-
Rapid test for pathogens developed by K-State researchers
Could be used to detect diseases used by bioterrorists
-
-
Science and the anthrax case: Case closed?
The authoritative scientific journal Nature says that the FBI’s evidence against Bruce Ivins is impressive, but that the case is not closed as many important questions remain unanswered
-
-
Salmonella-suspect Mexican peppers still being sold in U.S.
The CDC and FDA now suspect the Mexican jalapeño peppers are the cause of the outbreak of salmonella poisoning which has sickened 1,434 people in the United States so far, but these peppers are still being sold in the to U.S., if for a lower price
-
-
Maple Leaf Foods in $2 million meat recall
Canadian food processing giant struggles to maintain health and safety standards while coping with financial difficulties
-
-
FDA: Irradiating spinach, lettuce OK to kill germs
Consumers worried about salad safety may soon be able to buy fresh spinach and iceberg lettuce zapped with just enough radiation to kill E. coli and a few other germs
-
-
New immunization strategy better in handling epidemics, computer viruses
New immunization approach fragments the population to be immunized into many connected clusters of equal size; by creating equal-size clusters, doses do not have to be “wasted” on isolating very small clusters, as in the traditional targeted strategy
-
-
The pandemic potential of H9N2 avian influenza viruses
Researchers show that some currently circulating avian H9N2 viruses can transmit to naïve ferrets placed in direct contact with infected ferrets — but aerosol transmission was not observed, a key factor in potentially pandemic strains
-
-
New bird flu strain detected in Nigeria
Nigeria has reported two new highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks; laboratory results show that the newly discovered virus strain (H5N1, clade 2, EMA3) is genetically different from the strains that circulated in Nigeria during earlier outbreaks
-
-
Decision on national biolab nears
Five states are vying to host to new, $450 million national biolab which will replace the aging Plum island facility; some lawmakers are questioning the selection process: an internal DHS review ranked the Mississippi site in Flora 14th out of 17 sites originally considered, yet it made it to the final five
-
-
Mysterious disease kills indigenous tribe members in Venezuela
Scientists suspect bat-transmitted rabies, but without epidemiological studies and confirmatory lab work, that conclusion remains speculative
-
-
Indonesia probes bird flu outbreak in Sumatra
Thirteen people in a Sumatra village taken ill with what Indonesian specialists think is a bird flu outbreak; the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu has killed more than 240 people worldwide since late 2003; Indonesia is the country worst-hit by the virus
-
-
UNDT provides anthrax detection gear to Beijing Olympics
Universal Detection Technology delivers anthrax detection equipment to Beijing; the detection equipment is capable of detecting not only anthrax, but also ricin toxin, botulinum toxin, plague, and SEBs
-
-
Edible optical sensor to watch for bacteria in food
Tufts University researchers demonstrate for the first time that it is possible to design “living” optical elements that could enable an entirely new class of sensors; these sensors would combine sophisticated nanoscale optics with biological readout functions, be biocompatible and biodegradable, and be manufactured and stored at room temperatures without use of toxic chemicals
-
-
New virus fights other viruses by spreading at their expense
Newly discovered virsu may help fight viral infections by hijacking the replication machinery of the lethal viruses; the new virsus — called Sputnik — is the first member of a new class they call “virophages”
-
-
New DNA sequencing techniques convince FBI of Ivins's culpability
Since 2001 techniques for sequencing microbial DNA have vastly improved and there has been a massive effort to sequence more anthrax samples
-
