Negotiating the dynamics of uncomfortable knowledge: The case of dual use and synthetic biology

Institutions need to ignore some knowledge in order to function. This is “uncomfortable knowledge” because it undermines the ability of those institutions to pursue their goals (Rayner, 2012). We identify three bodies of knowledge that are relevant to understandings of the dual use threat posed by synthetic biology but are excluded from related policy discussions. We demonstrate how these “unknown knowns” constitute uncomfortable knowledge because they disrupt the simplified worldview that underpins contemporary discourse on the potential misuse of synthetic biology by malign actors. We describe how these inconvenient truths have been systematically ignored and argue that this is because they are perceived as a threat by organisations involved in the promotion of synthetic biology as well as by those involved in managing biosecurity risks. This has led to a situation where concerns about the biosecurity threat posed by synthetic biology are not only exaggerated, but are, more importantly, misplaced. This, in turn, means that related policies are misdirected and unlikely to have much impact. We focus on the dynamics of discussions about synthetic biology and dual use to demonstrate how the same “knowns” that are denied or dismissed as “unknown knowns” in certain circumstances are sometimes mobilised as “known knowns” by the same category of actors in a different context, when this serves to sustain the goals of the individuals and institutions involved. Based on our own experience, we argue that negotiating the dynamics of uncomfortable knowledge is a difficult, but necessary, component of meaningful transdisciplinary collaborations.
REFERENCE:
Marris C, Jefferson C, Lentzos F. Negotiating the dynamics of uncomfortable knowledge: The case of dual use and synthetic biology. Biosocieties. 2014;9(4):393-420. doi:10.1057/biosoc.2014.32.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Sigue este Blog en Facebook y Twitter

Evolution of #Ebola Virus Disease, Liberia, Mid-2014

Figure 1. Counties in Liberia reporting Ebola virus
disease cases as of August 15, 2014.
Star indicates the capital city, Monrovia.

Over the span of a few weeks during July and August 2014, events in West Africa changed perceptions of Ebola virus disease (EVD) from an exotic tropical disease to a priority for global health security. We describe observations during that time of a field team from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and personnel of the Liberian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. We outline the early epidemiology of EVD within Liberia, including the practical limitations on surveillance and the effect on the country’s health care system, such as infections among health care workers. During this time, priorities included strengthening EVD surveillance; establishing safe settings for EVD patient care (and considering alternative isolation and care models when Ebola Treatment Units were overwhelmed); improving infection control practices; establishing an incident management system; and working with Liberian airport authorities to implement EVD screening of departing passengers.
REFERENCE:
Arwady MA, et al. Evolution of Ebola virus disease from exotic infection to global health priority, Liberia, mid-2014. Emerg Infect Dis. 2015 Apr
-----------------------------------------------------------
Sigue este Blog en Facebook y Twitter

Prions - Not Your Immunologist’s Pathogen.

A colleague and fellow immunologist, we will call her “Anne,” lifts her index and middle fingers on each hand and bows them in “air quotes” as she says prion “immunology” during my student’s thesis committee meeting. Anne says she works on “malaria, a real pathogen that elicits a real immune response.” Now, I am pretty sure Anne believes prions exist, but does she have a point about the immune response they elicit? The answer may surprise you.
Prions are remarkable, enigmatic pathogens that are quite different than most disease-causing entities. According to the prion hypothesis, prions are infectious agents devoid of instructional nucleic acid [1]. They propagate themselves without a genetic code, instead enciphering their infectious nature structurally, within the protein conformation itself. Mounting evidence supports the prion hypothesis, including the generation of infectious prions from purified recombinant protein [2]. Soon after Prusiner coined the term “prion,” his and Charles Weissmann’s labs discovered that a cellular gene encodes the prion agent [3]. Strangely, though, Prusiner had already demonstrated that infectious prions did not include nucleic acid, suggesting that prions infect without transmitting the gene encoding them. So attention turned to the host, in which this gene also encodes a normal form of the agent, called cellular prion protein (PrPC), that was later shown to be absolutely required to generate both genetic and acquired prion diseases [4]. And so, all the armchair immunologists reading this article right now pause and say, “Wait a minute…” while Anne chimes in with “prion immunology.” Here we go.

