2nd MetaMan triathlon to be held in Riau Islands

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With its lovely beaches, strategic location, and numerous tourism spots scattered all over the island, Bintan in Riau Islands province has always been one of the stars of Indonesia's tourism industry.

Those are the reasons why renowned sport management company MetaSport chooses to hold its MetaMan long-distance triathlon in the island on Aug. 31.

We have several other locations in Asia Pacific in our mind. In the end, we chose Bintan because many triathletes wish for a reachable venue right in the middle of everything, MetaSport managing director Nathalie Marquet told a press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Natalie also cited excellent support from the Riau Islands administration, good infrastructure, and scenic terrain as reasons.

Bintan is located near Batam island. It is just an hour's ferry-ride from Singapore's Tanah Merah ferry terminal or an 80-minute flight away from Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

The event itself is held at the Nirwana Gardens Resort, located in Bintan's upscale resort area Lagoi and only 10-minute shuttle ride away from the Bandar Bentan Telani ferry terminal.

This year's MetaMan Bintan long-distance triathlon is the second time it is held under collaboration between MetaSport, Bintan Resorts International and Bintan Tourism Board.

Around 500 world-class athletes, triathlon enthusiasts, and travelers from 35 countries, including Australia, the UK, Canada, Italy, Japan and host country Indonesia are expected to take part in the event.

The MetaMan Bintan 2013 will have two race distances, from which participants can choose. The first is a full iron distance (3.8 kilometers of swimming, 180 kilometers of biking and 42.2 kilometers of running), and the other a half-iron distance (1.9-kilometer swim, 90-kilometer bike and 21.1-kilometer run).

The event will offer a total of US$154,000 in prizes, comprising of US$142,000 for full iron distance winners and US$12,000 for the half-iron distance winners.

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2nd MetaMan triathlon to be held in Riau Islands

Red Cross continues to ease crisis in Marshall Islands

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Three New Zealand Red Cross aid workers have returned from the remote Marshall Islands after responding in mid-May to a severe drought.

During their time on the outer islands of Ailuk, Enerjeral and Ollet, the team used reverse osmosis desalination units to produce 12,630 litres of water, leaving behind a machine capable of making another 4000 litres of fresh water a day.

Another Red Cross aid worker remains in the Marshalls, and is due on remote Ailuk Island tomorrow to restock fuel, check solar panels and oversee on-going water production.

The Red Cross mission is being supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The tiny Pacific nation has declared a state of national disaster due to a severe drought, which has seen up to 6400 people across 15 atolls surviving on less than a litre of water per person per day. A further 11,000 people have been affected by crop loss.

One of the three returning aid workers, water engineer Ana Zarkovic of Auckland, says when the team arrived the situation was reaching crisis point.

"Some people were using coconut water or the limited fresh water for drinking and the salty water for cooking. They were incredibly resourceful and resilient but were running out of resources.

"The community was overwhelmingly grateful and we were thanked a number of times by the mayor, church ministers, the police, and other local people. It was such a good feeling to be able to help," she says.

While in the Marshalls the team also developed hygiene and water usage plans in consultation with local communities.

New Zealands commitment to the Marshall Islands is likely to continue for the next few months.

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Red Cross continues to ease crisis in Marshall Islands

Solomon Islands Commissions Solar Home Systems Project

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Solomon Islands Commissions Solar Home Systems Project

With kerosene, diesel and coconut shells as sources of lighting for their homes, the residents of Kiu village on the island of Malaita in Solomon Islands were truly emotional when celebrating the completed installation of 180 solar home systems during the official commissioning of the Rural Electrification Via Solar Homes Systems in the Solomon Islands Project.

The Kiu community are the first recipients of the US$3.99 million, which involves the installation of 2,000 solar home systems that will provide significant benefits to rural areas and outer islands in the eight provinces around Solomon Islands who will now have access to power for lighting and basic electrical appliances.

The project, developed and implemented by the Government of Solomon Islands, is funded through the Pacific Environment Community (PEC) Fund, contributed by the Government of Japan and administered by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS).

While speaking at the commissioning event, the PEC Fund Project Manager, Mr Jonathan Mitchell commended the efforts of the Government of Solomon Islands and the implementers of the project on the significant progress made to deliver the solar home systems to the outer islands.

