UBC researchers identify potential new therapy approach for hepatitis C

Discovery could benefit 170 million people affected worldwide

2012-01-16

(Press-News.org) Researchers at the University of British Columbia have found a new way to block infection from the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the liver that could lead to new therapies for those affected by this and other infectious diseases.

More than 170 million people worldwide suffer from hepatitis C, the disease caused by chronic HCV infection. The disease affects the liver and is one of the leading causes of liver cancer and liver transplant around the world. HCV is spread by blood-to-blood contact and there is no vaccine to prevent it. Current treatments for the disease are only moderately effective and can cause serious side effects.

"As HCV infects a person, it needs fat droplets in the liver to form new virus particles," says François Jean, Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Scientific Director of the Facility for Infectious Disease and Epidemic Research (FINDER) at UBC. "In the process, it causes fat to accumulate in the liver and ultimately leads to chronic dysfunction of the organ."

"HCV is constantly mutating, which makes it difficult to develop antiviral therapies that target the virus itself," says Jean. "So we decided to take a new approach."

Jean and his team developed an inhibitor that decreases the size of host fat droplets in liver cells and stops HCV from "taking residence," multiplying and infecting other cells.

"Our approach would essentially block the lifecycle of the virus so that it cannot spread and cause further damage to the liver," says Jean. The team's method is detailed in the journal PLoS Pathogens.

According to Jean, HCV is one of a number of viruses that require fat to replicate in the human body. This new approach to curbing the replication of HCV could translate into similar therapies for other related re-emerging viruses that can cause serious and life threatening infections in humans, such as dengue virus. Dengue is endemic in more than 100 countries, with approximately 2.5 billion people at risk of infection globally. In some countries, Dengue has become the leading cause of child mortality.

###The research was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) through grants and scholarships and by the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (MSFHR) through its Junior Trainee Award. The study is available at http://www.plospathogens.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.ppat.1002468

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

W2 And 1099 Software: EzW2 From Halfpricesoft.com Allows Users Print Unlimited Forms At Just $39

2012-01-16

Jan 31 tax form mailing deadline is approaching. Payroll tax software provider Halfpricesoft.com (www.halfpricesoft.com) is proud to announce that ezW2 2011, the new edition of W2 and 1099 software for 2012 tax season, will support unlimited accounts, unlimited recipients and unlimited tax form printing with no extra charge. "Tax issues are the single most significant set of regulatory burdens for most small firms. We believe small business software should simple, reliable and affordable. We hope ezW2 can help employers and HR managers spend less time on preparing ...

Cancer studies warn over NHS cost-cutting

2012-01-16

A leading cancer researcher has identified very high levels of doctor-patient trust and confidence within the NHS. University of Leicester researcher Professor Paul Symonds also highlights the risk of jeopardizing this record of success if measures to become more cost effective are not carefully thought through and implemented. In two papers published this month in the journal Clinical Oncology, Professor Paul Symonds of the Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, assesses attitudes and beliefs concerning cancer care in the UK. In one paper, Professor ...

Don't Let Friday the 13th Scare You into Ignoring Your Tax Troubles! Call Blue Tax Today!

2012-01-16

There will be three Friday the 13th's in 2012 but thankfully more than three chances for taxpayers to contact Blue Tax for help in solving their tax issues! Michael and Amy (Gilbertsville, KY) came to the Blue Tax offices with a balance of roughly $26,000 owed to the State and IRS for 2010. 2010 IRS and State. They were desperate to make sure that they were not going to be collected on by the State or IRS with tax levies and wage or bank garnishments. Blue Tax understood this immediately and aimed to place Michael and Amy on the best possible resolution program, based ...

Botree Westmount Partners to Acquire a DC Wealth Management Firm to Kick-Start the New Year

2012-01-16

Alexandria Financial Associates ("AFA" - Private Wealth Management Division of Botree Westmount Partners) today announced that on December 31, 2011, it acquired Capital Management Group ("CMG"), a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) with more than USD $160 million in assets under management. CMG, based in Washington DC, provides independent "Fee-Only" asset management services to High Net Worth individuals, estates and trusts primarily in The Washington DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia. "CMG is a strong fit with our business. ...

Southern Petroleum Laboratories, Inc. Opens New Facility

2012-01-16

Southern Petroleum Laboratories, Inc. ("SPL") is pleased to announce its newest addition to the family of SPL locations - Pleasanton, Texas. This new facility will service the oil and gas production companies, midstream operations, plants, and pipelines in the Eagle Ford shale area. SPL is not new to the shale play market. In addition to our Pleasanton, TX location, our facilities in Venus, Carthage, and Houston, Texas and Shreveport and Carencro, Louisiana are in close proximity to the Barnett, Eagle Ford, and Haynesville shale areas. With a total of ten facilities ...

What's Really In Your Mattress? - A Comprehensive Guide on the Usage of Chemicals in Your Mattress

2012-01-16

Conventional mattresses are very likely to contain chemicals, some potentially toxic to humans and/or harmful to the environment. Most of these chemical compounds have a cloud surrounding the information on the possible harms they can cause. The way to go green is to choose a mattress with fewer chemicals or no chemicals. The ideal mattress would have low VOCs, no CFCs, no PBDEs, no heavy metals, no formaldehyde, and no phthalates. But what are these chemicals and how do they affect the environment and you? Understanding Low Emissions (low VOCs) - (VOCs) Volatile ...

Multi-core Rugged COM Uses PowerPC to Achieve Unprecedented Processing Speeds

2012-01-13

MEN Micro Inc., a world-renowned provider of embedded computing and I/O solutions for mission-critical industrial, mobile and harsh environment applications, now offers a PowerPC-based rugged computer-on-module (COM) that offers speeds up to 1.5 GHz via multi-core processing. Equipped with a Freescale QorIQ processor, the new XM51 is an extension on MEN Micro's family of ruggedized COMs based on the space-saving ESMexpress standard, currently in preparation with ANSI/VITA as RSE 59. When coupled with an application-specific carrier board, the compact XM51 becomes a semi-custom ...

Clean Design Hires Jennifer Hazelett As Vice President

2012-01-13

Natalie Perkins, president of Clean Design, Inc. (http://www.cleandesign.com), a branding and design agency, has announced that Jennifer Hazelett has joined the agency as vice president, account management director. With more than 13 years of experience, Hazelett will bring valuable skills to the management team for building brand and client relationships to achieve client and agency business goals. Prior to joining Clean Design, Hazelett was most recently an account director at McKinney in Durham, N.C. She has experience with such clients as Travelocity, Lands' End, First ...

Renewable Energy Specialists Eco Associates Launch New Website

2012-01-13

Eco Associates specialise in renewable energy systems, particularly photovoltaic systems, and design and produce photovoltaic systems for both private and commercial users. Working closely with Grain and Co, a consultancy specialising in property development ensures that Eco Associates know a lot about property developing, getting the best out of land and using alternative routes in every way. Eco Associates takes its inspiration from nature, combining economics with the best ecological thinking. So you get the best knowledge, the best advice on possibilities and ...

Woodward Landscape Supply Sponsoring Booths at Suburban Home & Garden Show

2012-01-13

Woodward Landscape Supply is sponsoring four booths at the Suburban Home & Garden Show February 23-26 to be held at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA. One booth will display CST walls and Mono-Cast pavers; one will feature EP Henry hardscaping products; one will exhibit Techo-Bloc products focusing on simulated stone products; and the final booth will display natural stone. Contractors from across the Philadelphia area will be available in these booths to discuss outdoor living projects at the home show. Contractors will also be booking no-charge project ...

UBC researchers identify potential new therapy approach for hepatitis C

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: