Infectious Diseases

Toxin-emitting bacteria being evaluated as a potential multiple sclerosis trigger
A research team from Weill Cornell Medical College and The Rockefeller University has identified a bacterium it believes may trigger multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic, debilitating disorder that damages myelin forming cells in the brain and spinal cord. Their study, published in PLoS ONE, is the first to identify the bacterium, Clostridium (C.) perfringens type B, in humans. MedicalXpress

MMWR Is Back with Advice on Using an Assay for Resistant TB
The government shutdown (we'd like to avoid using that word again until at least mid-January) is now past, and MMWR has returned with advice on using an assay to detect drug-resistant tuberculosis. The report's authors say the assay has a low positive predictive value for rifampin-resistant strains, despite its high sensitivity and specificity, because such resistance is rare in the U.S. Journal Watch

WHO Investigating Potential Polio Outbreak in Syria
Syria could be experiencing its first cases of polio in 14 years after a cluster of acute flaccid paralysis was reported to the World Health Organization last week. Two of the cases may be positive for polio, but the WHO is awaiting laboratory confirmation. Active surveillance continues in the region. Journal Watch

Flu virus wipes out immune system's first responders to establish infection
On the surface of these so-called memory B cells are high-affinity virus-specific receptors that bind virus particles to reduce viral spread. While such cells should serve at the body's first line of defense, it turns out that flu virus exploits the specificity of the cells' receptors, using them to gain entry, disrupt antibody production, and ultimately kill the cells. By dispatching its enemies in this fashion, the virus is able to replicate efficiently before the immune system can mount a second wave of defense. This seemingly counter-intuitive pathway to infection is described this week in the journal Nature. Eurekalert!