REFERENCE:
Zabel MD, Avery AC (2015) Prions—Not Your Immunologist’s Pathogen. PLoS Pathog 11(2): e1004624. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1004624
-----------------------------------------------------------
Sigue este Blog en Facebook y Twitter

Guidance for Safe Handling of Human Remains of Ebola Patients in U.S.

NIOSH Releases New Ebola Guidance

Given the systems currently in place to identify people with Ebola virus disease (EVD), any Ebola-related deaths in the United States would likely occur within a hospital setting. The Ebola virus can be detected throughout the bodies of patients who die of the disease. Ebola can be transmitted in postmortem care settings by laceration and puncture with contaminated instruments used during postmortem care, through direct handling of human remains without recommended PPE, and through splashes of blood or other body fluids such as urine, saliva, feces, or vomit to unprotected mucosa such as eyes, nose, or mouth during postmortem care.

Page Summary 

• Who this is for: Personnel who perform postmortem care in U.S. hospitals and mortuaries. 

• What this is for: To protect against the postmortem spread of Ebola infection at the site of death, prior to transport, during transport, at the mortuary, and during final disposition of remains 

• How to use: To guide staff in the safe handling of human remains that may contain Ebola virus by properly using personal protective equipment (PPE) and following decontamination measures at every step of the process. 

See CDC's Mortuary Guidance Job Aid [1 page] for more information on postmortem preparation in a hospital room. More information.

 -----------------------------------------------------------
Sigue este Blog en Facebook y Twitter

Ya se abrieron las inscripciones al 7º Simposio de #Bioseguridad #AMexBio

Ya se abrieron las inscripciones para 7º Simposio de Bioseguridad y Biocustodia 2015, organizado por la Asociación Mexicana de Bioseguridad A.C. Las inscripciones con descuentos son hasta el día 9 de Abril de 2015. Consulta el programa, y da click en cada uno de los cursos para inscribirte. Recuerda que la inscripción al Simposio es independiente de la inscripción a cada uno de los cursos.
INFORMES:
http://amexbio.wildapricot.org/SIBB

-----------------------------------------------------------
Sigue este Blog en Facebook y Twitter

Non-Manual Techniques for Room Disinfection in Healthcare Facilities: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines

Contaminated surfaces in healthcare facilities may contribute to the transmission of pathogens implicated in nosocomial infections, such as Clostridium difficile, methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin resistant Enterococci (VRE), gram-negative rods (Acinetobacter spp. and Enterobacteriaceae) and Norovirus. While patient rooms are regularly cleaned and disinfected using manual techniques, evidence suggests that the adequacy of cleaning is often suboptimal, particularly when the focus is only on those surfaces perceived to be high-risk or frequently contacted (high-touch). As well, when cleaning, sufficient wet contact time between the surface and disinfectant is needed to ensure adequate disinfection, but is not always achieved. Wiping of all surfaces where there is hand contact, not just those that are considered to be high risk or high-touch areas, and ensuring adequate wet contact time is required for adequate disinfection of the patient environment. Inadequate cleaning using manual techniques prompted the development of no-touch systems that can decontaminate objects and surfaces in the patient environment. These technologies employ the use of ultraviolet (UV) light or hydrogen peroxide. There are two systems that use vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP) in a dry or wet aerosol and one that uses a hydrogen peroxide mist (HPM), which has a larger particle size. VHP or HPM is produced using a portable generator that quickly increases the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the room during a decontamination phase which is repeated several times. The process takes approximately two to six hours per room. The UV light systems emit UV light from portable automated units at a wave-length that is germicidal. The unit is placed in a vacant patient room in the centre and can be piloted with a remote to ensure all surfaces are reached as they must be in the line of site to be decontaminated. The units have sensors which stop the irradiation should the door be opened. The process of decontamination takes approximately 45 minutes. One application of these cleaning systems is in terminal or discharge decontamination of vacated patient rooms. They supplement, but do not replace manual cleaning of patient rooms, as surfaces must first be free of dirt and debris prior to their use. Vaporized hydrogen peroxide and UV light systems provide a higher level disinfection or decontamination of all exposed surfaces and equipment in patient rooms, and are not a standalone means of cleaning. Vaporized hydrogen peroxide has also been used for decontamination of rooms and ward spaces in an attempt to terminate outbreaks. This report will review the evidence of clinical effectiveness of non-manual systems that use UV light or vaporized hydrogen peroxide for hospital room disinfection and identify guidelines that address the use of these techniques in healthcare facilities.
REFERENCE:
Non-Manual Techniques for Room Disinfection in Healthcare Facilities: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines. Ottawa (ON): Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health; 2014 Apr 30.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Sigue este Blog en Facebook y Twitter

Invitación para presentar trabajos libres en el Simposio de #Bioseguridad #AMexBio #SIBB15

La AMexBio invita a todas las personas interesadas a presentar trabajos libres, que podrán ser presentados en poster durante el 7º Simposio Internacional de Bioseguridad y Biocustodia en la Cd. de México.
Informes para la presentación de trabajos visite: http://amexbio.wildapricot.org/Trabajos
Descargue la convocatoria y registre su trabajo en línea.
FECHA LÍMITE DE RECEPCIÓN DE TRABAJOS: 08 de mayo de 2015 

-----------------------------------------------------------
Sigue este Blog en Facebook y Twitter

Evaluation of disinfectants to prevent mechanical transmission of viruses and a viroid in greenhouse tomato production

In recent years, a number of serious disease outbreaks caused by viruses and viroids on greenhouse tomatoes in North America have resulted in significant economic losses to growers. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of commercial disinfectants against mechanical transmission of these pathogens, and to select disinfectants with broad spectrum reactivity to control general virus and viroid diseases in greenhouse tomato production. A total of 16 disinfectants were evaluated against Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV), Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd), Tomato mosaic virus (ToMV), and Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). The efficacy of each disinfectant to deactivate the pathogen¿s infectivity was evaluated in replicate experiments from at least three independent experiments. Any infectivity that remained in the treated solutions was assessed through bioassays on susceptible tomato plants through mechanical inoculation using inocula that had been exposed with the individual disinfectant for three short time periods (0¿10 sec, 30 sec and 60 sec). A positive infection on the inoculated plant was determined through symptom observation and confirmed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (PepMV, ToMV, and TMV) and real-time reverse transcription-PCR (PSTVd). Experimental data were analyzed using Logistic regression and the Bayesian methodology. Statistical analyses using logistic regression and the Bayesian methodology indicated that two disinfectants (2% Virkon S and 10% Clorox regular bleach) were the most effective to prevent transmission of PepMV, PSTVd, ToMV, and TMV from mechanical inoculation. Lysol all-purpose cleaner (50%) and nonfat dry milk (20%) were also effective against ToMV and TMV, but with only partial effects for PepMV and PSTVd. With the broad spectrum efficacy against three common viruses and a viroid, several disinfectants, including 2% Virkon S, 10% Clorox regular bleach and nonfat dry milk, are recommend to greenhouse facilities for consideration to prevent general virus and viroid infection on tomato plants.
REFERENCE:
Li R, et al. Evaluation of disinfectants to prevent mechanical transmission of viruses and a viroid in greenhouse tomato production. Virol J. 2015 Jan 27;12(1):5.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Sigue este Blog en Facebook y Twitter

Pathogen Security-Help or Hindrance?

