Virology News and Research

Latest Virology News and Research

Exaggerated responses of immune system explain elders’ susceptibility to viral infections

Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have found that exaggerated responses of the immune system explain why the elderly succumb to viral infections more readily than younger people. Published in the November 19 Cell Host & Microbe, the study bucks the general belief that declining immune responses are to blame for susceptibility to viral infections.

19 Nov 2009

NPSF supports obligatory flu vaccination for healthcare workers

The National Patient Safety Foundation recognizes vaccine-preventable diseases as a matter of patient safety and supports mandatory influenza vaccination of health care workers to protect the health of patients, health care workers, and the community.

19 Nov 2009

Genetic identity of cellular receptor for the immune system's first-response antibody discovered

Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) have uncovered the genetic identity of a cellular receptor for the immune system's first-response antibody, a discovery that sheds new light on infection control and immune disorders. The discovery is such a crucial part of immunology that UAB researchers, in conjunction with Japanese researchers, are asking that the gene linked to this antibody receptor be renamed to better describe its role in early immune responses.

19 Nov 2009

Why avian flu virus has not caused a pandemic?

Bird flu viruses would have to make at least two simultaneous genetic mutations before they could be transmitted readily from human to human, according to research published today in PLoS ONE.

19 Nov 2009

Chronic hepatitis B seems to progress faster in men, report scientists

Scientists in China are reporting discovery of unusual liver proteins, found only in males, that may help explain the long-standing mystery of why the hepatitis B virus (HBV) sexually discriminates -- hitting men harder than women. Their study has been published online in ACS' Journal of Proteome Research, a monthly publication.

19 Nov 2009

Results from Phase IIa clinical trial evaluating VT-111 reported by Viron Therapeutics

Viron Therapeutics Inc., a biotechnology company pioneering the development of immune-modulating protein therapeutics derived from pathogens, today reported results from a Phase IIa clinical trial evaluating VT-111 (Serp-1), an anti-inflammatory protein derived from the myxoma virus.

19 Nov 2009

WHO to launch yellow fever vaccination campaign in West Africa

The WHO on Tuesday announced it would lead a week-long, multi-country vaccination campaign in Africa next week to protect those "deemed at highest risk from yellow fever," Reuters reports.

19 Nov 2009

mdBriefCase to provide online education course on H1N1 virus in pregnant women

mdBriefCase Inc., in collaboration with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Canada (SOGC), is pleased to provide a new online education course on the H1N1 virus in pregnant women.

18 Nov 2009

Lee's Pharmaceutical granted exclusive license to Jennerex' lead product for HCC

Jennerex, Inc., a clinical-stage biotherapeutics company developing a proprietary breakthrough class of targeted oncolytic virus therapeutics, today announced in conjunction with Lee's Pharmaceutical Holdings, the execution of a collaboration and license agreement for Jennerex's lead product candidate, JX-594, in certain Asian territories.

18 Nov 2009

SynCon Chikungunya virus DNA vaccine induces protective neutralizing antibody responses in animal model

Inovio Biomedical Corporation, a leader in DNA vaccine design, development and delivery, announced today that the company's SynCon™ Chikungunya virus DNA vaccine induced protective neutralizing antibody responses in a preclinical non-human primate model.

18 Nov 2009

Loyola researcher says rapid influenza diagnostic tests can present significant risk to public health

Rapid influenza diagnostic tests used in doctors' offices, hospitals and medical laboratories to detect H1N1 are virtually useless and could pose a significant danger to public health, according to a Loyola University Medical Center researcher.

18 Nov 2009

Request for pre-IND meeting to discuss IND application for therapeutic vaccine granted by FDA

GeoVax Labs, Inc. (the "Company"), an Atlanta-based, biopharmaceutical company developing human vaccines for diseases caused by HIV-1 (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and other infectious agents, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted its request for a pre-IND meeting to discuss the proposed Investigational New Drug (IND) application for GeoVax's therapeutic vaccine as a treatment for individuals already infected with HIV.

