Bioterrorism Week articles from May 2004

Bioterrorism Week archives from May 2004

Real-time smallpox and pan-orthopox virus detection methods developed.
May 3, 2004... 2004 MAY 3 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers have developed methods for smallpox and pan-orthopox virus detection by real-time 3'-minor groove binder TaqMan assays on the Roche LightCycler and the cepheid smart cycler platforms. ...

Vaccinia virus vectors with deleted serpin genes induce immune response.
May 3, 2004... 2004 MAY 3 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Attenuated vaccinia virus vectors with deleted serpin genes induce potent humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. According to published research from the United States, "Vaccinia virus (VV)...

Scientists ask Boston officials to nix bioterror lab, citing public health risk.
May 3, 2004... 2004 MAY 3 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Nearly 150 scientists and scholars asked city officials April 13, 2004, to block the building of a bioterrorism lab in the heart of the city, saying it could pose "catastrophic risks" to the community....

Pets could be warning signs of bioterrorism attack.
May 3, 2004... 2004 MAY 3 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The first casualties of bioterrorism attack could be pets, not humans, said a state bioterrorism education coordinator touring Massachusetts to encourage people to learn how to recognize signs of...

Italian government places $1.1 million initial order for SR-1.
May 3, 2004... 2004 MAY 3 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- TVI Corp. (TVIN), a supplier of rapid-deployment shelters and chemical/biological decontamination systems for the military, public health, and first response agencies, announced that the Italian Civil...

Veterinarians increasingly on front lines in identifying diseases in humans.
May 3, 2004... 2004 MAY 3 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- When disease detectives track the source of a new outbreak, they increasingly have to look no further than the usual suspects: animals. That's because about 75% of all new diseases - including those...

Glowing microspheres improve fluorescence measurements.
May 3, 2004... 2004 MAY 3 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Laboratories that measure emissions from fluorescent particles in a wide range of applications from clinical chemistry to biodefense research to pharmaceutical development now can have more confidence...

Dr. Gerald Entine joins board of directors of ion-technology company.
May 3, 2004... 2004 MAY 3 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Implant Sciences Corp. (IMX), a developer and manufacturer of products for national security, medicine, and industry announced that Dr. Gerald Entine, PhD, has agreed to join its board of directors. ...

Proprietary formula QR-336 protects mice in lethal-dose radiation study.
May 3, 2004... 2004 MAY 3 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The Quigley Corporation (QGLY) announced the results of a preliminary, pre-clinical animal study that measured the effect of its proprietary, patent-applied-for formulation QR-336 against ionizing...

HIV-positive U.S. military personnel accidentally vaccinated against smallpox.
May 3, 2004... 2004 MAY 3 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Ten U.S. military personnel were discovered to be HIV-positive after being vaccinated against smallpox, but did not experience any harmful effects from the vaccination, according to a new study. In...

Smallpox history reviewed.
May 3, 2004... 2004 MAY 3 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Scientists review the history of smallpox in a recent issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases. "Smallpox apparently arose through transfer of variola virus to humans from another animal species. By...

Typhoid fever vaccines cause adverse events.
May 3, 2004... 2004 MAY 3 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Typhoid fever vaccines cause adverse events. According to a study from the United States, "Vaccines against Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi are used for prophylaxis of international travelers...

Small molecule inhibitors found active against anthrax lethal factor.
May 10, 2004... 2004 MAY 10 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Small molecule inhibitors are found to be active against anthrax lethal factor in vitro. "The virulent spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis secretes anthrax toxin composed of protective...

Export license granted for biothreat detection assay, GeneXpert System.
May 10, 2004... 2004 MAY 10 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Cepheid (CPHD) announced that it has been granted an export license for its GeneXpert Anthrax test cartridge and GeneXpert system by the U.S. State Department in accordance with export regulations,...

New type of anthrax vaccine moves into larger-scale trial.
May 10, 2004... 2004 MAY 10 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A potentially safer vaccine to protect against anthrax is moving into a larger-scale clinical trial following a successful pilot study conducted at St. Louis University School of Medicine and three...

Survivors had health problems 1 year after exposure to deadly bacterium.
May 10, 2004... 2004 MAY 10 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- People infected with anthrax continued to report health problems, poor life adjustment and psychological distress 1 year after their exposure, according to a study. In 2001, bioterrorist...