Events over the past 15 years have resulted in the promulgation of regulations in the United States to enhance biosecurity by restricting the access to pathogens and toxins (i.e., biological select agents and toxins [BSATs]), which pose a severe threat to human being, animal, or plant health or to animal or plant products, to qualified institutions, laboratories, and scientists. These regulations also reduce biosafety concerns by imposing specific requirements on laboratories working with BSATs. Furthermore, they provide a legal framework for prosecuting someone who possesses a BSAT illegally. With the implementation of these regulations has come discussion in the scientific community about the potential of these regulations to affect the cost of doing BSAT research, hamper research and international collaborations, or whether it would stop someone with a microbiological background from isolating many of the select agents from nature.
REFERENCE:
Morse SA. Pathogen security-help or hindrance? Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2015 Jan 6;2:83.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Sigue este Blog en Facebook y Twitter

Laboratory Test Support for #Ebola Patients Within a High-Containment Facility

Two adult United States (US) nationals contracted the Ebola virus while on a humanitarian mission in Africa amidst a large Ebola outbreak there. They were admitted to our medical center (Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, GA) during the first week of August 2014 for treatment. Both survived their illness and were released after approximately 3 weeks of inpatient care. We received approximately 3 days’ advance notice that the first patient would be transported from Africa to our medical center; the second patient arrived 3 days after the first. The diagnosis in each case had been confirmed virologically by detecting Ebola-specific nucleic acid in blood specimens sent to a World Health Organization laboratory in Europe; however, few details of either patient’s condition had been available to us before their arrival. Herein, we summarize the approach we used to plan for and provide laboratory diagnostic testing during their treatment.
REFERENCE:
Hill CE, et al. Laboratory test support for ebola patients within a high-containment facility. Lab Med. 2014 Summer;45(3):e109-11.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Sigue este Blog en Facebook y Twitter

Transmission of #Ebola Viruses

Available evidence demonstrates that direct patient contact and contact with infectious body fluids are the primary modes for Ebola virus transmission, but this is based on a limited number of studies. Key areas requiring further study include (i) the role of aerosol transmission (either via large droplets or small particles in the vicinity of source patients), (ii) the role of environmental contamination and fomite transmission, (iii) the degree to which minimally or mildly ill persons transmit infection, (iv) how long clinically relevant infectiousness persists, (v) the role that “superspreading events” may play in driving transmission dynamics, (vi) whether strain differences or repeated serial passage in outbreak settings can impact virus transmission, and (vii) what role sylvatic or domestic animals could play in outbreak propagation, particularly during major epidemics such as the 2013–2015 West Africa situation. In this review, we address what we know and what we do not know about Ebola virus transmission. We also hypothesize that Ebola viruses have the potential to be respiratory pathogens with primary respiratory spread.
REFERENCE:
Osterholm MT, et al. Transmission of ebola viruses: what we know and what we do not know. MBio. 2015 Feb 19;6(2).
-----------------------------------------------------------
Sigue este Blog en Facebook y Twitter

#Ebola outbreak in Western Africa 2014: what is going on with Ebola virus?

The 2014 outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in West Africa, caused by Ebola virus (Zaire Ebola virus species), is the largest outbreak of EVD in history. It cause hemorrhagic fever in human and nonhuman primates with high mortality rate up to 90% and can be transmitted by direct contact with blood, body fluids, skin of EVD patients or persons who have died of EVD. As of December 17, 2014, 450 healthcare personnel are known to have been infected with Ebola, of whom 244 died. For development of Ebola vaccine and treatment are highly difficult due to its dangerous and accessibility that requires biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) to conduct experiment. Also there is no specific vaccine and treatment for Ebola virus; however, many candidate vaccines and antiviral-drugs such as ZMapp and TKM-Ebola are being developed for Ebola virus disease. In this review, we focus on the epidemiology of 2014 outbreak of Ebola virus and candidate agent for preventing and curing from Ebola virus.
REFERENCE:
Na W, et al. Ebola outbreak in Western Africa 2014: what isgoing on with Ebola virus? Clin Exp Vaccine Res. 2015 Jan;4(1):17-22. Review.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Sigue este Blog en Facebook y Twitter

