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WEDNESDAY, Aug. 22 (HealthDay News) -- A deadly outbreak of antibiotic-resistant bacteria at a U.S. research hospital lasted six months and was finally brought under control through the combined efforts of genomics and microbiology experts, government researchers report.

The outbreak began when a 43-year-old New York City patient carrying a multi-drug resistant strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae introduced the dangerous bacteria into the 243-bed U.S. National Institutes of Health's Clinical Center in Bethesda, Md., in June 2011. The microbe is a common cause of hospital-borne infections.

Even with enhanced infection-control procedures, including patient isolation, the bacteria began to spread to other patients in the facility at the rate of one a week. The bacteria eventually affected 17 patients. Ten of these patients died; six from infection and four from underlying diseases while infected.

Clinical Center staff worked with investigators at the U.S. National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) to use genome sequencing to learn how the microbe spread. That collaboration helped bring the outbreak under control by the end of the year. Since then, there have been no new cases associated with the outbreak.

"Infectious outbreaks happen in every hospital in the world, afflicting millions of patients each year in the United States alone," NHGRI director Dr. Eric Green, said in an NIH/NHGRI news release.

"By marshaling the ability to sequence bacterial genomes in real time to accurately trace the bacteria as it spread among our Clinical Center patients, our researchers successfully elucidated what happened, which in turn has taught us some important lessons," he explained. "This study gives us a glimpse of how genomic technologies will alter our approach to microbial epidemics in the future."

A case history of the outbreak was published online Aug. 22 in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

"Genome sequencing and analysis is our best hope for anticipating and outpacing the pathogenic evolution of infectious agents," Julie Segre, an NHGRI senior investigator involved in the outbreak, said in the news release. "Though our practice of genomics did not change the way patients were treated in this outbreak, it did change the way the hospital practiced infection control."

About 1.7 million hospital-associated infections, and 99,000 related deaths, occur each year in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Multi-drug resistant K. pneumoniae is among the more dangerous infections because there are few effective treatments and the death rate can be as high as 50 percent, the researchers pointed out in the news release.

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Microbiology and Genome Experts Quell Deadly Bacteria Outbreak

Public release date: 23-Aug-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Jim Sliwa jsliwa@asmusa.org 202-942-9297 American Society for Microbiology

Boost for Efforts to Prevent Microbial Stowaways on Interplanetary Spacecraft

Efforts to expunge micro-organisms from spacecraft assembly cleanrooms, and the spacecraft themselves, inadvertently select for the organisms that are often the most fit to survive long journeys in space. This has the risk of thwarting the goal of avoiding contaminating other celestial bodies, as well as samples brought back to earth, according to Myron La Duc of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), California Institute of Technology, and his collaborators. Their research is published in the August issue of the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

Mars, the Jovian moon, Europa, and a few other denizens of our solar system may harbor life, and might be capable of supporting some terrestrial microbes. Contaminating planets or moons that already support extraterrestrial lifea possibility on Mars, the big Jovian moon, Europa, and the tiny Saturnian moon, Enceladuscould interfere with efforts to understand that life, and its origins. For example, life on all of these orbs may have a common originlikely on Earth or Marsand contamination of samples could confound efforts to determine which planet was the source of life, and how life arose. For these reasons, sterilization processing of spacecraft bound for such planetary bodies is a very high priority for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Species of bacteria have long been considered capable of surviving space travel, but examples of a fungal species that is capable of such survival have only recently been demonstrated, according to the report. Additionally, due to their extraordinary ability to withstand various extreme environments, some archaea "have been proposed as being capable of tolerating the Martian environment," the investigators write. "In light of this, the breadth of current spacecraft-associated microbial diversity assessments must expand to include eukaryotes and archaea."

Because of this, better methods are needed for determining microbial populations on surfaces that have a very low density of individual microbes. In this study, the researchers became the first to take the microbial census using so-called pyrosequencing studies. Pyrosequencing is a recent method of sequencing DNA from entire microbial communities that is much faster and simpler than other methods, and extremely thorough.

Further findings in the study pointed up the value of pyrosequencing in demonstrating where vigilance in sterilizing equipment is needed. Of most import, certain archaeal sequences, notably from the ammonia-oxidizing genus, Nitrososphaeraceae of the recently proposed phylum, Thaumarchaeota, appeared in ground support equipment samples, both before and after cleaning. Archaea of this phylum can survive on ammonia or urea, or other inorganic chemicals, enhancing their ability to survive extreme conditions, according to the report, so prevention of their transfer to the spacecraft is key.

"Methanobacteriaceae sequences were also observed in the spacecraft hardware samples," the researchers write. "This is particularly relevant for astrobiological issues, since members of this family have been reported to be obligate anaerobic, hydrogenotrophic, and methanogenic organisms and capable of utilizing carbon dioxide as their sole carbon source." The challenge for the JPL's spacecraft team is to ensure that the DNA sequences only arise from dead Methanobacteriaceae, and not from live ones.

(M.T. La Duc, P. Vaishampayan, H.R. Nilsson, T. Torok, and K. Venkateswaran, 2012. Pyrosequencing-derived bacterial, archaeal, and fungal diversity of spacecraft hardware destined for Mars. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 78:5912-5922.)

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August 2012 tips from the journals of the American Society for Microbiology

Public release date: 22-Aug-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Garth Hogan ghogan@asmusa.org American Society for Microbiology

Lawrence Corey, M.D., president and director of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, has been honored with the 2012 Cubist-ICAAC Award. An internationally renowned expert in virology, immunology and vaccine development, Corey's research focuses on herpes viruses, HIV, and other viral infections, particularly those associated with cancer. "Corey's work was the first to demonstrate the safety of daily antiviral treatment for immunocompetent persons," explains his nominator, Wesley Van Voorhis of the University of Washington. "His studies led to the routine use of antivirals not only for HSV-2the field he has been the dominant figure in for three decadesbut also HCV, HBV, and HIV."

Corey earned his bachelor's and medical degrees from the University of Michigan, and completed infectious diseases training at the University of Washington School of Medicine. He joined the faculty of the University of Washington in 1978, where he remains today as a Professor of Laboratory Medicine and holder of the Lawrence Corey Endowed Chair in Medical Virology. He is also an infectious disease physician at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, in addition to his duties as president and director of the Hutchinson Center.

