Rest Easy. When It Comes to Swine Flu, Your Pet Is Safe Nov 5, 2009
Dogs can get something called the canine influenza virus, but that "has adapted itself to dogs and really is a dog pathogen at this point," Olsen said. It originally came from horses and mainly affects canines in an animal shelter. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Health)
BrantJamesInside Nascar Crown him now? Not so fast. Here's how J.J. could lose. Nov 5, 2009
Champion race car driver infected by blood-borne pathogen, quickly devolves into a zombie-thing, becomes more consumed with consuming human meat than perpetuating his legacy. Sad. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- Racing)
The Effect of Transgenic Squash on ... Nov 5, 2009
The genes were then transferred into the squash's genes by a bacterial plant pathogen ... In this study, the beetles preferred the healthier plants; concentrating their infestation on the genetically modified plants (Sasu MA et al., Indirect costs of a nontarget pathogen mitigate the direct benefits of a virus-resistant transgene in wild Cucurbita. (Suite101.com)
Major Advance In Human Antibody Therapy Against Deadly Nipah Virus Nov 1, 2009
"The generation of these antibodies as therapeutics could help control outbreaks in geographical regions susceptible to henipaviruses, and could turn information from a deadly pathogen into a benefit for mankind," said Dr. Dimitrov ... PLoS Pathogens, 2009; 5 (10): e1000642 DOI. (Science Daily)
Genetic Links To Fungal Infection Risk Identified Oct 31, 2009
5, 2005) A group of scientists in Italy have developed a vaccine with the potential to protect against fungal pathogens that commonly infect humans, according to a study by Torosantucci and colleagues in the. (June 13, 2009) Scientists have discovered how the body fights off oral yeast infections caused by the most common human fungal pathogen. (Science Daily)
New Insight In The Fight Against The Leishmania Parasite Oct 31, 2009
This scientific breakthrough was recently published in PLoS Pathogens ... To date, few studies have attempted to identify the regulators of these membrane fusions and their role in the phagolysosomal biogenesis process (a compartment where pathogenic microorganisms are usually killed) ... (June 26, 2006) A new study found that mice lacking a gene crucial to the normal functioning of their immune systems didn't become ill when they were exposed to a pathogen that causes a horrendous infection in... (Science Daily)
USU scientists report major advance in human antibody therapy against deadly Nipah virus Oct 31, 2009
The results of this finding appear Oct. 30, 2009, in the open access journal PLoS Pathogens at ... "The generation of these antibodies as therapeutics could help control outbreaks in geographical regions susceptible to henipaviruses, and could turn information from a deadly pathogen into a benefit for mankind," said Dr. Dimitrov. (EurekAlert!)
Pathogenic E. Coli Pervasive In Stream-water Samples With Low Concentrations Of Fecal Indicator Bacteria Oct 30, 2009
Pathogenic E. coli were pervasive in stream-water samples with low concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria ... Although harmless themselves, fecal indicator bacteria such as nonpathogenic forms of E.coli, enterococci, and fecal coliform bacteria have long been used as an easy-to-measure surrogate to determine if pathogens are present ... We saw little relation between pathogenic E. coli and fecal indicator bacteria criteria for recreational waters, said Joseph Duris, U.S. Geological Survey... (Science Daily)
TGen seeks emergency FDA approval of new swine flu test Oct 30, 2009
The new test, developed at TGen's Pathogen Genomics Division (TGen North) in Flagstaff, can not only detect influenza as some tests do now but also can quickly inform doctors about what strain of flu it is and whether or not it may be resistant to oseltamivir (sold under the brand name Tamiflu; Roche), the primary anti-viral drug on the market to treat H1N1 ... "So far, it looks like this assay is very effective with strains in the U.S., and we expect it to have the same accuracy with... (EurekAlert!)
