Posted: 4:04 pm Tue, May 8, 2012 By BRIAN JOHNSON Tags: Architectural Alliance, Biomedical Discovery District, Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Metropolitan Mechanical Contractors, Mortenson Construction, Pete Nickel, State Designer Selection Board, University of Minnesota

The Cancer and Cardiovascular Research Building, under construction at Sixth Street Southeast and 23rd Avenue Southeast in Minneapolis, is part of the University of Minnesotas Biomedical Discovery District. The university is looking for a design team for a new $52 million microbiology building, the next big component of the Biomedical Discovery District. (Staff photo: Bill Klotz)

Researchers who are trying to learn more about microbiology and infectious diseases are moving closer to getting a new home at the University of Minnesota.

The U of M, through the State Designer Selection Board, is seeking design and engineering services for a new $52 million building that will consolidate infectious disease research efforts at the university.

The building will be the next big component of the Biomedical Discovery District, a research campus located on a former grain silo site just north of TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The district received funding from a $292 million appropriation from the 2008 Legislature.

Pete Nickel, a university project manager, said a design team will be selected in late June, with soil correction work beginning as soon as July 2013.

Design team selection will set the stage for the projects pre-design phase, which will shed more light on details such as the projects cost and the size of the building.

When the building opens in three years, it will house wet and dry labs, offices and work spaces and bring together research efforts currently housed in scattered sites throughout the Minneapolis and St. Paul campuses, according to the university.

On Monday, the Legislature provided a more modest boost for bioscience research when it included $13.5 million for an expansion of the Hormel Institute, a cancer research facility in Austin, Minn. That project, which is expected to begin within the year, will add 15 labs and improve space for the Hormel Institutes International Center of Research Technology.

At full build-out, the U of Ms Biomedical Discovery District will house up to 1,260 faculty and researchers, including researchers trying to find treatments for cancer, heart disease, Alzheimers and other diseases.

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University of Minnesota plans for next big building in biomedical district

Background

Oxford University has two Clinical Research Units in Viet Nam: one in Ho Chi Minh City and one in Hanoi (www.oucru.org)

Oxford University Clinical Research Unit Vietnam (OUCRU-VN) has been working in Viet Nam for 20 years on infectious diseases studies and has a well-established research program, facility and partnership with the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases (NHTD) and a network of hospitals across Viet Nam and Asia to conduct a wide range of clinical studies including clinical trials of drugs.

The Units main focus of work is in Dengue, Infections of the Central Nervous System, Respiratory Infections, Antibiotic Resistance, Influenza, HIV and Tuberculosis.

Job summary

This position is to be repsonsible for the laboratory work for our research projects requiring microbiological testing, in particular: bacterial of fungal culture, resistance testing, media preparation, and quality control.

The position is based in the clinical research laboratories of OUCRU at NHTD. Laboratory activities and responsibilities cover the whole spectrum of protocol and SOP writing, procurement, stock management, testing, reporting, data management, data analysis, maintenance and quality assurance.

Location

Oxford University Clinical Research Unit in Hanoi, 6th Floor, National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Bach Mai Hospital, 78 Giai Phong, Dong Da, Hanoi. Travel within Viet Nam or internationally will be required.

Tenure: Contract for one year on completion of 2 months probation with possibility of extension.

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Microbiology Laboratory Technician

Microbiology junior Cate Lynn chosen for trip to Africa

An OU student recently won the opportunity to take a trip to Africa and learn how to affect change.

Chegg, an online textbook rental company, and the ONE campaign chose Cate Lynn, microbiology junior, as one of eight students to travel to Zambia and South Africa this July at no cost.

From close to 5,000 applicants, Chegg and ONE selected Lynn because of her passion and interest in learning about the issues surrounding these countries, said Heather Porter, Chegg director of philanthropy.

Porter said Lynn was chosen in one round of the competition to attend a summit with the organization. Lynn came to the conference with limited knowledge of ONE, but gained knowledge and confidence after the first day.

Cate stood out as if she were an expert, Porter said. She had such a passion, very clear articulation and effort.

Winners were selected based on essay and video submissions and interaction at the summit, Porter said.

Lynn will travel to Africa with students from all over the nation on the trip from July 15 through July 25.

The students will meet with African students, visit health facilities and meet with community leaders to discuss poverty issues, according to a press release.

While on the trip, students will share their experiences on the ONE campaigns blog.

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Microbiology junior Cate Lynn chosen for trip to Africa

As the sun rose over Janss Steps early Sunday, Jeffrey Lin ran past the line framed by two Finish flags in Wilson Plaza and, in the process, crossed an item off his UCLA bucket list.

While Lin did not come in first place at the 13th annual Bruin Run/Walk, the number 1 pinned across his UCLA Quidditch shirt showed his enthusiasm for the event he was the first of more than 900 participants to sign up for the 5K benefiting the Chase Child Life Program at UCLAs Mattel Childrens Hospital.

One of the few runs held at UCLA throughout the year, the Run/Walk has always been on his list of things to do during his time at college, said Lin, a third-year microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics student.

This year, he found the time to take part. His girlfriend, Tiffany Chow, is the participants coordinator for the event, which also encouraged him to run in the race.

Given the choice, he would rather run or bike anywhere, Chow, a third-year biochemistry and microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics student, said with a laugh.

After registering, Lin encouraged his Quidditch teammates to form a team, said Alex Browne, Lins friend, teammate and a third-year mechnical engineering student.

At times, (Lin) can be a pretty calm guy, but when you see him stepping up and getting a lot of people to join with him on this cause, you cant help but get excited too, Browne said.

Coming in 45 seconds off his personal record of 18 minutes and 20 seconds for a 5K race, a sweaty Lin said he was a little disappointed in his time, but was glad he participated because he likes running to support a cause.

As a group of kids participating in the Kids Race ran by, Lin broke off the conversation and looked toward the children.

So cute, he said, gazing at them with a fond smile. Theyre all so sweet.

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Bruin Run/Walk cause inspires avid Bruin runner to participate in 5K event

Nature | Health

Poor training in use of tests is part of the issue. Microbiology companies could help by revealing the exact composition of their test media, which might help improve understanding of tests' limitations

April 27, 2012

By Daniel Cressey of Nature magazine

Efforts to detect and halt the global spread of drug-resistant bacteria are being hindered by a poor understanding of the limitations of crucial laboratory tests. Because infected patients need to be isolated quickly to avoid spreading infections, the failure to identify antibiotic-resistant pathogens is increasing the risk of untreatable outbreaks, microbiologists argue.

This month at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases in London, Herman Goossens, director of the Laboratory of Medical Microbiology at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute of the University of Antwerp in Belgium, presented data about one type of commercial kit often used to identify particular drug-resistant pathogens.

The tests contain mixtures of chemicals that encourage some bacteria to grow and discourage others. Samples from stools or rectal swabs are streaked across the growth medium on a plate and then left overnight. The next day, different-colored growths indicate the presence of different species of resistant bacteria.

Under the radar

One type of bacterium that is causing concern carries genetic mutations that cause it to produce carbapenemase enzymes, which confer resistance to carbapenem antibiotics. Health agencies around the world have reported a surge in infections involving carbapenem-resistant bacteria over the past decade. Another worrying mutation produces extended-spectrum -lactamases (ESBLs), which are resistant to cephalosporin drugs.

An example of the difficulties with identifying these bacteria, Goossens says, is a common test for carbapenem-resistant bacteria using plates made by CHROMagar, a microbiology company based in Paris. The plates detect only high levels of carbapenem resistance, meaning that laboratories may fail to detect bacteria with low but clinically important levels of resistance, he says.

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Drug-Resistant 'Superbugs' Go Undetected

Public release date: 27-Apr-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Iqbal Pittalwala iqbal@ucr.edu 951-827-6050 University of California - Riverside

RIVERSIDE, Calif. Avocado, a significant fruit crop grown in many tropical and subtropical parts of the world, is threatened by Phytophthora root rot (PRR), a disease that has already eliminated commercial avocado production in many areas in Latin America and crippled production in Australia and South Africa. Just in California the disease is estimated to cost avocado growers approximately $30-40 million a year in production losses.

Research on developing PRR-tolerant rootstocks to manage the disease has been a major focus of avocado research at the University of California, Riverside since the 1950s. The latest research now comes from a team that has released three rootstocks, available for commercial propagation by nurseries, that demonstrate superior tolerance to PRR.

The research, scheduled to appear soon in the journal HortScience, describes the three avocado root-rot-tolerant varieties: Zentmyer, Steddom, and Uzi.

Zentmyer is an extremely vigorous and highly durable variety that is PRR-tolerant under most conditions. But it is not recommended for locations, such as some parts of California, where salt is a problem and often does not yield consistently under non-root-rot condition. Steddom has both a high PRR-tolerance and good salt tolerance. Uzi is highly tolerant to PRR, and its yields are high and usually consistent.

The Zentmyer rootstock is named after George Zentmyer, a pioneer avocado pathologist at UC Riverside and a collector of avocado germplasm (hereditary material). Steddom is named after a former graduate student at UCR. Uzi is named after an Israeli scientist.

"With the release of these high-performing rootstocks, avocado growers worldwide will have more options in choosing PRR-tolerant rootstocks to determine which ones perform better under their own growing conditions," said Greg W. Douhan, an assistant professor of plant pathology and microbiology, who led the research.

A rootstock is the part of the plant that produces the root system. For many fruit trees it is often genetically different than the scion the top portion of the plant that is grafted to the rootstock. The scion gives rise to leaves, stems, flowers, and fruit.

Commercial avocado trees are propagated by grafting scions of desirable cultivars onto various rootstocks with the most popular avocado cultivar being the Hass avocado. While avocados can be grown from seeds, their fruit quality and yield potential can vary dramatically. Therefore, it is more advantageous for avocado growers to have both a scion and rootstock that has the most desirable characteristics, enabling the best "plants" to be grown for profitability and consumption.

