune system cells and watched, in real time using Positron Emission Tomography (PET), as the special forces traveled throughout the body to locate and attack dangerous melanomas.

13 Jul 2010

Sewage that overflows into urban creeks, streams can promote spread of West Nile virus: Study

Sewage that overflows into urban creeks and streams during periods of heavy rain can promote the spread of West Nile virus, a study led by Emory University finds. The analysis of six years of data showed that people living near creeks with sewage overflows in lower-income neighborhoods of Southeast Atlanta had a seven times higher risk for West Nile virus than the rest of the city.

13 Jul 2010

Medivir reports 24-week interim Phase 2b results of TMC435 in treatment-naïve patients with HCV genotype-1

Medivir announced today 24-week end-of-treatment interim results from the 5-arm phase 2b response guided PILLAR study in 386 treatment-naïve patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype-1 (TMC435-C205).

12 Jul 2010

Lectures on DermaVir to be presented at International Conference on Nanosciences & Nanotechnologies

Julianna Lisziewicz, PhD, President of Genetic Immunity, a biopharmaceutical company developing nanomedicine-based immunotherapies, is an invited speaker at this week's 7th International Conference on Nanosciences & Nanotechnologies in Ouranoupolis Halkidiki, Greece. The conference gathers front-line researchers, scientists and industry experts specialized in nanotechnology applications. Leading experts such as Dr. Lisziewicz are invited to present lectures covering the latest research in this rapidly progressing field.

12 Jul 2010

Discovery of antibodies that kill more than 90% of HIV viruses gives new hope for vaccine

"An effective vaccine against the AIDS virus may have moved one step closer to reality, researchers said Thursday," the Los Angeles Times reports. "Federal researchers have identified a pair of naturally occurring antibodies that are able to kill more than 90% of all strains of the AIDS virus, a finding they say could lead to the development of new treatments for HIV infections and to the production of the first successful vaccine against the virus" (Maugh, 7/9).

12 Jul 2010

Science special section examines HIV/AIDS in Russia, Ukraine

In a special section in advance of the International AIDS Conference, Science examines the "state of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Russia and Ukraine, which account for more than 90% of HIV infections in Eastern Europe."

12 Jul 2010

UM researcher uses computer algorithms to develop vaccines for new strains of influenza viruses

Defeating the flu is challenging because the virus responsible for the disease undergoes frequent changes of its genetic code, making it difficult for scientists to manufacture effective vaccines for the seasonal flu in a timely manner. Now, a University of Miami computer scientist, Dimitris Papamichail, and a team of researchers from Stony Brook University have developed a rapid and effective approach to produce vaccines for new strains of influenza viruses.

9 Jul 2010

HHS to give states $25 million for HIV drugs; Researchers identify antibodies that may help in AIDS vaccine research

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Thursday "that she would provide $25 million more to help states buy life-saving medications for people with H.I.V. or AIDS. Advocates for patients said the money was not nearly enough to eliminate waiting lists, which have surged to record levels as people have lost health insurance, along with their jobs, and states have cut their budgets. Ms. Sebelius said she was 'reallocating and transferring $25 million in existing resources' to provide medicines for people on waiting lists.

9 Jul 2010

Media outlets examine efforts to tackle HIV/AIDS worldwide

Ahead of the International AIDS Conference, set for July 18-23 in Vienna, Austria, Reuters features an interview with Gottfried Hirnschall, the new director of the WHO's HIV Department, who speaks of the need for current funds for the global HIV/AIDS programs to be used more efficiently to achieve universal access to treatment for all HIV/AIDS patients.

9 Jul 2010

Scientists shrink distant sarcomas with genetically reprogrammed herpes virus and anti-vascular drug

Scientists have used a genetically reprogrammed herpes virus and an anti-vascular drug to shrink spreading distant sarcomas designed to model metastatic disease in mice – still an elusive goal when treating humans with cancer, according to a study in the July 8 Gene Therapy.