Evaluation of Virus Inactivation by Formaldehyde to Enhance Biosafety

Formaldehyde (FA) fixation of infectious samples is a well-established protocol in diagnostic electron microscopy of viruses. However, published experimental data that demonstrate virus inactivation by these fixation procedures are lacking. Usually, fixation is performed immediately before the sample preparation for microscopy. The fixation procedure should transform viruses in a non-infectious but nonetheless structurally intact form in order to allow a proper diagnosis based on morphology. FA provides an essential advantage in comparison to other disinfectants, because it preserves the ultrastructure of biological material without interfering significantly with the preparation (i.e., the negative staining) and the detection of viruses. To examine the efficiency of FA inactivation, we used Vaccinia virus, Human adenovirus and Murine norovirus as models and treated them with FA under various conditions. Critical parameters for the inactivation efficiency were the temperature, the duration of the FA treatment, and the resistance of the virus in question. Our results show that FA inactivation at low temperature (4 °C) bears a high risk of incomplete inactivation. Higher temperatures (25 °C) are more efficient, although they still require rather long incubation times to fully inactivate a complex and highly robust virus like Vaccinia. A protocol, which applied 2% buffered FA for 60 min and a temperature-shift from 25 to 37 °C after 30 min was efficient for the complete inactivation of all test viruses, and therefore has the potential to improve both and speed of diagnostic electron microscopy.
REFERENCE:
Möller L, Schünadel L, Nitsche A, Schwebke I, Hanisch M, Laue M. Evaluation of Virus Inactivation by Formaldehyde to Enhance Biosafety of Diagnostic Electron Microscopy. Viruses. 2015 Feb 10;7(2):666-679.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Sigue este Blog en Facebook y Twitter

Guidance on regulations for the Transport of Infectious Substances 2015-2016

Applicable as from 1 January 2015

Authors:
WHO

Publication details 

Number of pages: 38 
Publication date: 2015
Languages: English
WHO reference number: WHO/HSE/GCR/2015.2

Downloads

• English (pdf 820 KB)
• http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/149288/1/WHO_HSE_GCR_2015.2_eng.pdf?ua=1&ua=1

Overview

This publication provides information for identifying, classifying, marking, labelling, packaging, documenting and refrigerating infectious substances for transportation and ensuring their safe delivery. 

The document provides practical guidance to facilitate compliance with applicable international regulations for the transport of infectious substances by all modes of transport, both nationally and internationally, and include the changes that apply from 1 January 2015. The current revision replaces the document issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2012 (document WHO/CDS/EPR/2012.12). This publication, however, does not replace national and international transport regulation.

Descarga http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/149288/1/WHO_HSE_GCR_2015.2_eng.pdf?ua=1&ua=1

Survey of Safety Practices Among Hospital Laboratories in Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Unsafe working practices, working environments, disposable waste products, and chemicals in clinical laboratories contribute to infectious and non-infectious hazards. Staffs, the community, and patients are less safe. Furthermore, such practices compromise the quality of laboratory services. We conducted a study to describe safety practices in public hospital laboratories of Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia.
METHOD: Randomly selected ten public hospital laboratories in Oromia Regional State were studied from Oct 2011- Feb 2012. Self-administered structured questionnaire and observation checklists were used for data collection. The respondents were heads of the laboratories, senior technicians, and safety officers. The questionnaire addressed biosafety label, microbial hazards, chemical hazards, physical/mechanical hazards, personal protective equipment, first aid kits and waste disposal system. The data was analyzed using descriptive analysis with SPSS version16 statistical software.
RESULT: All of the respondents reported none of the hospital laboratories were labeled with the appropriate safety label and safety symbols. These respondents also reported they may contain organisms grouped under risk group IV in the absence of microbiological safety cabinets. Overall, the respondents reported that there were poor safety regulations or standards in their laboratories. There were higher risks of microbial, chemical and physical/mechanical hazards.
CONCLUSION: Laboratory safety in public hospitals of Oromia Regional State is below the standard. The laboratory workers are at high risk of combined physical, chemical and microbial hazards. Prompt recognition of the problem and immediate action is mandatory to ensure safe working environment in health laboratories.
REFERENCIA:
Sewunet T et al. Survey of Safety Practices Among Hospital Laboratories in Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. Ethiop J Health Sci. Oct 2014; 24(4): 307–310.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Sigue este Blog en Facebook y Twitter

