Recent News

By Region: North America

New promise for an HIV vaccine as researchers overcome crucial obstacle

(ScienceDaily) In a crucial step towards developing a successful HIV vaccine, researchers have been able, for the first time, to stimulate immune cells that can produce broadly neutralizing antibodies: a feat that has eluded vaccine researchers for decades. The exciting results are published in this month’s issue of the Journal of Experimental Medicine.

April 3, 2013
| Filed under North America, Countermeasures, and Research
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NIH-Supported Researchers Identify New Class of Malaria Compounds

(GlobalBiodefense) A group of researchers from 16 institutions around the world has identified a new class of anti-malarial compounds that target multiple stages of the malaria parasite’s life cycle. These compounds could potentially be developed into drugs that treat and prevent malaria infection. Known as 4-(1H)-quinolone-3-diarylethers, the candidate anti-malarials are derived from a compound called Read More »

April 3, 2013
| Filed under North America, Countermeasures, International, Public Health, and Research
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Air Force Wants New Energy Weapons to Cause Non-Lethal Bioeffects

(Wired) The Air Force is preparing to spend millions researching how unknown “bioeffects” happen when the human body is blasted by radiowaves and high-powered microwaves — which the Air Force hopes could lead to exotic new energy weapons. Recently, the Air Force Bioeffects Division announced it’s exploring how radiation from non-lethal energy weapons can causes Read More »

April 2, 2013
| Filed under North America, Biological Weapons, Biotechnology, and Research
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Study of Virus-Killing Bacteria Motion Advances Nanotechnology

(GlobalBiodefense) Scientists have cracked a 35-year-old mystery about the workings of the natural motors that are serving as models for development of a futuristic genre of synthetic nanomotors that pump therapeutic DNA, RNA or drugs into individual diseased cells. The researchers explain that two motors had been found in nature: a linear motor and a Read More »

April 2, 2013
| Filed under North America, Biotechnology, and Research
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Designer Antibodies For HIV

(MedicalNewsToday) An effective vaccine against HIV-1 remains elusive, but one promising strategy focuses on designer antibodies that have much broader potency than most normal, exquisitely specific antibodies. These broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) can handle the high mutation rate of HIV particles that makes normal, very specific antibodies useless within a short space of time. A Read More »