Archived Highlights

Extensively Drug-resistant Tuberculosis Strain Decoded The first genome sequence of an extensively drug-resistant strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis linked to more than 50 ... Source :www.sciencedaily.com HIV and TB emerge as African epidemic Cape Town, South Africa, is among the worst cities in the region affected by a epidemic of HIV and drug-resistant tuberculosis. The BBC in Cape Town ... Source :www.newsdaily.com Brazil saves US$1 billion on HIV/AIDS drugs Researchers say that Brazil's policy of negotiating lower prices on HIV/AIDS drugs has saved the country US$1 billion in recent years. Source :www.SciDev.Net New web portal connects tropical disease research A new web portal for at infectious diseases aims to help researchers navigate the mass of information in the field. Source : SciDev.Net House cat makes scientific history Source: cnn.com Enzyme may play role in lung cancer Higher levels of an enzyme that makes oestrogen may be the hallmark of a more aggressive type of lung cancer in older women, United States researchers have said. Source www.iol.co.za BioPAD hosted the Preclinical Drug Development for South Africa Bioforum on the 10th of October 2007. The keynote speakers were Prof Evan Siegel from Ground Zero Pharmaceuticals and Dr Bonginkosi Gumede from CSIR. Prof. Siegel’s presented on preclinical aspects of drug development whilst Dr. Gumede presented on Pre-clinical platform plan & strategy Kindly click on the links for speaker’s presentations… 1. Prof Evan Siegel 2. Dr Bonginkosi Gumede Malawi endorses ethanol-fuelled cars The Malawi government is promoting ethanol-fuelled cars to make use of its abundant ethanol and reduce petrol imports. Source : SciDev.net New method of selecting DNA developed A new technology developed by U.S. scientists will allow researchers to more easily select DNA for resequencing. Emory University researchers said ... Source : www.sciencedaily.com Prof Siegel BioForum Dates: October 2007 Venue: Ground Zero Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Pretoria, South Africa New technology for sewerage Shamwari Private Nature Reserve leads the way in adopting new, clean sewerage treatment technology. Source : www.scienceinafrica.co.za South African HIV trial suffers setback Trials of a HIV vaccine in South Africa have been halted after trials in the United States have shown it has no protective effect Source : www.SciDev.Net From your dinner plate to the bus engine. The French city of Lille has unveiled a pioneering recycling plant that turns household and garden waste into biogas fuel that can be used to power buses Source : www.iol.co.za Encouraging news in vaccine development The long road to developing an effective HIV vaccine has been fraught with false leads and disappointing outcomes, but promising preliminary results from a vaccine study conducted in South Africa and the United States suggest scientists may finally be on the right path. Source: www.iolhivaids.co.za Traditional medicine for HIV to go on trial Clinical trials of a traditional medicine to treat HIV are set to begin this month in KwaZulu-Natal province, Source: www.scidev.net 'Hardy' livestock on the decline in developing world Hardy livestock breeds in developing countries are under threat of extinction as higher-yielding animals are used instead, says a report. Source: SciDev.Net Fighting Malaria By Tricking Mosquito's Sense Of Smell By mapping a specialized sensory organ that the malaria mosquito uses to zero in on its human prey, researchers have taken an important step toward developing new and improved repellents and attractants that can be used to reduce the threat of malaria, generally considered the most prevalent ... Source: www.sciencedaily.com Compound In Broccoli Could Boost Immune System, Says Study A compound found in broccoli and related vegetables may help boost the immune system, according to a new study. Researchers found that mice fed mice a solution of the compound, 3,3'-diindolylmethane, ... Source :http://www.sciencedaily.com Cranberry helps platinum chemotherapy BOSTON,U.S. research indicates compounds in cranberries may help improve the effectiveness of platinum drugs used in chemotherapy to fight ovarian cancer. Source :http://www.sciencedaily.com Chimps practise self control Apes distract themselves with play to resist temptation. Source :http://www.nature.com Read our special from Nature Medicine. Fifty years ago it seemed like TB would soon be consigned to the history books. But now it kills more than a million people a year. What went wrong, and how can tuberculosis be tamed. Source :http://www.nature.com 4th Annual Bio2bizSA Conference 2007 Dates: 17 September 2007 to 19 September 2007 Venue: International Convention Centre – Cape Town Source : http://www.bio2biz.org/ African researchers test new TB vaccine Trials have begun in Africa for a TB vaccine, which researchers hope will last longer than the old vaccine, and protect HIV-infected people Source : http://www.scidev.net/ Novel Approach For Rapid Identification And Development Of Malaria Vaccines Malaria is the world’s most frequent parasitic disease, affecting more than 100 countries in the tropical zones, mostly in Africa, and 40% of the world population, with more than a million deaths per ... Source : http://www.sciencedaily.com/ Farmers Weekly 3 August 2007 New agency to stimulate technology to grow the economy South Africa is to create a Technology Innovation Agency to bridge the gap between the country's science and technology base Source : http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/ Learn from Brazil and Thai drug licences, say