Researchers Fighting Bacterial Infections Zero in on Microorganism's Soft Spots Jul 15, 2010
"Bacterial infections are a threat around the globe. This includes not only people in underdeveloped countries, but also patients compromised by the emergence of new antibiotic-resistant pathogens in First World communities and hospitals," Mart;n-Galiano said ... "Given the large degree of structural similarity between most FtsZ proteins, including FtsZ from the pathogens that cause tuberculosis, pneumonia and other human infections, we hope that the results may be extrapolated to the FtsZ from... (Science Daily)
Tomato blight sparse Jul 14, 2010
Advertisement "We've seen one or two cases of late blight, but it is nowhere near as bad as last year," said Shelly Walker, manager at Gerlach's Garden and Power Equipment, 3161 W. 32nd St. An outbreak of the blight, a fungal pathogen, was reported in mid-June in the eastern part of Pennsylvania, with spotty reports over the past few weeks from areas in the western part of the state. The weather might be a reason why its spread has been slower this year. (Erie Times-News, PA)
Japanese monkey deaths puzzle researchers Jul 14, 2010
"We think that the hemorrhagic syndrome is due to a species-specific pathogen of the Japanese monkeys." ... He says that he is looking for collaborators, and animal-pathogen researchers contacted by Nature are certainly eager to learn more about the illness ... "Presumably there would be some pretty careful measures in place that would limit human exposure to any contaminant or pathogen," she says, "so saying that humans are not susceptible to me seems premature.". (Scientific American)
Researchers study relationship of oral cancers and periodontal disease Jul 14, 2010
P.g., a putative periodontal pathogen, is an etiologic agent of periodontitis and expresses a variety of virulence factors. In this study the expression of B7-H1 and B7-DC receptors and TLR4 on squamous cell carcinoma cells SCC-25 was analysed after infection with P.g. in vitro. (EurekAlert!)
Salsa and Guacamole Increasingly Important Causes of Foodborne Disease Jul 14, 2010
Risk can be lowered by following guidelines for safe preparation and storage of fresh salsa and guacamole to reduce contamination or pathogen growth. "We want restaurants and anyone preparing fresh salsa and guacamole at home to be aware that these foods containing raw ingredients should be carefully prepared and refrigerated to help prevent illness," says Kendall. (Science Daily)
Wet Breathing System Filters Transmit Harmful Bacteria and Yeast, Hospitals Warned Jul 13, 2010
coagulase staphylococcus, because it is a common organism and its cell unit size (one micrometre) is representative of a large range of potential pathogens ... Passage of pathogenic microorganisms through breathing system filters used in anaesthesia and intensive care ... (May 2, 2010) A bacterial pathogen can communicate with yeast to block the development of drug-resistant yeast infections, say scientists. (Science Daily)
Prompt actions halt alarming infection outbreak at Dallas hospital Jul 13, 2010
Infections from this pathogen primarily occur in very ill, wounded or immunocompromised patients ... "With outbreaks of pan-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and other multi-drug resistant organisms on the rise, it is absolutely essential that infection prevention departments be fully staffed and adequately resourced," said APIC President Cathryn Murphy, RN, PhD, CIC. "Methodist Dallas Medical Center was proactive in their approach, responding rapidly and mobilizing an interdisciplinary team to... (EurekAlert!)
What’s Killing Farmed Salmon? New Virus May Also Pose Risk to Wild Salmon Jul 12, 2010
Although studies have indicated an infectious basis, recent efforts to identify the pathogen causing the disease have been unsuccessful. Now, using cutting-edge molecular techniques, an international team led by W. Ian Lipkin, MD, the John Snow Professor of Epidemiology and director of the Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, has found evidence that the disease may be caused by a previously unknown virus. (Science Daily)
Computing Power Cracks Egg Shell Problem Jul 12, 2010
This reduces the potential of foodborne pathogen growth both inside the eggs and on the eggshell surface. (June 4, 2008) The common fruit fly circling your week-old peach has helped scientists zero in on a protein critical to the insect's eggshell formation. (Science Daily)
Discovery of New HIV Antibodies Lifts Hopes for a Vaccine and Treatment Jul 9, 2010
It attacks at the initial exposure to a pathogen, and can prevent the establishment of infection and HIV is no exception. But there are a number of reasons why it has proved difficult to identify components of the innate immune response that can neutralize the deadly virus. (Scientific American)
Vitamin B3 as a novel approach to treat fungal infections Jul 9, 2010
In addition, nicotinamide prevented the growth of other pathogenic Candida species and Aspergillus fumigatus (another human pathogen), thus demonstrating the broad antifungal properties of nicotinamide. "There is an urgent need to develop new therapies to kill C. albicans because it is one of the leading causes of hospital-acquired infections and is associated with high mortality rates," explains Martine Raymond, who is also a professor at the University of Montreal Department of Biochemistry. (EurekAlert!)