Corey is the principal investigator of the Hutchinson Center-based HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN), an international collaboration of scientists and institutions that combines clinical trials and laboratory-based studies to accelerate the development of HIV vaccines. Under Corey's leadership at the Hutchinson Center, the HVTN has become the model for global collaborative research, involving scientists on four continents and nine countries. "In this capacity, he has overseen the building of a clinical trials network infrastructure from only eight U.S. sites in 1998, to a program that has thirty clinical trial sites in fifteen countries on four continents," explains Anthony S. Fauci, NIAID, NIH. "This network is now at the forefront of clinical trials of HIV vaccine candidates."

Corey has been a pioneer in the development of antiviral therapy. In the early 1980s he worked with Nobel Prize-winning biochemist and pharmacologist Gertrude Elion to demonstrate that an antiviral that was selective and specific for a viral-specified enzyme could be safely and effectively administered to control a chronic viral infection (herpes simplex virus-2). These studies were directly responsible for the subsequent successful quest of the pharmaceutical and medical sciences communities to develop effective antiviral therapy for hepatitis B and HIV. In 1987 he directed the AIDS Clinical Trials Group, or ACTG, and under his leadership the use of the retroviral drug AZT to reduce maternal-fetal transmission of HIV and HAART (highly active retroviral therapy) were developed. His research group also was the first to identify an association between the virus that causes genital herpes (herpes simplex virus) and HIV. Through the ACTG he pioneered the integration of community members into clinical research activities.

"No one has contributed more to our understanding of herpes simplex virus pathogenesis and therapy than Corey," states Martin Hirsch, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. "From early work demonstrating that certain treatments don't work, to landmark studies of topical, intravenous and oral acyclovir and its congeners, Corey has led the way. In his elegant studies of HSV latency, he may well open up new avenues to cure, rather than suppression. He has taught us more about the pathogenesis, immunology, and treatment of genital herpes than any other investigator in the field."

In the mid-1990s, Corey increasingly concentrated his scientific and leadership skills on the area of vaccine development, and in 1998 he worked with Fauci to develop a global clinical trials group to speed the development of HIV vaccines. In 2002, Corey recognized the need to further integrate research efforts in HIV vaccine development and spearheaded the development of the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise, one of the few scientific programs overseen by leaders of the major industrialized countries. Fauci explains, "Corey is the only scientist in the country who had led two of our nation's major HIV clinical trials programsone in treatment and one in vaccine developmentand hence has a unique perspective on the treatment and prevention of HIV infection." Corey also conceived and led an international study that demonstrated that a daily dose of an antiviral drug cuts the transmission of the genital herpes virus by half. He currently is working to define how host immune cells control the herpes simplex virus and whether it will be possible to develop a vaccine to reduce infection reactivation.

In 2008, with funding from the Washington Life Sciences Discovery Fund, Corey founded the Hutchinson Center-based Washington Vaccine Alliance, or WAVA a virtual biotechnology coalition of nonprofit research institutions dedicated to developing novel vaccines for the prevention of human diseases ranging from typhoid to syphilis to salmonella poisoning. Corey's numerous honors and awards include election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Institute of Medicine. In addition, he received the Pan American Society's Clinical Virology Award and the Parran Award of the American Society for STD Research.

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The American Society for Microbiology honors Lawrence Corey

Public release date: 22-Aug-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Garth Hogan ghogan@asmusa.org American Society for Microbiology

William P. Hanage, Ph.D., Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, has received a 2012 ICAAC Young Investigator Award. Hanage is honored for his work studying the epidemiology and evolution of infectious disease. "Hanage has provided game changing tools and expertise in the pneumococcal field, first with MLST and now with whole genome sequencing, to reach into the world of the organism," explains Katherine O'Brien of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. "His work has revealed ways in which the pathogen attempts to escape vaccine control. He is brilliant, innovative, and tangential in his thinking one of those rare people who can see connections where others do not."

Hanage graduated from the University of Bath, United Kingdom, with an undergraduate degree in Biochemistry. He went on to receive his Ph.D. from Imperial College London in the laboratory of Jonathan Cohen studying host microbial interactions, where he developed a passion for infectious disease research. After obtaining his Ph.D., Hanage worked in Brian Spratt's laboratory at the University of Oxford and later in the Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at the Imperial College London, studying the molecular epidemiology of bacterial pathogens. He joined the faculty at Harvard School of Public Health in 2010.

Over time, Hanage developed an interest in theoretical approaches to epidemiology to complement the molecular perspective gained from his formal education. He continues to combine empirical and theoretical methods in his research. "Hanage's research productivity throughout his career speaks to his creativity and ability to cross over between disciplines, pulling from one area of expertise to apply tools to another domain," says O'Brien. Especially interested in subjects that combine clinical importance with fundamental biological questions, Hanage looks at questions like how pathogens respond to novel selective pressures in the form of antimicrobials and vaccines. He has a specific interest in understanding the factors behind the response of the bacterial population to pneumococcal conjugate vaccination.

In addition to such clinically focused questions, Hanage has worked extensively on the phenomenon of homologous recombination in bacteria, which shuffles genetic material among lineages, studying how it can be detected and its consequences for how bacteria respond in the face of novel selective pressures. "He has developed new methods for data analysis and combining molecular and traditional epidemiology," says Stephen Pelton, Boston University Schools of Medicine and Public Health. Indeed, recombination or horizontal gene transfer makes the very notion of species problematic for bacteria, another of Hanage's major interests, one for which he was awarded a University Research Fellowship by the Royal Society. Hanage has also increasingly become involved with population genomic analyses of large numbers of very closely related pathogen isolates to probe in detail their patterns of transmission and diversification. His work on pathogen evolution was recognized with the 2012 Fleming Prize from the Society for General Microbiology. "Recently, Hanage has been among the pioneers of genomic epidemiology for bacterial pathogens. He exemplifies the combination of theoretical and experimental skills that will be fundamental to the future of infectious disease epidemiology," describes nominator Marc Lipsitch, Harvard School of Public Health.