Diagnostic algorithm quickly distinguishes anthrax from flu.
May 10, 2004... 2004 MAY 10 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A novel diagnostic algorithm can be used to quickly distinguish anthrax from the flu. "The workup of a febrile patient who presents with an influenza-like illness in the setting of a national or...

Biodefense applications of recombinant polyclonal antibodies reviewed.
May 10, 2004... 2004 MAY 10 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers review the biodefense applications of pathogen-specific recombinant human polyclonal antibodies in a recent issue of Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy. "The potential use of...

Biocatalyst maker receives $100,000 investment.
May 10, 2004... 2004 MAY 10 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Agentase, LLC, and the Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse (PLSG), a partnership to put the region's life sciences industry on a fast track for growth, announced that PLSG, through its affiliate, the...

ImmuneRegen BioSciences to form bioterrorism advisory board.
May 10, 2004... 2004 MAY 10 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- ImmuneRegen BioSciences, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of IR BioSciences Holdings, Inc., (IRBO) announced that it is establishing a bioterrorism advisory board for the purposes of navigating the...

Successful completion of milestone triggers Protexia drug development.
May 10, 2004... 2004 MAY 10 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Nexia Biotechnologies, Inc., (NXB) announced the successful completion of the pharmacokinetic (PK) studies for Protexia - the final predevelopment milestone. These studies, conducted by the U.S....

Researchers begin study to protect against anthrax.
May 17, 2004... 2004 MAY 17 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Scientists at the University of Rochester in Rochester, New York, and 11 other cities around the nation are beginning tests of an experimental vaccine aimed at protecting people against anthrax, a rare...

HPRT mutation associated with uranium exposure in exposed Gulf War veterans.
May 17, 2004... 2004 MAY 17 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase mutation is associated with uranium exposure in exposed Gulf War veterans. "Medical surveillance of a group of U.S. Gulf War veterans who were...

University of Minnesota to lead national effort in food bio-security.
May 17, 2004... 2004 MAY 17 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The University of Minnesota has been named one of three U.S. Department of Homeland Security Centers of Excellence and has received a $15 million, 3-year grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland...

BioThrax vaccine monograph listed in USP.
May 17, 2004... 2004 MAY 17 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- BioPort Corporation, manufacturer of the anthrax vaccine, BioThrax, announced the listing of the Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed (BioThrax vaccine) monograph in the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) National...

Membranal polypeptides of Bacillus anthracis identified.
May 17, 2004... 2004 MAY 17 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Scientists have identified chromosomally encoded membranal polypeptides of Bacillus anthracis through a proteomic analysis. "Bacillus anthracis is the causative agent of anthrax disease....

Promoter of 'brain fingerprinting' considers Colorado for training.
May 17, 2004... 2004 MAY 17 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A company behind a new technology promoting "brain fingerprinting" to fight crime and terrorism is considering Colorado for a training center that would employ up to 300 people. Brain...

Lab method based on nanoscience could rival PCR.
May 17, 2004... 2004 MAY 17 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Since the advent of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) nearly 20 years ago, scientists have been trying to overturn this method for analyzing DNA with something better. The "holy grail" in this quest...

Center established to study new virus and terror.
May 17, 2004... 2004 MAY 17 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Singapore have established a regional center to study and control new viruses, a senior official said, adding that rogue scientists could...

Only half of recalled meat and poultry is recovered.
May 17, 2004... 2004 MAY 17 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Only about half the meat and poultry recalled in the United States because of suspected health hazards between 1998 and 2002 was actually recovered by the manufacturers, according to a new study. ...

European patent allowance granted for CAP nanotechnology.
May 17, 2004... 2004 MAY 17 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- BioSante Pharmaceuticals (BPA) announced that it has received a notice of allowance from the European Patent Office (EPO) accepting BioSante's patent application for the manufacturing process of the...

Arthur L. Money named to board of biosensing company.
May 17, 2004... 2004 MAY 17 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- IatroQuest Corp., a developer of advanced biosensing technologies based in Montreal, Canada, announced the appointment of Arthur L. Money to the board of directors of the company. Money brings to...

Defense contract awarded for testing of plague/anthrax vaccine.
May 17, 2004... 2004 MAY 17 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Avant Immunotherapeutics, Inc., (AVAN) announced that it has been awarded an additional subcontract marking further milestones in the company's efforts with DynPort Vaccine Company, LLC, (DVC) to...

New report finds U.S. unprepared for mental health impact of terrorist acts.
May 17, 2004... 2004 MAY 17 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The United States public health and homeland security systems are not adequately prepared for dealing with the psychological effects of terrorism, according to a new report from a task force of the...