With the installation of the first set of solar home systems in the community of Kiu now completed, we hope that the households who have received the solar home systems will take full advantage of the benefits that the systems will provide and we look forward to the installation of the remaining systems around Solomon Islands, said Mr Mitchell.

Kiu villager, Mrs Susan Taonarihu noted the positive impacts that the project has had on households in the area, Before having this solar system, I used coconut shells, kerosene and diesel to provide lighting in our house. Now, I am able to focus on my childrens education- our kids will now be able to study at night and we will have more time for our family prayers. With an excited tone, she added, I am also now able to charge my mobile phone at my own home without going to the neighbors who have generators, which costs me $10 each time I charge my phone and I would also be able to weave and make baskets at night now.

Deputy Director for the Solomon Islands Energy Department, Mr Gabriel Aimaea noted the significance of the project to Solomon Islands and expressed appreciation and gratitude of the region to the Government and people of Japan for the provision of the PEC Fund.

Solomon Islands currently has one of the lowest levels of access to electricity in the region, with over 85% of the population of Solomon Islands still without access to electricity and for this project alone, we received over 6,000 applications to obtain only 2,000 solar home systems, said Mr Aimaea.

He further added that the contribution provided through the PEC Fund is greatly assisting efforts by the Government of Solomon Islands in working towards its policy of increasing and developing sources of renewable energy to support the development of growth centers and rural economic communities.

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Solomon Islands Commissions Solar Home Systems Project

Equity

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Equity Choice in Health Care Access: Welcome and Introduction
Neil B. Guterman delivered the welcome remarks for the Equity and Choice in Health Care Access conference in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Center for Health Administration Studies...

By: UChicago

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Equity

New Mobile Application for Physz.Com Enhances Collaboration among Health Care Professionals

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PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Physz.com, the leading European-based provider of secure, regulatory- compliant online workspaces for health care professionals, today announced the launch of a new mobile application for iPhone. The new mobile application, available on iTunes App Store, ensures that all members of the Physz community can now exchange with their teams to move multi-stakeholder projects forward with even greater accessibility and speed.

"As part of our ongoing commitment to provide Physz members with the latest tools to help them save time and collaborate with their teams more efficiently, we have developed a simple, intuitive application to enhance their customized, private workspaces, called Labz, said Luc Robilliard, co-founder of Physz. Building further on our expertise in enhancing the user experience, the new app is a natural extension of the simple and intuitive turnkey Labz that our members manage on Physz.com. This application underscores our commitment to helping our members work effectively, while maintaining the same high privacy and security standards of our online platform.

Physz leverages the latest social technologies and strategies to allow participants in the health care community to open private, easy-to-use, turnkey workspaces online to manage multi-stakeholder projects including advisory boards, scientific committees, medical congresses, training sessions, and EU-sponsored public health initiatives.

With the new mobile application, Lab owners can continue to select who is on their project team. They continue to completely control the degree of privacy versus interaction within the broader Physz community. Physz enables doctors and other health care professionals, pharmaceutical companies, and medical and patient associations to engage, collaborate and share information on a 24/7 basis.

Recent studies show that over 80% of doctors use smartphones in everyday medical practice. By collaborating more effectively, lower costs and better health outcomes are achieved, supporting common goals of research excellence and scientific advancement.

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About Physz

Physz is the leading Europe-based provider of digital collaboration solutions for the health care sector. On Physz, cutting-edge digital innovations are rendered simple and easy-to-use, allowing members to efficiently convene, engage and collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams of health professionals from around the world. Rigorous respect for privacy, regulatory, and security standards underpin every implementation. Launched in 2012 after extensive beta-testing, Physz is the fruit of over two years of close collaboration between its founders and diverse teams of European health care professionals.

Physz is an independently owned company created by specialists dedicated to improving lives through human-centered innovation, focusing on better digital user experience and social collaboration. Physz promotes greater exchange amongst diverse teams in the health care ecosystem, providing a neutral place for medical minds to meet and get more done because work doesnt always happen at work. http://www.physz.com

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New Mobile Application for Physz.Com Enhances Collaboration among Health Care Professionals

Editorial: Court ruling could expand health care

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Published: Thursday, May 30, 2013 at 11:19 AM.

