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USDA and Spanish scientists develop anti-E. coli food wrap
Made from apple puree and oregano oil, product could displace traditional water-based washes; essential oils have natural antimicrobial abilities, but oregano is best against E. coli; sugary coating permits long-term adhesion to fruits and vegetables
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Nanotechnology allows for rapid detection of viruses
Forget waiting anxiously for days for lab test results; a new nanotechnology allows for detection of dangerous viruses within seconds — something which patients will appreciate as much as homeland security and first responders eager to identify a bioterror attack sooner rather than later
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SIGA wins $2.3 million in Air Force biodefense projects
Company is known for its SIGA-246 smallpox drug, but its competencies are far ranging; new contracts call for drugs to counteract Dengue viruses, biowarfare pathogens, and orthopox viruses other than smallopox
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Hawaii set to award flu management contract
With $2.6 million, the custom system must track flu victims, hospital admissions, and drug distribution; due to large numbers of domestic and international visitors, as well as geographic isolation, Hawaii is particularly vulnerable to an epidemic; contract is just part of an $11 million pandemic campaign
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MIT researcher creates anti-flu paint
Daubed onto doorknobs or aircraft tray tables, prickly polymer punctures bacterium and virus cells; Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus reduced by a factor of 10,000 within minutes
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Israeli company BioPen offers in-the-field testing for bioagent exposure
Miniaturized technology offers a complete ELISA array for only $15 a test; device can also test for water potability and various cancers; researchers are actively looking for $1-2 million in R&D funding
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New England planners look to athenahealth to track epidemic health outcomes
Exercise at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center will test an Internet-based approach to handling patient care; ability to provide surge capacity and manage patient records key factors; athenaNet platform supports the system
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JMAR warned by NASDAQ it may be delisted
Maker of popular BioSentry and other laser-based and X-ray detection systems receives note from NASDAQ that it is not in compliance with the minimum bid price requirement and may be delisted
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Investors wary of Emergent going into IPO
With government the only purchaser of anthrax vaccines, market size and cash flow are major comcerns; ongoing troubles with vaccines — for Emergent and VaxGen — suggests a bad long-term investment; company’s post-anthrax plans are uncertain
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University consortium melds agro-safety with business continuity
Created by Virginia Tech, UC Davis and others, the Agricultural Vulnerability Assessment Training Program helps farmers defend their crops and make contingency plans; thirty-four courses to be offered nationwide; program funded by $2 million DHS grant
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Agroterror overview
The vast dispersion of the American agriculture industry makes prevention of agroterror difficult; the best approach is a tracking and mitigation regime that prevents infection after an attack; GIS technology, matched up with RFID tags and sensors, is the most likely solution
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Promising test results for SIGA's smallpox drug
The prospect of terrorists infecting the population with smallpox is taken seriously by those in charge of biodefense;
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VaxGen on the brink after FDA puts a clinical hold on anthrax vaccine
Concerned about stability, FDA tells VaxGen to hold off on phase 2 testing; Health and Human Services looks ready to terminate $877 million contract; with $50 million in cash on hand but no revenue stream, company stock plunges in Friday trading
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Cornell scientists fight back against Hendra and Nipah viruses
Emerging technique inhibits the zoonotic viruses from binding to human cells; both Hendra and Nipah are seen as potential bioweapons
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CA spinach and lettuce industry volunteers itself for regulatory oversight
Worried about flagging consumer confidence, the Western Growers Association asks state health officials to pass tougher food safety rules; proposed penalties could include injunctions against sale and criminal prosecution
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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.