TGen seeks approval for swine flu test Oct 30, 2009
Phoenix-based is developing the new test at its Pathogen Genomics Division in Flagstaff. In addition to detecting the 2009 H1N1 virus, the test can quickly identify the strain and whether it may be resistant to the anti-viral drug Tamiflu, sold by Roche. (Phoenix Business Journal, AZ)
Opinion: Foer on eating animals Oct 29, 2009
Jonathan Safran Foer says "stomach flu" is often a case of eating pathogens in tainted meat and poultry ... Perhaps it doesn't seem obvious that something is amiss simply because anything that happens all the time -- like meat, especially poultry, becoming infected by pathogens -- tends to fade into the background ... Whatever the case, if you know what to look for, the pathogen problem comes into terrifying focus. (CNN)
Norovirus Gastroenteritis Oct 29, 2009
Volume 361:1776-1785. Roger I. Glass, M.D., Ph. (New England Journal of Medicine)
combating vicious vectors of disease Oct 28, 2009
There's still debate about whether all incoming patients should be tested for particularly nasty pathogens such as MRSA. ... The pathogen C. diff, for instance, is not killed by alcohol-based scrubs, so health-care providers and visitors must wash with soap and water upon entering and exiting rooms of infected patients. (Harper's Magazine)
Effort Launched To Find And Control Diseases That Move Between Wildlife And People Oct 28, 2009
"Predicting where new diseases may emerge from wild animals, and detecting viruses and other pathogens before they spread among people, give us the best chance to prevent new pandemics," said Jonna Mazet, the UC Davis scientist leading PREDICT. Mazet directs the UC Davis Wildlife Health Center within the new One Health Institute at the School of Veterinary Medicine ... "To establish and maintain global pathogen surveillance, we will work directly with local governments and conservation... (Science Daily)
Marine Lab Team Seeks To Understand Coral Bleaching Oct 27, 2009
26, 2009) With technology similar to that used by physicians to perform magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, researchers from six institutions -- including the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) -- working at the Hollings Marine Laboratory (HML) in Charleston, S.C., are studying the metabolic activity of a pathogen shown to cause coral bleaching, a serious threat to undersea reef ecosystems worldwide ... Future metabolomic studies of V. coralliilyticus are planned to better... (Science Daily)
Some foods require extra care Oct 27, 2009
Eggs and egg products came in at two, with salmonella, the primary pathogen causing illness in 97 percent of all cases. Proper egg handling and cooking can destroy most pathogens, the report said, but serving eggs raw or runny or leaving egg dishes out too long can allow bacteria to multiply ... The report indicated outbreaks usually are linked to dishes such as potato salad, which often contain many ingredients and a broad range of other pathogens. (Florida Today)
Cigarette Smoke May Impair Lungs Natural Defense Against Harmful Pathogen Oct 27, 2009
26, 2009) Exposure to cigarette smoke may impair the ability of immune cells to clear bacterial infections from the lungs, specifically nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI), a pathogen often associated with respiratory infections and the progression of respiratory diseases ... It is also the pathogen most frequently isolated in the respiratory tract of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic bronchitis ... "This study revealed novel effects of cigarette... (Science Daily)
Valley-area parks may poison trout to save yellow-legged frogs Oct 26, 2009
Critics say another factor in the decline is a deadly pathogen known as chytrid fungus that has decimated amphibians across the Sierra and other places in the world. Scientists disagree on which cause might be the core problem, but amphibians are especially susceptible to poison, pollution and disease because they can breathe through their skin. (Fresno Bee -- Local)
Preliminary molecular characterization of the human pathogen Angiostrongylus cantonensis Oct 26, 2009
The observed pattern of enzymes involved in protein metabolism, lipid metabolism and glycolysis may reflect the central nervous system habitat of this pathogen ... The data presented here substantially expand the available genetic information about the human pathogen A. cantonensis, and should be a significant resource for angiostrongyliasis researchers. (BioMed Central)
Immune System Quirk Could Lead To Effective Tularemia Vaccine Oct 25, 2009
F. tularensis is an intracellular pathogen that infects cells in the lungs called macrophages, explained senior author Shabaana A. Khader, Ph ... (July 28, 2008) Scientists hope a vaccine is on the horizon for tularemia, a fatal disease caused by the pathogen Francisella tularensis, an organism of concern as a potential biological warfare agent. (Science Daily)
High-Speed Test To Improve Pathogen Decontamination Developed Oct 24, 2009
The federal agency is funding development of a portable instrument based on Ponce's research that could quickly check for decontamination of pathogens after a biological attack ... 13, 2009) A new statistical method that can estimate the origin and time of an aerosolized release of the pathogen causing anthrax, following detection of the first few cases has been developed. (Science Daily)
Kan., Okla. conduct joint livestock disease drill Oct 24, 2009
Critics of the planned biothreat lab have suggested that locating it in the continental U.S. makes an accidental release of a pathogen such as foot-and-mouth more likely. Sen. (Yahoo News)
UCD Aims To Prevent Global Pandemic Oct 24, 2009
"Predicting where new diseases may emerge from wild animals, and detecting viruses and other pathogens before they spread among people, give us the best chance to prevent new pandemics," said Jonna Mazet, the UC Davis scientist leading Predict, in a prepared statement ... "To establish and maintain global pathogen surveillance, we will work directly with local governments and conservation organizations to build or expand programs in wildlife and human health. Together we want to stop the next... (KCRA 3, CA)
Syphilis Survey Reveals Need For Accurate Testing For Early Infection Oct 24, 2009
15, 2008) Did Columbus and his men introduce the syphilis pathogen into Renaissance Europe after contracting it during their voyage to the New World. Or does syphilis have a much longer history in the Old. (Science Daily)
Tips from the journals of the American Society for Microbiology Oct 24, 2009
Over the last 10 years, highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza A has spread from Southeast Asia into Europe and Africa killing millions of chickens and ducks along the way ... In the study researchers conducted genome-wide linkage analysis to identify chromosomes that contribute to varying susceptibility to H5N1 in two inbred strains of mice challenged with a lethal dose of a highly pathogenic H5N1 virus ... "We have also found that, at least in mice, H5N1 pathogenesis is a complex genetic trait... (EurekAlert!)
