Virology News and Research

Latest Virology News and Research

Influenza expert is beginning a three-year direct comparison of flu shots versus nasal spray flu vaccine

Flu shots have been around since World War II, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has long recommended shots as a way to prevent influenza in the elderly. The approval of a new nasal spray vaccine begs the question whether those looking to stave off the flu should stick with the tried and true injection or switch to the nasal spray.

13 Oct 2004

Technique for genetically modifying blood stem cells brings cure for blood diseases closer

The condition of mice with a genetic blood disease called beta-thalassemia improved significantly following treatment of their blood forming cells with a gene that enabled them to produce the type of hemoglobin normally found only in the fetus.

12 Oct 2004

New study offers rare glimpse of how the smallpox virus attacks its victims

Results of a new study in monkeys offer scientists a rare glimpse of how, on a molecular level, the smallpox virus attacks its victims. The findings shed light on how the virus caused mass death and suffering, and will help point the way to new diagnostics, vaccines and drugs that would be needed in the event of a smallpox bioterror incident.

12 Oct 2004

A change in the national polio vaccination policy has led to the elimination of vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis

The researchers found that from 1990 through 1999, 61 cases of paralytic polio were reported; 59 (97 percent) of these were VAPP (1 case per 2.9 million OPV doses distributed), 1 case was imported, and 1 case was indeterminate.

12 Oct 2004

Health care providers need to work together to ensure that high-risk individuals get the flu shot

Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, Illinois state public health director, is encouraging health care providers to work together to ensure that high-risk individuals get the flu shot.

11 Oct 2004

Carbon nanotubes offer a new approach to gene therapy

Many genes that are related to particular diseases have now been identified. Scientists are trying to use this knowledge to treat diseases.

11 Oct 2004

HHS awards contracts totaling more than $232 million to fund development of new vaccines against smallpox, plague and tularemia

United States Department of Health and Human Services has announced four new contracts totaling more than $232 million to fund development of new vaccines against three potential agents of bioterrorism: smallpox, plague and tularemia. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), will administer the contracts.

8 Oct 2004

Viruses from human sources occur in the La Crosse, Wisconsin municipal drinking water supply prior to its chlorination

Although the city's treated water meets or exceeds state and federal standards for drinking water, researchers and public health officials agree that more study is needed to pinpoint sources of the viruses and to determine if some viruses are surviving chlorination and making people sick with diarrhea and vomiting.

6 Oct 2004

Influenza is a contagious disease caused by an RNA virus of the orthomyxoviridae family

Influenza (or as it is commonly known, the flu) is a contagious disease caused by an RNA virus of the orthomyxoviridae family (The orthomyxoviridae is a family of RNA viruses which infect vertebrate).

6 Oct 2004

Call for elderly and children to be vaccinated first in response to flu vaccine shortage

Just one week after being reassured by corporate and federal officials that the United States would have a record supply of flu vaccine available, the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging reacted sharply today concerning the nation’s pending flu vaccine shortage.

5 Oct 2004

Moderate exercise in mice after they were infected with influenza protects them from dying

University of Illinois researchers report that four consecutive days of moderate exercise in mice after they were infected with influenza protects them from dying, compared with mice that didn’t exercise.

5 Oct 2004

Significant progress in development of an animal model of smallpox that closely resembles human disease

Scientists have made significant progress in developing an animal model of smallpox that closely resembles human disease, which will be necessary for testing of future vaccines and potential treatments.

5 Oct 2004

Thailand's Ministry of Public Health has today confirmed a further case of human infection with H5N1 avian influenza

The case, which was fatal, was a 9-year-old girl from the northern province of Phetchabun. She developed symptoms on 23 September, was hospitalized on 27 September, and died of severe respiratory disease on 3 October.

5 Oct 2004

Bristol-Myers Squibb submits New Drug Application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for entecavir

Bristol-Myers Squibb has announced the submission of a New Drug Application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for entecavir, an investigational antiviral agent under development for the treatment of chronic Hepatitis B.

4 Oct 2004

Giving flu vaccine to toddlers in the spring and fall guards against infection

Giving flu vaccine to toddlers in the spring and fall guards against infection and is easier on parents than the fall schedule of two doses administered a month apart, found researchers from Duke University Medical Center and the University of Washington.

4 Oct 2004

Chiron grants a non-exclusive license to the German Red Cross

Chiron Corporation has announced that it has granted a non-exclusive license to the Blood Transfusion Centers of the German Red Cross (Blutspendediensten des Deutsche Rotes Kreuz, or DRK) for use of the company's HIV-1 and hepatitis C virus (HCV) technology for use in molecular probe "home brew" blood screening.

4 Oct 2004

Additional measures to prevent H5 avian influenza in view of the recent situation in Southeast Asia

Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection has taken additional measures to prevent H5 avian influenza in view of the recent situation in Southeast Asia. It has been maintaining close contact with the World Health Organisation over a family cluster of H5 avian influenza in Thailand.

30 Sep 2004

Circulation of ‘disaster myths’ in Haiti could hinder appropriate disposal of bodies

Myths about the infectious disease threat posed by dead bodies could lead to insensitive and inappropriate treatment of victims’ bodies following the floods in Haiti, and need to be checked, according to a public health researcher who has studied the potential risks at length.

30 Sep 2004

Berkeley searches for AIDS cure in a Samoan indigenous tree

The University of California, Berkeley, has signed an agreement with the Samoan government to isolate from an indigenous tree the gene for a promising anti-AIDS drug and to share any royalties from sale of a gene-derived drug with the people of Samoa.

30 Sep 2004

Australian nanotech Starpharma to develop a second generation microbicide for the prevention of infection by HIV

Melbourne-based nanotechnology company Starpharma will lead a consortium to develop a second generation microbicide for the prevention of infection by HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

30 Sep 2004

Virology News and Research

Latest Virology News and Research

Influenza expert is beginning a three-year direct comparison of flu shots versus nasal spray flu vaccine

Technique for genetically modifying blood stem cells brings cure for blood diseases closer

New study offers rare glimpse of how the smallpox virus attacks its victims

A change in the national polio vaccination policy has led to the elimination of vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis

Health care providers need to work together to ensure that high-risk individuals get the flu shot

Carbon nanotubes offer a new approach to gene therapy

HHS awards contracts totaling more than $232 million to fund development of new vaccines against smallpox, plague and tularemia

Viruses from human sources occur in the La Crosse, Wisconsin municipal drinking water supply prior to its chlorination

Influenza is a contagious disease caused by an RNA virus of the orthomyxoviridae family

Call for elderly and children to be vaccinated first in response to flu vaccine shortage

Moderate exercise in mice after they were infected with influenza protects them from dying

Significant progress in development of an animal model of smallpox that closely resembles human disease

Thailand's Ministry of Public Health has today confirmed a further case of human infection with H5N1 avian influenza

Bristol-Myers Squibb submits New Drug Application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for entecavir

Giving flu vaccine to toddlers in the spring and fall guards against infection

Chiron grants a non-exclusive license to the German Red Cross

Additional measures to prevent H5 avian influenza in view of the recent situation in Southeast Asia

Circulation of ‘disaster myths’ in Haiti could hinder appropriate disposal of bodies

Berkeley searches for AIDS cure in a Samoan indigenous tree

Australian nanotech Starpharma to develop a second generation microbicide for the prevention of infection by HIV

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut