Infectious Disease Newsletter

avian_influenza_flu_bird_pandemic_nature_host_imperial The Ministry of Health in Cambodia has confirmed two recent deaths caused by avian influenza A (H5N1). The first case involved a 50-year-old man residing in Mreak Teab village, Romeas Haek district, Svay Rieng province, while the second case was a two-year-old girl from Chhmar Lot village, Kamchay Mear district, Prey Veng province. Both individuals had dead backyard poultry in their vicinity, with the cases occurring roughly 30 kilometres apart. At this point, there is no available information regarding any connection between the two cases. According to media reports, the 50-year-old man and his neighbours had butchered and consumed some of the dead backyard poultry, which numbered around 50 chickens that had recently perished. Contact tracing and laboratory investigations are currently underway to better understand the situation. Source

This is not the first time there has been human cases of avian influenza in Cambodia. Back in February, learning about the human spill-over of the virus, The Native Antigen Company (TNAC) released seven new antigens for H5N1.

See our full range of human and bird flu antigens here.

On September 5, 2023, the Ministry of Health in Guinea reported a diphtheria outbreak to the World Health Organization (WHO). Between July 4 and October 13, 2023, Guinea recorded a total of 538 diphtheria cases in the Kankan region, with 18 confirmed cases and 58 deaths (an 11% case fatality rate). The majority of cases were in the 1-4 years age group. Alarmingly, none of the reported cases had been vaccinated. The outbreak is particularly severe in the Siguiri prefecture, where the health system is strained, and treatment centres lack resources. Guinea's low vaccination coverage, at 36% in the affected region and 47% nationally, contributes to the high risk of diphtheria. Concurrent epidemics, mining activities, and population displacement further exacerbate the situation, emphasizing the urgent need for increased vaccination coverage and improved case management. WHO advises enhanced surveillance, vaccination, and infection control measures, emphasizing the importance of vaccination and early case management to contain the outbreak. Source

See our wide range of highest quality Diphtheria toxins, toxoids and antibodies here.

Between September 12 and 15, 2023, the State Government of Kerala in India reported six laboratory-confirmed cases of Nipah virus infection, including two fatalities, all within Kozhikode district. This marks the sixth Nipah virus outbreak in India since 2001, with this specific outbreak associated with the Indian Genotype of the virus. Nipah virus is zoonotic, primarily transmitted through contact with infected animals, such as bats and pigs, and can also spread through human-to-human contact. The latest development in the Nipah virus outbreak in Kozhikode, Kerala, India, reveals that the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has confirmed the presence of Nipah virus antibodies in bat samples from the region. This discovery suggests that bats might be the source of the infection. While no live virus was detected in the samples, the presence of antibodies in the bat population is a concerning finding. It reinforces the hypothesis that bats, which are known reservoirs for Nipah virus, may have transmitted the infection to humans. This further underscores the importance of continued surveillance and preventive measures in the affected areas. Source

At the Native Antigen Company, we are constantly developing new reagents including matched pair antibodies for emerging infectious diseases, allowing for better diagnostics and immunisation in pursuit of a safer world. See our recommended ELISA matched pairs for Nipah virus below:

Figure 1. Example of matched pairs using our Nipah antibodies tested by our assay specialists team. For more detailed information, click here.

HEV Hepatitus E Virus iStock-959801784 The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a new list of essential diagnostics, and within this update, they have provided new recommendations for Hepatitis E virus tests. These recommendations aim to improve the accuracy and accessibility of testing for Hepatitis E, a viral infection that can lead to severe liver disease. The WHO's guidance emphasizes the need for reliable and affordable diagnostic tools to detect Hepatitis E. This development signifies a significant step in addressing Hepatitis E and its potential public health impact.

In recent years, Hepatitis E has become a growing public health concern due to its impact on various regions globally. This viral disease, primarily transmitted through contaminated water, has caused outbreaks of acute hepatitis, with severe cases affecting pregnant women and individuals with existing liver conditions. The disease's impact has been notable in areas with limited access to clean water and sanitation, resulting in outbreaks and related health challenges. Given these concerns, the WHO's recent Hepatitis E testing recommendations are a crucial step toward better diagnostics and improved disease management, particularly in high-risk regions. Source

See our range of Hepatitis E antigens and antibodies here.

Please let us know if you are planning to develop an ELISA or lateral flow test; our assay specialists are happy to recommend matched pair tailored for your needs. Scroll till the very end to learn more about Toni- Senior Assay Development Specialist at The Native Antigen Company!

Toni Ertl, an employee at The Native Antigen Company, has enjoyed a lifetime of developing assays for both research & development and commercial sale. Toni writes:

Born in Vienna, I grew up in South East London. My mother worked as a doctors receptionist, and one of the doctors there showed a small boy some specimens through a microscope, planting seeds of inspiration.

My first real lab job, aged 17, was working in the tropical medicine department of the Welcome Research Laboratories at Beckenham, Kent, in the south east of England, assisting with a couple of drug screen assays (cultured cell based and also in vivo). Wellcome were very generous as an employer, and I was able to study while there, gaining a degree in Immunology. I also gained a lot of experience in different departments including bulk manufacturing of viral diagnostic reagents, assay development in a wide range of technologies and generation of hybridomas and monoclonal antibodies in various forms within a monoclonal antibody team.

In 1990, I moved to work for a new Biotech business in Oxfordshire to develop and ‘productionise’ an HIV test kit based on VLPs coated onto nitrocellulose, then went through a variety of companies, developing and making commercial immunoassay products. At the end of 2008, having been made redundant for the second time, I set up and ran my own business for 6 years, which was a lot of fun but also proved that development isn't always a 'sure thing' and that marketing isn't my core skill. I saw Native Antigen start up during that time and would occasionally provide a bit of free consultancy about assays or freeze-drying antigens, so when Zikavirus was rearing its ugly head in 2016 they asked me to join the team. We got some great assay kits out just in time for the panic to be over! The 'we' in that is also very important, because as an assay development team we all got some world-class kits out together.

What do I bring to the Native Antigen Company?

I can take an assay target through design of immunogen, immunisation and fusion for hybridomas, generate antibodies, develop an assay, scale up and manufacture, design the packaging, perform the claims support testing, put it on the shelf and support it in the marketplace. I have also developed cell-based assays supporting pharmaceutical development, experience of assay automation and support in the field, developed for random access and multiplex platforms, managing projects for external customers and transferred technology.

Something that’s great about my present job is that no knowledge and experience is wasted. So having worked on cell-based assays aged 17, after a break of more than 40 years I find myself again using lymphoblast type cell lines to investigate cytotoxicity and inhibition. Science can also be exciting, whether that’s reading about a new area of understanding or finding the solution to overcome a difficult problem in development. It is fantastic to have been able to work in a wide range of different areas, developing methods and generating data for our customers.

Outside of work, I have been happily married for more than 42 years. When there is time I also play guitar in a band, take photos, enjoy cooking, walking and travel. Presently trying to learn French because we are restoring a house in rural France. We have always been involved in a local church.