Antibodies Found That Prevent Most HIV Strains from Infecting Human Cells Jul 9, 2010
In the final stage of antibody development, antibody-producing B cells recognize specific parts of a pathogen and then mutate, or mature, so the antibody can bind to the pathogen more firmly. VRC01 precursors do not bind tightly to HIV, but rather mature extensively into more powerfully neutralizing forms. (Science Daily)
Experts confirm tomato disease Jul 9, 2010
I dont think it will be as bad as last year because in Indiana late blight appears to be spreading by natural movement rather than multiple introductions via infected transplants, said Tom Creswell, director of POf course, it could be locally severe if weather is favorable for disease development and the pathogen is present in an area. . (Vincennes Sun Commercial, IN)
Bacterial Communication Encourages Chronic, Resistant Ear Infections Jul 7, 2010
ScienceDaily (July 6, 2010) Ear infections caused by more than one species of bacteria could be more persistent and antibiotic-resistant because one pathogen may be communicating with the other, encouraging it to bolster its defenses ... "Interestingly, a recent study found M. catarrhalis to be more frequently associated with polymicrobial OM infections than from single-species OM infections. This suggests that the presence of other bacterial pathogens may impact the persistence of M.... (Science Daily)
Discovery of a hepatitis C-related virus in bats may reduce outbreaks in humans Jul 2, 2010
The full study findings are published online in the publication PLoS Pathogens ... The Center for Infection and Immunity at the Mailman School is dedicated to global research and training programs focused on pathogen surveillance and discovery, and to understanding how gene-environment-timing interactions contribute to health and disease. (EurekAlert!)
Illinois pumpkin fields face cunning opponent Jun 29, 2010
"It's a nasty pathogen. I've seen it destroy entire fields. Once the fruit is infected, it's not suitable to process, eat, or carve." ... If growers choose to irrigate from a pond, it's important to make sure the pond does not contain run-off from an infested field as the pathogen may be present in the run-off for the whole season. (EurekAlert!)
Climate change complicates plant diseases of the future Jun 25, 2010
Elevated carbon dioxide levels are more likely to have a direct effect on plant diseases through changes to the plant hosts rather than the plant pathogens ... "These dense plant canopies favor the development of some diseases because the low light levels and reduced air circulation allow higher relative humidity levels to develop, and this promotes the growth and sporulation of many plant pathogens." ... Because plant pathogens often enter the plant through the stomata, the more frequent... (EurekAlert!)
Bacteria in the Nose and Throat: Most Comprehensive Comparative Analysis Jun 23, 2010
ScienceDaily (June 22, 2010) Scientists have completed the most comprehensive comparative analysis to date of bacterial communities inhabiting the human nose and throat, which could provide new insights into why some individuals become colonized with pathogens while others do not ... "The nose and throat are important sites of pathogen colonization, yet the microbiota of both are relatively unexplored by culture-independent approaches," says Katherine Lemon of Children's Hospital Boston, a lead... (Science Daily)
Harmful Bacteria Carried by Pigeons Jun 23, 2010
ScienceDaily (June 22, 2010) Sampling of pigeons captured on the streets of Madrid has revealed the bacterial pathogens they carry ... He said, "The present study demonstrates the extremely high prevalence of two zoonotic pathogens in feral pigeons in Madrid. At the same time, infection with these pathogens did not appear to be associated with any harmful clinical signs in the birds themselves. This leads to the hypothesis that pigeons act as asymptomatic reservoirs of Chlamydophila psittaci and... (Science Daily)
Study examines, compares bacteria in the nose and throat Jun 22, 2010
Scientists have completed the most comprehensive comparative analysis to date of bacterial communities inhabiting the human nose and throat, which could provide new insights into why some individuals become colonized with pathogens while others do not ... "The nose and throat are important sites of pathogen colonization, yet the microbiota of both are relatively unexplored by culture-independent approaches," says Katherine Lemon of Children's Hospital Boston, a lead author on the study that also... (EurekAlert!)