Public-private agreement expanded to provide bioterror solutions.
May 17, 2004... 2004 MAY 17 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Virtual Alert, Inc., a provider of integrated public health and safety software systems, has expanded its relationship with the Iowa Department of Public Health. Recently, the Iowa Department of...

Experimental vaccine protects primates from lethal monkeypox.
May 17, 2004... 2004 MAY 17 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- In the first successful study of its kind, scientists have shown that a DNA-based vaccine for smallpox can protect nonhuman primates from monkeypox, a disease that resembles smallpox in humans. ...

Prevalence of dermatologic reactions to smallpox vaccine reported.
May 17, 2004... 2004 MAY 17 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers report the prevalence of benign dermatologic reactions to smallpox vaccination in adults in a recent issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases. "A phase 1 smallpox vaccine trial involving...

Anthrax lethal toxin neutralization assay validated.
May 24, 2004... 2004 MAY 24 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers have validated the anthrax lethal toxin neutralization assay. According to published research from the United States, "A validation of the performance characteristics of a toxin...

Glycine prevents thermal inactivation of Bacillus anthracis antigen.
May 24, 2004... 2004 MAY 24 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The osmoprotectants glycine and its methyl derivatives prevent the thermal inactivation of protective antigen of Bacillus anthracis. "Protective antigen (PA) is the main immunogenic constituent of...

Bioterrorism fear may cause mass sociogenic illness.
May 24, 2004... 2004 MAY 24 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Bioterrorism fear may cause mass sociogenic illness. "Sociogenic illness is the occurrence of a group of nonspecific physical symptoms for which no organic cause can be determined and is often...

New technologies promise more effective vaccines.
May 24, 2004... 2004 MAY 24 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A variety of new technologies driving vaccine research promise more effective and more clearly targeted vaccines, "but the constant evolution of microbes can only be combated by more biomedical...

Anthrax lethal factor-cleavage products of MAPK exhibit reduced binding.
May 24, 2004... 2004 MAY 24 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Anthrax lethal factor-cleavage products of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinases exhibit reduced binding to their cognate MAPKs. According to published research from the United States,...

Proposal submitted for production of up to 75 million doses of anthrax vaccine.
May 24, 2004... 2004 MAY 24 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- VaxGen (VXGN) has submitted a proposal to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) describing its plan to provide up to 75 million doses of its recombinant anthrax vaccine to the U.S....

Doctors: "E-nose" can sniff out respiratory ailments.
May 24, 2004... 2004 MAY 24 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have completed several studies that they say demonstrate the promise of a hand-held "electronic nose" for diagnosing pneumonia and sinusitis by analyzing a...

Iowa governor challenges President Bush on bioterrorism lab choice.
May 24, 2004... 2004 MAY 24 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Iowa scientists developing vaccines to protect Americans against two deadly animal diseases they were surprised to be passed over for Homeland Security funding. Iowa State University, home to one...

Report summarizes health effects of September 11 attacks.
May 24, 2004... 2004 MAY 24 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center caused "the largest acute environmental disaster that ever has befallen New York City" and could lead to long-term health problems in rescue...

Device firm invited to apply for Navy-funded technology transfer project.
May 24, 2004... 2004 MAY 24 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Emergency Filtration Products, Inc., (EFP, EMFP) announced that it has been invited to apply for participation in a Navy-funded Technology Transfer project (Center of the Commercialization of Advanced...

Computers combat disease: new modeling grants target epidemics, bioterror.
May 24, 2004... 2004 MAY 24 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A new initiative harnesses America's computing skill to enhance its ability to respond to disease epidemics and bioterrorism. The initiative, called MIDAS, will develop powerful computer modeling...

Albuferon maker reports increased net losses, mostly due to R&D.
May 24, 2004... 2004 MAY 24 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Human Genome Sciences, Inc., (HGSI) announced financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2004. The company's actual net loss for the quarter, in accordance with generally accepted...

Bioproducts and healthcare company reports 2% increase in Q1 revenues.
May 24, 2004... 2004 MAY 24 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Genencor International, Inc., (GCOR) reported that for the quarter ended March 31, 2004, net income available to common stockholders was $11.2 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, compared to $4.7...

FDA announces modernization of food good manufacturing practices.
May 24, 2004... 2004 MAY 24 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- In a speech to the National Food Policy Conference, U.S. Food and Drug Administration acting Commissioner, Dr. Lester M. Crawford, announced the agency's plans and processes for modernizing the good...

