SAN DIEGO, March 28, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vical Incorporated (Nasdaq:VICL - News) today announced that researchers at Ehime University in Japan and their collaborators have developed a Vaxfectin(R)-formulated DNA vaccine candidate with the potential to prevent transmission of malaria. Results of the initial testing, recently published in the journal Vaccine1, demonstrated that the malaria parasite life cycle was interrupted in mosquitoes fed with malaria-infected human red blood cells incubated with serum from vaccinated mice. Vical provided the DNA vaccine plasmid backbone and the adjuvant used in the research.

The malaria parasite advances through several life cycle stages in humans and through additional life cycle stages in mosquitoes. The transmission-blocking DNA vaccine candidate, formulated with Vical's Vaxfectin(R) adjuvant, expresses the Plasmodium vivax malaria parasite protein Pvs230, which is present in both human and mosquito stages of the parasite's life cycle. Anti-Pvs230 antibodies generated by vaccinated mice recognized the Pvs230 protein and interrupted the parasite's development in mosquitoes. The amino acid sequence of Pvs230 protein is also highly conserved among multiple field isolates of P. vivax, increasing the potential for a single vaccine to provide broad protection.

The mouse-generated Pvs230 antibodies, incubated with P. vivax-infected human red blood cells and then fed to mosquitoes, statistically reduced the number of parasites and the infection rate in mosquitoes. A Vaxfectin(R)-formulated malaria vaccine therefore has the potential to interfere with the transmission of P. vivax to humans through mosquitoes. This novel transmission-blocking approach may thereby protect the broader population from widespread malaria outbreaks. Further study of the vaccine candidate has been proposed by the authors.

About Vical

Vical researches and develops biopharmaceutical products based on its patented DNA delivery technologies for the prevention and treatment of serious or life-threatening diseases. Potential applications of the company's DNA delivery technology include DNA vaccines for infectious diseases or cancer, in which the expressed protein is an immunogen; cancer immunotherapeutics, in which the expressed protein is an immune system stimulant; and cardiovascular therapies, in which the expressed protein is an angiogenic growth factor. The company is developing certain infectious disease vaccines and cancer therapeutics internally. In addition, the company collaborates with major pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology companies that give it access to complementary technologies or greater resources. These strategic partnerships provide the company with mutually beneficial opportunities to expand its product pipeline and address significant unmet medical needs. Additional information on Vical is available at http://www.vical.com.

The Vical Incorporated logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5768

This press release contains forward-looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Risks and uncertainties include whether any further development of a Vaxfectin(R)-formulated DNA vaccine for malaria will continue; whether malaria vaccine or other results in animal studies can be duplicated in human clinical trials; whether the malaria vaccine will be effective in blocking transmission of malaria through mosquitoes to humans; whether Vical or its collaborative partners will seek or gain approval to market any product candidates; whether Vical or its collaborative partners will succeed in marketing any product candidates; and additional risks set forth in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements represent the company's judgment as of the date of this release. The company disclaims, however, any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

1Tachibana, M, et al. Plasmodium vivax gametocyte protein Pvs230 is a transmission-blocking vaccine candidate. Vaccine 30 (2012) 1807-1812; doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2012.01.003 .

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Novel Transmission-Blocking Malaria DNA Vaccine Candidate Uses Vical's Vaxfectin(R) Adjuvant

Murdered ... newsagent Min Lin and wife Lilly Lin. Source: The Daily Telegraph

NO DNA evidence has been found linking the man accused of the bashing murders of the Lin family to the crime, a court heard this morning.

The Supreme Court was told recent test results on items taken from the family's North Epping home had failed to provide any DNA connection to Robert Xie, 48, who was last year charged with the murders.

Xie has been accused of killing his brother-in-law, Epping newsagent Min Lin, his wife Yun Li "Lilly" Lin, two other family members and Lilly's sister Yun Bin "Irene" Lin.

The five family members were beaten to death inside their home on July 18, 2009.

Xie's barrister Graham Turnbull SC told a bail hearing this morning that none of his client's DNA had been found on any evidence found at the main crime scene.

"The deceased persons' DNA profile (also) hasn't been identified on any of the items belonging to (Xie) or as coming from his home address," he said.

Documents previously tendered in court revealed police found a bloody trail of footprints leading away from the crime scene.

Xie owned several pairs of ASICS runners that matched the footprints and he was later secretly filmed destroying boxes for the shoe, the prosecution said.

Police allege Xie acted alone in carrying out the killing.

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No DNA linking man to Lin murders

March 28, 2012

A new genetic study confirms that modern domesticated cattle are descended from 80 domesticated wild oxen in the Near East over 10,500 years ago.

Scientists from CNRS, the National Museum of Natural History in France, the University of Mainz in Germany, and University College London (UCL) in the UK performed the study by extracting DNA from the bones of extracted domestic cattle found in Iran. These sites are believed to date back to the invention of farming and the area where cattle first became domesticated.

The international team of scientists found only small differences in the DNA from the Iranian excavation and modern day domestic cattle. What little difference there is, say the scientists, could come from different population histories. By analyzing the DNA with computer simulations, they believe the differences in DNA could only have arisen if a small number of animals were domesticated from the wild ox. They believe as few as 80 wild oxen are responsible for what we know now as modern, domestic cattle.

Results of this study are published in the current issue of the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution.

