Forum for Science, Industry and Business
Sponsored by:     Siemens  n-tv 
Search our Site:

Topic (optional):

 

Home Reports Life Sciences Content

Scientists discover new virus caused deaths of transplant recipients from single donor

next article
25.04.2007

Knowledge of genetic sequence of virus will enable improvements in screening to enhance transplantation safety

 

Scientists in the Greene Infectious Disease Laboratory of the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and colleagues in the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory in Melbourne, Australia and 454 Life Sciences have discovered a new virus that was responsible for the deaths of three transplant recipients who received organs from a single donor in Victoria, Australia.


...more about:
Greene Infectious Laboratory transplant

The previously unknown virus, which is related to lymphocytic choreomeningitis virus (LCMV), was found using rapid sequencing technology established by 454 Life Sciences and bioinformatics algorithms developed in the Greene Laboratory with support from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Known strains of LCMV have been implicated in a small number of cases of disease transmission by organ transplantation, however, the newly discovered virus is sufficiently different that it could not be detected using existing screening methods.

Over 30,000 organ transplants are performed in the U.S. each year. Knowledge of the genetic sequence of this virus will enable improvements in screening that will enhance the safety of transplantation.

Ian Lipkin, MD, director of the Greene Laboratory and Principal Investigator of the Northeast Biodefense Center, emphasized the importance of academic, public health, and industrial partnership in this work. "This was a team effort. Drs. Mike Catton and Julian Druce at the Victorian Infectious Disease Reference Laboratory reached out to us after a comprehensive state-of-the-art investigation failed to turn up leads," stated Dr. Lipkin. "We succeeded in identifying the virus responsible for the deaths by building on their work and utilizing new tools for pathogen surveillance and discovery developed in the Greene Laboratory and 454 Life Sciences."

Randee Sacks Levine | Source: EurekAlert!
Further information: www.columbia.edu

Further Reports about: Greene Infectious Laboratory transplant

next article

More articles from Life Sciences:

nachricht Scientists Unravel Evolution of Highly Toxic Box Jellyfish
20.11.2009 | NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center

nachricht Texas A&M Researchers Examine How Viruses Destroy Bacteria
20.11.2009 | Texas A&M University

All articles from Life Sciences >>>

B2B Search

Product / Service
Company / Organisation

Latest News

Scientists Unravel Evolution of Highly Toxic Box Jellyfish

20.11.2009 | Life Sciences

When good companies do bad things: Examining illegal corporate behavior

20.11.2009 | Business and Finance

UCR plant scientist's research spawns new discoveries showing how crops survive drought

20.11.2009 | Agricultural and Forestry Science

VideoLinks

Event News

Multidisciplinary meeting on Urological Cancers aims to benefit cancer patients

20.11.2009 | Event News

'Golden Age' for clinical psychology in Northern Ireland

20.11.2009 | Event News

New Perspectives in Marine Anti-Fouling Research

11.11.2009 | Event News