Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses

What happens in our body when we encounter and fight off a virus like the flu, SARS-CoV-2 or RSV?

Retrieved on: 
Friday, July 28, 2023

They spread from person to person through respiratory droplets when someone coughs, sneezes, or talks and can cause death in serious cases.

Key Points: 
  • They spread from person to person through respiratory droplets when someone coughs, sneezes, or talks and can cause death in serious cases.
  • But what happens in our body when we first encounter these viruses?

First line of defence

    • When we encounter respiratory viruses, the first line of defence is the physical and chemical barriers in our nose, upper airways, and lungs.
    • Our defence also includes our behaviours such as coughing or sneezing.

Patrolling for potential invaders

    • The cells of innate immunity act like a patrol system, searching for any invaders.
    • These innate cells patrol almost every part of our body, from our skin to our nose, lungs and even internal organs.
    • In the meantime, natural killer cells, aptly named, attack infected cells, and stop viruses from multiplying and invading our body further.
    • At this stage, our immune system is fighting a war against viruses and the result can cause inflammation, fevers, coughs and congestion.

Launching a specific attack

    • As the innate immune response begins, another branch of the immune system called the adaptive immune system is activated.
    • The adaptive immune system is more specific than the innate immune system, and it decides on the correct tools and strategy to fight off the viral invaders.
    • B cells produce antibodies, which are proteins that can bind to viruses, neutralise them, and mark them for destruction by other immune cells.
    • B cells are a critical part of memory in our immune system.

Neutralising the threat

    • As the infection subsides, symptoms gradually improve, and we begin to feel better and to recover.
    • Some respiratory viruses, like rhinoviruses which cause the common cold, may cause relatively mild symptoms and a quick recovery.
    • Others, like the flu, SARS-CoV-2 or severe cases of RSV, may lead to more severe symptoms and a longer recovery time.

How burgers and chips for lunch can worsen your asthma that afternoon

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, July 25, 2023

Food can affect how well your lungs function, how often you have asthma attacks and how well your puffer works.

Key Points: 
  • Food can affect how well your lungs function, how often you have asthma attacks and how well your puffer works.
  • Here’s what we know about which foods to eat more of, and which are best to eat in smaller amounts, if you have asthma.

Asthma and inflammation

    • This makes it difficult for them to breathe during what’s commonly known as an asthma attack (or exacerbation).
    • Researchers are becoming increasingly aware of how someone’s diet can affect their asthma symptoms, including how often they have one of these attacks.
    • Read more:
      Passive smoking, synthetic bedding and gas heating in homes show the strongest links to asthma

Thumbs up for fruit and veg

    • The Mediterranean diet – a diet high in fruit, vegetables and oily fish – is linked with less wheezing in children, whether or not they have been diagnosed with asthma.
    • Some, but not all, of the studies found this was regardless of the children’s body-mass index (BMI) or socioeconomic status.
    • However a review looked at five studies that investigated omega-3 intake (through the diet or with a supplement) in adults with asthma.
    • Of course there is no harm in eating foods high in omega-3 – such as oily fish, flaxseeds, chia seeds and walnuts.

Thumbs down for saturated fat, sugar, red meat

    • Diets high in saturated fats, plus sugar and red meat, can worsen someone’s asthma symptoms.
    • Foods high in saturated fat can have an impact in as little as four hours.
    • People who ate the meal high in saturated fat had reduced lung function within four hours.

What about dairy?


    One food type you don’t have to avoid, though, is dairy products. Although many people with asthma report eating dairy worsens their asthma, evidence shows this to be untrue. In fact, one study in adults with asthma found drinking milk was linked to better lung function.

    Read more:
    Monday's medical myth: dairy products exacerbate asthma

GeoVax to Participate in the 4th Symposium on Infectious Diseases in the Immunocompromised Host

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Medical leadership representation from GeoVax will attend the event and will meet and interact with the symposium speakers and attendees.

Key Points: 
  • Medical leadership representation from GeoVax will attend the event and will meet and interact with the symposium speakers and attendees.
  • The 4th Symposium on Infectious Diseases in the Immunocompromised Host brings together leaders and trainees in research and clinical care of infectious diseases in the immunocompromised host.
  • The symposium will address COVID-19, fungal disease, respiratory viruses, CMV, HHV-6, immunotherapy, the microbiome, and antimicrobial stewardship.
  • David Dodd, GeoVax’s Chairman and CEO, commented, “We are proud to participate in this important symposium which highlights the critical need for innovative approaches to preventing and treating infections in vulnerable populations.

Global Medical Tent Market Outlook and Forecast 2023 - 2028: Growing Military Activities and Increasing Rescue Operations Drive Growth - ResearchAndMarkets.com

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, April 4, 2023

The use of inflatable medical tents is rising in the military, owing to troops stationed worldwide and increasing military investments.

Key Points: 
  • The use of inflatable medical tents is rising in the military, owing to troops stationed worldwide and increasing military investments.
  • The global medical tent market is expected to rise considerably due to increased usage of tents in the military segment, medical emergencies, and rescue operations.
  • The global medical tent market is moderately competitive and is expected to offer significant growth opportunities for vendors during the forecast period.
  • Some key market participants operating in the global medical tent market include Liri Structure, Instent Industries, ZINGERLE GROUP, LANCO, and HDT Global.

AuraVax Therapeutics Appoints Industry Veteran Joseph Sullivan as its Inaugural CEO

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, March 7, 2023

"I am honored and excited to join the team at AuraVax and lead our efforts to develop this novel therapeutic," said Joe Sullivan. "The morbidity and mortality of respiratory pathogens continues to increase world-wide and medical professionals need new options for patients. NanoSTING offers the potential to protect by activating the immune system at the first signs of disease -- and is future-proof as the underlying technology appears to not be vulnerable to mutations of pathogens that can undermine the efficacy of targeted therapeutics."