Competition its a good thing for consumers, right?

Yes, if you believe in the American way of free markets.

No, if you are bureaucrats who create government rules on health care until recently. There is evidence that Raleigh rule-makers are seeing the light on competition in health care.

How it plays out is up to the N.C. Court of Appeals in a case involving CaroMont, a group of Piedmont region doctors and the state Department of Health and Human Services.

The outcome could determine whether people have a local choice in where they get health screenings for colorectal cancer, one of the most common cancers for men and women.

Not just anyone can build one of these screening centers. A certificate of need CON in health-care lingo first must first be granted from the state.

According to what has been the governments misguided economic theory, the CON requirement holds down health care costs by limiting options for patients.

In reality, its just the opposite. Competition drives down costs and, best of all, gives consumers choice based on factors that are important to them.

CaroMont Health in Gastonia secured a CON, but before its screening center was built, the state granted another CON to a group of area doctors. The health care giant now is suing in an effort to block another screening center that local physicians want to open.

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Editorial: Court ruling could expand health care

Private health care policies could be canceled

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FILE - In this June 15, 2009 file photo, President Barack Obama speaks at the American Medical Association annual meeting in Chicago. Many consumers who buy their own health insurance could get a cancellation notice this fall because their current policies don't meet basic standards under President Barack Obama's health care law. They'll have to find replacement plans, state regulators say. If you like your health care plan, you'll be able to keep your health care plan, period," the president reassured the American Medical Association. "No one will take it away, no matter what." (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

Associated Press

Enlarge photo

WASHINGTON Many people who buy their own health insurance could get surprises in the mail this fall: cancellation notices because their current policies aren't up to the basic standards of President Barack Obama's health care law.

They, and some small businesses, will have to find replacement plans and that has some state insurance officials worried about consumer confusion.

Rollout of the Affordable Care Act is going full speed ahead, despite repeal efforts by congressional Republicans. New insurance markets called exchanges are to open in every state this fall. Middle-class consumers who don't get coverage on the job will be able to pick private health plans, while low-income people will be steered to an expanded version of Medicaid in states that accept it.

The goal is to cover most of the nation's nearly 50 million uninsured, but even Obama says there will be bumps in the road. And discontinued insurance plans could be another bump.

Also, it doesn't seem to square with one of the president's best known promises about his health care overhaul: "If you like your health care plan, you'll be able to keep your health care plan."

But supporters of the overhaul are betting that consumers won't object once they realize the coverage they will get under the new law is superior to current bare-bones insurance. For example, insurers will no longer be able to turn people down because of medical problems.

Other bumps in the road to the new health care law include potentially unaffordable premiums for smokers unless states act to waive them, a new $63-per-head fee that will hit companies already providing coverage to employees and dependents, and a long-term care insurance program that had to be canceled because of the risk it could go belly up.

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Private health care policies could be canceled

Like your health care policy? You may be losing it

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In this March 23, 2010 file photo, President Barack Obama signs the health care bill in the East Room of the White House in Washington.

J. Scott Applewhite, Associated Press

Enlarge photo

WASHINGTON Many people who buy their own health insurance could get surprises in the mail this fall: cancellation notices because their current policies aren't up to the basic standards of President Barack Obama's health care law.

They, and some small businesses, will have to find replacement plans and that has some state insurance officials worried about consumer confusion.

Rollout of the Affordable Care Act is going full speed ahead, despite repeal efforts by congressional Republicans. New insurance markets called exchanges are to open in every state this fall. Middle-class consumers who don't get coverage on the job will be able to pick private health plans, while low-income people will be steered to an expanded version of Medicaid in states that accept it.

The goal is to cover most of the nation's nearly 50 million uninsured, but even Obama says there will be bumps in the road. And discontinued insurance plans could be another bump.

Also, it doesn't seem to square with one of the president's best known promises about his health care overhaul: "If you like your health care plan, you'll be able to keep your health care plan."

But supporters of the overhaul are betting that consumers won't object once they realize the coverage they will get under the new law is superior to current bare-bones insurance. For example, insurers will no longer be able to turn people down because of medical problems.