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New avocado rootstocks are high-performing and disease-tolerant

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany, have compared the microbial ecosystems in the intestines termites and cockroaches, with fascinating results. The research is published in the April Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

It may be hard for people outside of certain scientific domains to muster anything but disgust for termites and cockroaches. Cockroaches, after all, infest our homes, and termites eat them. But despite their different life strategiestermites feed exclusively on wood, while cockroaches are the epitome of omnivorythese two culturally stigmatized insects are closest relatives. The microbial denizens of the termite gut have been the objects of intense study by microbiologists, with the goal of greatly boosting the conversion efficiency of cellulosic materials to biofuels, but cockroaches intestinal inhabitants have gone ignored, despite suspicions that pathogens are among them.

We wanted to determine to what extent, despite striking differences in diet, the gut community of cockroaches resembles that of their closest relatives, the termites, says coauthor Claire L. Thompson. We found that termites and cockroaches contain many gut bacteria of the same families, which indicates that the evolutionary history of the host is an important factor determining the structure of the gut microbial community. However, we found also that the abundance of these different lineages differs fundamentally between termites and cockroaches, which we ascribe to their different diets. In fact, she says, the relative abundance of different bacterial groups in the cockroach gut more closely resembles that of other omnivores, such as humans and mice.

Our research suggests that the gut microbiota of termites and cockroaches reflects both their common evolutionary origin and their different feeding habits, says Thompson. Many bacterial lineages seem to have been associated with the cockroaches already when the termites split off more than 130 million years ago. Additionally, the researchers showed that the bacterial community of the cockroach intestine is much more complex than it appeared from previous cultivation-based studies, and disease causing microorganisms therein are actually quite rare.

In the paper, the researchers note that termites fall within the radiation of cockroaches, and that they should be considered merely a family of social cockroaches. But current taxonomy has yet to catch up with these relatively recent findings.

More information: C. Schauer, et al, 2012. The bacterial community in the gut of the cockroach Shelfordella lateralis reflects the close evolutionary relatedness of cockroaches and termites. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 78:2758-2767. doi:10.1128/AEM.07788-11

Provided by American Society for Microbiology

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Intestinal flora of cockroaches and termites reflects these insects' family relationships, and divergent diets

Dan Arp, a microbiology researcher and professor, is the new dean of Oregon State Universitys College of Agricultural Sciences.

Arp has headed OSUs Honors College program since 2008 and previously chaired the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology at OSU. Hes among a handful of faculty members designated a distinguished professor and is affiliated with the Center for Genome Research and Bio-computing on campus. His expertise is in agricultural microorganisms, nitrification and the biology of bacteria and bio-remediation.

Arp replaces Sonny Ramaswamy, who in March was chosen by President Obama to lead the National Institute of Food and Agriculture in Washington, D.C.

Oregon State Provost Sabah Randhawa said Arp will position the college as a transformative agriculture and natural resources enterprise.

The College of Agricultural Sciences includes 15 academic departments, an agricultural experiment station with 11 branch research stations around the state. More than 1,600 students are enrolled.

--Eric Mortenson

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Oregon State chooses microbiology researcher as new dean of College of Agricultural Sciences

Public release date: 17-Apr-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

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

Many manufacturing processes rely on microorganisms to perform tricky chemical transformations or make substances from simple starting materials. The authors of a study appearing in mBio, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology, on April 17 have found a way to control a heat-loving microbe with a temperature switch: it makes a product at low temperatures but not at high temperatures. The innovation could make it easier to use microorganisms as miniature factories for the production of needed materials like biofuels.

This is the first time a targeted modification of a hyperthermophile (heat-loving microorganism) has been accomplished, say the authors, providing a new perspective on engineering microorganisms for bioproduct and biofuel formation.

Originally isolated from hot marine sediments, the hyperthermophile Pyrococcus furiosus grows best at temperatures around 100C (212F). P. furiosus is an archaeon, single-celled organisms that bear a resemblance to bacteria, but they excel at carrying out many processes that bacteria cannot accomplish. Like other hyperthermophiles, P. furiosus' enzymes are stable at the high temperatures that facilitate many industrial processes, making it a well-used tool in biotechnology and manufacturing. But not all products can be made at high heat. Some enzymes will only work at lower temperatures.

In the study in mBio, the authors inserted a gene from another organism into P. furiosus and coaxed it to use that gene to make a new product by simply lowering the temperature. The donor organism, Caldicellulosiruptor bescii, prefers to grow at a relatively cool 78C, so the protein product of its gene, lactate dehydrogenase, is most stable at that comparatively low temperature.

The authors of the study inserted the lactate dehyrogenase gene into a strategic spot, right next to a cold shock promoter that "turns on" the genes around it when P. furiosus is out in the cold at 72C. This essentially gives scientists a switch for controlling lactate production: put the organism at 72C to turn on lactate production, restore it to 100C to turn it off, thus preventing the need for chemical inducers. What's more, since P. furiosus is mostly shut down at these lower temperatures, making the new product doesn't interfere with its metabolism, or vice-versa.

The lead author on the study, Michael Adams of the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at the University of Georgia, explains that this is the key benefit of this system: although P. furiosus now makes the enzyme that carries out the process, at these lower temperatures the organism's other metabolic processes don't get in the way.

