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Scientific American
7 days ago
- Health
- Scientific American
Gene-Swaps Could Let Influenza Jump Species
Influenza viruses are shifty entities. They accumulate small genetic changes on a regular basis, necessitating yearly updates to the flu vaccines because the prior year's strain may not look much like the following year's. But they can also make sudden leaps by incurring big genetic changes that may allow them to jump from one animal species to another or to humans. A seemingly ingenious and sneaky way for viruses to make these leaps is by swapping genetic material with other flu strains. Called reassortment, this exchange happens when a person or animal is infected with two types of flu virus at the same time. While replicating inside the host cell, the viruses can grab bits of each other's genetic code and incorporate them into their own gene sequences. Reassortment is much less common than small mutations that change the flu year to year, but it's important: at least three of the last four human flu pandemics have involved reassortment. On supporting science journalism If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today. 'Reassortment has played a major, major role in the emergence of pandemic influenza,' says Daniel Perez, a professor of poultry medicine at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, who studies how flu moves between species. The past century saw four flu pandemics. The first was the notorious 1918 Great Influenza, which killed around 50 million people. The second was in 1957, when a new flu killed between one million and four million people worldwide. In 1968 another new flu emerged, killing another one million to four million people. Finally, in 2009, a novel swine flu appeared, killing between 151,000 and 575,000 people that year. Flu viruses are categorized by two types of proteins on their surfaces, hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). These proteins each have multiple subtypes, which is why you'll see labels such as H1N1 or H5N1. The H refers to the HA protein type, and the N refers to the type of NA protein. The Great Influenza that swept the globe during World War I was an H1N1 flu that likely emerged in Kansas. Its descendants circulated in both humans and pigs until 1957, when it was suddenly replaced in humans by an H2N2 flu. This new virus first popped up in southern China. Its main genetic backbone belonged to the 1918 flu, Perez says, but it had acquired three new gene sequences from an avian flu, swapping its HA and NA proteins for new subtypes. For reasons not completely understood, this new H2N2 wiped out H1N1 in humans for decades—H1N1 wouldn't be seen again in people until 1977. The 1968 pandemic was another reassortment event. This time, the H2N2 that was circulating in humans swapped genes with an H3N2 avian influenza, probably somewhere in China. (The first identified outbreak was in Hong Kong.) Then came the 2009 pandemic, a true 'globalized pandemic,' Perez says. In the early 2000s there had been a few sporadic human infections in the U.S. with so-called triple-reassorted flu viruses that contained genes from human, avian and swine influenzas. These cases were rare and mostly in people who worked on pig farms; these viruses didn't transmit from human to human. That changed in 2009 when the triple-reassorted viruses picked up new genes from a Eurasian swine flu. 'It's a perfect example of globalization,' Perez says, 'because the virus contains not only gene segments from an avian flu, from a swine flu [and] from a human flu but also from very different geographical locations.' The reassortment of flu viruses that infect different species fortunately happens relatively infrequently, says Charlotte Kristensen, a postdoctoral researcher in veterinary clinical microbiology at the University of Copenhagen. 'It has to be two different viruses infecting the same host cell, and the reassortment has to be successful. And it's not always like the gene segments are compatible,' she says. Such reassortment happens all the time between avian flu strains that infect birds, says Yuan Liang, also a University of Copenhagen veterinary clinical microbiology postdoctoral researcher. 'Especially since 2020, there have been a lot of new variants emerging because of reassortments' in birds, Liang says. The various strains of H5N1 circulating now in wild birds, domestic poultry and dairy cows have yet to cause a pandemic in people. It's hard to say whether the virus will stay mostly in animals or whether we're now in a period like the one before the 2009 flu pandemic, when farmworkers occasionally came down with a reassorted virus that would later gain the gene sequences it needed to spread from person to person. No one expect H5N1 to take hold in dairy cattle, Liang says, so the question now is what new, unexpected step this virus might take. 'This whole situation really highlights how little we know and how complex it is,' Kristensen says.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Zomedica Launches the TRUFORMA(R) Enhanced Endogenous ACTH Assay to aid in Equine PPID Diagnosis
Zomedica continues to redefine what is possible in point of care diagnostics with the TRUFORMA biosensor platform ANN ARBOR, MI / / February 6, 2025 / Zomedica Corp. (NYSE American:ZOM), a veterinary health company offering point-of-care diagnostics and therapeutic devices for equine and companion animals, today announced a groundbreaking update to its endogenous ACTH (eACTH) assay for equine plasma on the TRUFORMA biosensor platform. Since it was launched in September of 2024, the TRUFORMA eACTH assay has been widely adopted as the only assay to measure eACTH in horses directly at the point-of-care. Leveraging data gathered from its use in the field, Zomedica R&D scientists have now expanded its capabilities and potential utility. The enhanced test now provides values for both full-length endogenous ACTH and CLIP (Corticotropin-Like Intermediate Peptide) and calculates a composite value that can be directly compared to results from the traditional chemiluminescent assay used at reference laboratories. CLIP is a breakdown product of ACTH and known to have significant cross-reactivity with the assay commonly used in reference laboratories. Recent data indicate that some horses suspected of suffering from Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID) have high circulating levels of CLIP, especially in response to TRH stimulation. While the biological function of CLIP and