"I believe Hanage's largest contributions have yet to come," says Pelton. "I think he will lead us to new insights into genetic regulation that permit specific clones of Streptococcus pneumoniae to successfully compete in the nasopharynx, to be more easily transmitted from person to person, and to evade host defenses to cause disease. I am confident that this will inform new approaches to treatment and disease prevention."

"Beyond his scientific accomplishments, for which his publication record speaks clearly, his personal and mentoring characteristics have to be emphasized," summarized O'Brien. "He is a gem of a colleagueenthusiastic, welcoming of collaborations, generous with his time toward students, and a genuine scholarly partner."

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The ICAAC Young Investigator Award will be presented during ASM's 52nd Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC), September 9-12, 2012 in San Francisco, CA. ASM is the world's oldest and largest life science organization and has more than 40,000 members worldwide. ASM's mission is to advance the microbiological sciences and promote the use of scientific knowledge for improved health, economic, and environmental well-being.

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The American Society for Microbiology honors William Hanage

Public release date: 22-Aug-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Garth Hogan ghogan@asmusa.org American Society for Microbiology

The 2012 ICAAC Young Investigator Award designated for a researcher working in the area of HIV has been bestowed upon Mario L. Santiago, Ph.D., Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Colorado, Denver. Santiago is honored for his varied work in virology, from field-based HIV epidemiology studies to manipulating innate immunity in his efforts to explore innovative new ways to approach the challenge of the HIV vaccine. "Already at this early stage of his career, Santiago is demonstrating that he is one of the upcoming leaders in the field of retroviral resistance genes and their fascinating mechanisms of action," explains Kim Hasenkrug, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID.

Santiago graduated from the University of the Philippines magna cum laude with a BS in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. He then worked on schistosome and malaria vaccines as part of the NIH-sponsored Tropical Medicine Research Center in the Philippines and on HIV-1 molecular epidemiology as a Fogarty AIDS International Research fellow at Brown University. Santiago went on to receive his Ph.D. in Microbiology under Beatrice Hahn at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, where he developed noninvasive methods to detect Simian Immunodeficiency Virus in wild nonhuman primates, eventually leading to the discovery of the origins of HIV-1 and HIV-2 in wild chimpanzees and sooty mangabeys, respectively. "During his tenure, he painstakingly designed, tested and optimized strategies to noninvasively screen fecal and urine samples from wild monkeys and great apes for simian immunodeficiency viruses, which aided in our breakthrough understanding of the origins of HIV-1 and HIV-2," explains Hahn. "These findings resulted in fascinating high-profile publications and have revolutionized our perspective on the AIDS pandemic."

After receiving his Ph.D., Santiago completed two postdoctoral fellowships, first at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, then at the Gladstone Institute for Virology and Immunology at the University of California, San Francisco, where he discovered that a long-sought classical resistance gene that modulates the retrovirus-specific neutralizing antibody response known as Rfv3 corresponds to an innate immunity gene known as APOBEC3. In 2006, Santiago reached out to Hasenkrug to collaborate: "he emailed me with the hypothesis that a retroviral resistance gene that I had mapped (Rfv3), might be Apobec3. He trained briefly in my lab, learned the mouse retrovirus model very quickly, and in short order had the model working at the Gladstone Institute. He has pushed this research forward, innovating new techniques and technologies, and has opened the door to a very exciting and highly competitive research area."

In 2009, Santiago joined the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Colorado Denver-Anschutz Medical Campus. There he continues his work on the interplay between innate retroviral restriction and adaptive immunity in mice, monkeys and humans, with a conceptual focus on HIV vaccine development, host genetics of retrovirus resistance, and interferon-based antiretroviral therapy. He currently supervises a post-doctoral fellow and three graduate students from the Immunology and Microbiology programs, where he holds adjunct appointments.

Santiago's scientific contributions have been published in prominent journals that include Science, Nature, Cell, PNAS, PLoS Pathogens, and The Journal of Virology. "Santiago's recent work on the function of human Apobec3 has helped delineate potential genetic mechanisms behind the production of neutralizing antibodies to HIV, which are critical to preventing HIV infection," says nominator Thomas Campbell, University of Colorado, Denver. "His research findings will help to inform the discovery of HIV drugs and vaccines." He concludes, "Santiago's outstanding achievements attest to his creativity and collegiality, and his exceptional ability to successfully accomplish innovative, cutting-edge research in retrovirology."

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The ICAAC Young Investigator Award will be presented during ASM's 52nd Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC), September 9-12, 2012 in San Francisco, CA. ASM is the world's oldest and largest life science organization and has more than 40,000 members worldwide. ASM's mission is to advance the microbiological sciences and promote the use of scientific knowledge for improved health, economic, and environmental well-being.

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The American Society for Microbiology honors Mario Santiago

Public release date: 22-Aug-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Garth Hogan ghogan@asmusa.org American Society for Microbiology

David M. Tobin, Ph.D., Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, has been honored as a recipient of the 2012 ICAAC Young Investigator Award. These awards recognize and reward early career scientists for research excellence and potential in microbiology and infectious disease. Already Tobin has made important contributions to infectious disease therapeutics, explains Lalita Ramakrishnan, University of Washington. "His findings are changing the way we treat TB meningitis, and his work will pave the way for a whole new way to tackle TB, including drug resistant TB."

Tobin received his Ph.D. with Cori Bargmann at the University of California, San Francisco, where he defined the role of a set of TRPV-related ion channels in C. elegans behaviors. Bargmann describes Tobin as "scholarly and deep; a star in the making. An excellent scientist, Tobin is very smart and intensely interested in his own work and related work." After graduating, Tobin spent two and a half years living in Guatemala where he taught undergraduate classes at the national university. He became particularly interested in tuberculosis through an HIV and tuberculosis clinic he became involved with while there, and with which he continues to collaborate.

