<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Bio Briefing - Bio Agents: All]]></title><link>http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/</link><description><![CDATA[Biosecurity Briefing articles relating to biological agents.]]></description><copyright><![CDATA[Copyright 2010. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. All rights reserved.]]></copyright><managingEditor><![CDATA[webmaster@umpc-biosecurity.org]]></managingEditor><webmaster><![CDATA[webmaster@umpc-biosecurity.org]]></webmaster><lastBuildDate>Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:10:43 GMT</lastBuildDate><generator>SiteExecutive v4.1</generator><item><title><![CDATA[Researchers Concerned about Growing Threat of Plague (01-18-2008)]]></title><link>http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/plague/2008-01-18-researchconcernplague.html</link><description><![CDATA[Biosecurity Briefing: Several news reports released this week highlighted a study published in the journal PLoS Medicine about the growing threat of plague. Plague is caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis, and it is carried by rodents.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/plague/2008-01-18-researchconcernplague.html</guid><pubDate>Tue, 22 Jan 2008 15:39:59 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[DRC Shuts Border with Uganda as Ebola Outbreak Persists (12-14-2007)]]></title><link>http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/viral_hemorrhagic_fevers/2007-12-14-drcshutsborderugandaebola.html</link><description><![CDATA[Biosecurity Briefing: IRIN reported that Uganda's neighbor, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has "closed the lake and land border with Uganda and shut down two markets as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of Ebola from its neighbor."]]></description><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/viral_hemorrhagic_fevers/2007-12-14-drcshutsborderugandaebola.html</guid><pubDate>Fri, 14 Dec 2007 21:37:44 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Fruit Bats Are Likely Reservoir for Marburg Virus (08-24-2007)]]></title><link>http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/viral_hemorrhagic_fevers/2007-08-24-fruitbatsreservoirmarburgvirus.html</link><description><![CDATA[Biosecurity Briefing: On August 22, 2007, scientists published a study in the Journal Public Library of Science (PLoS ONE) on the discovery of a "common species of fruit bat" (Rousettus aegyptiacus) as a natural reservoir for the Marburg virus.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/viral_hemorrhagic_fevers/2007-08-24-fruitbatsreservoirmarburgvirus.html</guid><pubDate>Fri, 24 Aug 2007 17:54:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Study Shows Smallpox Vaccine Effective in Diluted Doses (02-16-2007)]]></title><link>http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/smallpox/2007-02-16-studysmallpxvaceffectivesmdose.html</link><description><![CDATA[Biosecurity Briefing: The March 15, 2007 edition of the Journal of Infectious Diseases published a study conducted to determine if diluted doses of smallpox vaccine offers effective protection from the disease.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/smallpox/2007-02-16-studysmallpxvaceffectivesmdose.html</guid><pubDate>Fri, 16 Feb 2007 19:57:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Progress on Development of 3rd Generation Smallpox Vaccines (03-03-2006)]]></title><link>http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/smallpox/2006-03-03-progressondevelof3rdgensmal.html</link><description><![CDATA[Biosecurity Briefing: Among the abstracts presented at the ASM Biodefense Research Meeting were several pertaining to the development of potentially safer smallpox vaccines]]></description><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/smallpox/2006-03-03-progressondevelof3rdgensmal.html</guid><pubDate>Wed, 31 Jan 2007 20:15:40 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Candidate Anthrax Treatment Receives Orphan Drug Designation (03-10-2006)]]></title><link>http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/anthrax/2006-03-10-candidateanthraxtrtmtgetsor.html</link><description><![CDATA[Biosecurity Briefing: On March 6, Medarex, Inc. and PharmAthene, Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan-drug designation to Valortim™ (MDX- 1303).]]></description><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/anthrax/2006-03-10-candidateanthraxtrtmtgetsor.html</guid><pubDate>Wed, 31 Jan 2007 17:22:30 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Confiscation of Anthrax Questionable after Arrest of Taliban Spokesman (01-19-2007)]]></title><link>http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/anthrax/2007-01-19-confiscationanthraxquestionable.html</link><description><![CDATA[Biosecurity Briefing: On January 17, 2007, the Agence France Presse (AFP) reported that Afghanistan authorities had arrested a “high-profile” Taliban spokesman. Packets of a powder suspected to be anthrax were confiscated from the spokesman.