As the dreadful flu is refusing to end the killing spree that it embarked on weeks ago in Mexico, researchers in two U.S. laboratories are sleeplessly working to develop a new way to quickly make targeted, infection-fighting proteins called monoclonal antibodies to fight the virus. The epidemic has so far killed 101 people in Mexico itself.

Rafi Ahmed, an Indian origin vaccine expert at Emory University in Atlanta, and his counterpart Patrick Wilson of the University of Chicago, are awaiting the arrival of blood samples from Mexican flu victims to make a serum that might offer some protection from the dangerous new flu virus called H1N1.

Last year, Ahmed and Wilson had explained in the journal Nature that by using just a few tablespoons of blood they could make monoclonal antibodies – specially engineered antibodies that attack a specific protein – in as little as a month, which they speculated, might prove useful in an influenza pandemic to help protect health workers until a vaccine could be made. Though the antibody therapy would offer only temporary immunity, it could be available much more quickly than a vaccine, which is expected to take four to six months.

On the arrival of blood samples from Center for Disease Control (CDC), the research teams in Chicago and Atlanta will isolate a type of immune system cells known as antibody-secreting plasma cells, which produce a surge of antibodies as part of an initial response to infection. Using these cells, the researchers will go to work making highly targeted antibodies against the new flu strain.

A native of India, Ahmed earned his undergraduate degree from Osmania University, India, and Ph.D. from Harvard University. He has served on numerous scientific advisory boards, including that of the Ministry of Science in India. Elected as fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1999, Ahmed has published more than 140 articles and reviews. He is currently principal investigator on two NIAID grants.

Ahmed had been part of many ventures of the Emory Vaccine Center in India. The center along with the International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) had launched the Joint ICGEB-Emory Vaccine Center in New Delhi last year. During the launch, he said that the joint international research center would provide unique opportunities for collaborative research in vaccine development that go beyond what is available then.

U.S. President Barak Obama has been running a massive campaign against the new immigrants coming to the U.S. But it is the immigrants like Ahmed who strove to make the U.S. what it is today. The U.S. will continue to thrive as long as the best and brightest from other lands continue to contribute to America’s progress and compete for its opportunities.

Source: Silicon India

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h1n1, swine flu h1n1

The ongoing outbreak of novel influenza A (H1N1) continues to expand in the United States and internationally. CDC expects that more cases, more hospitalizations and more deaths from this outbreak will occur over the coming days and weeks.

CDC continues to take aggressive action to respond to an expanding outbreak caused by novel H1N1 flu.

CDC’s response goals are to:

1. Reduce transmission and illness severity, and
2. Provide information to help health care providers, public health officials and the public address the challenges posed by this emergency.

CDC is issuing updated interim guidance daily in response to the rapidly evolving situation. This includes updated interim guidance for clinicians on how to identify and care for people who are sick with novel H1N1 flu now that more widespread illness has been detected in the United States. CDC recommends that testing and antiviral treatment be prioritized for those with severe respiratory illness and those at highest risk of complications from seasonal influenza. This includes children younger than 5 years old, pregnant women, people with chronic medical conditions and weakened immune systems, and people 65 years and older. In addition, CDC has provided information for the public on what to do if they develop flu-like symptoms.

CDC has completed deployment of 25 percent of the supplies in the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) to all states in the continental United States. These supplies and medicines will help states and U.S. territories respond to the outbreak. In addition, the Federal Government and manufacturers have begun the process of developing a vaccine against the novel H1N1 flu virus.

Response actions are aggressive, but they may vary across states and communities depending on local circumstances. Communities, businesses, places of worship, schools and individuals can all take action to slow the spread of this outbreak. People who are sick are urged to stay home from work or school and to avoid contact with others, except to seek medical care. This action can avoid spreading illness further.

U.S. Human Cases of H1N1 Flu Infection
(As of May 5, 2009, 11:00 AM ET)

States	# of laboratory confirmed cases	Deaths
Alabama	4
Arizona	17
California	49
Colorado	6
Connecticut	2
Delaware	20
Florida	5
Georgia	1
Idaho	1
Illinois	82
Indiana	3
Iowa	1
Kansas	2
Kentucky*	1
Louisiana	7
Maine	1
Maryland	4
Massachusetts	6
Michigan	2
Minnesota	1
Missouri	1
Nebraska	1
Nevada	1
New Hampshire	1
New Jersey	6
New Mexico	1
New York	90
North Carolina	1
Ohio	3
Oregon	15
Pennsylvania	1
Rhode Island	1
South Carolina	16
Tennessee	2
Texas	41	1
Utah	1
Virginia	3
Wisconsin	3
TOTAL (38)	403 cases	1 death
International Human Cases of Swine Flu Infection See: World Health Organization *Case is resident of KY but currently hospitalized in GA.

sourced from: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/

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