WSU gets $1M to study onions Jun 22, 2010
My role in this project is to lead the team in the development of diagnostic tools for bacterial and fungal pathogens of onion, and to coordinate the WSU team s activities in overall pest diagnostics, Schroeder said in a statement ... My role in this project is to lead the team in the development of diagnostic tools for bacterial and fungal pathogens of onion, and to coordinate the WSU team s activities in overall pest diagnostics, Schroeder said ... Schroeder and du Toit will also be... (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)
Freely available data supporting next generation of human genetic research Jun 22, 2010
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! -- Business News)
Sick Plants Use Their Intelligence ... Jun 20, 2010
If attacked by a pathogen, such as disease-causing bacteria, a plant s leaf can signal its roots for help. The roots then manufacture an acid that brings beneficial bacteria to the rescue. (Suite101.com)
County Health Department touches many aspects of our lives Jun 20, 2010
It includes disease surveillance, investigation and reporting; immunizations; AIDS/HIV prevention; STD prevention; tuberculosis program; teen pregnancy prevention; blood-borne pathogen instruction and drug- and lead-testing. Karen Crimmings, an RN, is service manager. (Mason City Globe-Gazette, IO)
Action of Modern Drug Demonstrates How Two Ancient Human Systems Interact Jun 19, 2010
During severe sepsis, which accounts for about 210,000 deaths annually in the US, the complement system is part of the primary response to an invading pathogen. However, both the complement and the coagulation systems can work overtime during sepsis, leading to multiple organ failure and death. (Science Daily)
Cyanide Production for Plant Defens... Jun 19, 2010
Since plants are fixed in place and cannot move to elude their attackers, they have developed an elaborate array of chemical defenses to protect themselves from herbivores and pathogens ... They remain inactive, however, until their activation is triggered by the attack of an herbivore, such as an insect or a pathogen. (Suite101.com)
Humanure: Goodbye, Toilets. Hello, Extreme Composting Jun 18, 2010
Wastewater treatment is much more energy-intensive than composting, which needs little more than time (about a year) for complete decomposition and pathogen elimination. In Austin, Texas, a sustainably minded nonprofit called the Rhizome Collective succeeded this year in getting the city to approve what may be the first legal composting toilet in the U.S. "The hypocrisy is amazing," says Lauren Ross, 54, a civil engineer involved in Rhizome's four-year battle to get a permit. (Time.com)
Detection of MRSA in Cystic Fibrosis Patients Associated With Shorter Survival Jun 18, 2010
The results of this study, in conjunction with previous data, further establish MRSA as a significant CF pathogen and provide impetus for more aggressive treatment of CF patients who are persistently MRSA positive. Ideally this treatment will be conducted in the context of clinical trials, because optimal therapeutic approaches for MRSA, both persistent and new, are not yet known. (Science Daily)
New way to learn about anaplasmosis tick disease Jun 17, 2010
Every six weeks, the pathogen can change these protein structures, so the host animal is reintroduced to a new organism for the rest of its life. As a result, the host animal has to mount a new immune response. (Minnesota Farm Guide, MN)
Gene-Based Detection Method Might Spot HIV Earlier Jun 17, 2010
This differs from standard detection methods that rely on spotting immune system antibodies to the pathogen. Despite decades of prevention programs in the United States, the HIV incidence rate has remained stable, the study authors noted in a University of California, San Diego news release. (MEDLINEplus)
Work to begin on WSU animal health center Jun 17, 2010
WSU is pursuing innovative solutions for the prevention of zoonotic diseases through vaccination and other strategic interventions in animal populations and the environment that will reduce pathogen levels below thresholds required for transmission. Washington State University s College of Veterinary Medicine has long been known as a worldwide leader in research on animal health and its link to human health, said President Floyd. (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)
Regulators consider broadening testing for E. coli Jun 17, 2010
The meat industry also wants to eliminate pathogens from meat, but James H. Hodges, executive vice president of the American Meat Institute, says banning six more E. coli strains won't solve the problem. "The food safety strategies in place in plants today are far more effective in enhancing food safety than outlawing a pathogen that nature presents us," Hodges said. (Alva Review Courier, OK)
Pathogens Chase Down Migrating Gypsy Moths, Making Control Efforts Unnecessary, Researcher Reports Jun 15, 2010
ScienceDaily (June 14, 2010) When the gypsy moth -- whose caterpillars have defoliated entire forests -- started spreading westward more than 100 years ago from New England to Wisconsin where they are now, Cornell researchers discovered that its fungal and viral pathogens followed close behind, reported entomologist Ann Hajek at a national conference recently ... The findings are important because gypsy moth populations 'can develop unpredictably and erratically, with lots of caterpillars eating... (Science Daily)