18 Nov 2009

IBM scientists create one-step point-of-care-diagnostic test based on innovative silicon chip

IBM (IBM) scientists have created a one-step point-of-care-diagnostic test, based on an innovative silicon chip, that requires less sample volume, is significantly faster, portable, easy to use, and can test for many diseases, including one of world's leading causes of death, cardiovascular disease.

18 Nov 2009

Quest Diagnostics' Simplexa Influenza A H1N1 (2009) test receives CE mark

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, the world's leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services, today announced that the Simplexa Influenza A H1N1 (2009) test developed by its Focus Diagnostics business has been CE marked and is now available as a test kit for distribution to approximately 35 countries in Europe.

From Quest Diagnostics 18 Nov 2009

Previous flu infections can reduce the severity of H1N1

Researchers at the La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology have found that previous influenza infections may provide at least some level of immunity to the H1N1 "swine" flu. "The question we asked was, "Is the swine flu more like the seasonal flu or like a totally new strain of influenza where there would be no immunity?," said Alessandro Sette, Ph.D., an internationally recognized vaccine expert and director of the La Jolla Institute's Center for Infectious Disease.

18 Nov 2009

FDA approves Qutenza, a pain relief product for patients who suffer from PHN

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the approval of Qutenza (capsaicin) 8% patch, a medicated skin patch that relieves the pain of post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), a serious complication that can occur after a bout with shingles.

18 Nov 2009

Cinergy Health creates a guide for the prevention and treatment of H1N1

Cinergy Health, a nationwide provider of guaranteed issue health insurance benefit programs, has created a guide for consumers concerned about the H1N1 virus, which has already killed more than 4,000 Americans.

18 Nov 2009

China, WHO to collaborate on flu research center

Chinese and WHO officials last week agreed to open a flu research center in Beijing, Bloomberg reports. "The new collaborating center for reference and research on influenza will join a network of WHO-affiliated labs in Atlanta, London, Tokyo and Melbourne that monitor flu strains and make recommendations on vaccines to fight the virus," the news service writes

17 Nov 2009

Also in global health news: Global corruption; HIV vaccine; smoking; DRC aid

A new report from Transparency International says the fight against corruption worldwide is slowing as urgency to address the global economic downturn recedes, Bloomberg reports.

17 Nov 2009

China Sky One Medical reports financial results for third-quarter 2009

China Sky One Medical, Inc., a leading fully integrated pharmaceutical company in the People's Republic of China ("PRC"), today announced record financial results for the third quarter of 2009.

17 Nov 2009

Virology News and Research

Latest Virology News and Research

Exaggerated responses of immune system explain elders’ susceptibility to viral infections

NPSF supports obligatory flu vaccination for healthcare workers

Genetic identity of cellular receptor for the immune system's first-response antibody discovered

Why avian flu virus has not caused a pandemic?

Chronic hepatitis B seems to progress faster in men, report scientists

Results from Phase IIa clinical trial evaluating VT-111 reported by Viron Therapeutics

WHO to launch yellow fever vaccination campaign in West Africa

mdBriefCase to provide online education course on H1N1 virus in pregnant women

Lee's Pharmaceutical granted exclusive license to Jennerex' lead product for HCC

SynCon Chikungunya virus DNA vaccine induces protective neutralizing antibody responses in animal model

Loyola researcher says rapid influenza diagnostic tests can present significant risk to public health

Request for pre-IND meeting to discuss IND application for therapeutic vaccine granted by FDA

IBM scientists create one-step point-of-care-diagnostic test based on innovative silicon chip

Quest Diagnostics' Simplexa Influenza A H1N1 (2009) test receives CE mark

Previous flu infections can reduce the severity of H1N1

FDA approves Qutenza, a pain relief product for patients who suffer from PHN

Cinergy Health creates a guide for the prevention and treatment of H1N1

China, WHO to collaborate on flu research center

Also in global health news: Global corruption; HIV vaccine; smoking; DRC aid

China Sky One Medical reports financial results for third-quarter 2009

Forensics and toxicology - Industry Focus eBook eBook

Evolving spectrophotometry for modern biopharma workflows

Scaling B-cell cloning workflows for antibody development

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