Science Current Events | Science News | Brightsurf.com
 
Email a Friend Send to a friend
Printer Friendly Print New UNC laboratory to help track and control tropical diseases
Slashdot It! Slashdot New UNC laboratory to help track and control tropical diseases
Submit to Reddit Submit New UNC laboratory to help track and control tropical diseases to Reddit
Reading: New UNC laboratory to help track and control tropical diseasesTwitter This Reading: New UNC laboratory to help track and control tropical diseasesTwitter New UNC laboratory to help track and control tropical diseases
Add to Facebook Add New UNC laboratory to help track and control tropical diseases to Facebook

New UNC laboratory to help track and control tropical diseases

September 26, 2008

CHAPEL HILL - The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Public Health has established a new Gillings Innovation Lab to track and map tropical infectious diseases such as malaria, using state-of-the-art molecular and demographic methods.

Better information about the prevalence and location of diseases will help national and international health organizations around the world treat and control these diseases.




Steven R. Meshnick, M.D., Ph.D., UNC an epidemiology professor in the School of Public Health and an expert on molecular epidemiology and infectious diseases, will lead the new project, known as the laboratory for molecular surveillance of tropical diseases.

The lab will work with the research and evaluation company ORC-Macro, the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, Belgium, and the Kinshasa School of Public Health in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Together, the group will measure the distribution of malaria, drug-resistant malaria, African sleeping sickness and other infectious diseases in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

"Infectious diseases remain the leading cause of death and disability in developing countries," Meshnick said. "Current maps and prevalence data on tropical diseases are usually estimates based on samples that paint a potentially inaccurate picture. We want to help international and national health organizations get better data and maps for tropical diseases from representative population-based surveys. Better information will help guide efforts to control tropical diseases, and also will help in evaluating the effectiveness of efforts to control their spread."

The team includes geographer Mike Emch, Ph.D., associate professor in the College of Arts and Sciences, and molecular microbiologist, Melissa Miller, Ph.D., assistant professor in the pathology and laboratory medicine department in the School of Medicine. It also includes Democratic Republic of Congo scientists, which should help build expertise within the country.

Meshnick said he hoped the new lab's disease surveillance approach will become a model for similar surveillance programs in other developing countries.

"This work will help the 'poorest of the poor,' who bear the brunt of the burden of tropical diseases," Meshnick said.

The team's initial work will involve analyzing 9,000 dried blood spots collected in 2007 for tracking HIV infection.

The Gillings Innovation Labs, part of Carolina Public Health Solutions, were established in the school in 2007 and are funded through a $50 million gift pledged by Dennis and Joan Gillings. In honor of the gift, the school will be renamed the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health on Friday (Sept. 26).

The labs' purpose is to anticipate future public health challenges and accelerate solutions through groundbreaking science, research, teaching and practice, and through interdisciplinary teams and effective translation of interventions to high-impact settings. Meshnick's is the 10th such lab announced by the school. It will begin in January 2009 and continue for two years.

Other Gillings Innovation Labs have been established to develop vaccines for respiratory diseases that are simpler to store and administer than current vaccines; provide greater access to safe and clean water; improve care for the mentally ill; monitor air quality; and weigh benefits of locally grown foods.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill





Science News and Science Current Events Tag Cloud
This tag cloud is a visual representation of term frequencies of random science news topics with common terms grouped together and emphasized by their display size.
Blood Flow   Sleep Disorder   Lymphedema   Neurodegenerative Disease   Peptides   Solar Cells   Cartilage   Kidney Stones   Pacemaker   Eating Disorders   Supercomputer   Sleep Disorders   Quasars   Cancer Cells   Superconductor   Coral Reefs   Pulmonary Fibrosis   Mercury Emissions   Sleeping Sickness   Stratosphere   Body Fat   Video Games   Mad Cow Disease   Academic Performance   Heart Muscle  
Related Tropical Diseases Current Events and Tropical Diseases News Articles Tropical Diseases Current Events and Tropical Diseases News RSS Tropical Diseases Current Events and Tropical Diseases News RSS
U of M study finds new insight on therapy for a devastating parasitic disease
University of Minnesota Medical School researchers have discovered an important new insight into how a commonly prescribed drug may work to treat those infected by a parasitic flatworm.

