Recent News

By Region: North America

Life as We Grow It: The Promises and Perils of Synthetic Biology

(Discover) What if you could turn a bread machine into your personal pharmacy? Or fill your gas tank with fuel made from grass clippings? Or light your home with glowing houseplants? While radical in concept, these ideas are startlingly practical and already in the works. Researchers are reimagining biology to turn the inherent productivity of Read More »

August 29, 2013
| Filed under Europe, North America, and Research
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Poultry chain potentially linked to increased H5N1 transmission

(Healio) There are four key stages within the poultry chain that may increase risk for transmission of the influenza A(H5N1) virus, according to findings published online. Diana Bell, PhD, of the University of East Anglia in Norfolk, United Kingdom, and colleagues adopted a system widely used in the food production industry, known as Hazard Analysis Read More »

August 28, 2013
| Filed under Asia/Pacific, Europe, North America, Agriculture, and Research
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MERS Virus Discovered in Bat Near Outbreak Site in Saudi Arabia

(GlobalBiodefense) A 100% genetic match for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) has been discovered in an insect-eating bat in close proximity to the first known case of the disease in Saudi Arabia. The discovery points to the likely animal origin for the disease, although researchers say that an intermediary animal is likely also involved. Led Read More »

August 23, 2013
| Filed under Europe, Middle East, North America, Public Health, and Research
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Uganda: High Alert Over Crimean Fever

(AllAfrica) The ministry of Health on Wednesday confirmed the first death from the Congo Crimean Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) at Mulago hospital, since the outbreak was announced on August 16, 2013. According to a ministry statement, the 27-year-old female patient, a resident of Nansana, was admitted to Mulago on August 16, with febrile illness, severe anaemia, Read More »

August 23, 2013
| Filed under Africa, Europe, North America, International, and Public Health
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New explanation for key step in anthrax infection proposed

(ScienceDaily) A new hypothesis concerning a crucial step in the anthrax infection process has been advanced by scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) at Fort Detrick, Md. The research teams have explored the behavior of the toxins that rapidly overwhelm Read More »