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News & Comment
TRENDS in Microbiology Vol.9 No.5 May 2001
In Brief
HCV screening change
are not required for most respiratory tract infections. AV (http://hopkins-abxguide.org http://www.acponline.org/ sci-policy/guidelines/recent.htm)
Malaria vaccine news
The Indian government has announced amendments to the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules that require testing for hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies in all blood products in the country’s blood banks. The amendment is set to take effect on June 1 2001, according to the Government, which plans to supply free HCV antibody-testing kits to all publicsector blood banks. Blood products in India currently undergo mandatory testing for the hepatitis B surface antigen, HIV, malaria and syphilis. CK (http://id.medscape.com/23593.rhtml?srcm p=id-032301)
New guide to antibiotics Physicians can now consult a comprehensive, peer-reviewed electronic guide for the latest on antibiotic use. This Johns Hopkins University project aims to provide doctors with one-stop access to up-to-date information on drug options and diagnosis. The Antibiotic (ABX) Guide, which is available through the web or using personal data assistants, will also provide users with emergency alerts such as FDA drug recalls, dangerous drug combinations and the latest trends in antibiotic resistance. The database will be regularly updated with reference to scientific studies. In order to track directions in medical practise, doctors must anonymously answer a brief questionnaire on the ABX Guide. The introduction of the guide follows on the heels of the release of American College of Physicians–American Society of Internal Medicine guidelines stating that antibiotics
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is to join forces with the Malaria Vaccine Initiative at the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH), an American non-profit organization, to speed up the development of its malaria vaccine for children. So far, PATH has only pledged $6.7 million, a fraction of the cost of vaccine development. However, GSK chief executive Jean-Pierre Garnier said the partnership was evidence of the company’s drive to find new models for product development in developing countries. The vaccine candidate has been in development since 1983 and is considered the most advanced for protecting Africans against Plasmodium falciparum. Clinical trials in adults show 70% efficacy for shortterm protection. A GSK spokesman said that vaccines did not normally take so long to develop but malaria was a particularly difficult case. He estimated the malaria vaccine might be ready for launch in 2007 or 2008. CK (http://id.medscape.com/34452.rhtml?srcm p=id-030201)
Phage enzyme is a formidable force Interest in the use of bacteriophage for combating bacterial infections has experienced a resurgence in recent years concomitant with the rise in antibiotic resistance. Phage therapy research has received a boost from recent studies from Rockefeller University on a potent antistreptococcal enzyme harvested from a bacteriophage. As reported in PNAS, the lysin enzyme lyses the cell walls of Group A streptococci, resulting in cell death. Study leader Vincent Fischetti says that the enzyme is unlikely to clear streptococcal infections, but could be used prophylactically without disturbing other microflora. For example, daily doses of the enzyme could be used to stop the spread of strep throat amongst military personnel or children in daycare centres and schools.
The enzyme, which could potentially be made artificially at a very low cost, might also prove to be an effective weapon against ear infections and necrotizing fasciitis. AV (http://www.pnas.org)
Developing VECTOR
The head of Russia’s State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology (VECTOR) has proposed that the lab be converted into an international center for emerging diseases. The US National Institutes of Health is helping develop the proposal, which will be one of the largest peacetime conversions ever in Russian science. Initial costs will be $25 million. VECTOR has the only level-4 lab in Asia and is home to, among other things, some of the last remaining smallpox virus. Although the plan is widely supported, there is some doubt that the lab can sustain itself financially. CK http://news.bmn.com
We are family The ‘birth’ of a unicellular organism is expected to be an unaided and unabetted affair. However, studies conducted at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel show that some reproducing amoebae rely on amoeba ‘midwives’ to complete cell division. A recent report in Nature shows that in cases where cell division had stalled and cells do not disconnect a third amoeba is frequently observed to squeeze between the daughter cells and exert pressure until separation is complete. Furthermore, fluid collected from near the tether between
http://tim.trends.com 0966-842X/01/$ – see front matter © 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
News & Comment
dividing cells attracts amoebae in droves. The chemical call for assistance is thought to be released from the amoeba membrane. AV (http://www.nature.com)