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/anthrax/2007-01-19-confiscationanthraxquestionable.html</guid><pubDate>Fri, 19 Jan 2007 17:22:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Study Finds Capitol Hill Anthrax Exposure More Widespread than Previously Thought (01-12-2007)]]></title><link>http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/anthrax/2007-01-12-capitolhillanthraxexposuremorewidespread.html</link><description><![CDATA[Biosecurity Briefing: New study in Journal of Infectious Diseases provides an epidemiological and immunological analysis of individuals exposed to Bacillus anthracis spores during the 2001 anthrax attack on Capitol Hill.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/anthrax/2007-01-12-capitolhillanthraxexposuremorewidespread.html</guid><pubDate>Fri, 12 Jan 2007 17:22:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Study Reveals Possibilities for New Botulism Treatments and Countermeasures (01-12-2007)]]></title><link>http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/botulism/2007-01-12-studyrevealspossibilitiesnewbotulismtreatments.html</link><description><![CDATA[Biosecurity Briefing: Dec. 21, 2006, study published in the journal Nature reveals new findings on the molecular mechanisms whereby botulinum neurotoxin, the causative agent of botulism, adheres to nerves and disrupts chemical signaling to muscles.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/botulism/2007-01-12-studyrevealspossibilitiesnewbotulismtreatments.html</guid><pubDate>Fri, 12 Jan 2007 17:22:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[HHS Extends VaxGen's Deadline to Resolve Clinical Hold on Anthrax Vaccine (11-17-2006)]]></title><link>http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/anthrax/2006-11-17-hhsvaxgendeadline.html</link><description><![CDATA[Biosecurity Briefing: VaxGen announced that the US Dept of Health and Human Services (HHS) has extended by more than a month the deadline for VaxGen to resolve the clinical hold placed on its anthrax vaccine trials by the Food and Drug Administration.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/anthrax/2006-11-17-hhsvaxgendeadline.html</guid><pubDate>Fri, 17 Nov 2006 20:11:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Study Finds Greater Risks Associated with European Smallpox Vaccine (09-08-2006)]]></title><link>http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/smallpox/2006-09-08-risksassociatedeuropeanvacc.html</link><description><![CDATA[Biosecurity Briefing: On August 22, 2006, the journal Public Library of Science (PLoS) Medicine published a study indicating that the European smallpox vaccine may have higher morbidity and mortality to than the U.S. vaccine due to differences in strain.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/smallpox/2006-09-08-risksassociatedeuropeanvacc.html</guid><pubDate>Fri, 08 Sep 2006 17:22:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Delays in Anthrax Vaccine Delivery Raise Concerns about BioShield Process (08-18-2006)]]></title><link>http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/anthrax/2006-08-18-anthraxvxdeliverydelays.html</link><description><![CDATA[Biosecurity Briefing: The San Jose, CA Mercury News reports recent concerns about delivery of a new anthrax vaccine being developed by VaxGen and funded by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).]]></description><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/anthrax/2006-08-18-anthraxvxdeliverydelays.html</guid><pubDate>Fri, 18 Aug 2006 17:22:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Recent Discoveries May Lead to New Smallpox Treatment and SARS Vaccine (08-11-2006)]]></title><link>http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/smallpox/2006-08-11-recentdiscovsmpxSARS.html</link><description><![CDATA[Biosecurity Briefing: In an August 4 news release, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine announced the discovery of a smallpox virus enzyme which may provide clues to the development of new drugs to target the virus.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/smallpox/2006-08-11-recentdiscovsmpxSARS.html</guid><pubDate>Fri, 11 Aug 2006 17:22:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[HHS Amends Request for Proposal for Third Generation Smallpox Vaccine (07-28-2006)]]></title><link>http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/smallpox/2006-07-28-hhsamendsrfpfor3rdgensmpxvx.html</link><description><![CDATA[Biosecurity Briefing: On July 24, HHS issued an amendment to its request for proposal (RFP) for the acquisition of third generation smallpox vaccine based on modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) for the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS).]]></description><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/smallpox/2006-07-28-hhsamendsrfpfor3rdgensmpxvx.html</guid><pubDate>Fri, 28 Jul 2006 20:18:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[HHS Buys Additional Anthrax Therapeutic for the SNS (07-28-2006)]]></title><link>http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/anthrax/2006-07-28-hhsbuysaddlanthxtherapforsns.html</link><description><![CDATA[Biosecurity Briefing: On July 28, HHS announced that it had awarded a $143,833,719 contract to Cangene Corporation (Cangene) for the purchase of 10,000 therapeutic courses of Anthrax Immune Globulin (AIG) for the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS).]]