Feasibility of establishing a BSL3 tuberculosis culture lab in a resource-limited setting

Background: Despite the recent innovations in tuberculosis (TB) and multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) diagnosis, culture remains vital for difficult-to-diagnose patients, baseline and end-point determination for novel vaccines and drug trials. Herein, we share our experience of establishing a BSL-3 culture facility in Uganda as well as 3-years performance indicators and post-TB vaccine trials (pioneer) and funding experience of sustaining such a facility.
Methods: Between September 2008 and April 2009, the laboratory was set-up with financial support from external partners. After an initial procedure validation phase in parallel with the National TB Reference Laboratory (NTRL) and legal approvals, the laboratory registered for external quality assessment (EQA) from the NTRL, WHO, National Health Laboratories Services (NHLS), and the College of American Pathologists (CAP). The laboratory also instituted a functional quality management system (QMS). Pioneer funding ended in 2012 and the laboratory remained in self-sustainability mode.
Results: The laboratory achieved internationally acceptable standards in both structural and biosafety requirements. Of the 14 patient samples analyzed in the procedural validation phase, agreement for all tests with NTRL was 90% (P <0.01). It started full operations in October 2009 performing smear microscopy, culture, identification, and drug susceptibility testing (DST). The annual culture workload was 7,636, 10,242, and 2,712 inoculations for the years 2010, 2011, and 2012, respectively. Other performance indicators of TB culture laboratories were also monitored. Scores from EQA panels included smear microscopy >80% in all years from NTRL, CAP, and NHLS, and culture was 100% for CAP panels and above regional average scores for all years with NHLS. Quarterly DST scores from WHO-EQA ranged from 78% to 100% in 2010, 80% to 100% in 2011, and 90 to 100% in 2012.
Conclusions: From our experience, it is feasible to set-up a BSL-3 TB culture laboratory with acceptable quality performance standards in resource-limited countries. With the demonstrated quality of work, the laboratory attracted more research groups and post-pioneer funding, which helped to ensure sustainability. The high skilled experts in this research laboratory also continue to provide an excellent resource for the needed national discussion of the laboratory and quality management systems.
REFERENCIA:
Ssengooba, W., et al. Feasibility of establishing a biosafety level 3 tuberculosis culture laboratory of acceptable quality standards in a resource-limited setting: an experience from Uganda. Health Research Policy and Systems 2015, 13:4

-----------------------------------------------------------
Sigue este Blog en Facebook y Twitter

License to Serve - U.S. Trainees and the #Ebola Epidemic

Before medical school, Sara L., now a fourth-year resident, worked for 6 years as a microbiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While there, she focused on hemorrhagic fevers, and she went to West Africa several times to assist in outbreaks. Indeed, until recently, Sara was one of only a few hundred people in the United States who was trained to work in a biosafety level 4 “spacesuit” laboratory, which requires the same personal protective equipment (PPE) needed for working with Ebola. As the current Ebola epidemic exploded, and after careful deliberation, Sara sought and secured a position with an international aid organization, got approval from her residency program's leadership, found coverage for her time away, and 6 weeks later, was set to deploy. Then she got a call from her institution's risk-management department with disappointing news: the institution would not support her deployment.

Rosenbaum L. License to Serve — U.S. Trainees and the Ebola Epidemic. N Engl J Med. 2014 Dec 17. 