"The hyperthermophile is essentially the bioreactor that contains the foreign enzymes," says Adams. P. furiosus just supplies cofactors and a cytoplasmic environment for the highly active foreign enzymes, according to Adams. This makes for a cleaner, more controllable reaction.

###

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Hot new manufacturing tool: A temperature-controlled microbe

MICHIGAN CITY Teachers often refer to a light bulb moment when students finally understand the lesson. Two science teachers at Michigan City High School had their own light bulb moments, courtesy of senior Matthew Bietry who has taken his studies of microbiology to new levels.

Bietry, a three-year participant on the Science Olympiad team, developed an interest in microbiology in his sophomore year. Spurred by success at his first Science Olympiad competition, Bietry unleashed his passion delving into college-level textbooks to become an expert in his field. The result was several gold medals to add to his achievements, as well as the unwavering admiration of his teacher Andrew Jasicki and Science Olympiad coach Bob Gray.

I first met Matt when he came to my classroom to convince me to take a risk and allow him to take my class, Jasicki recalled. He wanted to enter an advanced biology course but his chemistry grade didnt fulfill the requirement. He assured me that he could do all of the work in my course so I said okay. He didnt disappoint me.

Bietry recalled the same story, and offers his own praise of his teacher, whom he calls a role model. He spent a lot of time out of his busy schedule to teach me things about microbiology, Bietry said.

Bietry said working in the lab for the Science Olympiad is what hooked his passion for microbiology. During that first year, he rode the microbiology competition on the coat tails of a more experienced member, part of the team that won a gold medal that year.

I felt guilty about that, Bietry said.

To compensate, he began reading all he could about microbiology, visiting college courses, buying college text books and searching for knowledge. He compiled a thick notebook of handwritten notes chronicling his research. This handwritten research volume is being left behind at MCHS when Bietry graduates for the Science Olympiad team his legacy to an activity that he says changed his life.

Gray watched Bietrys metamorphosis that began with his first Science Olympiad competition. One medal that first year of competition was the spark, but Bietrys own drive for knowledge was the fuel that propelled Bietry to continue collecting medals in both his junior and senior year. He even placed eighth in the state. And that one gold medal has turned into three golds and one bronze overall.

To be truthful, I didnt recognize his ability until after his success at the first Olympiad, Jasicki said. After that, I just became his assistant in the lab. He asked for materials and I would supply them. If he had a question, I would try to supply the answer he needed. I have never seen a student so interested in bacteriology. Matt really did a lot of research outside of school. What he liked most about my class is that it had a laboratory where he could work on his techniques.

Gray also faced a barrage of questions from Bietry, who served as Science Olympiad team captain in his junior and senior years. He asks questions just about non-stop, Gray said. These are good questions, not designed to waste time.

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Senior grows his talent in microbiology

Idaho Technology Launches FilmArray(R) Respiratory Panel at European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

Idaho Technology Inc.

02.04.2012 09:00

Establishes Distribution Network to Market in Europe

SALT LAKE CITY, 2012-04-02 09:00 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Idaho Technology, Inc., a privately held biotechnology and clinical diagnostics company dedicated to providing the world's fastest, highest-quality instruments for pathogen identification and DNA analysis, today announced the European launch of its FilmArray Respiratory Panel (FilmArray RP), a multiplex clinical diagnostic product that simultaneously detects 21 respiratory pathogens in about one hour. FilmArray RP is Idaho Technology's first clinical diagnostic test designed to run on the Company's user-friendly FilmArray system. The FilmArray RP received FDA 510(k) clearance last year for a panel of 15 analytes and recently achieved CE in vitro diagnostic (IVD) registration in the E.U. for a panel of 21 analytes.

The Company also announced that it is partnering with the DiaMondiaL family of distributors in strategic territories throughout Europe. Each of these partners is well recognized as a leading supplier of laboratory instruments and testing services, and will now add FilmArray RP to their product offerings.

The product is being showcased at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID), held March 31 - April 3, 2012, at ExCeL London, London, UK (Booth 567).

'Launching FilmArray RP in Europe represents a significant milestone for our clinical diagnostics business,' said Kirk Ririe, Chief Executive Officer of Idaho Technology. 'Along with our esteemed distribution partners, we are pleased to offer our user-friendly multiplex pathogen detection system to the broad community of clinical laboratory professionals. Our FilmArray system is capable of testing for a comprehensive panel of viral and bacterial pathogens in about one hour, while offering the user only two minutes of hands-on time, with no precise measuring or pipetting required. We believe this represents a significant advancement in the field of infectious disease detection, with the potential to improve the testing capacity of hospital clinical laboratories worldwide.'

Since launching in the U.S., FilmArray RP has experienced rapid adoption by the clinical laboratory community. In January 2012, Idaho Technology filed a submission with the FDA to clear five additional respiratory pathogens in an expanded panel for use on the FilmArray system. The Company expects to receive FDA clearance for the expanded panel in the second quarter of 2012. Idaho Technology is continuing to develop a broader test menu for its FilmArray system, including a blood culture ID panel, gastrointestinal panel, and an STI panel.

