Mice Cured of Rabies after Virus Reached Infectious Stage.

Rabies is a global neurological zoonotic virus that is entirely preventable with appropriate vaccinations. This infection is usually deadly due to the body succumbing to the effects of brain swelling and spinal cord trauma. Transmission is via saliva (bite wounds being most common) and in humans, signs sometimes don't show for up to one year. Most animals show signs and die in 14 days.

Researchers at the University of Georgia have developed a new vaccine against rabies using a slightly different approach compared to the conventional modified live rabies vaccine. A surface protein from the Rabies virus was inserted into a completely different virus called "PIV5", which stands for canine parainfluenza virus 5. Canine parainfluenza is a very common upper respiratory virus transmitted between domesticated dogs and wild canines.  PIV5 delivers the rabies protein to the immune system and enables the body to start creating antibodies against the rabies virus.  At this time, there are no concerns of human transmission of parainfluenza from this vaccine, as PIV5 is not a zoonotic or human virus.  6 days after rabies infection, the mice began displaying signs of rabies having spread to their central nervous system. 50% of the infected mice in this study showing signs of rabies were cured. Researchers are hopeful that this may be a safer vaccine for the future due to it only using surface proteins.

Working in the veterinary field, I have seen more rabies positive wildlife in the past 2 years than I have in the past 10 years, which exposes great risk to our communities.  About 10 days ago, the veterinary hospital I work for submitted a racoon for rabies testing and we were notified soon after that it was a positive specimen. Rabies is a real problem, and not enough people take it seriously.  This is a fantastic revelation for rabies vaccine research and development. It was once thought to be hopeless to cure a person or animal infected with rabies once they showed the neurological deficits of the virus.  Let this be a step in the right direction for advanced rabies treatment and possible cures.  Please vaccinate your pets!  Click here to find the closest free rabies clinic to you!

Here is also an informative video of an actual rabies infected person.

 
Article: Beating the clock: UGA researchers develop new treatment for rabies

Additional Links:CBC - Rabies Structure of PIV5 Rabies Facts & Prevention

New Virus Already Inside Us?

     Genetic researchers from around the country have discovered a new virus known as a bacteriophage, that may be present in at least half of the population. This type of virus (named crAssphage) infects bacteria, and is suspected to live in the human gut. According to the LiveScience article, it was discovered when many researchers identified it in fecal samples from multiple different subjects. 

     Although not much is known about the virus to date, Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease physician at the University of Pittsburg and a representative of the Infectious Disease Society of America, believes this may play a role in common conditions that affect humans around the world. She cited obesity and cancer as such possibilities. Understanding this new finding may be the key to unlocking a cure to the conditions that have plagued humanity since it's beginnings.

     Robert Edwards, a bioinformatics professor at San Diego State University and one of the researchers who worked on the study, feels that not enough information about the virus has been discovered to make such concrete conclusions. Edwards and his fellow researchers have not yet been able to replicate or photograph the virus, although they have identified crAssphage via it's DNA sequence. However researchers look at this new discovery, it adds helpful insight to the world of microbes and human health. 

Ancient viruses regenerated from 700-year-old frozen reindeer poop

A new study led by the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) recreates ancient viruses from cryogenically preserved materials, using modern techniques in the field of molecular genetics. Now one may wonder what purpose do viruses 700 years old have on us? Well as the earth gets slightly warmer every year will global warming resurrect old, infectious viruses? Viruses preserved in ancient samples provide valuable information about viral diversity from long ago. These viruses help us trace the evolution of today’s species and study their biology. Recreating these viruses was not an easy task since concentrations of genetic information are low in ancient specimens and most have been tremendously degraded.

                                 

In the study researchers managed to regenerate two sufficiently well-preserved ancient viruses from reindeer poop that has been preserved for 700 years in a subarctic ice patch in northern Canada. The method used to resurrect the ancient viruses was called "viral particle-associated nucleic acid enrichment." From the two viruses the team was able to recover and characterize a small circular DNA viral genome, ancient caribou feces associated virus (aCFV) and a partial RNA viral genome, Ancient Northwest Territories cripavirus (NCV). Then using "reverse genetics," they reconstituted one of the viruses and showed how it was able to spread and reproduce in a living plant.

