APTASURE – INDUSTRY RESEARCH
ContraFect Announces U.S. FDA Grants Breakthrough Therapy Designation to Exebacase for the Treatment of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Bacteremia, Including Right-Sided Endocarditis
February 24, 2020
YONKERS, N.Y., Feb. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ContraFect Corporation (Nasdaq:CFRX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of direct lytic agents (DLAs), including lysins and amurin peptides
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MRSA spreads easily in household environments
February 17, 2020
Household environments play a significant role in the spread of MRSA in the community, according to a study of transmission events involving children with community-associated MRSA skin and soft tissue infections.
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ContraFect: A Game-Changing Treatment For The Superbug MRSA
February 10, 2020
ContraFect’s lead candidate, Exebacase, is in Phase 3 testing. If Phase 2 data are replicated, an FDA approval for MRSA bacteremia is likely.
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Earlier initiation of combination therapy is beneficial in MRSA bacteremia
January 3, 2020
Earlier initiation of treatment with a combination of daptomycin and ceftaroline for persistent MRSA bacteremia may make the treatment more effective
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Preliminary Negative Cultures for the De-Escalation of MRSA Therapy
December 16, 2019
Time to first culture positivity among critically ill adults with methicillin-resistant growth in respiratory or blood cultures.
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Newly Approved Test Can Diagnose MRSA in 5 Hours
December 11, 2019
A newly approved diagnostic test uses a bacteriophage technology based on bioluminescence to detect the presence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) within 5 hours, as opposed to the 24 to 48 hours it takes conventional cultures to do the same.
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Utility of MRSA-Positive Nasal Samples in Antimicrobial Stewardship
November 6, 2019
Nasal screening for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has shown high negative predicative values (NPVs) and therefore may be a powerful stewardship tool for de-escalation and avoidance of empirical therapy,
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Can we reverse antibiotic resistance?
October 21, 2019
In the battle against antibiotic resistance, some scientists are trying a new approach: re-sensitising bacteria to drugs they no longer respond to so that existing antibiotics can hit their target once more.
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Certain Healthcare Personnel Patient Interactions Carry Higher Risk of MRSA
Transmission
October 3, 2019
Gloves and gowns are common intensive care unit (ICU) fomites that are frequently contaminated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
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Some people have better genetic protection from MRSA
September 17, 2019
An inherited genetic mutation appears to increase the likelihood that a person can successfully fight off MRSA infections, according to a new study.
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Smoking makes MRSA superbugs more resistant to antibiotics
August 9, 2019
Exposure to cigarette smoke can further drug resistance in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains, researchers find.
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Survey: Hospitals Increasing Support for Antibiotic Stewardship
July 17, 2019
While support for antibiotic stewardship programs increased across hospitals since 2013, surveillance for multi-drug resistant organisms stayed flat or ticked down,
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S. aureus prevalent on cell phones of nursing students
June 21, 2019
Staphylococcus aureus was present on 40% of sampled cell phones of university students, mostly belonging to nursing students, according to findings presented at ASM Microbe.
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‘Superbugs’ Found on Patients’ Hands and What They Touch
April 16, 2019
Hospitals put a lot of effort into encouraging good hand hygiene among staff. But findings about multidrug-resistant organisms suggest a new frontier for preventing transmission.
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MULTIDRUG-RESISTANT INFECTIONS CAN COST $4,600 PER HOSPITAL STAY
April 4, 2019
Infections linked to multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) cause a significant cost burden for U.S. healthcare, recent research shows.
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CDC: Progress stalled against staph, MRSA infections
March 5, 2019
According to the agency's latest Vital Signs report, more than 119,000 people suffered from S aureus bloodstream infections in 2017, and nearly 20,000 died.
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Are we 'approaching an era where no antibiotics work?'
February 6, 2019
Researchers are worried about the fast development and spread of "superbugs," which are bacteria that do not respond to antibiotics.
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Scientists Develop New Method To Prevent MRSA
January 13, 2019
Now scientists have come up with a new approach to prevent the spread of MRSA. This is a fatal infection which stops antibiotics from functioning.
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Study: Ambulance equipment likely contaminated with MRSA superbug
January 8, 2019
TANNER, Ala. — A recent study suggested that ambulance oxygen tanks are likely contaminated with the MRSA superbug.Researchers at Calhoun Community College tested nine oxygen tanks from three ambulances at an Alabama EMS agency and found MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, on all of them, Reuters reported.
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Trial supports use of topical antibiotics in NICU babies
December 27, 2018
A team of doctors led by Karen L. Kotloff, M.D., University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD), has performed a clinical trial involving multiple hospitals that tested the effectiveness of applying a topical antibiotic known as mupirocin for prevention of Staphylococcus aureus (SA) infection in babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
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Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: livestock-associated, antimicrobial, and heavy metal resistance
November 28, 2018
Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic pathogen of human and other mammals that is of increasing clinical and veterinary importance due to its ability to rapidly develop antimicrobial resistance.
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MRSA case reported at local school district
November 16, 2018
The Steel Valley School District has reported that a staff member at the high school / middle school building has been diagnosed with methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
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MRSA and other germs linger in hospital curtains, linens
October 25, 2018
A threat to patient safety could be lurking right near the bedside, according to a recent study in the American Journal of Infection Control, published by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.