 
-----------------------------------------------------------
Sigue este Blog en Facebook y Twitter

The hidden face of academic researches on classified highly pathogenic microorganisms

Highly pathogenic microorganisms and toxins are manipulated in academic laboratories for fundamental research purposes, diagnostics, drugs and vaccines development. Obviously, these infectious pathogens represent a potential risk for human and/or animal health and their accidental or intentional release (biosafety and biosecurity, respectively) is a major concern of governments. In the past decade, several incidents have occurred in laboratories and reported by media causing fear and raising a sense of suspicion against biologists. Some scientists have been ordered by US government to leave their laboratory for long periods of time following the occurrence of an incident involving infectious pathogens; in other cases laboratories have been shut down and universities have been forced to pay fines and incur a long-term ban on funding after gross negligence of biosafety/biosecurity procedures. Measures of criminal sanctions have also been taken to minimize the risk that such incidents can reoccur.
REFERENCE:
Devaux CA. The hidden face of academic researches on classified highly pathogenic microorganisms. Infect Genet Evol. 2015 Jan;29:26-34. doi: 10.1016/j.meegid.2014.10.028. Epub 2014 Nov 7.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Sigue este Blog en Facebook y Twitter

Preventing Worker Fatigue Among #Ebola Healthcare Workers #CDC

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recognize that healthcare workers and responders involved with cases related to Ebola in the United States may be required to work longer or unusual shifts. This can involve extended shifts (more than 8 hours long), rotating or irregular shifts, or consecutive shifts resulting in more than the typical 40-hour work week. Long work hours may increase the risk of injuries and accidents and can contribute to poor health and worker fatigue.
Additionally, the personal protective equipment (PPE) required for working with Ebola patients can increase workers’ core body temperature, contributing significantly to fatigue. Although these guidelines are geared toward workers responding in the United States, the same concepts apply to those working in other countries.

DOWNLOAD / DESCARGA
-----------------------------------------------------------
Sigue este Blog en Facebook y Twitter

A los patrocinadores de #AMexBio

Las personas interesadas en promover sus productos en el próximo VII Simposio de Bioseguridad y Biocustodia de la Asociación Mexicana de Bioseguridad A.C. Existen amplias oportunidades para posicionar sus marcas ante este público especializado.​
Mayor información con:

Cristina Wilhelm 
cristina.wilhelm[at´]amexbio.org

Guillermo Wilhelm Ferriz
Nextel Id: 52*167789*3
Tel Fijo: (473) 732-4681
Tel Celular: (55) 4410-6383
guillermo_wilhelmf[at´]hotmail.com
-----------------------------------------------------------
Sigue este Blog en Facebook y Twitter

Plant-made #vaccine antigens against #malaria

This paper is an overview of vaccine antigens against malaria produced in plants. Plant-based expression systems represent an interesting production platform due to their reduced manufacturing costs and high scalability. At present, different Plasmodium antigens and expression strategies have been optimized in plants. Furthermore, malaria antigens are one of the few examples of eukaryotic proteins with vaccine value expressed in plants, making plant-derived malaria antigens an interesting model to analyze. Up to now, malaria antigen expression in plants has allowed the complete synthesis of these vaccine antigens, which have been able to induce an active immune response in mice. Therefore, plant production platforms offer wonderful prospects for improving the access to malaria vaccines.

REFERENCE:
Clemente M, Corigliano MG. Overview of plant-made vaccine antigens against malaria. J Biomed Biotechnol. 2012;2012:206918.
-------------------------------------------------
Sigue este Blog en Facebook y Twitter

Conferencia: "#Ebola, panorama epidemiológico"

Impartida por el Dr. Mario Martínez González.
Asesor de la Organización Panamericana de Salud.

Lunes 8 de diciembre del 2014
De 12:00 a 14:00 hrs.
En la sala 2 del Auditorio de la Unidad de Posgrado,
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Ver MAPA
-----------------------------------------------------------
Sigue este Blog en Facebook y Twitter

Alberto Díaz Quiñonez, recibe el "IFBA Biosafety Heroes Award 2014" #AMexBio

El Dr. José Alberto Díaz Quiñonez, Miembro Fundador y Presidente del Consejo Directivo 2011-2012 de la Asociación Mexicana de Bioseguridad obtuvo el reconocimiento "IFBA Biosafety Heroes Award 2014" otorgado por la International Federation of Biosafety Associations.