Key Points: 
  • HOUSTON, March 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- AuraVax Therapeutics , Inc., a biotechnology company developing novel immunotherapies to prevent and treat respiratory viruses, today announced the appointment of Joseph C. Sullivan as Chief Executive Officer.
  • He has over 30 years' experience commercializing vaccines and biologics, including leading new vaccine products at Merck & Co, Inc.
    "We are thrilled that Joe is leading the Company," said Dr. Laurence Cooper, AuraVax co-founder.
  • Under his leadership, AuraVax will be undertaking its first clinical studies to evaluate NanoSTING, its lead therapeutic candidate.
  • "I am honored and excited to join the team at AuraVax and lead our efforts to develop this novel therapeutic," said Joe Sullivan.

Medical Tent Market - Global Outlook and Forecast 2023-2028: Increasing Demand for Negative Pressure Isolation Tents Boosts Sector

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, March 7, 2023

The global medical tent market is expected to rise considerably due to increased usage of tents in the military segment, medical emergencies, and rescue operations.

Key Points: 
  • The global medical tent market is expected to rise considerably due to increased usage of tents in the military segment, medical emergencies, and rescue operations.
  • To remain competitive in the medical tent market, vendors have been focusing on meeting the challenges associated with traditional medical tents.
  • AKS Industries, UTILIS, Stretch Event Tents USA, and Instent Industries are some of the leading companies in the medical tent market offering negative pressure isolation tents.
  • Vendors are developing medical tents for various purposes, such as medical supplies storage, medical waste disposal tents, decontamination, and multipurpose tents.

PDS Biotech Announces Publication of Preclinical Infectimune™ Based Vaccine Studies Demonstrating Effective Protection Against Viral Infection in Peer-Reviewed Journal, Viruses

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 8, 2023

The paper, titled, “Recombinant Protein Vaccines Formulated with Enantio-Specific Cationic Lipid R-DOTAP Induce Protective Cellular and Antibody-Mediated Immune Responses in Mice,” highlighted results from preclinical studies.

Key Points: 
  • The paper, titled, “Recombinant Protein Vaccines Formulated with Enantio-Specific Cationic Lipid R-DOTAP Induce Protective Cellular and Antibody-Mediated Immune Responses in Mice,” highlighted results from preclinical studies.
  • It was found that Infectimune™ (R-DOTAP) promoted strong T cell and antibody immune responses in both single- and multi-viral antigen (protein) containing vaccines.
  • The vaccines induced antigen-specific and multi-cytokine-inducing CD8 and CD4 T cells associated with antigen-specific killing and immune memory, respectively.
  • Importantly, these Infectimune™ induced neutralizing antibody and T cell responses completely protected animals from lethal challenges with live SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses.

Fusion Genomics Establishes First-of-its-Kind Wastewater Surveillance Pilot Study at Toronto Airport

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 10, 2023

Fusion Genomics announced today that the company has established a fully automated, first-of-its-kind infectious-disease surveillance facility at Toronto Pearson International Airport.

Key Points: 
  • Fusion Genomics announced today that the company has established a fully automated, first-of-its-kind infectious-disease surveillance facility at Toronto Pearson International Airport.
  • The pilot project, supported in part by funding from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program, is being facilitated by the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA).
  • Wastewater testing has been used to a small degree for infectious disease surveillance for years, but it was the COVID-19 pandemic that highlighted its extraordinary potential.
  • In a separate pilot study announced last year, Fusion Genomics deployed its ONETest Coronaviruses Plus test at Toronto Pearson to evaluate samples collected from passengers.

Nasal Vaccines Global Markets and Pipeline Analysis Research Report 2022 - Trends and Sales Forecasts through 2027 - ResearchAndMarkets.com

Retrieved on: 
Monday, January 9, 2023

The "Nasal Vaccines: Global Markets and Pipeline Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Key Points: 
  • The "Nasal Vaccines: Global Markets and Pipeline Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
  • This report examines trends and sales in the global market for nasal vaccines through 2027.
  • Nasal vaccines achieve both: They eliminate the use of needles, thus reducing the cost of vaccines and facilitating mass vaccination.
  • The report examines all forms of nasal vaccines, such as nasal drops or sprays, but excludes intramuscular and oral vaccines.

AlloVir Announces Plans to Complete Enrollment in Three Phase 3 Posoleucel Studies in 2023

Retrieved on: 
Monday, January 9, 2023

Global enrollment is ongoing in Phase 3 registrational studies of posoleucel for the treatment of vHC ( NCT04390113 ) and AdV infection ( NCT05179057 ), both in adult and pediatric allo-HCT patients.

Key Points: 
  • Global enrollment is ongoing in Phase 3 registrational studies of posoleucel for the treatment of vHC ( NCT04390113 ) and AdV infection ( NCT05179057 ), both in adult and pediatric allo-HCT patients.
  • Given the high proportion of sites participating in multiple posoleucel Phase 3 studies and the intentional prioritization of the multi-virus prevention trial, both the vHC and AdV studies are expected to complete enrollment by year-end 2023, with topline data anticipated in 2024.
  • The company expects to initiate clinical development of ALVR107 upon completion of the posoleucel Phase 3 registrational studies.
  • For fiscal year 2023, AlloVir expects operating expenses to be in the range of $150 million to $170 million, excluding non-cash stock compensation expenses.