For his postdoctoral studies, Tobin joined Ramakrishnan's laboratory at the University of Washington, where he used a zebrafish model of tuberculosis. He developed a genetic screen in zebrafish to probe the host genetic determinants of susceptibility to mycobacterial infection. Tobin found that the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory eicosanoids plays an important role in susceptibility and has applied these findings in human cohorts. A functional variant in the human gene LTA4H is associated with disease severity as well as responsiveness to adjunctive therapies for TB meningitis. "As a postdoc in Ramakrishnan's group, Tobin was instrumental in developing a system to perform forward genetic screens in zebrafish to identify factors influencing disease by the tuberculosis bacillus," explains nominator Raphael Valdivia, Duke University. "Tobin identified mutations associated with susceptibility to mycobacterial infection in zebrafish and defined the mechanism underlying this susceptibility. More impressively, he then showed that this information could be used to identify genetic variations in human populations that strongly correlated with susceptibility to tuberculosis and leprosy," Valdivia continued. "These variations predicted outcomes to therapeutic intervention, which he was then able to validate in zebrafish. His study is one of the most scientifically impressive ones I have seen in the field of infectious diseases."

In 2011, Tobin became an Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology at Duke University. His laboratory at Duke studies the host response to mycobacterial infection using zebrafish, bacterial, and human genetics. "Tobin is at the forefront of a new field, where he will make seminal discoveries in TB pathogenesis based on real time observation of the dynamics of cellular immunity within a genetically tractable vertebrate system," claims Valdivia. Ramakrishnan concluded, "He is one of the most intelligent, intuitive, inventive and resourceful scientists I have ever encountered. These traits, coupled with his strong humanitarian predisposition, will lead him to continue his trajectory of making ground breaking discoveries that will impact the treatment of TB and other infectious diseases."

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The ICAAC Young Investigator Award will be presented during ASM's 52nd Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC), September 9-12, 2012 in San Francisco, CA. ASM is the world's oldest and largest life science organization and has more than 40,000 members worldwide. ASM's mission is to advance the microbiological sciences and promote the use of scientific knowledge for improved health, economic, and environmental well-being.

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

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The American Society for Microbiology honors David Tobin

Quarterback Jake Rudock during the media day for University of Iowa football at the practice field in Iowa City on Monday, August 6, 2012. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette-KCRG TV9)

IOWA CITY Jake Rudock and James Vandenberg have so much to talk about.

Whos the best organic chemistry professor? What about microbiology, any suggestions there? What are you going to do with those used Medical College Admissions Test prep books?

We actually do talk about classes more than youd think, Rudock said. What about this? Who do I not want [for a professor]? Who do I really have to avoid? Who do I not have to worry about?

Of course, theres also the football.

The Iowa quarterbacks are on similar paths in football and life. Vandenberg is the veteran on the field, 3,022 yards and 25 TDs last season. Hes also a fifth-year senior academically and a integrative physiology major who plans to take a run at the MCAT and medical school.

Caption: Iowa quarterback James Vandenberg (16) works out during the team's practice at Chaparral High School Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2011 in Scottsdale. The team is preparing for their Insight Bowl matchup against Oklahoma on December 30th. (Brian Ray/ SourceMedia Group News)

Rudock, a 6-3, 200-pound redshirt freshman, is the rookie. As a senior at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Weston, Fla., he led his team to district, regional state and national titles with a 15-0 record. He took a redshirt in 2011 and now is poised for a run at No. 2 quarterback with junior-college transfer Cody Sokol also in that mix.

Iowa has been lucky in QB health. In the last five years, Iowa QBs have missed less than three games. The cautionary red flag is up at No. 2 simply based on experience. Vandenberg has 499 career attempts. The rest of the depth chart, might as well throw in true freshman C.J. Beathard and walk-ons Kyle Anderson and Dan Hartlieb, has zero.

Yes, this has first-year offensive coordinator Greg Davis attention.

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From microbiology to macro football, Rudock readies for his time

17-08-2012 15:28 For more information, visit: In this video, I will show you how to enrich a water with beneficial bacteria using aeration and adding sugars to the water. This will allow the bacteria to thrive and help your Marijuana plant grow healthier. Some may use only a few bacteria strains for this while I use a lot to benefit the weed more. Just be sure to do this in a well-ventilated room to and avoid inhaling those bacteria.

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How To Use Microbiology To Enhance Cannabis Plants - Video

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Microbiology 2010, part 1 - Video

Public release date: 14-Aug-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Jim Sliwa jsliwa@asmusa.org 202-942-9297 American Society for Microbiology

A mysterious condition called Inclusion Body Disease (IBD) strikes captive boa constrictors and pythons, causing bizarre behavioral changes and eventually death. Scientists investigating an outbreak of IBD among snakes at the Steinhart Aquarium in San Francisco report they may well have found a virus that is responsible for this common but deadly disease, a discovery that could eventually lead to prevention and treatment options. The study appears in the August 14 issue of mBio, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology. The authors report that the virus represents a whole new class of arenaviruses scientists have never seen before.

Among captive boas, IBD is the most commonly diagnosed disease that is thought to be caused by a virus. Snakes that have contracted IBD may initially regurgitate food, but they eventually show dramatic neurological problems, says Michael Buchmeier, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of California, Irvine. Neurological signs include "stargazing," in which the snake stares upwards for long periods of time.

"Some of the symptoms are pretty bizarre - this stargazing behavior, looking like they're drunk, they tie themselves in a knot and they can't get out of it," says Buchmeier. The condition, which is named for the inclusions, or pockets of foreign material, found inside the cells of affected animals, is ultimately fatal. IBD is devastating for large aquariums, as it can infect a large number of snakes before it is identified and quarantine measures can be put in place. Since there is currently no treatment for the disease, infected snakes must be euthanized to prevent them from infecting other animals.

When the disease recently struck a number of boas and pythons at the Steinhart Aquarium at the California Academy of Sciences, the aquarium requested help from scientists at the University of California San Francisco who specialize in discovering novel viruses.

The researchers extracted DNA from tissue samples taken from boas and pythons diagnosed with IBD, and used rapid, high-throughput techniques to learn the sequence of those strands of DNA. In amongst all the snake DNA sequences there were sequences of DNA that clearly belonged to viruses - viruses that are members of the arenavirus family. The authors were later able to grow and isolate one of those viruses using snake tissues cultured in the laboratory.

While it is an important development from a practical standpoint, since identifying the causative agent for a disease is the first step in developing treatments, vaccines, diagnostics, and prevention policies it is also an incredible discovery for virology: the virus belongs to a group of viruses no one knew existed.

"This is one of the most exciting things that has happened to us in virology in a very long time. The fact that we have apparently identified a whole new lineage of arenaviruses that may predate the New and Old world is very exciting," says Buchmeier.

