Imperial to lead the way in developing vaccines against bio-weaponsNovember 01, 2004Scientists at Imperial College London and Hammersmith Hospital are to help develop new vaccines in case of a terrorist release of biological agents such as anthrax. The team has been awarded $4.5 million by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the US National Institute of Health (NIH) to develop new vaccines against a possible bio-terrorist attack, and new emerging infectious diseases. Dr Danny Altmann, lead researcher at Imperial College London and Hammersmith Hospital comments: "Despite many of the current possible bio-weapons having existed for many years we only have a limited defence against them. With the increased threat of terrorism and bio-terrorism it is vital that we develop a much greater understanding of these biological agents including anthrax. This programme will allow us to develop more effective measures to protect the population in the event of an attack. "At the same time, the research will also be of huge benefit in understanding new and emerging infectious diseases, whilst we carry out fundamental research into immunology. This fundamental research will also help to develop much more effective diagnostics and treatment which can be used for a variety of diseases." Working with colleagues from the University of Newcastle, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, UK, University of Maryland and the US Navy, Dr Altmann will use state of the art technologies to develop new diagnostics and treatments for anthrax. Imperial College, University of London |
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| Related Anthrax Current Events and Anthrax News Articles Milestone biodefense publication by Elsevier journal Vaccine Last week during the 'Vaccines for Biothreats and Emerging and Neglected Diseases Symposium' in Galveston TX, USA, the Elsevier journal Vaccine released a supplement dedicated to vaccines for biodefense. Cigarettes Harbor Many Bacteria Harmful to Human Health Cigarettes are "widely contaminated" with bacteria, including some known to cause disease in people, concludes a new international study conducted by a University of Maryland environmental health researcher and microbial ecologists at the Ecole Centrale de Lyon in France. New explanation for nature's hardiest life form Got food poisoning? The cause might be bacterial spores, en extremely hardy survival form of bacteria, a nightmare for health care and the food industry and an enigma for scientists. Better immune defense against anthrax Scientists discover a gene in anthrax-causing bacteria may help defend against this form of bio-warfare. Argonne researchers develop method that aims to stabilize antibodies Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory have developed a systematic method to improve the stability of antibodies. Early detection and quick response are key to defense against anthrax attack A large attack on a major metropolitan area with airborne anthrax could affect more than a million people, necessitating their treatment with powerful antibiotics. Data published in the New England Journal of Medicine support use of raxibacumab (ABthrax) for the treatment of inhalation anthrax Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: HGSI) today announced publication by the New England Journal of Medicine of the results of two pivotal animal efficacy studies, which showed the life-saving potential of the Company's human monoclonal antibody drug raxibacumab. One secret to how TB sticks with you Mycobacterium tuberculosis is arguably the world's most successful infectious agent because it knows how to avoid elimination by slowing its own growth to a crawl. Unexpected discovery can open a new chapter in the fight against tuberculosis A close relative of the microorganism that causes tuberculosis in humans has been found to form spores. Genetic switch potential key to new class of antibiotics Researchers have determined the structure of a key genetic mechanism at work in bacteria, including some that are deadly to humans, in an important step toward the design of a new class of antibiotics. More Anthrax Current Events and Anthrax News Articles |
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