8 Jul 2010

AHF denounces Obama administration plan to address AIDS drug crisis with $25M

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, will host a press teleconference tomorrow, Thursday, July 8th at 10:00 AM Pacific/1:00 PM Eastern, to denounce an Obama administration plan to address AIDS drug crisis with an insufficient $25 million as "too little, too late."

8 Jul 2010

MicroRNA-212 plays key role in determining vulnerability to cocaine addiction: Study

Scientists from The Scripps Research Institute have found that a particular type of genetic material plays a key role in determining vulnerability to cocaine addiction and may offer an entirely new direction for the development of anti-addiction therapies. In animal studies, the scientists found that a molecule called microRNA-212 was increased in the brains of test animals that had extended access to cocaine.

8 Jul 2010

Scientists use genetically reprogrammed herpes virus to shrink distant sarcomas

Scientists have used a genetically reprogrammed herpes virus and an anti-vascular drug to shrink spreading distant sarcomas designed to model metastatic disease in mice - still an elusive goal when treating humans with cancer, according to a study in the July 8 Gene Therapy.

8 Jul 2010

Report investigates clear cell ICC

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is a cancer of the bile duct in the liver. The clear cell subtype of ICC is a rare cancer; until now, only 8 cases have been reported. The number of reports is so small that a detail description of clear cell ICC is valuable.

8 Jul 2010

FDA approves Beech Tree Labs' IND for Phase 1/2a clinical evaluation of BTL-TML-HSV

Beech Tree Labs, Inc., announced today that the FDA has approved its IND for a Phase 1/2a clinical evaluation of BTL-TML-HSV, a novel therapeutic agent for treating recurrent oral herpes infections. The study will be a 210 patient, multi-site, placebo-controlled trial and is anticipated to begin later this summer.

8 Jul 2010

Brain fever mistaken as migraine kills a 30 year old woman

Jane Harrop, a 30 year old British woman was complaining of headaches for several days that made her feel “drunk”. She was diagnosed to be suffering from migraine but died two days later from a viral infection of the brain.

7 Jul 2010

Codex Alimentarius Commission provides new guidance to help improve food safety

The maximum amount of melamine allowed in powdered infant formula is 1 mg/kg and the amount of the chemical allowed in other foods and animal feed is 2.5 mg/kg, according to new rulings from the United Nations' food standards body, Codex Alimentarius Commission.

7 Jul 2010

Virology News and Research

Latest Virology News and Research

Today's OpEds: The Berwick backlash; HIV screening a part of routine care; And why Congress should provide Medicaid help to states

First Edition: July 13, 2010

ABL signs international distribution agreement for Virco BVBA's HIV resistance interpretation system

Researchers watch armed tumor-seeking immune system cells attack dangerous melanomas in real time

Sewage that overflows into urban creeks, streams can promote spread of West Nile virus: Study

Medivir reports 24-week interim Phase 2b results of TMC435 in treatment-naïve patients with HCV genotype-1

Lectures on DermaVir to be presented at International Conference on Nanosciences & Nanotechnologies

Discovery of antibodies that kill more than 90% of HIV viruses gives new hope for vaccine

Science special section examines HIV/AIDS in Russia, Ukraine

UM researcher uses computer algorithms to develop vaccines for new strains of influenza viruses

HHS to give states $25 million for HIV drugs; Researchers identify antibodies that may help in AIDS vaccine research

Media outlets examine efforts to tackle HIV/AIDS worldwide

Scientists shrink distant sarcomas with genetically reprogrammed herpes virus and anti-vascular drug

AHF denounces Obama administration plan to address AIDS drug crisis with $25M

MicroRNA-212 plays key role in determining vulnerability to cocaine addiction: Study

Scientists use genetically reprogrammed herpes virus to shrink distant sarcomas

Report investigates clear cell ICC

FDA approves Beech Tree Labs' IND for Phase 1/2a clinical evaluation of BTL-TML-HSV

Brain fever mistaken as migraine kills a 30 year old woman

Codex Alimentarius Commission provides new guidance to help improve food safety

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