Other bumps on the road to the new health care law include potentially unaffordable premiums for smokers unless states act to waive them, a new $63-per-head fee that will hit companies already providing coverage to employees and dependents, and a long-term care insurance program that had to be canceled because of the risk it could go belly up.

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Like your health care policy? You may be losing it

Genetic Engineering Alters Mosquitoes’ Sense of Smell

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In one of the first successful attempts at genetically engineering mosquitoes, HHMI researchers have altered the way the insects respond to odors, including the smell of humans and the insect repellant DEET. The research not only demonstrates that mosquitoes can be genetically altered using the latest research techniques, but paves the way to understanding why the insect is so attracted to humans, and how to block that attraction.

The time has come now to do genetics in these important disease-vector insects. I think our new work is a great example that you can do it, says Leslie Vosshall, an HHMI investigator at The Rockefeller University who led the new research, published May 29, 2013 in the journal Nature.

By disrupting a single gene, we can fundamentally confuse the mosquito from its task of seeking humans. Leslie B. Vosshall

In 2007, scientists announced the completion of the full genome sequence of Aedes aegypti, the mosquito that transmits dengue and yellow fever. A year later, when Vosshall became an HHMI investigator, she shifted the focus of her lab from Drosophila flies to mosquitoes with the specific goal of genetically engineering the insects. Studying mosquitoes appealed to her because of their importance as disease carriers, as well as their unique attraction to humans.

Vosshalls first target: a gene called orco, which her lab had deleted in genetically engineered flies 10 years earlier. We knew this gene was important for flies to be able to respond to the odors they respond to, says Vosshall. And we had some hints that mosquitoes interact with smells in their environment, so it was a good bet that something would interact with orco in mosquitoes.

Vosshalls team turned to a genetic engineering tool called zinc-finger nucleases to specifically mutate the orco gene in Aedes aegypti. They injected the targeted zinc-finger nucleases into mosquito embryos, waited for them to mature, identified mutant individuals, and generated mutant strains that allowed them to study the role of orco in mosquito biology. The engineered mosquitoes showed diminished activity in neurons linked to odor-sensing. Then, behavioral tests revealed more changes.

When given a choice between a human and any other animal, normal Aedes aegypti will reliably buzz toward the human. But the mosquitoes with orco mutations showed reduced preference for the smell of humans over guinea pigs, even in the presence of carbon dioxide, which is thought to help mosquitoes respond to human scent. By disrupting a single gene, we can fundamentally confuse the mosquito from its task of seeking humans, says Vosshall. But they dont yet know whether the confusion stems from an inability to sense a bad smell coming from the guinea pig, a good smell from the human, or both.

Next, the team tested whether the mosquitoes with orco mutations responded differently to DEET. When exposed to two human armsone slathered in a solution containing 10 percent DEET, the active ingredient in many bug repellants, and the other untreatedthe mosquitoes flew equally toward both arms, suggesting they couldnt smell the DEET. But once they landed on the arms, they quickly flew away from the DEET-covered one. This tells us that there are two totally different mechanisms that mosquitoes are using to sense DEET, explains Vosshall. One is whats happening in the air, and the other only comes into action when the mosquito is touching the skin. Such dual mechanisms had been discussed but had never been shown before.

Vosshall and her collaborators next want to study in more detail how the orco protein interacts with the mosquitoes odorant receptors to allow the insects to sense smells. We want to know what it is about these mosquitoes that makes them so specialized for humans, she says. And if we can also provide insights into how existing repellants are working, then we can start having some ideas about what a next-generation repellant would look like.

Photo: Zach Veilleux (The Rockefeller University)

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Genetic Engineering Alters Mosquitoes’ Sense of Smell

Gene therapy boost in flu battle

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Scientists may have discovered a new weapon in the war against influenza, according to a study.

Researchers in the US used a gene therapy technique which worked well against the H5N1 and H1N1 flu virus. Gene therapy is a new technique in which doctors can tackle a disorder by inserting a gene into a patient's cells instead of using drugs or surgery.

Investigators at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, used a liquid to place a gene replicating an antibody known to be effective against flu into the noses of mice and ferrets, and found it gave them protection against lethal strains of the virus.

