Wednesday, November 17, 2010

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film today with discussion in Maria Anzbach



Today, Thursday from 19 clock is in Maria Anzbach (Burgstall 2) of the film "Vaccination - Play Ball Man" by Anita Schrittwieser and Elizabeth Blum shown. I have been interviewed as a medical journalist for the film and will then be available for a discussion.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

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comeback Sonnenkur

Who is watching the venerable sanatoriums in the "health resorts of Austria or Switzerland, it's the sting, especially the generous Sun terraces in the eye. Here, the patient should spend a few hours to a day with good air and the soothing rays of the sun to achieve recovery. "The sunlight leads pure positive spirits from the cosmic ether with it," it says about a "Guide to Sonnenkur" 19th Century. Resorts like Davos, or the famous sanatoriums in Semmering campaigned with its many "sunny days", which the guests also allowed more sun exposure, when the valleys were long lost in the fall and winter fog.

Since that time the reputation of the sun gotten some scratches. Given the high rate of skin cancer, the Australian lasted for several years, a veritable avalanche of shock by the news media. Sun was a synonym for melanoma - the most malignant form of melanoma. And, at some beaches had the impression that the designers of the latest swimwear were all devout Taliban. Those who still wanted to expose his skin to the sun steeling themselves - guided by the media hysteria - with a sun protection factor of 25 upwards.

is now the campaign has abated somewhat. Studies appear to find no difference between skin cancer risk traditionally veiled Muslim women and those who do not find it in a bikini to go to the beach. Moreover, in skin cancer, as well As with most other cancers a clear north-south divide. Similarly, in osteoporosis, rickets, and in many diseases of the soul. Our problem seems, then, rather the lack of sun.

experienced a comeback slowly the insight that the star, to whom we owe all life on earth, but can not be that bad. materialize on new scientific evidence is now also the "spirits" that are contained in the sunlight. This is mainly to vitamin D, which is formed on the influence of UV radiation in the outer layers of the skin and in the metabolism can be exploited much more effectively than through food or vitamin pills. More and more doctors recommend why do whenever the opportunity presents itself to soak up the sun - especially in autumn and winter. And this advice applies especially - as in ancient times the sun cures - for sick and frail. The widespread adoption of sun terraces in nursing homes - and the zealous use of the same would be therefore a logical step, and above all healing.

This comment appeared in the October issue of the journal LebensWeGe.

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The streptococcal cosmos

one hand, harmless and ubiquitous bacteria, other dangerous pathogens, the institutions suddenly attacked and one million children annually . Kill A current GEN-AU project deals with the mysterious interaction between streptococci and immune defense. The aim is affordable vaccines with as universal effect.

When Bill Gates in mid-July at the International AIDS Conference in Vienna, he also went to the Campus Vienna Biocenter in the third district and paid the company Intercell a visit. For here grows the most promising vaccine projects for developing countries, which supports the Microsoft founder vigorously with his Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. "It is a universal pneumococcal vaccine," says Eszter Nagy, the head of the research department at Intercell. "In contrast to the products currently on the market to our vaccine against all serotypes contribute equally and at substantially lower cost."
streptococci and pneumococci are one of the show the "dark side" of these normally harmless bacteria. Pneumococcal infections cause approximately one million deaths annually in children, more than 90 percent of them in developing countries. About the organization PATH, the Gates Foundation funded 60 percent of development costs, both in preclinical research as well as completed a few months, "Phase 1 study. This is the first time the safety and tolerability of the new vaccine tested on humans, and that in thirty healthy men. The data are not yet published. According to Nagy, the results were very encouraging. ". The vaccine proved so far to be safe and immunogenic" Now is already the roadmap for how to proceed - debate on the organization of large pivotal trials in Africa to market. To the finished product, it is still a long way.

to know-how, which brought the established ten years ago Intercell in this project and continuously brings in, with, within the scope of GEN-AU supported by strong experimental research project, the exploring the mechanisms and modulation of the immune system when exposed to various types of streptococci as its goals. With funding almost 250,000 € program started two years ago and runs until early 2012. Key partners of Intercell are two other institutions on campus that are part of the Max F. Perutz Laboratories, and the team of Beatrix Grubeck-Löwenstein by the Institute for Biomedical Aging Research in Innsbruck. So far, already several interesting publications resulting from the collaboration.
Nagy sees the promotion of basic research as the basis for many other programs, which are subsequently formed from the generated data. Above all, should be tried, the many details the cellular immune response when exposed to the pneumococcal antigens in the vaccine to explain. The
Intercell vaccine differs from the conventional products in several ways. The vaccines currently on the market protect against 10 or 13 of the 90 pneumococcal serotypes. Because the bacteria but always seek to escape the immune system, they variierien the code of their virulence factors. Once there is an immune response, the bacterium is able to change the sequence of this antigen and they can leave in the wake of the immune system. From the pressure of vaccination on the immune system develops in here Replacement effect that favors those bacteria that change their code. And this is already happening. In fact, already new vaccines against serotypes 15 and more in development. "It would be far too complex to couple more than 20 antigens to proteins," said Nagy. "There This approach is therefore a certain technological limits."