According to Buchmeier, this new isolate doesn't fall neatly into either of the two known categories of arenaviruses, Old World arenaviruses and New World arenaviruses. The fact that the virus was found in snakes adds another surprise twist, since up until now arenaviruses had only ever been found in mammals.

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Scientists discover new type of virus responsible for a devastating disease in snakes

SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

A study published in the August issue of Journal of Clinical Microbiology showed that Great Basin Corporations toxigenic Clostridium difficile (C. diff) molecular diagnostic test has a 97 percent sensitivity and 100 percent specificity rate compared with a competing FDA-approved polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. In May, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted 510(k) clearance for Great Basins C. diff assay.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rate of infection for C. diff remains at historically high levels and the severity of the disease in the U.S. has risen alarmingly, resulting in an estimated $1 billion annually in additional heath care costs. Because of the growing challenges of the disease, C. diff is one of the infections targeted in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Action Plan to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections, which is a federal initiative to reduce preventable infections in hospitals.

The need for early and accurate diagnosis of C. diff has never been more critical in both assuring a positive outcome for the infected patient and in preventing the spread of C. diff to other at-risk patients, said Rob Jenison, Great Basin CTO and study co-author. Results of this study were similar to our recently completed clinical trial, demonstrating the sensitivity and specificity of Great Basins assay. By addressing the growing need for accurate and quick testing, we provide a significant advantage to hospitals in reducing the rate and recurrence of this life-threatening infection.

In addition to FDA clearance, the assay has received CE-IVD product marking, allowing the test to be marketed in both the U.S. and the EU.

Since we began marketing our C. diff assay in May, the reception from clinicians has been enthusiastic, thanks to our unique ability to offer accurate results coupled with a simplified workflow and competitive pricing, said Ryan Ashton, president and CEO, Great Basin Corporation. We are encouraged by the data regarding the sensitivity and specificity of our breakthrough approach, and are eager to expand our menu of sample-to-result assays for other troubling infectious diseases such as staph, fungal infections, and tuberculosis.

Great Basins technology entails an integrated disposable cartridge containing all necessary reagents and an inexpensive bench-top analyzer that executes the assay, interprets the results and provides electronic output to the clinician. The platform has several key advantages over other molecular solutions:

The lead author of the study is Brian Hicke, director of research for Great Basin. In addition to Hicke and Jenison, co-authors from Great Basin include Chris Pasko, Benjamin Groves, Maylene Corpuz, Georges Frech, Denton Munns, Wendy Smith, Ashley Warcup, Wes Lindsey, Charles Owen, and Larry Rea. Additional co-authors are Edward Ager of the Clinical Microbiology-Immunology Laboratories at the University of North Carolina; Gerald Denys of Indiana University Hospital; and Nathan A. Ledeboer of the Medical College of Wisconsins Department of Pathology.

About Great Basin Corporation

Great Basin Corporation is a privately held molecular diagnostics company that commercializes breakthrough chip-based technologies. The company is dedicated to the development of simple, yet powerful, sample-to-result technology and products that provide fast, multiple-pathogen diagnoses of infectious diseases. By providing more diagnostic data per sample, healthcare providers are able to treat patients with the right medication sooner, improving outcomes and reducing costs. The companys vision is to make molecular diagnostic testing so simple and cost-effective that every patient will be tested for every serious infection, reducing misdiagnoses and significantly limiting the spread of infectious disease. More information can be found on the companys website at http://www.gbscience.com.

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Study Published in Journal of Clinical Microbiology Reports the Sensitivity and Specificity of Great Basin Corporation ...

Dr Mathias Oul, Professor of Microbiology at Universit de Saint-Boniface led a team of scientists who have proven

WINNIPEG, Aug. 13, 2012 /CNW/ - A team of researchers from Universit de Saint-Boniface (USB) in Manitoba has proven the effectiveness of a disinfectant that could revolutionize the fight against superbugs in the hospital system.

The study led by Mathias Oul, Ph.D., microbiology professor at Manitoba's Universit de Saint-Boniface, shows that Akwaton tackles spore-forming bacteria, including Clostridium difficile whose heat-tolerant spores can live on surfaces for long periods of time and survive a number of years in a dry environment. The study has just been published in the UK's prestigious Journal of Medical Microbiology.

Most of the chemical disinfectants that are currently used control or prevent the spread of bacterial spores. However, the study shows that Akwaton is able to destroy Bacillus subtilis spores suspended in water and attached to stainless steel or glass surfaces, at very dilute concentrations, after just 90 seconds' treatment. Previous studies by the USB research team have shown that Akwaton is also effective against strains of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

Dr. Mathias Oul explained Akwaton's main advantages: "Most disinfectants have to be applied at much higher concentrations - typically between 4 and 10% - which may be harmful to humans. Akwaton destroys spores at concentrations well below 1%." Akwaton is non-corrosive, non-irritating, non-toxic, odourless and environmentally safe. "All these properties make it an ideal disinfectant for hospitals and laboratories. It may also have great value in the food industry," said Dr. Oul.

"Universit de Saint-Boniface is proud to be a part of the ongoing battle against superbugs, the outbreaks of which are a threat to all hospitals and health care facilities in Canada and around the globe," said USB President Raymonde Gagn. "Dr. Oul's paper has already garnered a great deal of attention in Europe, and it will also undoubtedly generate considerable interest in Canada."

The paper titled "Akwaton, Polyhexamethylene-Guanidine Hydrochloride-Based Sporicidal Disinfectant: A Novel Tool to Fight Bacterial Spores and Nosocomial Infections" was published on August 8, 2012 in the scholarly Journal of Medical Microbiology.

The article and the press release issued by the UK-based Society for General Microbiology are available online at http://www.sgmjournals.org and on the USB website.

Universit de Saint-Boniface is Manitoba's only French-language postsecondary institution. Its research activities are primarily focused on francophone and Mtis cultural and identity issues; science; the environment and health; access to health care and social services in French; education; translation; and regional development and social management.

The Society for General Microbiology (SGM) is the largest learned microbiological society in Europe with a worldwide membership based in universities, industry, hospitals, research institutes and schools. The SGM publishes four journals presenting high-quality research findings.