Este galardón fue creado por la IFBA en 2011, con el objetivo de reconocer a los profesionales que realizan contribuciones importantes en temas de gestión del riesgo biológico en el mundo. 

De acuerdo con IFBA el "Dr. Díaz Quiñonez ha demostrado ser un incansable promotor de la cultura de gestión del riesgo biológico en México".

Felicidades Alberto!

----------------------------------------------------------- 
Sigue este Blog en Facebook y Twitter

Chimpanzee Adenovirus Vector #Ebola Vaccine - Preliminary Report.

Background 

The unprecedented 2014 epidemic of Ebola virus disease (EVD) has prompted an international response to accelerate the availability of a preventive vaccine. A replication-defective recombinant chimpanzee adenovirus type 3-vectored ebolavirus vaccine (cAd3-EBO), encoding the glycoprotein from Zaire and Sudan species that offers protection in the nonhuman primate model, was rapidly advanced into phase 1 clinical evaluation. 

Methods 

We conducted a phase 1, dose-escalation, open-label trial of cAd3-EBO. Twenty healthy adults, in sequentially enrolled groups of 10 each, received vaccination intramuscularly in doses of 2×1010 particle units or 2×1011 particle units. Primary and secondary end points related to safety and immunogenicity were assessed throughout the first 4 weeks after vaccination. 

Results 

In this small study, no safety concerns were identified; however, transient fever developed within 1 day after vaccination in two participants who had received the 2×1011 particle-unit dose. Glycoprotein-specific antibodies were induced in all 20 participants; the titers were of greater magnitude in the group that received the 2×1011 particle-unit dose than in the group that received the 2×1010 particle-unit dose (geometric mean titer against the Zaire antigen, 2037 vs. 331; P=0.001). Glycoprotein-specific T-cell responses were more frequent among those who received the 2x1011 particle-unit dose than among those who received the 2×1010 particle-unit dose, with a CD4 response in 10 of 10 participants versus 3 of 10 participants (P=0.004) and a CD8 response in 7 of 10 participants versus 2 of 10 participants (P=0.07). 

Conclusions 

Reactogenicity and immune responses to cAd3-EBO vaccine were dose-dependent. At the 2×1011 particle-unit dose, glycoprotein Zaire-specific antibody responses were in the range reported to be associated with vaccine-induced protective immunity in challenge studies involving nonhuman primates. Clinical trials assessing cAd3-EBO are ongoing. (Funded by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institutes of Health; VRC 207 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02231866 .).

REFERENCE:

Ledgerwood JE, et al; the VRC 207 Study Team. Chimpanzee Adenovirus Vector Ebola Vaccine - Preliminary Report. N Engl J Med. 2014 Nov 26. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 25426834.

Algae-based oral recombinant vaccines

Recombinant subunit vaccines are some of the safest and most effective vaccines available, but their high cost and the requirement of advanced medical infrastructure for administration make them impractical for many developing world diseases. Plant-based vaccines have shifted that paradigm by paving the way for recombinant vaccine production at agricultural scale using an edible host. However, enthusiasm for “molecular pharming” in food crops has waned in the last decade due to difficulty in developing transgenic crop plants and concerns of contaminating the food supply. Microalgae could be poised to become the next candidate in recombinant subunit vaccine production, as they present several advantages over terrestrial crop plant-based platforms including scalable and contained growth, rapid transformation, easily obtained stable cell lines, and consistent transgene expression levels. Algae have been shown to accumulate and properly fold several vaccine antigens, and efforts are underway to create recombinant algal fusion proteins that can enhance antigenicity for effective orally delivered vaccines. These approaches have the potential to revolutionize the way subunit vaccines are made and delivered – from costly parenteral administration of purified protein, to an inexpensive oral algae tablet with effective mucosal and systemic immune reactivity.

REFERENCE:
Specht EA and Mayfield SP. Algae-based oral recombinant vaccines. Front Microbiol. 2014; 5: 60.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Sigue este Blog en Facebook y Twitter