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BioMerieux Recalls VITEK 2 Gram Positive Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST) Cards Due to False Results for some strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
August 18, 2018
The FDA has identified this as a Class I recall, the most serious type of recall. Use of these devices may cause serious injuries or death.
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MRSA colonization significantly increases risk of subsequent infection
August 15, 2018
MRSA colonization significantly increases the risk for subsequent MRSA infection during and after hospitalization, researchers reported in study findings published in Clinical Infectious Diseases.
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Influenza-MRSA Co-Infection May Require Vancomycin Plus Second Antibiotic
July 9, 2018
According to data published in Clinical Infectious Diseases, the early addition of a second anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) antibiotic to vancomycin can reduce mortality in severe cases of influenza-MRSA co-infection in children.
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MRSA Fast Facts – CNN – CNN.com
June 29, 2018
This 2005 scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicted numerous clumps of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, commonly referred to by the acronym, MRSA; Magnified 9560x.
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Impact of MRSA on the military medical service and diagnostic point-of-care options for the field setting
June 3, 2018
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) poses an infection risk for international military deployments.
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Role of Purine Biosynthesis in Persistent Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Infection
June 2, 2018
Persistent MRSA bacteremia (PB) represents an important subset of S. aureus endovascular infections. In this study, we investigated potential genetic mechanisms underlying the persistent outcomes.
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Using MRSA's strength against it
May 14, 2018
Antibiotic-resistant infections cause more than 30,000 deaths annually in the U.S. alone. The majority of those are caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, more commonly known as MRSA, which can turn routine medical operations into near-death battles.
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Multiple Cross Displacement Amplification Coupled With Nanoparticles-Based Lateral Flow Biosensor for Detection of Staphylococcus aureus and Identification of Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus
May 9, 2018
Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), including methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), is one of the most important human pathogens, which is responsible for bacteremia, soft-tissue infections, and food poisoning.
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International MRSA testing week - April 1-7 - MRSA screening saves lives
3 April 2018
CHICAGO, April 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Int'l MRSA Testing Week April 1-7, the 8th annual global awareness campaign draws critical attention for all hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers and nursing homes to screen high risk patients for MRSA and conduct a 'search and destroy'. The 2018 global theme is: "Stop MRSA with Active Detection".
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Newly discovered antibiotic drug offers hope for treating MRSA
28 March 2018
A new class of antibiotics chemically related to vitamin A have shown early promise by killing MRSA in mice. The research reported today in Nature and led by researchers at Brown University, used an assay which tested the ability of 82,000 synthetic compounds to stop MRSA from killing tiny worms called C.elegans.
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Development of a paper-based vertical flow SERS assay for citrulline detection using aptamer-conjugated gold nanoparticles
20 February 2018
Research toward development of point-of-care (POC) technologies is emerging as a means for diagnosis and monitoring of patients outside the hospital. These POC devices typically utilize assays capable of detecting low level biomarkers indicative of specific diseases.
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New research suggests your own immune system can protect against MRSA infections
5 February 2018
After years of investigation, researchers at UC Davis, Johns Hopkins, and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases have discovered how the immune system might protect a person from recurrent bacterial skin infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus (staph).
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Researchers reveal how the MRSA bacterium handles stress
17 January 2018
An international team of researchers has revealed a fundamental mechanism responsible for handling stress in staphylococci when they are exposed to antibiotics. It is expected that the research results can eventually be used to develop new antibiotics that circumvent such stress mechanisms.
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Study reveals how MRSA infection compromises lymphatic function
17 January 2018
Infections of the skin or other soft tissues with the hard-to-treat MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria appear to permanently compromise the lymphatic system, which is crucial to immune system function.
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Selection of an aptamer against Muscovy duck parvovirus for highly sensitive rapid visual detection by label-free aptasensor
1 January 2018
Waterfowl parvoviruses infect ducks and geese, with mortality rates between 10% and 80% and even up to 95%. Studies using sequencing analysis and virus neutralization tests have shown that waterfowl parvoviruses are divided into two groups: Muscovy duck parvovirus (MDPV) and goose parvovirus (GPV).
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Site-specific aptamer inhibitors of Thermus RNA polymerase
1 January 2018
During transcription, RNAP uses DNA as a template for RNA synthesis and also interacts with multiple transcription factors and small molecule effectors that regulate its activity. The σ factor directs RNAP to promoter regions, thus allowing specific DNA recognition and transcription initiation.
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Selection of DNA aptamers against Mycobacterium tuberculosis Ag85A, and its application in a graphene oxide-based fluorometric assay
5 December 2017
The Mycobacterium Ag85 complex is the major secretory protein of M. tuberculosis. It is a potential marker for early diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB). The authors have identified specific aptamers for Ag85A (FbpA) via protein SELEX using magnetic beads.