Early monitoring helps protect young plants, potential yield (13) Jun 14, 2010
Seed rots and damping-off may result from a variety of pathogens, Heuchelin says. Seed rots occur when bacterial or fungal pathogens attack the seed before it can fully germinate ... Damping-off is caused primarily by the fungal pathogens Fusarium, Pythium and Rhizoctonia. (Minnesota Farm Guide, MN)
Bacteria Converted Into ‘mini-Factories’ For Biofuels and Vaccines Jun 12, 2010
(June 15, 2005) Research carried out with the participation of the University of Navarra has shown how a determinate molecule helps an important pathogen, Brucella abortus, escape destruction within the cells. (Jan. (Science Daily)
Sudden oak death reaches Wales Jun 12, 2010
The Forestry Commission confirmed the pathogen had spread to south Wales, probably carried as spores in rain, mist and air currents across the Bristol Channel ... Experts say it is the first time the fungus-like pathogen has been found on larch outside of the outbreak in south west England last year. (BBC News -- Science)
Gypsy moths wreak havoc, but their own enemies are not far behind Jun 11, 2010
Cornell University entomologist Ann Hajek told a national conference earlier this month that when the gypsy moth whose caterpillars have defoliated entire forests started spreading westward more than 100 years ago from New England to Wisconsin, its fungal and viral pathogens followed close behind ... "No one knew how long it took the pathogens to chase their hosts." ... Land managers, she says, can rest assured that pathogens will follow the migrating moths, providing natural controls. (EurekAlert!)
Why are Vt. pine trees turning brown? Jun 9, 2010
"Last year I was saying it was a good year to be a plant pathogen because it was so cold and wet so all those plant pathogens did really well, and the same is true for white pines," said Timothy Schmalz of the Vt. Agriculture Agency. (WCAX.com, VT)
Field trial of GM potatoes begins Jun 9, 2010
The project's research team said it was necessary to carry out the field trial in order to test the plants' resistance to naturally occuring pathogen Phytophthora infestans - the fungus-like organism that causes late blight in potatoes. "What we don't know is if we have got a GM potato, which is resistant to laboratory strains of the late blight pathogen, (whether) that will be resistant to the whole spectrum of races that circulate out there in the field," said Jonathan Jones, TSL's senior... (BBC News -- Science)
Harnessing the Immune System's Diagnostic Power Jun 9, 2010
The team demonstrated that a baseline immunosignature of antibody activity could be established and then compared with an immunosignature following exposure to a vaccine or pathogen ... Further, the picture of activity appeared to be pathogen-specific -- the immunosignature for influenza displayed a characteristic pattern easily distinguishable from that produced by tularemia exposure ... Johnston notes that most existing diagnostic blood tests used to evaluate host-pathogen response target a... (Science Daily)
How Mast Cells Set Immune Defense on the Right Track Jun 8, 2010
These molecules can either activate immune cells to defeat invading pathogens, or inhibit them to prevent an excessive immune reaction ... However, mast cells also seem to have a crucial, but only superficially understood, function during pathogenic defence ... "They wait precisesly at that position where pathogens enter the body," says Nelson O. Gekara, researcher in the group "Molecular Immunology" at the HZI, "and thus belong to the very first line of immune defence.". (Science Daily)
Genome of Bacteria Responsible for Tuberculosis of Olive Tree Sequenced Jun 8, 2010
The study, published in the June issue of Environmental Microbiology, represents the first sequencing of the genome of a pathogenic bacteria undertaken in Spain, being the first genome known worldwide of a pathogenic Pseudomonas in woody plants. The sequencing of the genome of this pathogen opens the doors to the identification of the genes responsible for the virulence of this bacteria and its survival on the philosphere (leaf surface), thus facilitating the design of specific strategies in the... (Science Daily)
Biosensors Reveal How Single Bacterium Gets the Message to Split Into a Swimming and a Stay-Put Cell Jun 5, 2010
This is the rod-shaped pathogen that causes life-shortening, chronic lung infections in people with cystic fibrosis, burns, and suppressed immune systems associated with cancer ... The researchers have also used the biosensor they developed to study the multi-flagellated Salmonella enterica, which causes food poisoning, as well as the non-flagellated Klebsiella pneumoniae, an air-borne lung pathogen. (Science Daily)
Azithromycin Pills Equal to Penicillin Shots for Treating Early Syphilis, Clinical Trial Finds Jun 5, 2010
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)
New rust resistance genes added to common beans Jun 5, 2010
Pastor-Corrales and his colleagues at the University of Nebraska and Colorado State University resorted to this multi-gene strategy in response to the high diversity of strains of the bean rust pathogen. Lately, virulent new races of rust that have overcome the Ur-3 resistance gene appeared in Michigan and North Dakota. (EurekAlert!)