Bill Gates' millions to battle TB Oct 23, 2009
"We are in the midst of a new TB epidemic. The world desperately needs an effect vaccine to prevent TB, particularly in adolescents and adults. Dr Jerald Sadoff: New approaches are promising "Through accelerated research and development, a new vaccine could permanently change the trajectory of the epidemic and save millions of lives every year," he added. Two billion people - one out of every three people on Earth - are infected with the TB pathogen, a bacterium called Mycobacterium... (Yahoo News -- Tuberculosis)
CDC Panel Says No to Routine Use of Gardasil for Boys Oct 23, 2009
Gardasil protects against four strains of the human papilloma virus (HPV), a sexually transmitted pathogen that is thought to cause 70 percent of cervical cancers. HPV has also been linked to rarer cancers of the throat, genitals and anus, as well as genital warts, and its use among males has been the subject of much debate since Gardasil first received FDA approval for use in females in 2006. (MEDLINEplus)
Comparative transcriptional survey between laser-microdissected cells from laminar abscission zone and petiolar cortical tissue during ethylene-promoted abscission in citrus leaves Oct 23, 2009
In addition, over-representation of particular members of different transcription factor families suggests important roles for these genes in the differentiation of the effective cell separation layer within the many layers contained in the citrus LAZ. Preferential expression of stress-related and defensive genes in Pet reveals that this tissue is likely to be reprogrammed to prevent pathogen attacks and general abiotic stresses after organ shedding. Conclusion. (BioMed Central)
Troubleshooting Biosecurity Problems - Part I Oct 23, 2009
Biosecurity refers to protecting the farm (production unit), and the animals and the people on the farm from external and internal biological pathogens. Pathogens can be introduced from outside the farm into the farm (external, or incoming biosecurity) or can be moved around within the farm (internal biosecurity) ... Pathogens can also be spread from the farm to other farms (outgoing biosecurity). (Minnesota Farm Guide, MN)
New Genetic Material From Group B Streptococcus Identified Oct 23, 2009
22, 2009) Streptococcus agalactiae (also called Group B Streptococcus, or GBS) is a versatile pathogen that affects a variety of animals. Now studies by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and their university colleagues are revealing new information about this pathogen ... Agricultural Research Service aquatic pathologist Joyce Evans and technician Daniel Brougher have shed new light on how Group B Streptococcus pathogens are genetically related, including identifying a previously... (Science Daily)
Having A Mate Provides Evolutionary Advantage Oct 22, 2009
Graduate student Levi T. Morran and Michelle D. Parmenter, an undergraduate student from Eugene, conducted more than 100 trials in which populations of nematodes -- also known as roundworms -- were adapted to new environments, including to the presence of a bacterial pathogen that eats the worms from the inside out. The students, under Patrick's guidance, genetically engineered the worms, which normally practice a combination of both selfing and outcrossing, to reproduce either just by selfing... (Science Daily)
Hospital Workers May Trigger Dangerous Outbreaks Oct 21, 2009
The study used a mathematical model of a hypothetical intensive care unit that was presumed free of the pathogen to see how easily hospital-based infections, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) spread. Containing these outbreaks is of grave importance, public health officials agreed. (MEDLINEplus)
South Africa: Successful Thai Vaccine May Be Tested in This Country Oct 21, 2009
Vaccines work by teaching a person's immune systems to recognise and destroy disease-causing pathogens (eg ... They usually contain some harmless part of the pathogen being targeted to prime the immune system to develop antibodies against it so that when it is attacked by the real pathogen, it already has the weapons to fight it. (allAfrica.com)
Early MRSA discharges called for Oct 20, 2009
Doctors at the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research say their study shows that if just one of these workers forgets to wash their hands, they play a disproportionate role in spreading the pathogen around the hospital. Dr Matthew Dryden, of the Royal Hampshire County Hospital and a spokesman for the MRSA Working Group, said: "We normally keep patients in until all their infection parameters calm down. If this is safe, then why is it not adopted as normal practice to free up... (BBC News -- UK)
APC Supports SACGHS' landmark recommendations on DNA patenting exempting caregivers Oct 20, 2009
Most patented discoveries of pathogen or human genes can be effectively translated into molecular tests provided they are licensed on a non-exclusive basis and licenses are easily obtainable, both in financial and practical terms. Several major scientific and clinical laboratory organizations, including the Association for Molecular Pathology, have adopted public policy statements in opposition to gene patents. (EurekAlert!)
