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By Category: Research

Structure of Lassa virus protein reveals viral thievery

(Emory University) Scientists have solved the structure of a key protein from Lassa virus, which is endemic to West Africa and can cause a deadly hemorrhagic fever. The structure reveals how the virus evades its host’s immune system, and how it hijacks infected cells’ vital machinery in a process scientists call “cap-stealing.” Details of the Read More »

November 17, 2010
| Filed under North America and Research
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NIH scientists show how anthrax bacteria impair immune response

(NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) Researchers from NIAID, part of the National Institutes of Health, have determined a key mechanism by which Bacillus anthracis bacteria initiate anthrax infection despite being greatly outnumbered by immune system scavenger cells. The finding, made by studying genetically modified mice, adds new detail to the picture of early-stage Read More »

November 17, 2010
| Filed under North America and Research
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Kansas Officials Stand by Planned Biosecurity Lab

Kansas officials said yesterday they were not deterred by a new report that raised questions about locating a high-level biosecurity laboratory in an area of their state heavily populated with residents and cattle, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, Nov. 16). Citing a Homeland Security Department risk assessment, the National Research Council report issued this Read More »

November 17, 2010
| Filed under North America, Biosafety, and Research
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New Jersey Firm Wins $8.2M Biodefense Contract

The New Jersey biopharmaceutical firm Snowdon on Tuesday announced receiving a three-year Defense Department contract worth up to $8.2 million for the creation of biological warfare countermeasures (see GSN, Sept. 21). Experimental drugs developed for fighting particular disease agents would undergo testing in secured facilities at the Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Pathogens in New Read More »

November 11, 2010
| Filed under North America, Biotechnology, Countermeasures, and Research
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U.K. Says Terrorism is Bigger Threat Than Nuclear Proliferation

The United Kingdom’s newly released National Security Strategy lists terrorism and cyber warfare as the chief threats facing the nation, Reuters reported today (see GSN, July 9). “Our strategy sets clear priorities — counterterrorism, cyber, international military crisis, and disasters such as floods,” the Conservative-led government said in the document. Today’s release of the National Read More »