Ebola outbreak over The largest ever reported outbreak of Ebola haemorrhagic fever (EHF), which occurred in Uganda, was recently declared officially over. The disease was first seen in early October 2000, when cases of unusual febrile illness with occasional haemorrhage and significant mortality were noted in northern Uganda. It was subsequently shown that the outbreak had actually started in late August. The causative agent was confirmed as Ebola virus in midOctober by the National Institute of Virology in South Africa. The source has not been established but could be related to movement of people across borders in the complex geopolitical environment of central Africa, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sudan, where previous Ebola outbreaks have been notified. CK (http://www.eurosurv.org/update/)
Where you go, I will follow Coccidioides immitis, the highly virulent cause of coccidioidomycosis and the only eukaryote regulated under the US AntiTerrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, has plagued people since ancient times. Recent DNA analysis indicates that South American varieties of this pathogenic fungus probably arrived on the scene some 9000–140 000 years ago. This debut coincides with the migration of humans into South America, who are suspected of bringing C. immitis along with them for the ride. Even today, visitors to the deserts of the New World sometimes carry Coccidioides back home to unexposed areas of the globe. AV (http://www.pnas.org)
‘Ebola with wings’ The explosive growth of drug-resistant TB in Eastern Europe is every bit as serious as an outbreak of Ebola disease, according to Mario Raviglione, head of the WHO TB eradication programme. Multi-drugresistant TB has been called ‘Ebola with wings’ and, according to Raviglione, it should be tackled via a concerted
TRENDS in Microbiology Vol.9 No.5 May 2001
203
international effort of the kind mounted to stifle outbreaks of Ebola disease. New data show that in Estonia, one in seven people diagnosed for the first time with TB are resistant to several front-line antibiotics, and more than a third of new cases are resistant to at least one antibiotic. CK http://www.newscientist.com/news/
specialists including physicians, nurses, dentists, epidemiologists and veterinarians. Currently, there are EIS field programs on every continent except Antarctica. AV (http://www.cdc.gov/eis)
No end in sight for foot and mouth
The death toll from a seasonal outbreak of meningitis in Burkina Faso has risen to 567 since January 2001, with a total of 3237 cases reported in the first 10 weeks of 2001. Health officials said the outbreak had reached epidemic proportions, at >10 cases per 100 000 people, in 12 of the country’s 53 administrative districts. Meningitis is a seasonal problem during the dry early months of the year in this West African country, which has started a vaccination campaign in the worst-hit districts. In 1996, Burkina Faso’s worst outbreak of meningitis killed >4000 people out of some 40 000 reported cases. CK (http://id.medscape.com/35115.rhtml?srcm p=id-032301)
Britain is still in the midst of a major outbreak of foot and mouth disease, the first since 1967. By the middle of April, >1300 cases had been confirmed and >1 million animals had been slaughtered. The disease was first confirmed in the north east of England on 22 February 2001. The infection appears to have spread from there via markets and dealers to many other parts of the country before the virus was detected. The epidemic is expected to last at least until June or July, and livestock movement restrictions and culling animals on infected farms are considered to be the most effective control measures. To keep track of the continually changing picture, the UK Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has established a website at http://www.maff.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/ fmd/. CK
Birthday for disease spy school The Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) celebrated its 50th anniversary in April at an annual conference held in Atlanta, Georgia. The EIS was originally created to safeguard against biological warfare and man-made epidemics, but has more recently contributed to polio eradication in Africa and Asia, and investigated outbreaks of hantavirus and West Nile virus in the USA, and Ebola in Uganda and Zaire. The EIS also played an instrumental role in the global eradication of smallpox. The two year EIS program provides onthe-job training to various health
Meningitis hits West Africa
Debate over ‘antibacterials’ intensifies Researchers from Colorado State University and the University of Calgary have intensified the debate over the use of household ‘antibacterials’ with the recent publication of a paper in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. Selection for resistance to triclosan, a commonly used antiseptic, produced multi-drug resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Whether the same effect would be seen outside the lab is not known. In-keeping with the current demand for antibacterial agents in the home, triclosan is frequently added to toothpaste, soap, lotion and even impregnated into cutting boards, toys and clothes. Some argue that widespread – and unnecessary – use of agents like triclosan could be contributing to multidrug resistance in the environment. Others contend that ‘antibacterials’ are needed to control food-borne illness and other infections. AV (http://aac.asm.org)
In Brief compiled by Cathel Kerr ([email protected]) and Alexandra Venter ([email protected])
http://tim.trends.com 0966-842X/01/$ – see front matter © 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