MSF Brazil and Thailand's experience shows manufacture of generic anti-HIV drugs can be worthwhile, says a new report Source : http://www.scidev.net Simple test to monitor immune status of HIV patients < A new device offers the developing world a simple way to assess HIV patients' need for antiretroviral therapy Source : http://www.scidev.net Compounds Block Spread of Antibiotic Resistance The success of antibiotics is among modern medicine's great achievements. But microbes have been evolving resistance. Researchers have discovered 2 medications already approved for other uses that can block the transfer of drug resistance genes between bacteria and kill the bacteria that harbour resistance genes. Source : http://www.nih.gov/news DON'T BLINK Save time at London Heathrow airport – by registering your biometrics data ahead of arrival Source : ttp://edition.cnn.com/2007 New HIV/AIDS drug 'effective but costly' A study has shown that a HIV drug is effective in a range of treatment-experienced HIV patients, but may be too costly for poor nations. Source : http://www.scidev.net New Habanero Blasts Taste Buds -- And Pepper Pests The super-hot, bright orange TigerPaw-NR habanero pepper offers extreme pungency for pepper aficionados, plus nematode resistance that will make it a hit with growers and home Source : http://www.sciencedaily.com/ How To Make Polymeric Micro- And Nanoparticles Researchers have discovered how to make polymeric micro- and nanoparticles in a wide variety of different shapes and sizes using commonly-available lab chemicals and ... Source : http://www.sciencedaily.com/ Extreme Environment Biology Research May Help Solve Ethanol Puzzle Beneath a sulfurous cauldron in European seas lies a class of microorganisms known as extremophiles. These organisms and their associated enzymes could somehow unlock the key to a new transportation economy based on a renewable biofuel,lignocellulosic ... Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases Business sees green in going green Companies are increasingly considering their environmental costs as a way to bolster their brand name and consumer confidence in their product. Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2006/BUSINESS Virgin On Track With First Biodiesel Train It is said to be the first to use a blended fuel which can significantly reduce CO2 emissions Source: http://news.sky.com Potatoes Could Be Used for Bioplastics The usual choices for potatoes include baked, mashed or French fried, but a new study suggests another option: Plastic Source: www.physorg.com Aspirin may cut cancer deaths slightly U.S. researchers say women who take aspirin may have a lower risk of dying from cancer and heart disease. A report, published in the Journal of the ... . Source http://www.sciencedaily.com Hepatitis C Vaccine Shows Promise in Chimpanzees Scientists have developed an experimental vaccine that triggers protective immune responses and helps to control hepatitis C infection in chimpanzees. Source: www.nih.gov/news/research_matters Geneticists identify four new breast-cancer genes Discovery adds to understanding of individuals' susceptibility. Source: http://www.nature.com Scientists breed skim milk-producing cow Scientists in New Zealand have successfully bred a cow that produces skim milk and the firm behind the process said herds of the animals are on the horizon. Source http://www.sciencedaily.com Racing ahead with biodiesel Ethanol powered engines will run on fuels made from the US corn surpluses which currently feed Africa - biodiesel technology offers a solution Source: www.scienceinafrica.co.za Brazil breaks patent on HIV/AIDS drug Brazil will import generic versions of the HIV/AIDS drug efavirenz after issuing a compulsory licence last week. Source: www.scidev.net Molecule in Human Blood Inhibits HIV Researchers have found a compound in human blood that effectively blocks HIV-1 from infecting immune cells and multiplying. Because it works differently than existing HIV inhibitors, this discovery could lead to another class of drugs to fight AIDS. Source: www.nih.gov/news/research_matters TB drug delivery gets nanotech boost A nanotech solution to fighting tuberculosis has been developed by a South African-led research consortium. Source: www.SciDev.Net Green Tea Extract Protects Against Brain Damage Green Tea Extract Protects Against Brain Damage In New Mouse Model Of HIV-related Dementia Source: www.sciencedaily.com Lower Sodium Decreases Long-Term Risk for Cardiovascular Disease Lowering your salt intake not only prevents high blood pressure but can also prevent heart disease, according to new clinical trial data. Source http://www.nih.gov/news/research_matters/index.htm Global Fund eyes business help for HIV, TB, malaria The new head of the Global Fund, a $10 billion group that finances AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria projects worldwide, wants businesses to contribute more to fight the diseases that kill six million people each year. Source: http://uk.