Toxoplasmosis: Of cats and men Jun 4, 2010
Toxoplasma gondii is not an alien; it is a relative of that down-to-earth pathogen Plasmodium, the beast that causes malaria. It is common: in some parts of the world as much as 60% of the population is infected with it. (The Economist)
The Mitochondrion in Inflammation Jun 3, 2010
Leukocytes recruited to fight microbes cause collateral damage that is often more severe than that originally triggered by the pathogen. Moreover, inflammation takes place even in patients with sterile tissue injuries such as trauma and ischemia reperfusion. (New England Journal of Medicine)
Uncovering the mystery of a major threat to wheat Jun 2, 2010
Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists have solved a longstanding mystery as to why a pathogen that threatens the world's wheat supply can be so adaptable, diverse and virulent ... Barberry (Berberis spp) is already controlled in areas where wheat is threatened by stem rust, caused by another fungal pathogen ... The researchers suspended wheat straw infected with the stripe rust pathogen over barberry plants and found that fungal spores from the wheat infected the barberry. (EurekAlert!)
To Double Spud Production, Just Add a Little Spit May 29, 2010
(May 15, 2007) Researchers have developed a way of controlling Streptomyces scabies, a pathogen that destroys potato crops, according to an article in the May issue of Microbiology. (June 19, 2007) While many may be familiar with potato late blight, the plant disease responsible for widespread potato shortages, the lesser known potato wart has the potential to be as devastating to economies. (Science Daily)
Novel Therapeutic Approach Shows Promise Against Multiple Bacterial Pathogens May 29, 2010
"A therapeutic that protects against a wide array of bacterial pathogens would have enormous medical and public health implications for naturally occurring infections and potential agents of bioterrorism," says Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the National Institutes of Health ... The study is available online in the open-access journal PLoS Pathogens ... ROS and RNS attack and kill invading bacteria, preventing replication... (Science Daily)
Virulent New Strains of Ug99 Stem Rust, a Deadly Wheat Pathogen May 28, 2010
ScienceDaily (May 26, 2010) Four new mutations of Ug99, a strain of a deadly wheat pathogen known as stem rust, have overcome existing sources of genetic resistance developed to safeguard the world's wheat crop. Leading wheat experts from Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas, who are in St. Petersburg, Russia for a global wheat event organized by the Borlaug Global Rust Initiative, said the evolving pathogen may pose an even greater threat to global wheat production than the original... (Science Daily)
Compulsive Behavior in Mice Cured by Bone Marrow Transplant May 28, 2010
When they find that something is wrong -- maybe a pathogen has invaded or there has been a stroke -- they change their shape to infiltrate the area and "clean up the mess." If you asked most any neuroscientist what microglia do, that's what they would probably tell you, Capecchi said ... "From an evolutionary perspective it may make perfect sense to couple a behavior such as grooming, whose purpose is to reduce pathogen count, with the cellular machinery -- the innate and adaptive immune systems... (Science Daily)
Microbial Team May Be Culprit in Colony Collapse Disorder May 27, 2010
A group of pathogens including a fungus and family of viruses may be working together to cause the decline ... "There might be a synergism between two very different pathogens," says Jay Evans of the USDA Agricultural Research Service, a researcher on the study ... "Domesticated honey bees face numerous pests and pathogens, tempting hypotheses that colony collapses arise from exposure to new or resurgent pathogens," says Evans. (Science Daily)
E. Coli 0157:H7 Present but Not Common in Wildlife of Nation's Salad Bowl May 27, 2010
"The fact that we have identified two bird species with an incidence of E. coli O157:H7 of more than 3 percent, feral swine with about a 4 percent incidence and several coyotes and rodents that tested positive for O157:H7 suggests there are at least several sources of pathogen movement in this region," Mandrell said. "We have no evidence that the concentration of the pathogen was high in the feces of the animals that tested positive, so the significance of wildlife as a source of direct... (Science Daily)
Model Demonstrates Infectious Cause of Asthma May 26, 2010