Catching a killer one spore at a time Oct 20, 2009
"We've probably just doubled the number of people in the world who know how to use this method to detect the pathogen," said Kriger. "The beauty of PCR is that you don't have to kill the frog or take a skin sample to test for the disease.". (EurekAlert!)
Tackling Typhoid: First High-throughput Analysis Of Every Salmonella Typhi Gene Oct 19, 2009
Knowing which genes are essential to the survival of pathogens, researchers can seek treatments to target those genes ... "Sequencing centres such as ours can produce vast amounts of genomic data at a pace unimaginable just a few years ago," explains Professor Julian Parkhill, Director of Sequencing and head of Pathogen Genomics at the Sanger Institute. (Science Daily)
Characterization of the oxidative stress stimulon and PerR regulon of Campylobacter jejuni Oct 19, 2009
During gut colonization, the enteric pathogen Campylobacter jejuni must surmount the toxic effects of reactive oxygen species produced by its own metabolism, the host immune system, and intestinal microflora. Elucidation of C. jejuni oxidative stress defense mechanisms is critical for understanding Campylobacter pathophysiology. (BioMed Central)
Stanford study identifies cellular mechanism that causes lupuslike symptoms in mice Oct 19, 2009
Researchers hypothesized that a molecule in the nucleus of cells called PPAR-delta plays a pivotal role in orchestrating the timely disposal of dying cells by macrophages, the white blood cells that swallow and digest cellular debris and pathogens, triggering other immune cells to aid in the response to a pathogen. "We wanted to know, if you took a mouse and only deleted PPAR-delta from its macrophages, is that sufficient to cause an autoimmune disease?" Chawla said. (EurekAlert!)
How Salmonella Bacteria Cause Diarrhea In Their Host Oct 18, 2009
The pathogens themselves are tenacious and can be detected in faeces up to 30 days after the initial infection ... Although the pathogens are killed in these cells, they nonetheless succeed in provoking inflammation that destroys the intestinal flora and nullifies their protective function ... This system is indispensable for a rapid, non-specific defence against disease pathogens. (Science Daily)
Outfoxing Pox: Developing A New Class Of Vaccine Candidates Oct 18, 2009
Their findings, appearing in the advanced online issue of Virology, demonstrate that this ancient pathogen still has much to teach us, and may hasten development of novel vaccines against smallpox and other pox-like diseases ... Other pathogens like malaria, which boast tens of millions of nucleotides, are too large ... But pathogens like poxviruses also contain elements that can help the virus evade or in some cases, subvert the host's immune system. (Science Daily)
TraDIS technique tackles typhoid Oct 17, 2009
Knowing which genes are essential to the survival of pathogens, researchers can seek treatments to target those genes ... "Sequencing centres such as ours can produce vast amounts of genomic data at a pace unimaginable just a few years ago," explains Professor Julian Parkhill, Director of Sequencing and head of Pathogen Genomics at the Sanger Institute ... " For the first time, it is possible to paint a comprehensive picture of essential, advantageous or burdensome genes in many phases of the... (EurekAlert!)