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Systematic optimization of L-tryptophan riboswitches for efficient monitoring of the metabolite in Escherichia coli
6 October 2017
Riboswitches form a class of genetically encoded sensor-regulators and are considered as promising tools for monitoring various metabolites. Functional parameters of a riboswitch, like dynamic or operational range, should be optimized before the riboswitch is implemented in a specific application for monitoring the target molecule efficiently.
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Distinguishing closely-related amyloid precursors using an RNA aptamer
1 August 2014
This paper describes an aptamer capable of discriminating between monomeric human β2-microglobulin and its closely related amyloidogenic counterpart. Studies reveal that the aptamer alters the kinetics of co-polymerization of the two proteins, suggesting the potential of RNA aptamers as tools for studying the mechanisms of amyloid formation as well as being able to interfere in disease associated processes.
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Selection of 2’F-modified RNA aptamers against prostate-specific antigen and their evaluation for diagnostic and therapeutic applications
1 November 2013
A RNA Aptamer selection against what is widely considered to be the most fundamental marker for prostate cancer detection; prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Incorporation of modified nucleotides has made the aptamer highly staple in serum, allowing for a limit of detection as low of 11 nM of PSA, hopefully leading to possible future treatment for prostate cancer.
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An RNA aptamer provides a novel approach for the induction of apoptosis by targeting the HPV16 E7 oncoprotein.
30 May 2013
RNA aptamers targeting the E7 protein of Human papillomavirus 16 were shown to induce apoptosis in cells infected with HPV-16. This suggests a possible future anti-viral agent for the treatment and study of one of the instrumental agents of cervical cancer.
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Toggled RNA aptamers against aminoglycosides allowing facile detection of antibiotics using gold nanoparticle assays
7 August 2012
Aminoglycoside antibiotics are commonly used to treat livestock for a range of bacterial infections. However, they are also toxic to humans when in sufficient amounts. For this reason it is important to screen for these compounds in food stuffs. Here aptamers were selected against several combinations of Aminoglycosides to produce panel of ‘class specific’ aptamers for broad detection of multiple residues. These Aptamers were conjugated to gold nanoparticles to generate a simple colour change assay, demonstrating the potential for use as a rapid and cheap detection kit.
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Generation of neutralizing aptamers against herpes simplex virus type 2: potential components of multivalent microbicides.
1 July 2011
This paper describes the isolation of RNA aptamers against a critical binding protein used by Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), to infect human cells. The aptamers showed the ability to specifically recognise HSV1 (but not the closely related HSV2) and inhibit viral entry. This suggests a possible future use of aptamers in a microbicide.
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Effects of single nucleotide changes on the binding and activity of RNA aptamers to human papillomavirus 16 E7 oncoprotein.
18 February 2011
Several RNA aptamers were generated against the Human papillomavirus E7 oncoprotien, which has been identified as a key causative agent of cervical cancer. Here, studies demonstrated the effects of minor aptamer variants and their ability to disrupting interactions between E7 and is major binding partner pRb. Effects of single nucleotide changes on the binding and activity of RNA aptamers to human papillomavirus 16 E7 oncoprotein.
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Development of aptamer therapeutics.
1 October 2010
A key review paper on the on the ever growing field of Aptamer therapeutics; evaluating the range of uses as diagnostic and curative agents. Highlighting the process involved in development and isolation of aptamers as therapeutic agents addressing specific commercial examples such as Macugen.
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Characterization of RNA aptamers that disrupt the RUNX1-CBFbeta/DNA complex.
1 November 2009
Development of aptamers against key proteins can help to further research into understanding complex diseases such as cancer. In this paper RNA aptamers were isolated against the leukaemia associated DNA binding protein, RUNX1. These aptamers were shown to bind with high affinity and disrupt interactions between RUNX1 and its target DNA binding sequence in both a purified protein and a crude nuclear extract. This suggests a role for aptamers in the study of proteins and protein complexes and their involvement in disease.
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Production and characterization of RNA aptamers specific for amyloid fibril epitopes.
23 November 2007
More than 20 human diseases including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease, have been linked with the deposition of insoluble, misfolded proteins (collectively referred to as amyloidoses). This paper describes the isolation and characterisation of RNA aptamers against the amyloid fibrils associated with dialysis-related amyloidosis. These aptamers demonstrated the ability to discriminate between native and amyloid conformations of the target, as well as recognising material from patient tissue samples. This demonstrates the ability of aptamers to discriminate between different folds of the same amino acid sequence.
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Selection and characterization of RNA aptamers to the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase from foot-and-mouth disease virus.
1 November 2006
Foot and mouth disease is a well document viral disease known to have cost the UK economy approximately £8 billion in the 2001 outbreak. Due to its economic impact, RNA aptamers were developed to serve as research tools against key viral proteins. Here a high affinity aptamer (18-75nM) against the viral RNA polymerase demonstrated an inhibitory effect, suggesting possible use as research tools or even potentially as a therapeutic.
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Aptamers come of age – at last.
1 August 2006
A short introductory literature review of Aptamers since their inception in the 1990s; highlighting the use of aptamers in the areas such as diagnostics, therapeutics and research regents. This article underlines some of the benefits of Aptamers over antibodies including their ability to be chemical synthesised instead of requiring animals and relative ease with which they can be modified to extend their half-life in biological fluids.
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