"Even with this knowledge, we currently do not understand how this pathogen causes asthma symptoms and if it really initiates the disease," says Katir Patel, one of the researchers on the study ... "Early life respiratory colonization with chlamydia elicits pathogen-specific IgE antibody production, which for the first time provides evidence of an infectious asthma phenotype.". (Science Daily)
Plano: Oak wilt invades area trees (4) May 26, 2010
The successful management of oak wilt depends on correct diagnosis and an understanding of how the pathogen spreads between different oak species, according to the website. Most ways to battle oak wilt focus on containing the fungus to keep it from spreading. (McKinney Courier-Gazette, TX)
New Path for Novel Alzheimer's Therapies May 23, 2010
The novelty lies in a new mechanism through which the amyloid peptide, the major pathogen in Alzheimer's disease, provokes neuronal death. The Basque researchers have found that this peptide activates some receptors that lead cells to overexcitation and subsequent death; when such receptors are blocked with specific drugs, neurons are protected from the peptide-related lethal effects. (Science Daily)
Scientists create first bacteria strain with man-made genes May 22, 2010
"It would be possible for someone to synthesize a pathogen (dangerous microbe) in a new way this way," says Robert Friedman of the Venter Institute. But he says federal officials have undertaken rule-making procedures to police the ordering of the chemicals needed to synthesize genomes, as they do biologists ordering dangerous microbes. (USA Today -- Tech)
Unexpectedly High Rate of Multiple Strains in Fungal Infection May 22, 2010
ScienceDaily (May 20, 2010) New research shows that nearly 1 in 5 cases of infection with the potentially deadly fungus Cryptococcus neoformans are caused by not one but multiple strains of the pathogen ... C. neoformans is a life-threatening fungal pathogen that is responsible for an estimated 1 million cases of meningoencephalitis ... "The concept of one strain/one infection does not hold true for C neoformans and may apply to other environmentally acquired fungal pathogens. The possibility of... (Science Daily)
High-Fat Meal May Trigger Asthma May 22, 2010
Wood said the researchers don't know exactly why the body seems to respond to a high-fat meal this way, but said the immune system might be recognizing saturated fat as an invading pathogen, which prompts inflammation. She also said the researchers don't yet know how long these effects might last, but added that if someone is consuming high-fat foods every day, they may be experiencing these effects for at least several hours a day. (MEDLINEplus)
And man made life May 22, 2010
No one now knows how easy it would be to turbo-charge an existing human pathogen, or take one that infects another type of animal and assist its passage over the species barrier ... If pathogens can be designed by laptop, vaccines can be, too. (The Economist)
New Breakthrough in Fight Against Lethal CCHF Virus May 22, 2010
CCHF virus is a tick-borne pathogen that infects (but does not cause disease in) wild and domestic animals in many countries in Africa, Europe and Asia. Humans may become infected from a tick bite or through direct contact with blood or other infected tissues from livestock such as cattle, sheep and goats. (Science Daily)
USDA beefs up school meat safety program May 15, 2010
The newspaper's investigation showed that fast food companies such as McDonald's and Jack in the Box had more rigorous programs for bacteria and pathogen testing than the USDA.. The changes put the school lunch program back in the forefront of safety practices, a place it once held a decade ago. (USA Today -- News)
Emergence of fungal plant diseases linked to ecological speciation May 14, 2010
A new commentary on the nature of pathogens is raising startling new questions about the role that fundamental science research on evolution plays in the understanding of emerging disease ... While much attention has been given toward extrinsic factors that might contribute to emerging fungal diseases, such as climate change or worldwide trade, the authors contend, intrinsic genetic changes in the pathogen itself should also be considered ... The authors point out that certain life-history... (EurekAlert!)
New Details of Tuberculosis Protein-Cleaving Machinery Revealed May 14, 2010
"Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes TB, infects one person in three worldwide, so finding new ways to battle this pathogen is a major public health priority -- particularly in developing nations where active TB infections are endemic," said study co-author Huilin Li, a Brookhaven biophysicist and associate professor at SBU.. Earlier studies by Li and his collaborators revealed important structural details of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis proteasome, a piece of cellular... (Science Daily)