Link:
New weapon against C. Difficile: significant scientific breakthrough at Université de Saint-Boniface

Juice from potato cures heartburn and ulcers

(IANS) / 10 August 2012

Juice from the humble potato could treat gastric ulcers, thanks to its unique anti-bacterial properties, says a new research.

A Manchester University microbiology team now hopes the compound, dubbed 'potato juice' could go into production as a daily diet supplement. Inspiration came as one of the department's scientists tucked into a spud for Sunday lunch.

It led to the discovery of a key molecule which could both cure and prevent the bacteria that lives in the stomach and causes stomach ulcers and heartburn.

Uniquely, unlike with anti-biotics, the gut bug cannot develop resistance to the 'potato juice' which also does not cause any side-effects. Scientists even carried out the test on different types of potatoes -- discovering that Maris Piper and King Edward varieties worked the best.

The process to extract the as yet unnamed molecule has now been patented, with hopes it could one day be sold as a supplement similar to pro-biotic yoghurt drinks, the Daily Mail reported.

Ian Roberts, professor of microbiology at the Faculty of Life Sciences, who worked on the discovery, said: "When I first heard about the idea of using potatoes to treat stomach ulcers I have to admit I was a bit sceptical. But on another level I wasn't surprised - a lot of botanical products have very interesting compounds and we just have to find them."

"We see this 'potato juice' as a preventative measure to stop stomach ulcers developing that people would take as part of a healthy lifestyle. It could be a huge market if we can get it developed," added Roberts.

Continued here:
Juice from potato cures heartburn and ulcers

BURLINGTON, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (LabCorp) (LH) announced today the publication in the July 2012 Journal of Clinical Microbiology of a clinical study that supports validation of a new clinical diagnostic test for bacterial vaginosis. These studies were completed under IRB approval in collaboration with the Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, and the article was co-authored by physicians and scientists from both organizations.

During the study, quantitative PCR assays were developed for 4 organisms reported previously to be useful positive indicators for the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and a single organism that had been implicated as a negative indicator for BV. A total of 402 women were enrolled in the study between April and October 2011.

The new test, which is called Bacterial Vaginosis, is currently available as part of the NuSwabsm series of tests. In 2011, LabCorp introduced NuSwab as a single collection device that improves the convenience and efficacy of sample collection for clinically validated test profiles for targeted womens health clinical conditions. The tests are configured to be cost-effective for payers and patients, while providing high quality results to guide diagnosis & treatment.

Bacterial vaginosis is a common condition, but physicians have limited tools to diagnose it properly, said Dr. Mark Brecher, LabCorps Chief Medical Officer. This test will help physicians diagnose BV with more specificityand provide better care. Patients are seeing demonstrable benefits from the NuSwab tests, and we will continue to enhance our NuSwab offerings to support better patient care.

This enhancement to LabCorps test menu is an adjunct to its broad womens health test options, including tests that focus on both screening and diagnosis of disease. In addition to its womens health services, LabCorp offers a comprehensive menu of individual tests and test combinations to address specific patient needs.

About LabCorp

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, an S&P 500 company, is a pioneer in commercializing new diagnostic technologies and the first in its industry to embrace genomic testing. With annual revenues of $5.5 billion in 2011, over 31,000 employees worldwide, and more than 220,000 clients, LabCorp offers more than 4,000 tests ranging from routine blood analyses to reproductive genetics to companion diagnostics. LabCorp furthers its scientific expertise and innovative clinical testing technology through its LabCorp Specialty Testing Group: The Center for Molecular Biology and Pathology, National Genetics Institute, ViroMed Laboratories, Inc., The Center for Esoteric Testing, Litholink Corporation, Integrated Genetics, Integrated Oncology, DIANON Systems, Inc., Monogram Biosciences, Inc., Colorado Coagulation, and Endocrine Sciences. LabCorp conducts clinical trials testing through its LabCorp Clinical Trials division. LabCorp clients include physicians, government agencies, managed care organizations, hospitals, clinical labs, and pharmaceutical companies. To learn more about our organization, visit our Web site at: http://www.labcorp.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Each of the forward-looking statements is subject to change based on various important factors, including without limitation, competitive actions in the marketplace and adverse actions of governmental and other third-party payors. Actual results could differ materially from those suggested by these forward-looking statements. Further information on potential factors that could affect LabCorps financial results is included in the Companys Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, and subsequent SEC filings.

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LabCorp Completes and Publishes a Clinical Study for the Development and Validation of a PCR Assay for the Diagnosis ...

Public release date: 7-Aug-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Laura Udakis l.udakis@sgm.ac.uk 44-011-898-81843 Society for General Microbiology

A new disinfectant, Akwaton, that works at extremely low concentrations could be used in healthcare settings to help control persistent hospital-acquired infections such as Clostridium difficile. The study is reported online in the Journal of Medical Microbiology.

Researchers from the Universit de Saint-Boniface in Winnipeg, Canada tested the new compound, Akwaton, against bacterial spores that attach to surfaces and are difficult to destroy. Previous work by the group has shown Akwaton is also effective at low concentrations against strains of Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

Spore-forming bacteria include C. difficile - a common bacterium found in healthcare settings whose spores can survive on surfaces for long periods of time. Spores are heat-tolerant and can survive a number of years in a dehydrated state before they are reactivated. Most chemical disinfectants control or prevent spore growth rather than irreversibly destroying them.

The present study showed that Akwaton was able to destroy Bacillus subtilis bacterial spores, suspended in water and attached to stainless steel or glass surfaces, at concentrations well below 1% after just 90 seconds' treatment. It was equally as effective at more dilute concentrations (below 0.1%) if left to act for longer periods.

Lead researcher Dr Mathias Oul, explained the advantages over other chemical compounds currently used against bacterial spores. "Most disinfectants have to be applied at much higher concentrations typically between 4-10% - to properly get rid of bacterial spores. Unfortunately such high levels of these compounds may also be harmful to humans and other animals. Akwaton is non-corrosive, non-irritable, odourless and is effective at very low concentrations," he said.