In a press release announcing the results, Dr Ruth Bollongino of CNRS, France, and the University of Mainz, Germany; lead author of the study, said, Getting reliable DNA sequences from remains found in cold environments is routine. That is why mammoths were one of the first extinct species to have their DNA read. But getting reliable DNA from bones found in hot regions is much more difficult because temperature is so critical for DNA survival. This meant we had to be extremely careful that we did not end up reading contaminating DNA sequences from living, or only recently dead cattle.

According to the scientists, it is important to the archeological study of domestication to note the number of original animals.

Prof Mark Thomas, geneticist and an author of the study based at the UCL Research Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment: This is a surprisingly small number of cattle. We know from archaeological remains that the wild ancestors of modern-day cattle, known as aurochs, were common throughout Asia and Europe, so there would have been plenty of opportunities to capture and domesticate them.

Based at the University of Mainz, Germany, Professor Joachim Burger had this to say about the wild ox, Wild aurochs are very different beasts from modern domestic cattle. They were much bigger than modern cattle, and wouldnt have had the domestic traits we see today, such as docility. So capturing these animals in the first place would not have been easy, and even if some people did manage snare them alive, their continued management and breeding would still have presented considerable challenges until they had been bred for smaller size and more docile behavior.

Other archeological studies have shown other animals, not just cattle, were domesticated. Goats, sheep, and pigs have also been found to be domesticated in the Near East around the beginning of the farming age. It is much harder, however, to determine how many of these animals were domesticated. While traditional archeological techniques do not provide an entire picture as to how many animals were domesticated, genetic research helps to fill in these gaps.

Excerpt from:
DNA Traces Cattle Back To Ancient Times

DNA has confirmed that human remains found near a dry stream in Delta County earlier this month belong to Paige Birgfeld, a Grand Junction woman who went missing in June 2007.

Sgt. Matt Lewis said the DNA match last week was a formality because dental records all but confirmed the remains were those of 34-year-old Birgfeld, a mother of three young children who worked as an escort. Her charred car was found in a Grand Junction parking lot a few days after her disappearance.

Lewis said investigators are awaiting the results of tests by an forensic anthropologist this week or early next. The detailed study of the remains "could help our coroner determine a cause and manner of death, which at this point would be huge."

He said those results might not be made public, however, if releasing them would benefit whoever might be responsible for Birgfeld's death or otherwise jeopardize the investigation.

Frank Birgfeld of Centennial said the area around the dry creek bed where his daughter's remains were found March 7 had been searched thoroughly in 2007. Her checkbook and other items from her purse were found along U.S. 50 not far away after her disappearance.

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DNA confirms body found is Grand Junction mom missing since 2007

STONY BROOK, NY--(Marketwire -03/28/12)- Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. (OTC.BB: APDN.OB - News), a provider of DNA-based security, anti-counterfeiting technology, law-enforcement and product-authentication solutions, and Holliston LLC, announced today they are working together to develop the next generation security platform for various product coatings, including passports and luxury packaging materials, with botanical SigNature DNA. As the nation's oldest and largest manufacturer of cloth coverings, Holliston has served the book cover material, packaging fabric, and industrial cloth markets since 1895. Holliston remains the U.S. Government's preferred supplier of high-security passport cover material.

Holliston's Chief Operating Officer, Keith Polak, stated: "We are excited about the prospect of incorporating the botanical SigNature DNA layer into a variety of products to stem the rising threat of forged passports and other identity documents. DNA, we believe, is the gold standard, and we are working toward providing our customers with the best security solution, whilst maintaining the highest quality products to which they are accustomed."

Applied DNA Sciences and Holliston are developing and testing DNA-coatings that essentially cannot be copied, and provide a means for customs and law enforcement groups to authenticate products in the field, and in the lab. The joint work has resulted in a feasibility study that successfully demonstrated the ability to incorporate botanical SigNature DNA onto passport covers. The next phase of the collaboration is to develop working prototypes, and move toward scaling up the process for commercial production.

Dr. James Hayward, APDN CEO and President, stated: "Passport authenticity governs secure entry into the United States for all citizens and visitors. We are pleased to be working with Holliston, the world's largest supplier of secure passport bindings. This effort extends our existing business to enhance government security."

About APDNAPDN is a provider of botanical-DNA based security and authentication solutions that can help protect products, brands and intellectual property of companies, governments and consumers from theft, counterfeiting, fraud and diversion. SigNature DNA and smartDNA, our principal anti-counterfeiting and product authentication solutions that essentially cannot be copied, provide a forensic chain of evidence and can be used to prosecute perpetrators.

The statements made by APDN may be forward-looking in nature. Forward-looking statements describe APDN's future plans, projections, strategies and expectations, and are based on assumptions and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of APDN. Actual results could differ materially from those projected due to our short operating history, limited financial resources, limited market acceptance, market competition and various other factors detailed from time to time in APDN's SEC reports and filings, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on December 8, 2011 and our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. APDN undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date hereof to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

About HollistonICG Holliston is the nation's oldest and largest manufacturer of cloth coatings. At Holliston, we combine innovation, sustainability, and more than a century of experience to produce the highest quality, best-performing cotton cloth in the industry. From book covers to packaging, passports and industrial coverings, Holliston cloth is both distinctive and environmentally friendly -- and, it's made to stand up to the test of time.

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Applied DNA Sciences and Holliston to Incorporate Botanical SigNature DNA as the Next Generation Security Platform for ...