clinical significance of elevated levels of the molecule are currently unknown, the enhanced TRUFORMA Equine eACTH assay provides veterinarians the ability to quantify this molecule for the first time. This advancement provides a tool that could lead to a significant leap forward in the diagnosis of Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID), a common endocrine disorder affecting horses. "Point-of-care testing with the TRUFORMA platform has already proven to be a valuable tool for equine veterinarians," states Dr. T. J. Barclay, Senior Professional Services Veterinarian for Zomedica. "The enhancements to the eACTH assay will put it on the cutting edge of PPID diagnosis and research." Research suggests that imbalances in CLIP, full-length ACTH, and related hormones may all play a role in PPID. By enabling the simultaneous and rapid measurement of these biomarkers in a clinical setting, Zomedica's updated assay provides veterinary practitioners and researchers with a more comprehensive tool to assess and understand this complex disease. "For the first time, veterinarians will have access to a test that concurrently measures both CLIP and full-length ACTH in a clinical setting," said Kelsey Hart, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (LAIM) Professor and Hodgson Chair of Equine Studies at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. "This innovation opens new doors for PPID diagnosis and could lead to a deeper understanding of this important equine health condition." The TRUFORMA platform utilizes state-of-the-art biosensor technology to deliver precise, point-of-care diagnostics, allowing veterinary professionals to make faster, more informed decisions for their equine patients. For more information on the TRUFORMA eACTH assay and other Zomedica solutions, visit About ZomedicaZomedica is a leading equine and companion animal healthcare company dedicated to improving animal health by providing veterinarians with innovative therapeutic and diagnostic solutions. Our gold standard PulseVet® shock wave system, which accelerates healing in musculoskeletal conditions, has transformed veterinary therapeutics. Our suite of products also includes the Assisi® Loop line of therapeutic devices, the TRUFORMA diagnostic platform, the TRUVIEW® digital cytology system, and the VetGuardian® no-touch monitoring system, all designed to empower veterinarians to provide top-tier care. In the aggregate, their total addressable market in the U.S. exceeds $2 billion. Headquartered in Michigan, Zomedica employs approximately 150 people and manufactures and distributes its products from its world-class facilities in Georgia and Minnesota. An NYSE American company, Zomedica grew revenue 33% in 2023 to $25 million and maintains a strong balance sheet with approximately $78 million in liquidity as of September 30, 2024. Zomedica is advancing its product offerings, leveraging strategic acquisitions, and expanding internationally as we work to enhance the quality of care for pets, increase pet parent satisfaction, and improve the workflow, cash flow and profitability of veterinary practices. For more information about Zomedica and our full range of products visit Follow Zomedica Email Alerts: LinkedIn: Facebook: X (formerly Twitter): Instagram: Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur and include statements relating to our expectations regarding future results. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. We cannot guarantee future results, performance, or achievements. Consequently, there is no representation that the actual results achieved will be the same, in whole or in part, as those set out in the forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, including assumptions with respect to economic growth, demand for the Company's products, the Company's ability to produce and sell its products, sufficiency of our budgeted capital and operating expenditures, the satisfaction by our strategic partners of their obligations under our commercial agreements, our ability to realize upon our business plans and cost control efforts and the impact of COVID-19 on our business, results and financial condition. Our forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: the outcome of clinical studies, the application of generally accepted accounting principles, which are highly complex and involve many subjective assumptions, estimates, and judgments, uncertainty as to whether our strategies and business plans will yield the expected benefits; uncertainty as to the timing and results of development work and verification and validation studies; uncertainty as to the timing and results of commercialization efforts, as well as the cost of commercialization efforts, including the cost to develop an internal sales force and manage our growth; uncertainty as to our ability to successfully integrate acquisitions; uncertainty as to our ability to supply products in response to customer demand; uncertainty as to the likelihood and timing of any required regulatory approvals, and the availability and cost of capital; the ability to identify and develop and achieve commercial success for new products and technologies; veterinary acceptance of our products; competition from related products; the level of expenditures necessary to maintain and improve the quality of products and services; changes in technology and changes in laws and regulations; our ability to secure and maintain strategic relationships; performance by our strategic partners of their obligations under our commercial agreements, including meeting distribution obligations; risks pertaining to permits and licensing, intellectual property infringement risks, risks relating to any required clinical trials and regulatory approvals, risks relating to the safety and efficacy of our products, the use of our products, intellectual property protection, risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact upon our business operations generally, including our ability to develop and commercialize our products, and the other risk factors disclosed in our filings with the SEC and under our profile on SEDAR+ at Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. We undertake no duty to update any of the forward-looking information to conform such information to actual results or to changes in our expectations except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Investor Relations Contact: Zomedica Investor Relationsinvestors@ SOURCE: Zomedica Corp. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