In the study, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, the strains were isolated from samples associated with an infamous flu pandemic in 1918 and another in 2009.

One of the scientists, James Wilson, said: "The experiments described in our paper provide critical proof-of-concept in animals about a technology platform that can be deployed in the setting of virtually any pandemic or biological attack for which a neutralising antibody exists or can be easily isolated.

"Further development of this approach for pandemic flu has taken on more urgency in light of the spreading infection in China of the lethal bird strain of H7N9 virus in humans."

The technique establishes broad-based efficacy against a wide range of flu strains.

The treatment was tested in mice that were exposed to lethal quantities of three strains of H5N1 and two strains of H1N1, all of which have been associated with historic human pandemics (including the infamous H1N1 1918).

The flu virus rapidly replicated in untreated animals all of which needed to be put down. However, pre-treatment with the liquid containing the gene virtually shut down virus replication and provided complete protection against all strains of flu in the treated animals.

One of the scientists, Maria Limberis, said: "The novelty of this approach is that we're ... delivering the prophylactic vaccine to the nose in a non-invasive manner, not a shot like conventional vaccines that passively transfer antibodies to the general circulation."

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Gene therapy boost in flu battle

New gene therapy can prevent potential influenza pandemic in mice

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Washington, May 30 (ANI): Researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania have developed a new gene therapy to thwart a potential influenza pandemic in mice.

Specifically, investigators in the Gene Therapy Program, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, directed by James M. Wilson, MD, PhD, demonstrated that a single dose of an adeno-associated virus (AAV) expressing a broadly neutralizing flu antibody into the nasal passages of mice and ferrets gives them complete protection and substantial reductions in flu replication when exposed to lethal strains of H5N1 and H1N1 flu virus.

These strains were isolated from samples associated from historic human pandemics - one from the infamous 1918 flu pandemic and another from 2009.

In addition to the Penn scientists, the international effort included colleagues from the Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg; the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg; and the University of Pittsburgh. Tretiakova is also the director of translational research, and Limberis is the director of animal models core, both with the Gene Therapy Program

"The experiments described in our paper provide critical proof-of-concept in animals about a technology platform that can be deployed in the setting of virtually any pandemic or biological attack for which a neutralizing antibody exists or can be easily isolated," Wilson said.

"Further development of this approach for pandemic flu has taken on more urgency in light of the spreading infection in China of the lethal bird strain of H7N9 virus in humans," he said.

The findings are published online in Science Translational Medicine.(ANI)

Originally posted here:

New gene therapy can prevent potential influenza pandemic in mice

New Gene Therapy Shows Broad Protection in Animal Models to Pandemic Flu Strains, including the Deadly 1918 Spanish …

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PHILADELPHIA Researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania have developed a new gene therapy to thwart a potential influenza pandemic. Specifically, investigators in the Gene Therapy Program, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, directed by James M. Wilson, MD, PhD, demonstrated that a single dose of an adeno-associated virus (AAV) expressing a broadly neutralizing flu antibody into the nasal passages of mice and ferrets gives them complete protection and substantial reductions in flu replication when exposed to lethal strains of H5N1 and H1N1 flu virus. These strains were isolated from samples associated from historic human pandemics one from the infamous 1918 flu pandemic and another from 2009.

Wilson, Anna Tretiakova, PhD, Senior Research Scientist, Maria P. Limberis, PhD, Research Assistant Professor, all from the Penn Gene Therapy Program, and colleagues published their findings online this week in Science Translational Medicine ahead of print. In addition to the Penn scientists, the international effort included colleagues from the Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg; the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg; and the University of Pittsburgh. Tretiakova is also the director of translational research, and Limberis is the director of animal models core, both with the Gene Therapy Program.

The experiments described in our paper provide critical proof-of-concept in animals about a technology platform that can be deployed in the setting of virtually any pandemic or biological attack for which a neutralizing antibody exists or can be easily isolated, says Wilson. Further development of this approach for pandemic flu has taken on more urgency in light of the spreading infection in China of the lethal bird strain of H7N9 virus in humans.

Influenza infections are the seventh leading cause of death in the United States and result in almost 500,000 deaths worldwide per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The emergence of a new influenza pandemic remains a threat that could result in a much loss of life and worldwide economic disruption.

There is also interest by the military in developing an off-the-shelf prophylactic vaccine should soldiers be exposed to weaponized strains of infectious agents in biologic warfare.

Human antibodies with broad neutralizing activity against various influenza strains exist but their direct use as a prophylactic treatment is impractical. Now, yearly flu vaccines are made by growing the flu virus in eggs. The viral envelope proteins on the exterior, namely hemagglutinin, are cleaved off and used as the vaccine, but vary from year to year, depending on what flu strains are prevalent. However, high mutation rates in the proteins result in the emergence of new viral types each year, which elude neutralization by preexisting antibodies in the body (specifically specific receptor binding sites on the virus that are the targets of neutralizing antibodies).

This approach has led to annual vaccinations against seasonal strains of flu viruses that are predicted to emerge during the upcoming season. Strains that arise outside of the human population, for example in domestic livestock, are distinct from those that normally circulate in humans, and can lead to deadly pandemics.

These strains are also not effectively controlled by vaccines developed to human strains, as with the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. The vaccine development time for that strain, and in general, was not fast enough to support vaccination in response to an emerging pandemic.

Knowing this, the Penn team proposed a novel approach that does not require the elicitation of an immune response, which does not provide sufficient breadth to be useful against any strain of flu other than the one for which it was designed, as with conventional approaches.

The Penn approach is to clone into a vector a gene that encodes an antibody that is effective against many strains of flu and to engineer cells that line the nasal passages to express this broadly neutralizing antibody, effectively establishing broad-based efficacy against a wide range of flu strains.

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New Gene Therapy Shows Broad Protection in Animal Models to Pandemic Flu Strains, including the Deadly 1918 Spanish ...

Eastday-Gene therapy may protect against pandemic flu strains

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WASHINGTON, May 29 -- U.S. researchers said Wednesday they have developed a new gene therapy that in animal studies can provide broad protection against flu viruses associated with historic human pandemics.

If confirmed in humans, the approach could be used to shield populations from an emerging pandemic, or protect the elderly and other high-risk populations from the seasonal flu.

The findings, described in a study in the journal Science Translational Medicine, involved using powerful molecules known as broadly neutralizing antibodies that can disable a wide range of viruses and packaged them into an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector, most commonly used to deliver genes in gene therapy.

Researchers then injected the virus vectors containing the antibodies into the nasal passages of mice that were exposed to lethal quantities of three strains of H5N1 and two strains of H1N1. All the strains were associated with historic human pandemics, including the infamous 1918 H1N1 that killed as many as 40 million people.

Flu virus rapidly replicated in untreated animals all of which needed to be euthanized. However, pretreatment with the AAV vectors virtually shut down virus replication and provided complete protection against all strains of flu in the treated animals.

The efficacy of this approach was also demonstrated in ferrets, which provide a more authentic model of human pandemic flu infection, the researchers said.

"The novelty of this approach is that we're using AAV and we're delivering the prophylactic vaccine to the nose in a non-invasive manner, not a shot like conventional vaccines that passively transfer antibodies to the general circulation," said Maria Limberis, assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania and one of the authors of the study, in a statement.

James Wilson, director of the gene-therapy study, said the accomplishment is a "critical proof-of-concept." "Further development of this approach for pandemic flu has taken on more urgency in light of the spreading infection in China of the lethal bird strain of H7N9 virus in humans," Wilson added.

Although the results are promising, the researchers noted more work is needed to determine the safety of this approach in humans and how long it offers protection before re-administration is needed.

Originally posted here:

Eastday-Gene therapy may protect against pandemic flu strains

Gene therapy is 'new weapon' in fight against flu

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Researchers in the US used a gene therapy technique which worked well against the H5N1 and H1N1 flu virus.

Gene therapy is a new technique which uses genes to treat or prevent disease.

The idea behind it is that doctors can tackle a disorder by inserting a gene into a patient's cells instead of using drugs or surgery.

Investigators at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, used a liquid to place a gene replicating an antibody known to be effective against flu into the noses of mice and ferrets, and found it gave them protection against lethal strains of the virus.

