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Clues Could Lead to a Universal Flu Jab
A study which has found a way to develop a universal vaccine for influenza, one that gives people immunity against all strains of the disease, has been recognised by the European Respiratory Society (ERS) and gained its lead researcher a prestigious award. Dr Tom Wilkinson, Senior Lecturer in Respiratory Medicine and Associate Director of Innovation and Enterprise at the University of Southampton, was awarded the Maurizio Vignola Award for Innovation in Pneumology by the ERS, following the publication of his paper in Nature Medicine.
The research, which involved teams from the University of Southampton, University of Oxford and Retroscreen Virology Ltd, used a method called ‘Human Viral Challenge Studies’ and discovered that the immune systems produced various types of T-cells (part of the immune system that kills both viral particles, and cells infected with viral particles). Notably, the T-cells
responded to peptides associated with the internal structures of the influenza viruses. Unlike the external structures of influenza virus, that mutates very rapidly and creates a new strain of virus most years, the internal structures change very slowly over a long period of time. These internal structures are found in all strains of influenza virus – thus, a vaccine that targets such peptides may provide immunity against all strains of influenza, including seasonal (yearly), avian (bird), and swine flu, for many years.
A vaccine against these peptides would activate the T-cell immune response – which is able to respond much more rapidly than vaccines that activate an antibody response.
Dr Wilkinson, who is also Respiratory Consultant at Southampton General Hospital, received €18,000 in order to investigate the subject further.
Find out more info. 11 Putting Malaria on the SHELPH
Experts have disabled a unique member of the signalling proteins which are essential for the development of the malaria parasite. They have produced a mutant lacking the ancient bacterial Shewanella-like protein phosphatase known as SHLP1 (pronounced shelph). This mutant is unable to complete its complex life cycle and is arrested in its development in the mosquito. The discovery could help in the design of new drugs to arrest the spread of this killer disease.
SHLP1 is critical to the cellular development of the malaria parasite. It can be found at every stage in the lifecycle of the malaria parasite and for the first time experts led by The University of Nottingham have analysed their biological function.
Dr Rita Tewari and her team in the Centre for Genetics and Genomics in the School of Biology have spent three years
studying the phosphatase proteins that are important building blocks in the life cycle of the malaria parasite. The findings of their latest study were published on 21 February 2013, in the academic journal Cell Reports.
Dr Tewari said: “SHLP1 is absent in humans and can be explored as an excellent target for malaria transmission control. Prevention of malaria transmission to and from the mosquito is vital in order to stop the devastating spread of malaria. Targeting SHLP1 could be an important step to achieve this goal.”
Funded by the MRC and the Wellcome Trust, the research brought together expertise from Imperial College London, University of Oxford, the MRC National Institute for Medical Research and the University of Edinburgh.
Find out more info. 12
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Food Safety on the Agenda at Pittcon 2013
Food Safety Tech, the organisers of Food Labs Conference, which will be held in conjunction with Pittcon 2013, 19-20 March, at the Pennsylvania Convention Centre, Philadelphia, PA, announces the agenda of speakers for the two-day event.
The Food Labs programme will open with a presentation by Palmer A. Orlandi, PhD CAPT, U.S. Public Health Service, Sr. Science Advisor Office of Foods and Veterinary Medicine, US Food & Drug Administration on the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and the regulation's impact on food laboratories. According to information from the FDA website, FSMA is the most sweeping reform of FDA's food safety authority in more than 70 years.
This act gives the FDA new and enhanced mandates and authorities to protect consumers and promote public health. The morning session will continue with Carl J. Sciacchitano, Senior Advisor for Scientific International Affairs, Office of International
Programs, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, discussing the FDA's efforts on building partnerships to ensure food safety.
Other renown speakers include representatives from industry, government, and research covering topics such as establishing global partnerships; accreditation and certification; food laboratory design and workflow, food labs and public health, food forensics, and information management.
Tuesday will close with a presentation by Michéle Lees, Ph.D, Director Collaborative Research, Eurofins Analytics, France SAS, addressing food fraud and other subjects related to food forensics. Wednesday's schedule incorporates ongoing presentations and a Technical Workshop presented by Thermo Scientific closing with a panel discussion, Future Demands on Food Lab Managers, led by experts in food science. Final remarks will be delivered by Mark Carter, President, MC Squared and Rick Biros, Publisher/President, Food Safety Tech.
