Study may aid fast track vaccine creation

Published: April 14, 2009 at 4:31 PM HANOVER, N.H., April 14 (UPI) -- In what's described as a genetic leap, U.S. researchers have discovered how to destroy a key DNA pathway in a widespread human parasite. Dartmouth Medical School scientists said their findings could help fast track vaccine and drug development to prevent or mitigate serious global diseases. They said their achievement surmounts a major hurdle for targeting genes in Toxoplasma gondii -- an infection model whose close relatives are responsible for diseases that include malaria and severe diarrhea. "This opens a wide window on a complex parasite family and can help accelerate the development of safe and effective genetically modified vaccines and drug therapies," said... [read full story]                    

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