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Biotech / Medical : XOMA. Bull or Bear? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Robert K. who wrote (8839)	2/24/1999 10:19:00 AM
From: aknahow	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 17367

What's wrong with this picture? Fool me once... Liar, liar. NEW TEST TO PREVENT MENINGITIS OUTBREAKS A new test to identify the different strains of meningitis could help to prevent further outbreaks of the killer disease which claims the lives of scores of British children each year. Developed by a research team at the University of Surrey and the Gloucester Public Health Laboratory, the new test means that scientists will be able to identify meningitis bugs inside a patient's blood cells by literally fishing a very small piece of meningitis DNA out of the sea of human DNA present in a blood sample. "There are around one hundred different strains of the meningitis bacteria," said Dr Johnjoe McFadden leader of the Surrey research team. "In incidents of meningitis, doctors urgently need to know the strain of bacteria involved, both to search for the source of disease and to decide whether to vaccinate children at risk," he added. Traditional typing (distinguishing between strains) often fails due to antibiotics that leave the bacteria unable to grow in the laboratory. Using the test to isolate a small piece of meningitis DNA from a blood sample, this DNA is then allowed to fold into a characteristic shape that can be easily identified - each strain adopts a different shape. "We hope that this technique will help to prevent further outbreaks of this devastating disease that kills scores of British children each year and results in thousands of deaths worldwide," said Dr McFadden. The work of Dr McFadden's team was funded by the National Meningitis Trust. Further information is available from Dr Johnjoe McFadden on 01483 300800 ext 2671 or Colin McCallum, University of Surrey Press Office on 01483 259236. Note to Editors Dr McFadden's team last year developed a rapid blood test to diagnose meningitis without the need for a painful lumbar puncture. This test is now widely used by laboratories throughout the UK. 27 June 1997