"Bacterial spores demonstrate a remarkable resistance to physical and chemical agents as well as ordinary antiseptics. On top of this micro-organisms are becoming increasingly resistant to disinfectants as well as antibiotics. Our latest study shows Akwaton is effective at destroying these spores as well as bacteria that are known problems in healthcare environments"

Akwaton is fast-acting and non-toxic for humans at low concentrations. Other studies have shown that the compound is also environmentally safe. "All these properties make it an ideal disinfectant for hospitals and laboratories. It may also have great value in the food industry to tackle spore-forming food pathogens such as Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfringens," explained Dr Oul.

###

See the article here:
New non-toxic disinfectant could tackle hospital infections

AUSTIN, Texas, and CARDIFF, Wales, Aug. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Luminex Corporation (LMNX) announced today that Public Health Wales is using Luminex's CE marked xTAG Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel (GPP) for outbreak investigation activities during Olympic and Paralympic training and events taking place in Wales. Results of a substantial diagnostic validation of the GPP test conducted by The Public Health Wales Microbiology laboratory team at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, are anticipated to be published in a peer reviewed journal.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100104/LUMINEXLOGO)

Luminex's xTAG GPP received CE mark in 2011 and is the most comprehensive test available to diagnose gastrointestinal infections. xTAG GPP simultaneously detects fifteen of the most common disease-causing pathogens, including viral, bacterial and parasitic infections, such as norovirus, C. difficile, toxigenic strains of E. coli, Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium, and Salmonella, all within 5-6 hours. Innovations in diagnostic technology like xTAG GPP provide the potential for rapid identification of the cause of outbreaks of gastrointestinal infection and improved patient care.

"We are very pleased with the performance of the assay to date in our validations comparing it to our traditional methods," said Michael Perry, Clinical Scientist within the National Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, Public Health Wales. "The ability to generate answers during a single work shift for a majority of the pathogens involved in gastroenteritis, compared to traditional methods which would have taken 2 days in some cases and much more work to return the same amount of information, is a significant advance."

"Seeing the contribution of our technology innovations and ability to make a positive impact in public health makes us very proud," said Patrick J. Balthrop, president and CEO of Luminex. "We are pleased to work with thought leaders like the Molecular Laboratory team at Public Health Wales, Cardiff, who continue to advance healthcare and public safety."

About xTAG Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel (GPP)

xTAG GPP is a qualitative molecular multiplex diarrhea test intended for the simultaneous detection and identification of multiple gastrointestinal pathogens including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. The assay uses the proprietary Luminex xTAG Technology and the xMAP Technology platform to detect multiple targets in a single sample. xTAG GPP can detect Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI) such as C. difficile or norovirus, foodborne illness agents like E. coli or Salmonella and common pediatric diarrhea causatives such as Rotavirus.

More information on Luminex and xTAG GPP can be found at http://www.luminexcorp.com/gpp, or Luminex's European office at, Krombraak 13-15, 4906 CR Oosterhout, The Netherlands, +31.16.240.8333.

About Public Health Wales, Microbiology, Cardiff

Public Health Wales provides expert public health resources as part of the NHS in Wales. Public Health Wales Microbiology, Cardiff, is a clinical diagnostic and public health laboratory serving hospital inpatients, GP surgeries and communicable disease professionals throughout Cardiff and Vale NHS trust and is based at the University Hospital of Wales Cardiff. The laboratory comprises large clinical bacteriology and virology sections and includes the National Molecular Diagnostic Unit for Wales which provides extensive molecular diagnostic services along with collaborations to further infectious disease diagnosis. The University Hospital of Wales, (UHW) opened in November 1971, is a major 1000-bed hospital situated in the inner city district of Heath in Cardiff, Wales. UHW is the third largest University Hospital in the UK and the largest hospital in Wales, providing 24-hour Accident & Emergency and various other specialist departments.

Read more here:
Luminex Corporation and University Hospital of Wales Collaborate During Olympic Games

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Pall Corporation (NYSE: PLL) announced today that it has launched a quick, easy and affordable test for beer-spoilage microorganisms based on its GeneDisc Rapid Microbiology System.

GeneDisc(R) Plate for Beer-spoilage Bacteria (Photo: Business Wire)

Utilizing real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technology, Palls GeneDisc test provides a fast, reliable and user-friendly detection method to identify typical bacteria that are known to spoil beer. The system yields consistently repeatable results and virtually eliminates operator error. Test results from a beer sample are available after enrichment and DNA isolation within one hour.

"For the first time, the benefits of PCR technology are available to brewers for routine, day-to-day use, said Jonathan Pratt, president, Pall Food and Beverage. The new GeneDisc system offers breweries an extremely easy-to-use and rapid test method to better ensure that products at every stage of the production process are free of spoilage organisms."

The Pall GeneDisc system features an exceptionally robust PCR platform combined with ready-to-use GeneDisc test plates. Using the GeneDisc plate for beer-spoilage bacteria, the system simultaneously screens for the presence or absence of 20 critical beer-spoilage bacteria, including the relevant species of Lactobacillus, Megasphaera, Pediococcus and Pectinatus sp. beer-spoilage groups.

With its intuitive touch-screen interface, built-in software and barcode reader, the system enables minimally trained personnel to routinely perform sophisticated biological sample testing for rapid decision-making. The flexible GeneDisc system also helps optimize work flow and offers the capability to process multiple samples simultaneously.

Learn more about the GeneDisc Rapid Microbiology System and the Beer Spoilage Plate at the World Brewing Congress, an international gathering of brewing industry professionals, July 28-31, 2012 in Portland, Oregon, booth # 855.

About Pall Food and Beverage

Pall Food and Beverage serves the food and beverage industries with advanced membrane filtration technology and systems engineered for reliability and cost-effectiveness. Innovative filters, which are easy to install and simple to use, allow a cost-effective and well-controlled process operation. Visit us on the Web at http://www.pall.com/foodandbev.asp.

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New Pall GeneDisc System For Rapid Microbiological Monitoring Solution In Beer Production

NEW YORK, Aug. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:

http://www.reportlinker.com/p0578540/In-Vitro-Diagnostics-World-Market-Outlook-2012-2022.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=In_Vitro_Diagnostic

Our new study shows you potential revenues to 2022 for in vitro diagnostics at total world, submarket and national levels. What technologies and applications will expand that market? What effects will changes have? You will find predictions and answers.