></description><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/anthrax/2006-07-28-hhsbuysaddlanthxtherapforsns.html</guid><pubDate>Fri, 28 Jul 2006 17:22:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[HHS Purchases Anthrax Therapeutic for the SNS; Development of Additional Candidate Anthrax Therapeutics Continues (06-23-2006)]]></title><link>http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/anthrax/2006-06-23-hhspurchasesanthraxtherapeuticforSNS.html</link><description><![CDATA[Biosecurity Briefing: On June 20, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that it has exercised the option under its contract with Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (HGS) to purchase ABthraxTM for the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS).]]></description><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/anthrax/2006-06-23-hhspurchasesanthraxtherapeuticforSNS.html</guid><pubDate>Fri, 23 Jun 2006 17:22:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[New Anthrax Vaccine with Improved Stability Sought (06-19-2006)]]></title><link>http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/anthrax/2006-06-19-newnanthraxvaccinewithimprovedstabilitysought.html</link><description><![CDATA[Biosecurity Briefing: On June 12, Avecia Biotechnology announced that it had received a $3.9 million grant from the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to develop an anthrax vaccine with "improved stability."]]></description><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/anthrax/2006-06-19-newnanthraxvaccinewithimprovedstabilitysought.html</guid><pubDate>Mon, 19 Jun 2006 17:22:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[HHS Buys Botulism Antitoxin for SNS (06-02-2006)]]></title><link>http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/botulism/2006-06-02-hhsantitoxin.html</link><description><![CDATA[Biosecurity Briefing: On June 1, HHS announced that it has awarded a 5-year, $362,641,105 contract to Cangene Corporation for the delivery of 200,000 doses of Heptavalent Botulism Antitoxin to the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS).]]></description><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/botulism/2006-06-02-hhsantitoxin.html</guid><pubDate>Fri, 02 Jun 2006 17:22:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Experimental Marburg Virus Vaccine May Confer Protection against Disease when Administered Post-Exposure (05-01-2006)]]></title><link>http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/viral_hemorrhagic_fevers/2006-05-01-experimentalmarburgvaxmayco.html</link><description><![CDATA[Biosecurity Briefing: A study published April 27 by the journal Lancet found that an experimental vaccine against Marburg haemorrhagic fever may protect against disease when administered after exposure to Marburg virus.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/viral_hemorrhagic_fevers/2006-05-01-experimentalmarburgvaxmayco.html</guid><pubDate>Mon, 01 May 2006 17:22:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[FDA Issues Warning to VaxGen Regarding its Anthrax Vaccine (03-31-2006)]]></title><link>http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/anthrax/2006-03-31-fdaissueswarningtovaxgenreg.html</link><description><![CDATA[Biosecurity Briefing: On April 4, the USDA's Office of Compliance and Biologics Quality (OCBQ) made public a warning letter it sent to VaxGen, Inc. on March 24, 2006, regarding VaxGen's candidate anthrax vaccine (rPA102).]]></description><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/anthrax/2006-03-31-fdaissueswarningtovaxgenreg.html</guid><pubDate>Fri, 31 Mar 2006 17:22:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Pentagon Releases Report on Response to March 2005 Anthrax Incidents (03-31-2006)]]></title><link>http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/anthrax/2006-03-31-pentagonreleasesreportonmar.html</link><description><![CDATA[Biosecurity Briefing: According to a March 24 Department of Defense (DoD) press release, the RAND Corporation delivered an assessment to the Pentagon on the department's response to three suspected anthrax incidents that occurred in March 2005.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/anthrax/2006-03-31-pentagonreleasesreportonmar.html</guid><pubDate>Fri, 31 Mar 2006 17:22:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[VaxGen Responds to Concerns About its Anthrax Vaccine (03-24-2006)]]></title><link>http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/anthrax/2006-03-24-vaxgenrespondstoconcernsabo.html</link><description><![CDATA[Biosecurity Briefing: On March 17, VaxGen responded to a recent Washington Post report that VaxGen has encountered problems with its anthrax vaccine, rPA102, that may delay its delivery to the government for the Strategic National Stockpile.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/anthrax/2006-03-24-vaxgenrespondstoconcernsabo.html</guid><pubDate>Fri, 24 Mar 2006 17:22:00 GMT</pubDate></item></channel></rss>
