Uncover the latest news in infectious diseases provided by your friends at The Native Antigen Company
Not rendering correctly? View this email as a web page here.
Hello Colleague,
Please find the third edition of the Monthly Infectious Diseases Summary; our subjective look at the most important news of the month. Please let us know how you like it and if there is something interesting we missed by contacting at this email address.
The Native Antigen Company wishes you all the best luck in the New Year!
£20 Million Research Project Aims to Revolutionize HIV Testing Across England
Article
A groundbreaking £20 million research project, supported by NIHR, aims to extend the highly successful HIV opt-out testing program to 46 new sites in England. The initiative, driven by the government's pledge to end new HIV transmissions by 2030, follows the program's success in high prevalence areas. Conducting over a million tests in 18 months, the existing program identified 934 people with HIV, reinforcing the importance of routine testing. The expansion, covering 32 high prevalence areas, is expected to significantly impact the estimated 4,500 undiagnosed cases, aligning with England's commitment to UN AIDS targets and global leadership in the fight against HIV. Read more.
Discover our exciting, newly launched HIV gp140 portfolio. The Native Antigen Company now offers untagged HIV-1 glycoprotein gp140 group M subtypes A, B, C, CRF01-AE, group O, and HIV-2 glycoprotein gp140, enabling a new generation of diagnostic assays and structural studies.
Our GP140 (SOSIP) compromise of an enhanced furin cleavage site allows for optimal maturation of the proteins and a SOSIP bond between gp120 GP41, so they remain covalently linked.
UK Reports First Human Case of Influenza A(H1N2)v Linked to Pigs
Article
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed the first human case of Influenza A(H1N2)v, a strain akin to those currently circulating in UK swine. Discovered through routine national flu surveillance, the infected individual, who experienced only mild symptoms, has fully recovered. Genome sequencing and PCR testing by UKHSA were instrumental in detecting the virus. The source of infection remains under investigation. The Chief Veterinary Officer emphasizes the importance of stringent animal health practices, given the potential for zoonotic transmission.
This unique case is a distinct clade (1b.1.1) not genetically linked to previous global cases, highlighting its origin in UK swine. With 50 global cases since 2005, the incident calls for heightened surveillance. UKHSA is intensifying monitoring and testing in North Yorkshire, involving GP surgeries and hospitals. Read more.
Discover our Pandemic Influenza portfolio, including now available 2024 Influenza Antigen for Southern Hemisphere Flu Season!
2022 Alarming Rise in Drug-Resistant Shigella Across Europe
Article
ECDC has been notified by the UK of an extensive outbreak of drug-resistant Shigella sonnei, involving 97 cases in December 2023. The outbreak, predominantly affecting adult males, has spread across England since May 2023, with additional cases reported in Norway, Portugal, and the Netherlands.
The strain, identified through whole genome sequencing, exhibits extensive drug resistance, limiting treatment options. Cases are closely linked to an earlier cluster reported in June 2023, suggesting ongoing transmission since January 2022. With 169 reported cases in total, primarily among men who have sex with men (MSM), the ECDC warns of the interconnected nature of MSM networks in Europe, indicating further cases may arise. The organization urges reporting and monitoring of shigellosis cases, collaboration with civil society organizations, and increased awareness in affected populations. Read more.
Discover our antigens and antibodies to Shigella spp. and other gut pathogens here.
Avian Influenza Outbreak Hits Finnish Fur Farms
Article
In a recent update from the Finnish Food Authority, it has been reported that avian influenza A(H5N1) virus has surged in 71 fur farms across Finland between July 13 and December 21, 2023. The affected regions include Ostrobothnia, Satakunta, and Southwest Finland, with the majority of cases concentrated in Ostrobothnia. The virus, detected in foxes, raccoon dogs, and mink, has prompted active surveillance programs, leading to 27 positive results via PCR and 44 through serological testing.
Notably, the virus shows a mutation that promotes replication in mammalian cells, and its lineage matches that circulating among gulls. The Finnish Food Authority ordered euthanization of all infected animals, affecting 115,000 animals on 11 farms in Ostrobothnia. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) assesses the risk to the general population as low, with no reported human cases. This marks the first time avian influenza has been detected in farmed fur animals in Finland, highlighting the need for stringent measures to curb its impact. Read more.
For this special, first edition in the New Year, I would like to introduce myself: author of the Newsletter and other TNAC collateral pieces.
Olga Siemiatkowska, Inside Sales Executive
Olga Siemiatkowska, an employee at The Native Antigen Company, has a passion for curating and sharing content for medical diagnostics. Olga writes:
I was born in Poland but moved to the UK (pre-Brexit times) to study Biomedical Sciences. I then spent a year working as a trainee in the birthplace of Charles Darwin to be awarded HCPC registration as an NHS Biomedical Scientist. I continued my BMS carrier in the medical microbiology, virology and molecular pathology departments of Royal Shrewsbury, Coventry & Warwickshire, and finally Oxford University hospitals. One pandemic later, I decided to explore my other interests and applied for an inside sales position at The Native Antigen Company.
As a student at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, I am passionate about the diagnostics and control of infectious diseases; hence, working for TNAC, known for its pandemic preparedness capabilities, has proven to be a perfect opportunity to showcase my sales and content creation skills.
Studying part-time successfully fills up most of my free time, but in the rare spare moments, I enjoy travelling, especially around Italy, where I can enjoy my favourite coffee, fashion, and fine art!
Do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or suggestions about TNAC collateral pieces. As an inside sales executive, I can also help you choose products from our vast catalogue that best suit your research needs!
We keep our content up to date so that you can stay in touch with the news and resources that are the latest and greatest for everything "Antibodies and Antigens." Check out the latest:
Also, have a look at the whole portfolio of our HIV gp140 antigens here:
Our 2024 Influenza Antigens For Southern Hemisphere Flu Season are now available for order, please go here to discover our vast collection of Influenza antigens and learn about the recent advances in our Influenza antigens from the recent mailout.
TNAC's Clearance Sale is Still On!
The Native Antigen Company is pleased to announce our biggest sale ever, up to 80% off selected lines of products. All the items on sale exhibit the same high quality as our full-price products. With only a few last vials available for some of the products on the list, so do not wait, contact us today!
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed the first human case of Influenza A(H1N2)v, a strain akin to those currently circulating in UK swine. Discovered through routine national flu surveillance, the infected individual, who experienced only mild symptoms, has fully recovered. Genome sequencing and PCR testing by UKHSA were instrumental in detecting the virus. The source of infection remains under investigation. The Chief Veterinary Officer emphasizes the importance of stringent animal health practices, given the potential for zoonotic transmission.
ECDC has been notified by the UK of an extensive outbreak of drug-resistant Shigella sonnei, involving 97 cases in December 2023. The outbreak, predominantly affecting adult males, has spread across England since May 2023, with additional cases reported in Norway, Portugal, and the Netherlands.
In a recent update from the Finnish Food Authority, it has been reported that avian influenza A(H5N1) virus has surged in 71 fur farms across Finland between July 13 and December 21, 2023. The affected regions include Ostrobothnia, Satakunta, and Southwest Finland, with the majority of cases concentrated in Ostrobothnia. The virus, detected in foxes, raccoon dogs, and mink, has prompted active surveillance programs, leading to 27 positive results via PCR and 44 through serological testing.