About FilmArray RP

Original post:
Idaho Technology Launches FilmArray(R) Respiratory Panel at European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious ...

31 March 2012 Last updated at 19:30 ET By Philippa Roxby Health reporter, BBC News

Casualty, Holby City, ER, Doc Martin. It is inconceivable that we haven't all, at some point, watched a medical drama on television.

Their popularity means viewers undoubtedly know more about gory kitchen injuries than they ever wanted to.

But when it comes to complicated medical concepts, which are difficult to explain, does drama still work?

A short drama created by the Society for General Microbiology to challenge misconceptions about MRSA screening was performed at their conference in Dublin this week.

It features two hospital cleaners, Lizzy and Carla, in a dialogue about MRSA.

Their conversation centres on Carla's mother who has told she must be screened for the infection before a hip replacement operation.

The drama was first performed at the Cheltenham Science Festival in 2010 and continues to be relevant to audiences made up of the general public.

The society is now planning to take the drama into schools and perhaps even on tour around the country.

People think there is a stigma about being tested positive for MRSA but 40% of people carry the bug on their skin.

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Drama's impact on science

WASHINGTON A Warren County Community College adjunct Microbioliology faculty member has developed a powerful new smart phone application that integrates the college's microbiology course into a handy, downloadable "app."

Pauletta Ader, who developed the application, is helping pioneer this innovative approach to integrating technology in ways that make learning convenient and effective for WCCC students. This brand new WCCC Microbiology App is now available for download on iTunes.

Once they have downloaded the app, WCCC students can use their smart phones to gain access to all the necessary course materials right in the palm of their hand. "It's really an idea whose time has come," said Ader. "The WCCC Microbiology App is the latest innovation for a school that has been the go to for the science student or busy professional who wants to further their education."

In an effort spearheaded by Ader, the college plans to expand its offerings of smart phone apps in the coming months.

"This is an important step for Warren County Community College as we forge into the future," said Dr. Will Austin, president of the school. "We all realize that with the times changing rapidly, particularly in technology, and it is key that we stay one step ahead of the curve."

To find out more information about the new WCCC app, contact Ader at pader@warren.edu. The WCCC Microbiology App uses the Study By App platform. To learn more, visit their website at http://www.studybyapp.com. For more information about WCCC and its degree and non-degree programs, go to http://www.warren.edu

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WCCC professor develops smart phone app for classroom education

STAINES, UK, March 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), a potentially fatal disease, is one

of the most common healthcare acquired infections in Europe[1]

New data presented at the 22nd European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) demonstrate that in cancer patients with CDI, DIFICLIR( fidaxomicin) may offer significant benefits in terms of clinical cure*, recurrence[#] and sustained clinical cure[=].[2]

The data presented were derived from two Phase III clinical trials. A post hoc analysis compared outcomes in patients who had a diagnosis of cancer with outcomes for patients who did not. In the clinical trials, the data on cancer diagnosis was not collected as a pre-defined endpoint.

CDI is the leading cause of healthcare-acquired diarrhoea in adults[1] and has become an increasing problem in hospitals, nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.[3] A persons risk of CDI increases with a longer period of hospitalisation.[4] Patients who have received chemotherapy and those with solid tumours can be particularly susceptible to CDI due to their long hospital stays and exposure to many antibiotics and chemotherapeutic agents.[5]

"Patients with cancer represent a vulnerable population who are at high risk of CDI, often resulting from their compromised immune system. CDI can be a devastating addition for patients who are already battling pre-existing conditions. Treatment options that reduce the burden of CDI and in particular recurrence, will allow clinicians to focus their efforts on treating the cancer." said Professor Oliver Cornely, Medical Director of the Clinical Trial Center of The University of Cologne, Germany and lead investigator of the study.

In two Phase III clinical trials, there were 1105 patients with CDI in the total modified-intent-to-treat (mITT) population, of which 183 (16.6%) patients had a current diagnosis of cancer. A post-hoc analysis of the data from this sub-group of cancer patients shows that CDI results in a lower clinical cure rate and prolonged episodes of diarrhoea.[2] When compared to patients treated with vancomycin, those treated with DIFICLIR had higher clinical cure (97.3% vs. 87.5%) and sustained clinical cure (83.6% vs. 61.3%), as well as reduced rates of recurrence (14.1% vs. 30.0%) in this population.[2]

Further data announced at ECCMID, and published this month in the Lancet Infectious Diseases supports existing DIFICLIR data by demonstrating that DIFICLIR has a similar efficacy and tolerability profile to oral vancomycin and also offers the benefit of a superior sustained response and a greater reduction in rates of recurrence.[6]

Results from the Phase III clinical trial (Study OPT-80-004) of 509 adults across Europe and North America with a diagnosis of CDI showed that patients treated with DIFICLIR had a significantly lower rate of CDI recurrence (12.7%) compared with those receiving vancomycin (26.9%, p<0.001). In addition, DIFICLIR recipients were more likely than those treated with vancomycin to achieve sustained clinical cure (76.6% vs. 63.4% respectively, p=0.001).[6]

Link:
New Data Demonstrates DIFICLIRâ„¢ May Offer Benefits for Cancer Patients, who are at High Risk of Clostridium ...