Allergy and immunology organization wins $25 million contract from NIH.
May 24, 2004... 2004 MAY 24 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology (LIAI) has received a 7-year, $25 million contract from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the U.S. National Institutes...

Membranal polypeptides of Bacillus anthracis identified.
May 31, 2004... 2004 MAY 31 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Scientists have identified chromosomally encoded membranal polypeptides of Bacillus anthracis through a proteomic analysis. "Bacillus anthracis is the causative agent of anthrax disease....

Pandemic influenza can be contained with antiviral agents.
May 31, 2004... 2004 MAY 31 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Pandemic influenza can be contained with antiviral agents. According to recent research published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, "For the first wave of pandemic influenza or a...

Patent granted for CMX001, an orally-active smallpox therapeutic.
May 31, 2004... 2004 MAY 31 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Chimerix, Inc., and the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) announced the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 6,716,825 entitled "Phosphonate Compounds" by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The...

Mass vaccination unnecessary in event of outbreak.
May 31, 2004... 2004 MAY 31 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- In the unlikely event of a smallpox outbreak, mass vaccination may not be necessary, a modeling study suggests. Provided the outbreak is detected quickly, targeted vaccination of mobile "at-risk"...

NERD is DNA processing-related domain in anthrax virulence plasmid.
May 31, 2004... 2004 MAY 31 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- NERD is a DNA processing-related domain present in the anthrax virulence plasmid, pXO1. "We have identified a new domain in a broad range of bacterial, as well as single archaeal and plant...

Anti-infective applications sought for antiseptic nasal spray product.
May 31, 2004... 2004 MAY 31 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- SinoFresh HealthCare, Inc., (SFSH) has entered into a research and development agreement with the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, focusing on joint-sponsored programs designed to find new...

Trypsin IV is a novel agonist of protease-activated receptors 2 and 4.
May 31, 2004... 2004 MAY 31 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Trypsin IV is a novel agonist of protease-activated receptors 2 and 4. "Certain serine proteases signal to cells by cleaving protease-activated receptors (PARs) and thereby regulate hemostasis,...

University of Iowa Hygienic Lab to expand capabilities.
May 31, 2004... 2004 MAY 31 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The University of Iowa Hygienic Lab will apply for funding to increase its ability to respond to chemical warfare agents, the lab's director said. Mary Gilchrist said the lab will apply for funding...

Affinitak maker reports decrease in revenues during first quarter.
May 31, 2004... 2004 MAY 31 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (ISIS) announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2004. The company's revenue for the 3 months ended March 31, 2004, was $12.3 million compared to $14.0...

Safety-products maker reports increased sales in first quarter.
May 31, 2004... 2004 MAY 31 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- MSA announced that net sales for the first quarter of 2004 were $194,490,000, compared with $160,391,000 for the first quarter of 2003, an increase of $34.1 million, or 21%. Net income from...

Botulinum toxin structure offers clues for vaccines/treatments.
May 31, 2004... 2004 MAY 31 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- By deciphering the near-atomic-level structure of the catalytic domain of botulinum toxin type E - one of seven neurotoxins that cause botulism, a disease that paralyzes victims by blocking nerve...

Company receives development funding for smallpox vaccine.
May 31, 2004... 2004 MAY 31 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- INCELL Corp., LLC, has been awarded a U.S. Air Force (USAF) contract to further develop its oral smallpox vaccine product and oral vaccine platform technology. INCELL began developing its oral...

Third-generation vaccine against smallpox tested.
May 31, 2004... 2004 MAY 31 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Not everybody can safely be vaccinated against smallpox using the current U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved vaccine. Scientists hope another study vaccine, now undergoing its first...

Method developed to monitor immune response against vaccinia virus.
May 31, 2004... 2004 MAY 31 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Scientists have developed a high-throughput method to monitor the humoral immune response against vaccinia virus. According to published research from Germany and Sweden, "Vaccination against...

Prevalence of dermatologic reactions to smallpox vaccine reported.
May 31, 2004... 2004 MAY 31 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers report the prevalence of benign dermatologic reactions to smallpox vaccination in adults in a recent issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases. "A phase 1 smallpox vaccine trial involving...

New modeling grants target epidemics, bioterror.
May 31, 2004... 2004 MAY 31 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A new initiative harnesses America's computing skill to enhance its ability to respond to disease epidemics and bioterrorism. The initiative, called MIDAS, will develop powerful computer modeling...