PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Canadian discoveries pivotal to the science of toxins and illness associated with E. coli

A tribute to Canadian researchers among the first to recognize the toxin-producing E. coli published today in the Canadian Journal of Microbiology

2013-10-29
(Press-News.org) Contact information: Jenny Ryan
jenny.ryan@nrcresearchpress.com
Canadian Science Publishing (NRC Research Press)
Canadian discoveries pivotal to the science of toxins and illness associated with E. coli A tribute to Canadian researchers among the first to recognize the toxin-producing E. coli published today in the Canadian Journal of Microbiology Many Canadian scientists and clinicians were unsung heroes during the early years (1977–1983) of research unfolding around verotoxigenic E. coli (VTEC). In an article published today in the Canadian Journal of Microbiology, Dr. Cimolai, a clinician and medical microbiologist, documents the history of this area of study, focusing on the key discoveries and major contributions made by Canadians to the science of what many people refer to as ‘hamburger disease’. This disease poses an ongoing and significant threat to the general population; examples of its impact are the Walkerton outbreak and recent meat tainting episodes affecting the beef production industry in Alberta, as well as food contamination in Europe. Dr. Cimola writes “As stories of microbiological and infectious disease discoveries are told, one of the most charming of these in Canadian history is the recognition of VTEC and associated disease.” The considerable burden and impact of E. coli-associated infections is experienced worldwide. The contributions of our national scientists in this field must be seen as a vital part of medical and microbiological Canadiana. Cimolai reports on key contributors, including Jack Konowalchuk, Joan Speirs and their collaborators in Ottawa, who defined the E. coli verotoxin; Mohamed Karmali, Martin Petric and colleagues at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, who established the association of VTEC and hemolytic-uremic syndrome; Carlton Gyles, University of Guelph Veterinary School, and Peter Fleming, Hermy Lior and their scientific and medical peers. Many Canadian investigators, but especially those in the veterinary school at the University of Guelph, also contributed to the science of VTEC among animals. The interactions between clinical and veterinary researchers led to a then unprecedented exponential growth in the knowledge base of VTEC. “The Toronto group led by Karmali stood front and centre during the most critical period of scientific progress, but certainly Konowalchuk et al.’s findings were pivotal.” “From a Canadian perspective, many sentinel and key observations emerged early in the general science of this topic, and as a Canadian, one can be proud of how quickly the essence of these contributions was disseminated across Canada and worldwide, ” explains Dr. Cimolai. “While perhaps not as impactful as the Banting and Best story, perhaps it may be the next best thing in the realm of microbiology but with a Canadian flavour.” These toxin-producing E. coli are disease-causing bacteria and can cause episodes of diarrhea and bloody diarrhea. They can also lead to a complicated medical disorder known as hemolytic uremic syndrome, the most common acute form of serious kidney failure among children. It is also a major disease-causing germ among animals, but especially bovine and porcine; farm animals and their related food products can serve as a source for the bacterium to humans. Water can also be contaminated by these germs. The profound impact of disease from these toxigenic E. coli continues to be felt around the globe. ### Read the full story in “The Canadian Contribution to the Science of Verotoxigenic Escherichia coli and Associated Illnesses: The Early Years”, published today in the Canadian Journal of Microbiology. Dr. Nevio Cimolai is a medical microbiologist and professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia in Vancouver, B.C. Direct link to article: http://nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/cjm-2013-0644#.Um_TyhCzLWg


ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Sedentary behavior linked to recurrence of precancerous colorectal tumors

2013-10-29
Sedentary behavior linked to recurrence of precancerous colorectal tumors Men who spend the most time engaged in sedentary behaviors are at greatest risk for recurrence of colorectal adenomas, benign tumors that are known precursors ...

Estrogen protects women with NASH from severe liver fibrosis

2013-10-29
Estrogen protects women with NASH from severe liver fibrosis Severity of fibrosis similar in men and post-menopausal women New research suggests that estrogen protects women with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) from severe liver fibrosis. According to the study published ...

Weight at time of diagnosis linked to prostate cancer mortality

2013-10-29
Weight at time of diagnosis linked to prostate cancer mortality Men who are overweight or obese when they are diagnosed with prostate cancer are more likely to die from the disease than men who are of healthy weight, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published ...