STAINES, UK, March 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), a potentially fatal disease, is one of the most common healthcare acquired infections inEurope[1]

New data presented at the 22nd European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) demonstrate that in cancer patients with CDI, DIFICLIR(fidaxomicin) may offer significant benefits in terms of clinical cure*, recurrence[#] and sustained clinical cure[=].[2]

The data presented were derived from two Phase III clinical trials. A post hoc analysis compared outcomes in patients who had a diagnosis of cancer with outcomes for patients who did not. In the clinical trials, the data on cancer diagnosis was not collected as a pre-defined endpoint.

CDI is the leading cause of healthcare-acquired diarrhoea in adults[1] and has become an increasing problem in hospitals, nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.[3] A person's risk of CDI increases with a longer period of hospitalisation.[4] Patients who have received chemotherapy and those with solid tumours can be particularly susceptible to CDI due to their long hospital stays and exposure to many antibiotics and chemotherapeutic agents.[5]

"Patients with cancer represent a vulnerable population who are at high risk of CDI, often resulting from their compromised immune system. CDI can be a devastating addition for patients who are already battling pre-existing conditions. Treatment options that reduce the burden of CDI and in particular recurrence, will allow clinicians to focus their efforts on treating the cancer." said Professor Oliver Cornely, Medical Director of the Clinical Trial Center of The University of Cologne, Germany and lead investigator of the study.

In two Phase III clinical trials, there were 1105 patients with CDI in the total modified-intent-to-treat (mITT) population, of which 183 (16.6%) patients had a current diagnosis of cancer. A post-hoc analysis of the data from this sub-group of cancer patients shows that CDI results in a lower clinical cure rate and prolonged episodes of diarrhoea.[2] When compared to patients treated with vancomycin, those treated with DIFICLIR had higher clinical cure (97.3% vs. 87.5%) and sustained clinical cure (83.6% vs. 61.3%), as well as reduced rates of recurrence (14.1% vs. 30.0%) in this population.[2]

Further data announced at ECCMID, and published this month in the Lancet Infectious Diseases supports existing DIFICLIR data by demonstrating that DIFICLIR has a similar efficacy and tolerability profile to oral vancomycin and also offers the benefit of a superior sustained response and a greater reduction in rates of recurrence.[6]

Results from the Phase III clinical trial (Study OPT-80-004) of 509 adults across Europe and North America with a diagnosis of CDI showed that patients treated with DIFICLIR had a significantly lower rate of CDI recurrence (12.7%) compared with those receiving vancomycin (26.9%, p<0.001). In addition, DIFICLIR recipients were more likely than those treated with vancomycin to achieve sustained clinical cure (76.6% vs. 63.4% respectively, p=0.001).[6]

"Results from key Phase III trials and the post-hoc analysis demonstrate the effectiveness of DIFICLIR as a novel and effective treatment in patients with CDI, but also in high risk populations, such as patients with cancer," said Ken Jones, President and CEO of Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd. "Astellas are committed to developing effective treatments for patients where there is a clear unmet medical need."

See more here:
New Data Demonstrates DIFICLIR™ May Offer Benefits for Cancer Patients, who are at High Risk of Clostridium Difficile ...

LONDON and WAYNE, Pa., March 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Molecular Detection Inc. (MDI), a company developing Detect-Ready tests designed to increase the speed and accuracy of infectious disease diagnosis, today announced it will release a new version of its Detect-Ready MRSA Panel at the 22nd European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID). The superior performance of the Detect-Ready MRSA Panel has been further enhanced by increasing the number of MRSA strains it can detect, adding MRSA strains known to be missed by at least one other market-leading assay to the universe of all known common MRSA strains that were already included. The new kit also shortens the sample preparation process and minimizes required "hands-on" time.

The Detect-Ready MRSA Panel is a qualitative real-time PCR in vitro diagnostic test. It is CE-marked for the detection of MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and MSSA (methicillin-sensitive S. aureus) and is the only marketed PCR-based MRSA screening test with the proven ability to discriminate accurately between these pathogens and other related bacteria.

"We are delighted to offer this improved version of the Detect-Ready MRSA Panel to our growing customer base," commented David Wilson, MDI's Vice President for Commercial Operations, Europe. "The inclusion of additional covered MRSA strains reinforces the superior performance of our existing test, which was recently reconfirmed in an independent comparative study with a market leading competitor. In addition, the simplicity and ease-of-use of Detect-Ready MRSA is further enhanced with our new streamlined protocol for sample prep."

Comparative data confirming the greater accuracy of the Detect-Ready MRSA panel was generated by researchers at St. Thomas' Hospital in London as part of an academic study. The study compared the performance of MDI's test and the Becton Dickinson GeneOhm MRSA PCR sold by BD Diagnostics. The researchers concluded that the Detect-Ready MRSA assay is superior to the GeneOhm panel in terms of specificity, while still providing a more rapid screening service compared to traditional microbiology culture methods.*

Detect-Ready kits are compatible with a number of the real time-PCR platforms currently found in most hospitals. Samples for testing are simple to obtain using nasal swabs and the kit's ready-to-use pre-mixed reagents require only the addition of patient sample to run the test, which provides results in less than three hours. Unlike other tests that require special handling, Detect-Ready kits are off-the-shelf room temperature-stabilized and require no refrigeration.

