Recent News

By Category: Agents & Toxins

Foot-and-mouth disease study could save millions of animals

USA TODAY — A paper out today in the journal Science could save the lives of millions of cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. Researchers in the United Kingdom have proven that the infectious period for foot-and-mouth disease is only 1.7 days on average, rather than the four to eight days previously believed. That number means Read More »

May 9, 2011
| Filed under North America, Agents & Toxins, Agriculture, and Research
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UCSF Botulism Research Translates Into Bioterrorism Treatment

UCSF NEWS – UCSF basic research into botulism has translated into a novel antitoxin to protect against bioterrorism, with the first clinical trials launching soon to assess the resulting vaccine’s safety. This first-ever recombinant human therapy to target the deadly Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin could serve both to treat poisoning and protect against it for six Read More »

May 6, 2011
| Filed under Agents & Toxins, Bioterrorism, and Research
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A small pox, a big debate

ABC ONLINE — In a few weeks time the WHO will meet to consider whether or not to formally recommend that the last remaining stocks of smallpox virus be permanently destroyed. At least two laboratories in the USA and Russia are said to maintain stocks of the virus frozen in liquid nitrogen, presumably as a Read More »

May 5, 2011
| Filed under Europe, North America, Agents & Toxins, International, and Policy & Initiatives
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Cellular Protein that Acts as Receptor for Ebola and Marburg Virus Identified

DAILY NEWS & ANALYSIS – A team of scientists has identified a cellular protein that acts as a receptor for Ebola virus and Marburg virus. Furthermore, the team showed that an antibody, which binds to the receptor protein, is able to block infection by both viruses. “This is the first receptor identified for Ebola and Read More »

May 5, 2011
| Filed under North America, Agents & Toxins, and Research
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Research team identifies receptor for Ebola virus

(University of Iowa Health Care) A University of Iowa-led team of researchers has identified a cellular protein that acts as a receptor for Ebola virus and Marburg virus. Furthermore, the team showed that an antibody, which binds to the receptor protein, is able to block infection by both viruses. The results suggest that a human-compatible Read More »