UCLA report urges new global policy effort to tackle crisis of plastic litter in oceans

2013-10-29
UCLA report urges new global policy effort to tackle crisis of plastic litter in oceans Plastic litter is one of the most significant problems facing the world's marine environments. Yet in the absence of a coordinated global strategy, an estimated ...

Scientists find that dolphin in Australian waters is a new species

2013-10-29
Scientists find that dolphin in Australian waters is a new species Study of humpback dolphin in Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific waters finds as-of-yet unnamed species A species of humpback dolphin previously unknown to science is swimming in the waters off northern ...

NASA sees Tropical Storm Raymond fading fast

2013-10-29
NASA sees Tropical Storm Raymond fading fast Satellite data showed some recent convective activity within Tropical Storm Raymond on Oct. 28 but southwesterly wind shear and cooler ocean temperatures are predicted by the National Hurricane Center to weaken the ...

NASA sees newborn twenty-ninth Depression in the Philippine Sea

2013-10-29
NASA sees newborn twenty-ninth Depression in the Philippine Sea NASA infrared imagery revealed that bands of thunderstorms have been wrapping into the center of newborn Tropical Depression 29W, indicating it's organizing and strengthening in the Philippine Sea. The ...

Redwood trees reveal history of West Coast rain, fog, ocean conditions

2013-10-29
Redwood trees reveal history of West Coast rain, fog, ocean conditions Many people use tree ring records to see into the past. But redwoods – the iconic trees that are the world's tallest living things – have so far proven too erratic in their growth patterns to help ...

Gold mining ravages Peru

2013-10-29
Gold mining ravages Peru Washington, DC—For the first time, researchers have been able to map the true extent of gold mining in the biologically diverse region of Madre De Dios in the Peruvian Amazon. The team combined field surveys with airborne mapping and high-resolution ...

VIP treatment for jet lag

2013-10-29
VIP treatment for jet lag A brain chemical that desynchronizes the cells in the biological clock helps the clock adjust more quickly to abrupt shifts in daily light/dark schedules such as those that plague modern life A small molecule called VIP, known to ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Transnational electoral participation of undocumented Mexican immigrants in the US

A new method to build more energy-efficient memory devices for a sustainable data future

Freely levitating rotor spins out ultraprecise sensors for classical and quantum physics

‘Chinese lantern’ structure shifts into more than a dozen shapes for various applications

Towards light-controlled electronic components

Tiny architects, titanic climate impact: scientists call for October 10 to become International Coccolithophore Day

Stress sensitivity makes suicidal thoughts more extreme and persistent among the university population

Lessons from Ascension’s shark troubles could help boost conservation

Fire provides long-lasting benefits to bird populations in Sierra Nevada National Parks

Menstrual cycle affects women’s reaction time but not as much as being active

Housing associations more effective than government in supporting unemployed in deprived areas

Biochar helps composting go greener by cutting greenhouse gas emissions

Ulrich named president-elect of the AACI

Multitasking makes you more likely to fall for phishing emails

Researchers solve model that can improve sustainable design, groundwater management, nuclear waste storage, and more

Parched soils can spark hot drought a nation away

Uncovering new physics in metals manufacturing

Sped-up evolution may help bacteria take hold in gut microbiome, UCLA-led research team finds

The dose-dependent effects of dissolved biochar on C. elegans: Insights into the physiological and transcriptomic responses

New research reveals genetic link to most common pediatric bone cancer

Research conducted during 2024 eclipse reveals importance of light on bird behavior

Why does female fertility decline so fast? The key is the ovary

Total solar eclipse triggers dawn behavior in birds

Europe’s largest bats hunt and eat migrating birds on the wing, high in the sky

China’s emerging AI regulation could foster an open and safe future for AI

The secret to naked mole-rat’s longevity: Enhanced DNA repair

Acidic tumor environment promotes survival and growth of cancer cells

New biosensor tracks plants’ immune hormone in real time

New study finds gaps in REDD+ forest carbon offsets with most overstating climate impacts

Mystery solved: How Europe’s largest bat catches and eats passerines mid-air

[Press-News.org] Canadian discoveries pivotal to the science of toxins and illness associated with E. coli
A tribute to Canadian researchers among the first to recognize the toxin-producing E. coli published today in the Canadian Journal of Microbiology