Under frozen conditions, "encapsidated viral nucleic acids" can survive for centuries, providing enough material to allow molecular genetics to regenerate viruses to study their biology. So the question arises as to whether or not dormant, potentially infectious pathogens can emerge if global warming melts enough ice and permafrost. There are controversy regarding the importance of this kind of research. As one professor states, "old viruses could only re-emerge if they have significant advantages over the countless perfect viruses we have at present". In many ways he has a good point, should we really be worrying about the countless of diseases that have plagued the country in the past when we cannot even solve the mysteries behind the diseases that are killing people today. I do find it fascinating to think that we can reconstruct viruses that are over 700 years old. I also find that such action may be dangerous because recreating it does not necessarily mean that we can find a cure for it. Although such research is amazing with our technological advances I believe that trying to regenerate all these countless viruses that have a slight chance of spreading due to global warming is near impossible. Rather the main focus should be dealing with the viruses that continue to claim the lives of thousands every day.

Article: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/284582.php

Protein that triggers immune response to viruses identified

Massachusetts General Hospital has found a protein that is linked to triggering the body's immune system response against infection caused by viruses. The protein known as GEF-H1 helps the macrophages - the eating machine that eats away materials and pathogens - react to viral infections, which also sends the body a response signal to fight the infection. The macrophages initiate the innate immune system - the first line of defense that sends white blood cells, cytokines, and antimicrobial peptides to stop the invasion. It is said the the gene GEF-H1 controls the response by binding to microtubules and recognizing bacteria.

The Hospital has also found that without GEF-H1 the tested mice were not able to be protected from two viral infections. Influenza A and enchephlomyocarditis were not attacked by the immune system. It is said that this could be due to viruses being capable of creating a resistance against the immune response. they are able to develop strategy's to prevent the immune system from stopping them so they can continue their invasion. However the discovery doesn't discourage the researchers, they hope to find a way to destroy the viruses strategy.

Knowing that researchers are constantly looking for ways to prevent viral infections and any other pathogen is reassuring. This means we are one step closer to developing a technique to ensure everyone has a healthy life. Our body holds many secrets but when we find these secrets it we find new ways to create treatments with the knowledge that comes out of research.

Gene Deficiency Makes Contracting Infection Easier

Deep dermatophytosis is the ability of a fungal bacteria to spread from the surface of the skin to underneath the skin and from there to other places and organs in the body. An article published in ScienceDaily discussed a research done by The Rockefeller University and Necker Medical School which discovered that a single gene in the human body is actually responsible for fungi's ability to spread beneath the skin in deep dermatophytosis. A study conducted by Jean- Laurent Casanova on 17 healthy, but deep dermatophytosis afflicted, people showed that each person's immune system was healthy and capable of fighting off infections. Casanova did find, however, the gene CARD9 was missing from each person's genome. According to the article, the lack of CARD9 prevents the body from reacting appropriately when the body is infected. As a result of this, any infections contracted by a CARD9 deficient person not only remains in the body, but also spreads to and infects other parts of the body.

Fungus attacking skin cells

Studies conducted on cases like this, where a single gene can produce a defect in people can be beneficial. This is so because they can help us gain a better understanding of other single genes which cause diseases, as well as help us take steps to treat and prevent these diseases in people susceptible to them.

Oh Snap! Reconstructive Genome oh the Black Death!

When I did not think the subject of pathogens could amaze me anymore then it has, up pops an intriguing article. During the 1300’s over 50 million Europeans died because of the bacteria Yersinia pestis. For those who do not know what that is, Yesinia pestis is simply the bacteria that the Black Death. Recently an international team of scientists decided to put their mind together, dig up the skeletal remains and find this particular pathogen. By extracting, purifying and specifically enriching the pathogens DNA, researchers were able to sequence the entire genome of the Black Death. By doing this scientists will determine how Y pestis has evolved through the centuries and see what makes it so deadly.

http://docp.edublogs.org/yersinia-pestis/ Another great link!

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111012132653.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News%29 Where I got my source from.