News & Comment
TRENDS in Microbiology Vol.9 No.5 May 2001
In Brief
HCV screening change
are not required for most respiratory tract infections. AV (http://hopkins-abxguide.org http://www.acponline.org/ sci-policy/guidelines/recent.htm)
Malaria vaccine news
The Indian government has announced amendments to the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules that require testing for hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies in all blood products in the country’s blood banks. The amendment is set to take effect on June 1 2001, according to the Government, which plans to supply free HCV antibody-testing kits to all publicsector blood banks. Blood products in India currently undergo mandatory testing for the hepatitis B surface antigen, HIV, malaria and syphilis. CK (http://id.medscape.com/23593.rhtml?srcm p=id-032301)
New guide to antibiotics Physicians can now consult a comprehensive, peer-reviewed electronic guide for the latest on antibiotic use. This Johns Hopkins University project aims to provide doctors with one-stop access to up-to-date information on drug options and diagnosis. The Antibiotic (ABX) Guide, which is available through the web or using personal data assistants, will also provide users with emergency alerts such as FDA drug recalls, dangerous drug combinations and the latest trends in antibiotic resistance. The database will be regularly updated with reference to scientific studies. In order to track directions in medical practise, doctors must anonymously answer a brief questionnaire on the ABX Guide. The introduction of the guide follows on the heels of the release of American College of Physicians–American Society of Internal Medicine guidelines stating that antibiotics
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is to join forces with the Malaria Vaccine Initiative at the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH), an American non-profit organization, to speed up the development of its malaria vaccine for children. So far, PATH has only pledged $6.7 million, a fraction of the cost of vaccine development. However, GSK chief executive Jean-Pierre Garnier said the partnership was evidence of the company’s drive to find new models for product development in developing countries. The vaccine candidate has been in development since 1983 and is considered the most advanced for protecting Africans against Plasmodium falciparum. Clinical trials in adults show 70% efficacy for shortterm protection. A GSK spokesman said that vaccines did not normally take so long to develop but malaria was a particularly difficult case. He estimated the malaria vaccine might be ready for launch in 2007 or 2008. CK (http://id.medscape.com/34452.rhtml?srcm p=id-030201)
Phage enzyme is a formidable force Interest in the use of bacteriophage for combating bacterial infections has experienced a resurgence in recent years concomitant with the rise in antibiotic resistance. Phage therapy research has received a boost from recent studies from Rockefeller University on a potent antistreptococcal enzyme harvested from a bacteriophage. As reported in PNAS, the lysin enzyme lyses the cell walls of Group A streptococci, resulting in cell death. Study leader Vincent Fischetti says that the enzyme is unlikely to clear streptococcal infections, but could be used prophylactically without disturbing other microflora. For example, daily doses of the enzyme could be used to stop the spread of strep throat amongst military personnel or children in daycare centres and schools.
The enzyme, which could potentially be made artificially at a very low cost, might also prove to be an effective weapon against ear infections and necrotizing fasciitis. AV (http://www.pnas.org)
Developing VECTOR
The head of Russia’s State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology (VECTOR) has proposed that the lab be converted into an international center for emerging diseases. The US National Institutes of Health is helping develop the proposal, which will be one of the largest peacetime conversions ever in Russian science. Initial costs will be $25 million. VECTOR has the only level-4 lab in Asia and is home to, among other things, some of the last remaining smallpox virus. Although the plan is widely supported, there is some doubt that the lab can sustain itself financially. CK http://news.bmn.com
We are family The ‘birth’ of a unicellular organism is expected to be an unaided and unabetted affair. However, studies conducted at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel show that some reproducing amoebae rely on amoeba ‘midwives’ to complete cell division. A recent report in Nature shows that in cases where cell division had stalled and cells do not disconnect a third amoeba is frequently observed to squeeze between the daughter cells and exert pressure until separation is complete. Furthermore, fluid collected from near the tether between
http://tim.trends.com 0966-842X/01/$ – see front matter © 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
News & Comment
dividing cells attracts amoebae in droves. The chemical call for assistance is thought to be released from the amoeba membrane. AV (http://www.nature.com)