Find out more info. 13 European Young Investigator of the Year
Hull York Medical School (HYMS) postgraduate student Dr Priyad Ariyaratnam has won the prestigious European Young Investigator of the Year award in cardiothoracics for the preliminary results of his MD. Priyad, who is a cardiothoracic registrar and research fellow at Castle Hill Hospital, is currently doing his MD with HYMS looking at the mechanisms of pulmonary hypertension using isolated human pulmonary arteries from lung cancer patients.
"I wanted to do this project as pulmonary hypertension carries a high morbidity and mortality rate following cardiac surgery and in children born with congenital heart defects," he said. "There
has been a lot of work on animal models but we are still a long way from knowing how to manage this problem.
“Our research is looking directly at human models of the disease."
He was given his award at the European Association of Cardiothoracic Surgeons (EACTS) in Barcelona. The prize has not been won by an investigator from England since 2005.
EACTS, the official society for all of Europe's cardiac and thoracic surgical institution, holds an annual scientific meeting where leaders in the field from America, Asia and Europe come to talk about the latest advances in Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery.
Find out more info. 14
LAB & TEST VIETNAM 2013, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
20 Mar - Mar 22 Tremendous potential in the Vietnam market marks a
promising outlook for the quality control and lab & test industry in 2013. Visitors will have first hand opportunity to be exposed to new equipment & technologies and also cost-effective ideas and trends that are provided by leading global suppliers. Lab & Test Vietnam will be featured with a specialised pavilion of test & measurement and quality assurance technology, as well as its integral highlight in the scientific streams of the food, drink and pharmaceutical conferences.
Wantita Porntanawong, Tel: 0066 2615 1255 ext 123 Email:
wantita@besallworld.com
www.labtestvietnam.com
LABTECH EURASIA, Istanbul/Turkey
April 4-7, 2013 Eurasian Meeting Point of
Medical and Laboratory Sectors. 16th International
stanbul Laboratory Technology, System and Equipment Fair running concurrently with
EXPOMED Eurasia 20th International stanbul Medical Analysis, Diagnosis, Treatment, Rehabilitation Product, Device, System, Technology, Equipment and Hospitals Fair.
Tel: +90 212 867 11 66, Email:
labtek@tuyap.com.tr www.labtechistanbul.com
ANALIZA 2013, Tel-Aviv, Israel 30 April – 2 May
The 12th International exhibition for technologies & equipment for Industrial Laboratories. Analiza 2013 will showcase technologies, equipment & instrument- ation for Industrial Laboratories. Display topics include: equipment and measuring instruments for laboratories for the heavy industries and the pharmaceutical industry, clean rooms, fume hoods & filters.
Stier Group Ltd, Tel: + 972 3 562 6090 Email:
expo@stier-group.com
www.stier-group.com
FORENSICS EUROPE EXPO, Olympia, London 24 – 25 April
The event to connect the entire forensics industry. A sold out, free to attend exhibition with 70+ suppliers,
workshop programme and interactive crime feature makes up the event. Please register your attendance on our website.
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7384 7777
Email:
forensicseuropeexpo@clarionevents.com
www.forensicseuropeexpo.com
11TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MERCURY AS A GLOBAL
POLLUTANT, Edinburgh, Scotland 28 July – 2 August
The International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant (ICMGP), held periodically for over 18 years, has become the pre-eminent international forum for formal presentation and discussion of scientific advances concerning environmental mercury. The meeting gathers around 700-1200 experts for a five day conference and exhibition.
International Labmate, Tel: +44 (0) 1727 858840 Email:
davidh@mercury2013.com
www.mercury2013.com
13TH INTERNATIONAL NUTRITION &
DIAGNOSTICS, Olomouc, Czech Republic
26-29 August INDC 2013 is an important international conference and exhibition, covering sophisticated food analytical methods.
Radanal Ltd, Tel: + 420 466 650 618, Email:
info@indc.cz,
www.indc.cz
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