A vaccine against all pneumococcal

With an in-house developed genomic technology to identify suitable vaccine antigens she scanned with her team, so all 2000 proteins of the pneumococcal their suitability as a target for the vaccine. This was first serum collected from patients recovering from pneumococcal disease. "We the antibodies from the serum isolated and saw that antigens of the pneumococcal immune system that controls during the illness, "said Nagy. Following this example, the antigens were selected for the vaccine. In the end, there remained three.
These three proteins play an important role in the multiplication of bacteria. They are needed for the cell wall of bacteria during the division rebuild. "We have a completely new type of vaccine antigens found," said Nagy. This one was no longer as reliant as in the conventional pneumococcal vaccine on the virulence factors. "So we have a target selected, the very stable and at the same time in the life cycle of the bacteria plays a key role. "This provides a theoretical efficacy against all pneumococcal serotypes and hence an ideal suitability for developing countries, where very different serotypes prevalent than in Europe or the USA.

novel mode amplifier "IC 31"

is essential for the effectiveness of the adjuvant used in vaccines is always an active amplifier boosts the immune response to antigens. Here, too, Intercell is building with the new fully synthetic adjuvant IC-31 new to a technology that over the previously used mainly aluminum-containing adjuvants clear advantages added. While pushing these auxiliaries used in decades rather the formation of antibodies, IC-31 induces primarily a cellular immunity. "We know from clinical research, especially that associated with pneumococcal disease in these T-cell response in the form of Th17 cells is of paramount importance," says Nagy. "The Adjuvant IC-31 triggers in fact made such a strong immune response that it might even be possible to eliminate an infestation of pneumococci and to make the colonization reversed." In comparison, the functioning of the antibody response significantly more slowly because it takes several days for production here in the swing comes. In a violent situation such as infection in some African countries, but which could be a matter of life or death.

Whether the vaccine can even be used therapeutically, is currently, according to Nagy still uncertain. "We will see if it is possible to eliminate the bacteria, when the children are already colonized." Of these, it also depends on whether it would be theoretically possible to sterilize the body completely and permanently repel pneumococci. "But it may be that it's not desirable," says Nagy, "because they already belong to the child's flora." One possibility would be to reduce the bacteria count, and to maintain a lower level. ". Then would the likelihood that they swarm out and make as ear infections, pneumonia or meningitis reduced,"

antibiotics make pneumococcal aggressive

the principle question remains in all these diseases, why these bacteria swarm at all, and suddenly seized institutions or go into the blood?
are given there is still no definite answers but at least some theories, said Nagy. This suggests that the bacterial load, a role that would collect a human. The more bacteria, the more difficult it is for the immune system to control it. If in addition a viral coinfection occurs, as is very common especially in children, the bacteria can more easily penetrate normally sterile tissue.
"Finally," said Nagy, "there are certain lines that are more virulent than others." This also carry antibiotics for her part. Increase the virulence factor of bacteria and they are aggressive in the sequence. One can, warns Nagy, pneumococcal So wake up even a really well-intentioned therapy and exercise peaceful colonists to malignant disease-causing agents. The ridge is narrow.
And this phenomenon, it also applies to future vaccines to be observed. So dangerous rage, the bacteria can so devastating can be the counter-attack the immune system. From the great influenza pandemic in the winter of 1918-19 war, we know that most of the deaths were not caused by the virus and subsequent bacterial infections, but from an atypical violent reaction of the immune system. Vaccination may therefore not raise the spirits. "So far we saw only very mild curves," said Nagy is optimistic.

This article appeared in the latest issue of the journal genosphären . See also the related interview with Eszter Nagy.

Monday, November 1, 2010

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"vaccinology is not a Penny"

Actually, streptococci normal roommate in humans: round, gram-positive bacteria, which measure about one-thousandth of a millimeter and preferably arrange themselves in chains. For example, in the oral cavity, the mucous membranes of the throat or in the flora of the intestine. As long as the streptococci remain in place, they are useful members of society bacteria. Medically they are used as a precaution against periodontal disease or as a cultural reconstruction of the intestinal flora after antibiotic or fungal treatment. Evil, the consequences are, however, if streptococci and organs begin to move affected. Notorious about 90 serotypes is counting subgroup S. pneumoniae. This "pneumococcal" are among the most important pathogens of man. They cause including pneumonia (lung infection), otitis media (middle ear infection) and meningitis (meningitis). Already more than 60 years, a polysaccharide vaccine was introduced to the market that is still recommended for older people. It consists of the unmodified sugar molecules in the capsule and is directed against 23 pneumococcal types. He should cover 90 percent of the cases. In children who still had any contacts with pneumococci, the 23-valent vaccine is not effective and otherwise he is not exactly a highlight. Only last year he certified a meta analysis of existing literature, conducted by researchers at the University of Bern was "no protection against pneumonia" and "no proven survival benefit for the vaccine.
is clearly better the balance of a 2000 in the U.S. (and 2001 in the EU), approved 7-valent conjugate vaccine was recommended for infants aged two months and adults aged 60 years and today in most countries the obligatory vaccination among children. This vaccine effectiveness has been enhanced by the polysaccharides of the bacterial capsule to a detoxified variant of diphtheria have been conjugated protein. This has allowed the trigger now also Steptokokken-naive babies an immune response. Shortly after the introduction vaccination in the United States showed a reduction of invasive pneumococcal disease in children by two thirds.
This effect has, in recent years, however, slowed down considerably because diseases have not increased in the vaccine serotypes. This so-called "replacement effect" to try to meet the vaccine manufacturer now to be that they have new products on the market claimed that the offer is now about ten, and thirteen serotypes protection. For wide vaccination campaigns in developing countries where pneumococcal among the most common causes of death in children, these vaccines with sale prices beyond $ 200 are much too expensive. In addition, there are different rampant serotypes significantly from the distribution in developed countries.
Viennese company Intercell, which - according to the company slogan is specialized in the development of "smart vaccines", now has a vaccine in development, to act against all pneumococcal strains.
I spoke to Intercell's Chief Scientific Eszter Nagy. There