UT Southwestern wins database contract Oct 17, 2009
The database is designed to help scientists combat viruses that cause hepatitis, encephalitis, smallpox, acute respiratory distress and dengue fever, as well as newly emerging pathogenic viruses, UT Southwestern officials said ... The new database, which will be called the Virus Pathogen Database and Analysis Resource, also known as ViPR, will enable researchers to compile information on a wider range of viral pathogens, including the causative agents of herpes and chicken pox, hepatitis C and... (Dallas Business Journal, TX)
Select 'Friendly' Bacteria Shape Immune System Oct 16, 2009
That SFB-induced immune response protected the mice from becoming ill with an intestinal pathogen, supporting a role for the SFBs in setting up the intestine's immunity barrier ... "One striking feature of SFB, which makes it very different from the vast majority of the members of the microbiota, is its capacity to adhere to epithelial cells notably in the ileum, a property normally more the prerogative of pathogens." The ileum is the final section of the small intestine and is distinguished by... (Science Daily)
More of this story Oct 16, 2009
Pathogens from polluted waters cause illnesses such as vomiting, headache, fever, sore throat, diarrhea, skin, ear, eye and respiratory infections, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council ... scottgoold wrote on Oct 15, 2009 10:51 AM:" Aloha leftygoleftier ~Good points and mahalo for pointing this out ... yet the major cruise lines stop here; it is a favorite of tourists; so how will this "scare" filter through our tourism dollars? The people of Kaua'i depend a great deal on visitors.... (Lihue Garden Island, HA)
Researchers Identify Workings Of L-form Bacteria Oct 16, 2009
19, 2009) Researchers have discovered a new life form of Listeria, an opportunistic pathogen responsible for serious food poisoning. These bacteria can reproduce and proliferate as so-called L-forms. (Science Daily)
2H3N8 Flu Is Truly One for the Dogs» Oct 16, 2009
In September of 2005, the virus was identified by experts as a newly emerging pathogen in the dog population, the said on its Web Site. This disease is incredibly contagious, Bessler said. (Fox News)
Plants Recognize Siblings: ID System In Roots Oct 15, 2009
Are they more susceptible to pathogens ... Often we'll put plants in the ground next to each other and when they don't do well, we blame the local garden center where we bought them or we attribute their failure to a pathogen, Bais says ... 24, 2008) Researchers have discovered that when the leaf of a plant is under attack by a pathogen, it can send out an S.O.S. to the roots for help, and the roots will respond by secreting an acid that brings. (Science Daily)
Hanson resident investigates pathogen responsible for Irish potato ... Oct 15, 2009
Hanson resident investigates pathogen responsible for Irish potato famine - Hanson, MA - Hanson Town Crier ... Hanson resident investigates pathogen responsible for Irish potato famine ... The study focuses on the pathogen that triggered the Irish potato famine in the mid-19th century and now threatens this season s tomato and potato crops across much of the United States. (Allston Brighton TAB, MA)
Flu surveillance boosts control, treatment options, says UAB travel-clinic chief Oct 15, 2009
Because pandemics unfold in unpredictable ways, surveillance of travel-related illness is among the most powerful tools health officials and doctors can use to detect and respond to new pathogens like the novel H1N1 influenza, says the physician who heads the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Travelers' Clinic ... The initial surveillance data was continuously shared with public-health groups, governmental agencies and doctors who needed to respond swiftly to the pathogen. (EurekAlert!)
Report Documents Risks Of Giant Invasive Snakes In The United States Oct 14, 2009
Experiments show why: A soil-borne pathogen keeps these trees in check in the. . (Science Daily)
Blood counts are clues to human disease Oct 12, 2009
The Institute is responsible for the completion of the sequence of approximately one-third of the human genome as well as genomes of model organisms and more than 90 pathogen genomes. In October 2006, new funding was awarded by the Wellcome Trust to exploit the wealth of genome data now available to answer important questions about health and disease. (EurekAlert!)