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUKL23293494._CH_.242020070423 Everything Starts With Recognition A human body has more than 10 to the power of 27 molecules with about one hundred thousand different shapes and functions. Interactions between molecules determine our structure and keep us alive. If ... > full story Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com NASA puts on 3-D glasses to view sun NASA released the first three-dimensional images of the sun Monday, saying the photos taken from twin spacecraft may lead to better predictions of solar eruptions that can affect communications and power lines on Earth. FULL STORY Gallery: 3-D views of space Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2007/TECH/space/04/23/solar.eruptions.ap/index.html Africa's transport lags far behind Transport in Africa is lagging far behind the rest of the world, the African Union's infrastructure commissioner has stressed. Source: http://www.businessinafrica.net/news SA Airlink negotiates stake in Air Botswana SA's privately owned airline said on Tuesday that the negotiations between the two parties would continue as scheduled. Source: http://www.businessinafrica.net/news Nanostructures Show Potential To Aid In The Diagnosis And Treatment Of Pediatric Brain Cancer Chemistry meets biology in this innovative research program. Using synthetic particles invisible to the naked eye, researchers hope to better diagnose and treat childhood brain cancer, the third most common cancer of children. The particles are called nanostructures or nanoparticles because they are measured in nanometers, an almost unimaginably small unit, a billion times shorter than a yardstick. Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com Half of magnolias face extinction Magnolias are one of the oldest species of flowering plants. Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science Biofuel: Green savior or red herring? It has been touted as the magic bullet that will help slow and possibly reverse global warming; the renewable energy source that allows us all to carry on driving our cars while at the same time protecting the environment. Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science Condor egg could herald return of giant An egg found in an abandoned eagle nest could herald the return of the California condor to Mexico, which hasn't had a breeding population of the iconic giant of the skies for about 75 years. Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/ Protein is identified in type 2 diabetes U.S. scientists have identified a protein as an important partner in the insulin-mediated uptake of glucose by cells, advancing type 2 diabetes research. Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com Analysis: Cell Genesys soars on GVAX Cell Genesys shares jumped 32 percent Tuesday on phase 2 results showing GVAX extended survival of prostate cancer patients by nearly three years. Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com SA to target investment in polypropylene beneficiation A South African drug manufacturer has signed an agreement with an international company allowing it to distribute an antiretroviral cheaply in sub-Saharan Africa, the companies said on Wednesday. Source: http://www.engineeringnews.co.za Cheap ARV's come to Africa A South African drug manufacturer has signed an agreement with an international company allowing it to distribute an antiretroviral cheaply in sub-Saharan Africa, the companies said on Wednesday. Source: http://www.businessinafrica.net/news/ The world's 'happiest' nation is... Just how happy are South Africans? According to the new 'Happy Planet Index' (HPI), we're one of the 'unhappiest' people in the world, beaten only by the likes of Zimbabwe. Source: http://www.businessinafrica.net/news/ Farmers must make ‘fuels of the future’ SA Agricultural and Land Affairs Minister Lulu Xingwana said her department was "almost ready to get started" to gear up the rural farming community for the introduction of biofuels Source: http://www.businessinafrica.net/news/southern_africa/ Sexwale to co-chair SA-Russia council Mvelaphanda Group chairman Tokyo Sexwale has been appointed co-chair of the Russia-South Africa Business Council that was launched in Pretoria. Source: http://www.businessinafrica.net/news/southern_africa/ A Nicer Way to Patent Universities have plumbed a rich source of cash in recent years by aggressively patenting and licensing faculty inventions, but some schools now want to set limits on the practice. An elite group--11 top research institutions and the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)--have signed a pledge to take a kinder, gentler approach to licensing intellectual property. Yesterday, they released principles on the sharing of patented discoveries, urging other universities to follow their lead. Worldmapper: The Human Anatomy of a Small Planet The Challenge: Understanding Global Inequalities Trial and Failure Only the most promising AIDS gels should reach large-scale trials. Ancient DNA solves milk mystery Analysis of fossilized bones suggests milk-drinking mutations emerged after dairy herding. A Recent Split of Humans and Chimps? Controversial DNA study finds separation between two species just 4 million years ago. Researchers safely regenerate failing mouse hearts with programmed embryonic stem cells Mayo Clinic researchers have safely transplanted cardiac preprogrammed embryonic stem cells into diseased hearts of mice successfully regenerating infarcted heart muscle without precipitating the growth of a cancerous tumor -- which, so far, has impeded successful translation into practice of embryonic stem cell research. Smoking increases risk of TB infection, study finds People who smoke have a greater risk of becoming infected with tuberculosis (TB) and of having that infection turn into active TB disease, according to an analysis by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley. HIV attacks the first line of defence The HIV virus enters a woman's body by attacking two types of cells simultaneously. WHO reports some promising results on avian influenza vaccines WHO also concerned by global vaccine production capacity Domestic Violence in the Jungle Big brute. Male chimps like this one police female promiscuity with vicious beatings