New accurate diagnostic test for swine H1N1 influenza using RT-PCR technology
A new, easy-to-perform method for detecting both seasonal influenza A virus and the emerging H1N1 swine-derived influenza A virus in human clinical samples offers a fast, sensitive, and cost-effective diagnostic test that runs on standard laboratory equipment.

Old Stain in a New Combination
New combinations of agents based on the oldest synthetic malaria drug, the methylene blue stain, can curb the spread of malaria parasites and make a significant contribution to the long-term eradication called for by the international "Roll Back Malaria Initiative."

New hope for advances in treating malaria
Researchers at the University of Leeds have developed chemicals which kill the most deadly malaria-causing parasite, Plasmodium falciparum -- including those resistant to existing drugs.

Community spread of trachoma could be stopped by treating all household members
All members of the household need to be treated for trachoma in order to prevent rapid re-infection, according to a new study published in PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Predicting mosquito outbreaks for disease control
University of Adelaide researchers have shown they can predict the biggest population peaks of disease-carrying mosquitoes up to two months ahead.

Local climate influences dengue transmission
Researchers from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have found that dengue transmission in Puerto Rico is dependent upon local climate and short-term changes in temperature and precipitation.

Pathogenic soil bacterium is influenced by land management practices
Researchers from Menzies School of Health Research in Darwin, Australia have found that the soil bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei, which causes the emerging infectious disease melioidosis in humans and animals, is associated with land management changes such as livestock husbandry or residential gardening.

Fractional dose of scarce meningitis vaccine may be effective in outbreak control
One fifth of the standard dose of a commonly used meningitis vaccine may be as effective as using the full dose.

Contact lenses are home to pathogenic amoebae
Contact lenses increase the risk of infection with pathogenic protozoa that can cause blindness.
More Tropical Diseases Current Events and Tropical Diseases News Articles
Manson's Tropical Diseases: Expert Consult

Manson's Tropical Diseases: Expert Consult
by Gordon C. Cook MD DSc FRCP(Lond) FRCP(Edin) FRACP FLS (Author), Alimuddin I. Zumla BSc MBChB MSc PhD(Lond) FRCP(Lond) FRCP(Edin) (Author)

From the difficult to diagnose to the difficult to treat, be prepared for whatever your patients bring back. The revised and updated 22nd edition of Manson's Tropical Diseases provides you with the latest coverage on emerging and re-emerging diseases from around the world, such as multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis and malaria, the avian flu, and more. Boxes and tables highlight key information on current therapies. And now, as an Expert Consult title, you can access the information you need online as well as in print!

Covers every aspect of Tropical Medicine in detail, not just infections.
Takes both a system-based and a disease approach, with extensive cross-referencing to minimize duplication.
Includes a strong clinical focus, emphasized by clinical management...

Forgotten People, Forgotten Diseases: The Neglected Tropical Diseases and Their Impact on Global Health and Development

Forgotten People, Forgotten Diseases: The Neglected Tropical Diseases and Their Impact on Global Health and Development
by Peter J., Ph.D. Hotez (Author)

Some of the worst tropical diseases in the world have too long been ignored. Parasitic and bacterial diseases such as hookworm, snail fever, river blindness, guinea worm, elephantiasis, sleeping sickness, and leprosy are the most common infections of third-world populations. These neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) represent one of the most important reasons why populations living in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America remain caught in a vicious cycle of poverty, stigma, and despair.

With a lifetime devoted to the subject of tropical diseases, the well-known expert Dr. Peter Hotez provides a comprehensive view of these forgotten diseases. Written in accessible, straightforward language, Forgotten People, Forgotten Diseases thoroughly explains the most significant NTDs,...

Infectious and Tropical Diseases: A Handbook for Primary Care

Infectious and Tropical Diseases: A Handbook for Primary Care
by Tao Sheng Kwan-Gett (Author), Charles Kemp (Author), Carrie Kovarik (Author)

This practical reference provides a single, concise source of current information on the diseases and conditions common among immigrants, refugees, travelers, and persons in contact with these populations in the developed world. An easy-to-use format makes this reference ideal for primary care and other providers in a variety of clinical settings. It also features content on agents that may be used as biological warfare. * Diseases and conditions are arranged in alphabetical order for quick reference. * Concise discussions of 93 infectious diseases and conditions of immigrants, refugees, travelers, and those in contact with these populations * The ability to search by either signs and symptoms, geographic area, or diseases and disorders. * A discussion on emerging infectious diseases and...

