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EPIDEMICS
Progress made toward smallpox medication

Electron micrograph of smallpox.
by Staff Writers
 Stillwater, Okla. (UPI) Jan 28, 2009
U.S. scientists say they have taken the first step toward developing a pharmaceutical medication to treat smallpox and the emerging human monkeypox.

A major breakthrough by Oklahoma State University Assistant Professor Junpeng Deng and Ph.D. student Brian Krumm demonstrated the three-dimensional crystal structure of a poxvirus protein in the act of blocking a human immune molecule -- interleukin 18.

The human immune system is rendered helpless against poxviruses partly because the viruses block interleukin-18 from sending a signal to the immune system that it's being attacked, the researchers said. The body thinks everything is fine and the deadly disease is able to take hold.

"We capped a lot of others' research," said Krumm. "We also show many things through the structure that can't be revealed through traditional molecular biology and immunology."

The finding might lead to a drug that can stop the poxvirus from blocking the protein, Deng said. Since there is no medication for poxvirus-caused diseases, the breakthrough could aid national and international security efforts against potential poxvirus use as bioterrorism.

The study appeared in the Dec. 22 early online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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EPIDEMICS
WHO says no evidence of China bird flu epidemic
 Beijing (AFP) Jan 27, 2009
 The World Health Organisation said Tuesday there was no evidence of a bird flu epidemic in China after a fifth person died of the disease this month, but urged caution over the Lunar New Year holiday.






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