The Detect-Ready MRSA Panel is currently available in the UK, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, Spain, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Australia and Israel, and is in late-stage development in the US.

To learn more about the Detect-Ready MRSA Panel at ECCMID, visit Launch Diagnostics, MDI's distributor for the UK, France and Ireland, at Booth 577, or Alere, MDI's distributor for Germany, Austria and Switzerland, at Booth 615, or visit http://www.detect-ready.com.

The 22nd European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases will be held in London, UK from March 31 to April 3, 2012. For more information, visit http://www.congrex.ch/eccmid2012/home.html.

* A Comparative Study of Two MRSA PCR Assays, Sarah L. White, Eugene P. Halligan, Penelope R. Cliff Infection Sciences, GSTS Pathology, St. Thomas' Hospital, London, UK, 2011.

About Molecular Detection Molecular Detection Inc. (MDI), a US-based company with offices in Wayne, PA, Tunbridge Wells, UK and Jerusalem, Israel, is developing and commercializing a portfolio of sample-to-answer Detect-Ready molecular diagnostic tests for the detection of infectious diseases. The company's first product, a ready-to-use, rapid detection panel for hospital-based MRSA screening, is currently commercially available in the EU, Australia and the Middle East. The Detect-Ready MRSA Panel provides increased accuracy, faster time to results and more efficient utilization of hospital resources compared to other MRSA diagnostic products. MDI's real-time PCR tests are based on novel patented technologies for differential diagnosis and room-temperature stabilization. For more information, visit http://www.detect-ready.com.

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Molecular Detection Inc. Launches Improved Version of Detect-Ready® MRSA Panel at 2012 ECCMID Congress

NEW YORK, March 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:

In Vitro Diagnostics Market to 2018 - Consolidation, Decentralization and Demand for Genetic Testing to Shape the Competitive Landscape

http://www.reportlinker.com/p0804711/In-Vitro-Diagnostics-Market-to-2018---Consolidation-Decentralization-and-Demand-for-Genetic-Testing-to-Shape-the-Competitive-Landscape.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=In_Vitro_Diagnostic

In Vitro Diagnostics Market to 2018 - Consolidation, Decentralization and Demand for Genetic Testing to Shape the Competitive Landscape

Summary

GBI Research's report, "In Vitro Diagnostics Market to 2018 - Consolidation, Decentralization and Demand for Genetic Testing to Shape the Competitive Landscape" provides key data, information and analysis on the global In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) market. The report provides market landscape, competitive landscape and market trends information on seven IVD market categories: immunochemistry, clinical chemistry, infectious immunology, hematology, microbiology culture, histology and cytology and genetic testing. The report provides comprehensive information on the key trends affecting these categories, and key analytical content on the market dynamics. The report also reviews the competitive landscape, with analysis of the major Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) in the last four years and a detailed analysis of the pipeline products in each category. This report is built using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, primary and secondary research and in-house analysis by GBI Research's team of industry experts.

Scope

- The key geographies include, the US, Canada, the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, China, India, Australia and Brazil.

- Market size data for seven In Vitro Diagnostics market categories immunochemistry, clinical chemistry, infectious immunology, hematology, microbiology culture, histology and cytology and genetic testing.

- Annualized market revenue data, seven-year forecasts through to 2018, as well as company share data for 2010.

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In Vitro Diagnostics Market to 2018 - Consolidation, Decentralization and Demand for Genetic Testing to Shape the ...

Public release date: 27-Mar-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

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

The recent explosion in the number of retractions in scientific journals is just the tip of the iceberg and a symptom of a greater dysfunction that has been evolving the world of biomedical research say the editors-in-chief of two prominent journals in a presentation before a committee of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) today.

"Incentives have evolved over the decades to encourage some behaviors that are detrimental to good science," says Ferric Fang, editor-in-chief of the journal Infection and Immunity, a publication of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), who is speaking today at the meeting of the Committee of Science, Technology, and Law of the NAS along with Arturo Casadevall, editor-in -chief of mBio, the ASM's online, open-access journal.

In the past decade the number of retraction notices for scientific journals has increased more than 10-fold while the number of journals articles published has only increased by 44%. While retractions still represent a very small percentage of the total, the increase is still disturbing because it undermines society's confidence in scientific results and on public policy decisions that are based on those results, says Casadevall. Some of the retractions are due to simple error but many are a result of misconduct including falsification of data and plagiarism.

More concerning, say the editors, is that this trend may be a symptom of a growing dysfunction in the biomedical sciences, one that needs to be addressed soon. At the heart of the problem is an economic incentive system fueling a hypercompetitive environment that is fostering poor scientific practices, including frank misconduct.

The root of the problem is a lack of sufficient resources to sustain the current enterprise. Too many researchers are competing for too little funding, creating a survival-of-the-fittest, winner-take-all environment where researchers increasingly feel pressure to publish, especially in high-prestige journals.