In pneumococcal vaccines on the market there are already some that have just been reissued again in this remake. What was set as a research director of Intercell the reason to also in this indication?

Nagy died of pneumococcal infections in developing countries every sixth child. This disease has a degree - similar to malaria. The current vaccines only protect against a small proportion of these bacteria. We have developed a technology by which we have chosen other targets in bacteria. Antigens from bacteria could not be changed, because for the life cycle of the pneumococcus is absolutely necessary. Therefore, our Impfstofff - protect against all 90 pneumococcal types - from its active principle.

you will know whether he actually does as well?

Nagy: So far, we have the results of the first study phase. was found in tests on 32 healthy adults, our Vaccine so far to be safe and immunogenic. Now, the larger pivotal studies will be organized in Africa, which is specifically tested the efficacy in children.

The vaccines available in Europe are incredibly expensive. The market leader, Prevenar 13 comes' for primary immunization at a price of more than 300 €.

Nagy: We are currently making in the field of Vaccinologie through just one revolution. This was once a penny-market, where a vaccine has cost 50 cents. Are continually being unconventional products on the market, especially the high-priced vaccine against human papillomavirus, the triggers of cervical cancer. Prevenar is as successful and enormously expensive.

If vaccination is not used primarily in developing countries where the diseases are more serious?

Nagy: Yes, but they need a much cheaper alternative, otherwise the developing countries do not use at all. The vaccine we are developing will be cheaper. This does not mean that we will sell it in the industrialized countries by 50 cents. Production costs were substantially lower than those of other vaccines.

What about because of your schedule?

Nagy: This depends a lot from our partners, such as the international nonprofit organization PATH, the by the Bill Gates Foundation is funded from. It must be organized in Africa to study the efficacy at a high disease probability measure. Once we have the security of data, we can say closer.

Some other streptococci can cause disease. Here are the use of vaccines in the works?

Nagy: Yes, we have a project with Streptococcus pyogenes, which can cause human scarlet fever and tonsillitis. Tonsillitis are a lethal disease, but the cause for 70 percent of antibiotic prescriptions in children, which consequently leads to resistance again. Another project streptococci refers to S. agalactiae, which can cause sepsis in newborns, especially in preterm infants. We want to develop a passive immunotherapy, where we give premature babies monoclonal antibodies, preventative.

That sounds like products with good market opportunities. Why do we need public research funds, as in the framework of the GEN-AU project?

Nagy: The Gen-AU project was very experimental when we started two years ago. We also had no partner on board. This promotion project helped to explain the cellular immune response to pneumococcal antigens in the vaccine, and has generated numerous data, which are now to other programs can be applied.

you are in 1999 followed an invitation of the founder, Alexander von Gabain, Intercell and moved from the U.S. to Vienna. Do you miss the U.S. sometimes?

Nagy: No, not at all. I was with my family always live in Europe. We also have a very Intercell international flair, the job is really exciting. I really like to live in Vienna, the very cosmopolitan atmosphere love it here. And last but not least, I am pleased, of course, that my country, Hungary is so close.

the work in the vaccine industry, an academic career have preferred. Happened by chance or the planned?

Nagy: It was really rather random. But I benefit greatly from my medical and scientific training. The advantages of working for a private company, are in the chance to make new scientific discoveries very quickly in practice. It is very motivating for me, if I can contribute to the development of new medical devices to improve personal health.

Eszter Nagy, MD, PhD, completed her studies in medicine and molecular biology at the founders of the University Pecs and spent five years at various universities in the United States. Intercell they arrived in 1999 at the invitation of the founder of Intercell Alexander von Gabain. Since 2005 she leads the entire field of research and currently about 45 scientists. Eszter Nagy lives with her family in Vienna. Her son, Bence, 18, begins just his medical studies, daughter Fanny, 15, attended the Academic Gymnasium. Tamas Henics husband is also physicians and scientists, and moved in June from the Max Perutz Laboratories in Vienna to Hungarian biotech companies in the border region with Austria.

This interview appeared under the "Project Series" on the website of "GEN-AU" - Genome research in Austria.