Ebola outbreak over The largest ever reported outbreak of Ebola haemorrhagic fever (EHF), which occurred in Uganda, was recently declared officially over. The disease was first seen in early October 2000, when cases of unusual febrile illness with occasional haemorrhage and significant mortality were noted in northern Uganda. It was subsequently shown that the outbreak had actually started in late August. The causative agent was confirmed as Ebola virus in midOctober by the National Institute of Virology in South Africa. The source has not been established but could be related to movement of people across borders in the complex geopolitical environment of central Africa, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sudan, where previous Ebola outbreaks have been notified. CK (http://www.eurosurv.org/update/)
Where you go, I will follow Coccidioides immitis, the highly virulent cause of coccidioidomycosis and the only eukaryote regulated under the US AntiTerrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, has plagued people since ancient times. Recent DNA analysis indicates that South American varieties of this pathogenic fungus probably arrived on the scene some 9000–140 000 years ago. This debut coincides with the migration of humans into South America, who are suspected of bringing C. immitis along with them for the ride. Even today, visitors to the deserts of the New World sometimes carry Coccidioides back home to unexposed areas of the globe. AV (http://www.pnas.org)
‘Ebola with wings’ The explosive growth of drug-resistant TB in Eastern Europe is every bit as serious as an outbreak of Ebola disease, according to Mario Raviglione, head of the WHO TB eradication programme. Multi-drugresistant TB has been called ‘Ebola with wings’ and, according to Raviglione, it should be tackled via a concerted
TRENDS in Microbiology Vol.9 No.5 May 2001
203
international effort of the kind mounted to stifle outbreaks of Ebola disease. New data show that in Estonia, one in seven people diagnosed for the first time with TB are resistant to several front-line antibiotics, and more than a third of new cases are resistant to at least one antibiotic. CK http://www.newscientist.com/news/
specialists including physicians, nurses, dentists, epidemiologists and veterinarians. Currently, there are EIS field programs on every continent except Antarctica. AV (http://www.cdc.gov/eis)
No end in sight for foot and mouth
The death toll from a seasonal outbreak of meningitis in Burkina Faso has risen to 567 since January 2001, with a total of 3237 cases reported in the first 10 weeks of 2001. Health officials said the outbreak had reached epidemic proportions, at >10 cases per 100 000 people, in 12 of the country’s 53 administrative districts. Meningitis is a seasonal problem during the dry early months of the year in this West African country, which has started a vaccination campaign in the worst-hit districts. In 1996, Burkina Faso’s worst outbreak of meningitis killed >4000 people out of some 40 000 reported cases. CK (http://id.medscape.com/35115.rhtml?srcm p=id-032301)
Britain is still in the midst of a major outbreak of foot and mouth disease, the first since 1967. By the middle of April, >1300 cases had been confirmed and >1 million animals had been slaughtered. The disease was first confirmed in the north east of England on 22 February 2001. The infection appears to have spread from there via markets and dealers to many other parts of the country before the virus was detected. The epidemic is expected to last at least until June or July, and livestock movement restrictions and culling animals on infected farms are considered to be the most effective control measures. To keep track of the continually changing picture, the UK Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has established a website at http://www.maff.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/ fmd/. CK
Birthday for disease spy school The Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) celebrated its 50th anniversary in April at an annual conference held in Atlanta, Georgia. The EIS was originally created to safeguard against biological warfare and man-made epidemics, but has more recently contributed to polio eradication in Africa and Asia, and investigated outbreaks of hantavirus and West Nile virus in the USA, and Ebola in Uganda and Zaire. The EIS also played an instrumental role in the global eradication of smallpox. The two year EIS program provides onthe-job training to various health
Meningitis hits West Africa
Debate over ‘antibacterials’ intensifies Researchers from Colorado State University and the University of Calgary have intensified the debate over the use of household ‘antibacterials’ with the recent publication of a paper in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. Selection for resistance to triclosan, a commonly used antiseptic, produced multi-drug resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Whether the same effect would be seen outside the lab is not known. In-keeping with the current demand for antibacterial agents in the home, triclosan is frequently added to toothpaste, soap, lotion and even impregnated into cutting boards, toys and clothes. Some argue that widespread – and unnecessary – use of agents like triclosan could be contributing to multidrug resistance in the environment. Others contend that ‘antibacterials’ are needed to control food-borne illness and other infections. AV (http://aac.asm.org)
In Brief compiled by Cathel Kerr ([email protected]) and Alexandra Venter ([email protected])
http://tim.trends.com 0966-842X/01/$ – see front matter © 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.