Navigation Links
Gene patterns in white blood cells quickly diagnose disease

Researchers at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research are developing a method to determine in a matter of hours if someone has been exposed to a bioterrorism agent just by looking at the pattern of active genes in that person's white blood cells. They report their findings today at the ASM Biodefense Research Meeting.

"Effective prophylaxis and treatment for infections caused by biological threat agents (BTA) rely upon early diagnosis and rapid initiation of therapy. However, most methods for identifying pathogens or infectious agents in body fluids and tissues required that the pathogen proliferate to detectable and dangerous levels, thereby delaying diagnosis and treatment," says Rasha Hammamieh, a researcher on the study.

Over the past five years Hammamieh and her colleagues have been studying the host response to BTAs. Upon exposure to a BTA host cells initiate a unique response, turning specific genes on and off. Leukocytes in the bloodstream course throughout the body in a matter of minutes. If they encounter something that is not normally there they make a record in their gene expression.

They first drew blood from healthy donors and screened leukocytes to get a baseline for gene expression in unexposed samples. They then exposed the samples to a number of different pathogens (including BTAs) and bacterial toxins and confirmed their results in animal models.

"We see very specific changes in gene expression that are quite unique to each pathogen as little as 2 hours after exposure. Use of mathematical modeling tools has identified a list of over 300 genes that can discriminate among 8 pathogenic agents with 99 percent accuracy," says Hammamieh. They are also looking for gene expression patterns that could help determine severity of exposure

While the technology for conducting these tests in the field is still in development Hammamieh and her colleagues foresee a day when hand-held devices could be used at the
'"/>