The strains were isolated from samples associated with an infamous flu pandemic in 1918 and another in 2009.

One of the scientists, James Wilson, said: "The experiments described in our paper provide critical proof-of-concept in animals about a technology platform that can be deployed in the setting of virtually any pandemic or biological attack for which a neutralising antibody exists or can be easily isolated.

"Further development of this approach for pandemic flu has taken on more urgency in light of the spreading infection in China of the lethal bird strain of H7N9 virus in humans."

The technique establishes broad-based efficacy against a wide range of flu strains.

The treatment was tested in mice that were exposed to lethal quantities of three strains of H5N1 and two strains of H1N1, all of which have been associated with historic human pandemics (including the infamous H1N1 1918).

The flu virus rapidly replicated in untreated animals all of which needed to be put down.

Here is the original post:

Gene therapy is 'new weapon' in fight against flu

Gene therapy gives mice broad protection to pandemic flu strains, including 1918 flu

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May 29, 2013 Researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania have developed a new gene therapy to thwart a potential influenza pandemic. Specifically, investigators in the Gene Therapy Program, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, directed by James M. Wilson, MD, PhD, demonstrated that a single dose of an adeno-associated virus (AAV) expressing a broadly neutralizing flu antibody into the nasal passages of mice and ferrets gives them complete protection and substantial reductions in flu replication when exposed to lethal strains of H5N1 and H1N1 flu virus. These strains were isolated from samples associated from historic human pandemics -- one from the infamous 1918 flu pandemic and another from 2009.

Wilson, Anna Tretiakova, PhD, Senior Research Scientist, Maria P. Limberis, PhD, Research Assistant Professor, all from the Penn Gene Therapy Program, and colleagues published their findings online this week in Science Translational Medicine ahead of print. In addition to the Penn scientists, the international effort included colleagues from the Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg; the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg; and the University of Pittsburgh. Tretiakova is also the director of translational research, and Limberis is the director of animal models core, both with the Gene Therapy Program.

"The experiments described in our paper provide critical proof-of-concept in animals about a technology platform that can be deployed in the setting of virtually any pandemic or biological attack for which a neutralizing antibody exists or can be easily isolated," says Wilson. "Further development of this approach for pandemic flu has taken on more urgency in light of the spreading infection in China of the lethal bird strain of H7N9 virus in humans."

At the Ready Influenza infections are the seventh leading cause of death in the United States and result in almost 500,000 deaths worldwide per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The emergence of a new influenza pandemic remains a threat that could result in a much loss of life and worldwide economic disruption.

There is also interest by the military in developing an off-the-shelf prophylactic vaccine should soldiers be exposed to weaponized strains of infectious agents in biologic warfare.

Human antibodies with broad neutralizing activity against various influenza strains exist but their direct use as a prophylactic treatment is impractical. Now, yearly flu vaccines are made by growing the flu virus in eggs. The viral envelope proteins on the exterior, namely hemagglutinin, are cleaved off and used as the vaccine, but vary from year to year, depending on what flu strains are prevalent. However, high mutation rates in the proteins result in the emergence of new viral types each year, which elude neutralization by preexisting antibodies in the body (specifically specific receptor binding sites on the virus that are the targets of neutralizing antibodies).

This approach has led to annual vaccinations against seasonal strains of flu viruses that are predicted to emerge during the upcoming season. Strains that arise outside of the human population, for example in domestic livestock, are distinct from those that normally circulate in humans, and can lead to deadly pandemics.

These strains are also not effectively controlled by vaccines developed to human strains, as with the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. The vaccine development time for that strain, and in general, was not fast enough to support vaccination in response to an emerging pandemic.

Knowing this, the Penn team proposed a novel approach that does not require the elicitation of an immune response, which does not provide sufficient breadth to be useful against any strain of flu other than the one for which it was designed, as with conventional approaches.

The Penn approach is to clone into a vector a gene that encodes an antibody that is effective against many strains of flu and to engineer cells that line the nasal passages to express this broadly neutralizing antibody, effectively establishing broad-based efficacy against a wide range of flu strains.

Go here to read the rest:

Gene therapy gives mice broad protection to pandemic flu strains, including 1918 flu