Infectious Diseases

New antiviral response discovered in mammals
Many viral infections are nipped in the bud by the innate immune response. This involves specific proteins within the infected cell that recognize the virus and trigger a signalling cascade – the so-called interferon response. This activates a protective mechanism in neighbouring cells and often results in the death of the primarily infected cell.

In plants and invertebrates another mechanism is known to function in antiviral immune response: the so-called RNA interference (RNAi) pathway. RNAi uses an intermediate of the viral proliferation process to build a weapon against the virus. Although RNAi also exists in mammals, researchers have until now thought it to be involved in other cellular processes required for gene regulation but not in antiviral immunity. Evidence that RNAi does indeed contribute to mammalian antiviral defence is now published in Science by Olivier Voinnet, professor for RNA biology at ETH Zurich, and his colleagues. MedicalXpress

Antibiotic resistance ups Salmonella hospitalizations
Because of antibiotic resistance, 42 percent of patients stricken with Salmonella tied to a California chicken farm have required hospitalization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Wednesday. MedicalXpress

Government Furloughs & Food Safety
The recent salmonella outbreak that has sickened hundreds of people who reportedly ate contaminated chicken is complicated by the partial U.S. government shutdown, the New York Times reports. Journal Watch

RSV Is as Deadly as Influenza in Hospitalized Adult Patients
In a study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases, the mortality rate was roughly 10% for hospitalized adults with either RSV or influenza; those with RSV were sicker at baseline. Journal Watch

Idle CDC Worries Experts as Flu Season Starts
The CDC's labs and surveillance programs are idle, thanks to the government shutdown, and outside experts are worried that essential data is being lost.

Indeed, a CDC spokeswoman told MedPage Today that just about all of the regular apparatus that monitors flu and flu-like illness has been shut down. Some 80% to 85% of the usual staff is on enforced leave, according to Barbara Reynolds, PhD, the agency's director of public affairs.

That means information about such things as pediatric influenza, anti-viral resistance, admissions to hospital for flu or flu-like illness, and mortality and morbidity owing to pneumonia and influenza is not being gathered. MedPage Today

31 in Fla. infected by bacteria in salt water
State health department officials say 31 people across Florida have been infected this year by a potentially deadly, yet common bacteria that lives in salt water—and 10 of those people have died. But experts say the vast majority of people aren't at risk of contracting vibrio vulnificus (vih-BREE'-oh VUHL'-nihf-ih-kus), which lives in warm salt water. MedicalXpress