ME virus discovery raises hopes Oct 10, 2009
Dr Judy Mikovits, who led the study, said: "It's a blood borne pathogen that we contract through body fluids and blood transmission. "The symptoms of ME - chronic fatigue, immune deficiencies, chronic infections - are what we see with retroviruses. "This discovery could be a major step in the discovery of vital treatment options for millions of patients.". (BBC News -- Health)
Study Isolates Virus in Chronic Fatigue Sufferers Oct 10, 2009
Judy Mikovits of the Whittemore Peterson Institute in Nevada and colleagues at the National Cancer Institute and the Cleveland Clinic emphasized that the finding only shows a link between the virus and chronic fatigue syndrome, or CFS, and does not prove that the pathogen causes the disorder ... Mikovits' team said further research must now determine whether XMRV directly causes CFS, is just a passenger virus in the suppressed immune systems of sufferers or a pathogen that acts in concert with... (Newsmax)
Pandemic Payoff from 1918: A Weaker H1N1 Flu Today Oct 10, 2009
Katz cautions that high antibody levels in serum do not guarantee immunity from infection, but they serve as good indicators of protection when testing and are a fairly sure sign of earlier exposure to the pathogen. For people with some measure of previous immunity, a subsequent vaccine could act as a booster shot. (Scientific American)
Protecting Humans And Animals From Diseases In Wildlife Oct 10, 2009
Sixty one per cent of known pathogens are zoonotic diseases that have crossed over from animals to humans but our knowledge and understanding of the prevalence of disease in wildlife and the ecology, transmission and evolution of disease in animals is still limited ... Dr Lea said: Since a large proportion of pathogens can infect multiple animal species and can be passed from animal to human, it is not surprising that 75 per cent of all diseases which have emerged in the last few years are of... (Science Daily)
Researchers identify mechanism that helps bacteria avoid destruction in cells Oct 10, 2009
Researchers from Thomas Jefferson University, the Pasteur Institute in Paris, and Yale University reported in PLoS ONE, a way in which intracellular pathogens exploit the biological attributes of their hosts in order to escape destruction. Intracellular pathogens include Chlamydia, which causes infertility in women, and Legionella, which causes Legionnaire's disease ... These pathogens are able to escape destruction and remain in the cells. (EurekAlert!)
Scientists take step toward simple and portable tuberculosis tests for developing world Oct 9, 2009
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8Two billion people worldwide carry the pathogen that causes tuberculosis (TB), and most of them do not even know they are infected. This is because some 90 percent of people with TB have "latent" infections. (EurekAlert!)
U.S. files WTO case against EU over poultry restrictions Oct 9, 2009
The U.S. Trade Representative Office (USTR) said in a statement that it has asked the panel to "review whether the EU's ban on the import and marketing of poultry meat and poultry meat products processed with pathogen reduction treatments (PRTs) judged safe by U.S. and European food safety authorities is consistent with the EU's WTO obligations.". "The U.S. poultry subject to the EU ban is safe. There is no scientific evidence that the use of pathogen reduction treatments pose any health risk to... (Xinhuanet, China)
The Top 10 Unexpectedly Risky Foods Oct 8, 2009
After reviewing foodborne outbreak data from the CDC where both the pathogen, such as E. coli or salmonella, as well as the food source were known, the CSPI report found that 10 foods regulated by the FDA were responsible for 40 percent of all foodborne outbreaks between 1990 and 2006 ... But the authors pointed out that many cases of illness related to foodborne pathogens often go unreported, meaning the number of outbreaks could be higher than their estimates. (ABC News)
Seasonal Vaccine Provides Some Swine Flu Protection Oct 8, 2009
The WHO says that swine flu is about as lethal as an ordinary seasonal virus but cautions that the pathogen could mutate into a form that would make it more virulent. Copyright AFP. (Newsmax)
Water scarcity will create global security concerns Oct 7, 2009
Water shortages have an enormous impact of human health, including malnutrition, pathogen or chemical loading, infectious disease from water contamination, and uncontrolled water reuse. "Due to the very large number of people that may be affected, food and water scarcity may be the most important health consequences of climate change," Pachauri says. (EurekAlert!)
Calls grow for tougher food safety regulations Oct 7, 2009
For example, CSPI found that 86 percent of outbreaks involving tuna were caused by scombrotoxin, a pathogen created by decaying fish that isn't destroyed by cooking. The pathogen, which can cause heart palpitations and blindness, primarily affects fresh tuna, not canned. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
New aging studies improving vaccine efficacy for the elderly Oct 6, 2009
Saranac Lake, NY A new study from the Trudeau Institute in Saranac Lake, New York, demonstrates that immune system cells important for both pathogen resistance and vaccine efficacy live longer in older animals but because of this longevity acquire functional defects ... Specifically, "naive" CD4 T cells, those that have not come into contact with or become specialized to respond to a particular pathogen, are needed to ensure protection against new pathogens as well as vigorous responses to... (EurekAlert!)
First Direct Information About Prion's Molecular Structure Reported Oct 6, 2009
But in the case of infectious proteins called prions, brittleness makes for a tougher, more menacing pathogen ... 16, 2008) Prions, the pathogens that cause scrapie in sheep, can survive in the ground for several years, as researchers have discovered. (Science Daily)
