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Researchers find microinjection efficient at delivering anthrax vaccine
Compared with intramuscular delivery, microneedles are just as effective but require less vaccine; results an important step forward in developing and maintaining a working stockpile
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TFAH cites major problems with state pandemic planning
Shortages of hospital beds and nurses top the list; flu vaccination rates decline in thirteen states, as does public health spending; Trust for America’s Health offers recommendations for improved preparedness
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Researchers locate anthrax's Achilles' heal
Bacteria a master at using siderophores to extract iron from human hosts; researchers identify stealth protein that ovecomes human defenses; discovery could lead to improved drugs and testing
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Frost and Sullivan offers report on WMD detection market
Business is booming, particularly in the federal sector; some end users, however, are shying away from the sometimes unreliable technology; research firm suggests industry needs better PR
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Taiwanese researchers use lasers to weigh viruses
Method could improve identification of deadly pathogens; scientists use ion trap to bombard virus particles with laser light; a chip measures resultant oscillation to determine mass; technique limited to 50 nanometers or larger
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Green onion contamination fuels cry for industry regulation
Complaining that federal oversight is lacking, supermarkets hire their own inspectors and demand growers shape up; in response, growers suggest a marketing order would be appropriate until new rules are drafted
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Synergetics to support Animal Health and Surveillance Management
Coloradan IT company wins a multi-year contract with USDA to “beef” up its livestock health monitoring system; software to undergo vigorous testing and overhaul; new forms for disease reporting
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Aethlon Medical moves forward with Hemopurifier
System removes viral pathogens such as Marburg and smallpox from human circulation; company requests an investigational device exemption under Project BioShield; dengue-related tests to begin in India
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CDC awards $11.4 million in contracts for avian flu diagnostics
Agency hopes for a rapid bedside test that can be used by untrained personnel; winners are Cepheid, IQuum, Meso Scale Diagnostics, and Nanogen; more money forthcoming for successful companies
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Interpol proposes model anti-bioterror law
Agency hopes to encourage states to criminalize the development and transfer of deadly pathogens; many countries limit prosecution to actual use; investigatory restrictions a major problem for some
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GreeneChip offers rapid diagnosis of 30,000 pathogens
Unlike systems that can only test blood samples, new technology can assay tissue, urine, and stool; from Marburg to urinary tract infections, Columbia University’s GreeneChip offers a fast and inexpensive testing regime
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Llama blood to assist in detecting pathogens
Breakthrough effort at the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research manipulates antibodies that can survive high temperatures; single-chain molecules do not fold under heat; Marburg and ebola assays first on the agenda
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UK asks scientists to serve as bioterror barometers
After a Guardian reporter buys smallpox DNA on-line, the British government asks the Royal Society and other scientific bodies to keep a close look-out for emerging threats
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Colorado researchers produce a better chemical warfare suit
Conventional butyl rubber is blended with polymerizable liquid crystal; water transfer rates and permeability substantially improved, allowing for lighter and safer suits; other applications include filters for brine and contaminated water
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Longwatch to participate in WaterSentinel
Company will install remote video alarm monitoring services; WaterSentinel a major push to secure nation’s water supplies; integration with SCADA protocol a major factor in winning such projects; company looks for installation and integration partners
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The long view
Huge Areas May Face Possibly Fatal Heat Waves if Warming Continues
A new assessment warns that if Earth’s average temperature reaches 2 degrees C over the preindustrial average, widespread areas may become too hot during extreme heat events for many people to survive without artificial cooling.