"The surest ticket to getting a grant or job is getting published in a high profile journal," says Fang. "This is an unhealthy belief that can lead a scientist to engage in sensationalism and sometimes even dishonest behavior to salvage their career."

Funding is just one aspect of a very complex problem Casadevall and Fang see growing in the biomedical sciences. In a series of editorials in the journal Infection and Immunity they describe their views in detail, arguing that science is not as healthy as it could be or as it needs to be to effectively address the challenges facing humanity in the 21st century.

"Incentives in the current system place scientists under tremendous stress, discourage cooperation, encourage poor scientific practices and deter new talent from entering the field," they write. "It is time for a discussion of how the scientific enterprise can be reformed to become more effective and robust."

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Has modern science become dysfunctional?

Public release date: 26-Mar-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Laura Udakis l.udakis@sgm.ac.uk 44-079-908-26696 Society for General Microbiology

Cold-like infections make 'cough receptors' in the airways more sensitive, making asthmatics more prone to bouts of coughing and wheezing, reveal scientists presenting their findings at the Society for General Microbiology's Spring Conference in Dublin. The work could lead to drugs that reduce virus-induced coughing in those suffering chronic lung diseases.

Asthmatics often report bouts of coughing, wheezing and breathlessness when they have a cold and there is no current medicine that sufficiently treats this problem. Researchers at Queen's University Belfast are investigating 'cough receptors' that line the cells of the airway and how these are affected by rhinovirus a virus frequently responsible for the common cold. The team showed that rhinovirus infection caused an increase in the number of these cough receptors making the airways more sensitive.

Dr Hani'ah Abdullah, who is working on the project, explained how these receptors, called transient receptor potential (TRP) receptors, work. "TRP receptors respond to chemical and physical stimuli in the environment such as pollutants in the air, a change in air temperature and some of the toxic chemicals found in cigarette smoke. Once activated, these receptors cause the individual to cough and wheeze." she said.

Professor Louise Cosby and Dr Lorcan McGarvey from the Centre for Infection and Immunity, Queen's University Belfast, are jointly leading the research team of scientists and clinicians. Their group took airway cells from mild asthmatics and healthy individuals and infected them in the laboratory with rhinovirus, which is the most common virus to exacerbate symptoms of asthma. The results showed that rhinovirus infection caused an increase in the number of TRP receptors in the airway cells and that this effect was most pronounced in the mild asthmatics. "The increase in receptor numbers makes individuals more sensitive to environmental stimuli, making them more likely to suffer from prolonged bouts of coughing," explained Dr Abdullah.

The findings of this study may lead to new drugs that reduce virus-induced cough and wheeze in asthmatics and those with other chronic lung diseases. "It's feasible that therapies could be developed that block either the sensitivity of cough receptors or their increase in number. This would keep symptoms under control and ultimately improve the lives of asthmatics," said Dr Abdullah.

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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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How colds cause coughs and wheezes

Phosphorus in the form of phosphate - is essential for all living things as a component of DNA and RNA and its role in cellular metabolism. Around 38 million tonnes of phosphorus are extracted each year from rock. Most of this extracted phosphorus goes into the production of fertilizers to replace the phosphates that plants remove from the soil. However, it is a scare natural resource and current estimates suggest that reserves of phosphate rock may only last for the next 45-100 years.

Researchers at Queen's University Belfast (QUB) are developing a novel biological process to remove extracted phosphate from wastewater where it ultimately ends up after manufacturing. Dr John McGrath who is leading the project explained, "Phosphate in wastewater is a pollutant that causes increased growth of algae and plants, reducing the oxygen available for aquatic organisms. This is known as eutrophication and poses the single biggest threat to water quality in Northern Ireland and indeed globally."

The work at QUB has focused on microorganisms that capture and store phosphate from wastewater, and how this process varies under different nutritional and environmental conditions. "A variety of microbes in wastewater accumulate phosphorus inside their cells and store it as a biopolymer known as polyphosphate. In some cases, this can represent up to 20% of the dry weight of the microorganism!" explained Dr McGrath. "If we can harness this process we have a feasible biotechnological route to remove and recycle phosphate from wastewater."

The team have recently discovered a physiological 'shock' treatment which significantly increases microbial uptake of phosphorus and its accumulation inside cells. "It's similar to jumping into the sea on a winter's day the first thing you do is take a sharp intake of breath. When we shock the microorganisms, their response is to take in phosphorus," explained Dr McGrath. "We've demonstrated this using activated sludge, containing a variety of microbes, from wastewater treatment works and shown this shock treatment is effective at producing a phosphorus-rich biomass suitable for phosphorus recycling."

Dr McGrath believes that developing such biotechnological processes is essential for regenerating valuable mineral resources. "No alternative to phosphorus exists we urgently need to find ways of recovering and recycling phosphates. It's a pollutant we can't live without." he said. "Phosphates are currently removed from wastewater by chemical methods, however this is expensive and results in the production of large volumes of sludge. In contrast, the process we are developing is sustainable and efficient."

Provided by Society for General Microbiology

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'Bacterial shock' to recapture essential phosphate