In our report you will find revenue predictions for clinical chemistry, immunochemistry, haematology, microbiology, genetic testing, and point of care testing (POCT).

You will find coverage of Roche, Siemens, Abbott Laboratories, Danaher and Becton Dickinson & Company.

We help you to assess the in vitro diagnostics industry and market's strengths, weaknesses, trends and potential revenues to 2022. You will see where those technologies are heading.

Our new report provides data, analysis and opinion to benefit your research, calculations, meetings and presentations. To get that information please respond now.

Original analysis with revenues, growth rates, market shares, opinion and discussions

You will find revenue forecasts, growth rates, market shares, a SWOT review, opinions from our survey and discussions of technologies and companies. We provide 68 tables and charts and two research interviews (shown in the accompanying lists).

In this report, you will receive the following benefits in particular: You will discover revenue forecasts to 2021 for the world in vitro diagnostics market and its main components, seeing where the highest revenue growth will occur You will find revenue forecasts to 2021 for IVD technologies, assessing their commercial potential and applications You will discover revenue forecasts to 2021 for leading national markets (US, Japan, Germany, France, Spain, UK, Italy, China and India), seeing growth trends You will assess leading companies in IVD, discovering their activities and outlooks You will investigate competition and opportunities influencing the IVD industry and market from 2011 onwards You will see what will stimulate and restrain the IVD industry and market from 2011 You will identify diagnostic needs and commercial opportunities, including those for personalised medicine You will analyse opportunities and challenges for established companies and those seeking to enter the IVD market You will view opinions from our industry survey, receiving full interview transcripts.

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In Vitro Diagnostics: World Market Outlook 2012-2022

Public release date: 31-Jul-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Jim Sliwa jsliwa@asmusa.org 202-942-9297 American Society for Microbiology

A new strain of influenza virus found in harbor seals could represent a threat to wildlife and human health, according to the authors of a study appearing July 31 in mBio, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology. It is crucial to monitor viruses like this one, which originated in birds and adapted to infect mammals, the authors say, so that scientists can better predict the emergence of new strains of influenza and prevent pandemics in the future.

"There is a concern that we have a new mammalian-transmissible virus to which humans haven't been exposed yet. It's a combination we haven't seen in disease before," says Anne Moscona of Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City, the editor of the report.

The authors, who hail from several different institutions, including Columbia University and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Outbreaks, say transmissible and pathogenic flu viruses in mammals, like the one in this study, clearly pose a concern for human health. In 2009, for instance, the H1N1 "swine flu" virus that emerged in humans apparently originated from a reassortment of flu viruses found in birds, pigs, and humans. The H3N8 strain in New England harbor seals may come to represent the first sighting of a new group of influenza viruses with the potential to persist and move between species.

The mBio study analyzed the DNA of a virus associated with a die-off of 162 New England harbor seals in 2011. Autopsies of five of the seals revealed they apparently died from infection with a type of influenza called H3N8, which is closely related to a flu strain that has been circulating in North American birds since 2002. Unlike the strain in birds, this virus has adaptations to living in mammals and has mutations that are known to make flu viruses more transmissible and cause more severe disease. The virus also has the ability to target a receptor called SA-2,6, a protein found in the human respiratory tract.

Moscana says the study raises two concerns about flu. First, this strain is a novel virus that infects mammals and may well pass from animal to animal, a combination of traits that make it a potential threat to humans. Also, the possibility that a bird flu virus would infect seals hadn't been widely considered before, highlighting the fact that pandemic influenza can crop up in unexpected ways. She emphasizes the need for readiness.

"Flu could emerge from anywhere and our readiness has to be much better than we previously realized. We need to be very nimble in our ability to identify and understand the potential risks posed by new viruses emerging from unexpected sources," says Moscona. "It's important to realize that viruses can emerge through routes that we haven't considered. We need to be alert to those risks and ready to act on them."

###

mBio is an open access online journal published by the American Society for Microbiology to make microbiology research broadly accessible. The focus of the journal is on rapid publication of cutting-edge research spanning the entire spectrum of microbiology and related fields. It can be found online at http://mBio.asm.org.

Excerpt from:
New influenza virus from seals highlights the risks of pandemic flu from animals

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Pall Corporation (NYSE: PLL) announced today that it has launched a quick, easy and affordable test for beer-spoilage microorganisms based on its GeneDisc Rapid Microbiology System.

Utilizing real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technology, Palls GeneDisc test provides a fast, reliable and user-friendly detection method to identify typical bacteria that are known to spoil beer. The system yields consistently repeatable results and virtually eliminates operator error. Test results from a beer sample are available after enrichment and DNA isolation within one hour.

"For the first time, the benefits of PCR technology are available to brewers for routine, day-to-day use, said Jonathan Pratt, president, Pall Food and Beverage. The new GeneDisc system offers breweries an extremely easy-to-use and rapid test method to better ensure that products at every stage of the production process are free of spoilage organisms."

The Pall GeneDisc system features an exceptionally robust PCR platform combined with ready-to-use GeneDisc test plates. Using the GeneDisc plate for beer-spoilage bacteria, the system simultaneously screens for the presence or absence of 20 critical beer-spoilage bacteria, including the relevant species of Lactobacillus, Megasphaera, Pediococcus and Pectinatus sp. beer-spoilage groups.

With its intuitive touch-screen interface, built-in software and barcode reader, the system enables minimally trained personnel to routinely perform sophisticated biological sample testing for rapid decision-making. The flexible GeneDisc system also helps optimize work flow and offers the capability to process multiple samples simultaneously.

Learn more about the GeneDisc Rapid Microbiology System and the Beer Spoilage Plate at the World Brewing Congress, an international gathering of brewing industry professionals, July 28-31, 2012 in Portland, Oregon, booth # 855.

About Pall Food and Beverage

Pall Food and Beverage serves the food and beverage industries with advanced membrane filtration technology and systems engineered for reliability and cost-effectiveness. Innovative filters, which are easy to install and simple to use, allow a cost-effective and well-controlled process operation. Visit us on the Web at http://www.pall.com/foodandbev.asp.

About Pall Corporation

Excerpt from:
New Pall GeneDisc® System For Rapid Microbiological Monitoring Solution In Beer Production