Tropical Lung Disease, Second Edition

Tropical Lung Disease, Second Edition
by Informa HealthCare

This authoritative guide provides state-of-the-art reviews of the most commonly encountered infectious and noninfectious tropical pulmonary diseases and emphasizes current approaches to the identification, diagnosis, and treatment of tropical lung disorders-offering a concise overview of imaging services in the tropics, as well as authoritative coverage of specific diseases such as tuberculosis, tropical pulmonary eosinophilia, schistosomiasis, malaria, amebiasis, Behcet's disease, and Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF).

Atlas of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology: Text with CD-ROM

Atlas of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology: Text with CD-ROM
by Wallace Peters MD(London) DSc(London) Docteur Honoris Causa(Universite Rene Descartes Paris) FRCP DTM&H (Author), Geoffrey Pasvol MA(Oxon) MB ChB DPhil(Oxon) FRCP FRCPE (Author)

Increased global travel has changed the way we think about disease distribution. Diseases once considered of localised interest can be disseminated more readily than ever due to the increased speed of international travel. This is your perfect visual guide to diagnosing these diseases. The Sixth Edition of this internationally acclaimed atlas is the most comprehensive ever, with extensively revised text and more than 1200 stunning images.

See the latest on such infections as the H5N1 strain of avian flu and West Nile Virus.Catch up with expanded coverage of the continuing of HIV/AIDS and related infections.Find information quicker and more easily with a new consistent chapter organisation.Get even more comprehensive visual coverage with hundreds of new, full-colour images.Use all...

Tropical Disease

Tropical Disease
by Tiny Dog Records



Rapid Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine

Rapid Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine
by Rachel Isba (Author)

This new pocket guide provides rapid facts for everyday use in clinical practice and is an ideal resource for exam preparation.

Rapid Infectious Diseases & Tropical Medicine is the fourth title in the new Rapid series and is the ideal companion for medical students and junior doctors working on a wide range of clinical attachments, as well as general practitioners and emergency medical staff treating patients in primary care situations. It provides quick access to information on the common infectious diseases, their signs, symptoms, and aetiological agents. Arranged in A-Z format, each disease is covered using the same headings - Definition, Aetiology, Associations/Risk Factors, Epidemiology, History, Examination, Pathology, Investigations, Management, Complications, and...

Tropical Science Biolabs Immune Plus - Disease Preventative 64oz

Tropical Science Biolabs Immune Plus - Disease Preventative 64oz
by Tropical Science Biolabs

Immune Plus - A for All Freshwater Fish 64ozDisease-causing germs and parasites are a constant threat to the health and well being of every fish in the aquarium. In their natural habitats fish have certain protector bacteria that help to fight off a wide variety of diseases. Immune-Plus contains billions of scientifically cultivated protector bacteria, which create a dramatically healthier environment in the aquarium. Immune-Plus does not contain any copper sulfate, copper salts, green or blue dyes, dangerous chemicals, drugs or hazardous pesticides. Immune-Plus is completely safe for all freshwater fish and aquatic plants; its the natural way to keep fish healthy. A revolutionary pro-biotic formula that contains literally billions of bacterial bodyguards to protect fish from disease....

Tropical Disease

Tropical Disease

AUSTRALIA IMPORT OFF THE HIP RECORDS 2008 Swamp, blues, surf and garage all go into MIDNIGHT WOOLF's heady brew. "Tropical Disease" is their fourth, and best, album. Think Cramps, Gun Club, Johnny Cash, or Australia's own Exotics

Manson's Tropical Diseases

Manson's Tropical Diseases
by Gordon C. Cook MD DSc FRCP(Lond) FRCP(Edin) FRACP FLS (Author), Alimuddin I. Zumla BSc MBChB MSc PhD(Lond) FRCP(Lond) FRCP(Edin) (Author)

Royal Free and Univ. College London, UK. Brandon/Hill Medical List selection (#615). Comprehensive and authoritative text for physicians, scientists, nurses, and paramedical personnel worldwide. All chapters have been revised and updated, several rewritten, and this edition includes 10 new chapters. Previous edition: c1996.

© 2009 BrightSurf.com