Source:American Society for Microbiology


Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. Shift of weather patterns necessitates rethinking of reforestation methods
2. Viral fitness explains different resistance patterns to aids drugs
3. Drug-resistant bacteria patterns in intensive care units changing nationally
4. Use of stone hammers sheds light on geographic patterns of chimpanzee tool use
5. A dichotomy in migration patterns found for sea turtles in east Atlantic
6. Researchers offer clues to how leaves patterns are formed
7. Global map shows new patterns of extinction risk
8. New imaging technique tracks traffic patterns of white blood cells
9. University of Alberta researchers unravel intricate animal patterns
10. Why do aneurysms form? New studies suggest leading role for white blood cells
11. Bad enzymes may wear white hats after stroke
Post Your Comments:
(Date:7/24/2008)...hers at The Pennsylvania State University College ... that the efficacy of imiquimod, a clinically impo...al and antitumor activity, is dependent on the Opi...or its action. This discovery, reported in the Au...e , provides new insights into a widely used drug ...
(Date:7/24/2008)...ILLE, Fla. If worms could talk, they might tell p...mplete with that telltale come slither look. But w...eromones, a complex chemical code researchers are ...sday (July 23) in the journal Nature . , Scien...ersity, the California Institute of Technology and...
(Date:7/24/2008)...e suppression may have reduced carbon storage in w...ince the early twentieth century has caused a wide...trees, and the density of stems growing on trees w...ated thicker forests and are thought to account fo...uantify changes in aboveground biomass, Fellows an...
(Date:7/23/2008)..."world summit" will bring together internationally...the U.S., Russia, China, Japan, Australia and Indi...ly 27 to Aug. 2. , "We are bringing together ...t life," said summit organizer J. William Schopf, ...hysics and Planetary Physics, Center for the Study...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Imiquimod, an immune response modifier, is dependent on the OGF-OGFr signaling pathway 2Mate or hibernate? That's the question worm pheromones answer 2Mate or hibernate? That's the question worm pheromones answer 3AGU journal highlights -- July 23, 2008 2AGU journal highlights -- July 23, 2008 3AGU journal highlights -- July 23, 2008 4AGU journal highlights -- July 23, 2008 5AGU journal highlights -- July 23, 2008 6AGU journal highlights -- July 23, 2008 7AGU journal highlights -- July 23, 2008 8UCLA 'world summit' to explore ancient life on Earth, and beyond 2Physicians and Nurses Against Tobacco 28PANAT 29 Petition Pope Benedict XVI to Condemn Tobacco Industry and Tobacco Use and Declare Vatican First T 13984 1Physicians and Nurses Against Tobacco 28PANAT 29 Petition Pope Benedict XVI to Condemn Tobacco Industry and Tobacco Use and Declare Vatican First T 13984 2Mindray to Acquire Datascopes Patient Monitoring Business for US 24202 million 3845 1Mindray to Acquire Datascopes Patient Monitoring Business for US 24202 million 3845 2Mindray to Acquire Datascopes Patient Monitoring Business for US 24202 million 3845 3Mindray to Acquire Datascopes Patient Monitoring Business for US 24202 million 3845 4Mindray to Acquire Datascopes Patient Monitoring Business for US 24202 million 3845 5Mindray to Acquire Datascopes Patient Monitoring Business for US 24202 million 3845 6LifeMasters Strengthens Capital Structure with 2415 Million in Funding from Existing Investors 13978 1LifeMasters Strengthens Capital Structure with 2415 Million in Funding from Existing Investors 13978 2LifeMasters Strengthens Capital Structure with 2415 Million in Funding from Existing Investors 13978 3Mystery behind the strongest creature in the world 2460 1Mystery behind the strongest creature in the world 2460 2
...TM ) and American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM...ave of performance evaluation tools for blood spec...ts to maintain ABIM certification, ASH and ABIM ha...t Module (PIM), a web-based tool physicians use to...quirement for recertification. Participants in ABI...
...eading a worldwide research project which could re...ea in children in developing countries. , The four...piloted in four hospitals in India, will offer a m...he disease quickly, cheaply and with little traini...s for improving children,s health could be enormou...
...ovel energy scavenging device that uses the power ...ld provide a method for powering micro and nano de... this idea works," said Michel Maharbiz, assistant...science and principal investigator in the group th...ey will move. The key is to show that you can gene...
...eveloped two new technologies for measuring cell g...g technology provides a way for researchers to eas...ponding to an anti-cancer drug. The second -- beca...ws for the simultaneous testing of different dosag...nds of cells taken from the body. , Shang-Tian Ya...
Other Biology News:New tool helps blood specialists improve patient care 2Hope for major advance in fighting world killer disease 2Hope for major advance in fighting world killer disease 3Ferns provide model for tiny motors powered by evaporation 2Chemical tests of cell growth enter third dimension 2Chemical tests of cell growth enter third dimension 3
(Date:7/24/2008)...re/ -- The Global Probiotics Council,(GPC), a comm...ult Honsha,Co., Ltd., announced the two awardees w...rant for Probiotics Research (YIGPRO) today. The p...who will continue to contribute to,the advancement...United,States., Ajay S. Gulati, MD, an Assistant ...
(Date:7/24/2008)... Important Advance in Radiofrequency ...if., July 24 /- PEAK Surgical, Inc., ...tissue dissection system,based on a proprietary te...rug Administration has granted the company 510(k) ... use in general surgery. The PEAK Surgery System,c...
(Date:7/24/2008)...ire/ -- Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,a privately-...nced that it,has launched ceftazidime for injectio...m antibiotic. Sagent will offer ceftazidime in 1,a...ge vials. According to,IMS data, 2007 sales of inj...ximately $45.7 million., "Sagent is proud to be p...
(Date:7/24/2008)...swire-FirstCall/ -- United,Therapeutics Corporatio...lease its 2008 second quarter financial results be...., United Therapeutics will host a half-hour tele.... Eastern Time. The teleconference is accessible,b...rs dialing,1-706-679-8129. A rebroadcast of the te...
Breaking Biology Technology:Global Probiotics Council Announces First Awardees for New Young Investigator Grant for Probiotics Research 2Global Probiotics Council Announces First Awardees for New Young Investigator Grant for Probiotics Research 3Global Probiotics Council Announces First Awardees for New Young Investigator Grant for Probiotics Research 4PEAK Surgical Receives 510(k) Clearance to Market PEAK(R) Surgery System for Use in General Surgery 2PEAK Surgical Receives 510(k) Clearance to Market PEAK(R) Surgery System for Use in General Surgery 3PEAK Surgical Receives 510(k) Clearance to Market PEAK(R) Surgery System for Use in General Surgery 4Sagent Pharmaceuticals Launches Ceftazidime for Injection, USP 2
... TDS Telecom,s James Barr III, 65, is retiring as ...6 after 17 years in the role, the company said on ... David Wittwer, 44, most recently president of TDS...s been named chief operating officer and will step...s been with the company for two decades and was in...
... MPower Technologies , a local software and cons...anSight LLC to make a new geographic information ...ay. , ,The application, CivX Integrator, allows or...data through a local network or the Internet. , ,"...s trying to maintain and distribute data from seve...
...ng this article, we are 42 days away from the Olym...ose of you used to thinking, "But wait, isn,t this...ly be right. The annual BIO meeting has been alway...ganization made a strategic decision this year to ...l for a couple of key reasons: , ,1. Avoid coincid...
... A decline in research revenue led Third Wave Tec...54 cents a share, but because the loss was expecte...s a company in transition, Third Wave expected som...e clinical market, rather than research and a new...on, compared to 2004 revenue of $46.5 million. Its...
Other Biology Technology:42 days until the 2006 Olympics of Biotechnology in Chicago 242 days until the 2006 Olympics of Biotechnology in Chicago 342 days until the 2006 Olympics of Biotechnology in Chicago 442 days until the 2006 Olympics of Biotechnology in Chicago 5
The Wellwash 4 Mk 2 combines high performance and flexibility with reliability, simplicity and ease of use. This advanced microplate washer meets the exacting standards of today's assay requirements.
...ngineered endonuclease. This unique enzyme degrade...ytic activity. It is effective over a wide range o...pecific activity. Ideal for removal of nucleic aci...liance with FDA guidelines for nucleic acid contam...
Ultrapure C 25 H 27 N 2 NaO 7 S 2 Formula Weight: 554.61 PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS Form: Dark burgundy metallic powder Identity: By IR epsilon max (615 nm, H 2 O, 1 cm): greater than or equal to 60 x
These handy dispensers save space and organize gloves, safety glasses, wipers, hats, and other garb. They are the perfect benchtop storage bins for small parts used in labs, processing and manufactur
Biology Products: